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Groundwater, a fundamental asset, isn't effectively accessible in some parts of the world. The current research work pointed toward obtaining precise maps of potential groundwater zones. This study aimed for potential groundwater modeling and extracting the precise maps using four new advanced hybrid ML models (Dagging-HP, Bagging-HP, AdaBoost-HP, Decorate-HP) and one single model Hyperpipes (HP) in the Doji Watershed, situated in the eastern part of Golestan province, Iran. Among the selected models, the AdaBoost-HP model is the most efficient, with an AUC - ROC of 0.972, accuracy (0.922), sensitivity (0.906), and specificity (0.938), which gives the most promising values, when determining the collinearity between the 14 training factors, which are, in descending order of significance, LULC, Distance to stream (DtS), Topography wetness index (TWI), HAND, Distance to the road (DtR), Geomorphology, Topography position index (TPI), Lithology, Drainage density (DD), Elevation, Slope, Rainfall, and Clay (%). The AUC-ROC approach was employed to assess the model's performance along with Accuracy, Specificity, and Sensitivity. This model revealed that 7.37% has very high groundwater potential in the eastern and south-western parts of the study, whereas 36.8% has a very low groundwater potential in the north-western and south-eastern parts of the study. It can be said from this assessment that results obtained from this investigation are better and more reliable, which gives essential encouragement for further study put on this method for groundwater potential mapping of other areas of the world along with other areas of hydrogeological investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the effect of glass network structure on the solubility properties of bioactive glasses is fundamental for designing new compositions with tailored biological functions and applications. This paper bridged the composition-structure-property relationship utilizing experimental measurements and molecular dynamics simulations. The Sr atom reorganized the network structures through a partial transformation of tetrahedral to trigonal boron units and the change of the ratio of bridged oxygen/non-bridged oxygen, which modified the glass structures at longer lengths scales, such as through changing the ring size distribution. Our results demonstrated that the evolution of solubility properties can be linked to the atomic structure change in short- and medium-range ordering. The structure-property relationship can be used to design and tune bioactive glass composition with specific properties. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The moment-to-moment variability of resting-state brain activity has been suggested to play an active role in chronic pain. To investigate preoperative alterations in regional blood-oxygen-level-dependent signal variability (BOLDsv) and inter-regional dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) in individuals with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM), and their potential association with postoperative axial pain severity. Cross-sectional study. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was obtained in 42 migraine individuals and 40 healthy controls (HCs). We calculated the standard deviation (SD) of the BOLD time-series at each voxel and the SD and mean of the dynamic conditional correlation between the brain regions which showed significant group differences in BOLDsv. A group comparison was conducted using whole-brain voxel-wise analysis of the standard deviation (SD) of the BOLD time-series which was a measure of the BOLDsv. The brain areas displaying notable group discrepancies in BOLDsv were utilized to outline regions of interest (ROIs). To determine the strength/variability of the dFC, the mean and SD of the dynamic conditional correlation were calculated within these ROIs. Moreover, the postoperative axial pain (PAP) severity of patients was evaluated. Our results revealed that DCM patients with postoperative axial pain (PAP) demonstrated considerably increased BOLDsv in the bilateral thalamus and right insular, but significantly lower BOLDsv in the right S1. By applying dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) analysis, we found that DCM patients with PAP exhibited greater fluctuation of dFC in the thalamo-cortical pathway (specifically, thalamus-S1), when compared to HCs and patients without PAP (nPAP). Lastly, we established that dysfunctional BOLDsv and dFC in the ascending pain pathway were positively associated with the severity of PAP in DCM patients. Our results indicate a potential correlation between impaired pain ascending pathway and postoperative axial pain in DCM patients. These findings could potentially spark novel treatment approaches for individuals experiencing preoperative axial pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gut microbiota is closely associated with the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) in which Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) was found to induce cancer resistance to chemotherapeutics. To relieve F. nucleatum -induced drug resistance, herein, we found that short-chain fatty acid butyrate can inhibit the growth, enrichment and adhesion of F. nucleatum in colorectal cancer tissues by downregulating the expression of adhesion-associated outer membrane proteins, including RadD, FomA, and FadA, to reduce the colonization and invasion of F. nucleatum and relieve the chemoresistance induced by F. nucleatum. Leveraging the killing effect of butyrate on F. nucleatum , sodium butyrate (NaBu) was encapsulated in liposomes or prepared as NaBu tablets with Eudragit S100 coating and administered by intravenous injection or oral administration, respectively. Interestingly, both intravenous administration of NaBu liposomes and oral delivery of NaBu tablets could effectively inhibit the proliferation of F. nucleatum and significantly improve the therapeutic efficacy of oxaliplatin in mice with subcutaneous colorectal tumors, orthotopic colorectal tumors and even spontaneously formed colorectal tumors. Thus, our work provides a simple but effective formulation of NaBu to relieve F. nucleatum -induced chemoresistance, exhibiting ideal clinical application prospects. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dry reforming of methane (DRM) is a sustainable chemical process that can simultaneously transform methane and carbon dioxide, which are generally considered greenhouse gases, into syngas with H 2 /CO ratio close to 1. The deposition of carbon on the active sites during long-period DRM tests will lead to severe deactivation of Ni-based catalysts. Thus, in this work, we proposed a series of uniformly dispersed Fe-decorated Ni/Al 2 O 3 catalysts via atomic layer deposition (ALD) to solve this key issue. Modification with trace amounts of Fe (0.3–0.6%) had multiple effects on facilitating the CH 4 dissociation on Ni0, improving the low-temperature catalytic activity, moderating the carbon species and accelerating coke oxidation. The sample denoted as 0.3%Fe/Ni/Al 2 O 3 exhibited almost no activity loss in the 72 h test at 650 °C. The Fe-decorated Ni/Al 2 O 3 structure achieved a balance between the enhancement of CH 4 cracking and the elimination of coke. Furthermore, this advanced ALD approach of preparing uniform secondary metal nanoparticle-decorated catalysts provided guidance to other bimetallic systems, such as Pt/Ni, Mn/Ni, and Cu/Ni. • Highly dispersed Fe-decorated Ni nanoparticles were prepared by Atomic Layer Deposition. • Fe facilitated the dissociation of CH 4 and CO 2 over Ni0, thereby enhancing the catalytic activity. • Modification with Fe suppressed the production of inactive graphitic carbon and accelerated coke oxidation simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this study were to investigate the value of sound touch elastography (STE) in predicting axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM) in patients with invasive breast cancer (IBC) and to explore whether lysyl oxidase (LOX) is correlated with increasing stiffness and promotion of metastasis in IBC. A total of 142 lesions in 142 patients were assessed by STE. The STE values of IBCs in the two groups were compared and the best cutoff values for diagnosing ALNM determined. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect LOX expression. Collagen fiber and elastic fiber content was determined by Masson and Weigert elastic fiber staining. Correlation analyses were performed to identify the associations of the data. The optimal cutoff values of Emax (maximum stiffness value of the tumor) and Smax (maximum stiffness value of the shell) for predicting ALNM of IBC were 94.58 and 148.78 kPa. Immunohistochemistry and Masson and Weigert elastic fiber staining were performed on 67 samples. LOX expression and collagen volume fraction were significantly higher in the ALNM+ group than in the ALNM- group (p = 0.04 and 0.03), except for elastic fiber content (p = 0.628). Moreover, Emax, Smax and LOX expression were positively correlated with collagen volume fraction (r = 0.624, 0.512, and 0.533, respectively). Emax and Smax were found to be predictors for ALNM of IBC. STE could serve as a non-invasive method for assessing lymph node status before surgery. Overexpression of LOX and increased collagen fiber contributed to the increased stiffness in the lesions and metastases of IBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Reconstructed the phylogenetic relationship of the Syrphidae based on the different datasets of mitogenomes, and analysed and discussed the topological structures among different tribes. • Hoverfly genus Rhingia is resulted in a monophyletic group. • Natural selection, rather than mutation pressure, is exposed the main impact