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Understanding the nucleation and growth mechanism of 3d transition bimetallic nanocrystals (NCs) is crucial to developing NCs with tailored nanostructures and properties. However, it remains a significant challenge due to the complexity of 3d bimetallic NCs formation and their sensitivity to oxygen. Here, by combining in situelectron microscopy and synchrotron X-ray techniques, we elucidate the nucleation and growth pathways of Fe–Ni NCs. Interestingly, the formation of Fe–Ni NCs emerges from the assimilation of Fe into Ni clusters together with the reduction of Fe–Ni oxides. Subsequently, these NCs undergo solid-state phase transitions, resulting in two distinct solid solutions, ultimately dominated by γ-Fe3Ni2. Furthermore, we deconvolve the interplays between local coordination and electronic state concerning the growth temperature. We directly visualize the oxidation-state distributions of Fe and Ni at the nanoscale and investigate their changes. This work may reshape and enhance the understanding of nucleation and growth in atomic crystallization.

Food packaging detection devices have attracted attention to optimize storage situations and reduce food spoilage. However, low-cost and highly sensitive multifunctional sensors for detecting both food freshness and packaging pressure are still lacking. In this study, a multifunctional sensor was developed consisting of a MXene coated alcohol-soluble polyurethane fiber network (MXene/APU) and composite biohydrogel films made of konjac glucomannan, chitosan, and blueberry anthocyanin (KCB). Based on the pressure sensitivity of MXene/APU and the color changes of KCB in response to pH values, the sensor can detect internal package bulging, external squeezing, and food deterioration. The pressure sensor shows a sensitivity of 1.16 kPa–1, a response time of 200 ms, a wide strain range of 1092%, and stability over multiple loops. The pressure sensor could detect human motion and identify surface morphologies. The excellent sensor performance was attributed to the porous structure and large specific surface area of microfiber networks, conductivity of MXene nanosheets, and protective effect of KCB films coated on the conductive membrane. Besides, the microfluidic blow-spinning method used to prepare microfiber networks showed the advantages of low energy consumption and high production efficiency. Based on the color changes of blueberry anthocyanin loaded in KCB films in response to pH, the sensor realized sensitive spoilage detection of food containing protein. This study provides a new multifunctional food packaging sensing device and a greater understanding of the optimization and application of related devices.

Culture pH is very crucial to hydrogen production in the photo-fermentation process. Excessively low pH can directly affect cell growth and hydrogen production by changing bacterial physiological characteristics. Thus, screening acid-tolerant strains that can alleviate acid stress with enhanced hydrogen production is essential. In this work, an acid-tolerant mutant Rhodobacter capsulatusAT11 was isolated by transposon technology, and its photosynthetic characteristic under different initial pH values was investigated. The results indicated that the H2yield of AT11 at initial pH of 5.5 was 4682.64 mL·L−1, which was 310.65% higher than that of wild strain JL1, and the mutant gene in AT11 was electron transfer flavoprotein (etf). Then an etf-deletion mutant JL1401 was constructed by deleting etfto verify the effect of etfon H2production and investigate the acid-tolerance mechanism. Its H2production at initial pH of 5.5 was significantly increased compared to its parental strain JL1. In addition, its photosynthetic characteristic with ammonium additives was studied. Under the condition of 1.8 mM ammonium, hydrogen production was still up to 2637.14 ± 41.46 mL·L−1, while hydrogen production of JL1 was inhibited. Cornstalk hydrolysate was used to evaluate the practical application of the constructed acid-tolerant mutant strains. The hydrogen yield reached 249.3 ± 16.8 mL-H2·g−1-cornstalk and 285.3 ± 19.1 mL-H2·g−1-cornstalk by R. capsulatusAT11 and JL1401, which were 2.9-fold and 3.3-fold compared to that of WT strain JL1, respectively.

In recent years, virtual power plants (VPPs) have been undergoing a rapid development to aggregate mushrooming distributed energy resources. In this paper, a distributed robust algorithm for VPPs’ peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading is proposed which can improve the robustness against communication failures such as packet losses and computing node failures in the cyber layer. Firstly, a P2P energy trading framework suitable for VPPs located in the unbalanced distribution network managed by the distribution system operator (DSO) is proposed, which is a bi-level problem with the DSO standing at the higher level to solve the power flow model and VPP operators (VPPOs) following at the lower level to decide the bilateral trading quantity and prices. Herein, an enhanced linearized DistFlow model is developed to address the unbalanced distribution network. Then, a distributed algorithm wherein the DSO and VPPOs engage in an iterative negotiation process based on relaxed alternating direction method of multipliers (R-ADMM) is derived, which renders the VPPOs’ parallel computation and preserves privacy. Furthermore, a robust version of the algorithm against communication failures (DRAACF) is developed. The economy, robustness, computational efficiency and scalability of the proposed approach are validated by simulation analyses based on the modified IEEE 13-bus and IEEE 123-bus distribution networks.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is a “fast-track”, perioperative, multi-disciplinary concept aimed at improving recovery time and reducing length of hospital stay.

AbstractBackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for majority of primary liver cancer. Use of preoperative neoadjuvant transarterial chemoembolization (PN-TACE) may result in tumor shrinkage and improve resectability. This study aims to summarize the outcomes of PN-TACE versus upfront liver resection (Up-LR) in large HCC (≥5 cm).MethodsPubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and Scopus were systematically searched till September 2022 for studies comparing PN-TACE versus Up-LR. The primary study outcomes were overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and recurrence. Our secondary outcomes were postoperative morbidity and mortality.ResultsThere were 12 studies with 15 data sets including 3960 patients (PN-TACE n = 2447, Up-LR n = 1513). Majority (89.5%, n = 1250/1397) of patients had Child’s A liver cirrhosis. Incidence of Child’s B cirrhosis was higher in PN-TACE compared to Up-LR (Odds ratio (OR) 1.69, 95% CI: 1.18, 2.41, p = 0.004). Pooled hazard ratio (HR) for OS showed no significant difference between PN-TACE and Up-LR (HR 0.87, 95% CI: 0.64, 1.18, p = 0.37), but DFS was superior in PN-TACE (HR 0.79, 95% CI: 0.63, 0.99, p = 0.04). Subgroup analysis based on study design failed to show any significant effect in randomized controlled trials (n = 2/15 data sets). However, operating time (mean difference (MD) 31.94 min, 95% CI: 2.42, 61.45, p = 0.03) and blood loss (MD 190.93 ml, 95% CI: 10.22, 317.65, p = 0.04) were higher in PN-TACE. Intrahepatic and extrahepatic recurrence, post-operative morbidity and in-hospital mortality were comparable between PN-TACE and Up-LR.ConclusionIn retrospective studies, PN-TACE resulted in superior DFS compared to Up-LR. However, this may be confounded by selection bias.

In inductive power transfer systems, some applications require working at higher power levels, transferring power with longer air gaps, and meeting geometric constraints. Many situations will decrease system coupling and affect performance. In this article, a three-coil configuration based on an all-detuned design is proposed to optimize the overall coupling and system efficiency. Primary and tertiary coils of the proposed topology are mounted on the same side. The three coil resonances in the proposed system, as extra degrees of freedom, do not match the switching frequency or each other. The key objectives of the proposed all-detuned design are to achieve a constant current output and unity power factor based on an equivalent two-coil circuit model; maximize the overall coupling coefficient to reduce the switching frequency or coil inductances by selecting a suitable tertiary resonant frequency; and optimize efficiency to be superior to those in a conventional two-coil system by minimizing coil currents. A 1-kW prototype has been prepared to verify the method. For example, when the main coupling coefficient is only 0.077, dc–dc efficiency of the proposed method ranges from 90.2% to 91.2% over a 2:1 load range, while that of the conventional two-coil system does not exceed 90%.

In inductive power transfer systems, misalignment can lead to inconsistent output power. In this article, a topology based on a primary-side detuned multifrequency compensation circuit is proposed to provide consistent output over a wide misalignment range. This topology exhibits multiple intersecting power versus coupling coefficient curves given multiple switching frequencies. The coupling range, and associated misalignment range, can be extended without increasing power and current variability by changing the switching frequency strategically at curve intersections. Parameter design and selection of the number of switching frequencies are presented. Fundamental relationships between power variation and coupling range are established. With this approach, a choice of two suitable switching frequencies changes output power by only 10% over a coupling coefficient range from 0.14 to 0.35. Three frequencies can support lower power variation or a wider coupling range. Primary current at low coupling is lower with the strategy than for conventional alternatives because reactive power can be limited. A 1.5 kW prototype has been prepared to verify the topology. The prototype confirms a power variation of 10% over a coupling coefficient range from 0.14 to 0.35 with two frequencies. With three frequencies, power variation drops to 6.7% over the same coupling range.

Existing therapies for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) show limited efficacy or have adverse effects. Numerous genetic variants associated with T2DM have been identified, but progress in translating these findings into potential drug targets has been limited. Here, we describe the tools and platforms available to identify effector genes from T2DM-associated coding and non-coding variants and prioritize them for functional studies. We discuss QSER1and SLC12A8as examples of genes that have been identified as possible T2DM candidate genes using these tools and platforms. We suggest further approaches, including the use of sequencing data with increased sample size and ethnic diversity, single-cell omics data for analyses, glycaemic trait associations to predict gene function and, potentially, human induced pluripotent stem cell ‘village’ cultures, to strengthen current gene functionalization workflows. Effective prioritization of T2DM-associated genes for experimental validation could expedite our understanding of the genetic mechanisms responsible for T2DM to facilitate the use of precision medicine in its treatment.

ABSTRACTThis study aims to investigate how exercise-induced myocardial hypertrophy preconditioning affects cardiac fibroblasts in the context of myocardial fibrosis, a chronic disease that can cause cardiac arrhythmia and heart failure. Heart failure was induced in male C57BL/6 mice via Transverse aortic constriction, and some mice were given swimming exercise before surgery to test the effects of exercise-induced myocardial hypertrophy preconditioning on myocardial fibrosis. Myocardial tissue was evaluated for fibrosis, senescent cells, and apoptotic cells. Myocardial fibroblasts from rats were cultured and treated with norepinephrine to induce fibrosis which were then treated with si-Nrf2 and analyzed for markers of fibrosis, senescence, apoptosis, and cell proliferation. Exercise-induced myocardial hypertrophy preconditioning reduced myocardial fibrosis in mice, as shown by decreased mRNA expression levels of fibrosis-related indicators and increased cell senescence. In vitro data indicated that norepinephrine (NE) treatment increased fibrosis-related markers and reduced apoptotic and senescent cells, and this effect was reversed by pre-conditioning in PRE+NE group. Preconditioning activated Nrf2 and downstream signaling genes, promoting premature senescence in cardiac fibroblasts and tissues isolated from preconditioned mice. Moreover, Nrf2 knockdown reversed proapoptotic effects, restored cell proliferation, reduced senescence-related protein expression, and increased oxidative stress markers and fibrosis-related genes, indicating Nrf2‘s crucial role in regulating oxidative stress response of cardiac fibroblasts. Exercise-induced myocardial hypertrophy preconditioning improves myocardial fibrosis which is Nrf2-dependent, indicating the protective effect of hypertrophy preconditioning. These findings may contribute to the development of therapeutic interventions to prevent or treat myocardial fibrosis.

