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The catalytic hydrogenation of biomass-derived chemicals is essential in chemical industry due to the growing demand for sustainable and renewable energy sources. In this study, we present a comprehensive theoretical investigation regarding the hydrogenation of glycolaldehyde to ethylene glycol over a Ru/C catalyst by employing density functional theory and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. With inclusion of explicit solvation, we have demonstrated that the glycolaldehyde hydrogenation is significantly improved due to the fast proton transfer through the hydrogen bond network. The enhanced activity could be attributed to the participation of the solvent water as the hydrogen source and the highly positively charged state of a Ru cluster in an aqueous phase, which are critical for the activation of aldehyde groups and proton-assisted hydrogenation. Overall, our findings provide valuable insights into glycolaldehyde hydrogenation over Ru/C catalysts in the aqueous phase, highlighting the importance of solvation effects in the biomass conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is aimed at examining the mesoscopic mechanical response and crack development characteristics of asphalt mixtures using the three-dimensional discrete element approach via particle flow code (PFC). The material is considered an assembly of three phases of aggregate, mortar, and voids, for which three types of contact are identified and described using a modified Burgers model allowing for bond failure and crack formation at contact. The laboratory splitting test is conducted to determine the contact parameters and to provide the basis for selecting three different load levels used in the indirect tensile fatigue test and simulation. The reliability of the simulation is verified by comparing the fatigue lives and dissipated energies against those from the test. Under cyclic loading, the internal tensile and compressive force chains vary dynamically as a response to the cyclic loading; both are initially concentrated beneath the top loading strip and then extend downward along the loading line. The compressive chains are oriented roughly vertically and develop an elliptic shape as damage grows, while the tensile chains are mostly horizontal and become denser. An analysis based on the histories of the numbers of different contact types indicates that damage mainly originates from bond failures among the aggregate particles and at the aggregate–mortar interfaces. In terms of location, cracking is initiated below the loading point (consistent with observations from the force chains) and propagates downward and laterally, leading to the macrocrack along the vertical diameter. The findings provide a mesoscopic understanding of the fatigue damage initiation and propagation in asphalt mixture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition of hypersonic boundary layer flow is an important problem in aerodynamic research. To obtain the natural transition position using the flow stability analysis method, it is necessary to analysis the neutral curve and the perturbation growth rule. Accurate calculation of the basic flow is the basis and prerequisite for stability analysis. This paper proposes that surface radiation should be considered in the analysis of hypersonic boundary layer flow stability due to the high temperatures at the vehicle surface caused by aerodynamic heating. In order to obtain the influence of surface radiation on the flow stability, we assume that the surface satisfies the energy balance and the gas satisfies calorimetrically perfect gas properties. To simplify the analysis, gas radiation has been neglected. The boundary layer analysis of a hypersonic flat plate with and without radiation has been performed by a combination of flow stability theory and direct numerical simulation. It is found that high temperature radiation on the surface causes energy to transfer outwards. The results showed that surface temperature decreases along the streamwise direction and is no longer an adiabatic surface temperature. Instability interval decreases and the maximum growth rate increases. The range of the instability region expressed in dimensionless frequency values moves to lower frequency as the Mach number increases. Maximum growth rate shows a tendency to increase and then decrease as the Mach number increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer film melt stretching exhibits a unique stress–strain behavior, featuring a stress plateau followed by a sudden increase with increasing the strain. This phenomenon poses a challenge to conventional melt-extension theories and methods. To address this, we derive a simplified flow theory according to the symmetric characteristics of thin melt-stretching, and propose a modified multi-mode Leonov model (m-Leonov) that accounts for molecular orientation effects, a crucial factor in accurately simulating the process. In order to improve the computational efficiency, an iterative algorithm was developed to decouple the interdependence between governing and constitutive equations. The computational results reveal that the viscoelastic nature of the film contributes to a delay in the transformation of stretching forces, leading to the observed stress plateau. Significantly, our m-Leonov model successfully predicts both the plateau and the subsequent abrupt increase in stress, across various temperatures and stretching rates. These simulations closely agree with experimental data, underlining the robustness of our approach. Our findings would enhance the understanding of rheological complexities in film stretching, offering potential applications in various materials and polymer processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sepsis is one of major reasons of cardiorenal syndrome type 5 (CRS-5), resulting in irreversible tissue damage and organ dysfunction. Macrophage has been demonstrated to play key role in the pathophysiology of sepsis, highlighting the need to identify therapeutic targets for modulating macrophage phenotype in sepsis. In this study, a rapid-releasing hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donor NaSH, and a slow-releasing H2S compound S-propargyl-cysteine (SPRC) which is derived from garlic, have been studied for the immune-regulatory effects on macrophages. The NaSH and SPRC showed the potential to protect the heart and kidney from tissue injury induced by LPS. The immunohistochemistry of F4/80+ revealed that the infiltration of macrophages in the heart and kidney tissues of LPS-treated mice was reduced by NaSH and SPRC. In addition, in the LPS-triggered inflammatory cascade of RAW264.7 macrophage cells, NaSH and SPRC exhibited significantly inhibitory effects on the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and regulation of the macrophage phenotype from M1-like to M2-like. Moreover, autophagy, a crucial process involved in the elimination of impaired proteins and organelles during oxidative stress and immune response, was induced by NaSH and SPRC in the presence of LPS stimulation. Consequently, there was an increase in the number of mitochondria and an improvement in mitochondrial membrane potential. This process was mainly mediated by PINK1/Parkin pathway mediated mitophagy. These results demonstrated that the immunoregulatory effects of H2S donors were through the PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy pathway. Overall, our study provided a new therapeutic direction in LPS-induced cardiorenal injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biosorption is considered a promising method for removing heavy metals from polluted water, benefiting from their abundance, low cost, and environmental friendliness. However, its practical application for Cr(Ⅵ) removal was limited, as the biosorbents often lack uniform size or a stable morphology, and Cr(Ⅵ) oxidation can destroy active adsorption groups. In this study, lignocellulose beads (LCB) with uniform size (∼2 mm) were prepared from sugarcane bagasse using ionic liquids. Additionally, an inorganic structure Schwertmannite (ScH) was synthesized and loaded on LCB, creating permanent active sites for adsorbing Cr(Ⅵ) anions. Characterization studies confirmed that ScH@LCB adsorbent possesses excellent properties, such as homogeneous and stable morphology. Batch experiments indicated that the adsorption isotherms confirmed well with Langmuir model, with the maximum adsorption of Cr(Ⅵ) of 24.62 mg/g. The linear correlation between the released S O 4 2 − and C r O 4 2 − adsorption was 0.94, suggesting that the anion-exchange reactions primarily determines the adsorption of Cr(Ⅵ) on ScH@LCB. Furthermore, several desorption and regeneration experiments demonstrated that ScH@LCB maintains stable adsorption performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let \mathbb {F}_q denote the finite field of characteristic p and order q. Let \mathbb {Z}_q denote the unramified extension of the p-adic rational integers \mathbb {Z}_p with residue field \mathbb {F}_q. Given two positive integers m,n, define a box \mathcal B_m to be a subset of \mathbb {Z}_q^n with q^{nm} elements such that \mathcal B_m modulo p^m is equal to (\mathbb {Z}_q/p^m \mathbb {Z}_q)^n. For a collection of nonconstant polynomials f_1,\dots,f_s\in \mathbb {Z}_q[x_1,\ldots,x_n] and positive integers m_1,\dots,m_s, define the set of common zeros inside the box \mathcal B_m to be \begin{equation*} V=\{X\in \mathcal B_m:\; f_i(X)\equiv 0\mod {p^{m_i}}\text { for all } 1\leq i\leq s\}. \end{equation*} It is an interesting problem to give the sharp estimates for the p-divisibility of |V|. This problem has been partially solved for the three cases: (i) m=m_1=\cdots =m_s=1, which is just the Ax-Katz theorem, (ii) m=m_1=\cdots =m_s>1, which was solved by Katz [Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 137 (2009), pp. 4065–4075; Amer. J. Math. 93 (1971), pp. 485–499], Marshal and Ramage [Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 49 (1975), pp. 35–38], and (iii) m=1, and m_1,\dots,m_s\geq 1, which was recently solved by Cao, Wan [Finite Fields Appl. 91 (2023), p. 25] and Grynkiewicz [ A generalization of the Chevalley-Warning and Ax-Katz theorems with a view towards combinatorial number theory , Preprint, arXiv: 2208.12895 , 2022]. Based on the multi-fold addition and multiplication of the finite Witt rings over \mathbb {F}_q, we investigate the remaining unconsidered case of m>1 and m\neq m_j for some 1\leq j\leq s, and finally provide a complete answer to this problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed to investigate the preventive effects of N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) against renal tubular cell injury induced by oxalate and stone formation and further explore the related mechanism. Transcriptome sequencing combined with bioinformatics analysis were performed to identify differentially expressed gene (DEG) and related pathways. HK-2 cells were pretreated with or without antioxidant NAC/with or silencing DEG before exposed to sodium oxalate. Then, the cell viability, oxidative biomarkers of superoxidase dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA), apoptosis and cell cycle were measured through CCK8, ELISA and flow cytometry assay, respectively. Male SD rats were separated into control group, hyperoxaluria (HOx) group, NAC intervention group, and TGF-β/SMAD pathway inhibitor group. After treatment, the structure changes and oxidative stress and CaOx crystals deposition were evaluated in renal tissues by H&E staining, immunohistochemical and Pizzolato method. The expression of TGF-β/SMAD pathway related proteins (TGF-β1, SMAD3 and SMAD7) were determined by Western blot in vivo and in vitro. CDKN2B is a DEG screened by transcriptome sequencing combined with bioinformatics analysis, and verified by qRT-PCR. Sodium oxalate induced declined HK-2 cell viability, in parallel with inhibited cellular oxidative stress and apoptosis. The changes induced by oxalate in HK-2 cells were significantly reversed by NAC treatment or the silencing of CDKN2B. The cell structure damage and CaOx crystals deposition were observed in kidney tissues of HOx group. Meanwhile, the expression levels of SOD and 8-OHdG were detected in kidney tissues of HOx group. The changes induced by oxalate in kidney tissues were significantly reversed by NAC treatment. Besides, expression of SMAD7 was significantly down-regulated, while TGF-β1 and SMAD3 were accumulated induced by oxalate in vitro and in vivo. The expression levels of TGF-β/SMAD pathway related proteins induced by oxalate were reversed by NAC. In conclusion, we found that NAC could play an anti-calculus role by mediating CDKN2B/TGF-β/SMAD axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the issue that the current click-through rate prediction methods ignore the varying impacts of different input features on prediction accuracy and exhibit low accuracy when dealing with large-scale data, a click-through rate prediction method (GBIFM) which combines Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT) and Input-aware Factorization Machine (IFM) is proposed in this paper. The proposed GBIFM method employs GBDT for data processing, which can flexibly handle various types of data without the need for one-hot encoding of discrete features. An Input-aware strategy is introduced to refine the weight vector and embedding vector of each feature for different instances, adaptively learning the impact of each input vector on feature representation. Furthermore, a fully connected network is incorporated to capture high-order features in a non-linear manner, enhancing the method’s ability to express and generalize complex structured data. A comprehensive experiment is conducted on the Criteo and Avazu datasets, the results show that compared to typical methods such as DeepFM, AFM, and IFM, the proposed method GBIFM can increase the AUC value by 10% –12% and decrease the Logloss value by 6% –20%, effectively improving the accuracy of click-through rate prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let F q be the finite field of q elements, and F q n its extension of degree n. A normal basis of F q n over F q is a basis of the form { σ i (α) : i = 0 , ⋯ , n - 1 } where σ denotes the Frobenius automorphism of F q n over F q and α ∈ F q n . Normal bases over finite fields have proved very useful for fast arithmetic computations with potential applications to coding theory and to cryptography. Some problems on normal bases are characterized in terms of linearized polynomials. We show that such problems can be finally reduced to the determination of the irreducible factors of x n - 1 over F q . Using this approach, we extend the known results with alternative as well as relatively elementary proofs. And we believe that this approach can be used to deal with other similar problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of expressways in China has produced diverse habitats along slopes characterized by steep gradients, uneven water distribution, poor soil conditions, and no routine maintenance. Manually planting beneficial species is an essential method of effectively improving slope soils to prevent soil erosion. However, few studies have evaluated the reclamation effects and plant community composition and structure used to restore slopes along expressways. This study focused on the Zhengzhou-Xinxiang section of the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway. A total of 10 representative plant communities were evaluated using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP)–fuzzy integrated evaluation method. The sites were divided into four layers, namely, plant communities, soil nutrients, soil physical properties, and other ecological factors, and 14 indicators were assessed. The evaluation results showed that four of these plant communities (PCs) were excellent, three PCs were good, one PC was normal, two PCs were poor. The four excellent PCs had high Shannon-Wiener index, pielou index, richness index or community productivity. It is worth noting that most excellent plant community structures were tree + shrub + herb. Based on these results, we recommend that fill slopes should be restored using a combination of trees, herbs, and shrubs; also, the vegetation should include native plants, such as B. papyrifera, U. pumila, A. fruticosa, and Cynodon dactylon (L.). This study could provide ideas for plant community composition and structure of new highway slopes in similar climate environment, and provide theoretical support for plant community composition and structure and soil improvement for the existing slope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stratigraphic uncertainty and rotated anisotropy of soil properties exist widely in nature. Recent studies have shown that the slope stability was significantly influenced by these two uncertainties. However, there is no proper method for simulating these two uncertainties at the same time, and the influence of the two uncertainties has not been considered in previous unsaturated soil slope stability analysis. This paper aims to propose a coupled method for characterizing the stratigraphic uncertainty and rotated anisotropy of soil properties, and investigate the unsaturated soil slope stability considering the two uncertainties. Through a slope case, the proposed method for characterizing the two uncertainties is examined. The effect of rotational angle on the slope stability and groundwater table is studied. In addition, four different uncertainty considerations are chosen to compare their influence on the slope stability and groundwater table. The results show that the proposed method can well characterize the two uncertainties at the same time. The rotational anisotropy of soil properties has a substantial impact on the slope stability and groundwater table. The rotational angles corresponding to the maximum and minimum reliability index of slope depend on the uncertainty considerations in the slope stability analysis. The slope reliability index only considering stratigraphic uncertainty is the highest, and the slope reliability index considering stratigraphic uncertainty and rotated anisotropy of soil properties is the lowest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat kernels harbor a diverse microflora that can negatively affect the suitability of the grains for further processing. To reduce surface microflora, a kernel disinfection method is required that does not affect grain functionality. Three different versions of gas phase hydroxyl‐radical processes were compared with the common method for grain disinfection, that is, a bleach treatment. The gas phase hydroxyl‐radicals are generated by the UV‐C mediated degradation of hydrogen peroxide and/or ozone in a near water‐free process. It was found that treating kernels with a bleach solution could reduce total aerobic count (TAC) and fungal count to below the level of enumeration. In comparison, the gas phase hydroxyl‐radical treatment, that is, H2O2–UV–ozone treatment, could support a 1.3 log count reduction (LCR) in TAC and a 1.1 LCR in fungal count. The microbial load reduction for the wholemeal samples was less pronounced as endophytic microorganisms were less affected by all treatments, hinting at a limited penetration depth of the treatments. Despite reducing the microbial load on the kernel surface through the bleach and H2O2–UV–ozone treatments, none of these treatments resulted in a reduced microbial count on grains that underwent sprouting after the treatments. No negative effect on germination power or development of the seedling was observed for any of the treatments. The gluten aggregation behavior and xylanase activity of the wholemeal also remained unchanged after the gas phase hydroxyl‐radical treatments. Our findings suggest that UV–H2O2–ozone treatment shows promise for dry‐kernel disinfection, but further optimization of the processing parameters is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient and rapid synthesis of transition metal-based hydroxides with tailored microstructures has emerged as a promising approach to fabricate high-performance electrode materials for energy storage devices. However, many conventional synthesis methods are cumbersome, expensive and time-consuming, and the microstructures of electrode materials are usually uncontrollable. Herein, we propose a fast and cost-effective approach to electrochemically in situ grow NiFeCo-based ternary hydroxides (NiFeCo-THs) with layered nanosheet structures on pretreated nickel foam (NF). The in situ grown NiFeCo-THs were in direct contact with the NF to form a monolithic electrode as NiFeCo/NF. By engineering the ion exchange process for controlling the ionic ratio, the monolithic Ni1(Fe/Co = 1/1)0.5/NF electrode was fabricated and found to show the optimum electrochemical behavior with a specific capacitance of 2.32 C cm−2 at 2 mA cm−2 as a result of its characteristic microstructures. Furthermore, a hybrid supercapacitor was constructed utilizing the monolithic Ni1(Fe/Co = 1/1)0.5/NF electrode and activated carbon as the cathode and anode, respectively, and it was found to have an energy density of 81.1 μW h cm−2 at a power density of 808.8 μW cm−2. After 5000 cycles, 84.0% of the initial capacitance of the hybrid supercapacitor was maintained, and the monolithic Ni1(Fe/Co = 1/1)0.5/NF electrode still retained the arrayed nanosheet structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lonicera japonica Thunb. mainly contains phenolic acids, flavonoids, polysaccharides, saponins, iridoid and other active components, which have the functions of antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, liver protection and immune regulation. In the paper, the active components and biological functions of Lonicera japonica Thunb. are introduced, and the regulation of the active components of Lonicera japonica Thunb. on the biological barrier, immune barrier, chemical barrier and physical barrier of animal intestinal tract are reviewed, so as to provide a reference for accurate and effective use of Lonicera japonica Thunb. in animal breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tumor immunotherapy can not only eliminate the primary lesion, but also produce long-term immune memory, effectively inhibiting tumor metastasis and recurrence. However, immunotherapy also showed plenty of limitations in clinical practice. In recent years, the combination of nanomaterials and immunotherapy has brought new light for completely eliminating tumors with its fabulous anti-tumor effects and negligible side effects. Methods: The Core Collection of Web of Science (WOSCC) was used to retrieve and obtain relevant literatures on antitumor nano-immunotherapy since the establishment of the WOSCC. Bibliometrix, VOSviewer, CiteSpace, GraphPad Prism, and Excel were adopted to perform statistical analysis and visualization. The annual output, active institutions, core journals, main authors, keywords, major countries, key documents, and impact factor of the included journals were evaluated. Results: A total of 443 related studies were enrolled from 2004 to 2022, and the annual growth rate of articles reached an astonishing 16.85%. The leading countries in terms of number of publications were China and the United States. Journal of Controlled Release, Biomaterials, Acta Biomaterialia, Theranostics, Advanced Materials, and ACS Nano were core journals publishing high-quality literature on the latest advances in the field. Articles focused on dendritic cells and drug delivery accounted for a large percentage in this field. Key words such as regulatory T cells, tumor microenvironment, immune checkpoint blockade, drug delivery, photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, tumor-associated macrophages were among the hottest themes with high maturity. Dendritic cells, vaccine, and T cells tend to become the popular and emerging research topics in the future. Conclusions: The combined treatment of nanomaterials and antitumor immunotherapy, namely antitumor nano-immunotherapy has been paid increasing attention. Antitumor nano-immunotherapy is undergoing a transition from simple to complex, from phenotype to mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A precise description of the thermodynamic states of gaseous and solid detonation products is essential when using thermodynamic calculations to determine the detonation performance and destructive power of explosives. For high oxygen-lean explosives (the oxygen contained in explosives is insufficient to completely oxidize combustible elements and excess solid carbon will be generated in the detonation products), the phase state of solid carbon product affects the Chapman–Jouguet (CJ) detonation performance parameters, reaction zone, and energy release process. However, the recovery of detonation products demonstrates that the actual detonation carbon product is primarily a mixed state of diamond/graphite stack, as opposed to the existing thermodynamic codes, which essentially treat detonation carbon as single-phase carbon. To understand the thermodynamic effect of the mixed carbon phase state on the non-ideal detonation behavior, in this work, the matching relationship among the VINET equation of state parameters, thermodynamic potential parameters of the solid products of the equivalent system and the phase mixed system was constructed by using the nonlinear fitting method. The relationship between the carbon phase composition at the CJ point and the explosive composition structure was researched. Investigations were conducted into how the mixed carbon phase affected the volume and content of gas products as well as the composition at CJ points. Diamond formation in products is good for enhancing explosive's working capacity. Based on mixed-state potential parameters, the correlation mechanism between the mixed carbon phase and the chemical reaction zone was investigated, and it was found that intramolecular carbon/intermolecular carbon and more detonation graphite/diamond products all would lead to the extension of the reaction zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a novel SiC superjunction MOSFET with Schottky diode containing N- and P-type barrier is proposed to improving short-circuit and reverse recovery ruggedness, investigated by TCAD simulations. The adoption of superjunction and p-shields structure can reduce saturation current, and thus, improve short-circuit capability. A fine gate oxide providing long-term reliability of the device is obtained. Also, N-type Schottky diode for electrons is used to dampen bipolar conduction of the parasitic body diode, while P-type Schottky diode for holes is introduced to constrain the hole inflow and extraction attributed to the transient variation of the superjunction. As a result, compared with an SBD-wall-integrated trench MOSFET (SWITCH-MOS), a low on-resistance and high breakdown voltage of the proposed structure are gained. More importantly, the proposed device exhibits stronger temperature-dependent immunity. As expected, simulation results indicate that the proposed device under 10 nH stray inductance shows a 30%–50 % reduction in the peak reverse recovery current and a 50%–70 % decrease in the current rising slope of reverse recovery, compared to only a single superjunction, when the metal workfunction varies from 5.1 to 5.6 eV. Moreover, the short-circuit withstanding