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Zhibai Dihuang pill (ZD), a traditional Chinese medicine nourishes Yin and reduces internal heat, is believed to have therapeutic effects on urinary tract infections (UTIs). To explore the effects and mechanism of modified ZD (MZD) on UTI induced by extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBLs) Escherichia coli. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, model (0.5 mL 1.5 × 108 CFU/mL ESBLs E. coli), MZD (20 g/kg MZD), LVFX (0.025 g/kg LVFX), and MZD + LVFX groups (20 g/kg MZD + 0.025 g/kg LVFX), n = 6. After 14 days of treatment, serum biochemical indicators, renal function indicators, bladder and renal histopathology, and urine bacterial counts in rats were determined. Additionally, the effects of MZD on ESBLs E. coli biofilm formation and related gene expression were analyzed. MZD significantly decreased the count of white blood cells (from 13.12 to 9.13), the proportion of neutrophils (from 43.53 to 23.18), C-reactive protein (from 13.21 to 9.71), serum creatinine (from 35.78 to 30.15), and urea nitrogen (from 12.56 to 10.15), relieved the inflammation and fibrosis of bladder and kidney tissues, and reduced the number of bacteria in urine (from 2174 to 559). In addition, MZD inhibited the formation of ESBLs E. coli biofilms (2.04-fold) and decreased the gene expressions of luxS, pfS and ompA (1.41–1.62-fold). MZD treated ESBLs E. coli-induced UTI inhibited biofilm formation, providing a theoretical basis for the clinical application of MZD. Further study on the clinical effect of MZD may provide a novel therapy option for UTI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research presents a comprehensive study of the dichotomous search iterative parabolic discrete time Fourier transform (Ds-IpDTFT) estimator, a novel approach for fine frequency estimation in noisy exponential signals. The proposed estimator leverages a dichotomous search process before iterative interpolation estimation, which significantly reduces computational complexity while maintaining high estimation accuracy. An in-depth exploration of the relationship between the optimal parameter p and the unknown parameter δ forms the backbone of the methodology. Through extensive simulations and real-world experiments, the Ds-IpDTFT estimator exhibits superior performance relative to other established estimators, demonstrating robustness in noisy conditions and stability across varying frequencies. This efficient and accurate estimation method is a significant contribution to the field of signal processing and offers promising potential for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an optimal planning strategy is proposed for EV charging stations by considering travel demand based on non‐cooperative game theory. In the proposed methodology, a realistic and stochastic charging demand distribution was obtained with the travel chain of an EV and the associated probability density function. Based on the charging demand of EV owners and a multi‐operator scenario, a two‐stage effective and practical charging station planning model was established. The first stage of the planning model optimized the location of charging stations to decrease the total deadhead mileage of the EVs with the cooperation of the charging station operators. In the second stage, the operators were committed to increasing their economic benefits by developing a charging station capacity strategy in the framework of the non‐cooperative game. Furthermore, the combination of an adaptive mutation particle swarm optimization algorithm (AMPSO) and approximate Nash equilibrium had a better effect in reducing the difficulty of solving the game model and obtaining an optimal planning strategy. Finally, the results of the case study demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed methodology for improving the charging experience of the EV owners and achieving a balance of benefits among multiple charging station operators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antioxidant activity of protein-derived peptides was one of the first to be revealed among the more than 50 known peptide bioactivities to date. The exploitation value associated with food-derived antioxidant peptides is mainly attributed to their natural properties and effectiveness as food preservatives and in disease prevention, management, and treatment. An increasing number of antioxidant active peptides have been identified from a variety of renewable sources, including terrestrial and aquatic organisms and their processing by-products. This has important implications for alleviating population pressure, avoiding environmental problems, and promoting a sustainable shift in consumption. To identify such opportunities, we conducted a systematic literature review of recent research advances in food-derived antioxidant peptides, with particular reference to their biological effects, mechanisms, digestive stability, and bioaccessibility. In this review, 515 potentially relevant papers were identified from a preliminary search of the academic databases PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. After removing non-thematic articles, articles without full text, and other quality-related factors, 52 review articles and 122 full research papers remained for analysis and reference. The findings highlighted chemical and biological evidence for a wide range of edible species as a source of precursor proteins for antioxidant-active peptides. Food-derived antioxidant peptides reduce the production of reactive oxygen species, besides activating endogenous antioxidant defense systems in cellular and animal models. The intestinal absorption and metabolism of such peptides were elucidated by using cellular models. Protein hydrolysates (peptides) are promising ingredients with enhanced nutritional, functional, and organoleptic properties of foods, not only as a natural alternative to synthetic antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Progress in science and technology drives the continuous innovation of energy collection and utilization. In the field of sports, the information collection and analysis based on Internet of things have attracted particular attention. Moreover, triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has promising applications in the field of sports. Here, we introduce the working principle of the TENG then the progress of the TENG as a wearable energy sensor is examined in the two fields of basic human activities and sports, especially competitive sports. On this basis, it is considered