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With the rise of artificial intelligence and big data applications, the general-purpose Von Neumann architecture is no longer capable of fulfilling the requirements of these application scenarios. The large amount of parallelizable and repeatable multiply-and-accumulate (MAC) operations in deep neural networks provide the possibility for the emergence of storage-computing integrated architectures. Current-based computation and quantization are employed to circumvent signal margin limitations on the power supply voltage of the computing unit, thereby facilitating low-power design. The proposed design is a computing-in-memory (CIM) circuit based on current sampling accumulation and applies a current-sensing analog-to-digital converter design that exhibits reduced sensitivity to parasitic capacitance compared to voltage-based analog-to-digital converters. Its power consumption is proportional to the input current, achieving higher area efficiency and energy efficiency gains. The design of the CIM circuit based on the current sampling in the 22-nm FDSOI process is fabricated with an area efficiency of 264 GOPS/mm2. The peak energy efficiency is 20.81 TOPS/W, and the inference accuracy reaches 92.11% when employed to VGG-16 under CIFAR-10 dataset.

Cas12a (Cpf1), a Class 2 Type V CRISPR/Cas nuclease, has several unique attributes for genome editing and may provide a valuable alternative to Cas9. However, a low editing efficiency due to temperature sensitivity and insufficient cleavage activity of the Cas12a nuclease are major obstacles to its broad application. In this report, we generated two variants, ttAsCas12 Ultra and ttLbCas12a Ultra harboring three (E174R, M537R, and F870L) or two (D156R and E795L) mutations, respectively, by combining the mutations from the temperature-tolerant variants ttAsCas12a (E174R) and ttLbCas12a (D156R), and those from the highly active variants AsCas12a Ultra (M537R and F870L) and LbCas12a Ultra (E795L). We compared editing efficiencies of the five resulting Cas12a variants (LbCas12a, ttLbCas12a, ttLbCas12a Ultra, AsCas12a Ultra, and ttAsCas12 Ultra) at six target sites of four genes in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). The variant ttLbCas12a Ultra, harboring the D156R and E795L mutations, exhibited the highest editing efficiency of all variants tested in Arabidopsis and can be used to generate homozygous or biallelic mutants in a single generation in Arabidopsis plants grown at 22 °C. In addition, optimization of ttLbCas12a Ultra, by varying nuclear localization signal sequences and codon usage, further greatly improved editing efficiency. Collectively, our results indicate that ttLbCas12a Ultra is a valuable alternative to Cas9 for editing genes or promoters in Arabidopsis.

G-triplexes are G-rich oligonucleotides composed of three G-tracts and have absorbed much attention due to their potential biological functions and attractive performance in biosensing. Through the optimization of loop compositions, DNA lengths, and 5′-flanking bases of G-rich sequences, a new stable G-triplex sequence with 14 bases (G3-F15) was discovered to dramatically activate the fluorescence of Thioflavin T (ThT), a water-soluble fluorogenic dye. The fluorescence enhancement of ThT after binding with G3-F15 reached 3200 times, which was the strongest one by far among all of the G-rich sequences. The conformations of G3-F15 and G3-F15/ThT were studied by circular dichroism. The thermal stability measurements indicated that G3-F15 was a highly stable G-triplex structure. The conformations of G3-F15 and G3-F15/ThT in the presence of different metal cations were studied thoroughly by fluorescent spectroscopy, circular dichroism, and nuclear magnetic resonance. Furthermore, using the G3-F15/ThT complex as a fluorescent probe, a robust and simple turn-on fluorescent sensor for uracil-DNA glycosylase activity was developed. This study proposes a new systematic strategy to explore new functional G-rich sequences and their ligands, which will promote their applications in diagnosis, therapy, and biosensing.

It is widely accepted that prevéraison application of naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) can delay the ripening of grapes and improve their quality. However, how NAA impacts grape aroma compound concentrations remains unclear. This study incorporated the analyses of aroma metabolome, phytohormones, and transcriptome of Vitis viniferaL. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes cultivated in continental arid/semiarid regions of western China. The analyses demonstrated that NAA application increased β-damascenone and 1,1,6-trimethyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (TDN) in the harvested grapes by delaying véraison and upregulating VvPSY1and VvCCD4bexpressions. Additionally, NAA treatment decreased 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine (IBMP) at the same phenological stage. Notably, abscisic acid (ABA) levels increased in NAA-treated grapes during véraison, which triggered further changes in norisoprenoid metabolisms. The ABA-responsive factor VvABF2 was potentially involved in VvPSY1positive modulation, while the auxin response factor VvARF10 may play a role in VvCCD4bupregulation and VvOMT2downregulation during NAA induction. VvARF10 possibly acts as a crosstalk node between the ABA and auxin signaling pathways following NAA treatment in regulating aroma biosynthesis.

Damage of reactive oxygen species to various molecules such as DNA has been related to many chronic and degenerative human diseases, aging, and even cancer. 8-Oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (OG), the most significant oxidation product of guanine (G), has become a biomarker of oxidative stress as well as gene regulation. The positive effect of OG in activating transcription and the negative effect in inducing mutation are a double-edged sword; thus, site-specific quantification is helpful to quickly reveal the functional mechanism of OG at hotspots. Due to the possible biological effects of OG at extremely low abundance in the genome, the monitoring of OG is vulnerable to signal interference from a large amount of G. Herein, based on rolling circle amplification-induced G-triplex formation and Thioflavin T fluorescence enhancement, an ultrasensitive strategy for locus-specific OG quantification was constructed. Owing to the difference in the hydrogen-bonding pattern between OG and G, the nonspecific background signal of G sites was completely suppressed through enzymatic ligation of DNA probes and the triggered specificity of rolling circle amplification. After the signal amplification strategy was optimized, the high detection sensitivity of OG sites with an ultralow detection limit of 0.18 amol was achieved. Under the interference of G sites, as little as 0.05% of OG-containing DNA was first distinguished. This method was further used for qualitative and quantitative monitoring of locus-specific OG in genomic DNA under oxidative stress and identification of key OG sites with biological function.

