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Background: In recent years, abnormal expression of collagen triple helix repeat containing 1 (CTHRC1) has been found in some tumors, closely related to the poor prognosis of cancer patients. However, the clinical significance of CTHRC1 in gliomas is not completely understood. Methods: We investigated the expression, prognostic value, and potential biological function of CTHRC1 in different types of gliomas through bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification. Results: Bioinformatics analysis revealed several key findings regarding the expression and clinical significance of CTHRC1 in gliomas. First, the analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between CTHRC1 expression and the World Health Organization (WHO) grading of gliomas, a relationship that was validated through immunohistochemistry experiments. In addition, a trend was observed in which CTHRC1 expression increased with the extent of glioma invasion, as supported by Western blot experiments. Subsequent bioinformatics analysis identified the mesenchymal subtype of gliomas as having the highest levels of CTHRC1 expression, a finding reinforced by immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, high CTHRC1 expression was associated with poor prognosis in gliomas and emerged as an independent prognostic factor, with varying impacts on prognosis between low-grade gliomas (LGGs) and glioblastoma (GBM) subgroups. Notably, comparative analysis unveiled distinct patterns of immune infiltration of CTHRC1 in LGG and GBM. Furthermore, alterations in copy number variations and DNA methylation were identified as potential mechanisms underlying elevated CTHRC1 levels in gliomas. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis indicated that CTHRC1 and its associated genes mainly function in the extracellular matrix and participate in tumor-related signaling pathways. Conclusions: The CTHRC1 has shown significant clinical utility as a prognostic marker and mesenchymal subtype marker of glioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiments of co-gasification of spirit-based distillers' grains (SDG) and sewage sludge (SS) were carried out with red mud (RM) by using a self-designed fixed-bed gasifier. The effects of RM addition, gasification reaction temperature, SS and SDG blending ratio and other factors on the gasification reaction characteristics and synergism were investigated. The results are as follow: RM had catalytic effect on SS and SDG co-gasification, which can enhance the gasification reaction and H2 yield; increasing the temperature can enhance the gasification reaction and reduce the syngas H2/CO; with the increase of SDG, the H2 yield gradually grew; with the rise of SS, the gasification reaction gradually augmented. The catalytic mechanism was mainly due to the redox cycle of Fe2O3 in RM, which can promote the water transfer reaction. At the same time, the eutectic mixture of K, Na, Ca, Fe and other metal elements at high temperatures was the main reason for the synergistic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneous profiling of DNA methylation and gene expression within single cells is a powerful technology to dissect complex gene regulatory network of cells. However, existing methods are based on picking a single‐cell in a tube and split single‐cell lysate into two parts for transcriptome and methylome library construction, respectively, which is costly and cumbersome. Here, DIRECT is proposed, a digital microfluidics‐based method for high‐efficiency single‐cell isolation and simultaneous analysis of the methylome and transcriptome in a single library construction. The accuracy of DIRECT is demonstrated in comparison with bulk and single‐omics data, and the high CpG site coverage of DIRECT allows for precise analysis of copy number variation information, enabling expansion of single cell analysis from two‐ to three‐omics. By applying DIRECT to monitor the dynamics of mouse embryonic stem cell differentiation, the relationship between DNA methylation and changes in gene expression during differentiation is revealed. DIRECT enables accurate, robust, and reproducible single‐cell DNA methylation and gene expression co‐analysis in a more cost‐effective, simpler library preparation and automated manner, broadening the application scenarios of single‐cell multi‐omics analysis and revealing a more comprehensive and fine‐grained map of cellular regulatory landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Toxin‐antitoxin systems are highly variable, even among strains of the same bacterial species. The MazEF toxin‐antitoxin system is found in many bacteria and plays important roles in various biological processes such as antibiotic tolerance and phage defense. However, no interplay of MazEF systems between different species was reported. Materials and Methods: MazEF toxin‐antitoxin system of Helicobacter macacae was examined in three Escherichia coli strains with and without endogenous MazEF knockout. In vivo toxicity, antibiotic tolerance, and live/dead staining followed by flowcytometry analysis were performed to evaluate the functionality and interplay of the toxin‐antitoxin system between the two species. Results: Controlled ectopic expression of MazF of H. macacae (MazFhm) in E. coli did not affect its growth. However, in endogenous MazEF knockout E. coli strains, MazFhm expression caused a sharp growth arrest. The toxicity of MazFhm could be neutralized by both the antitoxin of MazE homolog of H.macacae and the antitoxin of MazE of E. coli, indicating interplay of MazEF toxin‐antitoxin systems between the two species. Induced expression of MazFhm enhanced tolerance to a lethal dose of levofloxacin, suggesting enhanced persister formation, which was further confirmed by live/dead cell staining. Conclusions: The MazEF toxin‐antitoxin system of H. macace enhances persister formation and thus antibiotic tolerance in E. coli. Our findings reveal an interplay between the MazEF systems of H. macacae and E. coli, emphasizing the need to consider this interaction while evaluating the toxicity and functionality of MazF homologs from different species in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research focused on the reaction features and kinetics of tar catalytic conversion by char based on the generation and evolution of gas products. To probe the roles of heat and catalysis in tar conversion, a micro fluidized bed reaction analyzer (MFBRA) was used to assess tar thermal cracking (TC) and catalytic cracking (CC) by char at 1073, 1123, 1173, and 1223 K. The tar cracking behavior of the individual gas components (H 2 , CO, CO 2 , and CH 4), generation rates, and reaction kinetics were thoroughly investigated. The results show that TC and CC included a fast (Stage-1) and slow (Stage-2) conversion stage, in which Stage-1 contributed more than 80% of the total conversion. Compared to TC, tar CC required a longer reaction time but obtained higher conversions to individual gas components and the total gas products. The final conversion ratios (X CC/TC) of H 2 , CO, CO 2 , and CH 4 were kept above 1 at the tested temperature. The char catalytic action was very remarkable, especially at low temperatures. In tar CC, the generation rate of individual gas components slowly declined after quickly reaching the peak, forming a relatively stable zone. The volume reaction model (VRM) well described the tar conversion behavior with and without char. Compared to TC, char lowered the activation energy (Ea) of gas generation. For individual gas components (H 2 , CO, CO 2 , CH 4) and the total gas products, the corresponding reduction degree of Ea was 25.56%, 24.18%, 22.14%, 4.75%, and 21.71%, respectively, further displaying the promoting impact of char. The evaluated generation features and kinetics of individual components in the gas products will benefit the in-situ tar removal in the biomass gasification process. • Tar thermal and catalytic cracking were assessed on a micro fluidized bed reaction analyzer. • Test was based on real-time analysis of gas products rather than tar mass change. • Gas components were mainly generated in the initial stage of tar thermal and catalytic cracking. • Char played an essential role in the initial conversion process even in low temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The expression of SIRT4 is down-regulated in intestinal fibrosis. • SIRT4 provides protection against intestinal fibrosis. • SIRT4 restricts glutaminolysis to reduce extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. • SIRT4 facilitates glutaminase 1 (GLS1) degradation by hindering SIRT5's stabilizing interaction with GLS1. • The "α-KG/H3K27me3" signals mediate SIRT4-limited transcription of components in ECM after inhibiting glutaminolysis. Intestinal fibrosis is a prevalent complication of Crohn's disease (CD), characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM), and no approved drugs are currently available for its treatment. Sirtuin 4 (SIRT4), a potent anti-fibrosis factor in mitochondria, has an unclear role in intestinal fibrosis. In this study, fibroblasts isolated from biopsies of stenotic ileal mucosa in CD patients were analyzed to identify the most down-regulated protein among SIRT1–7, and SIRT4 was found to be the most affected. Moreover, in vivo and in vitro models of intestinal fibrosis, SIRT4 expression was significantly decreased in a TGF-β dependent manner, and its decrease was negatively associated with disease severity. SIRT4 impeded ECM deposition by inhibiting glutaminolysis, but not glycolysis, and α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) was identified as the key metabolite. Specifically, SIRT4 hinders SIRT5's stabilizing interaction with glutaminase 1 (GLS1), thereby facilitating the degradation of GLS1. KDM6, rather than KDM4, is a potential mediator for α-KG-induced transcription of ECM components, and SIRT4 enhances the enrichment of H3K27me3 on their promotors and enhancers. These findings indicate that the activation of TGF-β signals decreases the expression of SIRT4 in intestinal fibrosis, and SIRT4 can facilitate GLS1 degradation, thereby resisting glutaminolysis and alleviating intestinal fibrosis, providing a novel therapeutic target for intestinal fibrosis. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The global delay in women's reproductive age has raised concerns about age-related infertility. The decline in oocyte quality is a limiting factor of female fertility, yet there are currently no strategies to preserve oocyte quality in aged women. Here, we investigated the effects of growth hormone (GH) supplementation on aneuploidy of aged oocytes. Methods: For the in vivo experiments, the aged mice (8-month-old) were intraperitoneally injected with GH daily for 8 weeks. For the in vitro experiments, germinal vesicle oocytes from aged mice were treated with GH during oocyte maturation. The impacts of GH on ovarian reserve before superovulation was evaluated. Oocytes were retrieved to assess oocyte quality, aneuploidy and developmental potential characteristics. Quantitative proteomics analysis was applied to investigate the potential targets of GH in aged oocytes. Results: In this study, we demonstrated that GH supplementation in vivo not only alleviated the decline in oocyte number caused by aging, but also improved the quality and developmental potential of aged oocytes. Strikingly, we discovered that GH supplementation reduced aneuploidy in aged oocytes. Mechanically, in addition to improving mitochondrial function, our proteomic analysis indicated that the MAPK3/1 pathway may be involved in the reduction in aneuploidy of aged oocytes, as confirmed both in vivo and in vitro. In addition, JAK2 may also act as a mediator in how GH regulates MAPK3/1. Conclusions: In conclusion, our research reveals that GH supplementation protects oocytes against aging-related aneuploidy and enhances the quality of aged oocytes, which has clinical significance for aged women undergoing assisted reproduction technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen production from rice husk was carried out via a two-stage system combining CLG (calcium looping gasification) using Ca(OH) 2 adsorbent in a bubbling fluidized bed and catalytic reforming with Ce–Ni/γAl 2 O 3 catalyst in a connected fixed bed. The results show that the maximum H 2 concentration (69.16 vol%) and H 2 yield (11.86 mmol g−1 rice husk) are achieved at Ca/C (Ca(OH) 2 to carbon molar ratio) = 1.5, H 2 O/C (H 2 O to carbon molar ratio) = 1.5, T g (gasification temperature) = 500 °C, T c (catalytic temperature) = 800 °C. The supplementation of fresh Ca(OH) 2 at Ca/C of 0.5 during calcination helps to activate the regenerated CaO by hydration, maintaining its carbonation activity and CO 2 adsorption. Ce–Ni/γAl 2 O 3 catalyst promotes water gas shift (WGS), steam methane reforming (SMR), and C 2 –C 3 hydrocarbons reforming, also exhibits excellent activity stability to maintain H 2 concentration and H 2 yield above 67.21 vol% and 11.67 mmol g−1 rice husk , respectively, during 5 lifetime tests. • Staged catalytic gasification of rice husk in a fluidized bed for H 2 -rich gas. • Ca(OH) 2 adsorbent promotes WGS and hydrocarbons reforming at a moderate temperature. • Fresh Ca(OH) 2 supplement during calcination activates regenerated CaO by hydration. • Ce–Ni/γAl 2 O 3 catalyst promotes WGS, SMR, and C 2 –C 3 hydrocarbons reforming reactions. • Ce–Ni/γAl 2 O 3 catalyst shows excellent activity stability with low carbon deposition. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we presented an oblique incidence-insensitive metamaterial absorber (MA) based on the strong magnetic coupling resonance using the printed circuit board process, and the spacer is produced by a typical magnetic absorber material (MAM). As for reflection loss (RL) at oblique angles, it can achieve high-efficiency absorption for both transverse-electric (TE) and transverse-magnetic (TM) polarizations with a wide angular range from 0° to 60° in the low frequency of 2.33 GHz to 3.44 GHz. In addition, the magnetic coupling mechanism of the metamaterial absorber was deeply analyzed. Comparing the results of the simulation and experiment, it displays excellent absorption performance of the proposed absorber in TE and TM modes under large oblique incidence angles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of modern industry, the surface of workpieces is becoming increasingly complex, and workpieces present the trend of small personalized batches. Robot polishing has become one of the required precision machining methods because of their excellent flexibility, ample working space, and strong maneuverability. Therefore, this paper reviews a series of precision machining methods based on robotic technology. First of all, the seven aspects of the operating principle of industrial robot polishing system like robot polishing force control technology, robot polishing trajectory planning, robot polishing path planning, robot teaching programming technology, robot polishing vibration control, multi-robot polishing control technology, and commercial robotic polishing systems, have been carried on in detailed by discussion and analysis. Secondly, researches on the basic architecture of the polishing robot are concluded by two aspects as researches on structure classification of the polishing robot and design of robot polishing end-effector. Finally, the study of robot polishing and future work are summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laryngeal carcinomas cause vocal cord (VC) mobility problems. Other than evaluation through flexible laryngoscopy, rare reports concerning CT findings for the motion of the VC or arytenoid cartilage (AC) are found. To explore a novel evaluation of the mobility of the AC in glottic carcinoma. In 39 patients with glottic carcinoma grouped upon lesion locations and AC mobilities, laryngeal CT scans were collected during inspiration and phonation. AC static position and motion data were compared between paired lesion and control sides. No significant difference showed in the group with glottic carcinoma invading the anterior 2/3 of VC. In the abnormal mobility group, significant AC position changes and weaker motion of most measurements were proved on the lesion side. Lesion invading the posterior 1/3 of VC also resulted in an adducted, medially rotated and forward-tilted AC, rotation of axial angle (RAA) was the only motion item that decreased significantly. In most glottic cancer cases, CT and laryngoscope had similar judgments for AC mobility. For lesions extending to the cartilaginous VC with laryngoscopically confirmed normal mobility, CT measurement of RAA showed the feasibility of being an indicator for the earliest motion problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We aimed to compare the DNA methylation profiles of human embryos cultured in uninterrupted or interrupted incubators. Methods: This study included 9 women, ≤ 30 years old (range: 20–30 years), without a history of genetic diseases or smoking, undergoing ICSI treatment, and each woman donated one oocyte. Embryos were randomly assigned to culture in either time-lapse imaging or standard incubators after ICSI. We compared the DNA methylation profiles of human eight-cell embryos cultured in uninterrupted condition using time-lapse imaging (TLI) incubator (EmbryoScope) to those cultured in interrupted culture model using standard incubators (SI, G185 K-System). Nine single-cell whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) datasets were analyzed, including four SI-cultured embryos and five TLI-cultured embryos at the eight-cell stage. Results: A total of 581,140,020 and 732,348,182 clean reads were generated from the TLI and SI groups, respectively. TLI-cultured embryos had similar genome-wide methylation patterns to SI-cultured embryos. There were no significant differences in the methylation and transcription levels of transposable elements and imprinted control regions. Although a total of 198 differentially methylated genes (DMGs) were identified, only five DMGs had significantly different transcription levels between the two groups. Conclusions: This is the first study to compare the DNA methylation profiles of embryos cultured in TLI and SI and will provide a foundation for evaluating the safety of TLI application in assisted reproductive technologies. However, further study with a larger cohort of samples was needed for the data validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CuO grown by room-temperature direct current reactive magnetron sputtering is introduced to realize p-type thin-film transistors (TFTs) with a high-k HfO2 gate dielectric fabricated by atomic layer deposition. The devices work in an accumulation mode (AM) with two apparent threshold voltages corresponding to the formation of a buried channel and an accumulation layer, respectively. A CuO AM TFT with a channel length of 25 μm exhibit a competitive on-off ratio (Ion/Ioff) of 1.3 × 102, a subthreshold swing (SS) of 1.04 V dec−1, and a field-effect mobility (μFE) of 1.1 × 10−3 cm2 V−1 s−1 at room temperature. By measuring a CuO metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) capacitor at room temperature, a high acceptor doping density (NA) of ∼5 × 1017 cm−3, a high positive effective fixed surface charge density (Qf) of ∼9 × 1012 cm−2, and a low interfacial trap charge density (Dit) of ∼6 × 1010 eV−1 cm−2 at the HfO2/CuO interface are estimated. The μFE extracted from the accumulation regime appears lower than the Hall mobility measured for a similarly processed CuO layer on glass due to the increased hole concentration in CuO TFTs, compared to a Hall concentration of ∼1014 cm−3, following the MOS process. SS appears limited by the decreased channel to gate capacitance (Ccg) related to the buried channel in AM TFTs, parasitic capacitance to ground, and potentially very high interfacial traps at the non-passivated CuO/air interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new meroterpenoids, namely nivalones C F (1 – 4), along with a known meroterpenoid, cannabiorcicyclolic acid (5), were isolated from the branches and leaves of Rhododendron nivale. The chemical structures of compounds 1 – 4 were elucidated through comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, including NMR, UV–Vis, IR, ECD spectroscopy, as well as HR-ESI-MS. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. The inhibitory activity of compound 5 against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production was initially demonstrated, showcasing an IC 50 value of 21.1 μM. Additionally, both compounds 2 and 5 displayed a notable effect on the viability of H 2 O 2 -damaged SH-SY5Y cells, indicating their significant neuroprotection effects. Four new meroterpenoids 1 – 4 (nivalones C F) and a known meroterpenoid 5 with good anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects were isolated from Rhododendron nivale. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic cholestasis leads to liver fibrosis, which lacks effective treatment. In this study, we investigated the role and mechanisms of action of loureirin B (LB) in cholestatic liver fibrosis. Bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced hepatic fibrosis mice were used as in vivo models. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-pretreated HSC-T6 cells were used to explore the mechanism by which LB attenuates liver fibrosis in vitro. RNA sequencing, quantitative PCR (qPCR), western blotting, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were performed to detect the fibrosis markers and measure autophagy levels. Flow cytometry, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, and 5′-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay were conducted to detect cell proliferation and viability. GFP-RFP-LC3 adenovirus, autophagy-related protein 7 (ATG7) siRNA, and bafilomycin A1 (BafA1) were used to verify autophagic flux. Our results showed that LB ameliorates liver injury, inhibits collagen deposition, and decreases the expressions of fibrosis-related markers in BDL-induced mouse livers. In vitro , we found that LB inhibited proliferation and migration, promoted apoptosis, and inhibited the activation of HSC-T6 cells pretreated with TGF-β1. RNA sequencing analysis of HSC-T6 cells showed that LB treatment predominantly targeted autophagy-related pathways. Further protein analysis indicated that LB downregulated the expression of phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT) and phosphorylated mTOR (p-mTOR), and upregulated LC3-II, p62, and ATG7 both in vivo and in vitro. Intriguingly, ATG7 inactivation reversed the antifibrotic effects of LB on HSC-T6 cells. LB can improve BDL-induced liver fibrosis by inhibiting the activation and proliferation of HSCs and is expected to be a promising antifibrotic drug. [Display omitted] • Loureirin B (LB) exerts an anti-hepatic fibrosis effect on bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced liver fibrosis. • LB inhibits TGF-β1-induced proliferation and activation of HSC-T6 cells. • LB inhibits cell proliferation and activation by activating autophagy and inhibiting autophagy flux. • LB inhibits hepatic fibrosis and HSC-T6 activation via AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous fermentation of the thought of intelligence, artificial intelligence has extended its tentacles into the field of artistic creation and has begun to try intelligent creation. Painting creation based on artificial intelligence is called "intelligent painting." For oil paintings, the computational language is a relatively complicated description. How to correctly identify the computational language of oil paintings is essential for establishing a large oil painting database. This paper constructs a meaningful learning similarity measure and multiclassification model based on the CCNN model to realize the classification of oil painting language. A cropped CNN model is used to extract language features, and on this basis, oil painting works are cross-compared and multiclassified. This method realizes the classification of oil painting language and the corresponding painter and achieves superior accuracy. This paper constructs a data classification method based on small samples, measures similarity through cross-comparison, and provides a measuring approach for classifying the language of oil paintings. The CCNN model proposed combines the best classification results of oil painting language, which improves the accuracy of oil painting language classification. Moreover, it further enriches the methods of oil painting language classification and image recognition under computational intelligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to be related to the occurrence and development of a variety of cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, a large number of potential HCC-related lncRNAs remain undiscovered and are yet to be fully understood.Differentially expressed lncRNAs were first obtained from the tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues of five HCC patients using high-throughput microarray chips. Then the expression levels of 10 differentially expressed lncRNAs were verified in 50 pairs of tissue samples from patients with HCC by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The oncogenic effects of lncRNA-4045 (ENST00000524045.6) in HCC cell lines were verified through a series of in vitro experiments including CCK-8 assay, plate clone formation assay, transwell assay, scratch assay, and flow cytometry. Subsequently, the potential target genes of lncRNA-4045 were predicted by bioinformatics analysis, fluorescence in situ hybridization assay, and RNA sequencing. The mechanism of lncRNA-4045 in HCC was explored by WB assay as well as rescue and enhancement experiments.The results from microarray chips showed 1,708 lncRNAs to have been significantly upregulated and 2725 lncRNAs to have been significantly downregulated in HCC tissues. Via validation in 50 HCC patients, a novel lncRNA lncRNA-4045 was found significantly upregulated in HCC tissues. Additionally, a series of in vitro experiments showed that lncRNA-4045 promoted the proliferation, invasion, and migration of HCC cell lines, and inhibited the apoptosis of HCC cell lines. The results of qRT-PCR in HCC tissues showed that the expression levels of AKR1B10 were significantly positively correlated with lncRNA-4045. LncRNA-4045 knockdown significantly down-regulated AKR1B10 protein expression, and overexpression of lncRNA-4045 led to significant up-regulation of AKR1B10 protein in HCC cell lines. Lastly, down-regulation of AKR1B10 could partially eliminate the enhancement of cell proliferation induced by lncRNA-4045 overexpression, while up-regulation of AKR1B10 was shown to enhance those effects.LncRNA-4045 may promote HCC via enhancement of the expression of AKR1B10 protein.Methods: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to be related to the occurrence and development of a variety of cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, a large number of potential HCC-related lncRNAs remain undiscovered and are yet to be fully understood.Differentially expressed lncRNAs were first obtained from the tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues of five HCC patients using high-throughput microarray chips. Then the expression levels of 10 differentially expressed lncRNAs were verified in 50 pairs of tissue samples from patients with HCC by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The oncogenic effects of lncRNA-4045 (ENST00000524045.6) in HCC cell lines were verified through a series of in vitro experiments including CCK-8 assay, plate clone formation assay, transwell assay, scratch assay, and flow cytometry. Subsequently, the potential target genes of lncRNA-4045 were predicted by bioinformatics analysis, fluorescence in situ hybridization assay, and RNA sequencing. The mechanism of lncRNA-4045 in HCC was explored by WB assay as well as rescue and enhancement experiments.The results from microarray chips showed 1,708 lncRNAs to have been significantly upregulated and 2725 lncRNAs to have been significantly downregulated in HCC tissues. Via validation in 50 HCC patients, a novel lncRNA lncRNA-4045 was found significantly upregulated in HCC tissues. Additionally, a series of in vitro experiments showed that lncRNA-4045 promoted the proliferation, invasion, and migration of HCC cell lines, and inhibited the apoptosis of HCC cell lines. The results of qRT-PCR in HCC tissues showed that the expression levels of AKR1B10 were significantly positively correlated with lncRNA-4045. LncRNA-4045 knockdown significantly down-regulated AKR1B10 protein expression, and overexpression of lncRNA-4045 led to significant up-regulation of AKR1B10 protein in HCC cell lines. Lastly, down-regulation of AKR1B10 could partially eliminate the enhancement of cell proliferation induced by lncRNA-4045 overexpression, while up-regulation of AKR1B10 was shown to enhance those effects.LncRNA-4045 may promote HCC via enhancement of the expression of AKR1B10 protein.Results: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to be related to the occurrence and development of a variety of cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, a large number of potential HCC-related lncRNAs remain undiscovered and are yet to be fully understood.Differentially expressed lncRNAs were first obtained from the tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues of five HCC patients using high-throughput microarray chips. Then the expression levels of 10 differentially expressed lncRNAs were verified in 50 pairs of tissue samples from patients with HCC by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The oncogenic effects of lncRNA-4045 (ENST00000524045.6) in HCC cell lines were verified through a series of in vitro experiments including CCK-8 assay, plate clone formation assay, transwell assay, scratch assay, and flow cytometry. Subsequently, the potential target genes of lncRNA-4045 were predicted by bioinformatics analysis, fluorescence in situ hybridization assay, and RNA sequencing. The mechanism of lncRNA-4045 in HCC was explored by WB assay as well as rescue and enhancement experiments.The results from microarray chips showed 1,708 lncRNAs to have been significantly upregulated and 2725 lncRNAs to have been significantly downregulated in HCC tissues. Via validation in 50 HCC patients, a novel lncRNA lncRNA-4045 was found significantly upregulated in HCC tissues. Additionally, a series of in vitro experiments showed that lncRNA-4045 promoted the proliferation, invasion, and migration of HCC cell lines, and inhibited the apoptosis of HCC cell lines. The results of qRT-PCR in HCC tissues showed that the expression levels of AKR1B10 were significantly positively correlated with lncRNA-4045. LncRNA-4045 knockdown significantly down-regulated AKR1B10 protein expression, and overexpression of lncRNA-4045 led to significant up-regulation of AKR1B10 protein in HCC cell lines. Lastly, down-regulation of AKR1B10 could partially eliminate the enhancement of cell proliferation induced by lncRNA-4045 overexpression, while up-regulation of AKR1B10 was shown to enhance those effects.LncRNA-4045 may promote HCC via enhancement of the expression of AKR1B10 protein.Conclusion: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to be related to the occurrence and development of a variety of cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, a large number of potential HCC-related lncRNAs remain undiscovered and are yet to be fully understood.Differentially expressed lncRNAs were first obtained from the tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues of five HCC patients using high-throughput microarray chips. Then the expression levels of 10 differentially expressed lncRNAs were verified in 50 pairs of tissue samples from patients with HCC by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The oncogenic effects of lncRNA-4045 (ENST00000524045.6) in HCC cell lines were verified through a series of in vitro experiments including CCK-8 assay, plate clone formation assay, transwell assay, scratch assay, and flow cytometry. Subsequently, the potential target genes of lncRNA-4045 were predicted by bioinformatics analysis, fluorescence in situ hybridization assay, and RNA sequencing. The mechanism of lncRNA-4045 in HCC was explored by WB assay as well as rescue and enhancement experiments.The results from microarray chips showed 1,708 lncRNAs to have been significantly upregulated and 2725 lncRNAs to have been significantly downregulated in HCC tissues. Via validation in 50 HCC patients, a novel lncRNA lncRNA-4045 was found significantly upregulated in HCC tissues. Additionally, a series of in vitro experiments showed that lncRNA-4045 promoted the proliferation, invasion, and migration of HCC cell lines, and inhibited the apoptosis of HCC cell lines. The results of qRT-PCR in HCC tissues showed that the expression levels of AKR1B10 were significantly positively correlated with lncRNA-4045. LncRNA-4045 knockdown significantly down-regulated AKR1B10 protein expression, and overexpression of lncRNA-4045 led to significant up-regulation of AKR1B10 protein in HCC cell lines. Lastly, down-regulation of AKR1B10 could partially eliminate the enhancement of cell