time of the proposed structure increases roughly 2 times longer than that of SWITCH-MOS. • Dual-type Schottky diodes. • Improving short-circuit capability. • Good reverse recovery robustness. • A good tradeoff between breakdown voltage and specific on-resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light plains on the Moon are distinctive smooth deposits formed by large impact basins. Featuring diverging morphology and frequent spatial association with large secondary craters, light plains were interpreted to be formed either by ground-hugging ejecta flows and/or debris flows triggered by landing of impact ejecta. Light plains located in closed depressions, term ponded light plains (PLPs) here, cover ∼3% of the lunar global surface. They lack diagnostic geomorphology that could be ascribed to secondary impacts or primary ejecta, suggesting a possibly different emplacement mechanism, which has not been investigated before. PLPs feature comparable morphology with both lunar mare that were mainly emplaced by effusive volcanism and large impact melt pools that were deposited by melt-rich ejecta in rims and terraces of large impact basins. For such smooth plain materials, topography roughness at small scales might be an indicative information for their different emplacement styles. This study analyses topography roughness for PLPs and similar-sized melt pools that were formed by the Orientale basin and also coeval mare units on the Moon. We find that mare units have smaller roughness than same-aged melt pools, because large entrained blocks are abundant in melt pools that likely yielded larger viscosity. We further notice that PLPs have a medium topography roughness between coeval mare units and large melt pools, and the topography roughness of PLPs is closer to that of mare units. Correlated observations using high-resolution images suggest that the smoother topography of PLPs than cogenetic melt pools are mainly due to the minor existence of entrained blocks in PLPs. This comparison suggests that while PLPs and melt pools are both basin-related smooth ejecta deposits, PLPs may feature a lower viscosity during the emplacement, and they are most consistent with being melt-rich primary ballistic ejecta that were accumulated in local depressions. Considering that the youngest multiple-ring basin on the Moon, the Orientale basin, is capable of forming numerous PLPs across most parts of the entire Moon, this work predicts that both disrupted and sandwiched melt-rich ejecta deposits should be widespread in the lunar highland crust due to earlier-formed impact basins. • Light plains and melt pools formed by the Orientale basin and contemporaneous mare units are compared. • Small-scale roughness of light plains in closed depressions is closer to that of mare units than melt pools. • Light-plains in closed depressions were emplaced by filling of low-viscosity melt-rich primary ejecta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• All dispersants considered acted in synergy with resins in peptizing asphaltenes. • Ionic liquid yielded the best dispersing power and the highest self-association. • Significant electron-withdrawing sites were main contributors to dispersing power. • Steric hinderance associated with molecular structure affected dispersing behavior. In confronting the global climate change, reusing waste asphalt materials stands out as a key strategy for the transportation sector to preserve natural resources and reduce the carbon footprint. Recycling additives or rejuvenators are usually required in this practice, especially for boosting the recycling rate. Given the imperative need for a general compositional design principle of rejuvenators, we previously proposed an innovative formulation concept by combining softeners with asphaltene dispersants, and reported that the use of dispersants largely reduced the total quantity of rejuvenators needed and thus would minimize the environmental impacts. The present study is aimed for probing the molecular mechanisms underlying this observation, with additional interest focused on the synergistic effect of the dispersants with resins and also on the impacts due to their self-association. Selection of representative materials consisted of three types of dispersants including an ionic liquid, a phenolic amphiphile, and an ester plasticizer, in combination with an aromatic oil as the softener. Long-time molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was employed to inspect the aggregation of asphaltenes. Quantum chemical (QC) computation was performed to provide insights into the source of different dispersing behaviors. The results indicated that the three dispersants all acted in concert with resins in dispersing asphaltenes. The dispersion characteristics of asphaltenes could be viewed as a net result of the two competing mechanisms of the dispersing capability and self-association of the dispersant used. The ionic liquid exhibited much higher propensity to self-association at increasing concentrations than the phenolic dispersant, and yet the optimum performance was achieved for both when they were added at low dosages. The ester plasticizer showed minimal self-association and yielded improved dispersion with increasing concentrations. In all cases, the dispersing functionality mainly originated from the presence or formation of significant electron-withdrawing sites, collectively due to the highly electronegative cation and anion, hydrogen bonding, and polar groups. Comparison of the dispersing power was also conducted from different perspectives. The findings are expected to provide molecular insights for formulating versatile and more environmentally benign asphalt rejuvenators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Rejuvenators were formulated by combining asphaltene dispersants with softeners. • All rejuvenation schemes effectively restored the rheology and moisture resistance. • Rejuvenated asphalts exhibited similar or better long-term performance than virgin. • Ionic liquid yielded the best dispersing efficiency and aromatic softener the least. • Polar groups and forming hydrogen bonding were speculated as primary contributors. The search and development of various asphalt rejuvenators have been following a trial-and-error methodology in essence; the imperative need of improved efficiency and versatility yearns for a general principle/framework of formulating rejuvenators. In this study, we propose one such formulation concept that rejuvenators can be designed by combining asphaltene dispersants (interacting with and dispersing asphaltenes) with softeners (diluting asphaltenes). This concept was preliminarily validated in an experimental program involving three rejuvenation schemes, namely using an aromatic softener alone (as the reference) and using it together with an ionic liquid or a phenolic compound (both acting as dispersants). Immediate and long-term rejuvenating effectiveness was evaluated based on viscoelastic properties, fatigue resistance, and moisture susceptibility. The results indicated that at respective optimum dosages, the three schemes all yielded satisfactory immediate performance of rejuvenation. After long-term aging, the rejuvenated asphalts demonstrated more desired viscoelastic characteristics in resisting high-temperature deformation and low-temperature cracking, and were more fatigue resistant, as compared to the virgin binder. Rejuvenation in all cases also recovered the moisture resistance nearly to the virgin level. Infrared spectrum analysis indicated that the performance restoration was accomplished by the agents blending physically with the aged binder, which decreased the concentrations of oxidation functional groups (carbonyl and sulfoxide). The incorporation of dispersants improved the aging resistance (in terms of high temperature viscoelasticity), and substantially reduced the need of aromatic softener while providing similar or better performance compared to using the softener alone, which would lead to pronounced environmental and economic benefits. The much higher dosage efficiency was ascribed to the capability of the dispersants in peptizing and dissociating the asphaltenes, as investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. The different dispersing behaviors of the additives were examined with reference to their chemical compositions and molecular structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A nonlinear numerical model is developed by permafrost thermal degradation. • The permafrost evolution process of SAYR is showed from 1400 to 2100. • The "Permafrost Life Cycle" is presented by degradation simulation results. Permafrost degradation is currently receiving as much attention as global warming. Permafrost evolution is a particularly slow process, making it impossible to examine the entire process by observation. Based on the heat conduction theory, in this study, a nonlinear numerical model for the entire process of permafrost evolution was developed with consideration of phase transition. The numerical simulation model was used to retrospectively analyse the evolution process and degradation pattern of permafrost in Tangchama beach-land in the Source Area of the Yellow River (SAYR) from 1400 to 2100; this analysis was performed using ice core inversion results obtained from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau since the Little Ice Age and various future climate change scenarios from the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report. The simulation results showed that: 1) since 1900, permafrost temperatures have substantially increased, exceeding the range of change between 1400 and 1900; under the RCP2.6, RCP6.0 and RCP8.5 scenarios, permafrost will degrade and disappear in the next 100 years, and the degradation rate will subsequently accelerate. 