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In this article, a high-sensitivity U-shape single mode-tapered four core-single mode (STFS) optical fiber biosensor is proposed and investigated for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- $\alpha $ ) detection in both phosphate-buffered saline ( $1\times $ ) (PBS) and diluted serum. The surface of U-shape STFS biosensor is immobilized with TNF- $\alpha $ antibody ( $10~\mu $ g/mL), which will specifically bind with target TNF- $\alpha $ . The results demonstrate a Hill curve relationship between wavelength shift and TNF- $\alpha $ concentration (from $10^{{1}}$ to $10^{{4}}$ pg/mL diluted in PBS). The lowest concentration of TNF- $\alpha $ detected in the experiment is 10 pg/mL, with an average wavelength shift of 0.389 nm. The average wavelength fluctuation of the sensor in PBS is 0.099 nm, and the corresponding limit of detection (LOD) is 4.35 pg/mL. Results for the detection of TNF- $\alpha $ in blood sample is also presented. It is found that the deviation of detected TNF- $\alpha $ concentrations (13.00–15.03 pg/mL, calibrated by measured results in PBS) is −0.7% to 14.7% compared to standard TNF- $\alpha $ concentration of 13.09 pg/mL in blood. This biosensor, with its simple structure and high sensitivity, has the potential to serve as a valuable reference in disease diagnosis and medical drug usage, offering promising application prospects.

As cities strive for ambitious increases in tree canopy cover and reductions in anthropogenic volatile organic compound (AVOC) emissions, accurate assessments of the impacts of biogenic VOCs (BVOCs) on air quality become more important. In this study, we aim to quantify the impact of future urban greening on ozone production. BVOC emissions in dense urban areas are often coarsely represented in regional models. We set up a high-resolution (30 m) MEGAN (The Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature version 3.2) to estimate summertime biogenic isoprene emissions in the New York City metro area (NYC-MEGAN). Coupling an observation-constrained box model with NYC-MEGAN isoprene emissions successfully reproduced the observed isoprene concentrations in the city core. We then estimated future isoprene emissions from likely urban greening scenarios and evaluated the potential impact on future ozone production. NYC-MEGAN predicts up to twice as much isoprene emissions in NYC as the coarse-resolution (1.33 km) Biogenic Emission Inventory System version 3.61 (BEIS) on hot summer days. We find that BVOCs drive ozone production on hot summer days, even in the city core, despite large AVOC emissions. If high isoprene emitting species (e.g., oak trees) are planted, future isoprene emissions could increase by 1.4–2.2 times in the city core, which would result in 8–19 ppbv increases in peak ozone on ozone exceedance days with current NOxconcentrations. We recommend planting non- or low-isoprene emitting trees in cities with high NOxconcentrations to avoid an increase in the frequency and severity of future ozone exceedance events.

•A fusion plasmid(pS130–4) co-carrying hypervirulence and multidrug resistance genes identified in clinical ST11-KL64 carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniaeisolates in china.•This plasmid could be successfully transconjugated into other enterobacteriaceae with low fitness cost and high stability.•This plasmid may amplify the risk associated with the spread of carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent K. pneumoniae.

Background: With the launch of the COVID-19 vaccines, the vaccination rate has become a hot issue of concern. However, the evidence for the relationship between college students’ attitudes toward vaccines and anxiety and depressive symptoms has been limited. Methods: In total, 140,259 college students were recruited using a cluster sampling method in Zhengzhou, Xinxiang, Xinyang city of Henan Province, China, May 21-27, 2021. Anxiety symptoms were determined by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder tool (GAD-7) and depressive symptoms were determined by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Multiple logistic regression was performed to estimate the association between students’ attitudes toward the vaccines and anxiety and depressive symptoms. Results: The results indicate that 22.45% of students are unclear whether the vaccine can protect them from infection and 45.57% are unclear whether the vaccine is safe and has no side effects. In addition, after adjusting, the model showed that students who think vaccines can protect them and are safe had 0.128 (95%CI 0.110–0.150; Ptrend< 0.001) times lower risk of anxiety compared to their counterparts who think vaccines can neither protect them nor are safe. Similar ORs were found in depression (aOR = 0.157; 95%CI 0.137–0.180). Conclusion: This large-scale study has shown an association between symptoms of anxiety and depression and reluctance to obtain vaccination.