proliferation induced by lncRNA-4045 overexpression, while up-regulation of AKR1B10 was shown to enhance those effects.LncRNA-4045 may promote HCC via enhancement of the expression of AKR1B10 protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cheap metal sulfide-functionalized fibrous adsorbent was successfully fabricated via the facile in-situ growth method. The composite features irradiation and pH resistance, showing the high adsorption capacity, fast kinetics, excellent selectivity, and dynamical uptake for UO 2 2+ from complex aqueous environments. The adsorption mechanism for UO 2 2+ is revealed to be the synergistic action between functional groups on the functionalized fibers and metal sulfide. [Display omitted] • An environmental and sustainable way for the efficient UO 2 2+ capture by ZnS-AACF. • Cheap and eco-friendly ZnS-AACF is prepared via the facile in-situ growth method. • ZnS-AACF with irradiation and pH resistance exhibits rapid and selective UO 2 2+ adsorption. • ZnS-AACF as a stationary phase in the column can effectively dynamically capture UO 2 2+. • The synergy between functional groups of collagen fibers and ZnS nanoparticles is revealed. Uranium is one of the most hazardous elements due to its long half-life and chemical toxicity to living organisms that occurs in surface, subsurface water, and radioactive wastewater normally in the soluble UO 2 2+ form. However, it is a challenge to rapidly and highly selectively separate UO 2 2+ from complex aqueous environments. Here, we innovatively propose a secure, environmental, and sustainable approach to proficiently capture UO 2 2+. A nano-ZnS/alkali-activated collagen fiber composite (ZnS-AACF) was successfully fabricated via the facile in-situ growth method, in which collagen fibers derived from leather waste act as the substrate. Notably, the composite ZnS-AACF presents good radiation resistance and wide pH durability (pH = 2–11). Moreover, ZnS-AACF has the high maximum adsorption capacity (q m U = 359.72 mg/g), fast kinetics, and excellent selectivity for UO 2 2+. ZnS-AACF can selectively capture UO 2 2+ in the presence of a variety of excess competitive ions such as Fe3+, Ni2+, Cu2+, VO 3 -, and UO 2 2+. Even in highly saline environments with ultra-high concentrations of K+, Ca2+, Na+, Mg2+, Cl-, HCO 3 –, SO 4 2-, and Br- ions, ZnS-AACF can still achieve the selective removal for UO 2 2+. Furthermore, ZnS-AACF can serve as a stationary phase in columns facilitating the dynamic and efficient separation of UO 2 2+ with q m U up to 243.69 mg/g. The adsorption mechanism of ZnS-AACF for UO 2 2+ is revealed to be the synergistic action between functional groups on the collagen fibers and nano-ZnS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Increased oxide charge density Qf improves the subthreshold slope (SS) but too high Qf degrades SS by pinning the potential. • Increased interface donor defect density D it improves the subthreshold behavior of HfO 2 -passivated TFT with 120-nm-thick CuO. • Decreased D it improves the subthreshold behavior of HfO 2 -passivated TFT with 90-nm-thick CuO. • The impact of Q f on the subthreshold behavior is more significant than that of D it. In this work, models of p-type CuO metal-oxide- semiconductor (MOS) capacitor and thin-film transistors (TFTs) are established using numerical simulation tools and compared with experimental data, to investigate the impact of a passivation layer on the TFT subthreshold behavior. Simulated transfer curves and hole concentrations of back-gated CuO TFT with 10 μm channel length confirm the experimental observation of buried-channel and accumulation-mode conduction mechanisms. The subthreshold behavior is analyzed with HfO2 passivation on the top CuO surface varying the densities of fixed oxide charge and interface states, as well as the thickness of the CuO film. The simulation results demonstrate a significant potential improvement of the subthreshold slope and on/off current ratio, mainly thanks to the optimization of the fixed oxide charge densities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfur corrosion has been proven to significantly decrease the insulation performance of oil-immersed transformer and the addition of benzotriazole passivator (BTA) to insulating oil has been widely used to control the sulfur corrosion. However, the relevant studies indicate that the addition of metal passivator to oil can cause abnormal generation of dissolved gases in oil. Thus, this study further explores the effects of metal passivator degradation on the dissolved gas characteristics of oil in oil-immersed transformers. Several accelerated aging experiments on oil-paper insulations with and without BTA are conducted. The results indicate that the addition of BTA lead to the generation of abnormal dissolved gases in the oil along with an increase of stray gases, especially the increase of H 2 , CO and CO 2. Moreover, an abnormal production of the total hydrocarbon fraction is found, which may interfere with the DGA results. Finally, the degradation of BTA related to abnormal production of stray gases in the insulating oil was preliminarily analyzed and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two-stage system involving alkaline thermal gasification of cellulose with Ca(OH) 2 sorbent and catalytic reforming with Ni/Fe dual-functional CaO based catalysts is proposed and applied to enhance H 2 production and in-situ CO 2 capture. The results show that the H 2 concentration is maximized at a considerably lower temperature (500 °C) than commercialized biomass gasification processes, reducing energy consumption. Sol-gel method is deemed better than impregnation method for its lower cost and higher-concentration H 2 production. Among the prepared catalysts, sol-NiCa catalyst exhibits the best performance in CO 2 absorption, resistance to carbon deposition, and cyclic stability, creating maximum H 2 concentration (79.22 vol%), H 2 yield (27.36 mmol g−1 cellulose), and H 2 conversion (57.61%). Introduction of Ni rather than Fe on the CaO based catalyst promotes steam methane reforming at moderate temperature range of 400–600 °C, generating low contents of CH 4 (5.38 vol%), CO 2 (4.82 vol%), and CO (10.58 vol%). [Display omitted] • A two-stage system involving alkaline thermal gasification and catalytic reforming. • Sol-gel shows higher-concentration H 2 production and lower cost than impregnation. • Introduction of Ni rather than Fe on CaO catalysts promotes SMR at 400–600 °C. • Sol-NiCa catalyst exhibits good carbon deposition resistance and cyclic stability. • Maximum H 2 concentration (79.22 vol%) is achieved at moderate temperature of 500 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) represents a major global health challenge. Drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) poses a substantial obstacle to effective TB treatment. Identifying genomic mutations in MTB isolates holds promise for unraveling the underlying mechanisms of drug resistance in this bacterium. Methods: In this study, we investigated the roles of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in MTB isolates resistant to four antibiotics (moxifloxacin, ofloxacin, amikacin, and capreomycin) through whole-genome analysis. We identified the drug-resistance-associated SNVs by comparing the genomes of MTB isolates with reference genomes using the MuMmer4 tool. Results: We observed a strikingly high proportion (94.2%) of MTB isolates resistant to ofloxacin, underscoring the current prevalence of drug resistance in MTB. An average of 3529 SNVs were detected in a single ofloxacin-resistant isolate, indicating a mutation rate of approximately 0.08% under the selective pressure of ofloxacin exposure. We identified a set of 60 SNVs associated with extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB), among which 42 SNVs were non-synonymous mutations located in the coding regions of nine key genes (ctpI, desA3, mce1R, moeB1, ndhA, PE_PGRS4, PPE18, rpsA, secF). Protein structure modeling revealed that SNVs of three genes (PE_PGRS4, desA3, secF) are close to the critical catalytic active sites in the three-dimensional structure of the coding proteins. Conclusion: This comprehensive study elucidates novel resistance mechanisms in MTB against antibiotics, paving the way for future design and development of anti-tuberculosis drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation Virus integration in the host genome is frequently reported to be closely associated with many human diseases, and the detection of virus integration is a critically challenging task. However, most existing tools show limited specificity and sensitivity. Therefore, the objective of this study is to develop a method for accurate detection of virus integration into host genomes. Results Herein, we report a novel method termed HIVID2 that is a significant upgrade of HIVID. HIVID2 performs a paired-end combination (PE-combination) for potentially integrated reads. The resulting sequences are then remapped onto the reference genomes, and both split and discordant chimeric reads are used to identify accurate integration breakpoints with high confidence. HIVID2 represents a great improvement in specificity and sensitivity, and predicts breakpoints closer to the real integrations, compared with existing methods. The advantage of our method was demonstrated using both simulated and real datasets. HIVID2 uncovered novel integration breakpoints in well-known cervical cancer-related genes, including FHIT and LRP1B, which was verified using protein expression data. In addition, HIVID2 allows the user to decide whether to automatically perform advanced analysis using the identified virus integrations. By analyzing the simulated data and real data tests, we demonstrated that HIVID2 is not only more accurate than HIVID but also better than other existing programs with respect to both sensitivity and specificity. We believe that HIVID2 will help in enhancing future research associated with virus integration. Availabilityand implementation HIVID2 can be accessed at https://github.com/zengxi-hada/HIVID2/. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rubber vulcanization generates volatile organic compounds emissions associated with the intermolecular crosslinking reactions at rather higher temperatures mediated by many kinds of indispensable additive. To achieve the carbon peaking and neutrality targets in China, rubber processing industries call for ecofriendly, green additives to satisfy demands of high-efficiency vulcanization at low temperatures. Herein an oligomer deep eutectic solvent (DES) based on polyethylene glycol is used for the first time for regulating vulcanization kinetics of natural rubber (NR) gums. It is found that DES at 0.2–1.0 phr (parts per hundred parts of rubber) dosages could accelerate the vulcanization at 120–140 °C without marked influences on crosslinking density and storage modulus at vulcanization equilibrium. The vulcanization of DES-containing gums at 120 °C is faster than that of the DES-free one at 140 °C while the DES-containing vulcanizates cured at 120 °C exhibit nonlinear rheological responses being similar to the DES-free one cured at 140 °C. The low-temperature vulcanization in general generates vulcanizates exhibiting higher tensile strength in comparison with those cured at 140 °C. Furthermore, DES could not influence the Mullins effect of the vulcanizates undergoing cyclic tension deformation. The results show that the non-volatile DES could be used to adjust the vulcanization kinetics without impact on the crosslinking density and Mullins effect, paving the way for developing energy-saving green vulcanization technologies. Polyethylene glycol-based deep eutectic solvent accelerates vulcanization of natural rubber without impact on the crosslinking density, paving the way for developing energy-saving green vulcanization technologies. [Display omitted] • Polyethylene glycol-based deep eutectic solvent (DES) accelerates vulcanization of NR. • DES improves proportion of polysulfide bonds of the crosslinking network. • DES does not influence Mullins effect of the vulcanizates. • DES-containing vulcanizates cured at 120 °C exhibit nonlinear rheology being similar to the DES-free ones cured at 140 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a known complication of cisplatin administration; currently, there are no effective ways to prevent it. Therefore, it largely limited the use of cisplatin in chemotherapy in the clinic. In this study, we reported that Limonin, a triterpenoid compound extracted from citrus, alleviated cisplatin-induced AKI through metabolic reprogramming in the diseased kidneys. Cisplatin was employed to induce AKI in mice. Three groups were set up: Sham, cisplatin + vehicle, and cisplatin + Limonin. Using UHPLC-TOF/MS, we conducted metabolomics to profile the kidneys' endogenous metabolites and metabolic pathways. A network pharmacological method was performed to identify the targets of Limonin on AKI. The human proximal tubular epithelial cell line (HK-2) was applied for in vitro studies. Limonin preserved serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels after cisplatin-induced AKI. Employing metabolomics, we identified 33 endogenous differentially expressed metabolites and 7 significantly disturbed metabolic pathways in the diseased kidneys within three groups. After AKI, Limonin significantly reduced linoleic acid and its downstream product, arachidonic acid, thus exerting a protective effect on the kidney. The network pharmacological method identified CYP3A4 as a key target of Limonin in treating AKI, while CYP3A4 also serve as a mediator of arachidonic acid metabolism. In vitro , Limonin markedly reduced the level of arachidonic acid and HK-2 cell apoptosis triggered by cisplatin, mainly related to the targeted inhibition of CYP3A4-mediated arachidonic acid metabolism. Limonin ameliorates cisplatin-induced AKI by inhibiting CYP3A4 activity to regulate arachidonic acid metabolism, ultimately preserving kidney function. [Display omitted] • Limonin is an effective phytochemical with significant clinical potential in preventing cisplatin-induced AKI. • Regulating the kidney metabolic microenvironment change is a key mechanism of limonin treating cisplatin-induced AKI. • As a novel target of limonin, CYP3A4 mediates arachidonic acid metabolism to protect against AKI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light-induced de-etiolation is an important aspect of seedling photomorphogenesis. GOLDEN2 LIKE (GLK) transcriptional regulators are involved in chloroplast development, but to what extent they participate in photomorphogenesis is not clear. Here, we show that ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL5 (HY5) binds to GLK promoters to activate their expression, and also interacts with GLK proteins in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). The chlorophyll content in the de-etiolating Arabidopsis seedlings of the hy5 glk2 double mutants was lower than that in the hy5 single mutant. GLKs inhibited hypocotyl elongation, and the phenotype could superimpose on the hy5 phenotype. Correspondingly, GLK2 regulated the expression of photosynthesis and cell elongation genes partially independent of HY5. Before exposure to light, DE-ETIOLATED 1 (DET1) affected accumulation of GLK proteins. The enhanced etioplast development and photosystem gene expression observed in the det1 mutant were attenuated in the det1 glk2 double mutant. Our study reveals that GLKs act downstream of HY5, or additive to HY5, and are likely quantitatively adjusted by DET1, to orchestrate multiple developmental traits during the light-induced skotomorphogenesis-to-photomorphogenesis transition in Arabidopsis. GLK transcription factors act downstream of or additive to HY5 to regulate both chloroplast development and hypocotyl elongation during greening of Arabidopsis seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proposed deflecting abrasive waterjet peening (DAWJP) process can be used for surface strengthening of metallic parts with confined space features, which has great potential to improve the surface integrity and fretting fatigue (FF) life of dovetail slots in turbine discs. In this paper, the nickel-based superalloy GH4169 dovetail slot is strengthened by DAWJP and shot peening (SP), and the effects of DAWJP and SP on surface integrity and FF performance of the dovetail slot are investigated. First, the DAWJP with three different processes (water pressure of 205 MPa, traverse speed of 5 mm/s, standoff distance of 2 mm, and path interval of 0.05, 0.1, and 0.15 mm) and the SP with one process (peening intensity of 0.25 mmA with coverage of 100%) were conducted on the contour surface of the dovetail slot. The surface integrity of the dovetail slot before and after the DAWJP and SP treatment was investigated, including microstructure, surface roughness and microscopic morphology, microhardness, and residual stress. Results showed that the dovetail slot treated by the DAWJP with different path intervals formed a plastic deformation layer with a thickness of 22–43 μm and surface roughness Ra and Sa of 0.391–0.501 μm and 0.763–0.907 μm. The surface microhardness and CRS of the DAWJP-treated dovetail slot were approximately 541–591 HV and 1005–1169 MPa, 16%–27% and 178%–224% times higher than the as-received dovetail slot. The SP-treated dovetail slot produced relatively large surface roughness, slight plastic deformation, and low microhardness and CRS compared with the DAWJP-treated dovetail slot. Finally, FF tests were carried out to study the FF behavior of the dovetail slot before and after DAWJP and SP treatment. The FF lives of the dovetail slot treated by DAWJP were 4.82 and 3.91 times that of the as-received dovetail slot at room temperature and a high temperature of 650 °C. In contrast, the FF lives of the SP-treated dovetail slot were 2.96 and 1.96 times that of the as-received specimen at room temperature and a high temperature of 650 °C, which verified that DAWJP has a more significant effect on improving the FF life of dovetail slots than the SP treatment used for comparison. The FF fracture and fretting contact surface and its cross-sectional microstructure were examined, and the results showed that the extreme grain refinement, large CRS, and high work-hardening induced by DAWJP could be the key to greatly improving the FF life of dovetail slots. This work takes the lead in the surface treatment of dovetail slots through the proposed DAWJP process, which provides a feasible reference plan for effectively and economically improving the FF resistance of dovetail slots in turbine discs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A brief introduction of single-molecule magnets (SMMs) and polyoxometalates (POMs). • The advantageous chemical and structural features of POM frameworks for the preparation of SMMs. • The systemic classification and survey of POMs-based SMMs. • The synthesis strategies and multifunctional properties for future application devices. Single-molecule magnets (SMMs) have attracted increasing attention in recent years due to the potentially applicable in high-density information storage and spintronic devices. There are now many high-performance SMMs that have been achieved by the use of organic ligands. Meanwhile, polyoxometalates (POMs) as inorganic multidentate ligands are toward prospective candidates for the fabrication of SMMs, owing to their oxygen-rich surfaces and various coordination geometries of the incorporated 3d- and 4f-ions. Notably, the bulky diamagnetic shell of POMs efficiently excludes dipole–dipole coupling between neighboring molecules, and the rigid frameworks offer the advantage for surface deposition and device applications. Hence, the wide variety of paramagnetic cations have been stabilized by POM ligands to establish SMMs, including mono-, di-, multi- and hetero-metal containing POMs. We herein systematically summarize the research progress achieved for POM-based SMMs reported in the last decade. The present review focuses on the design strategies for the construction of the SMMs referring to POM ligands and multifunctional properties of the POM-based SMMs for future application devices. This review provides a roadmap for the further exploration of compelling and challenging areas in POM-based SMMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, more and more people are concerned about air quality. The particle size of aerosol is an important parameter of air quality. The classical laser particle size analyzer has some disadvantages, such as high price, large volume, and difficult processing. We introduce the scattering receiving screen into the forward light intensity distribution detection system, which only needs a commonly available CCD to obtain an image. Our method has the advantages of low cost and large detection angle. A genetic algorithm was then used to retrieve aerosol particle size distribution from scattered light intensity images. The experimental results show that the aerosol particle size distribution measured by the imaging method is close to that provided by a commercial particle size spectrometer. Moreover, the experimental results also show that this method can measure a polydisperse system. The method presented in this paper provides a simple and feasible scheme for the online detection of particle size distribution in atmospheric, medical, and industrial environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Catalytic role of char's CaO in tar conversion was examined in micro fluidized bed reaction analyser. • Reaction Characteristics and kinetics were analyzed based on gas products release and evolution. • CaO dramatically enhanced the generation of H 2 , CO, CO 2 even at 1023 K. • CaO greatly reduced the generation activation energy of H 2 , CO, and C 2 H 6. In this study, a newly-developed micro fluidized bed reaction analyser (MFBRA) was adopted to examine the effects of char's inherent CaO on tar catalytic cracking from 1023 K to 1173 K. A simulated CaO-based char catalyst was prepared by impregnation method. For comparison, the blank experiments were also conducted by employing the demineralized char free of CaO. The tar cracking behaviour and reaction kinetics based on the gas products generation were systematically compared. The structure and reaction activity of char sample before and after experiment were also analyzed. The results shows that tar conversion processes can be divided into a fast cracking stage and a stable conversion stage. By increasing the reaction temperature, the tar conversion by char without CaO to the total gas products and its reaction rate changed from 41.15 % to 71.50 % and from 0.055 s−1 to 0.081 s−1, respectively; but for char with CaO, they improved from 57.54 % to 88.25 % and from 0.062 s−1 to 0.096 s−1, respectively. The presence of CaO dramatically enhanced tar conversion even at a low temperature of 1023 K, producing more effective gas components, such as H 2 , CO, CO 2 , and C 2 H 6. For CH 4 and C 3 H 6 , the promotion became obvious at high temperatures above 1123 K. During tar catalytic cracking, CaO suppressed carbon deposition on char surface to some extent. Meanwhile, the generation activation energy (Ea) of CH 4 , the total gas products, H 2 , CO 2 , CO, C 2 H 6 , and C 3 H 6 decreased to a great extent, indicating the good catalytic activity of the inherent CaO in char. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Filament-induced aerosol fluorescence emission appears a strong angular dependence. • The backward angular distribution of the aerosol fluorescence can be attributed to Mie scattering. • The divergence angle of aerosol fluorescence radiation is affected by the particle size distribution. Backward angular distributions of the sodium fluorescence in NaCl aerosols induced by femtosecond laser filamentation in air with a distance of 10 m are measured. The recorded signals appear as strong angular dependence. Further study indicates that it could be associated with the Mie scattering of the filamentation-induced "aerosol lasing" in the forward direction. These results will benefit the remote-sensing of air pollutants by femtosecond laser filamentation-based LIDAR (light detection and ranging). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein (Pal) in A. baumannii pathogenesis remains unclear. Here, we illustrated its role by constructing a pal deficient A. baumannii mutant and its complementary strain.Transcriptome analysis of the WT and pal mutant revealed a total of 596 differentially expressed genes. Gene Ontology analysis revealed that pal deficiency caused the downregulation of genes related to material transport and metabolic processes. The pal mutant showed a slower growth and was sensitive to detergent and serum killing compared to WT strain, whereas, the complemented pal mutant showed rescued phenotype. The pal mutant caused decreased mortality in mice pneumonia infection compared to WT strain, while the complemented pal mutant showed increased mortality. Mice immunized with recombinant Pal showed 40% protection against A. baumannii -mediated pneumonia. Collectively, these data indicate Pal is a virulence factor of A. baumannii and may serve as a potential target for preventive or therapeutic interventions. • Pal mutation strain of A. baumannii has reduced virulence in mice infection. • Complemented pal mutant can rescuer the reduced virulence. • Pal mutant showed significant transcriptome change. • Recombinant Pal of A. baumannii could serve as a potential vaccine candidate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroptosis is a type of nonapoptotic necrotic cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. Saikosaponin A (SsA), a natural bioactive triterpenoid saponin extracted from Radix Bupleuri , has shown potent antitumor activity against various tumors. However, the underlying mechanism of the antitumor activity of SsA remains unclear. Here, we discovered that SsA induced HCC cell ferroptosis in vitro and in vivo. Using RNA-sequence analysis, we found that SsA mainly affected the glutathione metabolic pathway and inhibited the expression of cystine transporter solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11). Indeed, SsA increased intracellular malondialdehyde (MDA) and iron accumulation, while it decreased the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) in HCC. Deferoxamine (DFO), ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) and GSH could rescue SsA-induced cell death, whereas Z-VAD-FMK was found ineffective in inhibiting SsA-induced cell death in HCC. Importantly, our result indicated that SsA induced the expression of activation transcription factor 3 (ATF3). SsA-induced cell ferroptosis and suppression of SLC7A11 are dependent on ATF3 in HCC. Moreover, we revealed that SsA induced ATF3 upregulation via activation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Taken together, our findings support that ATF3-dependent cell ferroptosis mediated the antitumor effects of SsA, opening the possibility to explore SsA as a ferroptosis inducer in HCC. [Display omitted] • SsA induces cell ferroptosis in HCC. • SsA triggers cell ferroptosis through glutathione pathway. • ATF3 contributes to SsA-induced cell ferroptosis in HCC. • SsA promotes ATF3 expression and cell ferroptosis by inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a micro fluidized bed reaction analyzer (MFBRA) was used to investigate the reaction characteristics of tar thermal cracking and steam reforming at different temperatures (T, 750, 850, and 950 °C) and steam partial pressures (SP, 10%, 20%, and 30%). The reaction kinetics, including gas components generation (H 2 , CO, CO 2 , and CH 4) and carbon (C) conversion in gas products, were calculated and further compared. For the two processes, the behaviors of gas generation and C conversion can be classified as Stage-1 and Stage-2 based on the different increases. By raising temperature and SP, the yields of H 2 /CO/CH 4 and C conversion increased obviously, while CO 2 showed a growing and subsequently declining trend. A similar phenomenon also existed in the relationship between reaction rate Vs. gas yield/C conversion. Compared to thermal cracking, the reaction time in tar steam reforming became much longer; the yields of H 2 /CO/CH 4 and the C conversion increased significantly, while CO 2 decreased. In the meantime, there was a clear reduction in all reaction rates of gas generation and C conversion. Furthermore, in tar steam reforming, the activated energy (Ea) of gas components generation (H 2 , CO, CO 2 , and CH 4) decreased from 114.92 to 90.48, 86.54–74.49, 32.39–28.87, and 55.34–42.06 kJ/mol, respectively; and Ea of total C conversion lowered from 87.74 to 65.75 kJ/mol. Additionally, SP had no impact on Ea during tar steam reforming. To ensure the validity of the test results by MFBRA, the kinetics of tar thermal cracking was compared with that in the literature. • Tar thermal cracking and steam reforming were conducted on MFBRA. • Characteristics and kinetics of gas product release and C conversion were compared. • Tar steam reforming had higher tar conversion to gas, lower reaction rate and Ea. • Accuracy of kinetics was analyzed by comparing with the results in literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multicolor immunosensor is a promising tool for on-site rapid analysis by naked eye without bulky instruments. Herein, a multicolor immunosensor employed a specific nanobody-alkaline phosphatase fusion protein (VHHjd8-ALP) for biosensing of fenitrothion was developed. After one-step indirect competitive immunoassay, the binding VHHjd8-ALP in microplate catalyzed ascorbyl-2-phosphate (AAP) into ascorbic acid, which propose dual readout including multicolor ratiometric visible immunoassay (MRVIA) and multicolor ratiometric fluoroimmunoassay (MRFIA). For MRVIA, K 3 [Fe(CN) 6 ] and Fe3+ was employed for multicolor generation. The substrate AAP can chelate with Fe3+ to form orange AAP-Fe3+ complex. When ALP catalyzed AAP into ascorbic acid, the latter can reduced K 3 [Fe(CN) 6 ] into K 4 [Fe(CN) 6 ], which reacted with Fe3+ to produced Prussian blue via self-assembly. A visible color transition from orange to blue against fenitrothion was obtained. For MRFIA, the generated ascorbic acid etched MnO 2 nanosheet to control the concentration of Na 2 SO 3 , which can convert 9-anthraldehyde into sulfuretted anthracene accompanied by a fluorescent color transition from green to blue. These two methods showed visible multicolor transition against fenitrothion for naked-eye analysis. The recovery and blind samples test verified good accuracy and practicability, which can be used for rapid screening of fenitrothion by a naked-eye semiquantitative analysis mode. [Display omitted] • Multicolor immunoassays were achieved without precious-metal materials. • Color regulation relies on ratiometric changing of dual signals. • The VHHjd8-ALP-based strategy can develop a dual multicolor immunosensor. • They can be used for semiquantitative detection without complex apparatus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The offshore oil spills and the discharge of oily wastewater are not only doing harm to the economy but also disrupting our aquatic and biotic environment. In order to alleviate this serious situation, researchers have developed super-wettability membranes to achieve efficient oil-water separation. Among them, asymmetric wettability Janus membranes with unique selective permeable properties have received widespread attention. However, utilizing a facile and environment-friendly method to endow a material with Janus super wettability to realize high oil-water separation efficiency and selectivity is still a challenge. Herein, a low-cost strategy is used to electrodeposit flake Zn on the copper mesh. Super-hydrophilic ZnO can be grown on it by a simple hydrothermal method, and then the Janus membrane with asymmetric wettability can be obtained by spraying SiO 2 and octadecanethiol modification. It is worth noting that at a suction pressure of 4 kPa, the separation efficiency of the light oil-water mixture can reach more than 99.99%, and the flux is up to 13067.5 L·m-2·h-1. Under the action of gravity, the separation efficiency of the heavy oil-water mixture can reach more than 99.80%, and the flux is about 2000 L·m-2·h-1. Undoubtedly, the Janus membrane can simplify the operation to achieve on-demand oil-water separation. Last but not least, it can still maintain good performance after acid-base corrosion, wear, and cyclic tests, thereby showing broad potential in the field of oil-water separation and environmental protection. [Display omitted] • The elaborated hydrophilic-hydrophobic asymmetric wetting Janus membrane were built facilely. • The separation efficiency of light oil-water mixture can reach 99.99% and the flux is up to 13067.5 L·m-2·h-1. • This Janus membrane can achieve on-demand oil-water separation for various mixture. • The inorganic separated membrane is extremely durable wear-resistant due to chemical bonding to substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Two-stage steam gasification and catalytic reforming of rice husk for H 2 -rich gas. • Ce 0.7 Ni 1 Ca 5 catalyst achieves 85.81 vol% H 2 with H 2 yield of 35.82 mmol g-1 biomass. • Ce 0.7 Ni 1 Ca 5 exhibits excellent cyclic stability and inhibition of carbon deposition. • High oxygen transport capacity of CeO 2 helps to promote WGS and SMR reactions. • CeO 2 prevents the sintering of NiO and CaO particles, stabilizing CO 2 sorption. Hydrogen-rich gas production from rice husk via steam gasification and catalytic reforming using CeO 2 -modified Ni-CaO sorption bifunctional catalysts synthesized by sol–gel method in a two-stage system was investigated. The results show that the Ce 0.7 Ni 1 Ca 5 catalyst achieves maximum H 2 concentration (85.81(±0.39) vol.