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Faradaic capacitive deionization (FCDI) with attractive ion‐capture capacity, outstanding durability, and potential compatibility in high‐salinity water has been recognized as the robust alternative to address the alarming freshwater scarcity. The further innovation of boosting electrode materials is the indispensable requisite for highly efficient FCDI application. Herein, a low‐crystalline nitrogen‐doped carbon quantum dots modified Mg2+‐pillar preintercalated V3O7 (i.e., NCQDs/Mg‐V3O7) heterostructure is assembled via an ingenious one‐spot hydrothermal avenue, and is investigated as the advanced FCDI electrode for desalination application. Taking advantages of the synergic effect of unique microstructure, improved electronic conductivity, and exceptional structural durability, the NCQDs/Mg‐V3O7 electrode delivers an admirable gravimetric adsorption capacity of 54.32 mg g−1 in a NaCl solution of 1500 mg L−1 and attractive cyclic durability. Further, density functional theory calculations verify the intense interface electron coupling interaction between tri‐components, enabling the significantly promoting Na+ capture capability. The synergy removal mechanism is clarified by ex‐situ X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and in‐situ Raman tests. Additionally, the average removal efficiency of hybrid electrode attains 93.75% in the simulated wastewater comprising the NaCl of 50 mg L−1 and diverse metal nitrates from 10 to 100 mg L−1 for each, certifying the great prospects for practical wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to study the stability, radical scavenging activities, and bio‐safety of cysteine‐conjugated hyaluronic acid nanoparticles (Cys‐conj‐HA NPs). Additionally, the feasibility of utilizing these NPs as drug delivery systems is discussed. The structures of synthesized Cys‐conj‐HA polymers were analyzed using 1H nuclear magnetic spectrum (1H NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra. The stability, radical scavenging activity, and bio‐safety of fabricated Cys‐conj‐HA NPs were investigated. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) photograph illustrated that Cys‐conj‐HA NPs possessed spherical shapes with an average diameter of approximately 230 nm. Furthermore, these NPs exhibited high stability at temperatures of 4, 25, and 37°C. Notably, Cys‐conj‐HA NPs demonstrated significant free radical scavenging capabilities. The high cell viability observed indicated the absence of cytotoxicity from Cys‐conj‐HA NPs. Additionally, bio‐safety studies revealed that these NPs did not induce acute toxicity in the blood and viscera of cargo‐free NPs treated mice. Elisa assays indicated that there was no significant difference in the concentrations of interferon‐γ (INF‐γ) and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) between Cys‐conj‐HA NPs and normal saline (NS) treated mice (ns, p > 0.05), suggesting the absence of an inflammatory reaction caused by these NPs. Consequently, it can be concluded that Cys‐conj‐HA NPs are sufficiently safe to be employed as a vehicle for delivering oxidizing drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study investigated the proteomic characteristics of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients with varicella zoster virus (VZV) meningitis to understanding the pathogenesis of central nervous system (CNS) infection by reactivated VZV. Method: We used data‐independent acquisition model to analyze the CSF proteomic differences of 28 patients with VZV meningitis and 11 herpes zoster (HZ) patients. According to the clinical manifestations at discharge, 28 VZV meningitis patients were divided into favorable outcome group and unfavorable outcome (UO) group and their differences in CSF proteome were also analyzed. Results: Compared with the HZ group, the proteins (CXCL10, ELANE, IL‐1RN, MPO, PRTN3, etc.) related to inflammation and immune cell activation were significantly upregulated in the VZV meningitis group (p <.01). The protein related to the nerve function and energy metabolism (CKMT1B, SLITRK3, Synaptotagmin‐3, KIF5B, etc.) were significantly downregulated (p <.05). The levels of a pro‐inflammatory factor, IL‐18, in CSF were significantly higher in patients in the UO group as compared to patients with favorable prognosis (p <.05). Conclusion: Inflammatory immune response is an important pathophysiological mechanism of CNS infection by VZV, and the CSF IL‐18 levels might be a potential prognostic indicator of the outcomes of VZV meningitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibacterial photodynamic therapy (APDT) has received considerable attention owing to its superiority. ZIF‐8 was used to address the poor stability of the photosensitizer Rose Bengal (RB) encapsulation to synthesize RB@ZIF‐8 NPs, which were doped into a composite film with poly (ϵ‐caprolactone) (PCL) and polyvinyl alcohol‐quaternary ammonium chitosan (PVA‐QCS) as substrates to form composite films (PQZ). The composite films exhibited excellent photodynamic sterilization and good resistance to bacterial adhesion. The tensile strength of the film increased to 43.4 MPa, which was approximately 1.8 times that of the PCL film. With the addition