Organic phase-change materials possess immense application potential, but their low thermal conductivity (≤0.5 W m−1K−1) severely limits the thermal energy charge/discharge rate, impeding their practical implementation in the field of advanced energy. While incorporating thermally conductive fillers into the phase-change matrix can address this issue, achieving a thermal conductivity exceeding 10 W m−1K−1at a filler content below 30 vol% remains challenging, attributed to the absence of a well-designed filler interface and structure. Herein, a strategy for developing planar graphene clusters and subsequently integrating them with phase-change microcapsules to fabricate composites using compression molding was demonstrated. The proposed graphene clusters are formed by closely aligned and overlapping graphene sheets that bond together through van der Waals forces, resulting in a significant decrease in junction thermal resistance within the composites. Combining this interface design with compression-induced construction of a highly oriented structure, the composites achieved a remarkable thermal conductivity of 103 W m−1K−1with 29 vol% filler addition, enhancing the thermal energy charge/discharge rate by over two orders of magnitude. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the composites possess the essential enthalpy values, competent strength, and ease of shaping, making them applicable across various domains of thermal energy management.

In the pursuit of effective thermal management for electronic devices, it is crucial to develop insulation thermal interface materials (TIMs) that exhibit exceptional through-plane thermal conductivity, low thermal resistance, and minimal compression modulus. Boron nitride (BN), given its outstanding thermal conduction and insulation properties, has garnered significant attention as a potential material for this purpose. However, previously reported BN-based composites have consistently demonstrated through-plane thermal conductivity below 10 W m−1K−1and high compression modulus, whilst also presenting challenges in terms of mass production. In this study, low molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and large-size BN were utilized as the foundational materials. Utilizing a rolling-curing integrated apparatus, we successfully accomplished the continuous preparation of large-sized, high-adhesion BN films. Subsequent implementation of stacking, cold pressing, and vertical cutting techniques enabled the attainment of a remarkable BN-based TIM, characterized by an unprecedented through-plane thermal conductivity of up to 12.11 W m−1K−1, remarkably low compression modulus (55 kPa), and total effective thermal resistance (0.16 °C in2W−1, 50 Psi). During the TIMs performance evaluation, our TIMs demonstrated superior heat dissipation capabilities compared with commercial TIMs. At a heating power density of 40 W cm−2, the steady-state temperature of the ceramic heating element was found to be 7 °C lower than that of the commercial TIMs. This pioneering feat not only contributes valuable technical insights for the development of high-performance insulating TIMs but also establishes a solid foundation for widespread implementation in thermal management applications across a range of electronic devices.

A novel electromagnetic excitation method – the Huygens’ cylinder – is proposed to improve the B1+ field homogeneity of the high-field (HF) and ultra-high field (UHF) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Based on the concept of the Huygens’ box, we calculate the currents on a cylindrical boundary that can synthesize an arbitrary electromagnetic wave inside the enclosed region. Specifically, we excite a right-handed circularly polarized (B1+) travelling wave with high mode purity inside the Huygens’ cylinder coil. The simulated B1+ field obtained from several 3T and 7T MR scenarios are reported and compared with birdcage coils. In the unloaded scenarios, the Huygens’ cylinder achieves superior B1+-field homogeneity over both the sagittal and axial plane compared to the birdcage coil for both 3T and 7T MRI. In the loaded scenarios, the Huygens’ cylinder achieves superior B1+-field homogeneity over the sagittal plane and comparable B1+-field homogeneity over the axial plane for both 3T and 7T MRI compared to the birdcage coil. Moreover, the 7T Huygens’ cylinder can generate a uniform field over a much larger region, enabling the imaging of a large part of the human body. The Huygens’ cylinder greatly improves the homogeneity of B1+ field and is free from the dielectric resonance limitation suffered by conventional RF coils. It has strong potential as future RF coils in HF and UHF MR systems.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading contributors to cancer-related mortality worldwide. Nop2/Sun domain family member 5 (NSUN5), a conserved RNA 5-methylcytosine methyltransferase, is conventionally recognized as oncogenic. However, its role in HCC development remains unknown. In this study, we observed a remarkable upregulation of NSUN5 expression in both tumor tissues from patients with HCC, establishing a correlation with unfavorable clinical outcomes. NSUN5 knockdown and overexpression significantly inhibited and promoted HCC cell proliferation, respectively. Additionally, employing a combination of methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq) and RIP-seq techniques, we identified zinc finger BED domain-containing protein 3 (ZBED3) as a novel downstream target of NSUN5. Additionally, we found that the overexpression of ZBED3 counteracted the tumor-suppressing effect of NSUN5 knockdown and simultaneously reversed the inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In summary, we elucidated the oncogenic role of NSUN5 in HCC development and identified the ZBED3/Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway as its downstream target. This study provides a novel therapeutic target for further development in HCC treatment.