A 75-year-old man presented to our hospital with cough and sputum for more than a year. Eight months previously, the patient was admitted to a local hospital, and his symptoms were relieved after symptomatic treatment (expectorants and antitussives). Three months ago, he was admitted to our hospital, and his symptoms improved with antiinflammatory therapy. He had a 30-pack-years history of smoking (20 cigarettes/day) and a history of drinking (200 g liquor per day). The patient had no history of genetic disorders or cancer. He did not present with fever, dyspnea, hemoptysis or chest distress, and there was no history of weight loss since onset.

The fastener is one of the main components of a rail track system. In recent years, deep learning methods such as image segmentation have greatly boosted the fastener state detection process. However, there is still a need to improve the segmentation accuracy and speed, especially for the fasteners in complex environments. To handle this problem, a fast and accurate fastener semantic segmentation network named RFS-Net is proposed based on shape guidance, which can offer a better speed/accuracy trade-off performance via a very shallow architecture. Specifically, in the encoder, a two-stream structure (i.e., regular stream and shape stream) that processes the fastener and shape image in parallel is introduced. The shape image is created based on the geometric structure of the fastener, and it is served as input to the shape stream to guide the segmentation of the fastener. The decoder integrates deep features from the two-stream encoder and then recovers the shape information by the shape attention blocks with skipping connections. We provide two versions of RFS-Net: RFS-Net_S (1.0M, 1014FPS) and RFS-Net_L (12.01M, 453FPS) on the NVIDIA RTX 3060. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our method by achieving a promising trade-off between accuracy and inference speed. In particular, our method is faster and more accurate on a challenging dataset, from fast modes: 1014 FPS for RFS-Net_S versus 724 FPS for Segmenter, to high-quality segmentation: better performance than STDC with nearly one percent (92.36% versus 91.48% Mean IoU score).

Constant output characteristics, zero phase angle (ZPA), and coupler voltage stresses as low as possible are practical requirements for high power and large air-gap capacitive power transfer (CPT) applications. This article derives conditions of load-independent constant voltage output, ZPA, and minimum coupler voltages for general CPT systems, respectively. Minimum degrees of freedom (DOF) for the above performance are analyzed. Given performance requirements, a systematic circuit design method based on DOF analysis is proposed to design compensation circuits with fewer components to simplify complexity and decrease costs. The proposed method can predict feasible topologies, and application considerations are provided to guide topology selection. A 3LC-compensated CPT system is proposed to realize the constant voltage output with ZPA, minimum coupler voltages, and efficiency optimization. A 2.2 kW CPT prototype has been prepared with a 250 mm air-gap distance and dc–dc efficiency is 87.2%. Rms values of coupler voltages are about 5 kV at the rated power.

Hypertension is prevalent among older adults (60 years and above), but control of blood pressure (BP) remains suboptimal. While there is increasing interest in using digital technology for managing hypertension, information about the extent and potential correlates of such use among older adults remains scant. We assessed the prevalence and correlates of the use of digital technology for managing hypertension among older adults with hypertension. We also investigated if the use of digital technology was associated with BP or hypertension control. The use of digital technology (internet or digital apps) for information about or managing BP or hypertension was assessed among 1729 older adults diagnosed with hypertension participating in a national survey in Singapore. Regression analysis was used to assess the correlates (based on the Unified Theory of Use and Acceptance of Technology), and whether such use was associated with hypertension control or BP values. Digital technology for managing hypertension was used by 7.1% of older adults with hypertension. Those of higher age and with limitations in one or more activities or instrumental activities of daily living were less likely, while those with secondary education and above, and with stronger social network were more likely to use digital technology. There was no association between the use of digital technology and hypertension control. While users of digital technology had lower systolic (by 2.1 mmHg, adjusted pvalue = 0.12) and diastolic (by 1.6 mmHg, adjusted pvalue = 0.13) BP than non-users, the differences were not statistically significant. Given its low prevalence, there is potential for increased use of digital technology for managing hypertension among older adults with hypertension in Singapore. Initiatives to increase digital health use should target specific older adult subgroups.

ObjectiveWe aimed to test the hypothesis that automated fibrosis score calculation and electronic reminder messages could increase the detection of advanced liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.DesignIn this pragmatic randomised controlled trial at five general medical or diabetes clinics in Hong Kong and Malaysia, we randomly assigned patients in a 1:1 ratio to the intervention group with Fibrosis-4 index and aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index automatically calculated based on routine blood tests, followed by electronic reminder messages to alert clinicians of abnormal results, or the control group with usual care. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with increased fibrosis scores who received appropriate care (referred for hepatology care or specific fibrosis assessment) within 1 year.ResultsBetween May 2020 and Oct 2021, 1379 patients were screened, of whom 533 and 528 were assigned to the intervention and control groups, respectively. A total of 55 out of 165 (33.3%) patients with increased fibrosis scores in the intervention group received appropriate care, compared with 4 of 131 (3.1%) patients in the control group (difference 30.2% (95% CI 22.4% to 38%); p<0.001). Overall, 11 out of 533 (2.1%) patients in the intervention group and 1 out of 528 (0.2%) patients in the control group were confirmed to have advanced liver disease (difference 1.9% (95% CI 0.61% to 3.5%); p=0.006).ConclusionAutomated fibrosis score calculation and electronic reminders can increase referral of patients with type 2 diabetes and abnormal fibrosis scores at non-hepatology settings.Trial registration numberNCT04241575.

