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Purpose: The paper proposes a two-level closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) dynamic competitive model based on different competitive cooperation situations, and explores the impact of competitive cooperation methods on the pricing strategies, recycling and remanufacturing strategies and competitive model selection strategies of supply chain firms. Design/methodology/approach: This paper establishes a CLSC game consisting of a manufacturer and two retailers. Firstly, five CLSC models are established in both horizontal and vertical dimensions, each of which competes with one another. Secondly, the recycling and remanufacturing pricing strategies are analyzed under different competition or cooperation models. Finally, the results are verified through numerical analysis. Findings: The overall profitability of the CLSC is highest when the manufacturer–retailer partnership alliance is in place. The relationship between retailers and manufacturers is also found to be the best way to achieve overall optimization of the CLSC. Originality/value: The paper investigates the relationship between the competitive partnership and the total profit of the CLSC, taking into account how to optimize the overall benefit, and focusing on how to optimize the individual interests of each participating enterprise. The results can provide basis and guidance for managers' pricing decision and competition cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reliable operation of Internet data centers (IDCs) is crucial to digitization transformation of society. However, the extreme fault on the IDC-located distribution network is fatal to IDC operation. The evolution of flexible distribution networks (FDNs) can satisfy the deep dependence of IDC on high-quality and reliable power supply. In FDNs, AC/DC feeders with multiple voltage levels can be flexibly interconnected and adjusted by flexible stations (FSs). It is promising to flexibly enhance operation performance of crucial IDCs after fault isolation in FDNs. In this paper, a coordinated supply restoration method of IDCs in FDNs with spatial-temporal regulation is proposed to minimize IDC data-dropping loss under complex faults. First, a spatial-temporal transfer strategy of IDC workloads is precisely formulated and an FS-based network reconfiguration strategy is proposed. Then, a mixed-integer second-order conic programming model is established for efficient solving. Spatial-temporal coordination among the source, network, storage, and demand sides can be realized without violating physical feasibility. Finally, the proposed method is validated on the modified IEEE 33-node and modified IEEE 123-node test cases. Case studies show that total outage loss is effectively reduced with sufficient utilization of available power. Operational performance of FDN is also enhanced under extreme faults.

This study investigates the characteristics on different channel lengths for a sequence of Si3N4 and SiO2 deposition as PV of LTPS TFTs. After analyzing the subthreshold swing (SS) of the initial condition and change in the $\Delta \text{V}_{\text{TH}}$ after NBTI and PBTI operations, a degradation mechanism is identified. When Si3N4 is deposited as the first layer of passivation (PV), hydrogen diffuses into the channel owing to activation or thermal annealing. As the channel length decreases, the hydrogen concentration increases at the center of the channel for devices with Si3N4 as the first layer of PV. Elevated hydrogen concentrations in the center of short channel devices lead to a debased SS. Moreover, the more positive fixed oxide charges create a more pronounced degradation after NBTI operation. On the other hand, PBTI performance shows a milder degradation with decreasing channel length due to fewer trapping charges. Finally, the hydrogen concentration is verified using SIMS. In summary, the heightened degradation of NBTI with device scaling is attributed to excess hydrogen on channel center during Si3N4 film deposition. The uneven hydrogen distribution also contributes the different SS and the different degradation after PBTI operation with different channel length.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common types of malignant cancers worldwide. Although molecularly targeted therapies have significantly improved treatment outcomes, most of these target inhibitors are resistant. Novel inhibitors as potential anticancer drug candidates are still needed to be discovered. Therefore, in the present study, we synthesized a novel 4-(1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-ylthio)pyrimidine derivative (compound 4) using fragment- and structure-based techniques and then investigated the anticancer effect and underlying mechanism of anti-CRC. The results revealed that compound 4significantly inhibited HCT116 cell proliferation with IC50 values of 8.04 ± 0.94 µmol L–1after 48 h and 5.52 ± 0.42 µmol L–1after 72 h, respectively. Compound 4also inhibited colony formation, migration, and invasion of HCT116 cells in a dose-dependent manner, as well as inducing cell apoptosis and arresting the cell cycle in the G2/M phase. In addition, compound 4was able to inhibit the activation of the MEK/ERK signaling in HCT116 cells. And compound 4yielded the same effects as the MEK inhibitor U0126 on cell apoptosis and MEK/ERK-related proteins. These findings suggested that compound 4inhi bited cell proliferation and growth, and induced cell apoptosis, indicating its use as a novel and potent anticancer agent against CRC viathe MEK/ERK signaling pathway.

In this study, the electrical characteristics and hot-carrier reliability are investigated in via-contact type amorphous indium–gallium–zinc oxide thin-film transistors (TFTs) with different field-plate structures, generally used as a light-shielding layer. Compared to a conventional symmetric structure, the output current characteristics of the asymmetric structures with a source-connected (drain-connected) field plate are more saturated (unsaturated). The source-connected field plate (SCFP) structure exhibits a good channel control ability, which can effectively suppress the drain-induced barrier-lowering effect and improve the IR-drop phenomena to achieve uniform brightness in each pixel over a large-area display. In addition, this structure demonstrates a good hot-carrier stress (HCS) stability confirmed by simulations and energy bands analysis. Based on the results of this study, it is proposed that the SCFP structure with stably saturated output current characteristics and HCS reliability is suitable for driving TFTs in active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AM-OLED) applications.

After theoretical discovery of quantized magnetic vortices in type II superconductors by Abrikosov, which received 2003 Nobel Prize in Physics, vortex pinning has been an important topic of research for high critical current densities in applied magnetic fields desired for a variety of applications in electric and electronic devices and systems. The small vortex core size in high temperature superconductors (HTSs), of a few nanometers, has prompted an intensive research in development of nanoscale artificial pinning centers (APCs) in so-called HTS nanocomposites. Exciting results of much enhanced in-field critical current densities and pinning force densities have been achieved. This talk intends to highlight the progress made recently in HTS nanocomposites towards controllable generation of APCs with desired morphologies, dimension, concentration, and pinning efficiency for targeted applications. The future research in HTS nanocomposites to meet the need of practical applications will also be discussed.