Dynamic capacity-increase technologies (DCITs), as a solution to reduce the stress of transmission networks, avoid long-term constructions and update the maximum transmitted capacities based on real-time environment factors and the maximum allowable operation temperatures (MAOTs), which provide flexibility in optimizing the operation modes for power systems. This paper proposes a detailed two-stage stochastic unit commitment model considering the physical processes of heat transfer as well as the uncertainties of renewable energy. The dynamic thermal rating (DTR) is calculated based on the heat balance of transmission lines in the steady state, including radiated and convective heat loss and gain from the solar heat and power flows. To simulate the uncertainties from renewable energy outputs, this paper applies the Latin hypercube sampling method to generate output scenarios in stochastic optimization. Finally, the proposed model is verified on a modified IEEE-24-bus test system. The effectiveness of DCITs is illustrated through the case study.

Increasing evidences showed that ovulatory dysfunction, possibly caused by luteinized unruptured follicular follicle syndrome (LUFS), is one of the reasons for endometriosis-related infertility. The present study was conducted to explore the potential effect of elevated progesterone in follicular fluid (FF) on ovulation in endometriosis. A prospective study including 50 ovarian endometriosis patients and 50 control patients with matched pairs design was conducted with alterations in FF and peritoneal fluid (PF) components identified by metabolomics analyses and differentially expressed genes in granulosa cells (GCs) identified by transcriptome analysis. Patients with endometriosis exhibited a significantly higher progesterone level in serum, FF, and PF. Granulosa cells from endometriosis patients revealed decreased expression of HPGD, COX-2,and suppressed NF-ĸB signaling. Similarly, progesterone treatment in vitro downregulated HPGD and COX2 expression and suppressed NF-ĸB signaling in granulosa tumor-like cell line KGN (Bena Culture Collection, China) and primarily cultured GCs, as manifested by decreased expressions of IL1R1, IRAK3, reduced pIĸBα/IĸBα ratio, and nucleus translocation of p65. On the contrary, TNF-α treatment increased expression of IL1R1, IRAK3, pIĸBα, p65, and HPGD in GCs. One potential p65 binding site was identified in the promoter region of HPGDby chromatin immunoprecipitation. In conclusion, we found that intrafollicular progesterone might downregulate HPGDand COX-2in GCs via suppressing the NF-ĸB signaling pathway, shedding light on the mechanism underlying the endometriosis-related ovulatory dysfunction.Endometriosis showed repression of NF-ĸB pathway and downregulation of HPGDand COX2, which may be involved in ovulation by participating in the metabolism of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), in GCs due to elevated progesterone in FF.

Lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (LHP NCs) are regarded as promising emitters for next-generation ultrahigh-definition displays due to their high color purity and wide color gamut. Recently, the external quantum efficiency (EQE) of LHP NC based light-emitting diodes (PNC LEDs) has been rapidly improved to a level required by practical applications. However, the poor operational stability of the device, caused by halide ion migration at the grain boundary of LHP NC thin films, remains a great challenge. Herein, we report a resurfacing strategy via pseudohalogen ions to mitigate detrimental halide ion migration, aiming to stabilize PNC LEDs. We employ a thiocyanate solution processed post-treatment method to efficiently resurface CsPbBr3NCs and demonstrate that the thiocyanate ions can effectively inhibit bromide ion migration in LHP NC thin films. Owing to thiocyanate resurfacing, we fabricated LEDs with a high EQE of 17.3%, a maximum brightness of 48000 cd m–2, and an excellent operation half-life time.

Although the development of artificial molecular machines has garnered considerable attention in recent years, the construction of multifunctional solid-state molecular machines still faces several challenges. Herein, we report a supramolecular approach as an efficient strategy for building multifunctional trigger systems. In crystals composed of [Ni(dmit)2]−with a spin of S= 1/2 and supramolecular structures consisting of 4-aminopyridinium+and benzo[18]crown-6, supramolecular cations with dynamic degrees of freedom affect the magnetic and dielectric properties and induce negative thermal expansion (NTE). The supramolecular cations in the crystals form one-dimensional columns. Two adjacent columns form a supramolecular ladder structure via π···π interactions between the phenylene groups of benzo[18]crown-6 and are arranged within a two-dimensional layer. A disorder between the two sites of the phenylene ring was observed in one of the crystallographically independent benzo[18]crown-6. Disordered benzo[18]crown-6 formed polar domains within the crystal, resulting in relaxor ferroelectricity. With increasing temperature, the supramolecular ladders elongated and the translational motion of benzo[18]crown-6 caused the molecular ladder to move closer to each other. Consequently, the crystals shrunk in the direction perpendicular to the ladder, exhibiting uniaxial NTE, and the magnetic exchange interaction between the [Ni(dmit)2]−crystals was disrupted.

Purpose: Accurate risk reassessment after surgery is crucial for postoperative planning for monitoring and disposition. Existing postoperative mortality risk prediction models using preoperative features do not incorporate intraoperative hemodynamic derangements that may alter risk stratification. Intraoperative vital signs may provide an objective and readily available prognostic resource. Our primary objective was to derive and internally validate a logistic regression (LR) model by adding intraoperative features to established preoperative predictors to predict 30-day postoperative mortality. Methods: Following Research Ethics Board approval, we analyzed a historical cohort that included patients aged ≥ 45 undergoing noncardiac surgery with an overnight stay at two tertiary hospitals (2013 to 2017). Features included intraoperative vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure, oxygen saturation, and temperature) by threshold and duration of exposure, as well as patient, surgical, and anesthetic factors. The cohort was divided temporally 75:25 into derivation and validation sets. We constructed a multivariable LR model with 30-day all-cause mortality as the outcome and evaluated performance metrics. Results: There were 30,619 patients in the cohort (mean [standard deviation] age, 66 [11] yr; 50.2% female; 2.0% mortality). In the validation set, the primary LR model showed a c-statistic of 0.893 (99% confidence interval [CI], 0.853 to 0.927), a Nagelkerke R-squared of 0.269, a scaled Brier score of 0.082, and an area under precision-recall curve of 0.158 (baseline 0.017 for an uninformative model). The addition of intraoperative vital signs to preoperative factors minimally improved discrimination and calibration. Conclusion: We derived and internally validated a model that incorporated vital signs to improve risk stratification after surgery. Preoperative factors were strongly predictive of mortality risk, and intraoperative predictors only minimally improved discrimination. External and prospective validations are needed. Study registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov(NCT04014010); registered on 10 July 2019.