Myanmar’s (also called Burma) critical location at the juncture between South and East Asia plays a significant role in shaping the region’s cultural trajectory, particularly in terms of long-range population migrations and cultural interactions within the framework of southern China and Southeast Asia. This paper summarizes the history and practices of prehistoric archaeological research in Myanmar by collecting, sorting, and analyzing global publications from the last 150 years. We outline five significant periods in the development of research on prehistoric archaeology in Myanmar: the roots in the 1870 to 1930s; the beginnings, between the 1930 and 1950s; stagnation in the 1950s through 1970s; recovery in the 1970s through 1990s; and continuous development since the 1990s. Finally, we briefly discuss the features and hotspots of prehistoric archaeological research in Myanmar, as well as current constraints and future directions for the field.

Divalent inhibitors of the neuraminidase enzyme (NA) of the Influenza A virus were synthesized with vastly different spacers. The spacers varied from 14 to 56 atoms and were relatively rigid by way of the building blocks and their connection by CuAAC. As the ligand for these constructs, a Δ4-β-d-glucoronide was used, which can be prepared form N-acetyl glucosamine. This ligand showed good NA inhibitory potency but with room for improvement by multivalency enhancement. The synthesized compounds showed modest potency enhancement in NA activity assays but a sizeable potency increase in a 4-day cytopathic effect assay. The demonstration that the compounds can also inhibit hemagglutinin in addition to NA may be the cause of the enhancement.

This paper applies the new risk management tool, Value at Risk (VaR) methodology, to the stock market in China. From the comparison between the predicted VaR and real return, the calculated results are mostly satisfied with the confidence level at 95%. Keywords: Value at risk methodology; Risk management; Exponential weighted moving average

The concept of a complex large system of mineral resource exploitation was advanced from the system theory viewpoint. On the basis of the integrated techniques of qualitative and quantitative analysis, the multiple objective intelligence-integrated methodology for decision-making on mineral resource exploitation was investigated and its integrated model was also formulated. The mineral deposit model, expert system model for mining method selection and the artificial neural network model for prediction economic index, as well as the programming model, acted as the core of this system, while the multiple goal programming model served as the top of the model. An intelligent system to assist the programming of decision-making on mineral resource exploitation for operating mines was developed by means of the systematic combination of optimization technology with an artificial neural network, an expert system, computer-aided design and operations research (OR). The structure of an integrated intelligent system for decision-making on mineral resource exploitation was described. In addition, forecast and simulation, as well as optimization, were integrated. The system's preliminary application was illustrated with an example. Keywords: Complex large system; Multiple objective decision-making; Integrated methodology; Mineral resource exploitation

The vertebrate left–right axis is specified during embryogenesis by a transient organ: the left–right organizer (LRO). Species including fish, amphibians, rodents and humans deploy motile cilia in the LRO to break bilateral symmetry, while reptiles, birds, even-toed mammals and cetaceans are believed to have LROs without motile cilia. We searched for genes whose loss during vertebrate evolution follows this pattern and identified five genes encoding extracellular proteins, including a putative protease with hitherto unknown functions that we named ciliated left–right organizer metallopeptidase (CIROP). Here, we show that CIROPis specifically expressed in ciliated LROs. In zebrafish and Xenopus, CIROP is required solely on the left side, downstream of the leftward flow, but upstream of DAND5, the first asymmetrically expressed gene. We further ascertained 21 human patients with loss-of-function CIROPmutations presenting with recessive situsanomalies. Our findings posit the existence of an ancestral genetic module that has twice disappeared during vertebrate evolution but remains essential for distinguishing left from right in humans.

Objectives: This is a first-of-its-kind cross-country collaboration between medical students from Singapore and Vietnam in conducting a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) workshop for Vietnamese high school students. Our objective was to assess the effectiveness of CPR training in improving students’ knowledge and attitudes towards CPR.Methods: The CPR workshop was conducted using active learning methods, including interactive lecture session, games, small group demonstration and hands-on practice on the mannequin. Knowledge and attitudes towards CPR were studied using a standardised questionnaire administered at three time points: before the workshop (TP1), immediately after the workshop (TP2) and three months after the workshop (TP3).Results: There was an improvement in the median knowledge score from 6.5/14 at TP1 to 13/14 at TP2 (p<0.001) which was sustained at TP3 (10/14). Willingness and confidence in performing CPR on strangers increased from TP1 to TP2. From TP2 to TP3, however, there was a decrease in willingness to perform CPR on all groups, though confidence in performing CPR remained high at TP3. The most-cited concern about performing CPR was a lack of skills and knowledge. Most participants picked formal training courses to increase confidence in performing CPR.Conclusions: The CPR training was effective in improving the knowledge and attitudes of high school students towards CPR. Our study supports expanding this workshop to train more students in basic cardiac life support in the community and further collaboration internationally between medical schools in order to increase the number of students in the community competent in performing CPR.