A self-adaptive probabilistic neural network (SAPNN) is proposed in this paper. Firstly, a hybrid cuckoo search (HCS) algorithm is proposed. Secondly, HCS is used in probabilistic neural networks for adapting the smoothing factor parameters. In order to accurately evaluate SAPNN proposed in this paper, the disease datasets of breast cancer, diabetes and Parkinson's disease were used for testing. Finally, comparison with several other methods shows that the accuracy of SAPNN is the best in all cases. The results of various evaluation indexes show that the proposed SAPNN in this paper is a novel method that can be applied to medical diagnosis.

Binocular rivalry, a visual perception phenomenon where two or more percepts alternate every few seconds when distinct stimuli are presented to the two eyes, has been reported as a biomarker in several psychiatric disorders. It is unclear whether abnormalities of binocular rivalry in depression could occur when emotional rivaling stimuli are used, and if so, whether an emotional binocular rivalry test could provide a trait‐dependent or state‐dependent biomarker. In the current study, 34 individuals with subthreshold depression and 31 non‐depressed individuals performed a binocular rivalry task associated with implicit emotional processing. Participants were required to report their perceived orientations of the rival gratings in the foreground and to neglect emotional face stimuli in the background. The participants were retested after an approximately 4‐month time interval. Compared to the non‐depressed group, the subthreshold depression group showed significantly longer perceptual dominance durations of the grating with emotional faces as the background (i.e., implicit emotional dominance) at the initial assessment. However, the abnormality was not found at the follow‐up assessment. More importantly, we found smaller changes in depressive severity at the follow‐up assessment for individuals displaying longer emotional dominance at the initial assessment than for individuals with weaker emotional dominance. The current emotional binocular rivalry test may provide an objective, state‐dependent biomarker for distinguishing individuals with subthreshold depression from non‐depressed individuals.

Owing to the mutual orthogonality among different orbital angular momentums (OAM), OAM mode has been considered as a promising candidate for improving channel capacity and spectrum efficiency. However, the spiral phase-front of OAM mode is susceptible to atmosphere turbulence (AT) in free pace. The distorted spiral phase induces random noise and signal shake (fluctuation) among symbols and then degrades system performance. In order to overcome the issues, an equalization method in frequency-domain is proposed for mitigating the signal shake induced by the AT. For verifying the feasibility and validity of the proposed concept, the corresponding theoretical analysis and experiments are derived and implanted, respectively. The calculated results demonstrate that the signal shake induced by AT can be effectively mitigated when an optimized estimation response matrix is achieved by using a least squares (LS) algorithm. The bit error rate (BER) and constellation plot (CP) of quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) signal are also investigated to evaluate the system performance, which demonstrate that the proposed concept can effectively resist the AT in an OAM-based free space optical communication system.

Peroxydisulfate-based nonradical oxidation processes (PDS-NOPs) are appealing for wastewater purification due to their high efficiency and environmental friendliness. Herein, we design and synthesize metal-free amorphous carbon nitride (ACN) with N3C-site vacancies for the photoactivation of PDS to eliminate pharmaceuticals and personal care products in wastewater. Integrated with electron paramagnetic resonance and radical scavenging tests, the nature of the nonradical pathways in PDS activation is unveiled to be an electron-transfer regime. The in situRaman spectrum analysis and electrochemical test show that PDS molecules combine with positively charged nitrogen vacancies to form a metastable complex (i.e., ACN–PDS*) with high chemical potential. Then, the complex selectively extracts electrons from coexisting organic pollutants to trigger the oxidation reaction. In addition, the introduction of nitrogen vacancies not only enhances the surface affinity between the catalyst and PDS but also accelerates the transfer efficiency of photoinduced electrons. As a result, the ACN/PDS system shows high photocatalytic degradation efficiency of diclofenac (DCF) in the pH range of 4 to 10 with degradation rate constants in the range of 0.18 to 0.21 min−1. In a variety of practical aqueous matrices, DCF can be entirely removed within 5 minutes when exposed to sunlight. Toxicity evaluation experiments show that the toxicity of DCF could be efficiently removed in the can/PDS system.