factor for codon usage bias in Rhingia. • It has strong AT bias in the nucleotide composition and optimal codons within Rhingia. • There are three optimal codons, GUU, ACU, and GGA, which are common to all five species of Rhingia. This study presents the sequencing and annotation of mitochondrial genomes from five Rhingia species of the family Syrphidae, focusing on codon bias. Each species possessed 22 tRNAs genes, 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNAs genes, and a control region, without any observed gene rearrangements. Nucleotide composition analysis revealed a higher AT content compared with GC content, indicating AT enrichment. Neutrality plot, Parity rule 2 bias, and effective number of codons plot analyses collectively indicated that natural selection primarily influences the codon usage bias in the five Rhingia species. Relative synonymous codon usage analysis identified the optimal codons for Rhingia binotata , R. fromosana , R. campestris , R. louguanensis , and R. xanthopoda as 10, 14, 10, 11, and 12, respectively, all ending with A/U and exhibiting AT preference. Phylogenetic analysis, based on maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods applied to three datasets, confirmed the monophyly of Rhingia. In conclusion, this research establishes a foundation for understanding the phylogenetic evolution and codon usage patterns in Rhingia , offering valuable for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Prepared a series of water-stable CsPb(Br/I) 3 PNCs from green to red in polar solvents. • CsPb(Br/I) 3 PNCs probes with different emission peaks were used for mercury ions detection in aqueous solution. • The detection of Hg2+ could by realized by analyzing the fluorescence photos by the naked eye. All-inorganic cesium lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) have rarely been reported in analytical chemistry, especially in water environment analysis, due to their high susceptibility to environmental conditions. Herein, we investigate and report a method of visual detection of Hg2+ concentration in aqueous solution using CsPb(Br/I) 3 PNCs. In this strategy, three kinds of CsPb(Br/I) 3 PNCs with FL emission peaks of 551 nm, 591 nm, and 617 nm were used to detect Hg2+, and it was found that Hg2+ can quench the fluorescence of CsPb(Br/I) 3 PNCs and blue-shift the maximum FL emission peak. We also found that the Hg2+ concentration has a good linear relationship with the fluorescence quenching rate (I 0 / I) and FL emission peak shift (Δ λ) of CsPb(Br/I) 3 PNCs. With the red-shift of the probe FL emission peak, the detected concentration range of Hg2+ gradually expanded. Therefore, the possibility of detecting Hg2+ concentration without huge equipment was detailed by examining the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) values of photographs of CsPb(Br/I) 3 PNCs with Hg2+. Under a 365 nm ultraviolet (UV) lamp, the solution color of CsPb(Br/I) 3 PNCs emission peaks at 591 nm gradually changes from orange to green with the increase of Hg2+ concentration, which has an excellent visualization effect. The method presented here has the potential to establish a new analytical method for the visual detection of Hg2+ in aqueous environments, and may also facilitate the application of all-inorganic cesium lead halide perovskite nanocrystals for analytical detection in aqueous environments. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The most active catalyst, featuring Pt decoration on the Ni surface, activated within the first 10 h and preserved its activity over a 48-hour aging process. • CNTs on the Pt-Ni bimetallic catalyst showed a tendency to develop and migrate towards the support, displaying an increasing number of structural defects without entirely covering the metal active sites. • In contrast, the Ni/Al 2 O 3 catalyst experienced the accumulation of crystalline, low-defect CNTs, which enveloped Ni active sites over time, leading to rapid deactivation. Deactivation induced by coke deposition remains the foremost challenge in using Ni-based catalysts for the production of syngas via dry reforming of methane (DRM) reaction. Herein, highly dispersed Pt-Ni/Al 2 O 3 bimetallic catalysts prepared by atomic layer deposition (ALD) displayed remarkable stability at 650 ℃ in the DRM reaction. The Pt-Ni catalysts underwent an activation process within the initial 10 h and maintained its activity without deactivation throughout the subsequent aging testing up to 48 h. In contrast, the Ni/Al 2 O 3 rapidly deactivated over time. Despite its high CH 4 conversion rates, the Pt-Ni bimetallic catalyst produced a substantial quantity of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) analogous to the Ni/Al 2 O 3 catalyst. The discrepancy in stability performance between two catalysts derived from disparities in the carbon sites and structural defects evolving over reaction time. Regarding the catalysts with Pt decoration on the Ni surface, CNTs exhibited increasing structural defects and gradually deposited on the Al 2 O 3 support without fully encapsulating the metal active sites, as evidenced by CH 4 -TPD experiments. In the case of Ni nanoparticles on Al 2 O 3 , crystalline CNTs with fewer defects accumulated, leading to rapid deactivation. These findings enhance our understanding of coke resistance in DRM catalysts and help the development of more robust bimetallic catalyst systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Sediment is the source of the earliest slab-derived fluids. • The serpentinizing fluids experienced extensive interaction with subducted basalts. • Breakdown of basalt plagioclase affected chemistry of the earliest fluids. • Breakdown of plagioclase resulted in calcium carbonate precipitation. • Lawsonite and rodingite appear as stable phases after plagioclase breakdown. The geochemistry of Mariana forearc serpentinites sheds light on how the subducting slab starts to devolatilize. International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 366 targeted three serpentinite seamounts: Yinazao, Fantangisña and Asùt Tesoru, with corresponding slab depths of 13, 14 and 18 km, respectively. The fluid-mobile elements (FMEs) B, Rb, Cs, and Li become more enriched in the eruptive serpentinites with increasing slab depth. Yinazao serpentinites show strongly elevated Sr and Ba contents, which complements depletions in these elements seen in mafic clasts entrained in the serpentinites. Correlations between the FMEs and 87Sr/86Sr of the serpentinites reflect interactions among slab fluid, mantle and the subducting slab. With the enrichments of Sr-Ba in the Yinazao and B-Rb-Cs-Li in the Asùt Tesoru serpentinites, their 87Sr/86Sr converge toward values similar as those of the mafic clasts from values between sediments and the mantle. These observations indicate that sediment is the source of the earliest slab-derived fluids, which experienced extensive interaction first with mantle wedge peridotites to produce high pH fluids, and later with subducted seamount basalts. The decomposition of plagioclase in subducting basalts leads to precipitation of CaCO 3 from the high pH serpentinizing fluids and elevated Ca-Sr-Ba contents under low carbonate alkalinity conditions, as seen in the Yinazao serpentinites. The breakdown of clay minerals after lawsonite formation and the lizardite-antigorite transition release geochemically distinct fluids, with high B-Rb-Cs-Li and low Sr. This episode of fluid release results in the dissolution of CaCO 3 precipitated in the shallow subduction channel, and the generation of rodingite assemblages and epidote. Finally, these fluids evolve to have high carbonate alkalinity and low Ca-Sr-Ba contents, as seen in Asùt Tesoru serpentinites as well as those in South Chamorro and Conical Seamounts. This study reveals early plagioclase breakdown via high pH fluids in the subduction channel is important both for the generation of hydrous minerals and the precipitation of CaCO 3 in the subducting slab, subduction channel, and shallow mantle wedge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The difference in interaction strength between [C 4 C 1 im]+/[C 4 C 1 pyrr]+ and [NTf 2 ]− is described in detail. • The introduction of [C 4 C 1 pyrr][NTf 2 ] led to an increase in trans - and a decrease in cis -configurations of [NTf 2 ]−. • Provide theoretical basis for the application of ionic liquid mixtures. Ionic liquid mixtures have garnered significant attention due to their promising applications. Despite this interest, there remains a limited understanding of these mixtures, particularly regarding their microstructure. A comprehensive understanding of their microstructural characteristics and properties is essential for harnessing the full potential of ionic liquid mixtures. In this work, the structural properties and interactions were investigated within mixtures of two specific ionic liquids: 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([C 4 C 1 im][NTf 2 ]) and 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([C 4 C 1 pyrr][NTf 2 ]). Employing a combination of experimental and theoretical methods, the following conclusions were obtained: (1) The cis - and trans -configurations of [NTf 2 ]− coexist in pure ionic liquids and their mixtures; (2) The primary interaction site of [C 4 C 1 im]+ and [C 4 C 1 pyrr]+ are C2−H and H on the methylene group attached to the N atom, respectively. It mainly interacts with O atoms in [NTf 2 ]− anions through hydrogen bond interactions; (3) The introduction of [C 4 C 1 pyrr][NTf 2 ] weakens the hydrogen bonding interactions within the ionic liquid mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Proposing a holographic 3D display method with low speckle noise based on fractional Fourier transform algorithm. • Using the dual constraints of quadratic phase and original amplitude, as well as adjusting the ratio of the signal region to the noise region in the iteration. • The signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the proposed method is improved by 42.13 % compared with the conventional GS algorithm. Holographic 3D display is considered as one of the ideal 3D display ways, which has important application value in industrial detection, medical treatment and other fields. In the conventional iterative Gerchberg-Saxton (GS) algorithm, the use of random phase leads to serious speckle noise. This paper presents a holographic 3D display method with low speckle noise based on improved iterative GS algorithm. By replacing the Fourier transform in GS algorithm, fractional Fourier transform is used to reproduce plane images with different depths. In the process of iteration, the image is divided into signal region and noise region, and the speckle noise is suppressed by applying dual constraints of original amplitude and quadratic phase. Compared with the conventional method, the proposed method improves the signal to noise ratio of the reconstructed image by about 42 %, which provides a way to suppress the speckle noise of holographic 3D display and is expected to promote the development of holographic 3D display. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper metal is essential to our production process, but it is highly corrosive in an ammonia environment and must be highly valued. Anti-corrosion coating is a simple and cost-effective method of preventing metal corrosion. In this study, a composite silane coating was prepared on copper using an impregnation method with mercaptopropyltriethoxysilane (TPTES) as the silane substrate and graphene oxide (GO) modified with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) or isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane (IPTS) as filler to protect the copper from ammonia corrosion. The coating samples were hanging tested against ammonia corrosion by setting up two corrosive environments: ammonia gas and ammonia water. After 20 days of corrosion, the surfaces of the TPTES/IPDI-GO and TPTES/IPTS-GO coatings remained unchanged under both ammonia environments and the corrosion rate was consistently low at 2–3 μm/y. Additionally, the coating exhibited high protective qualities according to the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) test in a 3.5% NaCl solution, which is attributed to the good dispersion that improves the densification and regularity of the coating. Meanwhile, IPTS-GO has a greater binding force with the coating matrix due to the increased number of reactive sites, resulting in further improved corrosion protection. This study provides an idea for research on ammonia-resistant coatings. [Display omitted] • Silane coatings are prepared by a simple impregnation method, with a simple process and wide range of applications. • 2、The corrosion hanging test was set up with two corrosive environments: ammonia gas and ammonia water. • 3、TPTES/IPDI-GO and TPTES/IPTS-GO silane coating samples show good protection after 20 days of corrosion in ammonia environments. • 4、 Further enhancement of the coating's ammonia corrosion resistance by increasing the number of reaction sites around the GO that are more readily available for binding to the coating substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the chemical composition of materials within the subducting slab is crucial for studying slab dehydration and melting mechanisms. Previous research has primarily focused on examining sediments and altered basalts collected near the seafloor, which has overlooked the chemical changes occurring within the forearc subduction channel. The Mariana forearc serpentinite mud volcanoes offer a unique opportunity to investigate metabasite xenoliths, providing valuable insights into the compositional changes of subducting slab materials at forearc depths. In this study, we present Pb-Nd-Hf isotopic data for blueschist-facies mafic clasts obtained from the Asùt Tesoru serpentinite seamount in the Mariana forearc. These data are combined with existing Sr isotope and trace element data to address the aforementioned issues. The mafic clasts display Nd Hf isotopic signatures reminiscent of the HIMU- and EM1-type basalts discovered in the Magellan seamounts. However, their Sr Pb isotopes display mixed signatures, indicating the influence of sediments and altered mid-ocean ridge basalts. These findings underscore the importance of serpentinizing fluids resulting from the interaction between sediment pore water and forearc mantle peridotite in altering the Sr Pb elemental and isotopic compositions of subducted slab materials. This process is achieved through interactions between slab materials and serpentinizing fluids within the subduction channel. It is important to emphasize that the blueschist-facies mafic clasts themselves do not directly serve as source materials for arc volcanism. However, their Sr Pb isotopes can undergo further modifications through exchanges with unaltered seamount basalts facilitated by serpentinizing fluids within the deep subduction channel, which extends from depths of 30 to 100 km. In this scenario, the mafic clasts with modified isotopic signatures could potentially contribute as source materials for arc volcanism. • The protolith of the metabasite is HIMU- and EM1-type seamount basalts. • The seamount basalts interacted with serpentinizing fluid in the subduction channel. • Serpentinizing fluid modified the Sr Pb isotopes of the metabasite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most current flexible electronic devices are based on petroleum materials that are difficult to degrade. The exploration of sustainable and eco-friendly materials has become a major focus in both the scientific and industrial communities. In this study, BC-Zn-BIM (bacterial cellulose-Zn-benzimidazole), a novel composite electrode material based on biodegradable BC was developed. Here, BC acted as a conductive medium involved in the conductive behavior of the composite material. We've explored the charge transport mechanisms of BC-Zn-BIM by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and applied it in the electrochemical detection of Bisphenol A (BPA). The results indicated that the oxygen-containing groups in BC and the nitrogen-containing heterocycles in BIM have a tendency to lose electrons, whereas zinc ions actively acquire electrons from these groups. This process promoted charge transfer within BC-Zn-BIM and endowed it with semiconductor-like properties, enhancing the electrocatalytic reaction of BPA. The detection limit of the electrochemical biosensor was 12 nM, and the sample recovery was 95.1%105.6%. This study clarified the mechanism of the higher electrical properties achieved in Zn-BIM complex grown in-situ on dielectric BC. This will further promote the development of low-cost, environmentally friendly flexible electronic devices. [Display omitted] • A new type of conductive BC-Zn-BIM (bacterial cellulose-Zn-benzimidazole) material was prepared. • The BC-Zn-BIM complex constructed a continuous charge transfer pathway. • The charge transport mechanism of BC-Zn-BIM was studied using DFT (density functional theory) calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The innovative CQD@UiO-66-NH 2 /PSF microspheres significantly enhance photocatalytic performance. • The microspheres exhibit remarkable efficiency in removing methylene blue and tetracycline. • The enhanced porosity of the microspheres leads to improved adsorption of pollutants. • The materials demonstrate high stability and recyclability in various applications. The advancement of sophisticated photocatalytic materials for environmental amelioration has become increasingly imperative in the context of persistent organic pollutants in aqueous effluents. The amalgamation of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with nanocomposite constituents has demonstrated promising prospects in augmenting photocatalytic efficiency. Nevertheless, obstacles persist in the realms of optimizing photon absorption and the segregation of electron-hole pairs. The application of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) within this sphere, particularly in synergy with amino-functionalized MOFs such as UiO-66-NH 2 , remains underexplored. In this study, we elucidate the synthesis of UiO-66@Polysulfone porous microspheres, augmented by CQDs, employing an innovative Pickering emulsion template approach for the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline. Our findings reveal that this composite material not only manifests a distinctive hollow microsphere architecture, contributing to an elevated specific surface area, but also markedly enhances the degradation efficacies of both methylene blue and tetracycline under visible light irradiation. Moreover, this research accentuates the material's exceptional recyclability and stability, highlighting its potential as a sustainable and efficacious solution for the remediation of wastewater and organic pollutant degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A bactrian camel was immunized with intact mouse IgG for library construction. • Specific binders to mouse constant kappa chain (mCK) were selected from the library. • A high-affinity mCK-specific VHH was conjugated to magnetic beads to purify mAbs. • The beads can purify mouse IgG from serum-containing hybridoma culture medium. When purifying mAb from serum-containing hybridoma culture supernatant, it is essential that mouse IgG remains free from contaminations of bovine IgG. However, the broadly used Protein A resin cannot achieve this goal due to binding between both mouse and bovine IgG. Here, a novel nanobody-based affinity purification magnetic beads that discriminates mouse IgG from bovine IgG was developed. To bind all