that the stability of devices, the universality of materials, and the scientificity of application of the TENG in the future need to be improved. We provide a direction for further upgrading energy collection technology to promote the high-quality development of human mechanical energy sensing in the field of sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lesion mimic mutants resembling the hypersensitive response without pathogen attack are an ideal material to understand programmed cell death, the defence response, and the cross‐talk between defence response and development in plants. In this study, mic, a lesion mimic mutant from cultivar Yunyin treated with ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS), was screened. By map‐based cloning, a short‐chain alcohol dehydrogenase/reductase with an atypical active site HxxxK was isolated and designated as SDR7‐6. It functions as a homomultimer in rice and is localized at the endoplasmic reticulum. The lesion mimic phenotype of the mutant is light‐dependent. The mutant displayed an increased resistance response to bacterial blight, but reduced resistance to rice blast disease. The mutant and knockout lines showed increased reactive oxygen species, jasmonic acid content, antioxidant enzyme activity, and expression of pathogenicity‐related genes, while chlorophyll content was significantly reduced. The knockout lines showed significant reduction in grain size, seed setting rate, 1000‐grain weight, grain weight per plant, panicle length, and plant height. SDR7‐6 is a new lesion mimic gene that encodes a short‐chain alcohol dehydrogenase with atypical catalytic site. Disruption of SDR7‐6 led to cell death and had adverse effects on multiple agricultural characters. SDR7‐6 may act at the interface of the two defence pathways of bacterial blight and rice blast disease in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dysregulation of the immune system is a cardinal feature of opioid addiction. Here, we characterize the landscape of peripheral immune cells from patients with opioid use disorder and from healthy controls. Opioid-associated blood exhibited an abnormal distribution of immune cells characterized by a significant expansion of fragile-like regulatory T cells (Tregs), which was positively correlated with the withdrawal score. Analogously, opioid-treated mice also showed enhanced Treg-derived interferon-γ (IFN-γ) expression. IFN-γ signaling reshaped synaptic morphology in nucleus accumbens (NAc) neurons, modulating subsequent withdrawal symptoms. We demonstrate that opioids increase the expression of neuron-derived C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (Ccl2) and disrupted blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity through the downregulation of astrocyte-derived fatty-acid-binding protein 7 (Fabp7), which both triggered peripheral Treg infiltration into NAc. Our study demonstrates that opioids drive the expansion of fragile-like Tregs and favor peripheral Treg diapedesis across the BBB, which leads to IFN-γ-mediated synaptic instability and subsequent withdrawal symptoms. [Display omitted] • An expansion of fragile-like Tregs is identified in heroin-associated blood • Opioid-induced global hypoxia triggers Treg fragility • Fabp7 protects BBB integrity from opioid-induced hyperpermeability • IFN-γ regulates opioid-induced NAc synaptic remodeling and withdrawal signs Opioids drive the peripheral expansion of fragile-like regulatory T cells that cross the blood-brain barrier and, through IFN-γ, mediate synaptic instability and subsequent withdrawal symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent stretchable wearable hybrid nano-generators present great opportunities in motion sensing, motion monitoring, and human-computer interaction. Herein, we report a piezoelectric-triboelectric sport sensor (PTSS) which is composed of TENG, PENG, and a flexible transparent stretchable self-healing hydrogel electrode. The piezoelectric effect and the triboelectric effect are coupled by a contact separation mode. According to this effect, the PTSS shows a wide monitoring range. It can be used to monitor human multi-dimensional motions such as bend, twist, and rotate motions, including the screw pull motion of table tennis and the 301C skill of diving. In addition, the flexible transparent stretchable self-healing hydrogel is used as the electrode, which can meet most of the motion and sensing requirements and presents the characteristics of high flexibility, high transparency, high stretchability, and self-healing behavior. The whole sensing system can transmit signals through Bluetooth devices. The flexible, transparent, and stretchable wearable hybrid nanogenerator can be used as a wearable motion monitoring sensor, which provides a new strategy for the sports field, motion monitoring, and human-computer interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A self-powered portable triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is used to collect biomechanical energy and monitor the human motion, which is the new development trend in portable devices. We have developed a self-powered portable triboelectric nanogenerator, which is used in human motion energy collection and monitoring mobile gait and stability capability. The materials involved are common PTFE and aluminum foil, acting as a frictional layer, which can output electrical signals based on the triboelectric effect. Moreover, 3D printing technology is used to build the optimized structure of the nanogenerator, which has significantly improved its performance. TENG is conveniently integrated with commercial sport shoes, monitoring the gait and stability of multiple human motions, being strategically placed at the immediate point of motion during the respective process. The presented equipment uses a low-frequency stabilized voltage output system to provide power for the wearable miniature electronic device, while stabilizing the voltage output, in order to effectively prevent voltage overload. The interdisciplinary research has provided more application prospects for nanogenerators regarding self-powered module device integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whiskers have been extensively used in ceramics as excellent reinforcing phases during the past decades. Despite in-depth investigation of whisker-reinforced ceramics (WRC), however, the time-consuming, environmentally unfriendly, content design blindness of experimental method as well as pathogenicity of whiskers force people to explore quick and green research