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Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) plays a very important role in various diseases. However, the precise involvement of DHA in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), relation to the equilibrium between M1 and M2 cells, remains uncertain. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of DHA in SLE and its effect on the M1/M2 cells balance. SLE mice model was established by pristane induction. Flow cytometry was employed to measure the abundance of M1 and M2 cells within the peripheral blood of individuals diagnosed with SLE. The concentrations of various cytokines, namely TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10, within the serum of SLE patients or SLE mice were assessed via ELISA. Immunofluorescence staining was utilized to detect the deposition of IgG and complement C3 in renal tissues of the mice. We conducted immunohistochemistry analysis to assess the expression levels of Collagen-I, a collagen protein, and α-SMA, a fibrosis marker protein, in the renal tissues of mice. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson's trichrome staining, and Periodic acid Schiff staining were used to examine histological alterations. In this study, we employed qPCR and western blot techniques to assess the expression levels of key molecular markers, namely CD80 and CD86 for M1 cells, as well as CD206 and Arg-1 for M2 cells, within kidney tissue. Additionally, we investigated the involvement of the MAPK signaling pathway. The Venny 2.1 online software tool was employed to identify shared drug-disease targets, and subsequently, the Cytoscape 3.9.2 software was utilized to construct the "disease-target-ingredient" network diagram. Protein-protein interactions of the target proteins were analyzed using the String database, and the network proteins underwent enrichment analysis for Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways. The results showed that an increase in M1 cells and a decrease in M2 cells within the peripheral blood of individuals diagnosed with SLE. Further analysis revealed that prednisone (PDN) combined with DHA can alleviate kidney damage and regulate the balance of M1 and M2 cells in both glomerular mesangial cells (GMC) and kidney. The MAPK signaling pathway was found to be involved in SLE kidney damage and M1/M2 balance in the kidney. Furthermore, PDN and/or DHA were found to inhibit the MAPK signaling pathway in GMC and kidney. We demonstrated that PDN combined with DHA attenuates SLE by regulating M1/M2 balance through MAPK signaling pathway. These findings propose that the combination of PDN and DHA could serve as a promising therapeutic strategy for SLE, as it has the potential to mitigate kidney damage and reinstate the equilibrium of M1 and M2 cells. • PDN combined with DHA reduced SLE. • PDN combined with DHA regulating M1/M2 balance. • PDN together with DHA inhibits the MAPK signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Bi 12 O 15 Cl 6 /NiFe 2 O 4 (CN) photocatalyst with both recyclability and efficient photocatalytic performance was synthesized by the hydrothermal method and achieved practice value enhancement. The optimal composite was identified as Bi 12 O 15 Cl 6 combined with 5 wt% NiFe 2 O 4 (CN-5), exhibiting the capability to decompose 98.2% of RhB within 90 min. Remarkably, the photocatalytic activity remained above 90% even after 4 recycling cycles, and the magnetization saturation reached 2.6 emu/g, showcasing exceptional magnetic properties and photocatalytic stability. Meanwhile, characterization analysis proved successful compounding of NiFe 2 O 4 , and the specific surface area of CN-5 was slightly enhanced. The heterojunction structure generated by direct binding in CN-5 significantly reduced the photogenerated carrier complexation rate. Moreover, the photocatalytic mechanism indicated that the degradation of RhB followed the Z-type heterojunction mechanism, and photo-induced ·O 2 − played a pivotal role, followed by h+ and ·OH. In summary, the composite magnetic photocatalyst Bi 12 O 15 Cl 6 /NiFe 2 O 4 could offer a promising alternative for wastewater purification. • Novel magnetic composite Bi 12 O 15 Cl 6 /NiFe 2 O 4 displayed remarkable photocatalytic properties. • Bi 12 O 15 Cl 6 /NiFe 2 O 4 offers economic viability and environmental sustainability. • A Z-type heterojunction was generated directly between Bi 12 O 15 Cl 6 and NiFe 2 O 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transparent [Li 0.04 (K 0.5 Na 0.5) 0.96 ]NbO 3 +0.5mol% Er 2 O 3 (KNNLN-Er) lead-free piezoelectric ceramics were prepared by stereolithography technique. The influence of different sintering holding time (4h∼8h) on the micromorphology, relative density, shrinkage, electric properties, and photoluminescence properties were systematically investigated. The KNNLN-Er ceramics show the coexistence of orthorhombic and tetragonal structures. The grain size increases obviously and then decreases slightly with the holding time increasing. The KNNLN-Er ceramics exhibit good piezoelectric performance (piezoelectric constant d 33 ∼97 pC/N, electromechanical couple coefficient k t ∼0.36) and the moderate transparency of 34% when the holding time is 6h during sintering at 1120°C. Besides, the intensity of the photoluminescence emission spectra increases with the holding time increasing. Furthermore, in order to estimate the properties of the KNNLN-Er transparent ceramics, an ultrasonic transducer with a center frequency of 10.5 MHz was fabricated, which can be used for photoacoustic and fluorescence imaging. The results indicate that the KNNLN-Er ceramics have potential for multimode imaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the first-principles, the hydrogen storage, mechanical, electronic, optical, thermodynamic and kinetic properties of XPtH 3 (X = Li, Na, K, Rb) perovskites are investigated for the first time in this work. The lattice constants of the optimized LiPtH 3 , NaPtH 3 , KPtH 3 , and RbPtH 3 are 3.54, 3.63, 3.80, and 3.90 Å, respectively. The Cauchy's pressure and the ratio of the bulk modulus to shear modulus (B/G) consistently prove that the XPtH 3 hydrides all exhibit ductility. The investigation of electronic properties reveals that XPtH 3 compounds exhibit metallic nature. According to Poisson's ratio and charge density distribution, the bonding type of XPtH 3 hydrides is mainly ionic. The Bader partial net charges are also calculated to analyze the charge transfer in XPtH 3 perovskites. The results of the optical properties of XPtH 3 compounds reveal that they are high dielectric constant and high refractive index materials. It is found that the XPtH 3 perovskites exhibit thermodynamic, mechanical, and dynamic stability. The gravimetric hydrogen storage capacities are 1.45, 1.35, 1.26, and 1.06 wt% for LiPtH 3 , NaPtH 3 , KPtH 3 , and RbPtH 3 , respectively. The hydrogen desorption temperatures of LiPtH 3 , NaPtH 3 , KPtH 3 and RbPtH 3 are 237.77, 225.39, 162.43, and 80.11 K, respectively. Our results suggest that LiPtH 3 hydride is the most suitable material for hydrogen storage applications among the four compounds. Systematic calculation of the physical and hydrogen storage properties of XPtH 3 (X = Li, Na, K, Rb) for the first time. Moreover, XPtH 3 (X = Li, Na, K, Rb) hydrides are thermodynamically, mechanically, and dynamically stable. Our results provide new candidates for hydrogen storage materials. [Display omitted] • XPtH 3 (X = Li, Na, K, Rb) perovskites have been investigated using first-principles. • XPtH 3 compounds exhibit thermodynamic, mechanical, and dynamical stability. • The gravimetric hydrogen storage capacity is found to be 1.45 wt% for LiPtH 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER) holds paramount significance as a pivotal stage within electrochemical water-splitting processes, particularly in hydrogen production. Highly efficient OER electrocatalysts with inherent capability to effectively lower the energy barrier and promote fast kinetics are in high demand. In this research, we have introduced a novel strategy of modifying the non-precious metal benchmark catalyst, NiFe layered double hydroxide (LDH), through multiple oxyanions. Our approach involved incorporating MoS 4 2− as a source of modified anions to enhance the performance of LDH in OER. Under specific conditions of the hydrothermal reaction, a majority of the sulfur (S) within the MoS 4 2− anions underwent oxidization, resulting in the formation of SO 4 2− and MoO x S 4-x 2- groups. As a result, NiFe LDH composites that were modified with multiple oxyanionic moieties, were successfully fabricated. Thanks to the synergistic effects of these oxyanions, which accelerate the generation of active NiOOH species, the optimized NiFe LDH-MoS 4 -0.1/NF sample exhibited a significantly low overpotential of 228 and 270 mV at current densities of 10 and 100 mA cm−2, respectively, along with a low Tafel slope of 35.5 mVdec−1 in 1 M KOH electrolyte solution. Our study underscored the importance of embracing diverse oxyanions modification strategy to amplify the performance of OER, opening up numerous opportunities for energy conversion and storage applications. A multiple oxyanions modification strategy was proposed for enhancing the OER performance of NiFe layered double hydroxide (LDH) materials via introducing MoS 4 2− as modified anion sources. Thanks to the synergistic effects of multiple oxyanions (SO 4 2− and MoO x S 4-x 2-), the optimized sample exhibited a remarkable OER activity. [Display omitted] • NiFe LDH materials modified with multiple oxyanions via hydrothermal synthesis. • Multiple oxyanions (SO 4 2− and MoO x S 4-x 2-) originated from MoS 4 2− degradation. • The optimized NiFe LDH-MoS 4 -0.1/NF sample showed outstanding OER activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hematite (α-Fe 2 O 3) is considered one of the most promising materials for PEC water splitting under solar light. However, the drawbacks of lower charge transfer efficiency and slow oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetics seriously limited the practical application of α-Fe 2 O 3 photoanodes. In this work, a multilayer structure modified α-Fe 2 O 3 photoanode is proposed. Firstly, the In 2 O 3 nanolayers were loaded onto the surface of α-Fe 2 O 3 nanorods, significantly increasing the photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation activity. The heterojunction form by the In 2 O 3 passivation layer with α-Fe 2 O 3 effectively promotes charge separation. Next, an electrodeposition method deposited a nanosheet combining ultrathin non-crystalline