Diagnostic methods for Helicobacter pyloriinfection include, but are not limited to, urea breath test, serum antibody test, fecal antigen test, and rapid urease test. However, these methods suffer drawbacks such as low accuracy, high false-positive rate, complex operations, invasiveness, etc. Therefore, there is a need to develop simple, rapid, and noninvasive detection methods for H. pyloridiagnosis. In this study, we propose a novel technique for accurately detecting H. pyloriinfection through machine learning analysis of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of gastric fluid samples that were noninvasively collected from human stomachs via the string test. One hundred participants were recruited to collect gastric fluid samples noninvasively. Therefore, 12,000 SERS spectra (n = 120 spectra/participant) were generated for building machine learning models evaluated by standard metrics in model performance assessment. According to the results, the Light Gradient Boosting Machine algorithm exhibited the best prediction capacity and time efficiency (accuracy = 99.54% and time = 2.61 seconds). Moreover, the Light Gradient Boosting Machine model was blindly tested on 2,000 SERS spectra collected from 100 participants with unknown H. pyloriinfection status, achieving a prediction accuracy of 82.15% compared with qPCR results. This novel technique is simple and rapid in diagnosing H. pyloriinfection, potentially complementing current H. pyloridiagnostic methods.

The regulation and modification of carbon aerogel are essential for the construction of supercapacitors electrode with high energy density. Heteroatom doping has also been used in the modification of carbon aerogels to further improve the properties of materials. In this work, nitrogen and sulfur co-doped porous biomass carbon aerogels (NSPCs) for high-performance supercapacitors were innovatively synthesized by a straightforward and highly efficient one-step gel and synchronous activation strategy. Such a covalently interconnected hierarchical porous structure with co-doped nitrogen and sulfur greatly improves the pore structure and wettability of the materials and forms functional groups to provide additional pseudocapacitance. Owing to these structural advantages and the component synergy, the NSPCs exhibit high electrolyte ion storage ability, unhindered ion channels, and excellent electrochemical performance, and display a specific capacitance of 344.3 F g−1, and a capacitance retention rate of 91.5 % after 10,000 cycles. Additionally, the NSPCs-based symmetric supercapacitor showed a high energy density of 12.82 Wh kg−1.

Turfgrass lawns provide many environmental benefits, including temperature moderation, soil stabilization in urban centers, and surface water runoff reduction in the rapidly urbanizing society. Recently, more sustainable management of urban vegetation have arisen to encourage Florida homeowners to shift from high-input (e.g., fertilizer, water) to low-input landscapes through initiatives such as the Florida Friendly Landscapes and Florida Water Star Programs. To support the water conservation programs in Florida, and better understand homeowners’ lawn choices, the objective of this study is to identify and evaluate homeowners’ preferred turfgrass features for lawn choices and understand the context of promoting sustainable landscaping practices in the state of Florida. Approximately 1,000 Florida homeowners were surveyed online ranked their most preferred turfgrass features out of a set of 12 alternatives. A rank-ordered logit model was utilized to evaluate Florida homeowners’ preferences for different turfgrass features and determine if they influence turfgrass selection for Florida homeowners. The results showed that the top features were drought tolerance, color, frequency of mowing, disease resistance, and pest tolerance. Identification and communication of water proficient, low fertilizer input turfgrass cultivars that are tolerant to environmental stresses (e.g., drought, traffic, shade) are needed in Florida. Policymakers should promote strategies to combat drought tolerant cultivars. Extension agents should educate homeowners on grass dormancy and drought tolerance (affecting color change) as well as promote disease resistance and pest tolerant species through the Florida Friendly Landscape and WaterStar Programs.

A Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of azlactones with 4-arylvinyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-ones was developed, providing “branched” chiral α-amino acids with vicinal tertiary and quaternary stereocenters, in high yields and with excellent selectivities. Mechanistic studies revealed that the formation of a hydrogen bond between the Pd-allylic complex and azlactone isomer is responsible for the excellent regioselectivities. This asymmetric alkylation can be carried out on a gram scale without a loss of catalytic efficiency, and the resulting product can be further transformed to a chiral azetidine in two simple steps.

The high recurrence rate of bulimia nervosa (BN) poses a clinical challenge, and thus, it is crucial to improve the characterization and identification of brain functional abnormalities as direct targets for novel therapies. To investigate the neural circuitry associated with BN, the thalamus is a critical node since it serves as a higher-order relay point in the cortico-thalamo-cortical information pathway. Our findings reveal that altered functional connectivity (FC) between thalamic nuclei and other brain regions is evident throughout the whole brain, particularly within the frontoparietal network, default mode network, somatosensory, and visual network. These changes in FC are significantly associated with disordered eating behavior and the severity of illness in BN patients. Therefore, these findings help identify the neural mechanisms underlying disordered eating behavior and BN severity and suggest potential targets for future neuromodulation interventions.

•The role of policy consequentiality in a choice experiment with a private good is examined.•Mitigating effects of ex-ante policy consequentiality script on hypothetical bias is not identified.•The knife-edge effects of perceived consequentiality are confirmed.•Sharp distinction in choice outcomes between consequential and inconsequential groups were identified.•Participants with higher levels of ex-post consequentiality perceptions are less likely to opt out.

