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Background: Cancer screening is a pivotal method for reducing mortality from disease, but the screening coverage is still lower than expected. Telehealth interventions demonstrated significant benefits in cancer care, yet there is currently no consensus on their impact on facilitating cancer screening or on the most effective remote technology. Design: A network meta‐analysis was conducted to detect the impact of telehealth interventions on cancer screening and to identify the most effective teletechnologies. Methods: Six English databases were searched from inception until July 2023 to yield relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Two individual authors completed the literature selection, data extraction, and methodological evaluations using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Traditional pairwise analysis and network meta‐analysis were performed to identify the overall effects and compare different teletechnologies. Results: Thirty‐four eligible RCTs involving 131,644 participants were enrolled. Overall, telehealth interventions showed statistically significant effects on the improvement of cancer screening. Subgroup analyses revealed that telehealth interventions were most effective for breast and cervical cancer screening, and rural populations also experienced benefits, but there was no improvement in screening for older adults. The network meta‐analysis indicated that mobile applications, video plus telephone, and text message plus telephone were associated with more obvious improvements in screening than other teletechnologies. Conclusion: Our study identified that telehealth interventions were effective for the completion of cancer screening and clarified the exact impact of telehealth on different cancer types, ages, and rural populations. Mobile applications, video plus telephone, and text message plus telephone are the three forms of teletechnologies most likely to improve cancer screening. More well‐designed RCTs involving direct comparisons of different teletechnologies are needed in the future. Clinical Relevance: Telehealth interventions should be encouraged to facilitate cancer screening, and the selection of the optimal teletechnology based on the characteristics of the population is also necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile solid‐state approach is employed to synthesize a novel magnetoplumbite‐type oxide of NdMgAl11O19, which integrates spinel‐stacking layers (MgAl2O4) with Nd‐O6 mirror plane structures. The resulting NdMgAl11O19 exhibits remarkable catalytic activity and conversion efficiency during the sulfur reduction reaction (SRR) in lithium‐sulfur batteries. By employing the 2D projection mapping technique of in situ confocal Raman spectroscopy and electrochemical technique, it is discovered that the exposed mirror plane structure of Nd‐O6 can effectively suppress the undesiring disproportionation reaction (S82−→S62−+1/4 S8) of long‐chain lithium polysulfides at the initial stages of sulfur reduction, thereby promoting the positive process of sulfur to lithium sulfide. This not only mitigates the issue of sulfur shuttle loss but also significantly improve the kinetics of the conversion process. Leveraging these advantages, the NdMgAl11O19/S cathode delivered an impressive initial capacity of up to 1398 mAh g−1 at an electrolyte/sulfur (E/S) ratio of 5.1 µL mg−1 and a sulfur loading of 2.3 mg cm−2. Even when the sulfur loading is increased to 10.02 mg cm−2, the cathode retained a reversible areal capacity of 10.01 mAh cm−2 after 200 cycles. This mirror engineering strategy provides valuable and universal insights into enhancing the efficiency of cathodes in Li‐S battery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The improvement of the Total Isomerization Process (TIP) for the production of high‐quality gasoline with the ultimate goal of reaching a Research Octane Number (RON) higher than 92 requires the use of specific sorbents to separate pentane and hexane isomers into classes of linear, mono‐ and di‐branched isomers. Herein we report the design of a new multi‐cage microporous Fe(III)‐MOF (referred to as MIP‐214, MIP stands for materials of the Institute of Porous Materials of Paris) with a flu‐e topology, incorporating an asymmetric heterofunctional ditopic ligand, 4‐pyrazolecarboxylic acid, that exhibits an appropriate microporous structure for a thermodynamic‐controlled separation of hydrocarbon isomers. This MOF produced via a direct, scalable, and mild synthesis route was proven to encompass a unique separation of C5/C6 isomers by classes of low RON over high RON alkanes with a sorption hierarchy: (n‐hexane≫n‐pentane≈2‐methylpentane>3‐methylpentane)low RON≫(2,3‐dimethylbutane≈i‐pentane≈2,2‐dimethylbutane)high RON following the adsorption enthalpy sequence. We reveal for the first time that a single sorbent can efficiently separate such a complex mixture of high RON di‐branched hexane and mono‐branched pentane isomers from their low RON counterparts, which is a major achievement reported so far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The improvement of the Total Isomerization Process (TIP) for the production of high‐quality gasoline with the ultimate goal of reaching a Research Octane Number (RON) higher than 92 requires the use of specific sorbents to separate pentane and hexane isomers into classes of linear, mono‐ and di‐branched isomers. Herein we report the design of a new multi‐cage microporous Fe(III)‐MOF (referred to as MIP‐214, MIP stands for materials of the Institute of Porous Materials of Paris) with a flu‐e topology, incorporating an asymmetric heterofunctional ditopic ligand, 4‐pyrazolecarboxylic acid, that exhibits an appropriate microporous structure for a thermodynamic‐controlled separation of hydrocarbon isomers. This MOF produced via a direct, scalable, and mild synthesis route was proven to encompass a unique separation of C5/C6 isomers by classes of low RON over high RON alkanes with a sorption hierarchy: (n‐hexane≫n‐pentane≈2‐methylpentane>3‐methylpentane)low RON≫(2,3‐dimethylbutane≈i‐pentane≈2,2‐dimethylbutane)high RON following the adsorption enthalpy sequence. We reveal for the first time that a single sorbent can efficiently separate such a complex mixture of high RON di‐branched hexane and mono‐branched pentane isomers from their low RON counterparts, which is a major achievement reported so far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasmonic nanostructures that generate hot carriers and induce catalytic chemical transformations are ideal candidates for solar energy utilization. However, the existing nanostructures require multistep synthesis procedures and generate fewer hot carriers due to their narrow resonance region and limited hotspots, restricting their usage in plasmonic catalysis. Inspired by the light‐harvesting behavior of the trees, the current work reports a one‐step fabrication strategy via electrodeposition for direct anisotropic growth of the 3D gold nanotrees with tunable size, branches, and height. The as‐synthesized nanostructures with broadband light absorption and plentiful hotspots can significantly foster hot carrier generation. The improved hot electron generation of 3D gold nanotrees is confirmed by in situ surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy for the dimerization reaction of 4‐nitrothiophenol. The energetic hot holes generated by the 3D gold nanotrees facilitate water oxidation and exhibit 18.6 times higher catalytic efficiency than Au film under 625 nm. Meanwhile, the photoelectrochemical catalysis of 3D gold nanotrees shows better performance compared with conventional Au nanospheres. This work opens up a promising avenue for fundamental studies of plasmonic catalysis via a wide variety of 3D gold nanotrees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to explore the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic alterations of the active components of Shenkang injection (i.e. hydroxy saffron yellow pigment A [HSYA], tanshinol, rheum emodin, and astragaloside IV) in rats with chronic renal failure (CRF), and establish a pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic model (PK‐PD model) in order to provide a scientific and theoretical basis for the rational clinical use of Shenkang injection. Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a normal group, model group, and Shenkang injection group. A rat model of CRF was induced by adenine gavage and then followed by drug administration via tail vein injection. Orbital blood was collected at different timepoints and the blood concentrations of the four active components were measured by UHPLC‐Q‐Orbitrap HRMS. Serum levels of creatinine (Scr), urea nitrogen (BUN), and uric acid (UA) were determined using an automatic biochemical analyzer. A PK‐PD model was established, and DAS 3.2.6 software was used for model fitting as well as statistical analysis. TGF‐β1 was utilized to induce normal rat kidney cells to construct a renal fibrosis model to investigate the protective effect of the pharmacological components on renal fibrosis. The pharmacokinetic analysis of hydroxy saffron yellow pigment A, tanshinol, rheum emodin, and astragaloside IV based on UHPLC‐Q‐Orbitrap HRMS was stable. The linear regression equations for the four active components were as follows: Y = 0.031X + 0.0091 (R2 = 0.9986) for hydroxy saffron yellow pigment A, Y = 0.0389X + 0.164 (R2 = 0.9979) for tanshinol, Y = 0.0257X + 0.0146 (R2 = 0.9973) for rheum emodin, and Y = 0.0763X + 0.0139 (R2 = 0.9993) for astragaloside IV, which indicated good linear relationships. The methodological investigation was stable, with the interday and intraday precision RSD <10%. Meanwhile, the recoveries ranged between 90% and 120%, in accordance with the requirements for in vivo analysis of drugs. Compared with the model group, the levels of Scr, BUN, and UA were significantly decreased after 20 min in the Shenkang injection group (p < 0.01). The PK‐PD model showed that the four active components in the Shenkang injection group could fit well with the three effect measures (i.e. Scr, BUN, and UA), with the measured values similar to the predicted values. The cell model of renal fibrosis showed that the connective tissue growth factor and FN1 protein expression levels were significantly lower in the Shenkang injection group than those in the model group, and the cell fibrosis was improved. The established method for in vivo analysis of Shenkang injection was highly specific, with good separation of the components and simple operation. The total statistical moment could well integrate the pharmacokinetic parameters of the four active components. After treatment with Shenkang injection, all indexes in the administered group improved and showed significant inhibition of renal cell fibrosis in vitro. This study could provide scientific reference ideas for the clinical rational use of traditional Chinese medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grylloprimevala jilina is a true cave insect living in the dark areas of caves. It has the characteristics of sparse skin pigmentation, degeneration of the compound eyes and monocular eyes, and obvious preference for high‐humidity and low‐temperature environments. Given the highly specialized, rare, and limited distribution, G. jilina is considered an endangered species and also a first‐level national protected insect in China. Cave creatures often undergo dramatic morphological changes in their sensory systems to adapt to the cave environment. Most previous studies mainly focused on morphological adaptive changes in cave insects, and only a few studied the changes at the gene level. In this study, we performed transcriptome analysis of G. jilina and constructed phylogenetic trees of genes that are related to environmental adaptation, including chemosensory, visual‐related, reproduction‐related, temperature adaptation‐related, and winged morph differentiation‐related genes. Besides, the expression levels of environmental adaption‐related genes in different tissues, including antennae, heads, thoraxes, abdomens, legs, and tails, were analyzed. The results showed the loss of chemosensory genes and vision‐related genes, the conservation of reproduction‐related genes and temperature adaptation‐related genes, and the conservation of wing‐related genes despite the loss of wings, and the results were consistent with other cave insects. The identification and expression study of genes possibly related to the environmental adaptability in G. jilina provided basic data for the protection of this endangered species and increased knowledge about insect evolution in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reported the grain growth kinetics of high‐entropy diboride (HEB) and HEB‐SiC ceramics containing 10, 20, and 30 vol% SiC during heat treatment at 1800°C. The coarsening of HEB phase occurred in the four kinds of ceramics during heat treatment, especially in HEB ceramics. The kinetic analysis showed that the grain growth of HEB phase in HEB and HEB‐SiC ceramics is controlled by interface‐controlled kinetics and grain‐boundary pinning, respectively. The growth rate constant of HEB grains is lower than ZrB2, which is related to the low grain‐boundary energy and the sluggish diffusion effect in dynamics of high‐entropy materials. The growth rate of matrix phase in HEB‐SiC ceramics is similar to that in ZrB2–SiC ceramics, indicating that the pinning effect of the SiC second‐phase played the dominant role in inhibiting the grain growth of the high‐entropy matrix phase and disguised the sluggish diffusion effect. This study reveals that the grain growth inhibition through sluggish diffusion effect in a high‐entropy ceramic system may be magnified by the possible existence of segregated second‐phase particles located at the grain boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer. Several studies have shown that inactivation of Krebs cycle enzymes, such as citrate synthase (CS) and fumarate hydratase (FH), facilitates aerobic glycolysis and cancer progression. MAEL has been shown to play an oncogenic role in bladder, liver, colon, and gastric cancers, but its role in breast cancer and metabolism is still unknown. Here, we demonstrated that MAEL promoted malignant behaviours and aerobic glycolysis in breast cancer cells. Mechanistically, MAEL interacted with CS/FH and HSAP8 via its MAEL domain and HMG domain, respectively, and then enhanced the binding affinity of CS/FH with HSPA8, facilitating the transport of CS/FH to the lysosome for degradation. MAEL‐induced degradation of CS and FH could be suppressed by the lysosome inhibitors leupeptin and NH4Cl, but not by the macroautophagy inhibitor 3‐MA or the proteasome inhibitor MG132. These results suggested that MAEL promoted the degradation of CS and FH via chaperone‐mediated autophagy (CMA). Further studies showed that the expression of MAEL was significantly and negatively correlated with CS and FH in breast cancer. Moreover, overexpression of CS or/and FH could reverse the oncogenic effects of MAEL. Taken together, MAEL promotes a metabolic shift from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis by inducing CMA‐dependent degradation of CS and FH, thereby promoting breast cancer progression. These findings have elucidated a novel molecular mechanism of MAEL in cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is one of the most abundant prostaglandins and has been implicated in various diseases. Here, we aimed to explore the role of the PGE2 pathway in mediating ferroptosis during acute kidney injury. When renal tubular epithelial cells stimulated by H2O2, the contents of glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) decreased, whereas the level of lipid peroxide increased. Ferrostatin‐1 can effectively attenuate these changes. In this process, the expression levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)‐1 and COX‐2 were up‐regulated. Meanwhile, the expression of microsomal prostaglandin E synthase‐2 was elevated, whereas the expression of microsomal prostaglandin E synthase‐1 and cytosolic prostaglandin E synthase were down‐regulated. Furthermore, the expression of 15‐hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase decreased. An excessive accumulation of PGE2 promoted ferroptosis, whereas the PGE2 inhibitor pranoprofen minimized the changes for COX‐2, GSH, GPX4 and lipid peroxides. A decrease in the levels of the PGE2 receptor E‐series of prostaglandin 1/3 partially restored the decline of GSH and GPX4 levels and inhibited the aggravation of lipid peroxide. Consistent with the in vitro results, increased PGE2 levels led to increased levels of 3,4‐methylenedioxyamphetamine, Fe2+ accumulation and decreased GSH and GPX4 levels during renal ischaemia/reperfusion injury injury in mice. Our results indicate that the PGE2 pathway mediated oxidative stress‐induced ferroptosis in renal tubular epithelial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We erected a new genus (Grylloprimevala Zhou & Ren gen. nov.) and defined a new species (Grylloprimevala jilina Zhou & Ren sp. nov.) from a natural cave in the primeval forest of Jilin Province, China, according to the morphological, behavioral, and molecular evidence. Grylloprimevala gen. nov. is distinguishable from other genera of Grylloblattodea primarily by morphological characters, including the slightly concave posterior margin of the pronotum and no poorly sclerotized zones, six intramarginal and nine intermarginal setae on the cervical sclerite, one tooth on the lacinia, no pulvilli on tarsal segments, and a symmetrical epiproct with a pointed triangular and middle‐depressed median projection on the posterior margin. Based on the morphological features mentioned above, we further identified a new species, G. jilina sp. nov. At the aspect of behavior, G. jilina sp. nov. displays the typical characteristics of troglobites, including degraded visual senses, developed body surface sensors, and predation between individuals. Furthermore, molecular phylogenetic analyses also supported the morphological delimitation of G. jilina