Co(OH) x and Mn 3 O 4 nanocrystals (Co–Mn) on the α-Fe 2 O 3 thin film. As an efficient co-catalyst, the Co–Mn nanosheets assisted the performance of α-Fe 2 O 3 PEC water oxidation. The optimized α-Fe 2 O 3 –In 2 O 3 –Co(OH) x -Mn 3 O 4 photoanode produces a high photocurrent density of 6.5 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V (vs. RHE), a maximum IPCE of 57.9% at 400 nm can reach. [Display omitted] • In 2 O 3 /α-Fe 2 O 3 heterojunction was constructed to achieve effective separation of photo-generated carriers. • Co(OH) x -Mn 3 O 4 (Co–Mn) nanosheet layer work as an efficient oxygen evolution co-catalyst. • Co(OH) x -Mn 3 O 4 (Co–Mn) is a selective capture site of photo-generated carriers that inhibits their recombination. • The interactions between α-Fe 2 O 3 , In 2 O 3 , and Co–Mn lead to an efficient photoelectrochemical water-splitting performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The perovskite-type hydride compounds are potential candidate materials in the field of hydrogen storage. This paper presents a systematical study of XTiH 3 (X = K, Rb, Cs) using density functional theory. The analysis of formation energy, elastic properties and phonon dispersion curves indicate that all the studied materials are thermodynamically, mechanically and dynamically stable. By analyzing the B/G ratio, it is determined that these compounds are brittle materials. The electronic properties reveal that the XTiH 3 compounds exhibit semi-metallic characteristics. The charge transfer characteristics of these compounds were analyzed using Bader partial charges. Moreover, the thermodynamic characteristics of these compounds were investigated and the dependence of their free energy, entropy and heat capacity on the temperature were analyzed. Finally, the gravimetric hydrogen storage capacities of KTiH 3 , RbTiH 3 and CsTiH 3 were calculated to be 3.36, 2.22 and 1.65 wt%, respectively. The hydrogen desorption temperatures of KTiH 3 , RbTiH 3 and CsTiH 3 were found to be 209 K, 161 K and 107 K, respectively. To our knowledge, this study represents the very first investigation of XTiH 3 compounds and offers valuable references to this hydrogen storage material. [Display omitted] • XTiH 3 (X = K, Rb, Cs) perovskite have been investigated using first-principles. • XTiH 3 perovskite exhibit thermodynamic, mechanical and dynamical stability. • The gravimetric hydrogen storage capacity is found to be 3.36 wt% for KTiH 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is an opportunistic infection antigen in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. However, this phenomenon has received limited attention from epidemiologists. Our study aims to determine the HSV infection risk in SOT recipients. This was a nationwide population-based cross-sectional study based on the National Health Insurance Research Database from 2002 to 2015. We used propensity score matching to avoid selection bias and analyzed the association between HSV infection and SOT recipients with multiple logistic regression analysis. At a 3-year follow-up, SOT recipients had a higher risk of developing HSV, with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 3.28 (95% confidence interval (CI), 2.51–4.29). Moreover, at 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year follow-ups, SOT recipients also had an increased risk of HSV than general patients with aORs of 3.85 (95% CI, 2.29–6.49), 4.27 (95% CI, 2.86–6.36), and 3.73 (95% CI, 2.74–5.08), respectively. In the subgroup analysis, lung transplant recipients (aOR = 8.01; 95% CI, 2.39–26.88) exhibited a significantly higher chance of HSV among SOT recipients, followed by kidney transplant recipients (aOR = 3.33; 95% CI, 2.11–5.25) and liver transplant recipients (aOR = 3.15; 95% CI, 2.28–4.34). HSV can develop at any time after organ transplantation. SOT recipients had a higher risk of HSV infection than the general population at 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after transplantation, with the highest chance at 1 year after. In addition, the patients who underwent lung transplantion were at higher risk for HSV infection than liver or kidney transplant recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Rate constants for reaction of 3-methylhexane and 2-methylheptane with Cl atoms were obtained. • Gas-phase products, particle-phase products, and SOA yield of 3-methylhexane and 2-methylheptane with Cl atoms were analyzed. • The reaction mechanism and atmosphere lifetime of several mono-methyl branched alkanes were deduced. Branched alkanes are ubiquitous in the troposphere and play an important role in the chemical processes. In this work, the rate constants and products for the reaction of Cl atoms with 3-methylhexane and 2-methylheptane were measured at room temperature (298 ± 0.2 K) and atmospheric pressure using a conventional relative rate method. The rate constants of 3-methylhexane and 2-methylheptane in units of cm3/(mol·sec) are (3.09 ± 0.31) × 10−10 and (3.67 ± 0.40) × 10−10, respectively. Furthermore, the corresponding atmospheric lifetime of the studied branched alkanes with Cl was 6.92-89.90 hours and 5.82-75.69 hours, respectively. The estimated atmospheric lifetimes indicated that the reaction with Cl atoms could be the most important atmospheric degradation pathway for 3-methylhexane and 2-methylheptane. Primary gas-phase products of the reactions were identified and quantified, and particle-phase products were also obtained. The atmosphere oxidation mechanism of Cl atoms with 3-methylhexane and 2-methylheptane is proposed. The SOA yields of 3-methylhexane and 2-methylheptane from the reaction of Cl atoms were determined to be 7.96% ± 0.89% and 13.35% ± 1.50% respectively. Overall, the results reveal that the primary loss process of branched alkanes is the reaction with Cl atoms, which impacts its degradation on a regional scale. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Metapelites of the Fenzishan Group were formed in a back-arc basin of an active continental margin. • Three age groups of detrital zircon: ∼ 3019–2816 Ma, 2761–2610 Ma and ∼ 2261–2128 Ma. • The minimum depositional age of metapelite precursor is ∼ 2261 – 2128 Ma. • Apatite U-Pb age ∼ 1923 – 1893 Ma reflects to the post peak collisional metamorphism. • Metapelites record the UHT metamorphism, showing an anticlockwise P-T path. Metapelites from the Fenzishan Group of the Zhengjiapo banded iron formation (BIF) iron mine studied have undergone high-pressure and ultrahigh-temperature (UHT) metamorphism. The rocks occur in the Changyi metallogenic belt that belongs to the Jiaobei terrane, Jiao-Liao-Ji Belt, North China Craton. P-T estimates using pseudosection modeling, mineral compositio isopleths and two-feldspar geothermometry of observed mesoperthite and antiperthite intergrowth textures of Bt-Grt-Mag-Amp gneisses, three different metamorphic stages were obtained: A prograde stage M1 at ∼ 600–610 °C/5.5–6.1 kbar, a peak metamorphic stage M2 at ∼ 899–1062 °C/8.6–9.15 kbar, an early retrograde stage M2́at 780–792 °C/8.6–9.15 kbar and a retrograde decompression stage M3 at 466–493 °C/4.5–5.8 kbar. Thus an anticlockwise trajectory can be defined indicating that granulite facies UHT-metamorphic peak conditions have been reached, followed by fast cooling during rapid exhumation. Geochemical characteristics of the metapelites indicate that the Fenzishan Group of the Zhengjiapo BIF iron mine was formed in a back-arc basin system of an active continental margin in a convergent/collisional geological setting.. Magmatic U-Pb ages (LA-ICP-MS) of detrital zircon from metapelites are ∼ 3096 – 2816 Ma and 2761 – 2610 Ma, indicating a source of the Archean basement which delivered clastic material for pelitic protolith. A zircon age of ∼ 2261 – 2128 Ma constrains the minimum depositional age of the metapelitic precursor, while an apatite U-Pb age of ∼ 1923 – 1893 Ma dating demonstrates a metamorphic age of ∼ 1923 – 1893 Ma, is indicated to represent a late Paleoproterozoic post peak metamorphic event that corresponds to the collision of the Jiao-Liao-Ji orogenic belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shenlingbaizhu (SLBZ) formula, a classical traditional Chinese medicinal (TCM) formula, has been widely used for treating antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD). However, the underlying pharmacological mechanisms have not yet been investigated thoroughly. To explore the remission mechanism of SLBZ in the treatment of AAD, we conducted network pharmacological analysis and experimental validation in vitro and in vivo. In this study, the main compounds of SLBZ were identified by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (UHPLC-MS) and online databases. The targets of the active components and AAD-related targets were predicted by network pharmacology, and the potential targets of SLBZ against AAD were obtained. Then the core targets were recognized after Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) analysis. Based on these, gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) signaling pathway analyses were conducted, and the key pathway was screened. Subsequently, molecular docking was performed using Auto Dock Vina to find the key components that played a crucial role in that pathway. Molecular dynamics simulation was performed by Gromacs software to detect the binding mode. Finally, the results were confirmed by in vitro and in vivo experiments. A total of 66 active ingredients of SLBZ were detected by UHPLC-MS, and 128 active ingredients were screened out by network pharmacological analysis. Additionally, 935 drug targets and 1686 AAD-related targets were obtained. Seventy-eight intersected genes were selected as potential therapeutic targets and 19 genes were excavated as core targets. Enrichment analysis revealed PI3K-AKT signaling pathway was the key pathway in SLBZ against AAD. Topological analysis further revealed that JAK2, MTOR, TLR4, and SYK were the key targets affected by SLBZ on the PI3K-AKT pathway, and 52 components of SLBZ were associated with them. Molecular docking and dynamics simulation revealed strong binding affinities between MTOR and diosgenin. Subsequently, after SLBZ treatment, the expression levels of JAK2, MTOR, TLR4, and SYK were found significantly upregulated in the AAD model rats (p < 0.05). The cell experiment further validated the good binding ability between MTOR and diosgenin. We demonstrate that the therapeutic effect of SLBZ on AAD was achieved in part by inhibiting the PI3K-AKT pathway. [Display omitted] • Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy was used to identify the main compounds of Shenlingbaizhu (SLBZ) formula. • Network pharmacology and in vivo experiments showed that the therapeutic effect of SLBZ on antibiotic-associated diarrhea was achieved in part by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway. • This study revealed for the first time that diosgenin in SLBZ was the main ingredient that inhibited the PI3K/AKT pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of grain size on the underlying dynamics of void evolution in a nanocrystalline (NC) Ni was dissected. Multiscale characterizations reveal that, unlike the suppression of void nucleation by the compressive stress in coarse-grained Ni, dispersive nano- and micro-voids formed readily in NC Ni during compression. Acoustic emission measurements and molecular dynamic simulations demonstrate that the unique structural features and deformation mechanics implicitly occurring in NC metals play multifaceted roles during void evolution. Although the presence of excessive nucleation sites, such as grain boundaries and triple junctions, together with the activation of intergranular plasticity facilitate void nucleation, high interface population retards dislocation-driven void expansion, resulting in sluggish void growth and a corresponding delay of coalescence avalanches. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentration of epoxy resin can outstandingly affect the performance of hot-mixed epoxy asphalt binders. A standard measuring procedure of tensile performance for plastics is applied to investigate epoxy asphalt binders influenced by different dosages of epoxy. The rheological performances and microscope structure evolution process influenced by hot mixed epoxy dosage are investigated by dynamic shear rheometer and laser scanning confocal microscopy respectively. The consequences manifest that the flexibility and anti-rutting ability of epoxy asphalt binders is raised accompanied by raising the dosage of epoxy resin are founded by long time of creep, creep and recovery. Dynamic shear rheometer temperature scans showed that epoxy asphalt binders exhibited excellent thermal stability within the scope of −20 °C and 120 °C, when the amount of epoxy resin is no less than 40%. It was observed by laser scanning confocal microscopy that the three-dimensional crosslinked network structure was gradually shaped when the epoxy resin concentration was no less than 40%. These experimental results demonstrated that the excellent performances of epoxy asphalt binders are obtained when the concentration of epoxy resin is no less than 40%. From the viewpoint of epoxy asphalt mixtures, the optimal mixture performances are acquired, when the concentration of epoxy resin is no less than 40%. Finally, when the concentration of epoxy resin is 40%, the excellent cost-performance of epoxy asphalt is obtained, which can be used in steel bridge deck pavement. • The critical point of epoxy resin content was studied to form three-dimensional network structure in asphalt. • The influence of epoxy content on glass transition temperatures and rheological properties were discussed. • Based on the study of mechanical and mixture properties, the optimal cost-effective dosage was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current limitations in mechanical performance and foreign body reactions (FBR) often lead to implant failure, restricting the application of bioceramic scaffolds. This study presents a novel 3D-printed scaffold that combines the release of anti-inflammatory drugs with osteogenic stimulation. Initially, the inorganic and organic phases were integrated to ensure the scaffold's mechanical integrity through catechol chemistry and the electrostatic interactions between tannic acid and quaternary ammonium chitosan. Subsequently, layers of polydopamine-encapsulated puerarin-loaded zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) were self-assembled onto the stent's surface, creating the drug-loaded scaffold that improved drug release without altering the scaffold's structure. Compared with unloaded scaffolds, the puerarin-loaded scaffold demonstrated excellent osteogenic differentiation properties along with superior anti-inflammatory and osteogenic effects in a range of in vitro and in vivo studies. RNA sequencing clarified the role of the TNF and NF/κB signaling pathways in these effects, further supporting the scaffold's osteogenic potential. This study introduces a novel approach for creating drug-loaded scaffolds, providing a unique method for treating cancellous bone defects. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• MIL-101(Cr) nodes were tethered by ionic liquids bearing hydrogen-bond donor. • MIL-101(Cr) derivative as catalyst boosted the epoxide cycloaddition with CO 2. • The heterogeneous catalyst containing carboxyl displayed superior activity. • The catalyst exhibited the great durability and recyclability. It is critical to design an effective catalyst for CO 2 conversion into cyclocarbonate to achieve the carbon neutrality. Herein, MIL-101(Cr) tethered by hydrogen bond donors (HBD)-containing ionic liquids (denoted as MIL-101-ILs(R), R = OH, NH 2 , and COOH) were synthesized through the implantation of 4,4′-bipyridine into MOF nodes via the post-synthetic modification, followed by the decoration with bromoalkanes including bromoethanol, bromoethylamine, and bromoacetic acid. Their catalytic performance were evaluated by the epoxide cycloaddition reaction under 1.0 MPa CO 2 and 80 ℃ for 6 h in the absence of solvent and cocatalyst. Compared to MIL-101-ILs without HBD, MIL-101-ILs(OH) and MIL-101-ILs(NH 2) demonstrated the more chloropropene carbonate (CPC) yield of 88 % and 83 %, respectively. Notably, MIL-101-ILs(COOH) exhibited an uppermost activity with a CPC yield of 96 %, attributed to the cooperativity of Lewis acidity originating from Cr 3 O clusters, hydrogen-bond interaction afforded by carboxyl groups, and the strong nucleophilicity offered by Br- ions of ILs. Moreover, MIL-101-ILs(COOH) presented excellent recyclability. A potential catalytic mechanism for epoxide cycloaddition with CO 2 into cyclic carbonate has been proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disinfection by-products (DBPs) are prevalent contaminants in drinking water and are primarily linked to issues regarding water quality. These contaminants have been associated with various adverse health effects. Among different treatment processes, nanofiltration (NF) has demonstrated superior performance in effectively reducing the levels of DBPs compared to conventional processes and ozone-biological activated carbon (O 3 -BAC) processes. In this experiment, we systematically investigated the performance of three advanced membrane filtration treatment schemes, namely "sand filter + nanofiltration" (SF + NF), "sand filter + ozone-biological activated carbon + nanofiltration" (SF + O 3 -BAC + NF), and "ultrafiltration + nanofiltration" (UF + NF), in terms of their ability to control disinfection by-product (DBP) formation in treated water, analyzed the source and fate of DBP precursors during chlorination, and elucidated the role of precursor molecular weight distribution during membrane filtration in relation to DBP formation potential (DBPFP). The results indicated that each treatment process reduced DBPFP, as measured by trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP) and haloacetic acid formation potential (HAAFP), with the SF + O 3 -BAC + NF process being the most effective (14.27 μg/L and 14.88 μg/L), followed by the SF + NF process (21.04 μg/L and 16.29 μg/L) and the UF + NF process (26.26 μg/L and 21.75 μg/L). Tyrosine, tryptophan, and soluble microbial products were identified as the major DBP precursors during chlorination, with their fluorescence intensity decreasing gradually as water treatment progressed. Additionally, while large molecular weight organics (60–100,000 KDa) played a minor role in DBPFP, small molecular weight organics (0.2–5 KDa) were highlighted as key contributors to DBPFP, and medium molecular weight organics (5–60 KDa) could adhere to the membrane surface and reduce DBPFP. Based on these findings, the combined NF process can be reasonably selected for controlling DBP formation, with potential long-term benefits for human health. [Display omitted] • The SF + NF, SF + O 3 -BAC + NF, and UF + NF processes help eliminate TCM and DCAA precursors. • Proteins and soluble microbial products are the main precursors for DBP formation. • Small molecular weight organics (0.2–5 KDa) are particularly likely to form DBPs. • The process chosen should consider energy consumption and economic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Driver distraction recognition has been studied by many researchers. However, most studies have failed to balance the efficiency and accuracy of models. In this study, a lightweight network called CaTNet is proposed. The CaTNet is a simplified framework based on the existing model ConvNeXt, which prunes redundant feature layers. And a whole new module CaT containing self-attention is introduced in tandem, both of which are combined to enhance the feature characterization. It captures long-range dependencies and retains the local inductive bias provided by the convolutional neural network (CNN). The proposed method is verified on the dataset of American University in Cairo (AUC) and the State Farm Distracted Driver Detection (SFD3) Dataset. The CaTNet achieves 94.82% and 99.91% Top-1 accuracy while the number of model parameters is only 2.832M, with 12.44 frames per second (FPS) running on Jetson Nano. These results are superior to other existing models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Development trend of collaborative security in middle reaches is considerable. • Collaborative security levels of Sichuan, Hunan and Jiangxi are lowest in 2020. • Bellman optimal equation is used to calculate expected benefits of measures. • Quantitative assessment is conducive to the collaborative security of the nexus. • Optimal implementation sequences of indictors with poor performance are proposed. Water, energy, and food are essential for human survival, and the production and consumption of these three resources are closely related. In the backdrop of limited resources and constantly expanding demand, the collaborative security of the water-energy-food nexus (WEF-nexus) is under serious threat. It is of great practical significance to study the adaptive management countermeasures of the collaborative security of the WEF-nexus in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) and to quantitatively evaluate the implementation sequence of relevant