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Metal coatings with micron thickness, high conductivity, and a unique structure that can provide exceptional electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance to insulation substrates are highly desirable, especially if the production method is inexpensive, pollution‐free, and efficient. In this study, the Ar/H2 mixed atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) was utilized to reduce AgNO3 to produce PC + ABS substrates coated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). It was found that the low roughness AgNPs coating has a multilayer network structure, which could exhibit high conductivity and excellent EMI shielding effectiveness (SE). In conclusion, this method is an excellent choice for producing metal EMI shielding coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the considerable potential and significant promise of aluminum scandium nitride (AlScN) ferroelectric materials for neuromorphic computing applications, challenges related to device engineering, along with the considerable structural disorder in thin films grown on various substrates using different vapor synthesis methods, make it difficult to systematically study the structure–property relationship. In this work, we approach such issues from the crystal growth side by successfully growing high-quality single crystal AlScN nanowires through ultra-high vacuum reactive sputtering under high substrate bias and low atomic flux conditions, which leads to simultaneous growth and etching. Characterization of nanowire arrays using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy shows that the wires are epitaxial single crystals with significantly reduced mosaic spread and predominantly single ferroelectric domains. Moreover, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties were evaluated using Piezoresponse Force Microscopy. The single crystal AlScN nanowires show an out-of-plane piezoelectric constant d33 that is greater than 20 pm V−1, which is higher than that of pure AlN by a factor of ∼4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the involvement of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) in several coronavirus-productive infections has been reported, whether the UPS is required for infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) infections is unclear. In this study, the role of UPS in the IBV and PEDV life cycles was investigated. When the UPS was suppressed by pharmacological inhibition at the early infection stage, IBV and PEDV infectivity were severely impaired. Further study showed that inhibition of UPS did not change the internalization of virus particles; however, by using R18 and DiOC-labeled virus particles, we found that inhibition of UPS prevented the IBV and PEDV membrane fusion with late endosomes or lysosomes. In addition, proteasome inhibitors blocked the degradation of the incoming viral protein N, suggesting the uncoating process and genomic RNA release were suppressed. Subsequently, the initial translation of genomic RNA was blocked. Thus, UPS may target the virus-cellular membrane fusion to facilitate the release of incoming viruses from late endosomes or lysosomes, subsequently blocking the following virus uncoating, initial translation, and replication events. Similar to the observation of proteasome inhibitors, ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1 inhibitor PYR-41 also impaired the entry of IBV, enhanced the accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins, and depleted mono-ubiquitin. In all, this study reveals an important role of UPS in coronavirus entry by preventing membrane fusion and identifies UPS as a potential target for developing antiviral therapies for coronavirus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In our large‐scale study, the correlation between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) related to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and cardiac autonomic dysfunction was assessed by standard polysomnography (PSG). Cardiac autonomic dysfunction was evaluated by the measurement of heart rate variability (HRV). The cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk was determined using the cross‐sectional prevalence of CVD and its overall 10 year risk according to the Framingham risk score (FRS). 4152 individuals were included in the study. A higher apnea–hypopnea index during REM sleep (AHIREM) was correlated with increased CVD risk. The adjusted odds ratios (95% CIs) for CVD prevalence and its high 10 year risk in participants having severe OSA during REM sleep (AHIREM ≥30 events/h) were 1.452 (1.012–2.084) and 1.904 (1.470–2.466) in the demographic adjusted model and 1.175 (0.810–1.704) and 1.716 (1.213–2.427) in the multivariate adjusted model, respectively, compared with the group with a AHIREM of <5 events/h. Fully adjusted multivariate linear regression models showed the independent association between AHIREM and a more elevated ratio of low‐frequency and high‐frequency (LF/HF) and LF in normalised units [LF (n.u.)] (P = 0.042, P = 0.027 in all participants and P = 0.033, P = 0.029 in participants with AHI during non‐REM sleep <5 events/h, respectively). Mediation analysis demonstrated that OSA during REM sleep and CVD risk was significantly mediated by LF/HF and LF (n.u.). OSA during REM sleep may be a marker behind CVD risk because it promotes cardiac autonomic dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac fibrosis is a common pathological feature of cardiac remodelling process with disordered expression of multiple genes and eventually lead to heart failure. Emerging evidence suggests that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as critical regulators of various biological processes. However, the exact mechanisms of lncRNAs as mediators in cardiac fibrosis have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to profile the lncRNA expression pattern in human cardiac fibroblasts (HCFs) with cardiac fibrosis. We treated HCFs with transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) to induce their activation. Then, strand-specific RNA-seq was performed to profile and classify lncRNAs; and perform functional analysis in HCFs. We study the transformation of HCFs with molecular and cell biology methods. Among all identified lncRNA candidates, 176 and 526 lncRNAs were upregulated and downregulated respectively in TGF-β-stimulated HCFs compared with controls. Functional analyses revealed that the target genes of differentially expressed lncRNAs were mainly related to focal adhesion, metabolic pathways, Hippo signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. As a representative, novel lncRNAs NONHSAG005537 and NONHSAG017620 inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion, and transformation of HCFs induced by TGF-β. Collectively, our study established the expression signature of lncRNAs in cardiac fibrosis and demonstrated the cardioprotective role of NONHSAG005537 and NONHSAG017620 in cardiac fibrosis, providing a promising target for anti-fibrotic therapy. • We investigated the lncRNA expression profile in cardiac fibrosis with human cardiac fibroblasts. • Strand-specific RNA sequencing was employed to study lncRNAs expression profile. • We confirmed that lncRNAs participated in cardiac fibrosis by bioinformatics analyses. • NONHSAG005537 and NONHSAG017620 attenuates the transformation of human cardiac fibroblasts. • These findings may provide an anti-fibrotic therapy target in cardiac fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have attracted much attention as potential diagnostic biomarkers for human diseases. Although both plasma and serum are utilized as a source of blood EVs, it remains unclear whether, how and to what extent the choice of plasma and serum affects the experimental results. To address this issue, in this study, we performed comprehensive characterization of EV fractions derived from plasma and serum, and investigated the differences between these blood EVs. We demonstrated by nanoparticle tracking analysis that EV fractions derived from serum contain more particles than those from plasma of mice. Proteomic analysis demonstrated that platelet-associated proteins are selectively enriched in serum EV fractions from both mice and humans. A literature review of proteomic data of human blood EVs reported by other groups further confirmed that selective enrichment of platelet-associated proteins is commonly observed in serum EVs, and confers different proteome profiles to plasma EVs. Our data provide experimental evidence that EV fractions derived from serum generally contain additional EVs that are released from platelets, which may qualitatively and quantitatively alter EV profiles when using serum as a source of blood EVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brake squeal of automobiles has become one of the most annoying issues for passengers. Hence, it is essential to suppress the noise from the design stage of the braking system. In this article, the method for reducing squeal noise is explored based on the finite element model of the brake system. Studies on this model show that the structural deficiency of the brake caliper may cause the instability of the braking system and then cause squeal noise. Thus, the brake caliper is optimized to achieve a symmetrical contact pressure distribution on the inner and outer sides of the disc surface. The effectiveness of this method is analyzed by ANSYS/workbench software and verified in bench tests and road tests. The results show that the symmetrical caliper structure can make the brake pressure distribution more reasonable and the brake system more stable. Finally, it has reduced the noise incidence from 19.27% to 3.63%, which provides an effective method of reducing brake squeal noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Methylmalonic aciduria (MMA) combined with homocystinuria, cobalamin(cbl)C deficiency type (OMIM 277400), is the most common autosomal recessive inherited disorder of intracellular cobalamin metabolism caused by mutations in the MMACHC gene (OMIM 609831), of which more than 100 mutations have been identified to date. In this study, we only identified a coding mutation in one allele at the MMACHC gene locus, and no large fragments deletion or duplication were found. Up to now, only three epimutation cblC cases were reported. We hypothesized whether the MMACHC was hypermethylated. Methods: To address this hypothesis, the entire coding region and adjacent splice sites of the panel genes involved in metabolic diseases were sequenced using the Illumina HiSeq X platform, followed by confirmation via Sanger sequencing in their parents and brothers. Methylation analysis of the MMACHC was performed using an EpiTect Bisulfite Kit and methylation‐specific PCR (MSP) to investigate the role of epimutations in cblC disease. Results: We identified a clearly pathogenic single heterozygous c.658_660del, p. (K220del) mutation, which was also identified in the mother. Analysis of the MMACHC indicated a heterozygous epimutation consisting of 34 hypermethylated CpG sites in a CpG island encompassing the promoter and first exon of the MMACHC, which was also identified in the father. Furthermore, we identified a single heterozygous c.