Peracetic acid (PAA)-based advanced oxidation processes have garnered increasing attention for eliminating organic pollutants in wastewater treatment. However, they suffer from poor catalytic efficiency and insufficient potential for practical applications. Herein, we report a defect-rich carbon nanotube@Co3O4nanosphere (d-CNTs@Co3O4-NS) catalyst with a unique three-dimensional network that can activate PAA for antibiotic remediation. The unique, highly strained reaction sites of d-CNTs@Co3O4-NS enabled the efficient activation of PAA, exhibiting ultra-high removal rates of seven types of antibiotics within 30 min. 18O isotope labeling, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and electrochemical tests revealed that high-valent cobalt-oxo species Co(iv) and direct electron transfer pathways accounted for the removal of various antibiotics. The continuous-flow reaction at trace concentrations of antibiotics (μg L−1) and the practical application evaluation indicate that the d-CNTs@Co3O4-NS/PAA system is an efficacious approach for the purification of antibiotics in ambient waterways. This study offers a distinct technique for the design of environment-related functional materials and practical water remediation.

Pyrethroids (PYRs), a widely used class of insecticides, may pose a serious risk to human health. Our study aims to investigate the relationship between six PYRs and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) as well as type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and further explore the role of inflammatory indicators in their relationship. This study was conducted using a case–control design on 2701 individuals from the Henan Rural Cohort Study and measured six PYRs in plasma using gas chromatography–triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. By using generalized linear models, we investigated the potential relationships between six PYR exposures and the risk of IFG and T2DM. Inflammatory indicators were evaluated as mediators of the association between PYRs and T2DM using mediation analyses. After multiple variables were adjusted, per 1 unit increase in ln-cypermethrin and ln-deltamethrin was related to a 12.1% (odd ratio (OR 1.121, 95% confidence interval CI 1.059, 1.187) and an 8.1% (OR 1.081, 95% CI 1.033, 1.132) increased IFG risk, respectively. And there were statistically significant relationships between six PYRs and an increased risk of T2DM. Additionally, PYRs exposure significantly increased fasting plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and HOMA2-IR levels, while they had inconsistent effects on fasting insulin and HOMA2-β levels. Furthermore, the relationship between cyfluthrin and T2DM is partly mediated by neutrophils (NE) and basophils (BASO), and the explainable percentages were 12.09% and 6.21%, respectively. The study showed that PYRs exposure is statistically significantly associated with the risk of developing IFG and T2DM in rural Chinese populations. In addition, NE and BASO partly mediated the association of cyfluthrin with T2DM.

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Background: Sleep curtailment is a serious problem in many societies. Clinical evidencehas shown that sleep deprivation is associated with mood dysregulation, formation of false memory,cardio-metabolic risk factors and outcomes, inflammatory disease risk, and all-cause mortality. Theaffective disorder dysregulation caused by insufficient sleep has become an increasingly serioushealth problem. However, to date, not much attention has been paid to the mild affectivedysregulation caused by insufficient sleep, and there is no clear and standard therapeutic method totreat it. The Xiaoyao Pill is a classic Chinese medicinal formula, with the effect of dispersingstagnated hepatoqi, invigorating the spleen, and nourishing the blood. Therefore, it is mostcommonly used to treat gynecological diseases in China. In the present study, the effects of theXiaoyao Pill on affective dysregulation of sleep-deprived mice and its underlying molecularmechanisms were investigated. Methods: Forty adult female mice were used in the present study. The sleep deprivation model wasestablished by improving the multi-platform water environment method. After 7 consecutive daysof sleep deprivation, the mice were administrated low (LXYP, 0.32mg/kg) and high (HXYP, 0.64mg/kg) doses of the Xiaoyao Pill for two weeks. Then, the body weight, behavioral deficits, andhistopathology were evaluated. Meanwhile, the expression of c-fos protein and the concentrationsof monoamine neurotransmitters in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were determined aftertwo weeks of treatment. Results: Xiaoyao Pill treatment significantly increased body weight and sucrose consumption anddecreased the irritability scores of the sleep-deprived mice. Meanwhile, Xiaoyao Pill treatmentprevented brain injury and inhibited the expression of c-fos protein in the hippocampus andprefrontal cortex. In addition, HXYP treatment significantly upregulated the levels of NE in thehippocampus and prefrontal cortex (p < 0.01). LXYP treatment significantly up-regulated the levelsof 5-HT in the prefrontal cortex. Meanwhile, both HXYP and LXYP treatment significantly upregulatedthe levels of DA in the prefrontal cortex (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) of sleep-deprived mice. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that Xiaoyao Pill treatment prevented the behavioraldeficits of mice induced by sleep deprivation by promoting the recovery of brain tissue injury andup-regulating the levels of NE, 5-HT, and DA in the brain tissue.