subtypes of mouse IgG (IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3) that contain the kappa light chain, mCK (mouse kappa constant region)-specific nanobody binders were selected from an immune phage display VHH library; this library was constructed with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), which were collected from Bactrian camels immunized with a mix of intact mouse IgGs (IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3). A novel clone that exhibited a higher expression level and a higher binding affinity was selected (4E6). Then, the 4E6 nanobody in the format of VHH-hFC (human Fc) was conjugated on magnetic beads with a maximal binding capacity of 15.41±0.69 mg mouse IgG/mL beads. Furthermore, no bovine IgG could be copurified from hybridoma culture supernatant with immunomagnetic beads. This approach is valuable for the large-scale in vitro production of highly pure antibodies by hybridoma cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transmembrane 9 superfamily proteins (TM9SFs) define a highly conserved protein family, each member of which is characterized by a variable extracellular domain and presumably nine transmembrane domains. Although previous studies have delineated the potential cytological roles of TM9SFs like autophagy and secretory pathway, their functions during development are largely unknown. To establish the basis for dissecting the functions of TM9SFs in vivo , we employed the open-source database, structure prediction, immunofluorescence and Western blot to describe the gene and protein expression patterns of TM9SFs in human and mouse. While TM9SFs are ubiquitously and homogeneously expressed in all tissues in human with RNA sequencing and proteomics analysis, we found that all mice Tm9sf proteins are preferentially expressed in lung except Tm9sf1 which is enriched in brain although they all distributed in various tissues we examined. In addition, we further explored their expression patterns in the mice central nervous system (CNS) and its extension tissue retina. Interestingly, we could show that Tm9sf1is developmentally up-regulated in brain. In addition, we also detected all Tm9sf proteins are located in neurons and microglia instead of astrocytes. Importantly, Tm9sf3 is localized in the nuclei which is distinct from the other members that are dominantly targeted to the plasma membrane/cytoplasm as expected. Finally, we also found that Tm9sf family members are broadly expressed in the layers of INL, OPL, and GCL of retina and likely targeted to the plasma membrane of retinal cells. Thus, our data provided a comprehensive overview of TM9SFs expression patterns, illustrating their ubiquitous roles in different organs, implying the possible roles of Tm9sf2/3/4 in lung functions and Tm9sf1 in neurodevelopment, and highlighting a unique cell biological functions of TM9SF3 in neuronal and microglia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical short-range order (SRO) can effectively retard the dislocation motion, allowing for a substantive hardening effect. Notwithstanding, fundamental mechanisms behind subsequent friction and wear processes at the atom level are insufficiently understood. Meanwhile, it is still a tall order to experimentally characterize this nanoscale chemical inhomogeneity. Here, through conducting hybrid Monte-Carlo (MC) and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations, the impact of chemical SRO on the friction and wear behaviors in a CoCrNi medium-entropy alloy (MEA) was investigated. The friction weakening after introducing SRO was demonstrated to be the consequence of a combination of several factors apart from a reduction in penetration depth, which encompassed a suppression of the pile-up effect and lowered densities in total and immobile dislocation ahead of tip. Meanwhile, the SRO-dependent repression of sub-surface deformation behaviors was verified to effectively improve wear resistance. Particularly, the presence of Ni-rich domains was validated to impose additional resistance to dislocations slipping toward the interior and increase the interlocking likelihood between dislocations parallel to the surface and those slipping deeper into the sub-surface, effectively weakening the sub-surface damage. In addition, a strong SRO was corroborated to further decrease friction and wear damage. These findings are expected to provide important insights into understanding chemical SRO-related anti-friction and wear-resisting behaviors in a CoCrNi MEA. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The differences in interaction strength between AOEMIMTFSI and DMSO/CH 3 OH/CH 3 CN are described in detail. • The changes of hydrogen bonding interactions was unveiled. • Several complexes were assigned by excess spectra. Scientific research has witnessed an increasing fascination with ester-functionalized ionic liquids in recent years. These ester-functionalized ionic liquids are particularly attractive due to their superior biodegradability and potential applications, which surpass those of traditional ionic liquids. In actual use, it is common to blend these ionic liquids with co-solvents. However, there is currently a lack of research on the structures and interaction mechanisms of these mixtures. In this work, the hydrogen bonding interactions and microstructures of 1-acetoxyethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (AOEMIMTFSI) with various polar co-solvents (DMSO, CH 3 OH, CH 3 CN) were researched by combining infrared experiments and DFT calculations. The finding are as follows: (1) O atom in [TFSI]− primary interacts with C2−H in [AOEMIM]+, while the O or N atom in the co-solvents (DMSO, CH 3 OH, CH 3 CN) primarily interact with C4,5−H in [AOEMIM]+. (2) With the addition of co-solvents (DMSO‑ d 6 , CD 3 OD or CD 3 CN), the hydrogen bonding interactions associated with the v (imidazolium C−H) in the AOEMIMTFSI−DMSO‑ d 6 /CD 3 OD/CD 3 CN systems are strengthened. (3) The hydrogen bonding interactions between AOEMIMTFSI and DMSO are the strongest, followed by those between AOEMIMTFSI and CH 3 OH, while the hydrogen bonding interactions between AOEMIMTFSI and CH 3 CN are the weakest. (4) 2[AOEMIM]+[TFSI]−, 2[AOEMIM]+[TFSI]−−co-solvent, [AOEMIM]+[TFSI]−−co-solvent and [AOEMIM]+−co-solvent complexes were assigned through the analysis of excess spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies revealed that insect chemosensory proteins (CSPs) both play essential roles in insect olfaction and insect resistance. However, functional evidence supporting the crosslink between CSP and insecticide resistance remains unexplored. In the present study, 22 SfruCSP transcripts were identified from the fall armyworm (FAW) and SfruCSP1 and SfruCSP2 are enriched in the larval cuticle and could be induced by multiple insecticides. Both SfruCSP1 and SfruCSP2 are highly expressed in the larval inner endocuticle and outer epicuticle, and these two proteins exhibited high binding affinities with three insecticides (chlorfenapyr, chlorpyrifos and indoxacarb). The knockdown of SfruCSP1 and SfruCSP2 increased the susceptibility of FAW larvae to the above three insecticides, and significantly increased the penetration ratios of these insecticides. Our in vitro and in vivo evidence suggests that SfruCSP1 and SfruCSP2 are insecticide binding proteins and confer FAW larval resistance to chlorfenapyr, chlorpyrifos and indoxacarb by an insecticide sequestration mechanism. The study should aid in the exploration of larval cuticle-enriched CSPs for insect resistance management. • Ø SfruCSP1&2 showed cuticle-enriched profiles and are up-regulate expression by multiple insecticides. • SfruCSP1&2 can highly bind with chlorfenapyr, chlorpyrifos, and indoxacarb. • Silencing of SfruCSP1 &2 significantly increased the larval susceptibility to chlorfenapyr, chlorpyrifos, and indoxacarb. • SfruCSP1&2 cannot directly degrade chlorfenapyr, chlorpyrifos, and indoxacarb. • SfruCSP1&2 did not affect larval growth and cuticle thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A pose-position attention strategy is proposed to update the bi-modal visual graph. • A linguistic-embedding-based semantic graph is presented to model label relations. • A semantic-preserving loss is designed to maintain the semantics consistency. • Both visual and semantic information are fused for group activity recognition. Video-based group activities typically contain interactive contexts among diverse visual modalities between multiple persons, and semantic relationships between individual actions. Nevertheless, majority of the existing methods for recognizing group activity either captures the relationships among different persons by utilizing a solely RGB modality or neglect to exploit the label hierarchies between individual actions and the group activity. To tackle these issues, we propose a visual-semantic graph neural network, with pose-position attentive learning (VSGNN-PAL), for group activity recognition. Specifically, we first extract the individual-level appearance and motion representations from RGB and optical-flow inputs, to build a bi-modal visual graph. Two attentive aggregators are further proposed to integrate both the pose and position information to measure the relevance scores between persons, and dynamically refine the representation of each visual node from both modality-specific and cross-modal perspectives. To model a semantic hierarchy from a label space, we construct a semantic graph based on the linguistic embeddings of individual actions and group activity labels. We further employ a bi-directional mapping learning scheme, to integrate the label-relation-aware semantic context into the visual representations. Besides, a global reasoning module is introduced to progressively generate the group-level representations with the scene description