2) The permafrost table steadily goes downward at first, and the onset of fast permafrost degradation is signalled by the appearance of a residual thawed layer at a depth of 3–4 m. The permafrost layer then gradually thins out as the permafrost table rapidly descends and the permafrost base slowly ascends. The permafrost will fully deteriorate and vanish once the permafrost table and the permafrost base bounds overlap. 3) Due to permafrost degradation, the ground temperature curve can be divided into the following stages: uniform gradient stage, C-type stage, zero-gradient type stage and phase transition stage. The four stages of the "permafrost life cycle" are initial temperature warming, continuous temperature rising, residual thawed layer, and final permafrost disappearance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the discharge coefficient of a cylindrical hole with gas jets in liquid crossflow in a cavitation tunnel. Utilizing the Π theorem, the research examines the dimensionless parameters influencing the discharge coefficient. The results indicate that an increase in the Froude number notably diminishes the discharge coefficient at low-pressure ratios, primarily due to intensified crossflow shear effects, which constrain the effective flow area of the gas jet. However, as the pressure ratio increases, the gas jet velocity rises, attenuating the shear effect of the liquid crossflow and augmenting the discharge coefficient. Examining the correlation between total pressure ratio and discharge coefficient reveals that below a total pressure ratio of 1, the inhibiting effect of crossflow static pressure on the discharge coefficient is more pronounced than that of dynamic pressure. Conversely, beyond a ratio of 1, dynamic pressure imposes a more substantial inhibiting effect compared to static pressure. Additionally, the study assesses the impact of the jet Reynolds number on the discharge coefficient, demonstrating that the viscosity of gas jet has a negligible effect compared to the shear effect of the liquid crossflow. Furthermore, it is found that with an increase in the Euler number, the discharge coefficient increases at the same pressure or velocity ratio, decreases at the same momentum ratio, and remains unchanged at the same momentum flux ratio. Comparing the effects of those above non-dimensional parameters on the discharge coefficient indicates that the momentum flux ratio is the most significant dimensionless parameter that affects the discharge coefficient. • Experimentally studied the discharge coefficient of a gas jet in a liquid crossflow. • Proposed an equivalent total pressure ratio based on the incompressibility assumption. • Found that the effective flow area of the jet directly affects the discharge coefficient. • Provided a method for correlating the discharge coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluid simulation is a well-established research field in computer graphics that aims to generate realistic and visually appealing simulations of fluids, including water, smoke, and fire. Divergence is identified as a crucial factor in achieving realistic fluid behavior. This article presents a GPU optimization of the pointwise incompressible fluid simulation technique, which uses pointwise incompressible velocity interpolation to ensure divergence at arbitrary points, rather than grid cells. Pointwise incompressible velocity interpolation at arbitrary points is the curl of velocity potential. The velocity potential can be obtained from the divergence-free velocities by solving a Poisson equation. To enhance the computational efficiency of the simulation, an odd–even geometric multigrid method is introduced to solve Poisson’s equation on non-power-of-2 resolution grids. Additionally, to recover the potential on grid cells, a warp-level method is proposed via divergence-free velocities on grid cells. The proposed warp-level potential recovery method offers GPU optimization and enhanced efficiency, in contrast to the sweeping method that only provides CPU optimization for potential recovery. Furthermore, a locally enhanced method is proposed to recover the detailed velocity potential within small domains through the use of the odd–even multigrid. The experiments show that the odd–even multigrid outperforms Weber’s multigrid by an average speedup factor of 4.32 across various grid sizes. On the other hand, the warp-level potential recovery method demonstrates notable speedups ranging from approximately 2–6 times for 2D grids and about 1.35–2.64 times for 3D grids when compared to the parallel sweeping method on GPU. The results of these contributions demonstrate remarkable improvements in the efficiency and performance of fluid simulations in computer graphics, harnessing the computational capabilities of modern GPUs to achieve visually appealing and realistic fluid behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging evidence has indicated that the alterations in gut microbiota and metabolites are associated with cognitive performance. However, whether these associations imply a causal relationship remains to be definitively established. Here, we conducted two-sample mendelian randomization (MR) studies to explore the causal effects of gut microbiota and metabolites on cognitive performance, using large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWASs). We identified seven positive causalities between host genetic-driven gut microbiota and cognitive performance, including Class Clostridia (p = 0.0002), Order Clostridiales (p = 8.12E-05), Family Rhodospirillaceae (p = 0.042) and Ruminococcustorquesgroup (p = 0.030), Dialister (p = 0.027), Paraprevotella (p = 0.037) and RuminococcaceaeUCG003 (p = 0.007) at the genus level. Additionally, a total of four higher abundance of gut microbiota traits were identified to be negatively related to cognitive performance, including genus Blautia (p = 0.013), LachnospiraceaeFCS020group (p = 0.035), LachnospiraceaeNK4A136group (p = 0.034) and Roseburia (p = 0.00016). In terms of plasma metabolites, we discovered eight positive and six negative relationships between genetic liability in metabolites and cognitive performance (all p < 0.05). No evidence was detected across a series of sensitivity analyses, including pleiotropy and heterogeneity. Collectively, our MR analyses revealed that gut microbiota and metabolites were causally connected with cognitive performance, which holds significant potential for shedding light on the early detection and diagnosis of cognitive impairment, offering valuable insights into this area of research. • This is the first two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study to explore the causal effects of gut microbiota and metabolites on cognitive performance. • We employed a range of analytic methods including inverse-variance weighting (IVW), weighted median, MR-Egger, and a series of sensitivity analyses. • Our findings provide a valuable insight for the early identification and diagnosis from the onset of cognitive decline to dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa antagonists have been employed in selective patients after endovascular therapy (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS), yet application in patients without EVT is debated. This meta‐analysis of randomized controlled studies on AIS patients without EVT assessed the effectiveness and safety of platelet GP IIb/IIIa antagonists compared with traditional antiplatelet or thrombolysis therapy. Articles were retrieved from databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane. The risk of bias and certainty level of evidence were assessed. Fifteen studies were included. GP IIb/IIIa antagonists increased the proportion of patients with modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0–1 (odd ratio [OR] 1.