of SiO2 and RB@ZIF‐8 NPs, the film exhibited water repellency and UV‐blocking properties. RAW264.7 cells were selected using the MTT method to confirm that the composite films had excellent biocompatibility and had no significant inhibitory effect on cell growth and reproduction. PQZ multifunctional composite films show potential as novel APDT antimicrobial materials for food packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal expansion molding process (TEMP) is a new technology for integrated molding sandwich composites. However, the development of high‐performance expandable foam prepreg limits the scale applications of this technology. In this study, epoxy foam prepreg (M‐1) with expandable function was used to prepare foams with different expansion ratios via restricted foaming. Three suitable expansion ratios were determined to prepare foam sandwich composites by analyzing the density, bubble sizes, compressive strength, and expansion pressures of expandable foam. The maximum expansion pressure produced by four, six, and eight times of foam expansion were 251, 160, and 115 kPa, respectively. Tensile test and digital imaging computer technology confirmed that with the increase of foam expansion ratio, the strength decreased, but the plastic deformation ability increased. Failure modes such as foam matrix fracture, glass fiber mat fracture, and mutual‐slipping between the foam matrix and glass fiber mat occur during the stretching process. Finally, the PMI/M‐1 foam hybrid sandwich composites with three structures were prepared via the TEMP technology, which verified the feasibility of this technology in forming sandwich composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric nitrate (NO3−) pollution has become an obstacle to efforts to further reduce fine particulate (PM2.5) concentration in North China. However, there have been limited long‐term measurements of NO3− and isotopic knowledge (δ15N, δ18O) on the driving factors during NO3− changes. Here, we report observations of 10 voyages from 2014 to 2019 conducted in the Bohai Sea, a typical background area in North China. The results show that the average proportion of NO3− in PM2.5 increased from 0.08 to 0.16 over the study period. The δ15N–NO3− ranged from −4.1‰ to +20.5‰, with a significant annual decline (p < 0.01), especially in winter. The average δ18O–NO3− was +72.6 ± 13.5‰, and a Monte Carlo calculation revealed that the contribution of the •OH pathway in the NO3− formation declined by 27.4% in winter, implying an increase in O3 pollution. Coal combustion remained the most important contributor to NO3− (46.6 ± 15.9%), but its contribution showed a significant downward trend (p < 0.01), consistent with the control of disperse coal use in North China. Enhancement of atmospheric oxidation and the unexpected large increase in contribution of microbial processes were found to be the main causes of the increasingly serious NO3− pollution in North China. In addition, a spike in the contribution of coal combustion in 2018 indicates that the coal‐control policy needs to be reinforced. Plain Language Summary: In North China where winter haze events still occur frequently, nitrate (NO3−) has replaced sulfate (SO42−) as the most important component in particulate pollution. Therefore, it is very important to explore the sources and formation mechanisms of NO3− and to evaluate their changes in recent years. In this study, multi‐year offshore observations were conducted in the Bohai Sea that is surrounded by densely populated, industrialized, and agriculture‐intensive land areas of North China. The sources and formation of NO3− were apportioned based on the isotope technique (δ15N and δ18O) and Bayesian model. We find that the atmospheric NO3− pollution was becoming serious, despite the decrease in fine particulate concentration. Coal combustion was the most important contributor of NO3−, however, it has showed a significant downward trend (p < 0.01). The increase of atmospheric oxidation was the primary reason for the increasingly serious NO3− pollution, which offsets the efforts of reducing nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions. In addition, the unexpected large increase in contribution of microbial processes could be another important factor. This study highlights the importance to consider the increases in atmospheric oxidation and microbial NOx emission in formulating effective strategies to mitigate the serious NO3− pollution in North China. Key Points: Although the concentration of particulate has decreased in North China, the proportion of nitrate has increased significantlyThe increase of atmospheric oxidation promotes the formation of nitrate, greatly offsetting China's efforts to reduce nitrogen oxides emissionThe contribution of coal combustion to the nitrate has dropped, but that of microbial processes has risen the most [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enteroviruses (EVs) are common causes of viral encephalitis in children. To better understand the epidemiological and pathological characteristics of EV encephalitis, we enrolled suspected encephalitis patients younger than 15 years old in Hangzhou, China, from October 2016 to September 2019 for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection and analyses. A total of 7735 CSF samples were collected, among which 330 (4.27%) were positive for the EV genome. The positivity rate was significantly higher in boys than girls (χ2 = 5.68, p = 0.02). The monthly case numbers peaked from June to August (80.30%). Among the different age groups, the 0–2 months age group showed the highest number of cases (28.48% of all cases). The 6–7 years (10.82%) and 9–10 years (9.29%) age groups showed the highest EV‐positivity rates among suspected encephalitis cases. Sixty‐two EV‐positive and 53 control CSF samples were collected for Bio‐Plex Pro human cytokine assays that simultaneously tested 48 cytokines. Principle component analyses showed significant separation between EV‐positive and control samples, but insignificant separation between children and newborns. The levels of 28 cytokines and chemokines were significantly elevated in the EV‐positive group including many proinflammatory and a few anti‐inflammatory cytokines, as well as chemokines belonging to the CC and CXC subfamilies. Only one cytokine, stem cell growth factor‐β, showed a decrease in the EV‐positive group. Thus, this study revealed age, sex, and seasonal preferences for EV encephalitis incidences in children and identified many cytokines dysregulated during EV encephalitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature and strain are important parameters in the in situ consolidation process of thermoplastic composites and have been monitored based on optical fiber Bragg gratings. A special polyimide fiber grating (PFBG) is used in this article. PFBG can monitor temperatures up to 400°C and strains up to 40,000 με. The wavelengths of the PFBGs are obtained by wavelength demodulation system and fast digital signal processing with field programmable gate array. Temperature and strain in auto fiber placement process of thermoplastic composites are monitored accurately according to wavelengths. During the whole consolidation process, temperatures have been monitored with the accuracy of 0.1°C in the range of 100–250°C and strains have been monitored with the accuracy of 1 με in the range of −250 to 500 με. The validity and correctness of the results have been validated by the thermocouple and the strain gauge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

O‐linked N‐acetylglucosamine (O‐GlcNAcylation) is a ubiquitous post‐translational modification of proteins that is essential for cell function. Perturbation of O‐GlcNAcylation leads to altered cell‐cycle progression and DNA damage response. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we develop a highly sensitive one‐step enzymatic strategy for capture and profiling O‐GlcNAcylated proteins in cells. Using this strategy, we discover that flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1), an essential enzyme in DNA synthesis, is a novel substrate for O‐GlcNAcylation. FEN1 O‐GlcNAcylation is dynamically regulated during the cell cycle. O‐GlcNAcylation at the serine 352 of FEN1 disrupts its interaction with Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) at the replication foci, and leads to altered cell cycle, defects in DNA replication, accumulation of DNA damage, and enhanced sensitivity to DNA damage agents. Thus, our study provides a sensitive method for profiling O‐GlcNAcylated proteins, and reveals an unknown mechanism of O‐GlcNAcylation in regulating cell cycle progression and DNA damage response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we present several methods to identify precursors that show great promise for early predictions of solar flare events. A data preprocessing pipeline is built to extract useful data from multiple sources, Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites and Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)/Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI), to prepare inputs for machine learning algorithms. Two classification models are presented: classification of flares from quiet times for active regions and classification of strong versus weak flare events. We adopt deep learning algorithms to capture both spatial and temporal information from HMI magnetogram data. Effective feature extraction and feature selection with raw magnetogram data using deep learning and statistical algorithms enable us to train classification models to achieve almost as good performance as using active region parameters provided in HMI/Space‐Weather HMI‐Active Region Patch (SHARP) data files. Case studies show a significant increase in the prediction score around 20 hr before strong solar flare events. Plain Language Summary: A solar flare occurs when magnetic energy that has built up in the solar atmosphere is suddenly released. We show the potential of using data‐driven approaches to identify precursors of strong solar flare events that might strongly affect the near‐Earth space environment. We use data from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites and Solar Dynamics Observatory/Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) to prepare inputs for machine learning algorithms. A handful of case studies show that the prediction score of strong flare events increases significantly around 20 hr before the