%) and H 2 yield (35.82(±0.28) mmol g-1 biomass) under a condition of 500 °C, S/C (steam/carbon in biomass) molar ratio of 5, catalyst/biomass mass ratio of 2.5, producing the lowest content of CO 2 (3.62(±0.16) vol.%), CO (4.27(±0.11) vol.%), CH 4 (4.49(±0.18) vol.%), and C 2 -C 3 (1.81(±0.09) vol.%), correspondingly. Ce 0.7 Ni 1 Ca 5 also exhibits excellent cyclic stability in H 2 production, CO 2 sorption, and inhibition of carbon deposition. The H 2 concentration and H 2 yield remain above 81.88 vol% and 32.11 mmol g-1 biomass , respectively, and CO 2 emission keeps below 4.85 vol% during 10 cyclic tests. The carbon deposition of Ce 0.7 Ni 1 Ca 5 is only about 30% of that of Ni 1 Ca 5 after 10 cycles and hardly increased after 5 cycles. It is found that well-dispersed CeO 2 can effectively prevent the sintering of NiO and delay agglomeration of CaO species, stabilizing CaO carbonation and CO 2 sorption, and the strong Ni-O-Ce interaction induces the creation of oxygen vacancies that facilitate the fracture of O–H bonds of water for the formation of H 2. Furthermore, the high oxygen transport capacity of CeO 2 not only forms abundant mesopores structure to promote WGS and SMR reactions for enhancing H 2 production, but also contributes to reforming the carbon deposited on the catalyst surface by lowering the oxidation temperature of amorphous carbon containing low-molecular aromatic or aliphatic compounds with lower degree of graphitization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • In-situ Sr-Nd-O isotopic analyses of minerals are employed to constrain the nature of primary magmas in the Weishan syenite-(carbonatite) complex. • Both lithospheric and asthenospheric mantle have contributed to the generation of the Weishan complex. • Involvement of asthenosphere-derived components may play an important role in the enrichment of REE in the Weishan complex. Carbonatite-alkaline complexes are commonly derived from the mantle. However, whether the source is lithospheric or asthenospheric mantle remains debated. In order to better understand this issue, this paper conducts a Sr-Nd-O isotopic study on the Early Cretaceous, Weishan REE-rich syenite-(carbonatite) complex, Northern China. Two types of apatite are identified from the Weishan complex, namely magmatic and xenocrystic apatite. In-situ Sr-Nd isotopic analyses on magmatic apatite yielded (87Sr/86Sr) i from 0.70690 to 0.70719, and ε Nd (t) from −7.6 to −8.8. The pristine calcite from carbonatite has similar (87Sr/86Sr) i (0.70727–0.70739) with magmatic apatite. In-situ oxygen isotopic analyses on zircon yielded δ18O VSMOW (‰) from 5.9 to 6.7 ‰. Previous studies reveal that coeval, mantle lithosphere-derived rocks in the region have more enriched Sr (87Sr/86Sr i greater than 0.709) and Nd [ε Nd (t) 〈 −1 2] isotopes than the Weishan complex; whereas the asthenosphere-derived rocks in the region are characterized by depleted Sr-Nd isotopes (87Sr/86Sr i < 0.706; ε Nd (t) greater than 0) and low δ18O VSMOW values (mostly < 5.4 ‰). It is well known that Northern China experienced destruction in the Early Mesozoic, which was accompanied with asthenosphere upwelling along trans -lithosphere faults. Considering that the Weishan complex locates adjacent to the trans -lithosphere Tanlu fault, generation of the complex may be related to asthenosphere-lithosphere interaction. Notably, the Weishan complex differs from coeval REE-barren carbonatites in that its source involved asthenosphere-derived components; hence, involvement of asthenosphere-derived components may be important for the formation of such a REE-rich complex. In general, this study highlights the importance of lithosphere-asthenosphere interaction in supplying necessary heat and materials for the generation of the Weishan complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The efficient and highly selective recovery of UO 2 2+ ions from complex aqueous solutions is achieved by a recyclable adsorbent of NH 4 +-intercalated MnPS 3 for radionuclide remediation and uranium shortage alleviation. • UO 2 2+ uptake of NH 4 +-intercalated MnPS 3 (N-MPS) was firstly studied. • N-MPS exhibits high capacity (854.36 mg/g) and high selectivity for uranium uptake. • N-MPS has good pH durability, β / γ irradiation resistance and excellent reusability. • The mechanism is the synergy of ion exchange and surface adsorption. • Layered sulfide Intercalation is proven effective towards uranium adsorbents. Uranium (U), as a basic raw material for the nuclear industry, poses long-term strong chemical toxicity and radiological hazard to the living system if not properly treated. Herein, the efficient separation of U(VI) has been achieved by a layered manganese thiophosphite intercalated with NH 4 +, namely (NH 4) 0.48 Mn 0.76 PS 3 ·H 2 O (N-MPS). N-MPS has good pH durability and β / γ irradiation resistance, and exhibits an outstanding capacity (q m U = 854.36 mg/g), fast kinetics, and superb selectivity towards U(VI). Impressively, the obtained K d U values in U(VI)-contaminated tap water and lake water are up to 2.23 × 104 mL/g. We further find that the adsorbent can be completely regenerated by a mild and eco-friendly method and reused for at least five cycles. By using various characterizations (Raman, XPS, TEM, Zeta potential and EXAFS) and batch adsorption experiments, the adsorption mechanism of N-MPS for U(VI) has been revealed, that is, the synergy of ion exchange between U(VI) ions and interlayered NH 4 + ions and surface adsorption of N-MPS. This work not only confirms that N-MPS has excellent application potential for highly efficient incarceration of U(VI) from wastewater, but also paves the way to develop new high-performance adsorbents by intercalation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A data-based method of modeling multiple uncertainty is proposed and the proposed uncertainty set contains the interval constraint and convex hull of an ellipsoid constraint. • A pseudo-decoupling PV dispatch strategy is proposed to approximate the separation of reactive power and uncertainty through convex optimization. • A two-stage robust optimization at the hourly level is proposed based on an SOCP relaxation-based model, the aforementioned multiple uncertainty set, and the pseudo-decoupling PV dispatch strategy. • A dispatch method is proposed to minimize the network loss without the short-time optimization in the centralized optimization framework. In multi-time-scale optimization frameworks of daily, hourly, and minute levels, centralized optimization has a demand for real-time communication and prediction technology. In the distribution network of an undeveloped area, the minute level optimization does not work because of the lack of accurate prediction and real-time communication. The practical reactive power originally obtained from the minute-level optimization does not exist, and the uncertainty should be considered in hourly level optimization. In this study, a two-stage robust optimization at the hourly level is proposed to minimize the network loss without the minute level optimization. A simple data-based method of modeling multiple uncertainty is proposed, which directly uses historical data with minimal mathematical knowledge. The multiple uncertainty set contains the interval constraint and convex hull of an ellipsoid constraint. The convex hull of the ellipsoid constraint is formed by ellipse tangents. In addition, the practical reactive power cannot be obtained through the common robust inverter dispatch strategy, which sets the maximum available active power as an uncertain variable. A pseudo-decoupling dispatch strategy is proposed to approximate the separation of reactive power and uncertainty and obtain the practical reactive power. The Benders decomposition framework is used to solve the two-stage robust optimization, and a feasible linear constraint generated from the subproblem is added to the master problem. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The spectral domain Z-scan method is proposed in this paper, which is insensitive to the sample's roughness and defects. • The spectral broadening caused by self-phase modulation (SPM) is used to evaluate material's nonlinear refractive index n 2. • This method can characterize the nonlinear optical properties of highly scattering materials, including biological samples and advanced materials, such as transparent colorful ceramics and unpolished perovskite. Characterizing the nonlinear optical properties of various materials plays a prerequisite role in nonlinear optics. Among different measurement methods, the well-known Z-scan technique and the modified versions have been recognized as simple and accurate methods for measuring both the real and imaginary parts of the nonlinear refractive index. However, the Z-scan methods based on detecting small beam variations impose a severe restriction on the roughness of materials. Therefore, measuring nonlinear optical properties of highly scattering media still remain challenging. Inspired by the innovation of the conventional Z-scan method that replaces the measurement of the wavefront phase shift by measuring the spatial pattern in the far-field, the spectral domain Z-scan technique is presented in this paper. It has the great potential in characterizing the nonlinear refractive index of highly scattering medium, since the scattering efficiency is insensitive to the wavelength for Mie scattering, which occurs for wavelengths far smaller than the roughness. Moreover, to demonstrate the advantages of the spectral domain Z-scan technique, the nonlinear refractions of polished slides and frosted slides were measured, which agree well with previous reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Two sulfides exhibit high adsorption capacities and ultrafast removal of Eu3+. • Selective Eu3+ adsorption against interfering ions in natural water. • Lanthanides recovery from acidic industrial wastewaters is realized. • The adsorption mechanism is ion exchange between Eu3+ and cations. • The soft Lewis basic and flexible layer is beneficial to selective Eu3+ uptake. Efficient and selective capture of lanthanides from radioactive wastewater containing excessive diverse concentrated salts is challenging but urgently demanded for environmental protection and human health. Herein, we present an effective approach for Eu3+ uptake from complex aqueous solutions by using two layered sulfide adsorbents (Me 2 NH 2) 2 (Ga 2 Sb 2 S 7)·H 2 O (FJSM-GAS-1) and (Et 2 NH 2) 2 (Ga 2 Sb 2 S 7)·H 2 O (FJSM-GAS-2). Both adsorbents exhibit ultrafast kinetics (within 2 min) and high absorption capacities for Eu3+ (127.7 and 