sp. nov. due to the separate clade of G. jilina sp. nov. Our results provide materials for the determination and conservation of Grylloblattodea in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mammalian brain relies on significant oxygen metabolic consumption to fulfill energy supply, brain function, and neural activity. In this study, in vivo electrochemistry is combined with physiological and ethological analyses to explore oxygen metabolic consumption in an area of the mouse brain that includes parts of the primary somatosensory cortex, primary motor cortex, hippocampus, and striatum. The oxygen levels at different locations of this boundary section are spatially resolved by measuring the electrical current in vivo using ingeniously designed anti‐biofouling carbon fiber microelectrodes. The characteristics of the current signals are further interpreted by simultaneously recording the physiological responses of the mice. Additionally, ethological tests are performed to validate the correlation between oxygen levels and mouse behavior. It is found that high‐dose caffeine injection can evoke spatial variability in oxygen metabolic consumption between the four neighboring brain regions. It is proposed that the oxygen metabolic consumption in different brain regions is not independent of each other but is subject to spatial regulation control following the rules of "rank of brain region" and "relative distance." Furthermore, as revealed by in vivo wireless electrochemistry and ethological analysis, mice are at risk of neuronal damage from long‐term intake of high‐dose caffeine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, an effective method for simultaneous isolation of eight compounds from Salvianolic Acids for Injection was developed by preparative high‐performance liquid chromatography based on improved dry load injection. Firstly, the chemical structures of the obtained compounds were identified by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. Subsequently, a sensitive liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry method was established to precisely quantify the eight isolated target analytes. The quantitative results show salvianolic acid B as the most abundant component (460.06–514.68‰) and protocatechualdehyde (0.03–0.08‰) as the least. Finally, the antioxidant activities of the isolated compounds were further investigated. The 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl‐scavenging assay indicated that (7′R, 8′S, 8″R, 8′′′R)‐epi‐salvianolic acid B had the lowest half‐maximal inhibitory concentration (5.05 μg/ml). This study reports on the development of an effective and rapid method for simultaneous isolation of multiple compounds from traditional Chinese medicine preparation, which could be used as reference compounds for further quality control and activities screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fouling is a key issue which limits the practical applications of electrochemical sensors (ECSens) in both in vitro and in vivo analysis. The analytical sensitivity, limit of detection (LOD), selectivity, reproducibility and life‐time of ECSens are all greatly affected by fouling. Although numerous methods and materials have been developed to minimize the fouling effect in past several decades, not all of them are suitable for constructing antifouling ECSens. In this paper we present an overview of surface antifouling strategies for ECSens. We begin with a short summary of sources and impacts of fouling under both in vitro and in vivo environments. Then the current surface antifouling strategies for ECSens are discussed, including self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs), antifouling polymers, porous coating, in‐situ electrochemical and photocatalytic cleaning. The antifouling mechanisms, advantages and challenges of each strategy are briefly summarized. The article ends up with a short conclusion and perspectives. We hope this article is helpful for constructing and designing ECSens with both outstanding antifouling performance and electrochemical activity for electrochemical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metformin has potential anti‐inflammatory properties and accelerates wound healing by enhancing vascular development. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of metformin on pulmonary vascular development and the underlying mechanism. Newborn mice were subcutaneously injected with metformin from day 2 after exposure to hyperoxia. Pulmonary vascular development, inflammation, and Shh signaling pathway‐related protein expression were evaluated by western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. M2 macrophage polarization was measured by flow cytometry. The effect of metformin on macrophage polarization was determined using RAW264.7 macrophages exposed to 90% oxygen in vitro. The role of metformin and purmorphamine on M1 and M2 polarization was observed by flow cytometry. M2 polarization of pulmonary macrophages was inhibited after hyperoxic exposure, and metformin increased the number of M2 macrophages in the lung on postnatal day 14. Metformin upregulated CD31 expression and suppressed inflammation in the lung of mice exposed to hyperoxia on postnatal days 7 and 14. Metformin downregulated the Gli1 expression in macrophages in the lung after exposure to hyperoxia on postnatal day 14. In vitro studies showed that metformin inhibited the Gli1 expression in RAW264.7 macrophages exposed to 90% oxygen, which was reversed after purmorphamine pretreatment. Exposure to 90% oxygen inhibited the polarization of M2 macrophages, whereas metformin increased the number of M2 macrophages. Purmorphamine reversed the effects of metformin on M2 polarization and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) upregulation in RAW264.7 macrophages exposed to hyperoxia. In conclusion, metformin regulates macrophage polarization via the Shh signaling pathway to improve pulmonary vascular development in bronchopulmonary dysplasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Methods Results Conclusion The Japan NBI Expert Team (JNET) classification has good diagnostic potential for colorectal diseases. We aimed to explore the diagnostic value of the JNET classification type 2B (JNET2B) criteria for colorectal laterally spreading tumors (LSTs) based on magnifying endoscopy with blue laser imaging (ME‐BLI) examination.Between January 2017 and June 2023, 218 patients who were diagnosed as having JNET2B‐type LSTs using ME‐BLI were included retrospectively. Endoscopic images were reinterpreted to categorize the LSTs as JNET2B‐low (n = 178) and JNET2B‐high (n = 53) LSTs. The JNET2B‐low and JNET2B‐high LSTs were compared based on their histopathological and morphological classifications.Among the 178 JNET2B‐low LSTs, 86 (48.3%) were histopathologically classified as low‐grade intraepithelial neoplasia, 54 (30.3%) as high‐grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN), 37 (20.8%) as intramucosal carcinoma (IMC), and one (0.6%) as superficial invasive submucosal carcinoma (SMC1). Among the 53 JNET2B‐high LSTs, five (9.4%) were classified as HGIN, 28 (52.9%) as IMC, 15 (28.3%) as SMC1, and 5 (9.4%) as deep invasive submucosal carcinoma. There were significant differences in this histopathological classification between the two groups (P < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference between JNET2B‐low and JNET2B‐high LSTs based on their morphological classification (granular vs nongranular) or size (<20 mm vs ≥20 mm). Besides, the κ value for JNET2B subtyping was 0.698 (95% confidence interval 0.592–0.804) between the two endoscopists who reassessed the endoscopic images.The JNET2B subtyping of LSTs has a diagnostic potential in the preoperative setting, and may be valuable for treatment decision‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous hydride‐abstracting agents generate the same cationic intermediate, but substrate features such as intermediate cation stability, oxidation potential, and steric environment can influence reaction rates in an oxidant‐dependent manner. This manuscript provides experimental data to illustrate the role that structural features play in the kinetics of hydride abstraction reactions with commonly used quinone‐, oxoammonium ion‐, and carbocation‐ based oxidants. Computational studies of the transition state structures and energies explain these results and energy decomposition analysis calculations reveal unique sensitivities to electrostatic attraction and steric repulsions. Rigorous rate studies of select reactions validated the capacity of the calculations to predict reactivity trends. Additionally, kinetics studies demonstrate the potential for product inhibition in DDQ‐mediated reactions. These studies provide a clear guide to select the optimal oxidant for structurally disparate substrates and lead to predictions of reactivity that were validated experimentally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research on surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) continuously draws wide attention because of its high detection sensitivity. However, the commonly investigated 2D SERS substrates cannot fully utilize the 3D active focal volume and require a tight focus on the correct plane, retarding signal enhancement and flexible use. Here, self‐supported gold aerogels of centimeter‐dimension with tunable ligament sizes are designed as 3D SERS substrates, featuring hot spots throughout the entire network. Unveiling a universal ligament‐size‐effect, the optimized gold aerogel showcases much larger enhancement factors compared to a 8 nm Au film toward dyes, pesticides, and carcinogens (up to 109). Aside from an excellent reusability and an exceptional stability (> 1 month), an outstanding misfocus tolerance (>300 µm along the z‐axis) is also demonstrated for such aerogel‐based SERS substrates for multiplex detection. This work may expand the application scope of metal aerogels and lay the foundation for designing next‐generation 3D SERS substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing use of batteries, battery recycling would become a considerable problem in the next decade. However, the current recycling technologies are still on the stage of research and development. A significant challenge in the traditional recycling method is that the recovery procedure relies heavily on manual work. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an intelligent, automatic or semi‐automatic framework for rapid disassembly and efficient recovery of retired batteries. In this study, the key research problems during the battery recycling process were identified first. The main recycling process was divided into three parts: automatic disassemble process, residual energy detection, and second utilization as well as chemical recycling. Based on the above research gaps, a qualitative framework of UR5 robots for safe and fast battery recycling, residual energy detection, and secondary utilization of retired batteries was proposed. The framework includes a battery position and shape measurement system based on machine vision, an automatic battery removal system based on UR5 industrial robot, a battery residual energy detection, and classification system. Furthermore, a real case study of battery pack recycling was carried out based on manual work and automatic robot work. The results show that the proposed recycling framework can work efficiently compared with the traditional recycling method. Moreover, the future perspectives of battery recycling are summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A K‐band (18–27 GHz) dielectric‐loaded waveguide antenna is designed as the feed for a parabolic reflector. The antenna is composed of a waveguide launcher and a dielectric load. The waveguide launcher is fabricated by selective laser melting using aluminium alloy. The dielectric load is fabricated by stereolithography using resin. The aperture field distribution of the antenna is tuned by extending the E‐ and H‐walls of the waveguide launcher to radiate a sidelobe‐reduced main beam in the boresight from −90° to + 90°. The agreement is achieved between the simulation and measurement. It has impedance bandwidth of |S11|<−10 from 18 to 27 GHz, the maximum gain of 11.8 dBi @ 19 GHz, and 3‐dB gain bandwidth from 18 to 25 GHz. For the sidelobe reduced, simple design and low cost, the proposed antenna features a good candidate as the feed for a parabolic reflector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade, hybrid materials have received widespread attention. In particular, hybrid lead halide perovskite‐type semiconductors are very attractive owing to their great flexibility in band gap engineering. Here, by using precise molecular modifications, three one‐dimensional perovskite‐type semiconductor materials are designed and obtained: [Me3PCH2X][PbBr3] (X=H, F, and Cl for compounds 1, 2, and 3, respectively). The introduction of a heavier halogen atom (F or Cl) to [Me4P]+ increases the potential energy barrier required for the tumbling motion of the cation, hence achieving the transformation of the phase transition temperature from low temperature (192 K) to room temperature (285 K) and high temperature (402.3 K). Moreover, the optical band gaps reveal a broadening trend with 3.176 eV, 3.215 eV, and 3.376 eV along the H→F→Cl series, which is attributed to the formation of the structural distortion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biological function and underlying mechanism of microRNA‐628‐5p (miR‐628‐5p) remains to be clarified in the growth and progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Here, the expression levels of miR‐628‐5p in PDAC tissues and cells were detected by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization. The relationship between miR‐628‐5p expression and clinicopathologic characteristics was examined in human PDAC tissue samples. Gain‐ and loss‐of‐function and the putative targets of miR‐628‐5p were evaluated in PDAC cell lines. The upstream and downstream signals of miR‐628‐5p in PDAC were also examined. MiR‐628‐5p was lowly expressed in PDAC tissues and cell lines, and low miR‐628‐5p expression in PDAC tissues was associated with poor clinicopathological characteristics and shorter overall survival. Functionally, restoration of miR‐628‐5p expression decreased PDAC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and promoted cell apoptosis, whereas miR‐628‐5p silencing abolished these biological behaviors. MiR‐628‐5p was found to target and negatively regulate phospholipid scramblase 1 and insulin receptor substrate 1 expression, which resulted in the inhibition of the AKT/NF‐κB signaling pathway. MYC knockdown led to miR‐628‐5p upregulation, whereas MYC overexpression repressed miR‐628‐5p expression. These findings indicate that miR‐628‐5p functions as a tumor‐suppressive microRNA in PDAC and implicate miR‐628‐5p as a potential therapeutic target for PDAC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biliary atresia (BA), the most common cause of pediatric end‐stage liver disease, results from fibroinflammatory obstruction of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts. The etiology of BA has been extensively studied, and inflammation and imbalanced immune system have been identified as the main pathogenesis of BA. B cells play roles in innate and adaptive immunity, but few studies have investigated the role of B cells in BA. This study aimed to elucidate the role of B cells in the development of BA. The percentage and numbers of total B cells (23.81 ± 11.14%，P < 0.0001, 1.22 ± 0.67 × 109 L–1, P = 0.0014) and immature B cells (25.33 ± 14.32%, P = 0.0013, 0.19 ± 0.20 × 109 L–1, P < 0.0001) were significantly increased in the peripheral blood of patients with BA and the number of total B cells was positively correlated with gamma‐glutamyl‐transpeptidase in the serum of BA. High C–X–C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8) levels were detected in the serum of patients with BA. As an important source of CXCL8, B cells from patients with BA secreted more CXCL8 into peripheral blood than those from control patients. Moreover, immature B cells can secrete more CXCL8 than mature B cells, and B cells secreted CXCL8 upon activation of the nuclear factor‐κB pathway. Taken together, the results revealed that B cells have a strong ability to secrete CXCL8, which is associated with the pathogenesis of BA, and exert a proinflammatory effect on the development of BA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reported herein is a bidentate‐assisted Csp3–H bond insertion using Cp*RhIII/IL as a highly efficient and recyclable catalytic medium, while showing good functional group tolerance. Notably, the application of ionic liquid not only lowered the temperature, but also enhanced the diastereoselectivity of this reaction. This work significantly expanded the scope of ionic liquids in Csp3–H functionalizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Salinity is among the major factors limiting crop production worldwide. Despite having moderate salt‐tolerance, cotton (Gossypium spp.) suffers severe yield losses to salinity stresses, largely due to being grown on saline‐alkali and dry lands.To identify genetic determinants conferring salinity tolerance in cotton, we deployed a functional genomic screen using a cotton cDNA library in a virus‐induced gene silencing (VIGS) vector. We have revealed that silencing of GhDsPTP3a, which encodes a protein phosphatase, increases cotton tolerance to salt stress.Yeast two‐hybrid screens indicated that GhDsPTP3a interacts with GhANN8b, an annexin protein, which plays a positive role in regulating cotton response to salinity stress. Salt stress induces GhANN8b phosphorylation, which is subsequently dephosphorylated by GhDsPTP3a. Ectopic expression of GhDsPTP3a and GhANN8b oppositely regulates plant salt tolerance and calcium influx. In addition, we have revealed that silencing of GhDsPTP3a or GhANN8b exerts opposing roles in regulating GhSOS1 transcript levels, and ectopic expression of GhANN8b elevates Na+ efflux in Arabidopsis under salinity stress.Our