approaches. Therefore, this work aims at developing a modeling approach of WRC and predicting the mechanical properties of WRC, thereby compensating for the disadvantages of traditional experimental method. Initially, a modeling approach of WRC based on Voronoi tessellation was presented. Then, taking β-Si 3 N 4w and Si 3 N 4 as research objects, the prediction models of mechanical properties of 0–6 wt% β-Si 3 N 4w -reinforced Si 3 N 4 ceramics (SWRSC) were established. Finally, the effect of β-Si 3 N 4w content on mechanical properties of Si 3 N 4 -based ceramics was discussed, and the enhancement mechanism of β-Si 3 N 4w was revealed. Results indicated that the flexural strength of SWRSC was significantly advanced with increasing β-Si 3 N 4w content. Crack deflection and intergranular fracture induced by β-Si 3 N 4w as well as load-bearing effect of β-Si 3 N 4w were the mainly responsible for the reinforcement of Si 3 N 4 -based ceramics. The enhancement mechanisms, previously observed experimentally, were effectively simulated. The fracture toughness reached a maximum of 6.17 MPa m1/2 when β-Si 3 N 4w amount was 1 wt%, which was approximately 36.50% higher than monolithic Si 3 N 4 ceramic. The predicted value of β-Si 3 N 4w optimal content was consistent with relevant experimental conclusions. When β-Si 3 N 4w content was 3 wt%, the hardness of Si 3 N 4 -based ceramics reached the maximum value of 23.21 GPa. The effectiveness of prediction results and the presented modeling method were confirmed by comparing with related test values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trial-and-error method used in ceramics research has certain limitations such as the high blindness of material component design. Moreover, calculations of the toughness of ceramics using the extended finite element method, which is the most broadly applied technique, are complicated. To overcome these issues, in this study, multilayer graphene (MLG)/Si 3 N 4 whisker (Si 3 N 4w)-reinforced Si 3 N 4 ceramics (MWSCs) were used as the model material, and the modeling of MWSCs was conducted using Voronoi tessellation. Additionally, a more concise novel approach was applied for the prediction of the fracture toughness of MWSCs. Furthermore, the optimal MLG and Si 3 N 4w contents were predicted, and then they were verified by fabricating MWSCs using spark plasma sintering (SPS). Simulation results indicated that the optimum MLG and Si 3 N 4w contents to enable the toughness and hardness to reach the maximum values (9.87 MPa·m1/2 and 23.19 GPa) were 1 wt% and 3 wt%, which were consistent with the experimental results. Consequently, the effectiveness of the proposed method was verified. Moreover, the experimental values of the maximum fracture toughness and hardness were 11.04 MPa·m1/2 and 20.29 GPa, which were 47.20% and 12.10% higher than those of Si 3 N 4 ceramics reinforced with 1 wt% MLG, respectively. The synergistic toughening effects of MLG and Si 3 N 4w were significantly reflected. The load-bearing effect, bridging, and crack deflection induced by MLG and Si 3 N 4w were the key reasons for the improvement in the mechanical properties of MWSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imbalance is a typical characteristic of data in the field of intelligent fault diagnosis. As a data augmentation method that both balances data and extends information, the generative adversarial network has aroused widespread concern in the data imbalance problem. However, it still suffers from high difficulty in model training and poor quality of generated samples. To address this issue, this paper proposes a progressive generative adversarial network, which is a strategy able to gradually generate complex signals from low-frequency signals to wide-frequency signals. In the developed network, on the one hand, decomposing signals into different frequency bands explicitly reduces the difficulty of directly generating high-dimensional and wide-frequency signals. On the other hand, different generative models can focus on different frequency bands, avoiding the interference of high-energy signals on the fault feature frequencies. In order to achieve good generative performance, the generators and training method for the progressive generative adversarial network are elaborately designed. The correlation shortcut avoids information suppression due to the poor selection of noise amplitudes, and the focusing shortcut forces the body of the generator to focus on key feature bands. Ultimately, the superiority of the progressive generative network is verified by evaluating the quality of the generated samples on three datasets and applying the generated samples to solve the data imbalance problem. • A progressive generation framework is proposed to improve the quality of the generated signal. • The proposed generator retains the correlation between low and high frequencies. • The proposed generator can focus on specific frequency bands. • Model at each level is trained independently to avoid the accumulation of errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyploid is considered an advantage that has evolved to be more environmentally adaptable than its diploid. To understand if doubled chromosome of diploid rice can improve drought tolerance, we evaluated the diploid (2X) and autotetraploid (4X) plants of three indica and three japonica varieties. Drought stress in the plastic bucket of four-leaf stage revealed that the drought tolerance of 4X plants was lower than that of its diploid donor plants. The assay of photosynthetic rate of all varieties showed that all 4X varieties had lower rates than their diploid donors. The capacity for reactive oxygen species production and scavenging varied among different 2X and 4X varieties. Further, transcriptomic analysis of 2X and 4X plants of four varieties under normal and drought condition showed that the wide variation of gene expression was caused by difference of varieties, not by chromosome ploidy. However, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed that the severe interference of photosynthesis-related genes in tetraploid plants under drought stress is the primary reason for the decrease of drought tolerance in autotetraploid lines. Consistently, new transcripts analysis in autotetraploid revealed that the gene transcription related with mitochondrion and plastid of cell component was influenced most significantly. The results indicated that chromosome doubling of diploid rice weakened their drought tolerance, primarily due to disorder of photosynthesis-related genes in tetraploid plants under drought