ABSTRACTIn this paper, the aerodynamic noise of a centrifugal fan with an eccentric impeller is investigated and analyzed by adopting a hybrid method combining detached-eddy simulation and the acoustic finite element method (FEM). The impeller-eccentric effect of high-speed centrifugal fans, frequently ignored in theoretical studies, is objective in practical engineering applications owing to machining and installation errors, which have a significant influence on flow characteristics and subsequently noise characteristics. An impeller-whirling model combined with the sliding mesh method is introduced to obtain the actual flow with an eccentric impeller. First, the internal flow field handled with different eccentricities is investigated. The total pressure and internal efficiency decline, and the flow field near the leading edge shows intense unsteadiness, inducing a rise in the pressure fluctuation amplitude at the rotating frequency (RF) in both impeller flow passage and volute domain. Second, the variational formulation of Lighthill’s analogy is implemented by acoustic FEM to better account for the interaction between the solid surface and aerodynamic sound, capturing a contribution by turbulence noise at the second RF. Under eccentric conditions, the sound source intensity shows a circumferential non-uniform distribution in a similar region to the flow field. The calculated sound pressure level captures the variation in the experimental result, which shows an obvious rise at RF induced by the impeller-eccentric effect. The characteristics of the noise spectrum and sound directivity change significantly, and the overall sound pressure level rises with the increase in eccentricity. This study provides an effective simulation strategy for predicting the aerodynamic noise of centrifugal fans under realistic conditions.

This study investigates abnormal decreased subthreshold swing (S.S.) and increased ${I}_{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle ON}}$ in back-channel etch (BCE) InGaZnO (IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) under self-heating stress (SHS) operation. With confirmation of the energy band diagram via gate-to-source ( ${C}_{\text {GS}}$ ) and gate-to-drain capacitance ( ${C}_{\text {GD}}$ ) measurements of the capacitance–voltage ( ${C}$ – ${V}$ ) curve, the degradation mechanism is further inferred. The degradation arises from uneven trapped charges by the thermal field. To illustrate the mechanism, the device with uneven trapped charges and the double-gate device with different values of ${V}_{\text {TH}}$ are simulated by SILVACO-TCAD.

Aim:To explore the effectiveness of home-based exercise programs with e-devices (HEPEs) on falls among community-dwelling older adults. Methods:Twelve randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis considering four fall-related outcomes. Results:HEPEs significantly reduced the rate of falls (risk ratio: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.72–0.95; p = 0.006) and improved lower extremity strength (mean difference: -0.94; 95% CI: -1.71 to -0.47; p < 0.001). There was a significant improvement favoring HEPEs on balance if the participants were aged >75 years (mean difference: -0.55; 95% CI: -1.05 to -0.05; p = 0.03), or the intervention duration was at least 16 weeks (mean difference: -0.81; 95% CI: -1.58 to -0.05; p = 0.04). Conclusion:HEPEs demonstrated an overall positive effect on falls among community-dwelling older adults.

Imidazole-based compounds are widely found in natural products, synthetic molecules, and biomolecules. Noncovalent interactions between the imidazole ring and other functional groups play an important role in determining the function of diverse molecules. However, there is a limited understanding of the underlying noncovalent interactions between imidazoles and aromatic systems. In this work, we report physical-organic chemistry studies on 2-(2,6-diarylphenyl)-1H-imidazoles and their protonated forms to investigate the noncovalent interactions between the central imidazole ring and two flanking aromatic rings possessing substituents at the para/meta position. Hammett analysis revealed that pKavalues and proton affinities correlate well with Hammett σ values of para-substituents at the flanking rings. Additional quantitative Kohn–Sham molecular orbital and energy decomposition analyses reveal that through-space π–π interactions and NH−π interactions contribute to the intramolecular stabilization of the imidazolium cation. The results are important because they clearly demonstrate that the imidazolium cation forms energetically favorable noncovalent interactions with aromatic rings via the through-space effect, a knowledge that can be used in rational drug and catalyst design.

Arene–arene interactions are fundamentally important in molecular recognition. To precisely probe arene–arene interactions in cyclophanes, we designed and synthesized (2,6-phenol)paracyclophanes and (2,6-aniline)paracyclophanes that possess two aromatic rings in close proximity. Fine-tuning the aromatic character of one aromatic ring by fluorine substituents enables investigations on the intramolecular interactions between the electron-rich phenol and aniline with tetra-H- and tetra-F-substituted benzene. pKameasurements revealed that the tetra-F-template increases the acidity of the phenol (ΔpKa= 0.55). X-ray crystallography and computational analyses demonstrated that all [3,3]metaparacyclophanes adopt cofacial parallel conformations, implying the presence of π–π stacking interactions. Advanced quantum chemical analyses furthermore revealed that both electrostatic interactions and orbital interactions provide the key contribution to the structure and stability of [3,3]metaparacyclophanes.

Fibroblasts can be reprogrammed into cardiovascular progenitor cells (CPCs) using transgenic approaches, although the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We determined whether activation of endogenous genes such as Gata4, Nkx2.5, and Tbx5can rapidly establish autoregulatory loops and initiate CPC generation in adult extracardiac fibroblasts using a CRISPR activation system. The induced fibroblasts (>80%) showed phenotypic changes as indicated by an Nkx2.5cardiac enhancer reporter. The progenitor characteristics were confirmed by colony formation and expression of cardiovascular genes. Cardiac sphere induction segregated the early and late reprogrammed cells that can generate functional cardiomyocytes and vascular cells in vitro. Therefore, they were termed CRISPR-induced CPCs (ciCPCs). Transcriptomic analysis showed that cell cycle and heart development pathways were important to accelerate CPC formation during the early reprogramming stage. The CRISPR system opened the silenced chromatin locus, thereby allowing transcriptional factors to access their own promoters and eventually forming a positive feedback loop. The regenerative potential of ciCPCs was assessed after implantation in mouse myocardial infarction models. The engrafted ciCPCs differentiated into cardiovascular cells in vivobut also significantly improved contractile function and scar formation. In conclusion, multiplex gene activation was sufficient to drive CPC reprogramming, providing a new cell source for regenerative therapeutics.