*2C>T mutation in the sixth exon of the PRDX1 (OMIM 176763) in patients and their fathers, which was the only sequence variation that segregated with the MMACHC methylation. Neither c.658_660del and epimutation in MMACHC nor c.*2C>T in PRDX1 was discovered in her brother. Conclusion: We report compound heterozygotes in MMACHC for a genetic mutation and an epimutation in cblC cases. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of two cblC cases from China caused by compound heterozygous mutations with a coding mutation in one allele and an epimutation in the other at the MMACHC locus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Smartly designed metal/oxides heterojunction via a facile Ar-H 2 plasma reduction strategy. • The in-situ synthesized Ir/IrO 2 heterointerface possesses structural flexibility and abundant active sites. • Ir–IrO 2 /Ti@Ar–H 2 exhibits outstanding electrocatalytic activity and durability for both HER and OER. • Ir–IrO 2 /Ti@Ar–H 2 can used as an efficient and stable bifunctional catalyst for overall water splitting in acidic media. Iridium oxide (IrO 2) has been intensively investigated as an efficient and stable anode catalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in water splitting system. However, the overall water splitting performance of IrO 2 is rarely studied because of its strong adsorption of hydrogen intermediates during the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) process. Herein, a facile Ar/H 2 plasma reduction strategy is developed to activate the HER performance of self-supported IrO 2 by constructing a novel metal/oxide heterostructure. The in-situ synthesized Ir/IrO 2 composite possesses excellent electrical interconnection and abundant catalytic active sites. Meanwhile, dual active sites induced by the strong interface effect between metallic Ir and IrO 2 could optimize the adsorption energy and reaction path for both HER and OER. The optimized Ir–IrO 2 /Ti@Ar–H 2 exhibits remarkable activities with a small overpotential of 58 and 211 mV toward HER and OER, respectively. Besides, Ir–IrO 2 /Ti@Ar–H 2 ||Ir–IrO 2 /Ti@Ar–H 2 electrolyzer only requires an operational voltage of 1.48 V to afford a current density of 10 mA cm−2, much lower than that of commercial Pt/C||IrO 2 (1.61 V). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camellia nitidissima Chi (Theaceae) is an evergreen shrub, the leaves of which are used in many medicinal applications. To characterize the chemical composition of a 10% aqueous ethanol extract of C. nitidissima leaves (CNE), and to explore the protective effect of the extract against acute liver injury (ALI) in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups (n = 10): control and negative (0.5% CMC-Na, 5 mL/kg/d), thiopronin (20 mg/kg/d) and CNE (40, 80 and 160 mg/kg/d). All groups were treated for seven consecutive days, and then, except for the control, carbon tetrachloride was administered intraperitoneally. The biochemical parameters, mRNAs, and proteins were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunoassays kits, quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot. Chemical components were identified using mass spectroscopy, and the phenol and flavonoid content determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Pre-treatment with CNE (160 mg/kg) attenuated the pathological changes in liver tissues and decreased alanine transaminase (62 and 60%), aspartate transaminase (49 and 53%) and malondialdehyde (35 and 42%) levels in serum and liver tissues. Moreover, CNE reduced the concentrations of reactive oxygen species (55%), tumour necrosis factor-α (26%), interleukin-1β (19%) and IL-6 (19%) and blocked the nuclear translocation of p65. Pre-treatment with CNE increased anti-heme oxygenase-1 (40%), superoxide dismutase (108%) and glutathione (97%) levels through upregulating nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2. Twelve compounds were detected; the content of phenols and flavonoids was determined as 34.474 ± 1.026 and 15.228 ± 0.422 mg/g crude drug in CNE, respectively. These results suggested that CNE is a promising agent for functional food and hepatoprotective drug against ALI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This observational study aimed at the significance of multi-level education in the treatment and prognosis of acute ischemic stroke. Multi-level stroke education was carried out among residents and medical staff for one year in Guancheng district. After 1 year, 519 patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to The First People's Hospital of Zhengzhou were invited to the study, 272 patients from the Guancheng district were divided into the experimental group, and 247 patients who were not from the Guancheng district but in the neighborhood of The First People's Hospital of Zhengzhou were divided into the control group. Statistical methods were applied to analyze the degree of awareness of stroke, the time from onset to hospital, the route to hospital, the number of patients coming to the hospital within 4.5 h, the number of intravenous thrombolysis, door-to-needle time (DNT), modified Rankin scale (MRS) score, and the number of hemorrhagic transformation cases. After one year of multi-level systematic stroke education, there were significant differences in stroke awareness between the experimental group and the control group in terms of limb weakness (87.87 vs. 62.75%), speech inarticulation (78.3 vs. 55.06%), facial paralysis (69.12 vs. 38.06%), limb numbness (57.35 vs. 29.15%), consciousness disorder (62.50 vs. 42.11%), walking instability with severe dizziness (39.97 vs. 15.79%) (P<0.05). There was no statistical significant difference in unclear vision or blind eyes or severe headache (P>0.05). There were statistical differences between the two groups in the time from the onset to the hospital (14.82±17.67 vs. 25.92±25.23), emergency medical services (EMS) (36.02 vs. 16.19%), number of patients coming to the hospital within 4.5 h (67 vs. 32), venous thrombolysis cases (55 vs. 17), DNT time (42.43±17.30 vs. 63.35±26.53), hemorrhagic transformation cases (11 vs. 21), and MRS score grade ≥2 (230 vs. 169) (P<0.05). Multi-level education can effectively improve the patient's awareness of stroke, encourage more patients to use EMS system to the hospital. More patients were aware that they should reach the hospital within 4.5 h. It helps shorten DNT time and give more patients the opportunity to receive intravenous thrombolysis or intravascular thrombectomy, which may improve the prognosis and reduce hemorrhagic transformation without reducing mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, experimental study of a device combining the advantages of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) and atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) has been presented. This device with a total length of 500 mm was capable of generating stable uniform atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) with a length of 400 mm, which was operated using a 12-kV HV supply and the air flow rate of 20–30 L/min. The plasma spectra were obtained by optical emission spectroscopy (OES), in which N2(C-B) and N2+ can be observed, and the rotational temperature was calculated to be 360 K. The macroscopic temperature was measured by an infrared camera. The result showed that the central temperature was room temperature. In addition, quartz glass substrates were treated by this device. The surface properties of quartz glass were investigated by water contact angle (WCA), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results revealed that hydrophilicity and surface roughness of the quartz substrates were gradually increased with increasing treatment time. However, the results of XPS indicated that the content of hydrophilic groups at the surface had a slight change. Therefore, hydrophilicity of quartz glass improved effectively after APP treatment, which was due to the change in surface morphology and the increase in roughness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a public health problem that affects a large amount of people. Surgery sometimes is considered a better treatment modality that does not require the use of a device such as CPAP. Objectives: To explore the value of anesthetic-induced sleep computed tomography (DI-SCT) in the diagnosis of OSAS. Materials and methods: A total of 124 patients with OSAS aged between 18 and 65 years old were enrolled in this study. The upper airway was scanned by computed tomography (CT) while they were wake and went sleep. Sleep was induced by dexmedetomidine under electrocardiograph and oxyhemoglobin saturation monitoring. Parameters relevant to OSAS were then collected and counted. Results: CT scanning revealed that 119 occurred stenosis in oropharynx, in which 5 cases were accompanied with stenosis or occlusion at retroglossal area. About 38 (30.67%) cases existed deviation of nasal septum with retropalatal problems. About 61.33% of patients had multi-level obstructions and the most common obstructive site was oropharynx (90.67%). Conclusions and significance: DI-SCT is a safe and non-invasive modality for diagnosing the obstructive sites in OSAS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an internal fingerprint-guided epidermal thickness of fingertip skin is proposed for optical image encryption based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) combined with U-Net architecture of a convolutional neural network (CNN). The epidermal thickness of fingertip skin is calculated by the distance between the upper and lower boundaries of the epidermal layer in cross-sectional optical coherence tomography (OCT) images, which is segmented using CNN, and the internal fingerprint at the epidermis–dermis junction (DEJ) is extracted based on the maximum intensity projection (MIP) algorithm. The experimental results indicate that the internal fingerprint-guided epidermal thickness is insensitive to pressure due to normal correlation coefficients and the encryption process between epidermal thickness maps of fingertip skin under different pressures. In addition, the result of the numerical simulation demonstrates the feasibility and security of the encryption scheme by structural similarity index matrix (SSIM) analysis between the original image and the recovered image with the correct and error keys decryption, respectively. The robustness is analyzed based on the SSIM value in three aspects: different pressures, noise attacks, and data loss. Key randomness is valid by the gray histograms, and the average correlation coefficients of adjacent pixelated values in three directions and the average entropy were calculated. This study suggests that the epidermal thickness of fingertip skin could be seen as important biometric information for information encryption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work we demonstrate a photoacoustic system which can identify the deformation of blood vessels under external pressure. Using photoacoustic imaging method, the vessel internal diameter can be derived from the peak-to-peak time interval of the laser (532nm) induced the photoacoustic signals. Comparisons with the actual vessel inter diameter show that the relative deviation is less than 4%, which proves the validity of this method. Interestingly, we find that the axial diameter of the blood vessel and the blood volume increase monotonously with increasing transient pressure, and the laser-induced photoacoustic signal is mainly contributed by the blood inside the vessel. Our results suggest a new way for continuous monitoring of the deformation of blood vessels under pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Quantitative assessment of the adhesion strength of ceramic hard coatings on substrates is a subject of great technological and scientific relevance, the achievement of which has proven difficult over the past two decades. Here we show that a micro-pillar tension testing protocol may serve as an effective method for this purpose, and demonstrate its effectiveness through a combination of micro tension testing and crystal plasticity finite element analysis (CPFEA). Tensile loading perpendicular to the interfaces, as well as accompanying CPFEA simulations, was conducted on CrN/Cu/CrN/Si micro-pillar tensile specimens fabricated from vapor phase deposited thin film sandwich structures. All tensile loading induced fracture were observed to occur within the Cu interlayer and near one Cu/CrN interface of the CrN/Cu/CrN sandwich structure. Observations, measurements, and discussions were made regarding the fracture surfaces, fracture stresses, and primary fracture mechanisms. Fracture surface examinations indicated ductile tensile fracture, induced by the formation of voids. It is shown that, due to the geometric constraint imposed by the ceramic layers in the current testing configuration, interlayer plasticity and the critical fracture stress display a strong dependence on the Cu interlayer thickness. It is postulated as a failure criterion that cooperation of deviatoric and hydrostatic stress components is needed to induce the nucleation and growth of voids. The relevance of the present work to the interfacial mechanical integrity of other metal/ceramic interfaces is discussed. Graphical abstract Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon emission monitoring is the key to achieving global emission reduction. This paper proposes a carbon emission identification method based on remote sensing images. Based on the regional satellite remote sensing image data set, the convolutional neural network model is used to extract the carbon emission characteristics of the region. The multi-model fully connected layer fusion algorithm and gamma correction data augmentation strategy are designed to analyze the accuracy of carbon emission monitoring. The results show that the results will be different when the image can not be preprocessed. In the case of Gamma correction, the model's accuracy is affected, but the robustness of the model is improved. The single-model local image cascade fusion algorithm has higher environmental adaptability than the single-model non-cascade algorithm. The recognition accuracy of the multi-model fusion algorithm is more than 7% higher than that of the single-model local image cascade fusion algorithm. The fully connected layer fusion accuracy is more than 1% higher than that of the feature map fusion, and its recognition accuracy for the data set reaches 87.21% and 88.35%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Normalization of cyanobacteria outbreak in shallow lakes yield lots of salvaging cyanobacteria biomass, which dramatically modify phosphorus (P) cycle in water column and the sediments. Based on studies of SCWG reactions, it was expected to solve the dewatering treatment difficulty in engineering issues and realize potential energy use. By way of cyanobacteria biomass SCWG reactions, this paper clarified major existence forms and distribution law of rich phosphorus, evaluated the corresponding roles that reactions parameters and properties of biomass raw materials played in the products’ distribution and morphological process. In addition to this, it discussed effects of alkali additions on phosphorus forms and distribution, with a view to providing potential approach for phosphorus stabilization in SCWG products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shear failure of the interfacial regions of CrN/Cu/Si and CrN/Ti/Si ceramic-coating/metal-adhesion-layer/substrate systems was measured quantitatively and observed concurrently through instrumented compression of cylindrical micro-pillars in-situ a scanning electron microscope. Results indicate that shear failure of the interfacial region occurred in two stages: an initial shear deformation of the entire metal interlayer followed by an unstable shear-off close to the metal/ceramic interface. The shear-off is suggested to be concomitant with the metal/ceramic interface going from being “locked”, with no relative displacement between materials on the two sides of the interface, to being “unlocked”, with significant relative displacements. Density functional theory and molecular dynamics studies on a related metal/ceramic interface, Ti/TiN, showed that a weak interaction plane exists in the metal layer near the chemical interface in a coherent Ti/TiN structure. Consequently, the free energy and theoretical shear strength of the semi-coherent Ti/TiN interface is found to depend on the physical location of the misfit dislocation network (MDN). The minimum energy and strength of the interface occur when the MDN is near, but not at the chemical interface. The relevance of the present work to other metal/ceramic interfaces is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both recombination and band-edge shift are important factors for the open-circuit voltage ( V oc ) improvement of metal chalcogenide hole-transport material (HTM) based perovskite solar cells, but it is still not clear that which aspect plays the dominant role in such devices. Herein, we addressed this aspect through employing the band-tunable metal chalcogenide Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 (CZTS) QDs as HTM into perovskite solar cells. By replacing sulfur with selenium atom, the band gap of HTM was tuned from 1.64 eV to 1.14 eV and their influences on cell performances were further discussed. Though the Cu 2 ZnSnSe 4 (CZTSe) device with higher hole transport ability could improve the fill factor (FF), its V oc was still remarkably lower than that of the CZTS device. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements indicated that the V oc loss (45 mV) induced by recombination here was far less than the V oc differences between the two devices (140 mV). After analyzing the band level alignment at TiO 2 /CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 /HTM heterojunction, we proposed that the V oc enhancement of CZTS device was mainly ascribed to the more downward valence band-edge shift of HTM. This further approves that developing a wide band gap material without hindering charge injection is more pressing rather than depressing recombination process for future metal chalcogenide HTM researches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A combined experimentation - molecular dynamics simulation study was conducted to understand tensile failure of TiN/Cu/TiN interfacial regions. Tensile loading was conducted on micro-pillar specimens fabricated from TiN/Cu/TiN thin film sandwich structures. The Cu layer and the TiN layer underneath were grown epitaxially on MgO(001) substrates, with Cu[110]//TiN[001] in the growth direction and Cu<111>//TiN<100> and Cu<112>//TiN<100> within the growth plane. The Cu layer contains numerous nanotwins with the {111} twin plane parallel to the growth direction, with 2–10 nm wide twin bands rotated in-plane by 90° in different yet symmetry-equivalent epitaxial domains. Tensile loading in-situ a scanning electron microscope measured tensile fracture stress ∼1.5 GPa and revealed a surprising failure mode transition. At a larger Cu layer thickness, ductile tensile fracture occurred within the Cu layer. At smaller Cu layer thicknesses, apparently brittle fracture occurred close to or at the Cu/TiN