115.8 mg/g for FJSM-GAS-1 and FJSM-GAS-2 , respectively). The distribution coefficient (K d) can be as high as 6.39 × 105 and 6.00 × 105 mL/g for FJSM-GAS-1 and FJSM-GAS-2 , respectively, exceeding that of reported Eu3+ adsorbents. They still display high selectivity for Eu3+ in presence of excessive competitive cations (e.g., Na+ and K+). Particularly, high K d values remain for Eu3+ removal from Eu3+-contaminated tap, lake and sea water, and lanthanides recovery from acidic industrial wastewater. Absorbed Eu3+ ions can be facilely eluted using a low-cost method. The adsorption mechanism, illuminated via DFT calculations coupled with characterizations of EA, Raman, XPS and EXAFS, is ion exchange between Eu3+ and interlayered cations owing to the strong interactions between Eu3+ and framework S2−. This work confirms that layered sulfides are promising adsorbents for efficient removal of lanthanides/actinides from wastewater for environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ichang papeda (Citrus ichangensis), a wild perennial plant of the Rutaceae family, is a cold-hardy plant. WRKY transcription factors are crucial regulators of plant growth and development as well as abiotic stress responses. However, the WRKY genes in C. ichangensis (CiWRKY) and their expression patterns under cold stress have not been thoroughly investigated, hindering our understanding of their role in cold tolerance. Results: In this study, a total of 52 CiWRKY genes identified in the genome of C. ichangensis were classified into three main groups and five subgroups based on phylogenetic analysis. Comprehensive analyses of motif features, conserved domains, and gene structures were performed. Segmental duplication plays a significant role in the CiWRKY gene family expansion. Cis-acting element analysis revealed the presence of various stress-responsive elements in the promoters of the majority of CiWRKYs. Gene ontology (GO) analysis and protein-protein interaction predictions indicate that the CiWRKYs exhibit crucial roles in regulation of both development and stress response. Expression profiling analysis demonstrates that 14 CiWRKYs were substantially induced under cold stress. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) assay confirmed that CiWRKY31, one of the cold-induced WRKYs, functions positively in regulation of cold tolerance. Conclusion: Sequence and protein properties of CiWRKYs were systematically analyzed. Among the 52 CiWRKY genes 14 members exhibited cold-responsive expression patterns, and CiWRKY31 was verified to be a positive regulator of cold tolerance. These findings pave way for future investigations to understand the molecular functions of CiWRKYs in cold tolerance and contribute to unravelling WRKYs that may be used for engineering cold tolerance in citrus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose Experimental Approach Key Results Conclusion and Implications Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a refractory inflammatory disease associated with immune dysregulation. Elevated levels of heat shock protein (HSP) 90 in the β but not α subtype were positively associated with disease status in UC patients. This study validated the possibility that pharmacological inhibition or reduction of HSP90β would alleviate colitis, induced by dextran sulfate sodium, in mice and elucidated its mechanisms.Histopathological and biochemical analysis assessed disease severity, and bioinformatics and correlation analysis explained the association between the many immune cells and HSP90β. Flow cytometry was used to analyse the homeostasis and transdifferentiation of Th17 and Treg cells. In vitro inhibition and adoptive transfer assays were used to investigate functions of the phenotypically transformed Th17 cells. Metabolomic analysis, DNA methylation detection and chromatin immunoprecipitation were used to explore these mechanisms.The selective pharmacological inhibitor (HSP90βi) and shHSP90β significantly mitigated UC in mice and promoted transformation of Th17 to Treg cell phenotype, via Foxp3 transcription. The phenotypically‐transformed Th17 cells by HSP90βi or shHSP90β were able to inhibit lymphocyte proliferation and colitis in mice. HSP90βi and shHSP90β selectively weakened glycolysis by stopping the direct association of HSP90β and GLUT1, the key glucose transporter, to accelerate ubiquitination degradation of GLUT1, and enhance the methylation of Foxp3 CNS2 region. Then, the mediator path was identified as the “lactate‐STAT5‐TET2” cascade.HSP90β shapes the fate of Th17 cells via glycolysis‐controlled methylation modification to affect UC progression, which provides a new therapeutic target for UC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dion–Jacobson (DJ) double perovskites have emerged as environmentally friendly candidates for X‐ray detection, owing to their prominent optoelectronic performance and highlighted structural rigidity. Despite considerable efforts, the exploration of polar DJ‐type double perovskites for self‐powered X‐ray detection remains scarce. Herein, by introducing a diamine spacer to increase the structural rigidity, the study has successfully designed a new polar 2D DJ‐type double perovskite of (HIA)2AgBiBr8 (1, HIA = histamine), and centimeter‐size crystals are successfully obtained for effective X‐ray detection. Structurally, 1 features the quantum‐confined motif comprised of the directionally arranged inorganic perovskite sheets and alternating organic spacing cations, which endows a large mobility‐lifetime (µτ) product up to 1.23 × 10−3 cm2 V−1 on the par with typical X‐ray sensing candidates (MAPbI3 wafers, µτ = 2 × 10−3 cm2 V−1). This attribute gives rise to a high sensitivity of 118 µCGyair−1 cm−2 to X‐ray illumination. Moreover, based on its polar structure, bulk photovoltaic effect with the photovoltage of ≈0.45 V is obtained in 1, which affords the driving source toward the self‐powered X‐ray photodetection. This work highlights the potential of DJ‐type double perovskites in high‐energy ray detection and opens avenues for exploring new functionalities of DJ double perovskites as smart photoelectric candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polarization‐sensitive photodetection has intensive practical applications, including optical anti‐counterfeiting, image encryption, and remote sensing. 2D hybrid perovskites have emerged as a robust candidate in this portfolio, due to their inherent quantum‐confined structure and anisotropic properties. However, studies on the chemical assembly of inorganic‐layer thickness to regulate structural anisotropy and polarization‐sensitive photodetection behavior remain insufficient. Here, the inorganic‐layer thickness of 2D homologous perovskites is regulated, (MBA)2(CH3NH3)n−1PbnI3n+1 (n = 1–3, where MBA = 4‐methylbenzylamine), featuring the similar polar structures and strong optical anisotropy. Notably, photoelectric merits are greatly improved from n = 1 to n = 3 with the weakening of the quantum confinement effect. Under illumination, the n = 3 member exhibits large on/off ratios of photocurrent (≈2.1 × 104) far beyond other lower‐layered counterparts. The polarized‐light photodetector based on n = 3 crystal shows intriguing behaviors, including noticeable responsivity (1.2 mA W−1), detectivity (9.5 × 1013 Jones), and superior photocurrent anisotropy (≈110.4). Besides, fascinating self‐powered polarization behaviors with a large anisotropy contrast are achieved based on the bulk photovoltaic effect, stemming from the structural polarity. These characteristics underscore the design strategy of inorganic‐layer regulation in advancing the exploration of new 2D perovskite candidates for polarization‐based optoelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Post-stroke fatigue is a typical complication following stroke. However, existing research primarily focused on its underlying mechanisms, and its impact on rehabilitation outcomes has yet to be uncovered. Objective: This study aims to explore the impact of post-stroke fatigue on rehabilitation outcomes during hospitalization. Method: This was a prospective multicenter observational study including 46 stroke patients receiving comprehensive rehabilitation treatment. Patients' basic information was recorded upon admission and patients' functional independence was assessed with Functional Independence Measure (FIM) both upon admission and discharge. One week after rehabilitation treatment, fatigue, positivity in daily activity, attention, and memory were assessed. Serum biochemical indicators and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) were assessed weekly following admission. The pain scores were assessed during the first week of hospitalization to calculate the average. Correlation analysis, linear regression and propensity score matching (PSM) were used to analyze the impact of fatigue on FIM scores at discharge and length of hospital stay. Result: The proportion of patients with low fatigue was 39.13% and significant improvement was revealed in FIM scores upon admissions and discharge [(50.67±18.61) vs. (75.13±21.04), P<0.05]. Positivity in daily activity, attention, and age are factors that influence post-stroke fatigue. After PSM, low-fatigue group (Fatigue score< 3) showed significant higher motor function independence at discharge [(54.39 ± 15.42) vs. (41.89 ± 14.90), P<0.05] and shorter hospital stay [(28.54±9.13)d vs. (37.32 ± 9.81)d, P<0.05] than high-fatigue group. There was a significant difference (P<0.05) in level of CRP between the first inpatient week and the third week, with declining trend. Conclusion: Post-stroke fatigue can affect the rehabilitation outcomes regarding motor function independence and length of hospital stay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation is an important pathophysiological process in many diseases; it has beneficial and harmful effects. When exposed to various stimuli, the body triggers an inflammatory response to eliminate invaded pathogens and damaged tissues to maintain homeostasis. However, uncontrollable persistent or excessive inflammatory responses may damage tissues and induce various diseases, such as metabolic diseases (e.g. diabetes), autoimmune diseases, nervous system‐related diseases, digestive system‐related diseases, and even tumours. Aldo‐keto reductase 1B10 (AKR1B10) is an important player in the development and progression of multiple diseases, such as tumours and inflammatory diseases. AKR1B10 is upregulated in solid tumours, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), non‐small cell lung carcinoma, and breast cancer, and is a reliable serum marker. However, information on the role of AKR1B10 in inflammation is limited. In this study, we summarized the role of AKR1B10 in inflammatory diseases, including its expression, functional contribution to inflammatory responses, and regulation of signalling pathways related to inflammation. We also discussed the role of AKR1B10 in glucose and lipid metabolism and oxidative stress. This study provides novel information and increases the understanding of clinical inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]