Objective: Cholesteryl esters (CEs) are composed of various fatty acyl chains attached to the hydroxyl groups of cholesterol, and abnormalities in their metabolism are related to many diseases. This study aimed to develop an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole exactive mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Exactive MS) method to identify the CEs in plasma. Methods: First, the MS fragmentation patterns were investigated using seven commercial CE standards. Then, the CEs in plasma were characterized through the accurate mass data of precursor ions and characteristic product ions. A strategy of step-by-step m/z scans in a narrow range was proposed to identify more trace CEs by the full-scan data-dependent MS/MS (ddMS2) mode. Results: A total of 50 CE species consisting of 55 regioisomers were identified in human plasma. Among them, two species were reported for the first time. Conclusion: This study is the most comprehensive identification of CE species in human plasma to date. These results will contribute to the in-depth profiling of CEs in human plasma and provide guidance for animal model selection when studying lipid-related diseases.

Oxidative DNA damage is tightly linked to the development of multiple age-related diseases. The prominent oxidation product is 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (OG), which has been proved to be an important epigenetic-like biomarker. Quantification of the locus-specific OG frequency includes quantitative and locating information, which is of great significance for exploring the functional roles of OG in disease induction and gene regulation. Herein, an ultrasensitive quantification of OG at single-base resolution was established using real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction as an amplification tool. Based on the coding property of BsuDNA polymerase that incorporates adenine on the opposite site of OG and the selectivity of the ligase for perfectly matched sequences, the difference between OG and G on the sequence could be enlarged. Well-performed TaqDNA ligase was selected out, and as low as 46.2 zmol of target DNA with an OG site and an OG frequency of 5% could be detected. G contents on a specific site were also detectable based on the similar principle, thus the OG frequency of this locus could be accurately determined by a standard addition method. This strategy was successfully applied to the evaluation of locus-specific OG in both model DNA and genomic DNA from human cervical carcinoma cell lines under multiple oxidative stress, showing the potential for functional research and dynamic monitoring of critical OG sites.

Adhesion G protein-coupled receptors are elusive in terms of their structural information and ligands. Here, we solved the cryogenic-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of apo-ADGRG2, an essential membrane receptor for maintaining male fertility, in complex with a Gstrimer. Whereas the formations of two kinks were determinants of the active state, identification of a potential ligand-binding pocket in ADGRG2 facilitated the screening and identification of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and deoxycorticosterone as potential ligands of ADGRG2. The cryo-EM structures of DHEA–ADGRG2–Gsprovided interaction details for DHEA within the seven transmembrane domains of ADGRG2. Collectively, our data provide a structural basis for the activation and signaling of ADGRG2, as well as characterization of steroid hormones as ADGRG2 ligands, which might be used as useful tools for further functional studies of the orphan ADGRG2.

Computing-in-memory (CIM) has been widely explored for parallelizing multiply-and-accumulation (MAC) operations and reducing data access to overcome “Von-Neumann bottleneck”. However, most CIM works lack configurability regardless of custom demands. In this paper, we proposed a 28 nm 128 Kb configurable CIM architecture based on voltage coupling (VCCIM) and a CIM-based modeling and predicting (CIMMP) method. This macro achieves an energy efficiency of 12.1–17.6 TOPS/W and 71.70–72.01% inference accuracy when applied to a VGG-16 network CIFAR-100 data set.

CCCH (C3H) Zinc finger (Znf) transcription factors (TFs), as a novel type of Znfgene, regulate the expression of genes by binding to their mRNAs and play important roles in plant growth and development and abiotic stress resistance. Longan (Dimocarpous longan) is a tropical/subtropical fruit tree of great economic importance in Southeast Asia. However, genomic information on C3Hand their functions in longan are still unknown. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of the longan C3H (DlC3H) gene family was carried out. A total of 49 DlC3Hgenes in three clades were identified from the longan genome database. Characteristics of the genes were analyzed with respect to gene structure, motif composition, phylogenetic tree and potential functions. The analysis of alternative splicing (AS) events suggested that AS events in DlC3Hgenes were related to the transformation from longan non-embryonic to embryonic cultures. Promoter analysis indicated that most of the DlC3Hgenes included cis-acting elements associated with hormones and stresses responses. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis indicated that 26 of the 49 DlC3Hs, which possess methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and abscisic acid (ABA) responsive cis-acting elements, showed differential expression patterns under treatment with ABA, MeJA and their endogenous inhibitors, suggesting that DlC3Hsmight be involved in the ABA and MeJA signaling pathways. The expression profiles of 17 of the 49 DlC3Hsin non-embryonic callus and three tissues of embryonic cultures showed that only five of the 17 DlC3Hshad the same expression trends as the FPKM trends in transcriptome data; the expression levels of DlC3H07/14/16/36/49in embryogenic callus and DlC3H04/38in globular embryos were high, suggesting that they have different functions in embryonic development. Further, we verified that DlC3H01/03/05/11/19/39were regulated by sRNAs by a modified 5′ RLM-RACE method. This study provides the first systematic analysis of C3Hgenes in longan, and found that C3Hgenes may be involved in hormone and stress responses, and somatic embryogenesis. Our preliminary investigation may provide clues to further studies on the characteristics and functions of this family in longan.