To date, the robust and durable adhesion capability of hydrogel adhesives in wet environments remains a huge challenge. Herein, a physicochemically double-network crosslinked hydrogel matrix was prepared by mixing acrylic acid (AAc), chitosan (CS) and tannic acid (TA) as the main components and the subsequent in situpolymerization of AAc. The abundant reactive sites on the surface of the hydrogel matrix facilitate rapid, strong and repeatable adhesion to different surfaces of engineering solids and biological tissues in an aquatic environment. The formation of amide covalent bonds resulting from the addition of the bridging agent further expands the long-term application of the hydrogel in tissue repair, and the constructed hydrogel-tissue adhesive interface still has robust adhesion energy after soaking in a physiological environment for up to one month. Moreover, the hydrogel showed fantastic hemostatic performance due to its characteristics of platelet adhesion and high burst pressure. Overall, the persistent adhesion and excellent cytocompatibility of the hydrogel adhesive make it potentially applicable in medical adhesives.

In this work, semi-crystalline nanocomposite hydrogels (i.e., PAAmA11A/GO gels) were synthesized by micellar copolymerization of acrylamide and N-acryloyl-11-aminoundecanoic acid (A11A) in the presence of a large amount of sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS) micelles and GO nanosheets. The resulting hydrogels (SMHs) not only demonstrated high strength and high toughness, but also exhibited good shape memory property. Because of near-infrared (NIR) light absorbability of GO nanosheets, shape recovery and shape of PAAmA11A/GO gels could be tuned by NIR irradiation. Moreover, bilayer hydrogels and trilayer hydrogels were also fabricated by the integration of shape-memorized PAAmA11A/GO gel and elastic hydrophobic associated hydrogel (E-gel). Based on the NIR-responsive shape memory property and layered structure, shape deformation of bilayer hydrogels and trilayer hydrogels was rather different from the single PAAmA11A/GO gel. Each kind of gel structure exhibited diverse and complex shapes via programmable NIR irradiation. More importantly, the shape morphing of NIR-SMHs-based hydrogels could mimic the hand and flower and be used as actuators.

Hydrogel adhesives with integrated functionalities are still required to match their ever‐expanding practical applications in the field of tissue repair and regeneration. A simple and effective safety strategy is reported, involving an in situ injectable polymer precursor and visible light‐induced cross‐linking. This strategy enables the preparation of a hydrogel adhesive in a physiological environment, offering wet adhesion to tissue surfaces, molecular flexibility, biodegradability, biocompatibility, efficient hemostatic performance, and the ability to facilitate liver injury repair. The proposed one‐step preparation process of this polymer precursor involves the mixing of gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA), poly(thioctic acid) [P(TA)], poly(acrylic acid)/amorphous calcium phosphate (PAAc/ACP, PA) and FDA‐approved photoinitiator solution, and a subsequent visible light irradiation after in situ injection into target tissues that resulted in a chemically‐physically cross‐linked hybrid hydrogel adhesive. Such a combined strategy shows promise for medical scenarios, such as uncontrollable post‐traumatic bleeding. An injectable precursor solution containing a light initiator forms an adhesive hydrogel on tissues. Notably, the hydrogel possesses both biocompatibility and biodegradability, enabling safe and efficient prevention of tissue bleeding while promoting the repair of liver injuries.