study demonstrates that a cotton phosphatase GhDsPTP3a and an annexin protein GhANN8b interact and reversely modulate Ca2+ and Na+ fluxes in cotton salinity responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grylloprimevala jilina Zhou & Ren is the third extant species of Grylloblattodea to be found in China. To understand the various physiological functions of the sensilla on the main sensory organs of G. jilina during its vital activities, this study used scanning electron microscopy to examine the sensilla morphology on its appendages and analyze their abundance and distribution on the antennae. The filiform antennae comprise scape, pedicel and flagellum. The maxillary palps comprise three segments, and the cerci contain four appendages in total. Altogether, 11 morphologically distinct sensilla types were identified on three organs: apertures; Böhm bristles (BB); sensilla auricillica (SA), sensilla basiconica (SB), sensilla campaniformia (SCa), sensilla capitulum (SCap), sensilla chaetica (SCh), sensilla coeloconica (SCo), sensilla filiform (SF) and sensilla trichodea (ST); and spines. Studies of the antennae of G. jilina have revealed that, except in some cases, the types and abundances of the sensilla gradually show a trend of diversification and enrichment as the antennae segments are extended forward. Functional predictions for the 11 morphologically distinct sensilla suggest that they include chemoreceptors, mechanoreceptors and temperature or humidity receptors. As wall‐pore sensilla, SA, SB, SCo and ST could be involved in the perception of chemical signals emitted from their living environment. In addition, as mechanical receptors, BB, SCa, SCh and SF may be involved in the perception and feedback of mechanical stimuli. Our findings provide an essential insight into this rare and national first‐class protected insect, and provide a necessary theoretical basis for studying the phylogeny of Grylloblattodea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 3D printed metallized Fabry–Perot cavity antenna centred at 5.8 GHz is presented in this letter. A non‐uniform grid superstrate and a choke groove are employed in the Fabry–Perot cavity antenna to improve the input bandwidth and decrease the side lobes. By using the non‐uniform superstrate, the |S11| ← 10 dB bandwidth is enhanced to approximately 6.4% (from 5.65 to 6.02 GHz). The side lobes decrease to −14.03 and −21.62 dB on E and H planes by the choke groove. The designed antenna is fabricated by using a stereolithography‐based 3D printing technique for verification, whose weight is only 13% of the one fabricated with copper. The measured result agrees well with the simulated one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi‐dimensional metal oxides have attracted great attention in diverse applications due to their intriguing performances. However, their structural design remains challenging, particularly that based on organic chelation chemistry. Although metal–organic complexes with different architectures have been reported, their structure formation mechanisms are not well understood because of the complex chelation processes. Herein, we introduce a new metal–organic coordination strategy to construct metal‐decorated (Ni, Co, Mn) Mo‐based complexes ranging from 2D nanopetals to 3D microflowers. The chelating process of the metal–organic complex can be tuned by a surfactant, giving rise to different structures, and then a further metal can be appended. Thus, different metal (oxide)‐decorated MoO2/C‐N structures were designed, enabling an extremely high lithium storage capability of 1018 mA h g−1 and rate capacities of up to 10 A g−1 over 1000 cycles. Relationships between electrochemical behavior and structure have been analyzed kinetically. A high‐rate lithium‐ion battery has been assembled from Ni‐MoO2/C‐N and an Ni‐rich layered oxide as the anode and cathode, respectively. We believe that this general metal–organic coordination strategy should be applicable to other multi‐functional materials with superior capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional tracking methods rarely consider abrupt motions and easily fail to track the abrupt motion of an object because they are based on the assumption of smooth motion. To assuage this problem, we propose a novel tracking algorithm combining the background subtraction method with the Wang–Landau Monte Carlo (WLMC) sampling method for dealing with abrupt motions effectively. First, the visual background extractor (ViBe), a background subtraction technique, is introduced to detect the object roughly. Second, we integrate the density‐of‐states term and ViBe information into a WLMC‐based tracking framework. By employing the density‐of states term and ViBe information, the Wang–Landau sampling scheme efficiently tracks the target in the whole state space in a short time. Third, in order to obtain good performance in terms of scalability, an independent fast scale estimation method is applied. Experimental results in both quantitative and qualitative measures demonstrate that our algorithm efficiently samples and tracks the target not only in position but also in scale variance accurately and robustly. © 2019 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability and control performances of grid‐connected inverters can be significantly influenced due to the uncertain grid impedance and large grid voltage background harmonics. The system stability and resonance of the grid‐connected inverter were investigated separately. Thus, their relationship needs to be identified further. In this study, the equivalent impedance model and the current control model of the grid‐connected inverter are established. Based on the three resonance cases: positive incomplete resonance, complete resonance, and negative incomplete resonance, the relationship between the system stability and resonance is identified. Moreover, the principle of harmonic amplification of the grid injected current is analysed thoroughly. It is revealed that the harmonic amplification is always accompanied by low stability of the system, and the centre frequency of harmonic distribution is where the system has the lowest stability. In order to alleviate the harmonics of the grid injected current, it is inevitable to ensure that the system maintains a sufficient phase margin to thwart the grid voltage background harmonics and the inverter output voltage harmonics. Finally, the simulation has been accomplished in MATLAB/SIMULINK software, and the hardware platforms are built with a single phase grid‐connected inverter in order to verify the proposed comprehensive analysis further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite‐type multiferroics have attracted considerable research interest owing to their fundamental scientific significance and promising technological applications in sensors and multiple‐state memories. The recent achievements with divalent metal dicyanamide compounds revealed such malleable frameworks as a unique platform for developing novel functional materials. Herein, two 3D organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites [Et3P(CH2)2F][Mn(dca)3] (1) and [Et3P(CH2)2Cl][Mn(dca)3] (2) (dca=dicyanamide, N(CN)2−) are presented. Accompanying the sequential phase transitions, they display a broad range of intriguing physical properties, including above room temperature ferroelastic behavior, switchable dielectricity, and low‐temperature antiferromagnetic ordering (Tc=2.4 K for both 1 and 2). It is also worth noting that the spontaneous strain value of 1 is far beyond that of 2 in the first ferroelastic phase, as a result of the precise halogen substitution. From the point view of molecular design, this work should inspire further exploration of multifunctional molecular materials with desirable properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MnO2 material has been widely utilized in primary batteries because of its high theoretical capacity, rich resources, and low cost, which, however, does not exhibit satisfactory reversible capacity and cycle life when used as a secondary battery cathode. To upgrade the rechargeability of MnO2 material, we herein fabricated a hierarchical nanocomposite by in‐situ growth of MnO2 nanostructure on carbonized melamine sponge (MnO2/C). The optimized MnO2/C nanostructure consisting of hierarchical nanospikes shows a high reversible capacity of 205 mAh⋅g‐1 at 1 C and retained 96% of its initial capacity after 400 cycles, and even at 5 C (i. e. 1540 mA⋅g‐1), the capacity retention still reaches 90% after 400 cycles, indicative of its remarkable high‐rate cycling stability. This study provides a new avenue for designing high‐rate rechargeable MnO2 cathode and may further advance the development of MnO2‐based secondary batteries. Three‐dimensional hierarchical MnO2/C nanocomposites achieved by in‐situ growth of MnO2 nanostructure on the skeleton of carbonized melamine sponges. Optimized MnO2/GCF consisting of hierarchical MnO2 nanospikes, shows high accessible capacity, superior rate stability and long‐term cyclability when