stress. Maintain tetraploid drought tolerance through chromosome doubling breeding in rice needs to start with the selection of parental varieties and more efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Although thousands of genes have been identified or cloned in rice (Oryza sativa) in the last two decades, the majority of them have only been separately characterized in specific varieties or single‐gene modified backgrounds, thus limiting their practical application. We developed an optimized multiplex genome editing (MGE) toolbox that can efficiently assemble and stably express up to twelve sgRNA targets in a single plant expression vector. In this study, we established the MGE‐based Rapid Directional Improvement (MRDI) strategy for directional improvement of complex agronomic traits in one small‐scale rice transformation. This approach provides a rapid and practical procedure, encompassing sgRNA assembly, transgene‐free screening and the creation of promising germplasm, by combining the precision of gene editing with phenotype‐based field breeding. The MRDI strategy was used to generate the full diversity of twelve main agronomic genes in rice cultivar FXZ for the directional improvement of its growth duration and plant architecture. After applying the MRDI to FXZ, ideal plants with the desired traits of early heading date reduced plant height, and more effective panicles were generated without compromising yield, blast resistance and grain quality. Furthermore, the results of whole‐genome sequencing (WGS), including the analysis of structural variations (SVs) and single nucleotide variations (SNVs) in the MGE plants, confirmed the high specificity and low frequency of unwanted mutations associated with this strategy. The MRDI breeding strategy would be a robust approach for exploring and applying crucial agronomic genes, as well as for generating novel elite germplasm in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring ceramic-based self-lubricating materials with low coefficient of friction (COF) has become one of the hot directions to advance the service performance and life of high-end equipment. In this work, the tribological properties of multilayer graphene (MLG)/β-Si 3 N 4 whisker (β-Si 3 N 4w)/Si 3 N 4 ceramics were investigated. The effects of load and linear speed on the dry sliding COF were discussed. The friction-reducing and self-lubricating mechanisms of MLG and β-Si 3 N 4w were deeply analyzed according to the wear morphology and mechanical properties of Si 3 N 4 -based ceramics. The friction frequency was proposed to analyze the wear mechanism. Results indicated that MLG and β-Si 3 N 4w led to a breakthrough reduction in COF. At the load of 5–20 N, the COF reached an ultra-low level of 0.04–0.07, which was a further 89.86% lower than the reported studies. The comprehensive enhancement of mechanical properties and the existence of MLG lubricating film were the mainly responsible for the ultra-low COF. The COF of MLG/β-Si 3 N 4w /Si 3 N 4 ceramics raised to 0.24–0.31 at 50–200 mm/s, but it was still 33.88–47.64% lower than that of graphene/Si 3 N 4 ceramics. The increase in COF was attributed to the high wear induced by the raised friction frequency. The furrow wear and adhesive wear were the main wear forms of MLG/β-Si 3 N 4w /Si 3 N 4 ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of intelligent fault diagnosis models is often hindered by the lack of available samples, a common issue in both the few-shot learning and imbalanced learning problems. While data generation has been shown to be an effective strategy for addressing this issue, existing methods tend to focus solely on the similarity of the generated samples, overlooking their diversity. In this regard, a self-reasoning training strategy that enables the participation of highly reliable generated samples in the training process is proposed. By augmenting the training samples, the strategy provides the generation model with diverse input information, effectively enhancing the diversity of the samples generated by the model. To assess the reliability of the generated samples, Pearson correlation coefficient between the generated and real samples in the amplitude–frequency domain is utilized. To this end, an amplitude–frequency domain generation model is constructed. In order to avoid issues such as gradient disappearance and convergence degradation during the generation process in the amplitude–frequency domain, a phase-frequency domain generation model as well as a time domain discriminator model are developed. While the phase-frequency domain generation model enhances the diversity of the generated samples in that domain, the time domain discriminator model ensures sample similarity by correlating the amplitude–frequency domain generation model with the phase-frequency domain generation model. Through experiments, it is demonstrated that the proposed method can effectively address the overfitting problem of generative adversarial networks with few samples, improving the diversity of the generated samples. Moreover, the improvement in fault diagnosis performance achieved by the samples generated by the proposed method further underscores its potential and superiority in practical applications. • A self-reasoning training strategy is proposed. • A generation model driven by multi-domain information is developed. • The quality (similarity and diversity) of the generated samples is enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in plant stress responses. However, the mechanisms underlying NO-induced stress resistance to cadmium (Cd) stress in rice remain elusive. In this study, rat neuron NO synthase (nNOS)-overexpressing rice plants with higher endogenous NO level showed higher cadmium stress tolerance than the wild-type plants. The results showed that nNOS-overexpressing rice plants accumulated less cadmium in the roots and shoots by downregulating the expression of Cd uptake and transport related genes including OsCAL1, OsIRT2, OsNramp5, and OsCd1. Moreover, nNOS-overexpressing rice plants accumulated less hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), accompanying with higher expression of antioxidant enzyme genes (OsCATA, OsCATB, and OsPOX1) and corresponding higher enzyme activities under cadmium stress. Furthermore, the transcription of melatonin biosynthetic genes, including OsASMT1, OsTDC1, OsTDC3, and OsSNAT2, was also upregulated in nNOS-overexpressing plants, resulting in increased content of melatonin under cadmium treatment compared with the wild-type controls. Taken together, this study