event. Moreover, for the classification of strong versus weak flares, using machine‐derived features gives performance comparable to that achieved using active region parameters provided in HMI/Space‐Weather HMI‐Active Region Patch data files. Key Points: We adopt deep learning algorithms that take time series of active region observations as input to perform solar flare classificationsWe demonstrate an overall similarity in classifier performance using machine learning‐derived versus human‐derived parametersWe illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms in identifying precursors for strong solar flare events from quiet times with case studies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: HBV‐related acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (HBV‐ACLF) deteriorates rapidly in the short term, which necessitates accurate initial clinical decision making. Aims: To develop a novel prognostic score for patients with HBV‐ACLF and clarify the role of thyroid hormones in HBV‐ACLF. Methods: A retrospective cohort of 635 HBV‐ACLF patients was enrolled to develop and validate a novel prognostic score for HBV‐ACLF. Additionally, a cross‐sectional cohort (n = 199) and a prospective longitudinal HBV‐ACLF cohort (n = 56) were recruited to clarify the association between thyroid hormone status and the 30‐day mortality of HBV‐ACLF. Results: HINT, a novel prognostic score based on hepatic encephalopathy, INR, neutrophil count, and thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) using the deriving cohort (n = 426), was significantly higher in non‐survivors than survivors (1.17 ± 2.38 vs −1.87 ± 1.26, P < 0.0001). The AUROC of HINT for 30‐day mortality was 0.889, which was significantly higher than that of the Child‐Pugh, MELD, CLIF‐SOFA, CLIF‐C ACLF, and COSSH‐ACLF scores (all P < 0.05). These results were confirmed in the validation cohort (n = 209), except that the AUROC of HINT was comparable to that of COSSH‐ACLF (P = 0.357). Among thyroid hormones, only the TSH level on admission was significantly lower in non‐survivors than in survivors (P = 0.01). During the 14‐day longitudinal observation, TSH levels increased significantly in the improvement group (P < 0.001) but did not change in the deterioration or fluctuation groups, and gradually increased in survivors (P < 0.001) but not in non‐survivors. Conclusions: HINT, as a prognostic score for HBV‐ACLF, is simpler than and superior to the Child‐Pugh, MELD, CLIF‐SOFA, and CLIF‐C ACLF scores and at least comparable with the COSSH‐ACLF score. Sequential TSH measurements may facilitate prediction of the clinical course of ACLF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cervical cancer continues to be among the most frequent gynaecologic cancers worldwide. The phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway is constitutively activated in cervical cancer. Inositol polyphosphate 4‐phosphatase type II (INPP4B) is a phosphoinositide phosphatase and considered a negative regulatory factor of the PI3K/AKT pathway. INPP4B has diverse roles in various tumours, but its role in cervical cancer is largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of INPP4B in cervical cancer. Overexpression of INPP4B in HeLa, SiHa and C33a cells inhibited cell proliferation, metastasis and invasiveness in CCK‐8, colony formation, anchorage‐independent growth in soft agar and Transwell assay. INPP4B reduced the expression of some essential proteins in the PI3K/AKT/SGK3 pathway including p‐AKT, p‐SGK3, p‐mTOR, phospho‐p70S6K and PDK1. In addition, overexpression of INPP4B decreased xenograft tumour growth in nude mice. Loss of INPP4B protein expression was found in more than 60% of human cervical carcinoma samples. In conclusion, INPP4B impedes the proliferation and invasiveness of cervical cancer cells by inhibiting the activation of two downstream molecules of the PI3K pathway, AKT and SGK3. INPP4B acts as a tumour suppressor in cervical cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar vapor generation is a facile and an efficient way for solar energy harvesting, which is applied to address the issue of fresh water extraction from sewage or brine. Several solar vapor generation devices have been developed in the past few years, but the low evaporation rate still remains as a challenge. In this work, a novel double‐layer solar vapor generation device, named as Ag‐PSS‐AG/AG device, is reported. This device is based on the hierarchical composition of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and poly (sodium‐p‐styrenesulfonate) (PSS) decorated agarose gel (AG). The device reveals a synergetic effect of the two layers with high light‐harvesting and water‐transfer performance, respectively, leading to an ultrahigh vapor generation rate of 2.10 kg m−2 h−1 with a solar thermal efficiency of 92.8% under 1 sun illumination. This high evaporation rate is mainly owing to the powerful light‐thermal conversion of Ag NPs as well as the outstanding water transfer capability of agarose hydrogel. Consequently, this device can be directly used for the purification of sewage and muddy water. It is also promising for applications in separation, humidity management, and others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]