management countermeasures to improve the collaborative security and promote the sustainable development of the WEF-nexus. This study first establishes an evaluation indicator system for the collaborative security of the WEF-nexus in the YREB by utilizing the pressure-state-response (PSR) model. Then, the CRITIC and TOPSIS methods are used to determine the weight of indicators and the collaborative security level of the WEF-nexus in each province and city. The state transition matrix is determined based on the transition at the collaborative security level. Finally, based on the barrel theory to make up for shortcomings, the adaptive management countermeasures of provinces and cities with low collaborative safety levels are studied by combining the Bellman optimal equation. By comparing the expected returns of the same countermeasure in different implementation sequences and conducting quantitative research on the implementation sequence of adaptive management countermeasures, targeted policy suggestions are proposed based on regional characteristics, providing a reference for strategic decision-making of relevant resources in the YREB and improving regional WEF-nexus collaborative security. The results show that: (1) For Jiangxi, improving the water conservancy engineering regulation and storage capacity and other ways in a particular order can effectively improve the collaborative security level of nexus. (2) For Hunan, increasing the investment proportion of agriculture, forestry and water conservancy and resource exploration intensity and other means in a particular order can effectively improve the collaborative security level of the nexus. (3)For Sichuan, increasing the water-saving irrigation rate according to a particular order and other ways can effectively improve the collaborative security level of nexus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine particulates in city air significantly impact human health, but the hazardous compositional mechanisms are still unclear. Besides the toxicity of environmental PM 2.5 to in vitro human lung epithelial cells (A549), the independent cytotoxicity of PM 2.5 -bound water-soluble (WS-PM 2.5) and water-insoluble (WIS-PM 2.5) fractions were also compared by cell viability, oxidative stress (reactive oxygen species, ROS), and inflammatory injury (IL-6 and TNF-α). The cytotoxicity of PM 2.5 varied significantly by sampling season and place, with degrees greater in winter and spring than in summer and autumn, related to corresponding trend of air PM 2.5 level, and also higher in industrial than urban site, although their PM 2.5 pollution levels were comparable. The PM 2.5 bound metals (Ni, Cr, Fe, and Mn) may contribute to cellular injury. Both WS-PM 2.5 and WIS-PM 2.5 posed significant cytotoxicity, that WS-PM 2.5 was more harmful than WIS-PM 2.5 in terms of decreasing cell viability and increasing inflammatory cytokines production. In particular, industrial samples were usually more toxic than urban samples, and those from summer were generally less toxic than other seasons. Hence, in order to mitigate the health risks of PM 2.5 pollution, the crucial targets might be components of heavy metals and soluble fractions, and sources in industrial areas, especially during the cold seasons. [Display omitted] • Both soluble and insoluble-PM 2.5 induced cytotoxicity with source differences. • PM 2.5 toxicity was higher for industrial than urban area and cold than warm season. • Soluble than insoluble-PM 2.5 induced stronger cytotoxicity and inflammation. • Transition metals Ni, Cr, Fe, Mn might contribute to the different PM 2.5 toxicity. • Spatial-temporal sources and solubility are important for PM 2.5 health risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A multiple color space prior network is proposed to handle non-homogeneous hazy images and perform color correction, ensuring visually pleasing dehazed results. • The two parallel sub-networks, the color correction network and the Prior-based dehazing network, designed based on image priors effectively extract feature information from YCrCb and HSV color spaces. • A comprehensive fusion module (CFM) is designed to consider the multi-scale information in feature maps and the intrinsic relationships between channels for comprehensive feature fusion. When capturing images in non-homogeneous haze conditions, the degree of haze impact varies across the scene, and the information in certain parts of the scene are lost, making the scene nearly invisible. However, most existing dehazing convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are designed for homogeneous haze and do not consider the challenge of feature extraction arising from non-homogeneous haze distribution. Moreover, these networks primarily rely on the RGB color space for feature extraction, often fail to extract color and detail feature effectively, resulting in color distortion and loss of details in the output. To tackle this problem, we introduce image priors in the YCbCr and HSV color spaces, proposing a novel Multiple Color Space Prior Network (MCPNet) to enhance the dehazing performance specifically for non-homogeneous hazy images, while simultaneously correcting the color, preserving the visual quality of the output. Leveraging image priors, we designed two parallel sub-networks to extract color and detail features from the YCbCr and HSV color spaces. Moreover, to capitalize on these features and incorporate them effectively into the dehazed image, we introduce a Comprehensive Fusion Module (CFM). This module judiciously takes into account both the fusion of multiscale features and the interrelation among channels to optimize feature fusion. By employing a dual network architecture coupled with the CFM, our model proficiently amalgamates and exploits the mined features, accurately restoring the color and detail information of the image, especially for images containing non-homogeneous haze. Extensive experimental highlight the effectiveness of our model in addressing homogeneous and non-homogeneous hazy images, concurrently preserving the visual appeal of the dehazed outcomes. When compared with other SOTA models, our MCPNet demonstrates superior results in dehazing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel immobilization strategy based on AuNPs/PB-ZIF-8@SWCNT was first developed. • The combination of ZIF-8@SWCNT and AuNPs/PB enhanced the sensor performance. • A low detection limit of 10−16 M was achieved at the olfactory biosensor. • The sensor exhibited a long storage stability of 15 days. Hexanal is considered as an important volatile compound indicator for the assessment of freshness and maturity of foods. Therefore, sensitive and stable monitoring of hexanal is highly desired. Herein, an efficient receptor immobilization strategy based on ZIF-8@ Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) and nanosomes-AuNPs/Prussian blue (PB) was proposed for the development of olfactory biosensors. ZIF-8@SWCNT as dual support materials provided a high density of active sites for nanosomes loading. Moreover, the co-electrodeposition of nanosomes-AuNPs and PB on the sensor interface effectively amplified the electrochemical signal and maintained the activity of the receptor. The combination of ZIF-8@SWCNT with AuNPs/PB imparts excellent sensing performance of the biosensor with a wide detection range of 10−16–10−9 M, a low detection limit of 10−16 M for hexanal, and a long storage stability of 15 days. These results indicate that our biosensor can be a powerful tool for versatile applications in food and other related industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In conventional systems, fluorescent probes with planar structures usually experience the phenomenon of aggregation-induced quenching (ACQ) that limits their practical applications in bio-medical sensing. To confront such problem, an attractive way is to develop a disaggregation-induced emission (DIE) sensing strategy, where the quenched fluorescence is recovered via a disaggregation process. Currently most of the fluorescent probes designed based on DIE mechanism are signal off-on type with the fluorescent intensity changed at a single wavelength. On the other hand, ratiometric fluorescent probes have the advantage of having two distinct emission wavelengths, effectively avoiding environmental interference. The DIE probes with a ratiometric fluorescence response still poorly established. Herein, we report a BODIPY-based probe BODPA , where a 2,2′-dipicolylamine group was introduced to the meso- position of BODIPY core, for the selective ratiometric detection of G-quadruplex (G4) DNA. This probe in buffer solution formed aggregates with weak fluorescence at 508 nm. In the presence of G4 DNA, bright fluorescence was emitted at 518 nm through DIE mechanism. Taking advantage of the ratiometric manner, probe BODPA exhibited selectivity for G4 DNA over duplex DNA. The binding details between probe BODPA and G4 DNA were assessed by spectroscopic and molecular modeling methods, which suggested the ability of this probe could coordinate with G4 structure via end stacking and partial groove binding mode. [Display omitted] • A BODIPY-based probe BODPA for ratiometric detection of G4 DNA is reported. • The strategy that relies on the recognition-driven disaggregation is outlined. • The detailed sensing mechanism has been discussed by experimental and molecular docking methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A broad-spectrum organic solvents tolerant strain STO was obtained by ALE. • Multi-omics integrated physiology of styrene oxide tolerant strain was analyzed. • GOX_RS04415 and GOX_RS04700 were considered as key genes for tolerance in G. oxydans. • The first report on the organic solvent tolerance mechanisms in G. oxydans. Chemical production wastewater contains large amounts of organic solvents (OSs), which pose a significant threat to the environment. In this study, a 10 g·L−1 styrene oxide tolerant strain with broad-spectrum OSs tolerance was obtained via adaptive laboratory evolution. The mechanisms underlying the high OS tolerance of tolerant strain were investigated by integrating physiological, multi-omics, and genetic engineering analyses. Physiological changes are one of the main factors responsible for the high OS tolerance in mutant strains. Moreover, the P-type ATPase GOX_RS04415 and the LysR family transcriptional regulator GOX_RS04700 were also verified as critical genes for styrene oxide tolerance. The tolerance mechanisms of OSs can be used in biocatalytic chassis cell factories to synthesize compounds and degrade environmental pollutants. This