maintained. Furthermore, we formulate a semantic-preserving loss, to maintain the consistency between the learned high-level representations and the semantics of the ground-truth labels. Experimental results on three group activity benchmarks demonstrate that the proposed method achieves state-of-the-art performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The AlCrMoZrTi/(AlCrMoZrTi)N multilayer high-entropy nitride ceramic films (HENCFs) fabricated by reactive RF magnetron sputtering presented (200) preferentially oriented FCC crystal structures. With the increase in the modulation period, the nitrogen content and surface roughness of the multilayer films gradually increased, the template effect between the nanocrystalline and amorphous forms was weakened, and the multilayer interface structure decreased. The S4 film with a modulation period of 1500 nm had the highest hardness and modulus (16.6 and 225.7 GPa, respectively) and the highest H/E* and H3/E*2 values. The results of friction experiments showed that the S1 film with the smallest modulation period had a stable friction coefficient and small wear rate on both Si and Cu substrates, and it exhibited the best friction and wear performance due to its low surface roughness, high toughness and compressive yield resistance, and dense multilayer structure. The friction mechanisms of the HECNFs on Si and Cu substrates were mainly adhesive wear, abrasive wear, and a small amount of oxidative wear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the safety and efficacy of the Numen coil compared with the Axium coil in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Because CATCH (Coil Application Trial in China) is a prospective randomized controlled open-label noninferiority trial conducted in 10 centers across China, patients who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomized 1:1 to either a test group (Numen) or a control group (Axium). The primary outcome was based on successful aneurysm occlusion at 6 months follow-up, whereas secondary outcomes included technical success, the recanalization and retreatment rates, and the rate of serious adverse events (SAEs) at 6 months and 12 months follow-up. Between August 2017 and December 2019, 350 patients presenting with 350 aneurysms were enrolled and randomized. Per-protocol analysis showed that the successful aneurysm occlusion rate at 6 months was 91.18% for the test group compared with 91.85% in the control group, with a difference of –0.68% (P = 0.8419), and the overall mortality during the 30-day follow-up period was 1.19% and 1.81% in the test and control group, respectively, showing no significant difference between the 2 groups (P = 0.6837), whereas the SAE incidence during the 12-month follow-up period was 12.50% and 17.47% in the test and control groups, respectively, which was not statistically significant (P = 0.2222). This trial showed that the Numen coil was noninferior to the Axium coil in terms of intracranial aneurysm embolization and can be considered as a safe and effective coil for treating patients with intracranial aneurysm in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We aimed to compare the prognosis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and nSCCs of the larynx.Then we established a nomogram for nSCCs of the larynx.Methods: Prognosis between the 529 pairs nSCCs of the larynx patients and LSCC patients were compared after propensity score matching (PSM). 591 nSCCs of the larynx patients were divided into the modeling and validation groups. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses obtain independent prognostic factors, which were then included in the nomogram to predict the 3 and 5 year survival. Prognostic accuracy of the nomogram was evaluated using the consistency index (C-index) and the calibration curve.Results: Prognosis of nSCCs of the larynx was poorer than LSCC. Age, race, tumor location, tumor-node-metastasis stage, and method were independent prognostic factors of nSCCs of the larynx (P < 0.05). Internal and external validation proves the nomogram reliable CONCLUSION: The nomogram showed good prognostic accuracy and would assist clinicians in making more accurate evaluations for patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition metal cobalt doped BiOBr (Co-BOB) was successfully synthesized by using hydrothermal method. The optimized Co-BOB achieved a remarkable rhodamine B degradation rate of 97 % in 30 min under visible light irradiation when initial concentration was 80 mg·L−1. Satisfactory removal efficiency was also observed under ambient sunlight irradiation and various water conditions. The cobalt doping strategy induced abundant surface oxygen vacancies formation (43.22 %) and resulted in an increasing exposure of {110} facets. The photosensitization and photocatalytic activities of Co-BOB significantly enhanced comparing with that of pure BiOBr. The synergy of Co doping and oxygen vacancies also induced the formation of a new band structure in Co-BOB. The synergistic effect promoted the efficient separation of photogenerated electrons and holes. By combining with density functional theory calculation, the RhB photocatalytic degradation mechanism by Co-BOB was proposed. [Display omitted] • Trace amounts of cobalt contributed to the formation of abundant surface oxygen vacancies in BOB. • The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of Co-BOB under visible light irradiation achieved 97 % for 80 mg·L−1 RhB solution. • DFT calculation indicated that the mid-energy levels of Co-BOB were induced by cobalt atoms and oxygen vacancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lubricating layer of Slippery Liquid-Infused Porous Surfaces (SLIPS) has certain fluidity and low friction coefficient so that it can serve as a good barrier and protection effect. However, common SLIPS suffer from poor oil-holding capacity that lubricating oil is easy to be washed away and irreparable in practical application. Inspired from self-lubricating earthworm skin, we demonstrate a nanochannels surface covered by silicone-oil-infused polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which could form continuous self-complement lubricating layer. The strong capillarity of the confined nanochannels showed self-repairing properties of injected liquid film, which can recover lubricating performance quickly after physical damage for many times, exhibiting high stability. This study provides a simple and reliable way for the preparation of long-term effective antifouling functional interface materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Spermidine (Spd) play a positive role in plant responses to saline-alkaline stress. • Exogenous Spd stimulates NO synthesis under saline-alkaline stress. • Exogenous Spd enhances the tolerance of tomato plants to saline-alkaline stress depend on NO. Spermidine (Spd) and nitric oxide (NO) are closely intertwined in their synthesis and play a significant role in plant responses to saline-alkaline stress. However, the specific interactions between Spd and NO in alleviating the toxicity of saline-alkaline stress in plants remain poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the involvement of NO in the regulation of saline-alkaline stress tolerance by spermidine (Spd). To achieve this, we employed exogenous Spd treatment, NO synthesis inhibitors, and NO scavengers. We found that exogenous Spd stimulates NO synthesis in the leaves and roots of tomato seedlings by upregulating the nitrate reductase (NR) activities and the expression of its coding gene SlNR1. Importantly, when NO synthesis is inhibited or NO is scavenged, the regulatory effects of Spd on proline content, antioxidant enzyme system, ionic homeostasis, and the expression of genes involved in Na+/ K +homeostasis in tomato seedlings are compromised under saline-alkaline stress. These observations suggest that NO plays a pivotal role in the defensive mechanisms induced by Spd against saline-alkaline stress in tomato seedlings. Consequently, Spd enhances the tolerance of tomato plants to saline-alkaline stress by regulating the nitrate reductase (NR) signaling pathway and mediating NO synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finer resolution is one of the development trends in ocean surface waves simulation and forecasting. However, high-resolution numerical models for ocean surface waves have led to an enormous increase in computational complexity, posing a challenge with respect to balancing computational efficiency and timeliness. To meet the demand for refined ocean surface waves simulation/forecasting and to address the computational efficiency challenge of high-resolution ocean surface waves models, we propose a downscaling model called the Global location-Specific transformation Downscaling Network (GSDNet) based on the non-autoregressive fusion network (NAFNet). By incorporating global location-specific transformation and introducing a land–sea distribution indicator, GSDNet can quickly and accurately map low-resolution significant wave heights to high-resolution grids. The results show that, compared with traditional interpolation methods such as the bilinear, inverse distance weight interpolation (IDW), and bicubic methods, the GSDNet model can reduce the global mean absolute error (MAE) by >77%. Compared with those of FourCastNet (FCN), the Koopman neural operator (KNO), the original NAFNet, and residual networks in deep learning from empirical downscaling methods (DL4DS_ResNet), the MAE decreases by >21%. Furthermore, the GSDNet model outperforms the other downscaling methods at the coastal boundary and for identifying the maximum significant wave height. In this work, we provide an effective solution for balancing computational efficiency and timeliness, which is important for improving the accuracy and reliability