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.81, p = 0.03), mRS 0–2 (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.12–1.46, p = 0.0004), and Barthel Index (BI) 95–100 (OR 1.25, p = 0.005); decreased the proportion of stroke progression within 5 days (OR 0.66, p = 0.006); and lowered the mean mRS score at 90 days (mean difference [MD] −0.43, p = 0.002) and the National Institute of Health stroke scale score at 7 days (MD −1.64, p < 0.00001) compared with conventional treatment. Proportions of stroke recurrence within 90 days (OR 1.20, p = 0.60), any intracranial hemorrhage (aICH) (OR 1.20, p = 0.12), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) (OR 0.91, p = 0.88), and death (OR 0.87, p = 0.25) had no statistical difference between both groups. This meta‐analysis finds that compared with traditional antiplatelet or thrombolysis therapy, GP IIb/IIIa antagonists administered within 24–96 h of ischemic stroke onset significantly improve functional prognosis of patients with AIS not receiving EVT, as indicated by mRS and BI at 90 days, and do not increase the incidence of aICH, sICH, and death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess whether serum inhibin A at 14–20 weeks of gestation is associated with the occurrence of pre‐eclampsia. Methods: A retrospective cohort study using propensity score matching was conducted on 11 682 singleton pregnant women with established deliveries at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University between January 2017 and July 2019. We investigated serum inhibin A levels at 14–20 weeks of gestation and calculated the relative risk between inhibin A and pre‐eclampsia by multifactorial logistic regression analysis. Smoothed, fitted curves were used to observe the effect of inhibin A in relation to the occurrence of pre‐eclampsia. Results: The risk of pre‐eclampsia occurrence increased with elevated serum inhibin A. After full adjustment for confounders, the risk ratio for pre‐eclampsia in the group of pregnant women with high inhibin A was 2.92 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.08–4.11) compared with those with normal inhibin A. The results of sensitivity analysis suggested a consistent effect of inhibin A on the risk of pre‐eclampsia in different populations. Conclusion: Elevated serum inhibin A at 14–20 weeks of gestation is associated with pre‐eclampsia and may provide an early warning signal for pregnancy outcomes associated with pre‐eclampsia. Synopsis: Serum inhibin A can provide early warning signals for pregnancy outcomes related to pre‐eclampsia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fabric motion in tumble dryers, particularly the motion observed from the cross-section of the rotating drum, contributes significantly to the heat and mass transfer between textiles and the surrounding hot airflow. However, the wider picture for this process is not yet clear and requires further study. In this article, fabric motion with different drum rotation direction settings was analyzed experimentally to determine the effect of drum rotation direction on drying performance. A high-speed video camera was used to record the fabric motion during the entire drying process. The recorded movies were then processed, and the velocity and occupancy distributions of the tracer fabric and several motion indexes were analyzed by using OpenCV and Matlab. The results indicated that changes in the drum rotation mode cause significant variations in the dynamics of fabric motion in domestic tumble dryers across different drying conditions with variations in fabric size, drum rotation speed and load size. Constantly changing drum rotation direction plays an important role in enlarging the motion area and reducing the passive motion area, lifting the textiles up to a higher place and agitating the mixture inside the rotating drum. This means that the fabrics can be effectively scattered instead of tangling together, and because this drying condition provides more opportunities for them to be exposed to the surrounding hot airflow, it enhances convective heat and mass transfer within the drying chamber and reduces the formation of wrinkles on fabrics. This study could lead to new guidance for obtaining effective fabric motion patterns that lead to an optimal drying performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Coordination polymer {[Mn 2 (BTIA) 2 (H 2 O)]·7H 2 O} n was synthesized solvothermally. • The structure is a 4,8-connected 3D framework. • Antiferromagnetic (AF) interactions exist between Mn2+ ions. • The porous Mn-MOF shows a small uptake capacity for CO 2. One three dimensional metal organic framework {[Mn 2 (BTIA) 2 (H 2 O)]·7H 2 O} n (Mn-1) was synthesized from the multidentate organic linker 4,6-bistriazole isophthalic acid (H 2 BTIA) and MnCl 2 ·4H 2 O under solvothermally condition. The structure of 1 exhibits as a three-dimensional framework fabricated by the binuclear subunits [Mn 2 (COO) 2 (H 2 O)] and the organic linkers (H 2 BTIA). Topologically, it displays a binodal framework with Schläfli symbol (44 · 62) 2 (416 · 612), which contains one dimensional channels along a direction. The magnetic behavior of Mn-1 was investigated, which discloses the antiferromagnetic (AF) interactions between Mn2+ ions with the coupling constant J = −1.38 cm−1. In additin, the porous Mn-MOF shows a small uptake capacity for CO 2. [Display omitted] One 3D coordination polymers {[Mn 2 (BTIA) 2 (H 2 O)]·7H 2 O} n have been successfully obtained based on multidentate linker 4,6-bistriazole isophthalic acid (H 2 BTIA). The structure of 1 fabricated into a 3D MOF by the binuclear subunits [Mn 2 (COO) 2 (H 2 O)] and the organic connectors (H 2 BTIA). It displays a binodal framework with Schläfli symbol (44 · 62) 2 (416 · 612) with 1D channels along a direction. The magnetic behavior of Mn-1 discloses AF couplings between Mn2+ ions in every subunit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Semi-analytic methods are used to solve 3D DPL problems. • Compared with FEM, the semi-analytic method has higher computational efficiency. • The phase lag of heat flow and the phase lag of temperature gradient have influence on the temperature response speed and the formation of temperature field. With the development of picosecond laser technology, the dual-phase-lagging (DPL) model is more suitable to describe the heat transfer problem with micro-scale effect and micro-time effect. In this paper, a three-dimensional dual-phase-lagging heat transfer model for picosecond laser processing is established. Then Fourier transform (FT) and Laplace transform (LT) are used to derive the frequency response functions (FRFs) of the problem in the frequency domain, and the inverse Laplace transform (ILT) and discrete-convolution fast Fourier transform (DC-FFT) algorithm are used to solve the temperature field. The calculation accuracy of this method is verified and the effect of phase lag constants on temperature field is studied. The results show that the semi-analytical method has a high accuracy for solving the dual-phase-lagging heat conduction model, and the phase lag of heat flux will affect the heating rate in the heating stage, and the phase lag of temperature gradient will delay the formation of temperature field. The effect of phase lag constants on temperature-time history is investigated and the related phenomena are explained by using the two-step heat transfer theory. This semi-analytical method provides a new approach to solve the problem of three-dimensional dual-phase-lagging heat transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isovalent doping offers a method to enhance the thermoelectric properties of semiconductors, yet its influence on the phonon structure and propagation is often overlooked. Here, we take C d X ( X = T e ,   S e ) compounds as an example to study the role of isovalent doping in thermoelectrics by first-principles calculations in combination with the Boltzmann transport theory. The electronic and phononic properties of C d 8 S e 8 , C d 8 S e 7 T e , C d 8 T e 8 , and C d 8 T e 7 S e are compared. The results suggest that isovalent doping with C d X significantly improves the thermoelectric performance. Due to the similar properties of S e and T e atoms, the electronic properties remain unaffected. Moreover, doping enhances anharmonic phonon scattering, leading to a reduction in lattice thermal conductivity. Our results show that optimized p-type(n-type) ZT values can reach 3.13 (1.33) and 2.51 (1.21) for C d 8 T e 7 S e and C d 8 S e 7 T e at 900 K, respectively. This research illuminates the potential benefits of strategically employing isovalent doping to enhance the thermoelectric properties of C d X compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted the attention of many researchers due to their special physical, chemical, and biological properties. There is strong evidence that biogenic AgNPs can act as potent anticancer agents through the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and initiate the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. That is why we decided to use Nepeta bracteata Benth flower extract for the first time to bio-synthesize AgNPs and study their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on SK-BR-3 cells. AgNPs were biosynthesized at 70 °C after mixing silver nitrate and flower extract with a specific ratio and concentration, then were characterized using various analytical techniques, such as FESEM, FTIR, EDS, and zeta potential. Studies have shown that AgNPs have an irregular and circular shape, with about 99% by weight of silver, carbon, and oxygen. On the other hand, the appropriate size (below 57 nm) and surface charge (− 11.52 mV) make them stable in biological fluids. The better cytotoxic effect of AgNPs compared to flower extract on SK-BR-3 cells was investigated