study provides new insights into the mechanisms underlying the toxicological response to OS stress and offers potential targets for enhancing the solvent tolerance of G. oxydans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A "stretch-crosslink-release" strategy was proposed to generate diverse and tunable wrinkle patterns in interlayer bonding strained bilayer graphene (IB-SBG). • Three energetically favorable patterns were identified, including herringbone, irregular hexagon and honeycomb patterns. • A phase diagram of wrinkle patterns corresponding to pre-strain and the portion of interface with interlayer bonding was established. • Strain engineering was employed to generate a series of new patterns by precisely adjusting the biaxial strain. Moiré patterns are important structures in two-dimensional (2D) materials, showcasing unique electronic correlated states, which have garnered considerable research interests in recent years. However, current researches on moiré patterns primarily focus on honeycomb patterns induced by lattice mismatches at 2D material hetero-interfaces. In this work, we have demonstrated the ability to generate diverse and tunable wrinkle patterns in interlayer bonding strained bilayer graphene (IB-SBG) through a "stretch-crosslink-release" strategy, facilitated by the interlayer bonding that provides effective in-plane load transfer and interlayer constraint. Three energetically favorable wrinkle patterns are identified, including herringbone, irregular hexagon and honeycomb patterns. In general, wrinkle patterns are determined by two parameters, i.e., pre-strain and the portion of interface with interlayer bonding, and the phase diagram of wrinkle patterns corresponding to the two parameters is provided. Furthermore, strain engineering can be employed in IB-SBG to generate a series of new patterns by precisely adjusting the biaxial strain applied to IB-SBG. The present strategy to achieve tunable wrinkle patterns holds the potential to open new avenues for novel electronic applications based on bilayer graphene systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen absorption of Zircaloy nuclear fuel cladding, used in light water reactor at nuclear power plants, poses an increased risk of delayed hydride cracking during interim dry storage. Consequently, novel surface technologies aimed at reducing hydrogen absorption have become a critical area of research. Zirconium nitride coatings, renowned for their high hardness, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance, have seen widespread application in various industries, including medical devices, cutting tools, and decoration. This study explores the effectiveness of ZrN coating in suppressing hydride formation in Zircaloy-4, a material commonly used for nuclear fuel cladding. In this research, ZrN coatings were deposited onto recrystallized Zircaloy-4 substrates using a hollow cathode discharge ion-plating (HCD-IP) system. The coated and uncoated Zircaloy-4 samples were then subjected to electrochemical and gaseous hydriding processes. The study further investigates the differences in microstructure and hydrogen content of coated and uncoated Zircaloy-4. From these results, it is evident that the ZrN thin film deposited by HCD-IP exhibited great resistance to hydrogen permeation against both hydriding conditions. It is concluded that the ZrN thin films can serve as an excellent hydrogen barrier layer for Zircaloy-4. • Electrochemical hydriding followed by a homogenization heat treatment produced the uniform δ-hydride in Zircaloy-4. • Gaseous hydriding was effectively applied to Zircaloy-4 alloy, resulting in the uniform δ-hydride. • Nanocrystalline ZrN thin film with a strong (111) texture was successfully deposited on Zircaloy-4 by the ion-plating. • ZrN thin film demonstrated significant resistance to hydrogen permeation in Zircaloy-4 by at least 82%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes-related skin ulcers are of significant clinical concern. Although conventional dressings have been developed, their outcomes have not been adequate, indicating the need to investigate functional dressings for the treatment of diabetic ulcers. Copper selenide nanoparticles (Cu 2 Se NPs) demonstrate outstanding photoresponsiveness, which is critical to the healing process. However, their limited solubility in water restricts their application. To synthesize the ODT-PMMA@Cu 2 Se NP-doped decellularized periosteum‑sodium alginate functional dressing-ODT-PMMA@Cu 2 Se/ECM-S (OP@Cu 2 Se/ECM-S), Cu 2 Se NPs were modified by n-octadecanethiol (ODT) end-functionalized poly (methacrylic acid) (PMAA) ligands homogeneously dispersed in a decellularized periosteum/sodium alginate matrix. This process improved the water solubility and stability. Moreover, under near-infrared irradiation (NIR), ODT-PMMA@Cu 2 Se demonstrated robust photo-responsiveness along with photothermal and photodynamic effects, leading to rapid heating and stimulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. These two processes work in concert to exhibit excellent antibacterial ability; at 20 μg/mL concentration of Cu 2 Se NPs, the bacterial activities of S. aureus and E. coli were 5.40 % and 0.96 %, respectively. Without the NIR laser irradiation, OP@Cu 2 Se/ECM-S rapidly increased the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, triggered the phosphatidylinositide 3-kinases (PI3K) and protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway, affected the expression of bFGF and CD31, and promoted neovascularization, proliferation, and cell migration. In a diabetic mouse wound model, OP@Cu 2 Se/ECM-S exhibited good biocompatibility and promoted epidermal regeneration, collagen deposition, and neovascularization. In a mouse model of subcutaneous abscesses, OP@Cu 2 Se/ECM-S also showed excellent antibacterial activity, in vivo experiments confirmed a decrease in bacterial activity to 1.97 %. Thus, OP@Cu 2 Se/ECM-S is a potentially useful approach for healing diabetic wounds. • Its strong biological activity and superior antibacterial properties are crucial for the healing of diabetic wounds. • The misuse of antibiotics combined with the drawbacks of nanoparticles causes a rise in both cytotoxicity and cell resistance. • A multifunctional dressing that is photoresponsive and free of antibiotics was prepared in this research. Its superior antibacterial and healing properties in vitro and investigated the underlying mechanisms. • Cu 2 Se NPs were functionalized with ODT-PMMA ligands for the first time, distributing them uniformly in the decellularized periosteum/sodium alginate, and exhibiting full healing of diabetic wounds and hair follicle regeneration without the need for near-infrared light. • Moreover, OP@Cu 2 Se/ECM-S has powerful antibacterial properties in the presence of NIR, virtually eliminating microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Nb 2 O 5 nanoparticles (5 ∼ 15 m) supported on 3DOM structure were fabricated. • 3DOM Nb 2 O 5 significantly improves the hydrogen storage performance of MgH 2. • Unique 3DOM structure and in-situ formed NbHx contributes above improvement. • The electron transfer at the MgH 2 /Nb 2 O 5 interface can weaken the Mg-H bond. A three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) Nb 2 O 5 was successfully prepared via the colloidal crystal template method, which demonstrates a significant effect in enhancing the hydrogen storage performances of MgH 2. 3DOM Nb 2 O 5 presents an overall macroporous structure with a highly ordered overall arrangement and connected layers. As limiting domains influence of 3DOM structure, Nb 2 O 5 nanoparticles ranging in size from 5 to 15 nm are encapsulated with the amorphous carbon layer. The MgH 2 -5 wt% 3DOM Nb 2 O 5 MM 30 h composite can absorb 6.35 wt% H 2 in 500 s at 175 °C and desorb 6.95 wt% H 2 in 300 s at 300 °C. The unique Nb 2 O 5 3DOM structure can provide more active sites and a larger contact area for the hydrogen ab/desorption of MgH 2. The in situ formed NbH x can promote the dissociation and complexation of molecular hydrogen on its surface and induce the hydrogen boundary/interface diffusion along the Mg/MgH 2 interface, thus facilitating the hydrogen ab/desorption reaction of MgH 2. In addition, the binding energy transfer of Nb 2 O 5 can be observed by XPS and the electron shift at the MgH 2 /Nb 2 O 5 interface is further confirmed by the theoretical calculations, which can weaken the Mg-H bond and induce MgH 2 to become unstable. This finding will provide ideas for the design and preparation of catalysts with special morphologies for Mg-based hydrogen storage materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A method coupled wavelet transformation for identifying non-linear periodic of eco-hydrological was established. • The characteristics of different hydrological oscillation period and its impact on river algal blooms was found. • The law of weakened interannual hydrological oscillation increased the frequency of river algal blooms was revealed. The evolution of riverine aquatic ecosystems typically exhibits notable characteristic with cumulative, enduring, and hysteresis. Exploring the non-linear response of riverine ecology to long-term hydrological fluctuations become a major challenge in contemporary interdisciplinary research. In response to the critical issue of frequent river algal blooms in the lower Han River, which is impacted by Asian largest inter-basin water diversion project. We identified the non-linear response of eco-hydrology across various time scales through the integration of Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) and Inverse Wavelet Transform (IWT). Our study revealed that: 1) Over the past half century, the hydrological regime in the lower Han river showed a significant downward trend, and existed three significant hydrological oscillation periods (HOPs), including the short-scale Intra-AC (180 days), the medium-scale AC (365 days, the first major period), and the long-scale Inter-AC (2500 days), the variation of Inter-AC changed most dramatically. 2) We further found that the Inter-AC variation of hydrology is more closely related to the formation of river algal blooms in the Han River, and when the hydrological Inter-AC shows steady state or downward trend, the frequency of algal blooms in the lower Han River increases significantly. 