Objective: Thyroid hormones (THs) regulate multiple physiological activities in the liver, including cellular metabolism, differentiation, and cell growth, and play important roles in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) is a key molecule involved in the THs synthesis and signaling pathway. As an epigenetic modification, DNA methylation has a critical role in tumorigenesis with diagnostic potential. However, the connection between THs and DNA methylation has been rarely investigated. Methods: The methylation of key TH-related genes was analyzed by in-house epigenome-wide scanning, and we further analyzed the methylation levels of the TPOpromotor in 164 sample pairs of HCC and adjacent non-cancerous tissues by Sequenom EpiTYPER assays, and evaluated their clinical implications. Results: We identified that the methylation of the TPOpromoter was downregulated in the HCC tissues (P<0.0001) with a mean difference ranging from 18.5% to 22.3%. This methylation pattern correlated with several clinical factors, including a multi-satellite tumor, fibrous capsule, and the presence of tumor thrombus. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis further confirmed that the percent methylated reference (PMR) values for TPOwere predictive of the tumor [the area under the curve (AUC) ranged from 0.755 to 0.818] and the thrombosis in the HCC patients (the AUC ranged from 0.706 to 0.777). Conclusion: These findings demonstrated that epigenetic alterations of TPO, as indicated by the PMR values, were a potential biomarker for HCC patients with tumor thrombosis.

Lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) are emerging as promising light emitters to be actively explored for high color purity and efficient light-emitting diodes. However, the most reported lead halide perovskite nanocrystal light-emitting diodes (PNCLEDs) encountered issues of emission line width broadening and operation voltage elevating caused by the quantum confinement effect. Here, we report a new type of PNCLED using large-size CsPbBr3PNCs overly exceeding the Bohr exciton diameter, achieving ultranarrow emission line width and rapid brightness rise around the turn-on voltage. We adopt calcium-tributylphosphine oxide hybrid ligand passivation to produce highly dispersed large-size colloidal CsPbBr3PNCs with a weak size confinement effect and also high photoluminescence quantum yield (∼85%). Utilizing these large-size PNCs as emitters, we manifest that the detrimental effects caused by the quantum confinement effect can be avoided in the device, thereby realizing the highest color purity in green PNCLED, with a narrow full width at half-maximum of 16.4 nm and a high corrected maximum external quantum efficiency of 17.85%. Moreover, the operation half-life time of the large-size PNCLED is 5-fold of that based on smaller-size PNCs. Our work provides a new avenue for improving the performance of PNCLEDs based on unconventional large-size effects.

Metal halide perovskites are promising semiconductors for next-generation light-emitting diodes (LEDs) due to their high luminance, excellent color purity, and handily tunable band gap. However, it remains a great challenge to develop perovskite LEDs (PeLEDs) with pure red emission at the wavelength of 630 nm. Herein, we report a spectrally stable and efficient pure red PeLED by employing sequential ligand post-treated CsPbI3quantum dots (QDs). The synthesized CsPbI3QDs with a size of ∼5 nm are treated in sequential steps using the ligands of 1-hydroxy-3-phenylpropan-2-aminium iodide (HPAI) and tributylsulfonium iodide (TBSI), respectively. The CsPbI3QD films exhibit improved optoelectronic properties, which enables the fabrication of a pure red PeLED with a peak external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 6.4% and a stable EL emission centered at the wavelength of 630 nm. Our reported sequential ligand post-treatment strategy opens a new route to improve the stability and efficiency of PeLEDs based on QDs.

[Display omitted] • A metal-free π-conjugated hybrid g-C 3 N 4 photocatalyst with tunable band structure was prepared by a one-pot bottom-up method. • The hybrid g-C 3 N 4 is revealed to be a compound of periodic tri-s-triazine units grafted with N-doped graphene fragments. • The π-conjugated electron coupling in the hybrid g-C 3 N 4 promotes the separation of photo-induced charge carriers. • Compared with pristine g-C 3 N 4 , the visible-light H 2 production activity of the optimized sample is enhanced by 253 %. Development of low-cost and efficient photocatalytic materials with visible-light response is of urgent need for solving energy and environmental problems. Here, a metal-free two-dimensional (2D) π-conjugated hybrid g-C 3 N 4 photocatalyst with tunable band structure was prepared by a novel one-pot bottom-up method based on a supersaturated precipitation process of urea and triethanolamine (TEOA) solution. The microstructure of the hybrid g-C 3 N 4 is revealed to be a compound of periodic tri-s-triazine units grafted with N-doped graphene (GR) fragments. From experimental evidence and theoretical calculations, the two different π-conjugated fragments in the hybrid g-C 3 N 4 material are proved to construct a 2D in-plane junction structure, thereby expanding the light absorption range and accelerating the interface charge transfer. The π-conjugated electron coupling in the 2D photocatalyst eliminates the grain boundary effect, and the coupled highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) effectively promotes the separation of photo-induced charge carriers. Compared with the g-C 3 N 4 prepared by the conventional method, the visible-light H 2 production activity of the optimized sample is enhanced by 253 %. This work provides a new strategy of constructing metal-free g-C 3 N 4 hybrids for efficient photocatalytic water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3D) perovskites have been demonstrated as an effective strategy to achieve efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs) at high brightness. However, most 3D perovskite LEDs still suffer from serious efficiency roll-off. Here, using FAPbI3as a model system, we find that the main reason for efficiency droop and degradation in 3D perovskite LEDs is defects and the ion migration under electrical stress. By introducing bifunctional-molecule 3-chlorobenzylamine additive into the perovskite precursor solution, the detrimental effects can be significantly suppressed through the growth of high crystalline perovskites and defect passivation. This approach leads to bright near-infrared perovskite LEDs with a peak external quantum efficiency of 16.6%, which sustains 80% of its peak value at a high current density of 460 mA cm–2, corresponding to a high brightness of 300 W sr–1m–2. Moreover, the device exhibits a record half-lifetime of 49 h under a constant current density of 100 mA cm–2.