used as the cathode material in alkaline electrolyte, offering great hope for the development of MnO2‐based rechargeable batteries [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistance to conventional antibiotics has raised worldwide attention. Notably, Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become one of the most life‐threatening health concerns. Although effective against bacterial infections, conventional antibiotics have also showed a series of side effects such as gut microbiota imbalance. An alternative is in urgent need in order to combat bacterial infections. Antivirulence represents a new approach to circumvent these shortcomings, which focuses on disarming the "weapons" for pathogenicity without much selective pressure on bacterial survival. In this review, we place emphasis on the chemical modulation of biosynthesis, assembly, function and the regulation of some major virulence factors in S. aureus, which we hope will help the development of antivirulence modulators. Virulence factors of S. aureus become a new approach to combat bacterial infections and circumvent the shortcomings of conventional antibiotics. In this review, we place emphasis on the chemical modulation of some major virulence factors in S. aureus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pursuit of increased energy density and longer lifespan lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) is urgently needed to satisfy a dramatically increased demand in the energy market. Currently, metal‐oxide‐based anodes are being intensively studied due to their higher capacities over current graphite anodes. This work introduces a sustainable strategy to construct a metal‐oxide‐based anode with high capacity and an extremely long lifecycle, in which the features of bioinspired architectures and heteroatom doping can contribute greatly to increased performances. In detail, 1D tubelike metal oxide (e.g., MnO) coated on an N‐doped carbon framework (i.e. MnO/N−C) has been designed by using the naturally abundant and renewable Metaplexis japonica fibers (MJFs) as the biotemplate and heteroatom source. Benefiting from the uniqueness of structure and compositions, as‐prepared MnO/N−C demonstrates extremely high rate capacities of 951, 777, 497, and 435 mAh g−1 at the rates of 0.5, 2, 4, and 5 Ag−1, respectively, with a good stability of more than 1000 cycles. It was found that the electrochemical performances are superior to most previous MnO‐based anodes, in which the faster kinetics of conversion due to the advantage of the ion/electron transportation and morphological evolution has been verified. It is hoped that the concept of bioinspired architectures with heteroatom doping can be applied in wider applications for increased capability. A sustainable strategy has been introduced to construct a metal‐oxide‐based anode with high capacity and an extremely long lifecycle, in which the features of bioinspired architectures and heteroatom doping contribute to an increased performance (see figure). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advancements in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapies have shown considerable progresses in the comprehension of disease. However, the development of new potential medicines with relative safety and efficacy continues and natural compounds have been considered as alternatives or complementary agents to gain immense attractions. Tubeimoside I (TBMS I), a main triterpenoid saponin isolated from Bolbostemma paniculatum, has been reported to possess antiviral and anticancer effects. However, its effect on RA remains unknown. Here, we investigated the therapeutic effect of TBMS I in collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA) rats and explored its underlying mechanism. Our results showed that TBMS I treatment efficaciously ameliorated inflammation and joint destruction of rats with CIA. In vitro studies revealed that TBMS I suppressed the production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines including IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8 and TNFα, and downregulated the expression of MMP‐9. In addition, TBMS I attenuated the destructive phenotypes of FLS of CIA rats including inhibiting proliferation and reducing migration rate. Further mechanistic analysis demonstrated that TBMS I suppressed TNFα‐induced activations of NF‐κB and MAPKs (p38 and JNK) leading to the downregulation of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, which was beneficial to the anti‐proliferative and anti‐migratory activities of FLS cells. Taken together, TBMS I has a great potential to be developed into a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kinesin family member 2C (KIF2C)/mitotic centromere‐associated kinesin (MCAK), is thought to be oncogenic as it is involved in tumour progression and metastasis. Moreover, it also plays a part in neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's disease and psychiatric disorders such as suicidal schizophrenia. Our previous study conducted on mice demonstrated that KIF2C is widely distributed in various regions of the brain, and is localized in synaptic spines. Additionally, it regulates microtubule dynamic properties through its own microtubule depolymerization activity, thereby affecting AMPA receptor transport and cognitive behaviour in mice. In this study, we show that KIF2C regulates the transport of mGlu1 receptors in Purkinje cells by binding to Rab8. KIF2C deficiency in Purkinje cells results in abnormal gait, reduced balance ability and motor incoordination in male mice. These data suggest that KIF2C is essential for maintaining normal transport and synaptic function of mGlu1 and motor coordination in mice. Key points: KIF2C is localized in synaptic spines of hippocampus neurons, and regulates excitatory transmission, synaptic plasticity and cognitive behaviour.KIF2C is extensively expressed in the cerebellum, and we investigated its functions in development and synaptic transmission of cerebellar Purkinje cells.KIF2C deficiency in Purkinje cells alters the expression of metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGlu1) and the AMPA receptor GluA2 subunit at Purkinje cell synapses, and changes excitatory synaptic transmission, but not inhibitory transmission.KIF2C regulates the transport of mGlu1 receptors in Purkinje cells by binding to Rab8. KIF2C deficiency in Purkinje cells affects motor coordination, but not social behaviour in male mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The aim of this study is to explore the association between depression and obstructive sleep apnea, and cardiovascular disease morbidity/all‐cause mortality using Sleep Heart Health Study data. This post hoc analysis of a prospective study used patient data from the Sleep Heart Health Study conducted between 1995 and 1998. The association between depression and obstructive sleep apnea, and cardiovascular disease morbidity/all‐cause mortality was explored using multivariable Cox proportional hazard models. A total of 4918 participants, 656 (13.3%) with obstructive sleep apnea (obstructive sleep apnea group), 1614 (32.8%) with depression (depression group), 482 (9.8%) with depression and obstructive sleep apnea (depression and obstructive sleep apnea group), and 2166 (44%) with neither obstructive sleep apnea nor depression (health group), were included. The incidence of cardiovascular disease was 24.5%, 31.0%, 31.6% and 41.7% for healthy, depression, obstructive sleep apnea, and depression and obstructive sleep apnea groups, respectively. The risk of cardiovascular disease in depression and obstructive sleep apnea participants was increased compared with that in healthy participants, which was consistent across various definitions of obstructive sleep apnea (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.24 [1.06–1.47]; 1.25 [1.05–1.49]; 1.28 [1.06–1.54]; 1.55 [1.22–1.96] for apnea–hypopnea index ≥ 10 per hr, 15 per hr, 20 per hr, 30 per hr, respectively). The risk of all‐cause mortality was increased in the depression and obstructive sleep apnea participants (hazard ratio: 1.46; 95% confidence interval: 1.07–1.99) compared with that in healthy participants when the definition of obstructive sleep apnea was apnea–hypopnea index ≥ 30. Participants with depression and obstructive sleep apnea might be at a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, and those with higher apnea–hypopnea index might be at a greater risk of all‐cause mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over-production and activation of osteoclasts is a common feature of osteolytic conditions such as osteoporosis, tumor-associated osteolysis, and inflammatory bone erosion. Cyanidin Chloride, a subclass of anthocyanin, displays antioxidant and anti-carcinogenesis properties, but its role in osteoclastic bone resorption and osteoporosis is not well understood. In this study, we showed that Cyanidin Chloride inhibits osteoclast formation, hydroxyapatite resorption, and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast marker gene expression; including