3) The river algal blooms in the lower Han River is a cumulative consequence to the long-term hydrological influences. Weakened hydrological Inter-AC is more likely to increase the frequency of river algal blooms, and 10-years Inter-AC cumulation increased the frequency by 60%. Therefore, the weaken of long-scale HOP will significantly increase the frequency of river algal blooms in the future. This study received a critical scientific insight and aimed at provide guidance for the optimization of ecological management within the framework of national large-scale water conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite pollution by microplastics and heavy metals poses a potential threat to the soil plant system and has received increasing attention. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) have good application potential for the remediation of combined microplastic and heavy metal pollution, but few related studies exist. The present study employed a pot experiment to investigate the effects of inoculation with the PGPB Bacillus sp. SL-413 and Enterobacter sp. VY-1 on sorghum growth and Cd accumulation under conditions of combined cadmium (Cd) and polyethylene (PE) pollution. Cd+PE composite contamination led to a significant reduction in sorghum length and biomass due to increased toxicity. Inoculation with Bacillus sp. SL-413 and Enterobacter sp. VY-1 alleviated the stress caused by Cd+PE complex pollution, and the dry weight of sorghum increased by 25.7% to 46.1% aboveground and by 12.3% to 45.3% belowground. Bacillus sp. SL-413 and Enterobacter sp. VY-1 inoculation increased the Cd content and accumulation in sorghum and improved the phytoremediation efficiency of Cd. The inoculation treatment effectively alleviated the nutrient stress caused by the reduction in soil mineral nutrients due to Cd+PE composite pollution. The composition of the soil bacterial communities was also affected by the Cd, Cd+PE and bacterial inoculation treatments, which affected the diversity of the soil bacterial communities. Network analyses indicated that bacterial inoculation regulated the interaction of rhizospheric microorganisms and increased the stability of soil bacterial communities. The Mantel test showed that the changes in the soil bacterial community and function due to inoculation with Bacillus sp. SL-413 and Enterobacter sp. VY-1 were important factors influencing sorghum growth and Cd remediation efficiency. The results of this study will provide new evidence for the research on joint plant microbe remediation of heavy metal and microplastic composite pollution. [Display omitted] • Increased toxicity of Cd+PE reduced the length and biomass of sorghum. • PGPB alleviate Cd+PE stress and improve the Cd phytoremediation efficiency. • PGPB increased the contents of N, P, K in the soil. • PGPB changed the composition and function of the soil bacterial community under Cd+PE. • PGPB changed the co-occurrence network and interaction of soil bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Cu modification to VO x /Silicalite-1 for PDH-CO 2. • Improved dispersion of VO x and tuned acidic/basic sites. • Promoted reverse water gas shift. • Highest conversion of propane/CO 2 on 0.5Cu-10VO x /S-1. Propane dehydrogenation in CO 2 atmosphere (PDH-CO 2) is of interest with a potential to raise propane conversion. Here the catalytic performance of Cu modified 10VO x /Silicalite-1(S-1) for PDH-CO 2 is presented for the first time. The initial propane conversion of 68.8% on 0.5Cu-10VO x /S-1 was reached from 59.3% on 10VO x /S-1, along with the CO 2 conversion of 44.5% from 32.4%. The role of S-1 support and Cu modification were elucidated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflection (UV–Vis), NH 3 /CO 2 temperature-programmed desorption (NH 3 /CO 2 -TPD), H 2 temperature-programmed reduction (H 2 -TPR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterization. While dispersing VO x , non-acidic S-1 minimized the side reactions usually occurring on the strong acidic sites. Cu modification promoted the dispersion of VO x and enabled 10VO x /S-1 exposing more weak acidic sites and basic sites, boosting respectively the adsorption of propane and CO 2 , for concurrently accelerating the reverse water gas shift (RWGS). Moreover, the highly dispersed V5+ was formed on the surface whereas the percentage of inactive V3+ decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple Kernel Clustering (MKC) is an effective approach for revealing nonlinear cluster structures in candidate kernels. However, existing MKC methods still face two key challenges. Firstly, the pairwise affinity in these methods is primarily determined by kernel similarity, disregarding the correlations among highly similar neighbors and resulting in redundant weight assignments and reduced clustering discriminability. Secondly, the direct utilization of affinity matrices overlooks high-order connections and introduces noise due to independent row-wise solving. To address these issues, we propose a novel local MKC method called LKRGDF. We begin by exploring affinity using the Local Kernel Reconstruction (LKR) model, reducing redundancy and enhancing clustering discriminability. Furthermore, we exploit the affinities with the Global heat kernel Diffusion (GD) procedure to capture long-range connections smoothly. The GD process acts as a low pass filter, focusing on small eigenvalues corresponding to top clusters. Finally, we integrate these smooth affinities within an auto-weighted Multiple Graph Fusion (MGF) framework to obtain a consensus graph. By assembling LKR, GD, and MGF in a sequential pipeline, our approach achieves the exploration and exploitation of local structures, gradually improving clustering performance while ensuring computational efficiency without the need for iterative steps. Extensive experiments on ten datasets demonstrate the superiority of our algorithm in terms of effectiveness and efficiency compared to state-of-the-art methods. The code for our method is publicly available at https://github.com/YanChenSCU/LKRGDF-2023.git. [Display omitted] • A new reconstruction method is developed to explore the local kernel structure. • A heat diffusion method is developed to exploit the global kernel structure. • A new sequential MKC method is proposed to explore and exploit kernel structure. • The experimental results show both the effectiveness and efficiency of our method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro-organisms on the eggshell surface of affect the quality of the egg. Sometimes, these microbes even pose a serious threat to the health of the egg's consumer. Bacterial 16S rDNA and fungal internal transcribed spacer region were sequenced to analyze the microbial diversity on the shell surface of the eggs collected from 4 distinct regions of China: Guyuan (GY ; 1.5 million hens), Langfang (LF ; 0.1 million hens), Beihai (BH ; 1.2 million hens), and Dongguan (DG ; 0.2 million hens). The results showed a higher bacterial and fungal abundance on the eggs collected from the northern and southern China farms, respectively. The dominant bacterial phylum detected across all egg samples was Firmicutes. In addition, the shell surfaces of the DG and LF samples harbored abundant levels of Proteobacteria. The dominant fungal phyla detected across all egg samples were Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. The bacterial compositions on eggshell surfaces differed significantly across all geographic regions, and the fungal composition differed significantly between samples collected from the southern and northern farms (P < 0.05). The abundance and composition of microbial colonies on the eggshell surface varied based on their geographical location (climate and environment) and farming scale (management). Our findings provide an important reference for optimizing the cleaning and disinfection methods for fresh eggs collected from different sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional integrated circuit (3D-IC) technology, which involves the vertical integration of multiple chips, has effectively reduced the size of electronic devices and mitigated chip interconnection delays. However, the high integration of 3D-IC brings serious thermal management challenges, especially the heat dissipation of middle-layer or bottom-layer chips. In this study, a 3D-IC thermal management scheme named SLHP based on loop heat pipe is proposed. An SLHP featuring micropillar arrays wick is designed and manufactured, and the feasibility of the SLHP for 3D-IC thermal management is verified through visual experiment, and the influence of changing the location of hotspots and introducing a composite wick on improving the performance of the SLHP is explored. The results indicate that the SLHP operates effectively, demonstrating the capability to adapt to abrupt changes in heat flux. Moreover, the micropillar arrays wick not only provides powerful capillary force, but also larger heat exchange area in limited space. Thoughtful placement of hotspots is profitable to supply liquid fluid and minimize heat leakage from evaporator to compensation chamber. Most significantly, the thermal conductivity of composite wick SLHP reaches 852.1 W/(m·K), surpassing the 810.0 W/(m·K) achieved by the single-size wick SLHP. • A 3D-IC thermal management scheme based on LHP is proposed. • The application of micropillars array wick in SLHP has been effective. • The impact of hotspots position on the fluid replenishment ability is explored. • SLHP with composite wick reaches the higher thermal conductivity of 852.1 W/(m∙K). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of pressure on the mechanical, electrical structure, and optical characteristics of cubic fluoroperovskite XMgF 3 (X = Al, Ga, In, Tl) are investigated based on the first principles methods. The calculated lattice constants are in good agreement with those in the literature. According to the mechanical properties, all the compounds exhibit ductility and anisotropy, and the inter-atomic binding bonds of these materials are ionic. According to Kleinman's parameter, bond stretching is dominant in XMgF 3 (X = Al, Ga, In, Tl). Among all studied compounds, AlMgF 3 carries the highest machinable index, indicating that it is the most machinable and suitable material for industrial applications. The electronic structures show that AlMgF 3 and InMgF 3 are indirect bandgap semiconductors, while GaMgF 3 and TlMgF 3 are direct bandgap insulators at 0 GPa. The values of band gap for all the compounds decrease with the increasing pressure. X-s and F-p orbital states contribute primarily to the top of the valence band, whereas X-p orbital states dominate the bottom of the conduction band. The overall shape of electron state density under pressure does not change significantly, but its peak widens. The optical properties of XMgF 3 (X = Al, Ga, In, Tl) crystal at zero pressure and high pressures are further investigated. The results indicate that XMgF 3 compounds have outstanding ultraviolet (UV) absorption properties and could be used in UV optical devices. Moreover, the low reflectivity values of XMgF 3 crystals make the compounds potential anti-reflective coating materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports a nanomixed valence FeWO 4 -coated 2D Ti 3 C 2 MXene (FW-MX) photocatalyst synthesised by a simple hydrothermal method. Ciprofloxacin, the main target pollutant, exhibited superior adsorption performance and high catalytic activity in the light-assisted Fenton system. In just 1 h, the removal rate of ciprofloxacin reached an impressive 76.89% using a minimal amount of FW-MX (10 mg). Meanwhile, the material exhibited good stability. Furthermore, the successful formation of mixed-valent FeWO 4 accelerated the rate-limiting step of Fe(III)/Fe(II) conversion, thereby enhancing the reactivity of the in situ photo-Fenton system. In the light-assisted Fenton system, FW-MX demonstrated greater potential compared to other common antibiotics, as FW-M100 exhibited superior photoreduction performance for heavy metal ions under the photo-Fenton oxidation system. This could further advance the practical application of AOPs technology in industrial wastewater treatment. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Push-pull solvatochromic dyes undergoing intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) have emerged as useful tools for imaging target biomolecules directly in living cells and monitoring interactions of biomolecules by changing the signal of their fluorescence. However, the currently reported solvatochromic fluorescent dyes frequently suffer from the problem of inherit background noise, and cause unspecific fluorescence that masks the specific signal from biomolecules. Herein, based on the combined the effect of aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ), a D-π-A structural far-red BODIPY dye BSK was designed and developed as a G-quadruplex (G4) DNA structures probe. In organic solvents, the spectra results underlined the excellent characteristics of BSK , such as high polarity sensitivity and strong solvatochromic effect due to the electron donor–acceptor system. In aqueous solution, BSK underwent aggregation to form nonfluorescent amorphous aggregates in which the dye kept low background fluorescence in a solution. Upon binding of BSK with c-MYC G4 DNA, an intense fluorescence was trigged by the synergistic properties of disaggregation-induced emission and inhibited twisted intramolecular charge transfer, with a low detection limit of 16 nM. In addition, BSK exhibited a selective ability to target G4 DNA structures and effectively differentiated from duplex and single-strand DNAs. Moreover, BSK has the potential to be used in visualizing the cellular nucleus in cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer cachexia, a multi-organ disorder resulting from tumor and immune system interactions, prominently features muscle wasting and affects the survival of patients with cancer. Ursolic acid (UA) is known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. However, its impact on cancer cachexia remains unexplored. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of UA in addressing muscle atrophy and organ dysfunction in cancer cachexia and reveal the mechanisms involved. UA dose-dependently ameliorated C2C12 myotube atrophy. Mechanistically, it inhibited the expression of muscle-specific RING finger containing protein 1 (MURF1) and the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and upregulated the mRNA or protein levels of myogenic differentiation antigen and myogenin in cultured C2C12 myotubes treated with conditioned medium. In vivo , UA protected CT26 tumor-bearing mice against loss of body weight, as well as increased skeletal muscle and epididymal fat without affecting tumor growth. Additionally, UA increased food intake in CT26 tumor-bearing mice. The mRNA expression of tumor necrosis-α and interleukin 6 was significantly downregulated in the intestine, gastrocnemius, and heart tissues following 38 d UA administration. UA treatment reversed the levels of myocardial function indicators, including creatine kinase, creatine kinase-MB, lactate dehydrogenase, car-dial troponin T, and glutathione. Finally, UA treatment significantly inhibited the expression of MURF1, the phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa-B p65, and STAT3 in the gastrocnemius muscle and heart tissues of cachexic mice. Our findings suggest that UA is a promising natural compound for developing dietary supplements for cancer cachexia therapy owing to its anti-catabolic effects. Cancer cachexia is a multi-organ disorder resulting from interactions between tumors and the immune system. Muscle atrophy is the most typical characteristic of cancer cachexia and is closely related to the patients' quality of life and survival. In this study, we established in vivo and in vitro models of skeletal muscle atrophy, examining the changes in factors related to muscle protein synthesis and degradation, as well as regulatory pathways, after UA intervention. Additionally, we assessed indicators of intestinal health and cardiac function beyond skeletal muscle. Ultimately, our findings confirm that UA is a promising natural compound for developing dietary supplements for cancer cachexia therapy due to its anti-catabolic effects. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Hybrid Ag-TiO 2 /water nanofluid in a copper porous nanochannel via MD. • Investigation of interaction energy, thermal conductivity, and heat flux values. • Effects of different atomic ratios of nanoparticles (1, 2, 3, 5 and 10%) were evaluated. Nanofluids have gained significant attention due to their improved heat transfer capability compared to traditional fluids, making them promising for various applications. Adding nanoparticles to the base fluid alters its thermophysical attributes, such as thermal conductivity, viscosity, and heat transfer characteristics. Understanding the thermal behavior of hybrid nanofluids in porous nanochannels is crucial for optimizing their performance in practical applications. Therefore, this research uses molecular dynamic simulation to evaluate the thermal performance of an Ag-TiO 2 /water hybrid nanofluid combined with a copper porous nanochannel. The changes in parameters such as interaction energy, thermal conductivity, and heat flux were evaluated with time. Also, the effects of different atomic ratios of nanoparticles (1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 %) on mentioned thermal parameters were evaluated. Based on the findings obtained from the molecular dynamics simulation, with the passage of 10 ns, the interaction energy, thermal conductivity, and heat flux values have converged to 1.356 kcal/mol.atom, 1.717 W/m.k and 114.09 W/m2, respectively. Also, by increasing the atomic ratio of added nanoparticles to 3 %, the thermal conductivity and heat flux values have increased to numerical values of 1.83 W/m.k and 126.84 W/m2. After that, by increasing the atomic ratio of nanoparticles to 10 %, the mentioned parameters reach numerical values of 1.79 W/m.k and 120.05 W/m2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large volume changes of lithium-ion batteries during battery operation affect battery lifetime and performance through mechanical degradation. Therefore, understanding the coupling between mechanics and electrochemistry in these systems is crucial. In this work, we use neutron diffraction to learn how commercial lithium-ion pouch cells are affected by stack pressure during charge and discharge. We find that a change in stack pressure affects the phase transitions in electrode materials, requiring more charge to reach higher state-of-charge phases which results in effective capacity loss for the battery. Also noteworthy is that the copper current collector experiences strain during charge and discharge due to the expansion of the graphite anode, something often overlooked in these systems. • Neutron diffraction reveals how stack pressure affects charging lithium-ion cells. • Lithium-ion pouch cells lose capacity when charged under applied stress. • Copper current collector experiences significant strain during charge cycling. • Electrode phase transitions require more charge under higher stack pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulating evidence suggests that excess fructose uptake induces metabolic syndrome and kidney injury. Here, we primarily investigated the influence of catalpol on fructose-induced renal inflammation in mice and explored its potential mechanism. Treatment with catalpol improved insulin sensitivity and hyperuricemia in fructose-fed mice. Hyperuricemia induced by high-fructose diet was associated with increases in the expressions of urate reabsorptive transporter URAT1 and GLUT9. Treatment with catalpol decreased the expressions of URAT1 and GLUT9. Futhermore, treatment with catalpol ameliorated renal inflammatory cell infiltration and podocyte injury, and these beneficial effects were associated with inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, IL-18, IL-6 and TNF-α. Moreover, fructose-induced uric acid triggers an inflammatory response by activiting NLRP3 inflammasome, which then processes pro-inflammatory cytokines. Treatment with catalpol could inhibit the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome as well. Additionally, TLR4/MyD88 signaling was activated in fructose-fed mice, while treatment with catalpol inhibited this activation along with promoting NF-κB nuclear translocation in fructose-fed mice. Thus, our study demonstrated that catalpol could ameliorate renal inflammation in fructose-fed mice, attributing its beneficial effects to promoting uric acid excretion and inhibit the activation of TLR4/MyD88 signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work proposes an effective design of bioactive 3D-printed Ti-6Al-4V scaffold with the CaO-MgO-SiO 2 glass-ceramic coating to realize a comparable elastic modulus of bone tissue and boost osteogenic differentiation. The improved elastic modulus and stiffness of Ti alloy were achieved via effectively increasing surface area of Ti alloy to reduce stress shielding effect. A hydrophilic surface and bioactive glass-ceramic coating were conducted via chemical etching and heat-treatment under argon atmosphere to enhance cells attachment and boost cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. The expression of osteogenic genes in bioactive CaO-MgO-SiO 2 