[Display omitted] • The oxygen vacancies introduced into BiVO 4 through the reduction of V5+ to V4+ by I−. • The ultrathin BiOI nanosheets and BiVO 4 formed the type II heterojunction. • Oxygen vacancies and built-in electric field synergistically boost the carrier dynamics. Bismuth vanadate (BiVO 4) has been one of the most promising candidates for solar water splitting while still suffers from poor bulk charge transport that limits its solar to hydrogen conversion efficiency. We demonstrate in this work an efficient strategy for boosting bulk charge transport of BiVO 4 through the facile impregnation of as-prepared BiVO 4 photoanode in the precursor solution of ultrathin BiOI nanosheets. Such impregnation creates increased oxygen vacancies in the bulk of BiVO 4 through the reduction of V5+ to V4+ by I−, which greatly improves bulk separation efficiency for BiVO 4 -BiOI up to 65.9 % at 1.23 V RHE from the original 51.9 % of pure BiVO 4. Moreover, the decoration of the BiOI nanosheets on BiVO 4 photoanode is also beneficial for addressing the carrier dynamics at surface due to the matched energy levels of BiOI nanosheets and BiVO 4. The introduced plenty of oxygen vacancies in the bulk of BiVO 4 and the built-in electric field in BiVO 4 -BiOI synergistically improve the photocurrent density at 1.23 V RHE up to 3.88 mA cm-2. We believe that such facile impregnation strategy will pave an alternative way to the development of highly efficient BiVO 4 photoanode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface cracking induced by damage accumulation is a common quality problem during the hot processing of powder metallurgical (P/M) products. This study aims to clarify the damage and fracture of P/M Fe–Cu–C steel at elevated temperatures to propose its fracture criterion by combining hot tensile tests with finite element (FE) calculations. The results reveal that the FE-aided test accurately corrected the true stress and strain of the P/M steel during the Gleeble hot tensile testing. In addition, the flow behaviors and cracking tendency of the P/M steel strongly depended on the hot deformation parameters. The optimum hot processing window of P/M steel was proposed after determining the quantitative relationships between the damage and hot deformation parameters. Finally, a novel elevated temperature fracture strain model of the P/M steel was proposed based on the Zener–Hollomon parameter to construct its Cockroft and Latham fracture criterion coupling hot processing parameters. The constructed fracture criterion was further normalized and modified, and achieved an acceptable fracture predictive capability with a relative error of less than 5%, which was validated by powder forging experiments. This work provides essential information and a useful model for the fracture prediction of P/M Fe–Cu–C steel at elevated temperatures, helping to manage the surface cracking problems of P/M steel during hot processing.

Metallic plasmonic hybrid nanostructures have attracted enormous research interest due to the combined physical properties coming from different material components and the broad range of applications in nanophotonic and electronic devices. However, the high loss and narrow range of property tunability of the metallic hybrid materials have limited their practical applications. Here, a metallic alloy-based self-assembled plasmonic hybrid nanostructure, i.e., a BaTiO3–AuxAg1–x(BTO) vertically aligned nanocomposite, has been integrated by a templated growth method for low-loss plasmonic systems. Comprehensive microstructural characterizations including high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (HRSTEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and three-dimensional (3D) electron tomography demonstrate the formation of an ordered “nano-domino-like” morphology with Au0.4Ag0.6nanopillars as cylindrical cores and BTO as square shells. By comparing with the BTO–Au hybrid thin film, the BTO–Au0.4Ag0.6alloyed film exhibits much broader plasmon resonance, hyperbolic dispersion, low-loss, and thermally robust features in the UV–vis–NIR wavelength region. This study provides a feasible platform for a complex alloyed plasmonic hybrid material design with low-loss and highly tunable optical properties toward all-optical integrated devices.

This paper investigates the hydrodynamic characteristic of a single-stage centrifugal pump with inlet inducer and outlet Radial Guided Vanes (RGVs) influenced by the clocking effect for the first time. Different from general ones, the outlet RGVs in this paper have specificities. The hydraulic performance and dynamic characteristics of the centrifugal pump are numerically studied and validated by experiments. The results indicate that there is an optimum position of RGVs that can not only increase the pump head and efficiency but also reduce the pressure fluctuation intensity. A non-dimensional parameter describing the velocity non-uniformity of the impeller outlet is first proposed, which is negatively related to the pump’s hydraulic performance. The clocking position of the RGVs will affect the velocity homogeneity at the impeller outlet, and further influence the hydraulic characteristics of the pump. Besides, the clocking effect of outlet RGVs mainly affects the amplitudes of BPF for both the pressure fluctuation and radial force, and the most obvious frequency of pressure pulsation and radial force is 3 BPF correlating with the inlet inducer. It is recommended to install the volute-tongue tip near the middle of two vanes.

Mitsugumin 53 (MG53) is a tripartite motif family protein that has been reported to attenuate injury via membrane repair in different organs. Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is a common complication caused by the administration of iodinated contrast media (CM). While the cytotoxicity induced by CM leading to tubular cell death may be initiated by cell membrane damage, we wondered whether MG53 alleviates CI-AKI. This study was designed to investigate the effect of MG53 on CI-AKI and the underlying mechanism. A rat model of CI-AKI was established, and CI-AKI induced the translocation of MG53 from serum to injury sites on the renal proximal tubular (RPT) epithelia, as illustrated by immunoblot analysis and immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, pretreatment of rats with recombinant human MG53 protein (rhMG53, 2 mg/mL) alleviated iopromide-induced injury in the kidney, which was determined by measuring serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and renal histological changes. In vitro studies demonstrated that exposure of RPT cells to iopromide (20, 40, and 80 mg/mL) caused cell membrane injury and cell death, which were attenuated by rhMG53 (10 and 50 μg/mL). Mechanistically, MG53 translocated to the injury site on RPT cells and bound to phosphatidylserine to protect RPT cells from iopromide-induced injury. In conclusion, MG53 protects against CI-AKI through cell membrane repair and reducing cell apoptosis; therefore, rhMG53 might be a potential effective means to treat or prevent CI-AKI.

Molecular balances based on the dibenzobicyclo[3.2.2]nonane template enable probing of the competition between halogen−π and CH−π interactions. Structural, NMR spectroscopic, and computational analyses revealed that the π system can favorably interact both with C–X or C–H functionalities, depending on the size of the functional group.