ABSTRACTThis paper takes the spatial characteristics of residential communities in China as a case study, focusing on three aspects: (1) scale-like spatial parameters, including density and land-mass scale; (2) spatial parameters of facility space layout, including spatial distribution of public service facilities, and coverage, density of facilities, layout and coverage of road transport facilities, site density and proximity, etc.; and (3) spatial parameters of mixed classes mainly in reference to the degree of functional mix of land around the community. The study used empirical research, spatial characteristics of quantitative statistical parameters, correlation analysis, and other methods, including examination of previous case studies of residential communities. Based on the case study of three Chinese residential communities, spatial parameters such as density, plot size, facility layout and coverage, facility density and mixing degree were investigated and statistically calculated. The study revealed that the spatial features of urban residential communities can influence energy use and carbon dioxide emission in cities by affecting the travel behaviors of residents and changing the land utilization type and spatial structures of city blocks. Optimizing the layout of community space is an important way to build a low-carbon community.

ABSTRACTTo investigate the effect of varying the light intensity on the photosynthate distribution, cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicumL.) seedlings were grown under different light intensities. It was found that the seedlings under 300 μmol m–2s–1had a significantly higher dry weight and health index (Health index = Stem diameter/Stem height × Dry weight) than seedlings receiving other light treatments. On the contrary, the biomass, specific leaf mass and health index values of seedlings exposed to 50 μmol m–2s–1and 550 μmol m–2s–1were the lowest among all of the treatments. In terms of 14C-labelled photosynthate translocation, the seedlings under 300 μmol m–2s–1had lower remaining 14C-labelled photosynthate (31.45%) compared with other treatments, after 14CO2was supplied for 2 days. The seedlings under 150 μmol m–2 s–1had 36.97% of 14C-labelled photosynthate in the labelled leaves and transported the obviously higher 14C-labelled photosynthate to new shoot than others. Together, our results indicate that the photosynthate distribution was the most rational in cherry tomato seedlings at 300 μmol m–2s–1, which enhanced leaf photosynthesis and plant growth.

The lipid droplet (LD)-associated protein adipose differentiation-related protein (ADRP or PLIN2) is required for the formation and stability of the LD organelle, whereas its biological roles are still obscure. Herein, we show that PLIN2 is the most abundant protein on the lipid droplets (LDs) of mouse myoblast cell line C2C12. Both the expression of PLIN2 and the accumulation of LDs were up-regulated in a time- and dose-dependent manner when the cells were treated with oleate (OA). The protein level of PLIN2 was positively correlated with the formation of LDs, suggesting that LDs stabilize PLIN2. Furthermore, knocking out PLIN2 in C2C12 cells led to enlarged LDs and higher triacylglycerol hydrolysis activity. The isolated PLIN2 null LDs became closely contact with mitochondria and other cellular organelles. Additionally, mitochondrial activity was suppressed by OA in PLIN2 null cells. Our results reveal the pivotal roles of PLIN2 in governing LD dynamics and their relationship to mitochondria, and suggest a reciprocal stabilization between PLIN2 and LDs.

During the on-orbit operation of BeiDou satellites, the on board atomic clocks of these satellites are easily affected by changes in the space environment. Since the clock offsets of BeiDou satellites derived from multi-satellite clock estimation exhibit correlation among one another. In this study, the correlation among the clock offsets of BeiDou satellites is analyzed and the influence of correlation among satellites on clock offset prediction accuracy is investigated. To obtain accurate analysis results, the Baarda outlier detection method is initially improved. The improved method can effectively eliminate small errors in clock offset data. Then, the correlation coefficient among BeiDou satellites is calculated, and the method based on the correlation among BeiDou satellite clocks is used to predict the clock offsets of the satellites. Experimental results show that clock offset prediction accuracy can be improved by 7.3% compared with that of the traditional method when the method that considers correlation among satellite clocks is used.

Documenting tangible cultural heritage using 3D modeling techniques is gradually becoming an indispensable component of archaeological practice. The 3D modeling techniques based on photogrammetry and LiDAR scanning enable high-accuracy and high-realistic reconstruction of archaeological sites, and have been proven a powerful tool for documenting archaeological excavations. However, dynamically documenting an ongoing excavation using these techniques is still considered tedious, time-consuming, expensive, and dependent on expertise. Moreover, the application of 3D modeling techniques in archaeological excavations still faces some technical challenges, such as modeling with multi-source and multi-scale data, fusing local models at different times into a whole, achieving fast modeling while GPU workstations are not available in the field, and evaluating the quality of 3D models. As a result, there are still very few archaeological teams deeply engaged in dynamic documentation with 3D modeling techniques, and traditional drawing sketches and taking photographs still dominate. In these senses, documenting the archaeological excavation at the Yunxian Mansite (located in Hubei, China) is an invaluable opportunity for exploration and practice. Archaeologists determined to conduct dynamically documenting at the beginning of the 6th excavation project for the site, and established a rotation system to reconcile physical excavation with digital preservation. Through repeated practice and communication, we proposed a workflow and pursued several new methods to enhance the feasibility of dynamically documenting, and obtained 4D models of the ongoing archaeological excavations. In 2022, the Yunxian Mansite unearthed the most intact fossil of hominin cranium from about one million years ago in the Eurasian continent, preserving important and scarce anatomical features of early humans in Asia. As the original taphonomic context of the fossil corroded away during physical excavations, the digital documentation consisting of 4D models serves as permanent original data source in subsequent archaeological research. Moreover, we obtained cross-scale 3D models from geographical environment to archaeological site, excavation area, and cultural remains, and all of these 3D models are in an actual, unified coordinate framework. Thus, we can contribute to multidisciplinary cross-collaborative research through data sharing. Considering that digital documentations serve a great value in archaeological research, this paper focuses on sharing the workflow and methods to facilitate digital preservation for more archaeological projects.