ctr, ctsk, and trap. Further investigation revealed that Cyanidin Chloride inhibits RANKL-induced NF-κB activation, suppresses the degradation of IκB-α and attenuates the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK). In addition, Cyanidin Chloride abrogated RANKL-induced calcium oscillations, the activation of nuclear factor of activated T cells calcineurin-dependent 1 (NFATc1), and the expression of c-Fos. Further, we showed that Cyanidin Chloride protects against ovariectomy-induced bone loss in vivo. Together our findings suggest that Cyanidin Chloride is capable of inhibiting osteoclast formation, hydroxyapatite resorption and RANKL-induced signal pathways in vitro and OVX-induced bone loss in vivo, and thus might have therapeutic potential for osteolytic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Plant transpiration, a process of water movement through a plant and its evaporation from aerial parts especially leaves, consumes a large component of the total continental precipitation (≈48%) and significantly influences global water distribution and climate. To date, various chemical and/or biological explorations have been made to tune the transpiration but with uncertain environmental risks. In recent years, interfacial solar steam/vapor generation is attracting a lot of attention for achieving high energy transfer efficiency. Various optical and thermal designs at the solar absorber–water interface for potential applications in water purification, seawater desalination, and power generation appear. In this work, the concept of interfacial solar vapor generation is extended to tunable plant transpiration by showing for the first time that the transpiration efficiency can also be enhanced or suppressed through engineering the solar absorber–leaf interface. By tuning the solar absorption of membrane in direct touch with green leaf, surface temperature of green leaf will change accordingly because of photothermal effect, thus the transpiration efficiency as well as temperature and relative humidity in the surrounding environment will be tuned. This tunable transpiration by interfacial absorber‐leaf engineering can open an alternative avenue to regulate local atmospheric temperature, humidity, and eventually hydrologic cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of five new ZnII and CdII mixed-ligand coordination polymers, namely, {[Zn(L1)(4,4'-bpy)]·(ClO4)·2H2O} (1), {[Zn(L2)(4,4'-bpy)0.5]·(ClO4)} (2), {[Zn(L3)(4,4'-bpy)]·(NO3)·2H2O} (3), {[Cd(L4)(4,4'-bpy)0.5(NO3)]·5H2O} (4), and {[Zn(L4)(4,4'-bpy)]·Cl·H2O} (5) [4,4'-bpy = 4,4'-bipyridine, L1 = 4-carboxy-1-(4-carboxybenzyl)pyridin-1-ium chloride, L2 = 3-carboxy-1-(4-carboxybenzyl) pyridin-1-ium chloride, L3 = 4-carboxy-1-(3-carboxybenzyl) pyridin-1-ium chloride, and L4 = 3-carboxy-1-(3-carboxybenzyl) pyridin-1-ium chloride], were obtained by the reactions of the 4,4'-bipyridine with four dicarboxylate zwitterionic pyridine ligands. Single-crystal X-ray structural analyses reveal that the five complexes demonstrate different molecular frameworks coming from various coordination modes and flexibilities of different dicarboxylate zwitterionic pyridine ligands and central metal atoms. Mononuclear twofold dinuclear 2D twofold interpenetrating net for 2, four-coordinate mononuclear twofold interpenetrating 2D layer for 3, mononuclear 2D layer arranged in parallel and with large grids for 4, and twofold trans interpenetrating 2D network for compound 5. The structural diversities in 1-5 indicate that the nature of the ligands and the presence of different metal atoms have a great influence on central metal coordination modes and the structural topologies of the metalorganic molecular architectures. In addition, π···π stacking interactions also play important roles in the final crystal packing and supramolecular frameworks. The powder X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, and photoluminescence properties of 1-5 were studied, which show that architectures play an important role in emission bands and intensities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Elastic parameters such as Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, and density are very important characteristic parameters that are required to properly characterise shale gas reservoir rock brittleness, evaluate gas characteristics of reservoirs, and directly interpret lithology and oil-bearing properties. Therefore, it is significant to obtain accurate information of these elastic parameters. Conventionally, they are indirectly calculated by the rock physics method or estimated by approximate formula inversion. The cumulative errors caused by the indirect calculation and low calculation accuracy of the approximate Zoeppritz equations make accurate estimation of Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, and density difficult in the conventional method. In this paper, based on the assumption of isotropy, we perform several substitutions to convert the Zoeppritz equations from the classical form to a new form containing the chosen elastic constants of Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, and density. The inversion objective function is then constructed by utilising Bayesian theory. Meanwhile, the Cauchy distribution is introduced as a priori information. We then combine the idea of generalised linear inversion with an iterative reweighed least squares algorithm in order to solve the problem. Finally, we obtain the iterative updating formula of the three elastic parameters and achieve the direct inversion of these elastic parameters based on the exact Zoeppritz equations. Both synthetic and field data examples show that the new method is not only able to obtain the two elastic parameters of Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio stably and reasonably from prestack seismic data but also able to provide an accurate estimation of density information, which demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method. The proposed method offers an efficient seismic method to identify a 'sweet spot' within a shale gas reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specialized castes are considered a key reason for the evolutionary and ecological success of the social insect lifestyle. The most essential caste distinction is between the fertile queen and the sterile workers. Honeybee ( Apis mellifera) workers and queens are not genetically distinct, rather these different phenotypes are the result of epigenetically regulated divergent developmental pathways. This is an important phenomenon in understanding the evolution of social insect societies. Here, we studied the genomic regulation of the worker and queen developmental pathways, and the robustness of the pathways by transplanting eggs or young larvae to queen cells. Queens could be successfully reared from worker larvae transplanted up to 3 days age, but queens reared from older worker larvae had decreased queen body size and weight compared with queens from transplanted eggs. Gene expression analysis showed that queens raised from worker larvae differed from queens raised from eggs in the expression of genes involved in the immune system, caste differentiation, body development and longevity. DNA methylation levels were also higher in 3-day-old queen larvae raised from worker larvae compared with that raised from transplanted eggs identifying a possible mechanism stabilizing the two developmental paths. We propose that environmental (nutrition and space) changes induced by the commercial rearing practice result in a suboptimal queen phenotype via epigenetic processes, which may potentially contribute to the evolution of queen-worker dimorphism. This also has potentially contributed to the global increase in honeybee colony failure rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of high-quality 2D MoTe2 with a desired phase on SiO2/Si substrate is crucial to its diverse applications. A side reaction of Te with the substrate Si leading to SiTe and Si2Te3 tends to happen during growth, resulting in the failure to obtain MoTe2. It has been found that molecular sieves can adsorb the silicon telluride byproducts and eliminate the influence of the side reaction during the chemical vapor deposition synthesis of MoTe2. With the help of molecular sieves, few-layer 1T′ MoTe2 can be grown from the MoO x precursor. Pure 1T′ MoTe2 and 2H MoTe2 regions in centimeter-sized areas synthesized on the same piece of SiO2/Si substrate can be obtained by using an overlapped geometry. The strategy provides a new method to controllably synthesize MoTe2 with desired phases and can be generalizable to the synthesis of other tellurium-based layered materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) induces differentiation and function of osteoclasts through triggering multiple signaling cascades, including NF-κB, MAPK, and Ca2+-dependent signals, which induce and activate critical transcription factor NFATc1. Targeting these signaling cascades may serve as an effective therapy against osteoclast-related diseases. Here, by screening a panel of natural plant extracts with known anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, or anti-oxidant properties for possible anti-osteoclastogenic activities we identified Eriodictyol. This flavanone potently suppressed RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption in a dose-dependent manner without detectable cytotoxicity, suppressing RANKL-induced NF-κB, MAPK, and Ca2+ signaling pathways. Eriodictyol also strongly inhibited RANKL-induction of c-Fos levels (a critical component of AP-1 transcription factor required by osteoclasts) and subsequent activation of NFATc1, concomitant with reduced expression of osteoclast specific genes including cathepsin K (Ctsk), V-ATPase-d2 subunit, and tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAcP/Acp5). Taken together, these data provide evidence that Eriodictyol could be useful for the prevention and treatment of osteolytic disorders associated with abnormally increased osteoclast formation and function. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 1983-1993, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tall hollow concrete piers with high width-to-thickness ratios are commonly used in long-span box girder bridges. Such thin-walled structures present the possibility of failure due to local buckling. So, in common practice, diaphragms are usually included in hollow piers to improve the local stability; however, is that necessary? Although experimental research on the buckling behaviour of hollow piers has been conducted extensively, few analytical attempts have been performed to reveal the effects of the width-to-thickness ratio on local buckling behaviour. To this end, an analytical model has been proposed to investigate the local buckling behaviour of hollow piers. Following the Ritz-Timoshenko method, an analytical formula for critical local buckling stress has been developed and verified to have good accuracy compared with finite element analyses. Based on the buckling failure mode of a hollow pier with a slenderness ratio > 6, it can be reasonably postulated that the strength of the hollow pier will be unaffected by local compression flange buckling when the wall width-to-thickness ratio is < 24, and it is entirely unnecessary to include diaphragms in hollow piers for stability. Additionally, it is equally interesting that the critical width-to-thickness ratio of a hollow pier with a slenderness ratio > 4 derived using the proposed model is the same as the value given by the current AASHTO-LRFD Bridge Design Specifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Hot air drying and sun drying are traditional drying technologies widely used in the drying of agricultural products for a long time, but usually recognized as time-consuming or producing lower-quality products. Infrared drying is a rather effective drying technology that has advantages over traditional drying technologies. Thus, in order to investigate the application of infrared drying in the dehydration of red pepper, the drying characteristics and quality of infrared-dried red pepper were compared with those of sun-dried and hot air-dried red pepper. RESULTS The infrared drying technology significantly enhanced the drying rate when compared with hot air drying and sun drying. Temperature was the most important factor affecting the moisture transfer during the process of infrared drying as well as hot air drying. Effective moisture diffusivity ( Deff) values of infrared drying ranged from 1.58 × 10−9 to 3.78 × 10−9 m2 s−1. The Ea values of infrared drying and hot air drying were 42.67 and 44.48 kJ mol−1 respectively. Infrared drying and hot air drying produced color loss to a similar extent. Relatively higher crispness values were observed for infrared-dried samples. CONCLUSION Sun drying produced dried red pepper with the best color when compared with hot air drying and infrared drying. Meanwhile, infrared drying markedly improved the drying rate at the same drying temperature level of hot air drying, and the products obtained had relatively better quality with higher crispness values. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to other insects, the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum has a reduced immune system with an absence of genes coding for a lot of immunity‐related molecules. Notably, nitric oxide synthase (NOS), which catalyses the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), is present in the pea aphid. However, the role of NO in the immune system of pea aphid remains unclear. In this study, we explored the role of NO in the defence of the pea aphid against bacterial infections and found that the NOS gene of the pea aphid responded to an immune challenge, with the expression of ApNOS observably upregulated after bacterial infections. Knockdown of ApNOS using RNA interference or inhibition of NOS activity increased the number of live bacterial cells in aphids and the mortality of aphids after bacterial infection. Conversely, the increase in NO level in aphids using NO donor inhibited the bacterial growth, increased the survival of bacteria‐infected aphids, and upregulated immune genes, such as Toll pathway and phagocytosis related genes. Thus, NO promotes immune responses and plays an important role in the immune system of pea aphid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Auxetic composites have attracted considerable attention in recent years and have demonstrated a high potential of applications in different areas due to their wonderful properties as compared to non-auxetic composites. In this study, a threedimensional (3D) auxetic textile structure previously developed was used as reinforcement to fabricate auxetic composites with conventional polyurethane (PU) foam. Both the deformation behavior and mechanical properties of the auxetic composites under compression were analyzed and compared with those of the pure PU foam and non-auxetic composites made with the same materials and structural parameters but with different yarn arrangement. The results show that the negative Poisson's ratio of composites can be obtained when suitable yarn arrangement in a 3D textile structure is adopted. The results also show that the auxetic composites and non-auxetic composites have different mechanical behaviors due to different yarn arrangements in 3D textile structure. While the auxetic composites behave more like damping material with lower compression stress, the nonauxetic composite behaves more like stiffer material with higher compression stress. It is expected that this study could pave a way to the development of innovative 3D auxetic textile composites for different potential applications such as impact protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strut-and-tie models (STMs) have been wildly used for the design of disturbed regions in structural concrete members. The STM developed based on the load path method or with the aid of stress trajectories is not unique and varies with the designer′s intuition and past experience. As a result, topology optimization methods have been adopted to generate STMs in reinforced concrete structures. However, such models are just a preliminary configuration and the detailed layout of ties in an STM cannot be determined by the optimal topology. This is because reinforced concrete is assumed to be a uniform elastic continuum. Therefore, the effect of the steel reinforcement on the load transmission cannot be considered in the optimization process. Recently, the criterion of minimum strain energy has been proposed to determine the optimal layout of STMs obtained by the modified optimization method. However, the strain energy criterion does not work when the minimum strain energy in ties is zero when evaluated by mathematical equations. To address this issue, the maximum stiffness criterion is proposed to discover the optimal layout of ties in STMs by evaluating the stiffnesses of strut ties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-dimensional ion-beam figuring (1D-IBF) can improve grazing-incidence reflective optics, such as Kirkpatrick-Baez mirrors. 1D-IBF requires only one motion degree of freedom, which reduces equipment complexity, resulting in compact and low-cost IBF instrumentation. Furthermore, 1D-IBF is easy to integrate into a single vacuum system with other fabrication processes, such as a thin-film deposition. The NSLS-II Optical Metrology and Fabrication Group has recently integrated the 1D-IBF function into an existing thin-film deposition system by adding an RF ion source to the system. Using a rectangular grid, a 1D removal function needed to perform 1D-IBF has been produced. In this paper, demonstration experiments of the 1D-IBF process are presented on one spherical and two plane samples. The final residual errors on both plane samples are less than 1 nm r.m.s. The surface error on the spherical sample has been successfully reduced by a factor of 12. The results show that the 1D-IBF method is an effective method to process high-precision 1D synchrotron optics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]