interface. The accompanying molecular dynamics simulations illustrate a significant dependence of the failure mode on the aspect ratio of Cu pillars under tensile loading. With pillars of small height-to-diameter ratios, tensile loading leads to a significant hydrostatic tension within, as well as significant plasticity throughout the Cu pillar, in particular near the top and bottom Cu/TiN interfaces. The high degree of dislocation activities close to or at the interface, combined with dislocation pile-up, serves to create nanovoids. The high hydrostatic tension furnishes a driving force for growth of such nanovoids, leading to rapid tensile fracture. The simulation results offer an analogy to experimental observations and mechanistic understanding of tensile failure mechanisms for ceramic/metal/ceramic interfacial regions. • Highlights for "Size-dependent tensile failure of epitaxial TiN/Cu/TiN sandwich pillar structures: a combined experimentation – atomistic simulation study" by Xiaoman Zhang, Reza Namakian, Andrew C. Meng, Dorel Moldovan, W.J. Meng. • Epitaxial TiN/Cu/TiN thin film sandwich structures were vapor phase synthesized. • In-situ tensile loading was applied on TiN/Cu/TiN sandwich micro pillars. • Failure mode transitions from ductile separation in Cu to brittle fracture at Cu/TiN interface. • MD simulation reveals dependence of tensile response of TiN/Cu/TiN pillar on its aspect ratio. • MD simulation shows a dislocation mechanism for excess volume generation at the TiN/Cu interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Encarsia sophia (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) is a parasitoid utilized for biological control of Bemisia tabaci , with selection of prey aided by chemoreceptor organs. The morphology and distribution of the antennal sensilla (chemoreceptors) of E. sophia were examined using Transmission electron micrographs. The total antennal length for E. sophia was 429.28 ± 0.95 μm for females and 437.19 ± 8.21 for males, and each antennae was found to consist of seven sensilla of different types. Both sexes possessed sensilla chaetica, sensilla trichodea, basiconic capitate peg sensilla, multiporous grooved-surface placoid sensilla (MG-PS), uniporous rod-like sensilla, nonporous finger-like sensilla, and sensilla coeloconica. Transmission electron micrographs of longitudinal sections of female antennae showed that they were composed of fat body, cuticle, mesoscutello-metanotal muscles, neurons, and glandular tissue, and cross-sections of the basal MG-PS showed sensillar lymph cavities and dendrites. The MG-PSs were imbedded in an electron-dense mass with cuticular invaginations which acted as pores that connected to a central lumen. The possible function of each type of sensilla is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A reliable DDA methods was developed for precise analysis of Alternaria mycotoxins. • Two sulfated Alternaria mycotoxins were identified in tomato samples. • A custom databased was established for Alternaria mycotoxins screening. Alternaria mycotoxins are food-related compounds that are mainly produced by Alternaria fungi species. However, it's difficult for Alternaria mycotoxins analysis, especially for conjugated metabolites in food safety surveillance. In this work, a novel data-dependent acquisition (DDA) full mass scan and products scan protocol was proposed for qualitative and quantitative analysis of five target mycotoxins in tomato samples using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap). In total, 24 sulfated metabolites were detected with post-data analysis techniques, and two sulfated metabolites (AME-sulfated and AOH-sulfated) were identified in Alternaria fungi -inoculated tomatoes. In addition, a custom database was established, and it was successfully applied for Alternaria mycotoxins and sulfated metabolites screening in tomatoes. With the improvement in high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) as well as post-data analysis techniques, DDA based HRMS method could be widely applied for compound analysis, identification, and screening in quantitative field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, we report the preparation and dielectric properties of reduced graphene oxide/polypropylene (rGO/PP) composites with an ultralow percolation threshold as low as 0.033 vol%. This value is the lowest among those that have been reported in graphene-filled composites. The rGO/PP composites were prepared through a latex technique, which consists of an in-situ chemical reduction of graphene oxide in PP latex and a subsequent filtration. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements demonstrate that the homogeneous dispersion of rGO nanosheets in the PP matrix was realized. A blue shift in Raman G band of the rGO nanosheets was observed in the rGO/PP composites, indicating the strong interaction between the rGO filler and the PP matrix. In the frequency range from 102 Hz to 107 Hz, the rGO/PP composites showed an insulator-to-conductor percolation transition as the increase of the rGO loading. Near the percolation threshold, the dielectric permittivity of the rGO/PP composites underwent a significant change of three orders of magnitude. Moreover, the permittivity was found to be temperature dependent. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The seed of Cassia obtusifolia is a food or herbal medicine used for improving eyesight, treating constipation and other disorders, and polysaccharides have been implicated in these pharmacological activities. The endosperm of the seeds, Cassia gum, is a commercial thickening or gelling agent, composed mainly of galactomannans. However, the whole seeds of C. obtusifolia, rather than the endosperm, are used in folk medicine or food, which might contain more complex constituents of polysaccharides. In this study, the whole seeds of C. obtusifolia were extracted with boiling water, and from the water extract, three homogeneous fractions were isolated, designated CFAA-1, CFAA-3, and CFBB2, respectively, after treatment with Fehling solution followed by anion-exchange and gel permeation chromatography. Using chemical and spectroscopic methods, CFAA-1, and CFAA-3 were elucidated to be both branched galactomannans with different molecular weights, consisting of 1,4-linked β-d-mannopyranosyl backbone with single-unit α-d-galactopyranosyl branches attached to O-6 of mannose, while CFBB2 was shown to be a linear (1→4)-α-polygalacturonic acid. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Uncontrollable zinc dendrite growth and parasitic reactions have greatly hindered the development of high energy and long life rechargeable aqueous zinc‐ion batteries. Herein, the synergic effect of a bifunctional lignin‐containing cellulose nanofiber (LCNF)‐MXene (LM) layer to stabilize the interface of zinc anode is reported. On one hand, the LCNF provides enough strength (43.7 MPa) at relative low porosity (52.2%) to enable the diffusion limited dendrite suppression, while, on the other hand, the MXene serves as a zinc gating layer, facilitating the zinc ion mobility, restricting the active water/anions from degradation in the electrode/electrolyte interface, and epitaxially guiding zinc deposition along (002) plane. Benefiting from the synergic effect of diffusion limited dendrite suppression and zinc gate, the LM layer enabled a high coulombic efficiency (CE) of 98.9% with a low overpotential of 43.1 mV at 1 mA cm−2 in Zn//Cu asymmetric cells. More importantly, Zn//MnO2 full cells with the LM layer achieve a high‐capacity retention of 90.0% for over 1000 cycles at 1 A g−1, much higher than the full cell without the protective layer (73.9% over 500 cycles). The work provides a new insight in designing a dendrite‐free zinc anode for long‐cycle‐life batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ti 3 C 2 MXenes were constructed via different strategies using HF-forming etchants or HF as etchants and were subsequently modified through alkalization to replace –F with O-containing terminal functional groups. Various analytical techniques were used to fully characterize all fabricated materials for confirming the formation of species with the desired morphologies and properties. ML-Ti 3 C 2 , etched with HF, presented a multilayered structure that made it resemble an accordion, while DL-Ti 3 C 2 , prepared using HF-forming etchants, was not completely etched, with some amounts of the parent compound's Al remaining in unformed vague laminated structures. ML-Ti 3 C 2 alkalization yielded ML-Ti 3 C 2 (OH) 2 , which was characterized by large amounts of O-containing functional groups and greatly enhanced porosity compared with that of ML-Ti 3 C 2. Methylene blue (MB) adsorption and photocatalytic degradation tests were then conducted to evaluate the functionalities of ML-Ti 3 C 2 (OH) 2 by putting it into direct application instead of being used as catalyst promoters. ML-Ti 3 C 2 (OH) 2 achieved adsorption–desorption equilibrium using MB in the dark within 30 min and 81.2% of MB was then selectively degraded over 120 min under simulated visible light irradiation. A possible degradation mechanism was proposed on the basis of the results of radical quenching experiments. This study offers a unique mechanism for directly applying MXene to the adsorption–photocatalytic degradation of organics in wastewater. For Preparation and regulation of two-dimensional Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene for enhanced adsorption-photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes in wastewater. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The catalytic supercritical water partial oxidation of phenol using H 2 O 2 as oxidant in the presence of NaOH was explored to enhance hydrogen production and inhibit phenol polymerization. The results indicated that H 2 production was enhanced in the presence of NaOH when phenol supercritical water oxidation was controlled at a lower O/C ratio. Compared with the individual catalytic partial oxidation of phenol, the reaction with NaOH and H 2 O 2 simultaneously enhanced H 2 production and inhibited polycyclic polymer generation at O/C ratios below 0.5. A peak hydrogen gasification efficiency value of 62.35% was observed at an O/C ratio of 0.3 with 1.0 wt% NaOH, and a phenol removal efficiency of nearly 75% was reported. Phenol polymerization was effectively inhibited for reaction times limited to 50 s. Moreover, other phenol reaction pathways reported in the literature were compared with the partial oxidation of phenol in supercritical water with NaOH and H 2 O 2. Unlabelled Image • Evaluation of the feasibility of H 2 enhancement and polymer inhibition from catalytic SCWPO of phenol • Quantitative analysis of the primary components of the key intermediates during the catalytic SCWPO of phenol • Comparison of the reaction mechanism of phenol between catalytic SCWPO and separate oxidation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: There is an inflammatory response in the lesion tissue of ischemic cerebral infarction, and the expression of miR-150-5p is significantly decreased. Whether miR-150-5p inhibits the release of inflammatory factors and alleviates the injury of ischemic cerebral infarction tissue through the Toll-like receptor-5/nuclear factor-κB pathway remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role and preliminary mechanism of miR-150-5p in ischemic cerebral infarction in rats. METHODS: (1) The rat models of middle cerebral artery occlusion were constructed and the rat models were divided into five groups: control, miR-150-5p agomir, agomir control, miR-150-5p antagomir and antagomir control groups. (2) The rats in the control group was given the intracerebroventricular injection of normal saline, and the rats in the latter four groups were given the intracerebroventricular injection of miR-150-5p agomir (miR-150-5p agonist), agomir negative control, miR150-5p antagomir (miR150-5p inhibitor) and antagomir negative control, respectively. (3) After 7 days, the brain was graded by modified neurological severity score, the cerebral infarct volume was measured by MRI, and the histopathological changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The expression levels of miR-150-5p, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, Toll-like receptor-5 and nuclear factor-κB p65 in brain tissues were detected by qRT-PCR, ELISA and western blot assay, respectively. The target relationship between miR150-5p and Toll-like receptor-5 was verified by luciferase assay by retrieving the bioinformatics website Targetscan to predict the binding sites of miR-150-5p and Toll-like receptor-5. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Compared with the control group, the modified neurological severity score, and levels of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, Toll-like receptor-5 and nuclear factor-κB p65 proteins were significantly decreased in the miR-150-5p agomir group (P < 0.05). The physiological score and biochemical indexes in the miR-150-5p antagomirgroup were significantly increased (P < 0.05). (2) Hematoxylin-eosin staining results showed that the nerve cells in the control group were disordered and ill-defined, and the nerve cells were obviously degenerated and necrotic. The above pathological changes were significantly alleviated in the miR-150-5p agomir group and aggravated in the miR-150-5p antagomir group. There were no significant differences in the indexes between agomir control, the antagomir control and control groups (P > 0.05). (3) TargerScan website prediction results and luciferase reporter gene analysis results showed that miR-150-5p and Toll-like receptor-5 had a targeted binding site. (4) These results imply that miR-150-5p can inhibit the inflammatory signaling pathway of Toll-like receptor-5/nuclear factor-κB p65 in brain injury caused by ischemia and reduce the inflammatory response, thereby alleviating the damage of nerve function and playing a protective role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In endometrial cancer, patients in early stages have a 91% 5-year survival chance. By contrast, patients in advanced stages have only 20% survival chance. Therefore, early diagnosis of endometrial cancer is very important. Photoacoustic imaging is able to distinguish benign from malignant tumors. However, the images acquired through photoacoustic imaging contain inherent artifacts, caused by imperfect reconstruction algorithms. In this paper, to improve the said images, a filtered delay-multiply-and-sum (F-DMAS) algorithm, which was proven to have an increased dynamic range and better quality of B-mode images was employed in the reconstruction process. First, the images of two blood vessel phantom experiments, acquired through photoacoustic imaging, were reconstructed by employing the F-DMAS algorithm. The results show the lateral resolutions of the system improving from 2.22 mm (with traditional photoacoustic imaging reconstruction algorithms) to 1.47 mm. Next, images of a pig uterus, filled with intralipid-20% emulsion, were also reconstructed by employing the F-DMAS algorithm. The average signal-to-noise ratio increased from 11.14 dB (with traditional photoacoustic imaging reconstruction algorithms) to 64.90 dB. In order to improve the continuity of the 3D PA image, F-DMAS with an adaptive coefficient was discussed to find the best balance between the signal-to-noise ratio and continuity. In conclusion, this paper demonstrates that the use of F-DMAS algorithms in the reconstruction of the images acquired through photoacoustic imaging in clinical investigations would improve the detection rate of early endometrial cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To compare the relationship between parent–child postoperative pain scores and explore the factors that led to the difference in the score. Methods: Convenience sampling was used to select children and their parents who were 5–14 years old and scheduled for elective surgery as study subjects. When the child returned to the ward after surgery, the parent and child used the pain assessment tool to score the child's postoperative pain, respectively. Results: A total of 214 children and their parents were included in the study. The results showed that the postoperative pain scores of parents and children were 3.69 ± 2.47 and 4.05 ± 2.90, respectively, and there were differences between the scores (P < 0.05). The results of multiple linear regression indicated that whether the child used Patient‐Controlled Analgesia, different types of surgery and parents' pre‐operative anxiety may be the reasons for the differences in parent–child scores. Conclusion: The parents' pain scores differed from their children's pain scores. If health‐care professionals wanted to use the parents' pain score to replace the child's pain score, consideration should be given to whether children used patient‐controlled analgesia, different types of surgery and the parents' pre‐operative anxiety on the parents' pain score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primula obconica is a perennial herbaceous flower of the Primulaceae that exhibits distinct heterostyly. Long(L)- and short(S)-styled morphs differ substantially in various ways, which can directly affect the genetic regulation of plants. We can improve genetic breeding by understanding their differences and the genetic mechanisms of heterostyly. This trial of P. obconica, which included material and morphological observation, cross-fertilization characteristics, and ISSR molecular markers, was carried out to analyze the difference in distyly comprehensively. The findings demonstrated that the pollen, anther and other floral characteristics of L- and S-morphs varied. The results of the breeding characteristics showed that there were different self-incompatible mechanisms between both morphs, the L-morphs showed partial fitness, while the S-morphs showed complete heteromorphic incompatibility. The ISSR analysis also revealed that 19 primer pairs were polymorphic, clearly banded, and stable, showing significant differences in molecular markers for different morphs. Our study reveals the differences between the morphs of the Primula, which can provide a basis for genetic evolution and breeding work on heterostyly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is highly prevalent yet underdiagnosed. This study aimed to develop a predictive signature, as well as investigate competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) and their potential functions in OSA. Methods: The GSE135917, GSE38792, and GSE75097 datasets were collected from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) and differential expression analysis were used to identify OSA-specific mRNAs. Machine learning methods were applied to establish a prediction signature for OSA. Furthermore, several online tools were used to establish the lncRNA-mediated ceRNAs in OSA. The hub ceRNAs were screened using the cytoHubba and validated by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Correlations between ceRNAs and the immune microenvironment of OSA were also investigated. Results: Two gene co-expression modules closely related to OSA and 30 OSA-specific mRNAs were obtained. They were significantly enriched in the antigen presentation and lipoprotein metabolic process categories. A signature that consisted of five mRNAs was established, which showed a good diagnostic performance in both independent datasets. A total of twelve lncRNA-mediated ceRNA regulatory pathways in OSA were proposed and validated, including three mRNAs, five miRNAs, and three lncRNAs. Of note, we found that upregulation of lncRNAs in ceRNAs could lead to activation of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway. In addition, mRNAs in the ceRNAs were closely correlated to the increased infiltration level of effector memory of CD4 T cells and CD56bright natural killer cells in OSA. Conclusions: In conclusion, our research opens new possibilities for diagnosis of OSA. The newly discovered lncRNA-mediated ceRNA networks and their links to inflammation and immunity may provide potential research spots for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Currently, the choice of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) for breast cancer patients is variable and controversial. Breast cancer patients must make complex and rapid decisions based on the benefits and risks of CPM. Although there are many qualitative studies on the decision-making experiences of breast cancer patients, there is a lack of synthesis of these qualitative studies. Our study goals were to conduct a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies on the decision-making experiences, real-life experiences, psychological feelings and needs of breast cancer patients in CPM decision-making, with the aim of providing information to support the development of CPM practice decisions. Methods: Using a meta-ethnographic approach, qualitative research studies were analysed and synthesised using the method of “reciprocal translational analysis”, and themes related to the decision-making experiences of breast cancer patients with respect to CPM were identified. Results: Five hundred ninety-three documents were retrieved. This meta-synthesis ultimately collected 8 studies. Four themes were identified: (1) decision motivations for survival and body intention; (2) negative and vacillating decision emotions; (3) diverse but weak decision support; (4) short-term satisfaction but long-term unknown and differentiated decision effects. Conclusions: We found that although patients had different feelings about the effects of CPM in detail, most patients were satisfied with the short-term effects of CPM, but the long-term effects of CPM were still unknown. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (International prospective register of systematic reviews) in May 2022 (Registration number: CRD42022334260). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on deep learning, a Dust Ablation Trail Analysis (DATA) code package is developed to detect dust ablation trails in tokamaks, which is intended to analyze a large amount data of tokamak dusts. To validate and benchmark the DATA code package, 2440 plasma jet images are exploited for the training and test of the deep learning DATA code package, since plasma jets resemble the shape and size of dust ablation clouds in tokamaks. After being trained by 1920 plasma jet images, the DATA code package is able to locate 100% plasma jets, classify plasma jets with the accuracy of >99.9%, and output image skeleton information for classified plasma jets. The DATA code package trained by the plasma jet images is also used to analyze the dust ablation trails captured in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting (EAST) tokamak with the satisfactory performance, further verifying its applicability in the fusion dust ablation investigation. Based on its excellent performance presented here, it is demonstrated that our DATA code package is able to automatically identify and analyze dust ablation trails in tokamaks, which can be used for further detailed investigations, such as the three-dimensional reconstruction of dusts and their ablation trails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Mainstream partial Anammox was achieved after organic recovery in a new concept WWTP. • Anammox contributed 23.6% of TN removal, increasing TN removal efficiency by 15.0% • A shift from nitrification/denitrification to partial Anammox was observed. • Candidatus Brocadia was the dominant AnAOB in the double-sludge N removal system. Total nitrogen (TN) removal from municipal wastewater after organic recovery is challenging because of the low ratio of chemical oxygen demand (COD) to TN. Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) is promising because it has no organic requirement, but its performance in treating effluents following COD captured remains unclear. This study used mainstream partial Anammox to remove nitrogen from effluent following magnetic separation within a continuous-flow anoxic–oxic reactor. Compared with traditional nitrification and denitrification, partial Anammox increased TN removal efficiency by 15.0% and contributed 23.6% of TN removal. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed that the copy number of the Anammox gene (hzsB) increased substantially, while those of the nitrite oxidation (nxrA) and denitrification (narG and nirS) genes decreased. High-throughput sequencing identified Candidatus Brocadia as the dominant genus of anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of mainstream partial Anammox for treating COD-captured effluents and its potential in municipal wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Health-related quality of life(HRQoL) is essential for high-risk pregnant women and their spouses. This study aimed to explore the dyadic associations (including actor and partner effects) among self-efficacy, dyadic coping, and HRQoL of high-risk pregnant women and their spouses and examine the mediating effect of dyadic coping.This cross-sectional study recruited participants from two Grade A tertiary hospitals in China from October 2022 to September 2023. A questionnaire including the Chinese version of the General Self-Efficacy Scale, Dyadic Coping Inventory, and 12 Short Form Health Survey Scales was used for the survey. The actor-partner interdependence mediation model was constructed to test dyadic associations and mediating effects.In the actor effects, self-efficacy was positively associated with dyadic coping and HRQoL (P < 0.05). Regarding partner effects, pregnant women’s self-efficacy was positively associated with spouses’ dyadic coping and physical health (P < 0.05). Dyadic coping partially mediated the relationship between self-efficacy and HRQoL for both groups(P < 0.05).The HRQoL of high-risk pregnant women and their spouses requires urgent attention. Enhancing self-efficacy and dyadic coping in these couples is related to their improved physical and mental health. Healthcare professionals should consider interactions between couples and include them together in perinatal care. Intervention programs for couples or families based on existing positive psychology and dyadic interventions may work together to improve the HRQoL of couples.Methods: Health-related quality of life(HRQoL) is essential for high-risk pregnant women and their spouses. This study aimed to explore the dyadic associations (including actor and partner effects) among self-efficacy, dyadic coping, and HRQoL of high-risk pregnant women and their spouses and examine the mediating effect of dyadic coping.This cross-sectional study recruited participants from two Grade A tertiary hospitals in China from October 2022 to September 2023. A questionnaire including the Chinese version of the General Self-Efficacy Scale, Dyadic Coping Inventory, and 12 Short Form Health Survey Scales was used for the survey. The actor-partner interdependence mediation model was constructed to test dyadic associations and mediating effects.In the actor effects, self-efficacy was positively associated with dyadic coping and HRQoL (P < 0.05). Regarding partner effects, pregnant women’s self-efficacy was positively associated with spouses’ dyadic coping and physical health (P < 0.05). Dyadic coping partially mediated the relationship between self-efficacy and HRQoL for both groups(P < 0.05).The HRQoL of high-risk pregnant women and their spouses requires urgent attention. Enhancing self-efficacy and dyadic coping in these couples is related to their improved physical and mental health. Healthcare professionals should consider interactions between couples and include them together in perinatal care. Intervention programs for couples or families based on existing positive psychology and dyadic interventions may work together to improve the HRQoL of couples.Results: Health-related quality of life(HRQoL) is essential for high-risk pregnant women and their spouses. This study aimed to explore the dyadic associations (including actor and partner effects) among self-efficacy, dyadic coping, and HRQoL of high-risk pregnant women and their spouses and examine the mediating effect of dyadic coping.This cross-sectional study recruited participants from two Grade A tertiary hospitals in China from October 2022 to September 2023. A questionnaire including the Chinese version of the General Self-Efficacy Scale, Dyadic Coping Inventory, and 12 Short Form Health Survey Scales was used for the survey. The actor-partner interdependence mediation model was constructed to test dyadic associations and mediating effects.In the actor effects, self-efficacy was positively associated with dyadic coping and HRQoL (P < 0.05). Regarding partner effects, pregnant women’s self-efficacy was positively associated with spouses’ dyadic coping and physical health (P < 0.05). Dyadic coping partially mediated the relationship between self-efficacy and HRQoL for both groups(P < 0.05).The HRQoL of high-risk pregnant women and their spouses requires urgent attention. Enhancing self-efficacy and dyadic coping in these couples is related to their improved physical and mental health. Healthcare professionals should consider interactions between couples and include them together in perinatal care. Intervention programs for couples or families based on existing positive psychology and dyadic interventions may work together to improve the HRQoL of couples.Conclusion: Health-related quality of life(HRQoL) is essential for high-risk pregnant women and their spouses. This study aimed to explore the dyadic associations (including actor and partner effects) among self-efficacy, dyadic coping, and HRQoL of high-risk pregnant women and their spouses and examine the mediating effect of dyadic coping.This cross-sectional study recruited participants from two Grade A tertiary hospitals in China from October 2022 to September 2023. A questionnaire including the Chinese version of the General Self-Efficacy Scale, Dyadic Coping Inventory, and 12 Short Form Health Survey Scales was used for the survey. The actor-partner interdependence mediation model was constructed to test dyadic associations and mediating effects.In the actor effects, self-efficacy was positively associated with dyadic coping and HRQoL (P < 0.05). Regarding partner effects, pregnant women’s self-efficacy was positively associated with spouses’ dyadic coping and physical health (P < 0.05). Dyadic coping partially mediated the relationship between self-efficacy and HRQoL for both groups(P < 