The adsorbents for water treatment and purification are commonly not recyclable because of the lack of a reagent-less “switch” to readily release the adsorbed compounds. Herein, the interface of Bi2O2CO3(BOC) nanosheets is designed, synthesized, and modified with citric acid, namely, modified Bi2O2CO3(m-BOC). The m-BOC is able to selectively adsorb methylene blue (MB) in the dark and the adsorbed MB could be released in the light from m-BOC without the addition of any chemicals. The adsorption mechanism is attributed to the electrostatic attraction between positively charged MB and the negatively charged surface of m-BOC. In contrast, the desorption of MB has resulted from the photo-induced charge redistribution on the surface of m-BOC, which unlocks the coordination bond between m-BOC and the carboxylic group. As a result, BOC is recycled. Such a mechanism was verified by both experimental investigation and DFT calculation. This work provides a promising interfacial engineering strategy for the remediation of dye-polluted water and smart separation in chemical engineering.

Hydrophobically associated hydrogels (HA gels) are one of most extensively investigated high strength hydrogels. Semicrystalline HA gels, prepared by micellar copolymerization, show high strength and notable functionalities of self-healing and shape-memory. However, the hydrophobic comonomers in these semicrystalline HA gels are usually limited to the long alkyl length monomers (18-alkyl(meth)acrylates). In the present work, N-acryloyl 11-aminoundecanoic acid (A11AUA), consisting of 10 −CH2groups and a −COOH group at the end of alkyl chain, was used as hydrophobic comonomer to prepare physical A11AUA-based HA gels in the presence of high concentration cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) or sodium dodecyl sulfate. Differential scanning calorimetry, wide-angle X-ray scattering, and small-angle X-ray scattering experiments had identified that the A11AUA-based HA gels possessed crystalline domains and clusters of crystalline domains, while lauryl methacrylate (C12M)-based HA gels were amorphous. As a result, A11AUA-based HA gels displayed much better tensile properties than those of C12M-based HA gels. At the optimal condition, the A11AUA-CTAB HA gel demonstrated integrated high performances, including high stiffness (Eof 1016 kPa), high strength (σfof 0.75 MPa), high toughness (Tof 7540 J/m2), rapid self-recovery (94% recovery after heat treatment at 60 °C for 2 min), outstanding shape memory (fully recovered to the permanent shape only 2–14 s), and excellent self-healing properties (as healed at 60 °C for 2 h; stress and strain healing efficiency reached to 64% and 85%, respectively). We believe this work provides a new insight for HA gels, which is beneficial to design new hydrogels with integrated high performances, such as high strength, high toughness, large extensibility, and shape-memory and self-healing properties.

M–N–C electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) have been considered as the most promising alternatives to precious metal catalysts. However, the catalytic activity of M–N–C especially in an acidic medium is still unable to meet the practical requirement, and the corresponding ORR mechanism also remains unclear. Herein, an “MOF-protective-pyrolysis” strategy was adopted to synthesize an Fe–N–C catalyst (P-FeMOF@ZIF-8) with Fe–N4 as the predominant Fe species. The P-FeMOF@ZIF-8 displays high catalytic activity in both acidic and alkaline mediums. The experimental results further reveal the different importance of the Fe species in different mediums. Based on the results, a distinct mechanism of the ORR the in acidic medium was proposed, where the synergistic effect of the Fe–N4 site and carbon in improving the kinetics of the ORR were well explained. The findings and the corresponding perspective may provide a new guidance for the design of highly efficient ORR electrocatalysts.

The development of facile and environmentally compatible synthetic strategies for broad-spectrum response photocatalysts is a primary goal for researchers in this area. For this study, we report on a template-free thermal treatment strategy for the synthesis of an oxygen-containing ultrathin porous carbon quantum dots/polymeric carbon nitride metal-free composites (CQD/OUPCN). Morphology characterization revealed that the thermal treatment induced bulk CQD/g-C3N4(CQD/BCN) to transform to porous ultrathin 2D nanosheets with a high specific surface area. Chemical structure characterization revealed that O atoms were involved in the chemical composition of C3N4following the introduction of CQD and subsequent thermal treatment. Optical and electrical characterization, as well as density functional theory (DFT) calculations, confirmed that the introduction of O atoms and CQD enabled the tuning of the intrinsic electronic state, and improved the charge transfer capacity of C3N4. Together with the up-converted fluorescence properties of CQD, the CQD/OUPCN exhibited remarkable broad-spectrum activity toward the degradation of PPCPs. Under visible light irradiation, the CQD/OUPCN-0.5% showed an 18.5 fold higher indomethacin (IDM) degradation rate than did g-C3N4. Further kinetics studies, including reactive species (RS) and degradation intermediate detection, indicated that RS, particularly O2−, was generated during the photocatalytic process, which could lead to the decomposition, and finally mineralization of IDM.