glass-ceramic was evaluated through ALP, OPN, Runx2, and Col1A1 gene markers to explore the mechanism of superior osteogenic differentiation. Significant increase in OPN expression level confirmed the effect of CaO-MgO-SiO 2 coating for the enhancement of osteogenic bioactivity. This work provides a feasible approach through surface etching and bioactive CaO-MgO-SiO 2 glass-ceramic coating on the Ti alloy surface to enhance bioactivity and osteogenesis. [Display omitted] • A compatible bone tissue of 3D-printed Ti-6Al-4V scaffold with the novel bioactive CaO-MgO-SiO 2 glass-ceramic coating. • A superior surface modification to enhance cells attachment and boost cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. • This work provides a feasible approach on the Ti-alloy surface to enhance bioactivity and osteogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uniform NH 2 -MIL-101(Fe) nanostructures were anchored onto a nanoporous gold (NPG) microelectrode, resolving the issues of poor conductivity and easy aggregation of MOFs as sensing materials, and realized the sensitively simultaneous detection of ascorbic acid and uric acid. [Display omitted] • NH 2 -MIL-101(Fe) nanoparticles were anchored onto NPG microelectrode without aggregation. • NH 2 -MIL-101(Fe)/NPG exhibited excellent performance for individual and simultaneous detection of AA and UA. • NH 2 -MIL-101(Fe)/NPG was successfully applied for simultaneously sensing AA and UA in complicated environment. • This work extended the applications of MOFs in electrochemical devices. Resolving the issue of poor conductivity and easy aggregation of MOFs is recognized as one important factor for their successful applications in electrochemical sensors and electrocatalysis. In this work, we propose an assembly of NH 2 -MIL-101(Fe) onto a nanoporous gold (NPG) microelectrode surface. The nanoporous gold could greatly improve the conductivity and reduce the aggregation of NH 2 -MIL-101(Fe). The proposed NH 2 -MIL-101(Fe)/NPG microelectrode was developed for the electroanalysis of ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA). It exhibited excellent electrochemical performance for the individual and simultaneous sensing of AA and UA in a 0.1 M PBS solution (pH 7.4). High sensitivities (2.03 μA μM−1 cm−2 for AA; 29.30 μA μM−1 cm−2 for UA) were achieved in the simultaneous analysis process. The improved electrochemical performance was attributed to the electrocatalytic properties and large specific surface area of NH 2 -MIL-101(Fe)/NPG, as well as the electrostatic interaction between NH 2 -MIL-101(Fe) and analytes. Moreover, the NH 2 -MIL-101(Fe)/NPG microelectrode was successfully used for the simultaneous detection of AA and UA in complicated environment (human sweat and advanced DMEM). This work shows great promise for the simultaneous detection of AA and UA and extends the applications of MOFs in electrochemical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate wind speed prediction is crucial for effective wind power grid integration and energy dispatching. Recent research has explored the combination of decomposition algorithms with forecast models to form hybrid models, aiming to enhance wind speed prediction accuracy. However, these traditional decomposition techniques often lead to high time costs in practical applications, as they require new wind speed sequences to be appended to historical long sequences for decomposition before entering the forecast model. To overcome this challenge, this study introduces and improves the Autoformer model, applying it for the first time to long-term univariate wind speed forecasting. By incorporating decomposition technology as a sub-module of the forecast model, Autoformer not only solves the high time cost issue found in conventional hybrid models but also retains the benefits of decomposition technology in time series processing.Furthermore, in this paper, the decomposition module of Autoformer is replaced with the Mixture of Expert Decomposition Module (MOEDecomp) to better extract complex trend elements of wind speed series. Combined with the auto-correlation mechanism, sequential attention is paid to wind speed for extracting time dependencies in long series. Additionally, the Wavelet Soft Threshold Denoising (WSTD) algorithm is utilised for noise reduction in wind speed sequences. To evaluate the model's performance, two multi-step forecasting strategies were employed to predict wind speeds for the forthcoming 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h using four datasets. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model surpasses 15 comparative models in terms of prediction accuracy, generalization ability, and handling uncertain data. • Introduces and enhances the Autoformer model for wind speed prediction, replacing its original decomposition module with the MOEDecomp. • Develops the MOEA model, integrating the decomposition techniques as a model sub-module, resolving high time cost issues prevalent in real-world hybrid model applications. • Effectively mitigates noise impact in wind speed predictions using the Wavelet Soft Threshold Denoising (WSTD) algorithm, enhancing prediction accuracy. • Through experimental analysis, compares two multi-step forecasting strategies to identify the most suitable approach for univariate wind speed prediction. • Offers a novel, efficient approach to long-term wind speed prediction, overcoming the high time costs associated with traditional hybrid models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Randomness and non-stationarity are common challenges in wind power forecasting (WPF). Many studies focus on randomness but usually ignore the non-stationarity which leads to distribution shift and affects prediction accuracy. To address the distribution shift problem, an alleviating distribution shift using the recent difference characterization (Dish-RDC) method is proposed as a general neural paradigm for WPF. Dish-RDC categorizes the distribution shift into intra-space and inter-space shifts. By employing the RDC, the method facilitates the mapping of input sequences to learnable distribution coefficients that better estimate the distribution. Furthermore, real-world time series often exhibit multi-periodicity, yet existing models face limitations in capturing this temporal variation. To address this issue, our research introduces the Temporal 2D-Variation Model (TimesNet) in WPF. This innovative model extends time variation analysis into a 2D space based on multi-periodicity. By using 2D kernels to model these variations, TimesNet can effectively incorporate advanced computer vision techniques into WPF. Combining these approaches, we developed Dish-RDC-TimesNet, a hybrid model. Experiments show it reduced mean absolute error (MAE) by 47.10 % and 20.63 % on two datasets compared to benchmark models. Moreover, integrating Dish-RDC with benchmark models decreased MAE by 39.79 % and 17.85 % on these datasets. • Dish-RDC method is proposed to address distribution shift. • TimesNet is introduced to mine hidden temporal variations based on periodicity. • Incorporating Dish-RDC into baseline models improves prediction accuracy. • The proposed hybrid model Dish-RDC-TimesNet outperforms baseline models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of short-lived shallow trapping states in semiconductor-based photocatalysts hinders efficient utilization of charge carrier, which compromises the solar-to-hydrogen efficiency. Here, we presented an engineered graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) nanosheets with long-lived shallow trapping states achieved through an n-π * electronic transition. This transition induces a significant red-shifted absorption edge at 600 nm, effectively extending the range of light absorption compared to pristine g-CN. Moreover, the engineered g-CN nanosheets exhibit lower exciton binding energies (36 meV) compared to pristine counterparts (50.1 meV), as revealed by temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) spectra. Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy (fs-TAS) confirms the presence of long-lived shallow trapping states (lifetime: 565.8 ps) in the engineered g-CN nanosheets. These states enable a greater participation of photoinduced electrons in photocatalytic reactions, resulting in significantly enhanced photoactivity. Notably, the g-CN sample with the n-π * transition achieves a remarkable photocatalytic H 2 production rate of 61.8 µmol h−1, which is a fivefold enhancement over pristine g-CN nanosheets. These findings highlight the crucial role of the n-π * transition in g-CN for prolonging shallow electron trapping and ultimately leading to superior photocatalytic performance. [Display omitted] • The n-π* transition expands g-CN's absorption edge to 600 nm. • The n-π* transition creates long-lived shallow trapping states in g-CN. • Engineered g-CN achieves 5-fold higher photocatalytic H 2 generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we explore the challenges associated with biomarker identification for diagnosis purpose in biomedical experiments, and propose a novel approach to handle the above challenging scenario via the generalization of the Dantzig selector. To improve the efficiency of the regularization method, we introduce a transformation from an inherent nonlinear programming due to its nonlinear link function into a linear programming framework under a reasonable assumption on the logistic probability range. We illustrate the use of our method on an experiment with binary response, showing superior performance on biomarker identification studies when compared to their conventional analysis. Our proposed method does not merely serve as a variable/biomarker selection tool, its ranking of variable importance provides valuable reference information for practitioners to reach informed decisions regarding the prioritization of factors for further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • 28 out of 57 target PFAS were detected in paper products from China. • 9 groups of PFAS with 1–3 confidence levels were identified by non-target analysis. • Ethanol in food simulants can increase the migration of PFAS. • Long-chain PFAS in popcorn bags can be degraded by microwave heating. • PFAS in some paper products exceeded the recommended daily intake values. The contamination characteristics, migration patterns and health risks of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were investigated in 66 Chinese paper products by using target and non-target screening methods. Among 57 target PFASs, 5 and 6 PFASs were found in the hygiene paper products (