indicates that nNOS overexpression improves Cd tolerance of rice seedlings through decreasing cadmium accumulation and enhancing the antioxidant capacity and melatonin biosynthesis of the plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-efficiency quantum cutting materials have great application prospects in improving the photoelectric conversion efficiency of silicon-based photoelectric devices. Herein, La3+ and Yb3+ ions co-doped CsPbCl 3 perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) were prepared successfully via the modified hot-injection method. La3+ and Yb3+ ions codoping makes the PLQY of CsPbCl 3 PQDs increase from 5% to 168%. This is because Yb3+ ions doping makes the effective quantum cutting process happen, as well as La3+ ions doping effectively reduces non-radiative transition in CsPbCl 3 PQDs and further improves the quantum cutting efficiency. Finally, La3+ and Yb3+ ions co-doped CsPbCl 3 PQDs film were integrated on silicon-based photodetectors. The spectral range of silicon-based photodetectors is extended to the ultraviolet (UV) region (200–400 nm) besides the visible spectral region. The external quantum efficiency (EQE) is around 67%, and the responsivity is 0.14 A/W, which is comparable to the highest value previously reported. This work provides a new strategy to improve the quantum cutting efficiency and the performance of silicon-based photodetectors. • The PLQY of CsPbCl 3 PQDs increase from 5% to 168% via La3+ and Yb3+ codoping. • La3+/Yb3+ co-doped CsPbCl 3 PQDs were integrated on silicon photodetectors. • The response spanning of silicon photodetectors is extended to the ultraviolet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead-free perovskites are a new type of luminescent material with non-toxic, stability and excellent photoelectric properties, which have great application in the field of photoelectric detection, solar cells, bio-imaging, etc. Here, we reported a new kind of uniform spherical rare-earth based double perovskite Cs 2 NaYCl 6 nanocrystals (NCs) as versatile hosts to accommodate ionic dopants for improving photoelectric properties especially the luminescent properties. In contrast to the low quantum yield of only 5.62%, the luminescent intensity of Cs 2 NaYCl 6 NCs can be impressively enhanced via doping Sb3+ and Mn2+ ions in the rare earth-based double perovskite lattices. For the Sb3+-doping, the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) increases from 5.62% to 22.48%. On this basis, the luminescence colors can be tuned from blue to white and red via Mn2+ ions doping and the maximum PLQY can be further improved to 38.66%. Finally, the Sb3+, Sb3+/Mn2+ ions doped Cs 2 NaYCl 6 NCs based blue, red and white LEDs were explored, which indicates that these are potential materials in multicolor LEDs applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants usually keep resistance (R) proteins in a static state under normal conditions to avoid autoimmunity and save energy for growth, but R proteins can be rapidly activated upon perceiving pathogen invasion. Pib , the first cloned blast disease R gene in rice, encoding a nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) protein, mediates resistance to the blast fungal (Magnaporthe oryzae) isolates carrying the avirulence gene AvrPib. However, the molecular mechanisms about how Pib recognizes AvrPib and how it is inactivated and activated remain largely unclear. In this study, through map-based cloning and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, we proved that Pib contributes to the blast disease resistance of rice cultivar Yunyin (YY). Furthermore, an SH3 domain-containing protein, SH3P2, was found to associate with Pib mainly at clathrin-coated vesicles in rice cells, via direct binding with the coiled-coil (CC) domain of Pib. Interestingly, overexpression of SH3P2 in YY compromised Pib -mediated resistance to M. oryzae isolates carrying AvrPib and Pib-AvrPib recognition-induced cell death. SH3P2 competitively inhibits the self-association of the Pib CC domain in vitro , suggesting that binding of SH3P2 with Pib undermines its homodimerization. Moreover, SH3P2 can also interact with AvrPib and displays higher affinity to AvrPib than to Pib, which leads to dissociation of SH3P2 from Pib in the presence of AvrPib. Taken together, our results suggest that SH3P2 functions as a "protector" to keep Pib in a static state by direct interaction during normal growth but could be triggered off by the invasion of AvrPib -carrying M. oryzae isolates. Our study reveals a new mechanism about how an NLR protein is inactivated under normal conditions but is activated upon pathogen infection. Plants usually keep resistance (R) proteins in a static state under normal conditions to avoid autoimmunity and save energy for growth, but R proteins can be rapidly activated upon perceiving pathogen invasion. In this study, the authors find that SH3P2, an SH3 domain-containing protein that interacts with both Pib and AvrPib, suppresses effector-triggered, Pib-mediated immunity in rice, revealing a new mechanism in which an NLR protein is inactivated under normal conditions but is activated upon pathogen infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Three groups of glycosyltransferase 64 (GT64) family are widely conserved in Angiospermae. • Four rice GT64 genes all localize to the Golgi apparatus and show distinct tissue-specific expression patterns. • Genomic variation analysis of OsGT64s revealed that the indica – japonica or latitudinal differentiation exists in their coding sequences. • Promoter element and expression analysis of OsGT64s suggested that they may play a role in different stress responses and hormone signaling pathways. The glycosyltransferase 64 (GT64) family is widely conserved in many species, including animals and plants. The functions of GT64 family genes in animals have been well characterized in the biosynthesis of extracellular heparan sulfate, whereas two GT64 members in Arabidopsis thaliana are involved in the glycosylation of plasma membrane glycosylinositol phosphorylceramides (GIPCs). GIPCs are the main components of plant sphingolipids and serve as important signal molecules in various developmental processes and stress responses. Rice (Oryza sativa), a model monocot plant, contains four GT64 members in its genome. Using phylogenetic analysis, 73 GT64s from 19 plant species were divided into three main groups. Each group can be represented by the three members in Arabidopsis and show a trend of monocot-eudicot divergence. A promoter and genomic variation analysis