This study describes a promising porous and efficient adsorbent, a sulfonic acid (–SO3H) functionalized covalent organic framework (COF-SO3H), for the removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in water and wastewater. COF-SO3H was prepared through introducing sulfonic acid polar functionalities viaa facile solvothermal synthesis method. Studies have shown that COF-SO3H has a strong affinity for the thirteen drugs investigated in this study, especially for diclofenac (DCF). The maximum adsorption capacity for DCF was 770 mg g−1, which amounted to 9.3 times that of commercial AC, 1.5 times that of graphene oxide (GO), and 3 times that of 18% SO3-UiO-66. Further discoveries were that the adsorption isotherm data conformed well with the Langmuir model. It was also found that adsorption of DCF follows the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and thermodynamic values, ΔH< 0 and ΔG< 0, showed the exothermic nature and spontaneity of the adsorption process. Additionally, the adsorption mechanisms observed in this experiment, such as π–π interactions and the formation of hydrogen bonds, were also verified through various characterization methods. The cyclic regeneration of adsorbents and the effects of water quality constituents were estimated to assess performance in actual water/wastewater systems. Ultimately, the overall results of this study emphasized the suitability of the COF-SO3H adsorbent to remove micropollutants from real water and wastewater systems.

Ongoing global temperature rise has caused significant thaw and degradation of permafrost soils on the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (QTP). Leaching of organic matter from permafrost soils to aquatic systems is highly complex and difficult to reproduce in a laboratory setting. We collected samples from natural seeps of active and permafrost layers in an alpine swamp meadow on the QTP to shed light on the composition of mobilized dissolved organic matter (DOM) by combining optical measurements, ultrahigh‐resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry, radiocarbon (14C), and solid‐state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Our results show that even though the active layer soils contain large amounts of proteins and carbohydrates, there is a selective release of aromatic components, whereas in the deep permafrost layer, carbohydrate and protein components are preferentially leached during the thawing process. Given these different chemical characteristics of mobilized DOM, we hypothesize that photomineralization contributes significantly to the loss of DOM that is leached from the seasonally thawed surface layer. However, with continued warming, biodegradation will become more important since biolabile materials such as protein and carbohydrate are preferentially released from deep‐layer permafrost soils. This transition in DOM leachate source and associated chemical composition has ramifications for downstream fluvial networks on the QTP particularly in terms of processing of carbon and associated fluxes. Molecular formula of leachate DOM from active layer (AL) and permafrost layer (PL) of Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau were examined for the first timeAromatic C and carbohydrate/protein are preferentially leached out from AL and PLThe deepening of permafrost thaw induced by global warming will change chemical compositions of leachates

Peritoneal fibrosis progression is regarded as a significant cause of the loss of peritoneal function, markedly limiting the application of peritoneal dialysis (PD). However, the pathogenesis of peritoneal fibrosis remains to be elucidated. Tissue-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) change their molecular cargos to adapt the environment alteration, mediating intercellular communications and play a significant role in organ fibrosis. Hence, we performed, for the first time, four-dimensional label-free quantitative liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry proteomic analyses on EVs from normal peritoneal tissues and PD-induced fibrotic peritoneum in mice. We demonstrated the alterations of EV concentration and protein composition between normal control and PD groups. A total of 2339 proteins containing 967 differentially expressed proteins were identified. Notably, upregulated proteins in PD EVs were enriched in processes including response to wounding and leukocyte migration, which participated in the development of fibrosis. In addition, EV proteins of the PD group exhibited unique metabolic signature compared with those of the control group. The glycolysis-related proteins increased in PD EVs, while oxidative phosphorylation and fatty acid metabolism-related proteins decreased. We also evaluated the effect of cell-type specificity on EV proteins, suggesting that mesothelial cells mainly cause the alterations in the molecular composition of EVs. Our study provided a useful resource for further validation of the key regulator or therapeutic target of peritoneal fibrosis.