Metal-free plasmonic metamaterials with wide-range tunable optical properties are highly desired for various components in future integrated optical devices. Designing a ceramic–ceramic hybrid metamaterial has been theoretically proposed as a solution to this critical optical material demand. However, the processing of such all-ceramic metamaterials is challenging due to difficulties in integrating two very dissimilar ceramic phases as one hybrid system. In this work, an oxide-nitride hybrid metamaterial combining two highly dissimilar ceramic phases, i.e., semiconducting weak ferromagnetic NiO nanorods and conductive plasmonic TiN matrix, has been successfully integrated as a unique vertically aligned nanocomposite form. Highly anisotropic optical properties such as hyperbolic dispersions and strong magneto-optical coupling have been demonstrated under room temperature. The novel functionalities presented show the strong potentials of this new ceramic–ceramic hybrid thin film platform and its future applications in next-generation nanophotonics and magneto-optical integrated devices without the lossy metallic components.

Purpose: Selecting suitable and competent partners is an important prerequisite to improve the performance of collaborative product innovation (CPI). The purpose of this paper is to propose an integrated multi-criteria approach and a decision optimization model of partner selection for CPI from the perspective of knowledge collaboration. Design/methodology/approach: First, the criteria for partner selection are presented, considering comprehensively the knowledge matching degree of the candidates, the knowledge collaborative performance among the candidates, and the overall expected revenue of the CPI alliance. Then, a quantitative method based on the vector space model and the synergetic matrix method is proposed to obtain a comprehensive performance of candidates. Furthermore, a multi-objective optimization model is developed to select desirable partners. Considering the model is a NP-hard problem, a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II is developed to solve the multi-objective optimization model of partner selection. Findings: A real case is analyzed to verify the feasibility and validity of the proposed model. The findings show that the proposed model can efficiently select excellent partners with the desired comprehensive attributes for the formation of a CPI alliance. Originality/value: Theoretically, a novel method and approach to partner selection for CPI alliances from a knowledge collaboration perspective is proposed in this study. In practice, this paper also provides companies with a decision support and reference for partner selection in CPI alliances establishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractLarge-scale production of thiocyanate (SCN-) for industrial purposes has led to widespread environmental pollution by this compound. Thiocyanate (SCN-) is toxic for humans and recalcitrant to biological oxygenation and hydrolysis. Phytoremediation is an effective technique for disposal of SCN-because thiocyanate (SCN-) can be assimilated by many plants from contaminated water and soil. In this study, we demonstrate that Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP-1glutathione S-transferase (TeGST) is a good candidate gene for enhancing phytoremediation of thiocyanate (SCN-) in the plant. Our study demonstrated that Arabidopsis thalianaintroduced with the glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene were able to germinate and grow in a medium containing 5 mmol L−1thiocyanate (SCN-), which was lethal for wild-type plants. Moreover, the GST can confer the capacity of plants to remove more thiocyanate in vivo. Our results suggest that grafting the T. elongatus BP-1glutathione S-transferase (TeGST) gene into plants is a potentially effective strategy to enhance phytoremediation of environmental thiocyanates. To our knowledge, this is the first study on the degradation of guanidine isothiocyanate by transgenic plants.

Liquid–liquid equilibrium (LLE) data of the ternary system 2-methyl-2-butanol + water + o-xylene were determined at 303.2, 313.2, and 323.2 K under 101.3 kPa. The extraction capacity of o-xylene is expressed by selectivity, which is more than 118 and decreases with the increase of temperature. The quality of the experimental LLE data is verified by calculation of the overall mass balance and alignment between the conjugated phases and overall compositions. The experimental LLE data were regressed by the NRTL and UNIQUAC models, and the binary interaction parameters were obtained. And the root-mean-square deviations (RMSDs) are less than 1.02%.

Two-dimensional layered materials hold great significance to fundamental scientific research and future nanoscale device applications. Besides the well-studied graphene and dichalcogenides, oxide-based layered materials are another family attracting significant research interests, for example, the Bi-based Bi3Fe2Mn2O10-δlayered supercell (called BFMO322 SC) structure. BFMO322 SC is an excellent room-temperature multiferroic material, but its growth mechanism is unclear. In this work, Bi2Fe1–xMnxO6thin films with different Fe/Mn molar ratios were deposited on CeO2buffer layers by pulsed laser deposition. By varying the Fe/Mn molar ratios, it has been determined that Mn can favor the growth of Bi-based layered structures, while Fe cannot facilitate the growth. A series of novel layered supercell structures can be obtained by manipulating the growth kinetics at the substrate/film interface, as achieved by precisely controlling the growth conditions. More interestingly, the magnetization and optical band gap of the Bi-based layered structures can be tuned by varying the Fe/Mn molar ratios. This original work has demonstrated the power of interfacial engineering in enabling new Bi-based layered structures and thus is of great significance for the design of new layered structures with multifunctionalities.

ABSTRACTThrough the roles of vitamin B1 and B12 in neuroprotection and in improving cerebral palsy symptoms have been previously noticed, the action mechanism is still unclear. This study aims to investigate the protective effect of vitamin B1 and B12 on neuron injury in cerebral palsy and to clarify the mechanism of vitamin B1 and B12 inhibiting neurons apoptosis, and to focus on the role of lncRNA MALAT1 in this process. In order to investigate the effect of vitamin B1 and B12 on neurons injury in vivoand on neuron apoptosis in vitro, we, respectively, introduced vitamin B1 and B12 into cerebral palsy rat and in apoptosis-induced N2A neurons by Oxygen Glucose Deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R). Our results demonstrated that vitamin B1 and B12 treatment improved the motor and memory functions and ameliorated the neurons injury in cerebral palsy rats. OGD/R treatment repressed the expression of MALAT1 and BDNF and the phosphorylation of PI3K and Akt, and enhanced the miR-1 expression, which were all reversed by vitamin B1 and B12 treatment in N2A neurons. Vitamin B1 and B12 inhibited miR-1 expression through MALAT1, promoted BDNF expression and activated PI3K/Akt signaling through the MALAT1/miR-1 axis. Vitamin B1 and B12 suppressed neuron apoptosis by up-regulating BDNF via MALAT1/miR-1 pathway. MALAT1 interference abolished the neuroprotective effect of vitamin B1 and B12 in cerebral palsy rats. Collectively, vitamin B1 and B12 up-regulates BDNF and its downstream PI3K/Akt signaling through MALAT1/miR-1 axis, thus suppressing neuron apoptosis and mitigating nerve injury in cerebral palsy rats.