of ocean surface waves simulation/forecasting. • GSDNet demonstrates excellent downscaling ability for global wave heights. • GS is designed to capture fine features in margin regions. • GSDNet has a good generalization to apply in different resolutions via fine-tuning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Presentation of a comprehensive energy efficiency algorithm for photovoltaic curtain walls considering indoor lighting. • A coupled thermal-optical-electrical computational model of translucent photovoltaic curtain wall is constructed. • Performance analysis of photovoltaic buildings with different photovoltaic distributions in different thermal zones. • Combining indoor lighting comfort and comprehensive energy consumption to give suggestions on photovoltaic distribution. The thermal, optical and electrical properties of PV curtain walls are coupled, and the results obtained from a single calculation model are biased. Therefore, the development of a coupled thermal-optical-electrical performance model for crystalline silicon PV curtain walls is essential for their thermal-optical-electrical performance analysis. In this paper, light harvesting calculation models, heat transfer calculation models and power generation calculation models are developed based on the structural characteristics of translucent crystalline silicon photovoltaic curtain walls, and the coupled calculation models are developed using the linkage between some input and output parameters and the parameters of the calculation process. An experimental platform for translucent crystalline silicon photovoltaic curtain walls was built and the performance parameters of light, heat transfer and power generation of photovoltaic curtain walls and ordinary curtain walls were calculated according to the experimental conditions. The coupled model is then used to analyse the thermal, optical and electrical performance of buildings with translucent PV curtain walls with different PV module distribution methods and comprehensive energy consumption under the five thermal zones, and the best solution is given for the PV module distribution methods of translucent PV curtain walls in each of the five thermal zones based on the results of the light and comprehensive energy consumption studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Establish a multi-temperature region thermal vibration coupled optical test system. • Visualization of modal shapes based on full-field 3D-DIC output-only response. • Propose a multi-state non-uniform temperature field FEM updating method for structures. • Full-field non-uniform heat transfer analysis of structures using Q-learning algorithm. • The proposed structure can serve as a structural component in reusable hypersonic vehicles. Thermal effects in hypersonic vehicles, such as severe aerodynamic heating, can greatly influence their thermodynamic behavior. These effects can cause uneven temperature distributions and drastic vibrations, which in turn impact the vibration characteristics of the vehicle structure. To address this issue, a comprehensive approach was developed to study the behavior of honeycomb sandwich structures in high-temperature environments. Firstly, a full-field thermal vibration testing system was established, which allowed for free-boundary multi-temperature region heating at 900 °C while applying unconnected excitation. Through this setup, we were able to obtain modal frequencies and modal shapes of the honeycomb sandwich structures under high-temperature conditions. To accurately simulate the heat transfer distribution of the honeycomb sandwich structure, the Q-learning algorithm was employed, which proved effective in achieving accurate and detailed predictions of the full-field heat transfer distribution. Furthermore, for the purpose of further enhancing the accuracy of the finite element model, a multi-state non-uniform temperature field model updating method was utilized. This updated model accounted for the influence of the multi-temperature region heating, resulting in a more reliable representation of the structure's behavior. Additionally, a variational mode decomposition (VMD) framework was applied to visualize and analyze the modal shapes of the honeycomb sandwich structures. By decomposing the time-domain signals with VMD, it is possible to efficiently obtain the modal shapes of the output-only response signals. Experimental results demonstrated that the identification method used in this study produced modal frequencies and modal shapes that closely matched those obtained using the PolyMAX method at room temperature. Therefore, the proposed approach offers an effective means of identifying the modal characteristics of structures subjected to non-uniform temperature fields, particularly in output-only scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A π -polarized 1084 nm laser based on Nd:MgO:LiNbO 3 crystal under modulation pulsed pumping mode was realized. • The dual-wavelength fundamental laser output range of 1084 nm and 1093 nm was modulated by adjusting the duty cycle of the pump source. • The π -polarized 1084 nm fundamental laser with a maximum average output power of 1.396 W in the whole pump range was obtained. A π -polarized （ π -pol） 1084 nm laser based on Nd:MgO:LiNbO 3 crystal under modulation pulsed pumping mode was demonstrated. The anisotropic Nd:MgO:LiNbO 3 slab crystal was end-pumped by a pulsed laser diode (LD) with a different duty cycle for experiments. The dual-wavelength fundamental laser emission range was effectively controlled within a certain pump peak power interval, and the unmatched polarized fundamental laser is completely suppressed when the duty cycle is 20 % and below. At a repetition frequency of 5 Hz and pulse width of 40 ms, the π -pol 1084 nm fundamental laser with a maximum average output power of 1.396 W in the whole pump range was obtained, and the single pulse energy was 279.2 mJ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By considering the effects of the hygro-thermo-electro-magnetic environments, von Karman nonlinear terms, and multi-harmonic excitations, a coupled nonlinear vibration modeling of composite cylindrical shells comprising a carbon nanotube-reinforced composite (CNTRC) core and two piezoelectric/magnetic composite (PEMC) skins is developed, and the nonlinear dynamic behaviors of such cylindrical shells under primary, super/sub-harmonic, and combined resonance states are investigated. In the theoretical modeling process, the effective mechanical properties of the CNTRC core are first determined using the mixing and Schapery laws, and the hygro-thermo-electro-magneto-mechanical constitutive relations of the PEMC skins are then formulated. Within the framework of Reissner-Mindlin shell theory, the Lagrangian of the system containing Green-Lagrange and von Karman nonlinear terms is derived, and solution techniques based on the multiscale method are provided to obtain nonlinear frequencies, dynamic responses, and phases of CNTRC-PEMC cylindrical shells under multi-physics fields. Consequently, comparison studies are conducted to validate the correctness of the proposed model from different aspects. Based on this, various resonance and chaos behaviors of such structures subjected to multiple load components are revealed and compared, and the influences of environmental factors and structure composition on the amplitude-frequency curves, time-history responses, and phase planes are explored, with several recommendations and findings being drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The structural properties of methyl acetate–methanol–IL mixtures are studied. • Distinct interaction complexes between methyl acetate–methanol/IL were identified. • The introduction of the IL led to species transformation in the mixtures. • The molecular mechanism responsible for the azeotropy breaking by IL was unveiled. The ionic liquid (IL) has demonstrated promising potential as an entrainer in efficiently separating the methyl acetate−methanol azeotropic mixture using extractive distillation. However, comprehending the fundamental mechanism responsible for azeotropism vanished by an IL entrainer is crucial for its large-scale applications. This study aims to explore the microstructure characteristics of the 1-ethyl-3-metfighylimidazolium thiocyanate ([EMIM][SCN])–methyl acetate−methanol systems using FTIR and DFT calculations. The focus is on understanding the fundamental reasons behind azeotrope breaking facilitated by the IL entrainer. Initially, the v (aromatic C–H) region of the imidazolium cation was analyzed to evaluate the interaction strength between the entrainer and methyl acetate/methanol. The results indicated stronger interactions between [EMIM][SCN] and methanol. As a consequence of this variation in interaction strength, the relative vapor pressure of the two constituents was impacted, ultimately resulting in the disturbance of the azeotrope. Subsequently, the v (C=O) region of methyl acetate was utilized to detect interaction complexes in various systems, assisted by excess spectra. Various interaction species, including methyl acetate–methanol/2methanol and methyl acetate–ion cluster/ion pair/cation were found. Notably, when the mole fraction of IL exceeded 0.087, the IL effectively disrupted the interaction complex between methyl acetate and methanol, thereby eliminating azeotropy in the methyl acetate–methanol system. [Display omitted] The methyl acetate−methanol interaction complex broken apart by the ionic liquid−methyl acetate interaction complexes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The structural properties of methyl acetate–methanol–IL mixtures are studied. • Distinct interaction complexes between methyl acetate–methanol/IL were identified. • The introduction of the IL led to species transformation in the