0.05).The HRQoL of high-risk pregnant women and their spouses requires urgent attention. Enhancing self-efficacy and dyadic coping in these couples is related to their improved physical and mental health. Healthcare professionals should consider interactions between couples and include them together in perinatal care. Intervention programs for couples or families based on existing positive psychology and dyadic interventions may work together to improve the HRQoL of couples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Devised a molecular dynamics/time-stamped force-bias Monte Carlo (MD/tfMC) simulation method. • Discovered a new FCC-Cu[110]//TiN[001] orientation relationship via UHV sputter deposition. • MD/tfMC simulations showed that Cu grows on TiN(001) initially as BCC-Cu[001]//TiN[001] • BCC-Cu transforms to nanotwinned FCC-Cu[110] via a Nishiyama-Wasserman type shear mechanism. • Investigated Cu growth on N- and Ti- terminated TiN(111) surfaces in detail via simulation. Using a sequential molecular dynamics (MD)/time-stamped force-bias Monte Carlo (tfMC) algorithm to simulate the deposition of Cu species onto a TiN(001) substrate at 600 K, it is shown for the first time that at the very early stage of growth, BCC-Cu grows pseudomorphically on the TiN(001) substrate as a very thin continuous film with the BCC-Cu[001]//TiN[001] growth direction. By increasing the thickness of the Cu thin film, however, the film transforms through the Nishiyama-Wasserman mechanism from BCC into predominantly FCC-Cu with abundant nanotwins, which is the same type of structure obtained in the experiment conducted here via a dc magnetron sputter deposition technique to grow Cu on TiN(001) at 105 °C. In agreement with the experimental observations in the literature, the devised MD/tfMC is employed further to reveal that on the N-terminated TiN(111), Cu shows a very poor wettability, and FCC-Cu(111) grows vertically in the form of tall 3D islands. On Ti-terminated TiN(111) surface, however, FCC-Cu(111) initially grows in the form of 2D islands with high wettability. With additional Cu deposition, a triangular misfit dislocation network is generated at the Cu(111)//Ti-terminated TiN(111) interface with subsequent formation of a two-layer nanotwin with its twinning plane parallel to the surface substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Compression molding and demolding test (CMDT), a novel method to assess micron scale dry contact stiction and friction, was presented. • Micron scale stiction forces were measured and stiction stresses were examined in detail. • Micron scale friction forces were measured, friction stress and friction coefficient were estimated by coupling experimental results with the cavity expansion model and FEM. • Advantages and limitations of CMDT were discussed. Accurate and quantitative evaluation of friction is of fundamental interest for materials science and manufacturing. Driven by the trend towards miniaturization, micro metal forming techniques with characteristic forming dimensions approaching a few microns have developed rapidly over the past two decades. In contrast, the assessment of microscale friction is lagging. Here, we present a novel test, compression molding and demolding test (CMDT), to assess stiction and friction at the microscale. CMDT was conducted via in-situ instrumented molding and demolding of an Al specimen with cylindrical tool steel and Ti alloy punches. High-rate data acquisition enabled direct measurements, for the first time, of microscale stiction and friction forces during disengagement between the punches and the molded Al under dry contact conditions. Stiction and friction stresses were then deduced and analyzed. The average friction coefficient was estimated by combining the cavity expansion model and finite element method analysis. Examinations suggest that punch geometry and surface finish, together with the accuracy of estimating the sidewall contact pressure, influence the obtained friction coefficient values. CMDT exhibits merits such as high operation simplicity and measurement accuracy and offers an alternative approach to providing new experimental evidence for a range of microscale friction problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Sputtering damage" arising from high-energy negative ions plays a pivotal role in shaping the characteristics of indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films deposited through direct-current magnetron sputtering (DCMS). To mitigate this issue, we employ DCMS with an external anode. The increment in anode bias V A from 0 to +60V effectively diminishes the average kinetic energy of negative ions such as O−, O2− and InO− by reducing the cathode voltage. Additionally, the flux of positive ions (e.g., Ar+, In+, Sn+, O+) increases and their ion energy distribution functions (IEDFs) exhibit supplementary peaks at plasma potentials. Both facilitate film crystallization, as evidenced by the structural transition from subgrain to grain formations. Heightened surface roughness markedly enhances optical transmittance. Due to a reduced oxygen sticking coefficient, films grown with higher V A values exhibit increased oxygen vacancies, which serve as the primary charge carriers for ITO films. Consequently, ITO films attain their lowest resistivity (7.81 × 10 − 4 Ω c m) and highest optical transmittance (78.71 %) at V A = +60V. This investigation underscores the significant influence of the external anode bias on both ion behavior and film growth, providing a viable approach to enhance the electrical and optical properties of ITO films. • Elevating the external anode bias mitigates high-energy negative ions while promoting the generation of positive ions. • Increased external anode bias enhances crystallinity, alters orientation, and boosts oxygen vacancies in ITO films. • Higher external anode bias yielded ITO films with reduced resistivity and improved visible light transmittance. • External anode can mitigate ion-induced "sputtering damage" without reducing deposition rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of skins in different aging processes were obtained by optical coherence tomography (OCT) single scattering model, and their optical parameters were analyzed quantitatively. Significant differences were found in epidermis thickness and attenuation coefficients in chronological aging skins and photonaging skins. These parameters can be served as indicators of skin type as well as the progress of aging. These results are valuable to the study of aging skin, and they could further help to understand the mechanism of aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) triggers subclinical intestinal barrier disruption prior to systemic low-grade inflammation. Increasing evidence suggests therapeutic effects of melatonin on systemic inflammation and gut microbiota remodelling. However, whether and how melatonin alleviates CIH-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction remains unclear. C57BL/6 J mice and Caco-2 cell line were treated. We evaluated gut barrier function spectrophotometrically using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled dextran. Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent staining were used to detect morphological changes in the mechanical barrier. Western blotting (WB) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) revealed the expression of tight junctions, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) levels. 16 S rRNA analysis of the colonic contents microflora. Flow cytometry was used to detect cytokines and Th17 cells with and without melatonin supplementation. We found that CIH could induce colonic mucosal injury, including reduction in the number of goblet cells and decrease the expression of intestinal tight junction proteins. CIH could decrease the abundance of the beneficial genera Clostridium , Akkermansia, and Bacteroides , while increasing the abundance of the pathogenic genera Desulfovibrio and Bifidobacterium. Finally, CIH facilitated Th17 differentiation via the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in vitro and elevated the circulating pro-inflammatory cytokine in vivo. Melatonin supplementation ameliorated CIH-induced intestinal mucosal injury, gut microbiota dysbiosis, enteric Th17 polarization, and systemic low-grade inflammation reactions mentioned-above. Melatonin attenuated CIH-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction by regulating gut flora dysbiosis, mucosal epithelium integrity, and Th17 polarization via STAT3 signalling. [Display omitted] • CIH disrupted the intestinal mechanical barrier, increased colonic permeability and decreased flora composition. • CIH promoted pathological Th17 cells-mediated intestinal immune barrier dysfunction via JAK2/STAT3 signaling. • Melatonin supplementation ameliorated the CIH-induced intestinal immune barrier by maintaining the Th17 balance. • Melatonin targeted CIH-activated STAT3 signaling, enhanced anti-inflammatory effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) deficiency adversely affects tree growth. Additionally, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is closely associated with growth and stress responses because of its effects on carbon (C) and N metabolism. However, little is known about its roles related to plant adaptations to N-deficient conditions. In this study, we analyzed the effects of GABA (0, 2 and 10 mM) applications on the growth traits and physiological responses of poplar (Populus alba  ×  P. glandulosa '84K') seedlings under high N (HN) and low N (LN) conditions. We found that the added GABA interacted with N to affect more than half of the studied parameters, with greater effects in LN plants than in HN plants. Under LN conditions, the GABA application tended to increase poplar growth, accompanied by increased xylem fiber cell length and xylem width. In stems, exogenous GABA increased the abundance of non-structural carbohydrates (starch and sugars) and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates (succinate, malate and citrate), but had the opposite effect on the structural C contents (hemicellulose and lignin). Meanwhile, exogenous GABA increased the