In this study, the impact of moisture on the electrical characteristics of an amorphous In–Ga–Zn–O thin-film transistor (a-IGZO TFT) was investigated. In commercial applications of such TFTs, high stability and quality performance in humid environments are essential. During TFT operation under ambient moisture, the electrolysis of water molecules occurs via the tip electric field effect. Hydrogen diffuses from the etch-stop layer or back-channel into the main channel under a negative electric field. The hydrogen atoms act as shallow donors (which causes the carrier concentration in the channel to rise), causing the threshold voltage (VTH) to shift in the negative direction. Hydrogen diffusion from the overlap of the source/drain and gate electrodes to the channel center caused by the tip electric field induces a significant barrier lowering and VTHshifts in a short-channel device. However, under negative bias stress (NBS) in ambient moisture, the negative VTHshift is more obvious in short- than in long-channel devices, indicating suppressed hydrogen diffusion in long-channel devices. This is attributed to the electrolysis of water by the tip electric field at the source, drain, and gate electrodes, which causes hydrogen to diffuse to the center of the channel. Here, a novel physical model of the capacitance–voltage (C–V) electrical property changes under ambient moisture is proposed, based on the early appearance of abnormalities in the C–Vmeasurements. The electrolysis of water caused by the tip electric field and electrical abnormalities caused by hydrogen diffusion into the a-IGZO active layer are explained by this model. A secondary-ion mass spectrometry analysis shows that hydrogen content in the channel generally increases under NBS in ambient moisture. The degradation behavior due to moisture in a-IGZO is clarified. Thus, inhibiting the tip electric field may benefit future flexible-display and gas-sensing applications.

Corneal wounds usually heal quickly; but diabetic patients have more fragile corneas and experience delayed and painful healing. In the present study, we compared the healing capacity of corneal epithelial cells (CECs) between normal and diabetic conditions and the potential mechanisms. Primary murine CEC derived from wild-type and diabetic (db/db) mice, as well as primary human CEC were prepared. Human CEC were exposed to high glucose (30 mM) to mimic diabetic conditions. Cell migration and proliferation were assessed using Scratch test and MTT assays, respectively. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in the cells was measured using dichlorofluorescein reagent. Western blot was used to evaluate the expression levels of Akt. Transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) expression were used to determine tight junction integrity. We found that the diabetic CEC displayed significantly slower cell proliferation and migration compared with the normal CEC from both mice and humans. Furthermore, ROS production was markedly increased in CEC grown under diabetic conditions. Treatment with an antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine (NAC, 100 μM) significantly decreased ROS production and increased wound healing in diabetic CEC. Barrier function was significantly reduced in both diabetic mouse and human CEC, while NAC treatment mitigated these effects. We further showed that Akt signaling was impaired in diabetic CEC, which was partially improved by NAC treatment. These results show that diabetic conditions lead to delayed wound-healing capacity of CEC and impaired tight junction formation in both mice and human. Increased ROS production and inhibited Akt signaling may contribute to this outcome, implicating these as potential targets for treating corneal wounds in diabetic patients.

A material with reversible temperature change capability under an external electric field, known as the electrocaloric effect (ECE), has long been considered as a promising solid-state cooling solution. However, electrocaloric (EC) performance of EC materials generally is not sufficiently high for real cooling applications. As a result, exploring EC materials with high performance is of great interest and importance. Here, we report on the ECE of ferroelectric materials with van der Waals layered structure (CuInP2S6or CIPS in this work in particular). Over 60% polarization charge change is observed within a temperature change of only 10 K at Curie temperature. Large adiabatic temperature change (|ΔT|) of 3.3 K and isothermal entropy change (|ΔS|) of 5.8 J kg–1K–1at |ΔE| = 142.0 kV cm–1and at 315 K (above and near room temperature) are achieved, with a large EC strength (|ΔT|/|ΔE|) of 29.5 mK cm kV–1. The ECE of CIPS is also investigated theoretically by numerical simulation, and a further EC performance projection is provided.

Numerous chemicals have been reported to exert estrogen-like endocrine disrupting effects via a receptor binding mechanism that directly interacts with the ligand binding domain of estrogen receptor α (ERα). However, not only their binding affinities to ERα but also their interference in specific cell and tissue functions are clearly different. In this regard, significant regulation differences among three representative estrogenic chemicals (diethylstilbestrol (DES), bisphenol A (BPA), and diarylpropionitrile (DPN)), well-known ERα agonists with very similar structures, have been observed. Molecular dynamics simulation is used to explore the underlying mechanism of different regulation effects induced by the similar estrogen-like chemicals. The DES-induced 12 Å motion of the H9–H10 loop markedly expands the negative electrostatic potential surface of the AF-2 domain, which is consistent with the over-regulation effect of the agonist. In comparison, the 3 Å motion induced by BPA and DPN corresponds to the low-regulation effect of the chemicals. Cross-correlation analysis indicates that the different ERα motions and resulting surface feature of AF-2 domain are brought by the distinguished binding modes of the agonists. Moreover, only hydrophobic DES with estrogen-like size and flexibility has a high binding affinity of −23.47 kcal/mol binding free energy. Both the hydrophilic group in DPN and the small molecular size of BPA dramatically decrease the agonist binding ability, and their binding free energies are only −12.43 kcal/mol and −11.82 kcal/mol, respectively. Our study demonstrates that similar chemicals interact differently with ERα and induce different allosteric effects, which explains the observed regulation diversity.