mixtures. • The molecular mechanism responsible for the azeotropy breaking by IL was unveiled. The ionic liquid (IL) has demonstrated promising potential as an entrainer in efficiently separating the methyl acetate−methanol azeotropic mixture using extractive distillation. However, comprehending the fundamental mechanism responsible for azeotropism vanished by an IL entrainer is crucial for its large-scale applications. This study aims to explore the microstructure characteristics of the 1-ethyl-3-metfighylimidazolium thiocyanate ([EMIM][SCN])–methyl acetate−methanol systems using FTIR and DFT calculations. The focus is on understanding the fundamental reasons behind azeotrope breaking facilitated by the IL entrainer. Initially, the v (aromatic C–H) region of the imidazolium cation was analyzed to evaluate the interaction strength between the entrainer and methyl acetate/methanol. The results indicated stronger interactions between [EMIM][SCN] and methanol. As a consequence of this variation in interaction strength, the relative vapor pressure of the two constituents was impacted, ultimately resulting in the disturbance of the azeotrope. Subsequently, the v (C=O) region of methyl acetate was utilized to detect interaction complexes in various systems, assisted by excess spectra. Various interaction species, including methyl acetate–methanol/2methanol and methyl acetate–ion cluster/ion pair/cation were found. Notably, when the mole fraction of IL exceeded 0.087, the IL effectively disrupted the interaction complex between methyl acetate and methanol, thereby eliminating azeotropy in the methyl acetate–methanol system. [Display omitted] The methyl acetate−methanol interaction complex broken apart by the ionic liquid−methyl acetate interaction complexes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, impedance spectroscopy with direct current (DC) bias was used to analyze the electric property and oxygen vacancies of flash–sintered 3 mol% Y 2 O 3 doped tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline (3Y–TZP) ceramics at anode, middle, cathode and no field vicinity, respectively. The electric property was obtained using modified–Debye circuit model and the oxygen vacancies concentration was calculated using double Schottky barrier model. Interestingly, a phenomenon of position–sensitive electric property and oxygen vacancies concentration was observed. It means after flashing the tested samples become ununiform electrically at anode, middle and cathode vicinity. The neutral oxygen vacancies generated at cathode vicinity are responsible for this unique phenomenon fundamentally. The finding here is useful to explore the mechanism of flash sintering and tune the electric property of ZrO 2 ceramics electrolyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma after chemoradiotherapy is common. • Submucosal recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a rare type. • Sampling tissues from submucosal lesions is usually difficult in clinical work. • Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsy is effective for submucosal recurrent neoplasms. Recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after chemoradiotherapy is common, but submucosal recurrence of NPC is rare. The final pathological results determine the optimal therapeutic schedule for treatment of NPC recurrence, but tissue retrieval from submucosal lesions is usually difficult. The present study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of a novel approach of endonasopharyngeal ultrasound-guided transnasopharyngeal needle aspiration (ENUS-TNNA) for submucosal neoplasms in patients with suspected NPC recurrence. Between March 2017 and June 2021, 11 post-chemoradiotherapy patients with suspected magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of submucosal recurrence of NPC underwent ENUS-TNNA. The safety and effectiveness of using ENUS-TNNA to sample submucosal neoplasms were evaluated. Needle aspiration biopsies were performed without any incidences in all cases. Out of the 11 patients, nine were diagnosed with submucosal recurrence of NPC via histopathological or cytological evaluations. Of the two puncture-negative cases, one patient had atypical imaging findings and clinical manifestations and was therefore followed-up using MRI. After follow-up for 3 years, this patient was still considered to be cancer-free due to the shrinking diameters of the submucosal lesions. For the other puncture-negative patient, submucosal biopsy samples were obtained using a surgical method. Pathological examination of these biopsies revealed that an angiosarcoma had developed after radiotherapy. There were no severe complications that occurred during the ENUS-TNNA procedure. ENUS-TNNA is a safe, effective, and minimally invasive approach to obtain tissue samples from the submucosal region of the nasopharynx for patients with suspected NPC recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel device achieving simultaneous energy harvesting and vibration isolation is proposed. • Quasi-zero-stiffness feature is exploited to lower the beginning frequency of vibration isolation region. • Energy harvesting performance can be enhanced with almost no sacrifice of vibration isolation performance. • Energy harvesting region can be tuned flexibly within a wide vibration isolation region. Most of the existing energy harvesters are based on vibration amplification, which inevitably causes large disturbing force transmitted to the base. In this paper, a novel energy harvesting device is proposed based on vibration localization, through which the force transmitted to the base can be significantly reduced, thereby achieving simultaneous energy harvesting and vibration isolation. The proposed device is composed of a quasi-zero-stiffness (QZS) support which can greatly lower the beginning frequency of vibration isolation region, and several radially distributed piezoelectric cantilever beams by which the vibrational energy is localized and harvested. The electromechanical coupled equations are formulated starting from the most elementary mechanical and electrical knowledge. The harmonic balance method is employed to analyze the dynamic response and output voltage, accompanied by the verification through numerical simulations. The non-dimensional output power and the force transmissibility are comprehensively studied with tuning key parameters to investigate the crucial characteristics of the proposed system. The results indicate that the energy harvesting region does lie in the vibration isolation region and the former can be flexibly tuned within the latter by altering the mechanical parameters of the piezoelectric cantilever beam; the peak power and energy harvesting bandwidth can also be tuned by altering the electrical parameters; most importantly, the enhancement of the energy harvesting performance can be achieved with almost no sacrifice of the vibration isolation performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major challenge to the treatment of advanced prostate cancer (PCa) is the development of resistance to androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) and chemotherapy. It is imperative to discover effective therapies to overcome drug resistance and improve clinical outcomes. We have developed a novel class of silicon-containing compounds and evaluated the anticancer activities and mechanism of action using cellular and animal models of drug-resistant PCa. Five organosilicon compounds were evaluated for their anticancer activities in the NCI-60 panel and established drug-resistant PCa cell lines. GH1504 exhibited potent in vitro cytotoxicity in a broad spectrum of human cancer cells, including PCa cells refractory to ADT and chemotherapy. Molecular studies identified several potential targets of GH1504, most notably androgen receptor (AR), AR variant 7 (AR-v7) and survivin. Mechanistically, GH1504 may promote the protein turnover of AR, AR-v7 and survivin, thereby inducing apoptosis in ADT-resistant and chemoresistant PCa cells. Animal studies demonstrated that GH1504 effectively inhibited the in vivo growth of ADT-resistant CWR22Rv1 and chemoresistant C4-2B-TaxR xenografts in subcutaneous and intraosseous models. These preclinical results indicated that GH1504 is a promising lead that can be further developed as a novel therapy for drug-resistant PCa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An in-plane quasi-zero-stiffness vibration isolator is proposed to isolate the vibration in horizontal arbitrary direction. • Theoretical analysis indicates superior isolation performance in both the two horizontal orthogonal directions. • Experiments with different excitation directions are conducted to demonstrate the superior isolation performance. Quasi-zero-stiffness (QZS) vibration isolators can achieve much wider isolation region than equivalent linear isolators. However, most of the existing QZS isolators are designed for a specified direction especially the vertical direction. To broaden the application scope of QZS isolators, this paper presents an in-plane QZS isolator to isolate the vibration occurring in arbitrary direction in the horizontal plane. The proposed isolator is composed of two magnetic rings that are radially magnetized and eight cables that are pre-tensioned. The magnetic interaction offers negative stiffness and the combination of cables offers positive stiffness, which therefore allows the realization of QZS characteristic by proper parameter selection. The vibration in horizontal arbitrary direction can be decomposed into two vibrations in two specified orthogonal directions. Theoretical analysis shows that the proposed isolator possesses superior vibration isolation performance in both the two directions, in terms of bandwidth of isolation region, peak transmissibility and high frequency transmissibility. The