of GT64s in rice showed that various stress-related regulatory elements exist in their promoters, and many sequence variations were found between the two main rice subspecies, japonica and indica. Additionally, transmembrane domain and subcellular localization analyses revealed that these genes all encode membrane-bound glycosyltransferases and are localized to the Golgi apparatus. Finally, expression analysis of the four GT64 genes in rice, as assessed by quantitative real-time PCR, showed that they have distinct tissue-specific expression patterns and respond to different hormone treatments or abiotic stresses. Our results indicated that this family of genes may play a role in different stress responses and hormone signaling pathways in rice, which will provide fundamental information for further investigation of their functions in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A self-powered triboelectric nanogenerator (SPTENG) based on triboelectric effect and an intelligent interactive system are fabricated for monitoring shooting training and virtual training. The SPTENG is composed of latex and PTFE and an intelligent system. Based on triboelectric effect, the SPTENG can be used to monitor the progress of trigger pressing without a power supply (this is supplied by trigger movements). Because of the flexible properties, it can be attached to a trigger conveniently to monitor the progress of trigger pressing, such as trigger time, trigger stability, etc. Meanwhile, as part of an intelligent shooting system, police can formulate a standard scheme according to signals to improve their skills. Furthermore, they can use it to train between reality and virtuality. Therefore, it has a wide development space in human–computer interaction and real-time information processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wearable motion-monitoring systems have been widely used in recent years. However, the battery energy storage problem of traditional wearable devices limits the development of human sports training applications. In this paper, a self-powered and portable micro-structure triboelectric nanogenerator (MS-TENG) has been made. It consists of micro-structure polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film, fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) film, and lithium chloride polyacrylamide (LiCl-PAAM) hydrogel. Through the micro-structure, the voltage of the MS-TENG can be improved by 7 times. The MS-TENG provides outstanding sensing properties: maximum output voltage of 74 V, angular sensitivity of 1.016 V/degree, high signal-to-noise ratio, and excellent long-term service stability. We used it to monitor the running skills of speed skaters. It can also store the biomechanical energy which is generated in the process of speed skating through capacitors. It demonstrates capability of sensor to power electronic calculator and electronic watch. In addition, as a flexible electrode hydrogel, it can readily stretch over 1300%, which can help improve the service life and work stability of MS-TENG. Therefore, MS-TENG has great application potential in human sports training monitoring and big data analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foodborne pathogens and biofilm formation pose a critical threat to food safety. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a pathogen of interest in the food industry. High-power pulsed microwave (HPPM) is a non-thermal technology with proven efficacy towards bacterial inactivation. This study investigated the inactivation mechanisms and performance of different HPPM treatments (50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 Hz for 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 min, respectively) to identify the optimum conditions to inactivate P. aeruginosa PAO1 biofilms. The results showed significant cell inactivation at increasing frequency/time (p < 0.05). Hence, HPPM treatment (200 Hz, 9 min) was selected following its efficacy and limited thermal sublethal effects to elucidate further the inactivation mechanisms against P. aeruginosa and its biofilm-forming ability. Cell viability, scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results demonstrated severe morphological disruptions, cell disintegration, and cell lysis in the treated cells. From the confocal laser scanning micrographs (CLSM), biofilm thickness was calculated, showing a significant reduction after treatment (17.56 vs. 42.16 μm in the treated and untreated groups, respectively), indicating that HPPM effectively compromised the integrity of the biofilm envelope. This study outlines useful insights into better understanding HPPM's efficacy on microbial inactivation and biofilm proliferation in the food industry. • High-power pulse microwave (HPPM) demonstrated significant cell inactivation at increasing frequency/time (p < 0.05). • Treated cells demonstrated severe cell deformation, membrane shriveling, and cell lysis. • It showed a marked reduction in biofilm thickness than untreated cells (17.56 ± 1.51vs. 42.16 ± 1.23 μm). • This study provides useful insights into validating HPPM's efficacy against bacterial biofilm formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the natural, safe, and effective antimicrobial is one of the preferable ways to control foodborne bacteria. In this work, novel oil-in-water nanoemulsions were formulated with sophorolipids and eugenol without any co-surfactant using a self-assembling strategy. These nanoemulsions showed high stability with sizes less than 200 nm when exposure to low concentrations of salt ions, various pH values (5.0, 7.0, 10.0), storage temperature and time. The synergistic antibacterial effects against both Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Bacillus cereus were determined with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 0.5 mg/mL and 0.125 mg/mL, respectively. Further microscopy (SEM, TEM, LCSM) examination and ATP/Na+-K+-ATPase assay results showed that the morphological changes, intensive cell membrane permeability, leakage of ATP, and decreased Na+-K+-ATPase contributed to the antibacterial effects. Moreover, the bonding mechanism between nanoemulsions and cell membranes were further evaluated by FTIR and ITC using a DPPC vesicle model, which demonstrated that the nanoemulsions adsorbed on the surface of bilayer, interacted with the hydrophobic chains of DPPC membrane mainly through the hydrophobic interaction, and altered the structural integrity of the lipid bilayer. These results not only provide a facile green strategy for fabricating stable