Monocytes (Mos) play an important role in the pathogenesis of intestinal mucosal inflammation. This study aims to investigate the mechanism by which the intestinal epithelial cell-derived thrombospondin 1 (TSP1) modulates Mo properties and regulates intestinal inflammatory responses. In this study, the production of TSP1 by intestinal epithelial cells was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting. The properties of Mos were analyzed by flow cytometry. A mouse model of colitis was created to assess the role of epithelium-derived TSP1 in the suppression of intestinal inflammation. The results demonstrated that mouse intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) expressed TSP1, which was markedly upregulated by butyrate or feeding with Clostridium butyricum. Coculture of the butyrate-primed IECs and Mos or exposure of Mos to TSP1 in the culture induced the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β in Mos. These TGF-β+Mos had tolerogenic properties that could promote generation of inducible regulatory T cells. Adoptive transfer with TSP1-primed Mos, or feeding C. butyricum could prevent experimental colitis in mice. In summary, C. butyricum induces intestinal epithelial cells to produce TSP1 and induces TGF-β+Mos, which further suppress experimental colitis in mice. The results implicate that the administration of C. butyricum or butyrate may have the potential to ameliorate chronic intestinal inflammation through inducing immunosuppressive Mos. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel

Transparent and flexible electronic devices are highly desired to meet the great demand for next-generation devices that are lightweight, flexible, and portable. Transparent conducting oxides (TCOs), such as indium-tin oxide, serve as fundamental components for the design of transparent and flexible electronic devices. However, indium is rare and expensive. Herein, we report the fabrication of low-cost perovskite SrVO3TCO films on transparent and flexible mica substrates and further demonstrate their utilization as a TCO electrode for building a transparent, flexible, and self-powered perovskite photodetector. Superior stable optical transparency and electrical conductivity are retained in SrVO3after bending up to 105cycles. Without an external power source, the constructed all-perovskite photodetector exhibits a high responsivity (42.5 mA W–1), fast response time (3.09/1.23 ms), and an excellent flexibility and bending stability after dozens of cycles of bending at an extreme 90° bending angle. Our results demonstrate that low-cost and structure-compatible transition metal-based perovskite oxides, such as SrVO3, as TCO electrodes have huge potential for building high-performance transparent, flexible, and portable smart electronics.

The first total synthesis of the antiviral flavonoid houttuynoid A (1) has been achieved from aryl ketone 6and benzofuran aldehyde 5in nine linear steps. The C6–C3–C6structure of the flavonoid was synthesized by an I2-catalyzed oxa-Michael addition of a chalcone intermediate, generated by the Claisen–Schmidt condensation of 5and 6. This work provides a method for the synthesis of houttuynoids and provides a reference for the synthesis of the remaining members of the houttuynoid family.

ABSTRACTObjective: To investigate the underlying mechanism of lncRNA myocardial infarction-associated transcript (MIAT) in hypoxic-ischemic (HI)-induced neonatal cerebral palsy.Materials and methods: Neonatal rat model of HI injury was established to detect the motor function. LncRNA MIAT, miR-211, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and caspase-3 expressions were measured by qRT-PCR or western blot. The apoptosis of Neuro2A cells was detected by flow cytometry. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull-down assays were performed to confirm the interaction between MIAT and miR-211.Results: Compared with control group, lncRNA MIAT and GDNF were downregulated in striatal tissues of neonatal rats in HI group and oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced ischemic injury of Neuro2A cells, whereas miR-211 was up-regulated in striatal tissues of HI group and OGD-induced ischemic injury of Neuro2A cells. LncRNA MIAT interacted with miR-211, and lncRNA MIAT overexpression reduced neuron apoptosis through miR-211. Besides, GDNF expression was positively regulated by lncRNA MIAT and negatively regulated by miR-211 in Neuro2A cells. In vivoexperiment proved MIAT promoted motor function and relieved HI injury.Conclusion: MIAT overexpression reduced apoptosis of Neuro2A cells through miR-211/GDNF, which relieved HI injury of neonatal rats.

The unique property of plasmonic materials to localize light into deep sub-wavelength regime has greatly driven various applications in the field of photovoltaics, sensors, and photocatalysis. Here, we demonstrate the one-step growth of an oxide–metal hybrid thin film incorporating well-dispersed gold (Au) nanoparticles (NPs) with tailorable particle shape and diameters (ranging from 2 to 20 nm) embedded in highly epitaxial TiO2matrix, deposited using pulsed laser deposition. Incorporation of Au NPs reduces the band gap of TiO2and enhances light absorption in the visible regime owing to the excitation of localized surface plasmons. Optical properties, including the plasmonic response and permittivity, and photocatalytic activities of the Au–TiO2hybrid materials are effectively tuned as a function of the Au NP sizes. Such optical property tuning is well captured using full-field simulations and the effective medium theory for better understanding of the physical phenomena. The tailorable shape and size of Au NPs embedded in TiO2matrix present a novel oxide–metal hybrid material platform for optical property tuning and highly efficient plasmonic properties for future oxide-based photocatalytic sensors and devices.

Rational engineering of photoelectrode materials that are highly efficient, stable, and simple in fabrication is of importance for developing a viable photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting device. The recent years have seen the surge in the development of multinary semiconductor materials for promising solar hydrogen generation, owing, in part, to the limitations of binary oxides, namely, TiO2, WO3, and Fe2O3. With three or more different atomic constituents the number of material candidates far exceeds that of binary oxides, thereby increasing the opportunity to find candidates with suitable band structures, stabilities, and carrier lifetimes, which promises a higher solar to hydrogen conversion efficiency. However, further engineering of these promising semiconductors is imperative to overcome their remaining limitations for viable PEC water splitting. In this review, we survey the most recent developments in the engineering of multinary semiconductors for improved PEC performance, in which we mainly discuss the progress on semiconductor-liquid junctions rather than photovoltaic-electrolysis. We first present their fundamental advances and disturbing aspects for PEC applications of the representative promising multinary semiconductors including metal oxides, metal oxynitrides, copper chalcogenides, phosphides and nitrides. Then we analyze five common engineering protocols that have been effectively adopted for the improved PEC performance, including nanostructuring, doping, surface modification, heterostructuring, and photonic management. The progress on assembling them in PEC tandem devices is also discussed. We present finally an outlook on the future efforts as well as the challenges that have to be tackled in the way of pursuing viable PEC multinary semiconductors.

Li(NixMnyCo1−x−y)O2(NMC) is considered as one of the most promising cathode materials for Li-ion batteries. Highly textured LiNi0.5Mn0.3Co0.2O2(NMC532) thin films with well dispersed Au nanoparticles (~ 5 nm in average diameter) were deposited by pulsed laser deposition. Microstructure studies reveal the epitaxial nature of the Au nanoparticles and NMC matrix, and their lattice matching relationships. The Au nanoparticles are uniformly distributed and form faceted interfaces with NMC matrix. NMC with 2 at.% Au shows the highest volumetric capacity, best initial columbic efficiency, highest cycling performance, best rate capability and highest capacity retention among all the samples, due to alteration of chemical environment of transition metal while keeping high crystallinity. Moreover, the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy data shows that the incorporation of the Au nanoparticles also reduces charge transfer resistance compared to the pure NMC. The results suggest that appropriate Au nanoparticle incorporation enhances the volumetric capacity and promotes the charge transfer process, and thus could lead to enhanced battery performance.