total soluble protein contents in leaves and stems, accompanied by significant increases in nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase and glutamine synthetase activities in leaves, but significant decreases in those (except for the increased glutamate synthetase activity) in stems. A multiple factorial analysis indicated that the nitrate assimilation pathway substantially influences poplar survival and growth in the presence of GABA under LN conditions. Interestingly, GABA applications also considerably attenuated the LN-induced increase in the activities of leaf antioxidant enzymes, including peroxidase and catalase, implying that GABA may regulate the relative allocation of C and N for growth activities by decreasing the energy cost associated with stress defense. Our results suggest that GABA enhances poplar growth and adaptation by regulating the C and N metabolic flux under N-deficient conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fully reversed bending fatigue tests on uncoated and Cr-coated stainless-steel specimens. • Opposing trends of Cr-coating influence on fatigue life at high and low stress amplitudes. • A coating/substrate interfacial crack formation mechanism due to substrate shear steps identified experimentally. • Accompanying finite element stress analysis corroborates experimental findings. • The importance of interface engineering in coating applications to fatigue resistance highlighted. Fully-reversed cyclic bending tests were conducted on uncoated and Cr-coated 316 stainless steel specimens. At high stresses, the uncoated specimens outperformed the Cr-coated ones, while the trend reversed at low stresses. For Cr-coated specimens subjected to high stress amplitude loading, experimental observations showed crack initiation at the Cr/substrate interface due to shear steps formed from dislocation activities in the substrate—a conclusion supported by accompanying finite element analysis. Interfacial crack initiation was not observed under low stress amplitudes. This difference in fatigue crack initiation mechanisms induced an opposite trend in fatigue life between high and low stress amplitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Silent new ischemic cerebral lesions (sNICL) detected by diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) are common after carotid artery stenting (CAS). As part of the Revascularization of Extracranial Carotid Artery Stenosis (RECAS) study, this work aimed to determine predictors of sNICL detected by DWI following CAS. Methods: A total of 694 patients eligible for the RECAS study treated in Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, with complete imaging data were included in this retrospective study. The patients were asymptomatic after CAS, and those with stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), or death were excluded. The RECAS protocol specified that DWI was completed 1–7 days before the procedure and within 3 days after CAS. Several parameters were assessed for associations with sNICL occurrence after CAS in univariate analysis. Finally, multivariate analysis was performed to determine risk factors for sNICL. Results: The rate of post-procedural sNICL in CAS was 51.3% (356/694 patients with sNICL). All patients underwent stenting with embolic protection devices. Univariate analysis showed that diabetes mellitus (P = 0.008), ipsilateral calcified plaques (P = 0.036), ipsilateral ulcerated plaques (P = 0.026), pre-dilatation (P = 0.003), and open-cell stent use (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with sNICL occurrence in CAS. Multivariate analysis revealed that diabetes mellitus (P = 0.006), ipsilateral calcified plaques (P = 0.024), ipsilateral ulcerated plaques (P = 0.021), and open-cell stent use (P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for sNICL. Conclusions: Patients with diabetes, calcified or ulcerated plaques who undergo CAS with open-cell stent application, are at high risk of sNICL. Large-scale prospective randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents photoacoustic and ultrasonic dual-mode imaging for real-time detection of submucosal gastric cancer with a combination of gastroscopy. The diagnostic capacity was directly addressed via several phantoms and ex vivo experiments. Results demonstrated that superficial and submucosal gastric cancer can be diagnosed with a perceptible depth of 6.33 mm, a lateral accuracy of 2.23 mm, and a longitudinal accuracy of 0.17 mm though capturing the morphology of angiogenesis, which is a main character of the therioma-related change. The capability of gastroscopy-conjugated photoacoustic and ultrasonic dual-mode imaging system will own great potential in improving the clinical diagnostic rate of submucosal gastric cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adriamycin (ADR) is an effective antineoplastic drug; the clinical application of ADR is limited due to fatal heart dysfunction. Exenatide has antioxidant, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory properties. It can alleviate heart damage induced by ischaemia-reperfusion injury. Thus, we assumed that exenatide would produce protective effects on ADR-induced heart dysfunction. Mice were treated with exenatide 1 h prior to every ADR treatment for 20 days. Left ventricular function and performance were assessed by echocardiography. Additionally, H9c2 cells were pretreated with exenatide followed by ADR, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell viability, as well as the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and the creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), were subsequently measured. Flow cytometry and TUNEL staining were applied to assess the effect of exenatide on cardiac damage caused by ADR. Western blot and RT-PCR were performed to detect the effect of exenatide on apoptosis-related genes (Bcl-2 and Bax) and inflammation-related genes and/or proteins (tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, nuclear factor-κB, and p53). Echocardiography showed that cardiac dysfunction caused by ADR was significantly improved by treatment with exenatide. ADR mice had harmful changes in the levels of ROS and CK-MB/LDH production, as well as the targeted apoptotic and inflammatory molecules, and these effects were also reversed by exenatide. In vitro, exenatide mitigated ADR-induced oxidative stress and CK-MB/LDH production, as well as Annexin V+/PI+ and TUNEL+ apoptosis in H9c2 cells. In conclusion, our research demonstrated the potential protective effects of exenatide on ADR-induced heart dysfunction through suppressing oxidative stress, apoptosis and inflammation. • Cardiac dysfunction caused by adriamycin can be significantly improved by administration with exenatide. • Exenatide alleviates adriamycin-induced heart dysfunction through suppressing oxidative stress, apoptosis and inflammation. • These results highlight the therapeutic potential of exenatide for preventing adriamycin induced cardiotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of Cr-containing hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H:Cr) coatings were deposited onto 316 stainless steel (316SS) substrates using inductively coupled plasma assisted reactive sputter deposition. Elemental Cr interlayers with different thicknesses of 100, 200, and 300 nm were deposited between a-C:H:Cr and 316SS. Detailed composition, structure, and mechanical behavior characterization of deposited a-C:H:Cr/Cr/316SS specimens were performed. Fracture toughness values of the a-C:H:Cr layer, the Cr layer, and the a-C:H:Cr/Cr/316SS interfacial regions were measured by bending of microcantilever beams with focused ion beam milled pre-notches in-situ a scanning electron microscope. Measured fracture toughness of a-C:H:Cr/Cr/316SS interfacial regions exhibits an approximately linear correlation with the area fraction of the fracture surface occurring in the Cr interlayer, indicating that the interfacial fracture toughness depends on the detailed path of crack propagation and suggesting that interfacial toughness can be engineered through materials design of the interfacial region. • a-C:H:Cr coatings deposited onto 316SS substrates with varying Cr interlayer thicknesses • Detailed composition, structure, and mechanical characterizations performed • Fracture toughness of a-C:H:Cr, Cr, and a-C:H:Cr/Cr/316SS interfaces measured with microcantilever bending • Measured interface fracture toughness shows a dependence on the crack propagation path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Breast cancer (BC) displays different clinicopathological features and outcomes based on patient age, molecular subtype, and treatment. However, such features in BC patients in northwest China are unclear. This study investigated the clinicopathological features and overall survival (OS) of early stage BC patients using a population-based study. Methods Patients who were newly diagnosed with BC at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University between January 2001 and June 2012 were included. Clinicopathological features and OS were assessed. Results The median age of 1287 patients was 50 years, with an average tumor size of 2.65 cm. Additionally, 42.7% were luminal A, 25.6% luminal B, 9.3% Her2 overexpression, and 17.7% triple negative. The cut-off age was 35 years, and young patients (< 35) tended to have larger tumors, ≥ 4 positive lymph nodes, grade 2 or 3 histology, non-luminal types, high Ki67, and poor outcomes. Patients with luminal A tumors showed moderate features: 50.6% had tumors < 2 cm, 56.7% had negative lymph nodes. Patients with Her2 overexpression tumors showed aggressive features and the poorest survival (5-year OS 67.6%). Patients with triple negative tumors were the youngest (average 48.4 years), but had the largest proportion of grade 3 histology and poor outcomes. Conclusion Our results are consistent with those in other provinces in China, but showed an earlier age at diagnosis and more aggressive pathological features compared to developed countries. Additionally, each molecular subtype showed specific features and different survival outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]