Purpose: Giving birth is the most common reason for hospital admission, with Cesarean delivery being the most frequently performed inpatient surgery. Through a needs assessment and iterative design process involving patients and obstetric anesthesiologists, we previously developed a mobile application, C-Care, for patients undergoing Cesarean delivery. The focus of C-Care is perioperative education and self-monitoring of potential anesthetic complications. This study aimed to obtain feedback on patient engagement with C-Care. Method: We conducted a prospective cohort study of patients ≥ 18 yr (n= 36) undergoing elective Cesarean delivery. Anonymous usage data were recorded for 30 days. On postoperative days 1–5, participants received daily self-monitoring questionnaires within C-Care. Fourteen days after surgery, participants received an online survey regarding satisfaction and use of C-Care. Results: Thirty-five out of 36 participants visited the application after orientation, with a median [interquartile range (IQR)] age of 32 [31–36] yr. Each participant visited the application a median of 15 [9–31] times over 30 days and completed a median of 3 [2–4] out of five self-monitoring questionnaires. Each participant viewed a median of 4 [2–7] out of eight education topics, with the most viewed patient education topics being “Controlling Pain” and “The First Few Days”. Visits to the application were highest in the first week postpartum. Of the 18 respondents who completed the day 14 survey, 83% (n= 15) participants would recommend C-Care to other women, and the median participant satisfaction score was 7.5 out of 10 (range, 2–10). Conclusion: Most participants used this mobile application for patient education and self-monitoring after elective Cesarean delivery. Insights into patient engagement with C-Care after Cesarean delivery could help design more effective perioperative mobile telehealth programs. Trial registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov(NCT03746678); registered 5 November 2018.

Since the Biden administration took office, its approach and strategy for domestic and foreign affairs have become the focus of global attention. The new administration’s policy toward the Korean Peninsula is one of the most heatedly debated subjects among policymakers and pundits. The past four years have seen major changes in regional security architecture, the most noticeable of which are dynamics on the Korean Peninsula and intensified China-U.S. strategic rivalry. In this context, a comprehensive overhaul of Mr. Trump’s approach to global affairs is expected under a Democratic administration staffed with foreign policy veterans, and the Korean Peninsula policy will be among the most consequential decisions for Biden’s White House. President Biden’s policy toward Pyongyang will be substantially different from Trump’s approach. A bottom-up, incremental model is likely to replace Trump’s personalized diplomacy marked by flashy summit meetings and “love letters.” Existing sanctions will be maintained until the Biden administration sees substantive results regarding the North’s nuclear and missile arsenal. While keeping up the pressure to coerce Pyongyang back to the negotiating table, President Biden is expected to respond more proactively to Kim Jong-un’s overtures or “provocations” and place a high premium on policy reciprocity. The Biden team will elevate the role of Seoul and Tokyo in its strategic planning and increase trilateral coordination and consultation. Stiff competition is more likely to hinder China-U.S. coordination on the Peninsula. The tone, substance, and results of diplomatic engagement between Beijing and Washington over the nuclear issue in the early days of the new administration will give a foretaste of what could ensue on the Peninsula. Positive initial interactions may generate broader implications for China-U.S. relations, regional stability, and global security at large.

A novel approach to 2,5-disubstituted 1,3,4-oxadiazoles derivatives via a decarboxylative cyclization reaction by photoredox catalysis between commercially available α-oxocarboxylic acids and hypervalent iodine(III) reagent is described. This powerful transformation involves the coupling reaction between two different kinds of radical species and the formation of C–N and C–O bonds.

AbstractThis study aims to investigate the characteristics of night soil/horse manure with leaf co-composting using aerobic static composting method. Two influencing factors, including composting materials and aeration pattern, were investigated by determining the change in the principal physicochemical properties, i.e. temperature, volatile solid, carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, heavy metals, ammonia nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and germination index (GI). The mixture of horse manure and leaf can achieve high composting temperature, long retention time of high temperature (55 °C), fast organic matter degradation, and high GI under the same aeration pattern. Under the same composting materials, the intermittent aeration pattern during composting was superior to the continuous aeration pattern because the former promoted the composting process.

The depression performance and mechanism of the combined depressant containing potassium ferricyanide (K3[Fe(CN)6]), zinc sulfate (ZnSO4), and sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) with potassium isobutyl xanthate (PPBX) as the collector in a mixed Pb–Zn sulfide flotation system were investigated using microflotation experiments, contact-angle experiments, adsorption capacity experiments, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)–energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. The microflotation results indicated that the combined depressant has a significant selective depression effect on sphalerite but a small effect on galena. When the dosages of K3[Fe(CN)6], ZnSO4, and Na2CO3were 1.8 × 10−5mol/L, 8 × 10−5mol/L, and 2.4 × 10−4mol/L, respectively, the recovery of galena was 92.56%, whereas that of sphalerite (Pb2+activation) was only 7.65%. The contact-angle experiment indicated that the order of the single depression effect was as follows: K3[Fe(CN)6] > ZnSO4> Na2CO3. The depression effect of the combined depressant was significantly better than the single depression effect. Adsorption capacity results demonstrated that after depressant addition, the decreasing order of xanthate adsorption capacity was as follows: ZnSO4+ Na2CO3> K3[Fe(CN)6] + Na2CO3> K3[Fe(CN)6] + ZnSO4> K3[Fe(CN)6] + ZnSO4+ Na2CO3. Scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive spectroscopy results showed that depression of sphalerite (Pb2+activation) by the combined depressant generated numerous precipitates.