Lead-free perovskite oxide thin films prepared by alloying of titanates and materials with lower melting points are shown to have enhanced ferroelectric and dielectric properties. BaTiO3(or SrTiO3) with 25% addition of BiFeO3has much improved crystalline perfection because of the lower melting point of the BiFeO3giving enhanced growth kinetics. The maximum dielectric peak temperature of BaTiO3is increased by ~ 200°C and leakage currents are reduced by up to a factor of ~ 100. The loss tangent reduces up to 300°C, with a factor of > 14 reduction at room temperature. The dielectric breakdown strength is higher by a factor of ~ 3 (> 2200kVcm−1) and from room temperature up to 500°C the dielectric constant is > 1000. Also, a low variation of dielectric constant of ~ 9% from room temperature to 330°C is obtained, compared to ~ 110% for BaTiO3. The maximum polarization (Pmax) is double that of BaTiO3, at 125.3μCcm−2. The film has high energy storage densities of > 52Jcm−3at 2050kVcm−1, matching Pb-based ferroelectric films. The strongly improved performance is important for applications in energy storage and in high temperature (up to 300°C) capacitors as well as wider application in other electronic and energy technologies.

Three-dimensional (3D) frameworks have been successfully constructed by interlayering La0.7Sr0.3MnO3(LSMO)–CeO2based epitaxial vertically aligned nanocomposite (VAN) thin films with pure CeO2(or LSMO) layers. Such 3D interconnected CeO2scaffolds integrate the lateral film strain by the interlayers with the vertical strain in VAN layers, and thus achieve the maximized strain tuning in LSMO. More importantly, by varying the types of the interlayers (i.e., CeO2or LSMO) and the number of interlayers from 1 to 3 layers, such 3D framework nanostructures effectively tune the electrical transport properties of LSMO, e.g., from a 3D insulating CeO2framework with integrated magnetic tunnel junction structures, to a 3D conducting LSMO framework, where the magnetoresistance (MR) peak values have been tuned systematically to a record high of 66% at 56 K and enhanced MR properties at high temperatures above room temperature (∼325 K). This new 3D framed design provides a novel approach in maximizing film strain, enhancing strain-driven functionalities, and manipulating the electrical transport properties effectively.

Selenium has attracted intensive attention as a promising material candidate for future optoelectronic applications. However, selenium has a strong tendency to grow into nanowire forms due to its anisotropic atomic structure, which has largely hindered the exploration of its potential applications. In this work, using a physical vapor deposition method, we have demonstrated the synthesis of large-size, high-quality 2D selenium nanosheets, the minimum thickness of which could be as thin as 5 nm. The Se nanosheet exhibits a strong in-plane anisotropic property, which is determined by angle-resolved Raman spectroscopy. Back-gating field-effect transistors based on a Se nanosheet exhibit p-type transport behaviors with on-state current density around 20 mA/mm at Vds= 3 V. Four-terminal field-effect devices are also fabricated to evaluate the intrinsic hole mobility of the selenium nanosheet, and the value is determined to be 0.26 cm2V–1s–1at 300 K. The selenium nanosheet phototransistors show an excellent photoresponsivity of up to 263 A/W, with a rise time of 0.1 s and fall time of 0.12 s. These results suggest that crystal selenium as a 2D form of a 1D van der Waals solid opens up the possibility to explore device applications.

Vanadium dioxide (VO2) thin films with controlled thicknesses are deposited on c-cut sapphire substrates with Al-doped ZnO (AZO) buffer layers by pulsed laser deposition. The surface roughness of AZO buffer layers is varied by controlling oxygen pressure during growth. The strain in the VO2lattice is found to be dependent on the VO2thickness and the VO2/AZO interface roughness. The semiconductor-to-metal transition (SMT) properties of VO2thin films are characterized and the transition temperature (Tc) is successfully tuned by the VO2thickness as well as the VO2/AZO interface roughness. It shows that the Tcof VO2decreases with the decrease of film thickness or VO2/AZO interface roughness. Other SMT properties of the VO2films are maintained during the Tctuning. The results suggest that the strain tuning induced by AZO buffer provides an effective approach for tuning Tcof VO2continuously.

An investigation of the decoupled thermal–hydraulic analysis of a separated heat pipe spent fuel pool passive cooling system (SFS) is essential for practical engineering applications. Based on the principles of thermal and mass balance, this study decoupled the heat transfer processes in the SFS. In accordance with the decoupling conditions, we modeled the spent fuel pool of the CAP1400 pressurized water reactor in Weihai and used computational fluid dynamics to explore the heat dissipation capacity of the SFS under different air temperatures and wind speeds. The results show that the air-cooled separated heat pipe radiator achieved optimal performance at an air temperature of 10 °C or wind speed of 8 m/s. Fitted equations for the equivalent thermal conductivity of the separated heat pipes with the wind speed and air temperature we obtained according to the thermal resistance network model. This study is instructive for the actual operation of an SFS.

The effect of O3addition on NH3oxidation was investigated experimentally and through chemical kinetic modeling. Experiments were conducted in a laminar flow reactor at atmospheric pressure and temperatures in the range 225–1000 °C. A detailed reaction mechanism for the NH3-O2-O3system was developed, and modeling predictions were compared to the flow reactor data. Interpretation of the experimental results was complicated by the formation of ammonium nitrate in the low-temperature inlet and outlet sections of the reactor setup. However, results showed that ammonia oxidation is promoted in the presence of ozone, at the cost of increased formation of nitric oxide and nitrous oxide. Considering the experimental uncertainty, the kinetic modeling was in satisfactory agreement with experiment. The reactivity of the system was controlled by the competition between thermal dissociation of O3(promoting) and reactions of O3with the radical pool (inhibiting). A key step was NH2+ O3, which presumably forms H2NO + O2and serves as a terminating reaction. Modeling predictions under realistic conditions in large 2-stroke diesel engines indicate that the levels of O3required to obtain sufficiently fast ignition of NH3/air/O3mixtures are prohibitively large.