New biologics development coupled with an emerging biosimilars manufacturing scene are poised to stimulate growth in the biotechnology industry. Parenteral delivery, currently the mainstay of therapy, is often associated with pain, infection risks, high costs and poor patient compliance. Hence, non-invasive routes are preferred. The oral route is limited by low bioavailability, while the pulmonary route has been advocated as an attractive non-invasive yet efficacious alternative that could be applied for both local and systemic therapies. The dry powder inhaler (DPI), being a stable, convenient and non-invasive delivery device, is increasingly being considered for biologics delivery. However, balancing the concurrent demands for optimal aerosolization, bioactivity and stability is often difficult, requiring considerable expertise and development times. This work has therefore utilized the Taguchi experimental design to innovatively scrutinize several equipment and formulation parameters, and to propose and develop a ‘Ready-to-Use’ powder formulation platform which could be used to minimize development times and be applied as a useful starting template for biologics DPI development. Via the application of a model protein (lysozyme) and the following template conditions: Nano Spray Dryer, trehalose at 20% w/w, NaCl at 5% w/w and l-leucine at 15–20% w/w, fine particle fractions (FPFs) and bioactivities as high as 68.3 ± 2.3% and 95.2 ± 5.0%, respectively, were readily obtained. It was found that optimal FPF and bioactivity was less dependent on the spray dryer type, and more reliant on the type and concentration of protective and lubricating excipients. The powders obtained through this platform, exhibited strong aerosolization-promoting features in their particles (e.g. surface corrugation, hollow cavities), had particles with d50of ∼2.30 ± 0.04 μm and were also stable to moisture-induced transformations. Potentially, this platform could be a useful precursor formulation suited to a variety of inhaled biomolecules, with just minor adaptations required for niche demands/applications.

Electromagnetically driven elastic magnetic microfluidic mixers were investigated for their performance in air, water and glycerol filled chambers. They were fabricated by embedding flexible magnets in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane. At a driving frequency of 100 Hz, oscillating fluid flow was induced and mixing was achieved. Three designs were fabricated and studied: a) concentric type with the magnetic material in the center of the membrane, b) eccentric type with the magnetic material offset from the center of the membrane and c) split type with two regions of magnetic materials with opposing polarities. The split configuration provides additional fluid folding, facilitating mixing of the 20 μL fluorescent dye in 60 μL of solvent. Simulation and experimental results show that the eccentric and split designs were able to achieve a 20–30% reduction in mixing time compared to the concentric design. At the same magnetic flux density, the eccentric type design exhibited the greatest deflection, explaining the better mixing achieved over the concentric type design. The split type design, having the lowest deflection, was able to perform better and more consistently than the eccentric type design by creating a “micro rocker mixer” effect. We postulated that the shapes of the deflection profiles in the eccentric and split designs contributed to the mixing efficiency by promoting better chaotic advection than the concentric design.

Three iridium(III)-based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), namely [Cd3{Ir(ppy-COO)3}2(DMF)2(H2O)4]·6H2O·2DMF (1), [Cd3{Ir(ppy-COO)3}2(DMA)2(H2O)2]·0.5H2O·2DMA (2), and [Cd3{Ir(ppy-COO)3}2(DEF)2(H2O)2]·8H2O·2DEF (3) (ppy-COOH = methyl-3-(pyridin-2-yl)benzoic acid, DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide, DMA = N,N-dimethylacetamide, DEF = N,N-diethylformamide), have been synthesized and characterized. Single-crystal structural determinations reveal that compounds 1–3are isostructural, showing a three-dimensional framework structure with (3,6) connected rtltopologyin whose trimers of {Cd3(COO)6} are cross-linked by Ir(ppy-COO)33–. The structures are completely different from those of other Ir(III)-based MOFs. Compound 1was selected for a detailed study on sensing properties. The excellent luminescence as well as good water stability of 1makes it a highly selective and sensitive multiresponsive luminescent sensor for Fe3+and Cr2O72–. The detection limits are 67.8 and 145.1 ppb, respectively. Compound 1can also be used as an optical sensor for selective sensing of adenosine triphosphate (ATP2–) over adenosine diphosphate (ADP2–) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP2–) in aqueous solution. This is the first example of iridium(III)-based MOFs for the optical detection of Fe3+, Cr2O72–, and ATP2–. More interestingly, the luminescent composite film doped with 1% (w/w) of compound 1, 1@PMMA(PMMA = poly(methyl methacrylate)), can be successfully prepared, which endows efficient sensitivity for Fe3+and Cr2O72–detection and thus provides great potential for future applications.

In this paper, nanosteps were fabricated by a new method. This method used the energy of focus imaging of focused ion beam to peel the material surface for fabricating the nanosteps. By changing the number of focus imaging can get different deepness nanosingle-steps. Changing the magnification, the second-step can be fabricated on nanosingle-step. An atomic force microscopy was used to measure the 3D morphology of nanosteps. When the magnification was 25000, the deepness of nanosingle-step was 65.34±3.00 nm and the deepness of the first step of nanodual-step was 56.03 nm. When the magnification was 50000, the deepness of nanosingle-step was 142.28±3.54 nm and the deepness of the second step of nanodual-step was 178.68nm. This means that the redeposition made the deepness of the first step become bigger, that of the second step becomes smaller. Based on comparison and analysis, the relation of the depth, the magnification and the number of the focus imaging were obtained.