nanoemulsions, but also highlight a new perspective for stabilizing essential oils for their widely application in food industry. • Novel nanoemulsions were formulated with SLs and eugenol without any co-surfactant. • The nanoemulsions were stable exposure to various pH values. • Nanoemulsions showed excellent inhibition effects against gram-positive bacteria. • Nanoemulsions adsorbed on the bilayer surface, alerting the cell membrane integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The porous oil-containing cage achieves the storage, spillage, and suction of lubricating oil by its micro-pore structure, thus ensuring the self-lubricating performance of the bearing. Carrying out fast and accurate modeling of the cage microscopic pore structure is the key to the analysis of the self-lubricating mechanism of bearings. In response to the issues where current modeling methods of porous materials have a low similarity of pore distribution, morphology, structure, and size characteristics, and the transition of pore surfaces is sharp, this paper proposed a modeling method of a highly similar micro-pore structure based on the idea of median filtering, the quartet structure generation set (QSGS), and the slice method. By extracting and analyzing the pore characteristics of the porous model and comparing them with the experimental results of CT scanning, the advantages of the modeling method in terms of morphology and pore connectivity were verified. Finally, by carrying out simulation analysis of the centrifugal force of oil splashing and capillary oil absorption on the constructed model by combining the parameters of porous structures such as porosity and tortuosity, the advantages of the modeling method in the construction of the porous model and multi-physical field analysis were further verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-powered piezoelectric sensor can achieve real-time and harmless monitoring of motion processes without external power supply, which can be attached on body skin or joints to detect human motion and powered by mechanical energy. Here, a sensor for monitoring emergent motion is developed using the PVDF as active material and piezoelectric output as sensing signal. The multi-point control function enables the sensor to monitor the sequence of force order, angle change, and motion frequency of the "elbow lift, arm extension, and wrist compression" during shooting basketball. In addition, the sensor shows can simultaneously charge the capacitor to provide more power for intelligence, typically Bluetooth transmission. The sensor shows good performance in other field, such as rehabilitation monitoring and speech input systems. Therefore, the emerging application of flexible sensors have huge long-term prospects in sport big data collection and Internet of Things (IoT). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead-free halide double perovskites are widely used for phosphors converted light emitting diode (pc-LED) devices. However, it remains a challenge to modulate their spectra to meet different application requirements. Herein, Cs 2 NaInCl 6 :Sb3+ double perovskite crystals with excellent blue emission of self-trapped excitons (STEs) were prepared and a lanthanide ions (Ln3+) doping strategy was employed to enable multicolor emissions in this system. The emission colors can be continuously adjusted in a wide range by altering the Ln3+ ions doping levels. Especially, white light emissions with tunable correlated color temperature were obtained in Tb3+, Ho3+ ions codoped samples. Outstanding photoluminescence quantum yields of the samples are ascribed to the sensitization effect of Sb3+ ions and the efficient energy-transfer from STEs to Ln3+ ions. LED devices were further fabricated to demonstrate the great application potentials of the prepared phosphors. These findings provide deep insights for the designing of multicolor double perovskite phosphors. • Sb3+ and different Ln3+ ions were successfully doped in Cs 2 NaInCl 6 by a hydrothermal method. • The emission colors can be continuously adjusted in a wide range by altering the Ln3+ ions doping levels. • Multi-color light-emitting diodes were designed with single component Cs 2 NaInCl 6 phosphors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opioid withdrawal generates extremely unpleasant physical symptoms and negative affective states. A rapid relief of opioid withdrawal-induced anxiety has obvious clinical relevance but has been rarely reported. We have shown that injection of ketamine metabolite (2 R ,6 R)-hydroxynorketamine (HNK) leads to a rapid alleviation of anxiety-like behaviors in male mice undergoing chronic morphine withdrawal. Here we investigated the contribution of nucleus accumbens shell (sNAc) parvalbumin (PV)-neurons to this process. Chronic morphine withdrawal was associated with higher intrinsic excitability of sNAc PV-neurons via reduced voltage-dependent potassium currents. Chemogenetic inhibition of sNAc PV-neurons reversed the enhanced excitability of PV-neurons and anxiety-like behaviors in these morphine withdrawal male mice, while activation of sNAc PV-neurons induced anxiety-like behaviors in naive male mice. (2 R ,6 R)-HNK reversed the altered potassium currents and intrinsic excitability of sNAc PV-neurons. Our findings demonstrate an important contribution of sNAc PV-neurons to modulating morphine withdrawal-induced anxiety-like behaviors and rapid relief of anxiety-like behaviors by (2 R ,6 R)-HNK, this newly identified target may have therapeutic potentials in treating opioid addiction and anxiety disorders. • sNAc PV-neuron excitability is higher in mice undergoing morphine withdrawal. • Inhibiting sNAc PV-neurons improves morphine withdrawal-induced anxiety-like behaviors. • Activating sNAc PV-neurons elicits anxiety-like behaviors in naïve mice. • (2 R ,6 R)-HNK alleviates morphine withdrawal-induced anxiety-like behaviors in mice. • (2 R ,6 R)-HNK increases K+ currents and reduces excitability of sNAc PV-neurons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed at investigating the superiorities of multilayer graphene (MLG) and β-Si 3 N 4 whisker (β-Si 3 N 4w) in synergistically enhancing the toughness of Si 3 N 4 ceramic composites. First, Si 3 N 4 ceramic composites with hybrid 1 wt% MLG and 0 – 5 wt% β-Si 3 N 4w were sintered by spark plasma sintering. Phase constitutions and microstructures of Si 3 N 4 -based ceramic composites were characterized by X-rays diffraction, Raman spectra, and scanning electron microscope. Then, the optimal β-Si 3 N 4w content and sintering