superior isolation performance is also demonstrated by experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Click chemistry has emerged as a valuable tool for rapid compound synthesis, presenting notable advantages and convenience in the exploration of potential drug candidates. In particular, in situ click chemistry capitalizes on enzymes as reaction templates, leveraging their favorable conformation to selectively link individual building blocks and generate novel hits. This review comprehensively outlines and introduces the extensive use of click chemistry in compound library construction, and hit and lead discovery, supported by specific research examples. Additionally, it discusses the limitations and precautions associated with the application of click chemistry in drug discovery. Our intention for this review is to contribute to the development of a modular synthetic approach for the rapid identification of drug candidates. [Display omitted] • Click chemistry is a valuable strategy to accelerate drug discovery. • The application of click chemistry in compound library construction was reviewed. • The extensive use of click chemistry in hit and lead discovery was summarized. • The limitations and precautions of click chemistry were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Eu3+ activators are incorporated into sodium borophosphate Na 3 B 6 PO 13 via replacing Na+ ions. • The Na 3 B 6 PO 13 :Eu3+ phosphor displays low thermal quenching behavior and good color shift resistance. • The assembled w-LEDs produces white light with r a = 82 and CCT = 4250 K. In this work, trivalent europium (Eu3+) activators were incorporated into sodium borophosphate Na 3 B 6 PO 13 via replacing Na+ ions. The large band gap is verified via the experimental diffuse reflectance data and theoretical calculations. The concentration quenching with the optimal 13 % Eu3+activators is caused by quadrupole–quadrupole interaction. A vibrant red-emitting behavior is illustrated when excited at 394 nm. For Na 3 B 6 PO 13 :13 %Eu3+, the low thermal quenching behavior (86 %@423 K) and good chromaticity stability (0.0073@473 K) is revealed. Finally, we utilize the red-emitting material to construct a white light-emitting diodes, producing the low correlated color temperature (4250 K) and satisfactory color rendering index (82). The title material exhibits promise for illumination application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The differences in interaction strength between [BMIM]+ and [TfO]−/[TFSI]− are described in detail. • Theinteractions and aggregation behavior between [TfO]−/[TFSI]− and [BMIM]+ as x (BMIMTFSI) increases are described. • Several complexes were assigned using excess spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. The study of ionic liquid mixtures has garnered growing attention due to its importance. However, our current understanding of molecular interactions in ionic liquid mixtures remains incomplete, necessitating further research to expand the foundational knowledge in this field. In this work, a comprehensive approach incorporating theoretical calculations and diverse experimental techniques was utilized to research the structures, dynamics, and interactions of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethansulfonate (BMIMTfO) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide (BMIMTFSI) mixtures. The obtained conclusions are as follows: (1) The primary interaction sites for [BMIM]+, [TfO]− and [TFSI]− were identified as the C2 H, O atoms of SO 3 and O atoms of S O, respectively. (2) With the addition of BMIMTFSI, the hydrogen bonding interactions associated with imidazolium C H are weakened, while those associated with alkyl C H and S O are strengthened. Additionally, there is an increased propensity for aggregation between the two anions ([TfO]−, [TFSI]−) and [BMIM]+. (3) The interactions between [BMIM]+ and [TfO]− are stronger compared to those between [BMIM]+ and [TFSI]−, and the self-diffusion coefficient followed the order of [BMIM]+ > [TFSI]− > [TfO]−. (4) The 2[BMIM]+[TfO]−, 2[BMIM]+[TFSI]−-[TfO]−, 2[BMIM]+[TFSI]− and 2[BMIM]+[TfO]−-[TFSI]− complexes were assigned using excess spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The NaOH pretreatment strategy into different hydrolysates were assessed. • Around 230 g/L of mixed sugars was obtained via novel NaOH-ball milling treatment. • Maximum ethanol (111 g/L) output was firstly achieved from corn stover hydrolysate. • The excellent ethanol producer of strain ΔsnR4 outstand other modified WXY70 strains. Developing a reliable lignocellulose pretreatment method to extract mixed sugars and engineering efficient strains capable of utilizing xylose are crucial for advancing cellulosic ethanol production. In this study, chemical and characterization analyses revealed that alkali cooking can significantly remove lignin from lignocellulose crops. The highest amount of mixed sugar was obtained from corn stover hydrolysates with a 15 % solid loading. Our genetically engineered yeast strain ΔsnR4 , derived from a well-staged WXY70, demonstrated excellent performance in low 10 % solids loading corn stover hydrolysate, producing a high ethanol yield of 0.485 g/g total sugars. When a combined NaOH-ball milling pretreatment strategy was applied at high solids loading, ΔsnR4 exhibited the maximum ethanol titer of 110.9 g/L within 36 h, achieving an ethanol yield of 92.9 % theoretical maximum. Therefore, ΔsnR4 is highly compatible with high solid loading NaOH-ball milling pretreatment, making it a potential candidate for industrial cellulosic ethanol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface treatment waste (HW17) contains a large amount of toxic and corrosive components, which may be harmful to the public health if improper disposal. To understand its metabolism is a prerequisite for the management optimization. In this study, the metabolic network for HW17 in Chengdu city (Sichuan Province, Southwestern China) is constructed by fusion of administrative data and web textual data to identify the associated issues through an investigation of the waste flow and direction. On such basis, a dual-objective mixed-integer linear programming model, with three scenarios (cost minimization, risk minimization, both the cost and risk minimization), is established to optimize the metabolic network for enhancing the management efficiency. The results show that the total HW17 in 2019 is 32,846.14 tons in Chengdu city. Of this, 0.4% of HW17 does not have downstream metabolic paths, and only 23.51% of it is completely disposed. About 78.08% of the generated HW17 is transported outside the metropolitan area of Chengdu city for disposal, highlighted by an open-loop feature. After optimization, the network cost reduces by 3.91% among the three scenarios, and risk decreases by 87.85%. In view of these results, this study further discusses the capacities of the recycling centers and disposal centers, as well as the limitations and uncertainty. Managerial implications are proposed, to lay a foundation for the improvement of waste management sustainability. [Display omitted] • Surface treatment waste is an environmental hazard with expensive recycling. • A metabolic network was constructed for surface treatment waste flow in Chengdu. • Dual-objective mixed-integer linear programming model for cost/risk minimization. • Delicate balance among cost/risk, spatial agglomeration & infrastructure capacity. • Potential to improve efficiency and sustainability of waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is the most critical challenge to achieve sustainability, disrupting national economies and human lives, especially in vulnerable countries. However, there has been limited research assessing the "climate resilience of sustainability" — the capacity of national sustainability to withstand and recover from the impacts of climate change — over time and space. To bridge this gap, we quantify the climate resilient performance of sustainability (including social, economic, and environmental sub-resilient performance and comprehensive performance) in 37 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. We employed a coupling coordination degree model and panel regression to analyze the synergy between sub-dimensional resilience and explore the association between climate resilience of sustainability and other variables, respectively. Our findings indicate that while current development in most SSA countries lacks resilience, the score gap of climate resilience of sustainability between these countries is narrowing. On average, coastal countries exhibit lower performance in terms of the resilience of sustainability to climate change compared to inland countries. Moreover, the climate resilient performance among the three dimensions for all income groups reached an intermediate-coordinated state in 2018. However, most SSA countries exhibited an asymmetric level of sustainability and its climate resilience. Furthermore, we identified significant correlations between variables such as governance, gross domestic product, population, and precipitation with the climate resilience of sustainability. The insights from this study emphasize the need to prioritize climate resilience of sustainability and provide a reference for researchers and policymakers worldwide, to shape a long-term, prosperous, and resilient future under climate change. [Display omitted] • First evaluating climate resilience of sustainability across sub-Saharan African countries. • Coastal countries performed poorer than did the inland countries. • Climate resilience increased in social and economic dimensions while decreased in environmental dimension. • Population-, economy-, and governance-related variables correlated with climate resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]