We recently reported that fusion of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) to botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNTA) proteins could improve the efficiency of cellular uptake. Here, we describe steps to produce and evaluate CPP-BoNTA fusion proteins. We present procedures for the expression and purification of recombinant CPP-BoNTA using insect-cell-based baculovirus expression vector system and in vitrocharacterization of purified proteins. We also detail the analysis of cellular uptake in cell culture and examination of the in vivoperformance in mice.

Graphical Abstract

Accumulating studies demonstrated that DNA methylation may be potential prognostic hallmarks of various cancers. However, few studies have focused on the power of DNA methylation for prognostic prediction in patients with stage III to IV ovarian cancer (OC). Therefore, constructing a methylomics-related indicator to predict overall survival (OS) of stage III to IV OC was urgently required. A total of 520 OC patients with 485,577 DNA methylation sites from TCGA database were selected to develop a robust DNA methylation signature. The 520 patients were clustered into a training group (70%, n = 364 samples) and an internal validation group (30%, n = 156). The training group was used for digging a prognostic predictor based on univariate Cox proportional hazard analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) as well as multivariate Cox regression analysis. The internal and external validation group (ICGC OV-AU project) were used for validating the predictive robustness of the predictor based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. We identified a 21-DNA methylation signature-based classifier for stage III-IV OC patients’ OS. According to ROC analysis in the internal validation, external validation and entire TCGA set, we proved the high power of the 21-DNA methylation signature for predicting OS (area under the curve [AUC] at 1, 3, 5 years in internal validation set (0.782, 0.739, 0.777, respectively), external validation set (0.828, 0.760, 0.741, respectively), entire TCGA set (0.741, 0.748, 0.781, respectively). Besides, a nomogram was developed via methylation risk score as well as a few clinical variables, and the result showed a high ability of the predictive nomogram. In summary, we used integrated bioinformatics approaches to successfully identified a DNA methylation-associated nomogram, which can predict effectively the OS of patients with stage III to IV OC.

Chitosan (Ct) and α-lactalbumin (ALa) were applied as the carriers, their biopolymer nanoparticle was designed to encapsulate retinol (VA). Zeta potential and turbidity measurements, demonstrated that the most suitable pH value in the formation of Ct/ALa nanoparticle was 6.0, and its optimal Ct/ALa mass ratio was 1:4. At this ratio, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of Ct/ALa nanoparticle showed that Ct was coated on the surface of ALa/VA as a shell. Meanwhile, the encapsulation efficiency (EE) and loading capacity (LC) of above nano-sized Ct/ALa particle for VA were 82.22 ± 1.78% and 3.13 ± 0.12%, respectively. Moreover, Ct/ALa nanoparticle not only improved the storage stability of VA, but also protected VA from the destruction of simulated gastrointestinal juice to a certain extent during in vitrodigestion. Information from this study could supply the novel opinion for the protection and delivery of photosensitive bioactive substances (VA) in functional dairy-based product.

Echocardiographic quantification of fetal cardiac strain is important to evaluate function and the need for intervention, with both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) strain measurements currently feasible. However, discrepancies between 2D and 3D measurements have been reported, the etiologies of which are unclear. This study sought to determine the etiologies of the differences between 2D and 3D strain measurements.

This paper presents a case study in the city of Hefei, China that exhibits the principles employed by the current practice of transforming and renovating old city districts. The studied is a district around Town God’s Temple, an important heritage building in Hefei.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are well known to elicit health benefits in humans, but their functional metabolic landscapes remain unexplored. Here, we analyze differences in growth, intestinal persistence, and postbiotic biosynthesis of six representative LAB and their interactions with 15 gut bacteria under 11 dietary regimes by combining multi-omics and in silicomodeling. We confirmed predictions on short-term persistence of LAB and their interactions with commensals using cecal microbiome abundance and spent-medium experiments. Our analyses indicate that probiotic attributes are both diet and species specific and cannot be solely explained using genomics. For example, although both Lacticaseibacillus caseiand Lactiplantibacillus plantarumencode similarly sized genomes with diverse capabilities, L. caseiexhibits a more desirable phenotype. In addition, “high-fat/low-carb” diets more likely lead to detrimental outcomes for most LAB. Collectively, our results highlight that probiotics are not “one size fits all” health supplements and lay the foundation for personalized probiotic design.

In this paper, a new sandwich structures using multi-axial glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) as face sheets and webs while pultruded profile as core was proposed, which intended to be used in engineering fields such as trestle board, bridge deck, emergency road deck. The shear behavior of the multi-axial fiber reinforced composite sandwich structures with pultruded profile core was investigated, and the failure modes, load-deflection behavior and load-strain relationships were obtained and compared under three points bending test. The results showed that all the sandwich structures had obvious omen before failure, and the final failure modes and shear bearing capacities of the sandwich structures varied with web thickness, face sheet thickness and the type of fiber cloth. Among them, increasing the thickness of the surface layer of sandwich structure is the most obvious way to improve the shear capacity, which can increase the shear capacity by more than 40 %. Formulas to calculate the stiffness, the deflection and the ultimate bearing capacity were derived and proved appropriate. Meanwhile, the proposed pultruded profile sandwich structure was proved can be used as highway bridge deck.