Wei, D.D., Béthoux, O., Guo, Y.X., Schneider, J.W. & RenD., 2013. New data on the singularly rare ‘cockroachoids’ from Xiaheyan (Pennsylvanian; Ningxia, China). Alcheringa 37, 547–557. ISSN 0311-5518.Additional material of stem-Dictyoptera, or ‘cockroachoids’, is described from the Early Pennsylvanian Xiaheyan locality (Zhongwei City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China). New specimens belonging to Qilianiblatta namurensisZhang et al., 2012 are described, as are several specimens belonging to a new species (viz., Kinklidoblatta youheisp. nov.). Three further specimens might represent additional species, to be better documented before they could be formally named. The occurrence of a ‘vannus’ in forewings of K. youheisp. nov. is demonstrated, and discussed in the light of data on extant Dictyoptera. The low abundance and comparatively low diversity of the group in the locality is challenging, and might be a consequence of taphonomic bias.Dandan Wei [weidandanok@126.com], Yinxia Guo [kuaile422@163.com] and Dong Ren [rendong@mail.cnu.edu.cn], College of Life Science, Capital Normal University, 105 Xisanhuanbeilu, Haidian District, Beijing 100048, PR China; Olivier Béthoux [obethoux@mnhn.fr], CR2P UMR 7207, MNHN, UPMC, CNRS, eight rue Buffon, CP38, F-75005, Paris, France; Jörg W. Schneider [joerg.schneider@geo.tu-freiberg.de], Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg, Institute of Geology, Department of Palaeontology, Bernhard-von-Cotta Str. 2, D-09596 Freiberg, Germany. Received 22.3.2013; revised 17.5.2013; accepted 23.5.2013.

Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) has been widely used as a scaffold material for tissue engineering owing to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and biosafety. However, lactic acid (LA) produced during PLGA degradation is prone to inflammation, which is a shortcoming that must be avoided. To this end, crystalline PLGA-PEG was synthesized here for the first time. To make the crystalline PLGA-PEG more suitable for tissue engineering, porous crystalline PLGA-PEG was prepared via the swelling behavior during recrystallization annealing. The structure and properties of the porous crystalline PLGA-PEG were confirmed by SEM, POM, and XRD. Furthermore, the swelling behavior of different PEG molecular weights was studied, and the cell viability test and alkaline phosphatase activity test showed that PLGA-PEG has good biocompatibility. Such a porous crystalline PLGA-PEG will make PLGA have a broader application prospect in bone repair.

At the University of Michigan Biological Station during the 2016 AMOS field campaign, isoprene concentrations typically peak in the early afternoon (around 15:00 local time, LT) under well‐mixed conditions. However, an end‐of‐day peak (around 21:00 LT) occurs on 23% of the campaign days, followed by a rapid removal (from 21:00–22:00 LT) at rate of 0.57 hr−1during the day‐to‐night transition period. During the end‐of‐day peak, in‐canopy isoprene concentrations increase by 77% (from 3.5 to 6.2 ppbv) on average. Stratification and weak winds (<3.4 m s−1at 46 m) significantly suppress turbulent exchanges between in‐ and above‐canopy, leading to accumulation of isoprene emitted at dusk. A critical standard deviation of the vertical velocity (σw) of 0.14, 0.2, and 0.29 m s−1is identified to detect the end‐of‐day peak for the height of 13, 21, and 34 m, respectively. In 85% of the end‐of‐day cases, the wind speed increases above 2.5 m s−1after the peak along with a shift in wind direction, and turbulence is reestablished. Therefore, the wind speed of 2.5 m s−1is considered as the threshold point where turbulence switches from being independent of wind speed to dependent on wind speed. The reinstated turbulence accounts for 80% of the subsequent isoprene removal with the remaining 20% explained by chemical reactions with hydroxyl radicals, ozone, and nitrate radicals. Observed isoprene fluxes do not support the argument that the end‐of‐day peak is reduced by vertical turbulent mixing, and we hypothesize that horizontal advection may play a role. Low turbulent mixing during clear and calm nights leads to accumulation of isoprene within the canopyTurbulent mixing accounts for 80% of the observed nighttime isoprene loss ratesIsoprene flux measurements did not capture the majority of the removal of the accumulated isoprene