process of MLG/β-Si 3 N 4w -toughened Si 3 N 4 ceramic composites were comprehensively optimized by orthogonal experiments. Results indicated that in the case of maintaining the hardness of 15.87 – 18.84 GPa, the fracture toughness of Si 3 N 4 ceramic composites incorporated with 1 wt% MLG and 3 wt% β-Si 3 N 4w was advanced to 11.04 MPa·m1/2, which was 11.29% and 87.12% higher than that of 1 wt% MLG- and 3 wt% β-Si 3 N 4w -reinforced Si 3 N 4 ceramic composites, respectively. Orthogonal experiments demonstrated that 1 wt% MLG/3 wt% β-Si 3 N 4w -toughened Si 3 N 4 ceramic composites sintered at 1600 ℃, 40 MPa, and holding time for 6 min had optimum comprehensive mechanical properties. MLG wrapping and the synergistic effects of pull out, crack deflection, crack branching, and bridging resulted by MLG and β-Si 3 N 4w were the main responsible for the enhancement of toughness. [Display omitted] • MLG/β-Si 3 N 4w synergistic toughened Si 3 N 4 ceramics were sintered by SPS. • Fracture toughness of Si 3 N 4 -based ceramics was enhanced to 11.04 MPa·m1/2. • Optimal contents of MLG and β-Si 3 N 4w were 1 wt% and 3 wt%. • Optimum sintering process were 1600 ℃, 40 MPa, and holding time for 6 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The dynamic transition of FCPBB's contact states was revealed under high-speed conditions. • Three-point contact state of FCPBB for specific conditions was optimized. • Eccentricity has a substantial effect on the FCPBB performance. • A smaller curvature coefficient or larger eccentricity can reduce bearing sliding. Three-point contact state is a common state for four-point contact ball bearings (FPCBB), significantly improving the performance in high-speed and light-load conditions. However, in this case, the internal contact state is in a dynamic transition between two-point and three-point contact, with substantial frictional losses. To this end, a nonlinear dynamic model of FPCBB, considering the lubrication traction and the bearing assemblies' dynamic features, is proposed to optimize the FPCBB's performance for three-point contact state. The dynamic changes of contact states under high-speed and light-load conditions are revealed, and four sets of conditions are picked as optimization conditions. Beside, groove curvature coefficient and curvature center eccentricity, depending on outer ring structure, are selected as optimized structural parameters. On this basis, the behavior performance in three-point contact state is optimized for specific operating conditions. The results show that with the gradual growth of eccentricity, the bearing fatigue life first extends slowly and then reduces rapidly, where an optimum value exists; for bearings possibly serving in skidding condition, it is better to prefer a larger eccentricity or a smaller curvature coefficient to reduce sliding damage. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (BPH) is one of the main rice pests in Asian areas. The development of rice varieties harboring resistance genes is the most economical and effective method of managing BPH. In this study, 123 rice germplasms were identified for resistance and durable resistance by using the rice planthopper resistance identification system. Forty-two of the 123 rice varieties were classified as resistant to brown planthopper, and among them, twelve rice varieties had a long, durable resistance period. One potential durable resistance to brown planthopper locus on chromosome 2 was found by a genome-wide association study (GWAS). There are 13 candidate genes at this locus, and several of them are related to disease and pest resistance. Our study found a potential durable resistance locus to BPH, which has guiding significance for subsequent resistance breeding. The brown planthopper (BPH) is one of the main pests endangering rice yields. The development of rice varieties harboring resistance genes is the most economical and effective method of managing BPH. To identify new BPH resistance-related genes, a total of 123 rice varieties were assessed for resistance and durable resistance. Three varieties were immune, and nine were highly resistant to BPH. After whole-genome resequencing of all 123 varieties, 1,897,845 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) decay analysis showed that the average LD of the SNPs at 20 kb was 0.30 (r2) and attenuated to half value (~0.30) at a distance of about 233 kb. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) of durable resistance to BPH was conducted using the Fast-MLM model. One quantitative trait locus, identified on chromosome 2, included 13 candidate genes. Two candidate genes contained a leucine-rich repeat and CC-NBS-LRR or NB-ARC domains, which might confer resistance to pests or diseases. Interestingly, LOC_Os02g27540 was highly expressed and was induced by BPH; GWAS identified potential rice genes coding for durable resistance to BPH. This study helps to elucidate the mechanism of durable resistance to BPH in rice and provides essential genetic information for breeding and functional verification of resistant varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The self-lubricating effect of the porous oil-containing cage is realized by storing and releasing lubricants through its internal micro-scale pore structure. The internal flow and heat transfer process in the micron-submicron pore structure is crucial to the self-lubricating mechanism of the porous oil-containing cage. To this end, a new modeling method of porous cage was proposed based on random seeds theory, and the local two-dimensional models of porous cage with different micro-scale pore structure were established. The multiphysics coupling simulation analysis of lubricating oil inside the porous cage with the effect of centrifugal force and thermal expansion was carried out based on the COMSOL Multiphysics platform. In order to characterize the micro-scale pore structure, new structural parameter indicators, such as relative surface perimeter, effective porosity, tortuosity and fluid properties related to the internal flow process, were all extracted from the above models. Combing with the Hagen–Poiseuille equation, a flow resistance model of oil flow inside the porous oil-containing cage was obtained. Finally, comparison of simulation results and analytical solutions of the micro-scale resistance model was carried out to verify the correctness of the micro-scale resistance model. The work provides a new direction for the study of the lubrication mechanism of the porous oil-containing cage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]