Dry storage containers must be secured and reliable during long-term storage, and the effect of decay heat released from the internal spent fuel on the cask has become an important research topic. In this paper, a 3D computational fluid dynamics model is presented, and the accuracy of the calculation is verified, with computational errors of less than 6.2%. The thermal stress of the dry storage cask was estimated by coupling it with a transient temperature field. The total power remained constant and adjusting the power ratio of the inner and outer zones had a small effect on the stress results, with a maximum equivalent stress of approximately 5.2 kPa, which occurred at the lower edge of the shell. In the case of tilt, the temperature gradient varied in a wavy distribution, and the wave crest moved from right to left. Altering the tilt angle affects the air distribution in the annular gap, leading to the shell temperature being transformed, with a maximum equivalent stress of 202 MPa at the bottom of the shell. However, the equivalent stress in both cases was less than the yield stress (205 MPa).

To observe the clinical efficacy of umbilicus application with Chinese medicine in treating children’s chronic diarrhea due to food intolerance and the value of healthy diet education. Eighty kids with chronic diarrhea due to food intolerance were recruited from multiple centers and divided by using the random number table into a treatment group of 40 cases and a control group of 40 cases. For both groups, based on the level of serum food-specific immunoglobulin G (Ig-G), the patients were given unified diet following the healthy diet guidance: safe, alternate, and forbidden, while the treatment group was additionally given umbilicus application with Chinese medicine. The therapeutic efficacy and symptom score of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) were observed and compared respectively after 1-week, 2-week, 4-week, and 12-week treatment. The diarrhea symptoms and coupled symptoms scores dropped significantly in the two groups after treatment (all P<0.05), and the inter-group comparisons also showed statistical significances (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 97.5% in the treatment group versus 77.5% in the control group, and the inter-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The healthy diet guidance based on the food intolerance test is effective in helping treat diarrhea, while umbilicus application with Chinese medicine works better in treating diarrhea for kids with chronic diarrhea due to food intolerance and can significantly enhance the therapeutic efficacy. 观察中药脐部贴敷对食物不耐受型儿童慢性腹泻患者的临床疗效及饮食健康教育的价值。 将来自多中心的80 例食物不耐受型儿童慢性腹泻患者根据随机数字表分为治疗组40 例和对照组40 例。两组均 根据患儿血清中食物特异性IgG 抗体浓度, 分别采取统一的“安全进食”、“轮替”、“忌食”的健康饮食指导, 治 疗组患儿给予中药脐部贴敷治疗。治疗1 星期、2 星期、4 星期及12 星期后观察并比较两组疗效及中医症状评 分变化。 治疗后两组患者的症状评分均明显下降, 与本组治疗前有统计学差异(均P<0.05), 组间差异亦具 有统计学意义(P<0.05)。对照组总有效率为77.5%, 治疗组总有效率为97.5%, 两组总有效率差异有统计学意义 (P<0.05)。 根据食物不耐受检测结果对患儿进行健康饮食指导止泻有效, 中药脐部贴敷对食物不耐受型儿 童慢性腹泻具有更好的止泻作用, 可显著提高疗效。

The ferroelectric material KTaO_3 (KTO) has a very high refractive index, which is advantageous to the photonic crystal (PC) design. KTO polycrystalline crystal has a high extinction coefficient. In this work, we perform a theoretical study of the transmission properties of a PC bandpass filter made of polycrystalline KTO at terahertz (THz) frequencies. Our results show that the defect modes of usual PC narrowband filters no longer exist because of the existence of the high loss. We provide a new PC structure for the high-extinction materials and show that it has defect modes in its transmittance spectra, providing a possible bandpass filter design in the THz region.

Ordered arrays of metallic nanopillars embedded in a ceramic matrix have recently attracted considerable interest for their multifunctionality in advanced devices. A number of hurdles need to be overcome for achieving practical devices, including selections of metal–ceramic combination, creation of tunable and ordered structure, and control of strain state. In this article, we demonstrate major advances to create such a fine nanoscale structure, i.e., epitaxial self-assembled vertically aligned metal–ceramic composite, in one-step growth using pulsed laser deposition. Tunable diameter and spacing of the nanopillars can be achieved by controlling the growth parameters such as deposition temperature. The magnetic metal–ceramic composite thin films demonstrate uniaxial anisotropic magnetic properties and enhanced coercivity compared to that of bulk metal. The system also presents unique anisotropic electrical transport properties under in-plane and out-of-plane directions. This work paves a new avenue to fabricate epitaxial metal–ceramic nanocomposites, which can simulate broader future explorations in nanocomposites with novel magnetic, optical, electrical, and catalytical properties.

This study focuses on the influence of torrefaction on the char reactivity, char yield, and combustion time of 3–5 mm spherical wood particles in a single particle combustion reactor (SPC) operating at a nominal temperature of 1231 °C. The devolatilization times were reduced and the char burnout times were increased with increasing torrefaction degree. The devolatilization time depended linearly on the particle mass. The torrefaction pretreatment resulted in a marked increase in char yield and char particle density but no intrinsic reactivity change as determined by thermogravimetric analysis. The char yield and char particle density increased from 9 wt % and 123 kg/m3for raw particles to 14 wt % and 259 kg/m3for particles pretreated at 290 °C for 4 h. The results of this study demonstrate that the higher char yield and density are the main reasons for the longer combustion time of torrefied wood.

The mRNAs stored in oocytes undergo general decay during the maternal-zygotic transition (MZT), and their stability is tightly interconnected with meiotic cell-cycle progression. However, the factors that trigger decay of maternal mRNA and couple this event to oocyte meiotic maturation remain elusive. Here, we identified B-cell translocation gene-4 (BTG4) as an MZT licensing factor in mice. BTG4 bridged CNOT7, a catalytic subunit of the CCR4–NOT deadenylase, to eIF4E, a key translation initiation factor, and facilitated decay of maternal mRNA. Btg4-null females produced morphologically normal oocytes but were infertile, owing to early developmental arrest. The intrinsic MAP kinase cascade in oocytes triggered translation of Btg4 mRNA stored in fully grown oocytes by targeting the 3′ untranslated region, thereby coupling CCR4–NOT deadenylase–mediated decay of maternal mRNA with oocyte maturation and fertilization. This is a key step in oocyte cytoplasmic maturation that determines the developmental potential of mammalian embryos.