As an indispensable part of e-commerce, online shopping has maintained a rapid development trend in recent years. The influence of online reviews has become more and more important, which may provide helpful guidance to customers. Firstly, from the perspectives of e-commerce platforms, online reviews value function and consumer psychology representation, the influencing factors of consumers' purchase intention are analysed, which includes e-commerce platforms service quality, e-commerce platform security, online reviews quality, illustrated reviews, additional reviews, seller response, review usefulness, trust tendency and perceived risk. Then, through questionnaires, the model of EBM, and based on the data analysis, we can conclude. All of the above variables have a positive impact on consumers' willingness to purchase. In addition, the star power is introduced as a moderating variable, which has a moderating effect not only between the reviews of usefulness and the consumers' willingness to purchase but also between perceived risk and consumers' willingness to purchase.

This paper introduces a generalized integral transform that encompasses the Laplace, Fourier, and numerous contemporary integral transforms as particular instances, while preserving their defining characteristics. Secondly, we propose the application of the generalized integral transform in the variational iteration method for the straightforward identification of the Lagrange multiplier, thus enabling the resolution of nonlinear oscillator problems. Finally, we present a series of illustrative examples to demonstrate the efficacy of this approach.

A Zn-based metal-organic framework (MOF)/porous coordination polymer (PCP), (EMIM)[Zn(SIP)] (1) (SIP3–= 5-sulfoisophthalate, EMIM+= 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium), was synthesized using the ionothermal reaction. The Zn2+ion adopts distorted square pyramid coordination geometry with five oxygen atoms from three carboxylates and one sulfo group. One of two carboxylates in SIP3–serves as a μ2-bridge ligand to link two Zn2+ions and form the dinuclear SBU, and such SBUs are connected by SIP3–ligands to build the three-dimensional framework with rutile (rtl) topology. The cations from the ion-liquid fill the channels. This MOF/PCP shows two-step dielectric anomalies together with two-step dielectric relaxations; the variable-temperature single-crystal structure analyses disclosed the dielectric anomaly occurring at ca. 280 K is caused by an isostructural phase transition. Another dielectric anomaly is related to the dynamic disorder of the cations in the channels. Electric modulus, conductance, and variable-temperature solid-state 13C CP/MAS NMR spectra analyses revealed that two-step dielectric relaxations result from the dynamic motion of the cations as well as the direct-current conduction and electrode effect, respectively.

The potential for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption in wastewater treatment can be realized through intelligent control, with machine learning (ML) and multimodality emerging as a promising solution. Here, we introduce an ML technique based on multimodal strategies, focusing specifically on intelligent aeration control in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The generalization of the multimodal strategy is demonstrated on eight ML models. The results demonstrate that this multimodal strategy significantly enhances model indicators for ML in environmental science and the efficiency of aeration control, exhibiting exceptional performance and interpretability. Integrating random forest with visual models achieves the highest accuracy in forecasting aeration quantity in multimodal models, with a mean absolute percentage error of 4.4% and a coefficient of determination of 0.948. Practical testing in a full-scale plant reveals that the multimodal model can reduce operation costs by 19.8% compared to traditional fuzzy control methods. The potential application of these strategies in critical water science domains is discussed. To foster accessibility and promote widespread adoption, the multimodal ML models are freely available on GitHub, thereby eliminating technical barriers and encouraging the application of artificial intelligence in urban wastewater treatment.

Acute massive abdominal hemorrhage after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an infrequent and severe complication. Delayed diagnosis and treatment may be life-threatening. We herein describe a 60-year-old man with a history of postoperative HCC. A new nidus of HCC was found in his right liver lobe after abdominal magnetic resonance imaging and intraoperative angiography. The patient then underwent computed tomography-guided RFA. However, 7 hours after RFA, he suddenly developed dizziness, nausea, abdominal distension, hematuria, a decreased blood pressure, and an increased heart rate. Diagnostic abdominal puncture produced bloody liquid, and angiography demonstrated hemorrhage in the right hepatic artery. Transarterial embolization was performed following the administration of an appropriate amount of tissue emulsion to embolize the source of hemorrhage. Following this treatment, the patient had no further bleeding. Neither the hemorrhage nor the HCC lesions had recurred after 3 months of follow-up.

Based on the regional water resources carrying capacity (WRCC) evaluation principles and evaluation index system in the National Technical Outline of Water Resources Carrying Capacity Monitoring and Early Warning(hereafter referred to as the Technical Outline), this paper elaborates on the collection and sorting of the basic data of water resources conditions, water resources development and utilization status, social and economic development in basins, analysis and examination of integrity, consistency, normativeness, and rationality of the basic data, and the necessity of WRCC evaluation. This paper also describes the technique of evaluating the WRCC in prefecture-level cities and city-level administrative divisions in the District of the Taihu Lake Basin, which is composed of the Taihu Lake Basin and the Southeastern River Basin. The evaluation process combines the binary index evaluation method and reduction index evaluation method. The former, recommended by the Technical Outline, uses the total water use and the amount of exploited groundwater as evaluation indices, showing stronger operability, while the latter is developed by simplifying and optimizing the comprehensive index system with greater systematicness and completeness. The mutual validation and adjustment of the results of the above-mentioned two evaluation methods indicate that the WRCC of the District of the Taihu Lake Basin is overloaded in general because some prefecture-level cities and city-level administrative divisions in the Taihu Lake Basin and the Southeastern River Basin are in a severely overloaded state. In order to explain this conclusion, this paper analyzes the causes of WRCC overloading from the aspects of basin water environment, water resources development and utilization, water resources regulation and control ability, water resources utilization efficiency, and water resources management.

Purpose: Cesarean delivery (CD) is the most commonly performed inpatient surgery in Canada, with 103,425 performed in 2016–2017. Mobile technology can contribute to patient-centred perioperative care. Our aim was to involve patients and anesthesiologists in designing a mobile application to enhance the perioperative care of CD patients. Method: We completed an exploratory qualitative study involving three iterative design cycles. Individual structured phone or in-person interviews with CD patients (n= 15) and anesthesiologists (n= 9) were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to 1) assess gaps and opportunities in the anesthesiology care after CD, 2) identify roles and limitations of mobile application technology in bridging perioperative care, and 3) to solicit feedback on a prototype mobile application for the anesthesiology postoperative care of elective CD patients. Results: Patients and anesthesiologists were in favour of adding mobile applications to the interdisciplinary perioperative management of patients undergoing CD, particularly for providing reliable information, identifying and following patients with complications, and research in perioperative outcomes. Medical–legal issues, privacy, workflow, and payment policy frameworks are barriers for mobile technology linking patients and anesthesiologists. Our final prototype was refined to focus on timely, concise education and self-monitoring. Conclusion: The participant-driven changes in direction of the prototype showed the importance of involving key stakeholders early. This study provides guidance on further iterative development and implementation of an interdisciplinary mobile platform for patient-centred perioperative care and outcomes research.

microRNA-139 (miR-139) is dysregulated in various types of tumors and plays a key role in carcinogenesis. miR-139 may be used as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of cancers. However, the data from the literature are not consistent. The present study aimed to verify the prognostic and diagnostic values of miR-139 in solid tumors.

A three-tiered thermal interface materials was proposed with the through-plane thermal conductivity up to176 W m−1K−1and contact thermal resistance as low as 4–6 K mm2W−1(double sides).The liquid metal acts as a buffer layer to connect vertically aligned graphene with the rough heater/heat sink, improving effective contact thermal conductance by more than an order of magnitude.

•The heat transfer between S-CO2tube and combustion flue gas was modeled.•The heat transfer coefficient increases as the supercritical pressure increases.•The S-CO2pressure has a great influence on the tube wall temperature.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) messenger RNA methylation is a gene regulatory mechanism affecting cell differentiation and proliferation in development and cancer. To study the roles of m6A mRNA methylation in cell proliferation and tumorigenicity, we investigated human endometrial cancer in which a hotspot R298P mutation is present in a key component of the methyltransferase complex (METTL14). We found that about 70% of endometrial tumours exhibit reductions in m6A methylation that are probably due to either this METTL14mutation or reduced expression of METTL3, another component of the methyltransferase complex. These changes lead to increased proliferation and tumorigenicity of endometrial cancer cells, likely through activation of the AKT pathway. Reductions in m6A methylation lead to decreased expression of the negative AKT regulator PHLPP2 and increased expression of the positive AKT regulator mTORC2. Together, these results reveal reduced m6A mRNA methylation as an oncogenic mechanism in endometrial cancer and identify m6A methylation as a regulator of AKT signalling. Liu et al. show that reduced m6A mRNA methylation in endometrial cancer is oncogenic. Mechanistically, the AKT pathway is activated in these tumours due to altered expression of AKT regulators carrying m6A on their transcripts.

L-Ascorbic acid (AsA) plays an important role in plants and animals. In plants, GDP-D-mannose pyrophosphorylase (GMP) is essential in the AsA biosynthetic pathway. However, little is known about the genes encoding GMP in soybean and here we report genetic and functional analysis of the GmGMP1(Glycine maxGDP-D-mannose pyrophosphorylase 1) gene in this species. GmGMP1encoded a GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase and exhibited higher transcript levels in the leaf than in the root, stem, flower, and seed. Transcript of this gene was ubiquitous in the vegetative and reproductive organs, and was induced by abiotic stress and light. Increasing expression of GmGMP1in Arabidopsisand soybean through an overexpressing approach caused pronounced enhancement of AsA content, and was implicated in lowering the superoxide anion radical content and lipid peroxidation levels in Arabidopsis,and conferring tolerance to osmotic and high salt stresses during seed germination. The present study represents the first systematic determination of soybean genes encoding GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase and provides useful evidence for the functional involvement of GmGMP1in control of AsA content and conferring tolerance to osmotic and salt stress.

Sequestration of CO2in coal seams with enhanced coalbed methane recovery (CO2-ECBM) can mitigate CO2emissions. In this work, the effects of the supercritical CO2fluid on the physicochemical property of coals were elucidated. The results show that CO2interaction can mobilise the volatile hydrocarbons in the coal matrix and subsequently result in the decrease of volatile matter content. The volatile matter contents of coals decrease with temperature, pressure and injection rate of CO2interaction. The extracted volatile matters are of biological toxicity, thus CO2-ECBM process should be operated at the optimum temperature, pressure and CO2injection rate. The moisture contents of Zhangji coal and Liulin coal after CO2interaction increase which implies that the pore morphology of the above two coals grows up. For low rank Bulianta coal and high rank Qinshui coal, the swelling effect induced by CO2is dominant. Thus, the moisture content after CO2interaction decreases in comparison with the raw state.