using the MTT method. The positive effect of AgNPs on inhibiting the growth of SK-BR-3 breast cancer cells was again confirmed by the sulforhodamine B staining method, so that AgNPs were able to decrease the density of cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the flow cytometry test proved that biosynthesized AgNPs using Nepeta bracteata Benth flower extract can induce apoptosis in SK-BR-3 cancer cells. Real-time PCR then proved that the ratio of Bak1/Bclx, as well as caspase-3 expression, was increased due to active ROS-producing biomolecules present in the plant extract, and therefore, AgNPs can activate the mitochondria-dependent apoptosis pathway in breast cancer cells. Finally, their negligible oxidative stress on erythrocytes was confirmed by the lipid peroxidation method and showed that biosynthesized AgNPs can be used for breast cancer treatment without showing adverse effects on erythrocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, in situ electrochemical synthesis of Ni–Mg–Al–LDHs for the treatment of simulated strontium-containing liquid radioactive waste (LRW) from nuclear power plants. The optimal reaction conditions were obtained by single-factor experiments: initial pH of 12, Mg electrode current density (JMg) of 12.5 mA/cm2, Ni–Mg–Al metal molar ratio (RNi_Mg–Al) of 3:1:1 and reaction temperature (T) of 30 °C. The removal rate of Sr2+ can reach up to 99.65%. The synthetic precipitate was characterized by XRD, FESEM-EDS and FT-IR under optimal reaction conditions. The XRD pattern showed that the main component of the precipitate is Ni–Mg–Al–LDHs. The precipitate was characterized by FESEM to have distinct layered double hydroxides (LDHs) structure. The absorption peaks of O–H bonds, C–O bonds, and M–O–M (M is Ni, Mg and Al) bonds appeared in IR spectrum. The method of in situ electrochemical synthesis of Ni–Mg–Al–LDHs has promising applications in the treatment of LRW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) composites reinforced by cryptocrystalline graphite (CG) and multi‐wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared. The SBR composite with 50 phr CG content displays superior mechanical reinforcement achieving 20.7 MPa in tensile strength. However, the electrical conductivity enhancement is modest. After incorporating MWCNTs as a secondary filler, the electrical conductivity significantly improved. The results show that the electrical conductivity of the SBR composite reinforced with 10 phr of CG and an additional 5 phr of MWCNTs surpasses that achieved by using 50 phr of CG solely. This enhancement can be attributed to the inherent excellent electric conductivity and high aspect ratio of MWCNTs, with their presence also preventing the re‐agglomeration of CG. Furthermore, within 10–40 phr content of CG, the mechanical reinforcement of CG‐SBR composites is enhanced with the addition of MWCNTs, whereas a minor decline in tensile strength is noted when the concentration of CG above 40 phr. Overall, the SBR composite reinforced with a synergistic combination of CG and MWCNTs is achieved, demonstrating both exceptional mechanical and conductive properties. Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) composites with different cryptocrystalline graphite (CG) phr and additional multi‐wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were characterized. CG‐SBR displays good mechanical property but limited electrical conductivity. Proper ratio of CG/MWCNTs significantly enhances various properties. MWCNTs act as a “bridge” structure connecting isolated CG filler in SBR matrix. MWCNTs network effectively prevents the re‐agglomeration of CG nanosheets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are excellent alternative luminophores for electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunoassays. However, they are inevitably limited by the aggregation-caused quenching effect. In this study, aimed at eliminating the aggregation quenching of PAHs, luminescent metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with 1,3,6,8-tetra(4-carboxybenzene)pyrene (H 4 TBAPy) as the ligand were exploited as a novel nano-emitter for the construction of ECL immunoassays. The luminophore exhibits efficient aggregation-induced emission enhancement, good acid-base resistance property and unusual ECL reactivity. In addition, the simultaneous use of potassium persulfate and hydrogen peroxide as dual co-reactants resulted in a synergistic enhancement of the cathodic ECL efficiency. The use of magnetic iron-nickel alloys as the multifunctional sensing platform can further enhance the ECL activity, and its enriched zero-valent iron as a co-reactant accelerator effectively drives ECL analytical performance. Profiting from the excellent characteristics, signal-on ECL immunoassays have been constructed. With carcinoembryonic antigen as the model analysis target, a detection limit of 0.63 pg/mL was obtained within the linear range of 1 pg/mL to 50 ng/mL, accompanied by excellent analytical performance. This report opens a new window for the rational design of efficient ECL illuminators, and the proposed ECL immunoassays may find promising applications in the detection of disease markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing number of studies on the transradial approach (TRA) for carotid artery stenting. We aimed to summarize the published data on TRA vs the transfemoral approach (TFA). We searched Science Direct, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science databases for the relevant literature. Primary outcomes included surgical success and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complication rates; secondary outcomes included the rates of vascular access-related and other complications. We also compared the crossover rate, success rate, and complications between TRA and TFA carotid stenting. This is the first such meta-analysis regarding TRA and TFA. Twenty studies on TRA carotid stenting were included (n = 1300). Among 19 studies, the success rate of TRA carotid stenting was.951 (95% confidence interval [CI]:.926–.975); death rate was.022 (.011–.032); stroke rate was.005 (.001–.008); radial artery occlusion rate was.008 (.003–.013); and forearm hematoma rate was.003 (−.000 to.006). Among 4 studies comparing TRA and TFA, the success rate was lower (odds ratio:.02; 95% CI:.00–.23) and crossover rate was higher (odds ratio: 40.16; 95% CI: 4.41–365.73) with TRA. Thus, transradial neuro-interventional surgery has a lower success rate than TFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aging significantly elevates the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases. Neuroinflammation is a universal hallmark of neurodegeneration as well as normal brain aging. Which branches of age-related neuroinflammation, and how they precondition the brain toward pathological progression, remain ill-understood. The presence of elevated type I interferon (IFN-I) has been documented in the aged brain, but its role in promoting degenerative processes, such as the loss of neurons in vulnerable regions, has not been studied in depth. Methods: To comprehend the scope of IFN-I activity in the aging brain, we surveyed IFN-I-responsive reporter mice at multiple ages. We also examined 5- and 24-month-old mice harboring selective ablation of Ifnar1 in microglia to observe the effects of manipulating this pathway during the aging process using bulk RNA sequencing and histological parameters. Results: We detected age-dependent IFN-I signal escalation in multiple brain cell types from various regions, especially in microglia. Selective ablation of Ifnar1 from microglia in aged mice significantly reduced overall brain IFN-I signature, dampened microglial reactivity, lessened neuronal loss, restored expression of key neuronal genes and pathways, and diminished the accumulation of lipofuscin, a core hallmark of cellular aging in the brain. Conclusions: Overall, our study demonstrates pervasive IFN-I activity during normal mouse brain aging and reveals a pathogenic, pro-degenerative role played by microglial IFN-I signaling in perpetuating neuroinflammation, neuronal dysfunction, and molecular aggregation. These findings extend the understanding of a principal axis of age-related inflammation in the brain, one likely shared with multiple neurological disorders, and provide a rationale to modulate aberrant immune activation to mitigate neurodegenerative process at all stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the unsteady shedding characteristics of a reentrant jet supercavity with a low Froude number, a high-fidelity numerical model based on the inhomogeneous multiphase model is developed to predict the complex supercavitation flow that occurs during supercavity development. The developed solver is validated quantitatively against experimental results in terms of supercavity geometry and closure mode. This study focuses on the initial generation and development process of a reentrant jet supercavity, revealing three distinct stages: foam cavity, transparent supercavity with rapid growth in dimensions, and fully developed supercavity exhibiting significant deformation. Owing to reverse flow of the gas–water mixture, interfacial instabilities arise from the unsteady cavity shedding, leading to fluctuations in supercavity shape. The types of large-scale cavity shedding observed in this work—wing-like and cloud-like—are caused by the concave deformation resulting from the reentrant jet. As the gas entrainment coefficient increases, the unsteady characteristics of pressure oscillation weaken, and the instance of wing-like cavities decreases. When the gas entrainment coefficient reaches a critical value, the twin-vortex closure mode occurs, resulting in a more stable flow behavior. In sum, we propose a theoretical model that elucidates the strength of the reentrant jet and reveals its unsteady shedding behavior during supercavity development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current one-size-fits-all screening strategy for lung cancer is not suitable for personalized screening. What is the risk-adapted starting age of lung cancer screening with comprehensive consideration of risk factors? The National Lung Cancer Screening program, a multicenter, population-based, prospective cohort study, was analyzed. Information on risk factor exposure was collected during the baseline risk assessment. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the association between risk factors and lung cancer incidence. Age-specific 10-year cumulative risk was calculated to determine the age at which individuals with various risk factors reached the equivalent risk level as individuals aged ≥ 50 years with active tobacco use and a ≥ 20 pack-year smoking history. Of the 1,031,911 participants enrolled in this study, 3,908 demonstrated lung cancer after a median follow-up of 3.8 years. We identified seven risk factors for lung cancer, including pack-years of smoking, secondhand smoke exposure, family history of lung cancer in first-degree relatives, history of respiratory diseases, occupational hazardous exposure, BMI, and diabetes. The 10-year cumulative risk of lung cancer for people aged ≥ 50 years with active tobacco use and a ≥ 20 pack-year smoking history was 1.37%, which was treated as the risk threshold for screening. Individuals who never smoked and those with active tobacco use and a < 30-pack-year history of smoking reached the equivalent risk level 1 to 14 years later compared with the starting age of 50 years. Men with active tobacco use, a ≥ 30-pack-year history of smoking, and concurrent respiratory diseases or diabetes should be screened 1 year earlier at the age of 49 years. The personalized risk-adapted starting ages for lung cancer screening, based on the principle of equal management of equal risk, can served as an optimized screening strategy to identify high-risk individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is now understood that the flatfish farming industry faces significant threats from Chinook salmon bafinivirus (CSBV) induced hemorrhagic disease. Developing a prompt and efficient diagnostic method is crucial for effective disease control and minimizing losses in aquaculture production. This research assessed the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique, using a specific primer set, for rapid and precise detection of CSBV. The primer set for LAMP detection was selected based on its demonstrated high specificity and sensitivity, as confirmed through visualization and gel electrophoresis. The CSBV-LAMP reaction system operated at an effective temperature of 63–67°C for 60 min. Importantly, the LAMP assay could identify viral genomic cDNA at an extremely low concentration of 10 pg/μL within 60 min at 65°C. Moreover, this reaction system accurately detected CSBV in naturally infected flatfish samples, yielding a 100% positive detection rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercropping with Pleurotus ostreatus has been demonstrated to increase the tea yield and alleviate soil acidification in tea gardens. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, high-throughput sequencing and Biolog Eco analysis were performed to identify changes in the community structure and abundance of soil microorganisms in the P. ostreatus intercropped tea garden at different seasons (April and September). The results showed that the soil microbial diversity of rhizosphere decreased in April, while rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil microbial diversity increased in September in the P. ostreatus intercropped tea garden. The diversity of tea tree root microorganisms increased in both periods. In addition, the number of fungi associated with organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling, such as Penicillium, Trichoderma, and Trechispora, was significantly higher in the intercropped group than in the control group. Intercropping with P. ostreatus increased the levels of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and available phosphorus (AP) in the soil. It also improved the content of secondary metabolites, such as tea catechins, and polysaccharides in tea buds. Microbial network analysis showed that Unclassified_o__Helotiales, and Devosia were positively correlated with soil TN and pH, while Lactobacillus, Acidothermus, and Monascus were positively correlated with flavone, AE, and catechins in tea trees. In conclusion, intercropping with P. ostreatus can improve the physical and chemical properties of soil and the composition and structure of microbial communities in tea gardens, which has significant potential for application in monoculture tea gardens with acidic soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physics-driven dynamics simulation (DS) and data-driven machine learning (ML) are two general approaches to predict complex systems whose complexity is a hardship impediment to prediction. Based on the 3D geological modeling (GD), we embedded the DS into ML to predict high potential targets and to evaluate ore-controlling and ore-indicating factors in the Tongguangshan (TGS) skarn orefield that has undergone intensive exploration and 4 Cu and Au deposits discovered. The 3D geological models show that the heterogeneous distribution of orebodies around intrusions is associated with the wall rock lithology and contact zone (CZ) characteristics of intrusions, and the resistivity can only provide some ambiguous clues for interpretation of underground geological architectures rather than a direct ore-indicator. The DS results show heterogeneous distribution of temperature, pore pressure, differential stress, volume strain and shear strain, among which the volume strain is closest associated with ore formation. Based on the prediction of Random Forest (FR) model of which the feature variables are combination of DS and 3D modeling results, the SHAP valuing results show a descending importance rank of ore-controlling factors and ore-indicators as lithology, volume strain, distance to CZ, distance to Devonian-Carboniferous interface, curvature of CZ, pressure, temperature, CZ azimuth, resistivity, differential stress, shear strain and CZ dip. The DS results are more important than the resistivity. We have run 6 RF models, consisting of different feature variables which were assigned by DS and 3D modeling, to predict ore-formation favor spaces. The prediction performances on test data sets suggest that, integrating of geological features with dynamics features can enhance performance of RF prediction, the RF model consisting of pure dynamics features can predict mineralization different from the training samples. All RF models' predictions support that there are no significant high potentials at the depth of the orefield, except one small target at its eastern south corner. [Display omitted] • Dynamics simulation (DS) and machine learning (ML) are different prediction ways. • Integrating DS into ML can facilitate targeting in maturely explored orefield. • ML processing DS results can predict orebodies different from the training samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • CB/CNT hybrids and elastic TPU are combined to assemble resistive strain sensor. • The hierarchical conductive network endows the sensor with desirable sensing capabilities. • CB/CNT@TPU strain sensor shows great application in personalized health monitoring. • Multiple sensors are integrated for robotic arm control by capturing human motions. Flexible strain sensors are strongly demanded in fields of personal healthcare monitoring and human–machine interface, as they can accurately perceive external action to produce electrical output signals. Aiming at the existing problems, such as the balanced sensitivity and sensing range, durability as well as expanded application, this paper proposes a flexible strain sensor prepared based on electrospun thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) membrane, followed by anchoring mixed conductive materials (carbon black (CB)/carbon nanotubes (CNT)) on its surface via an effective ultrasonic-assisted method. The resulting CB/CNT@TPU strain sensor delivers a desirable integration of sensing performances: good sensitivity, wide work range, fast response speed (<150 ms) and reliable cyclic stability (5000 cycles). Ascribed to the sensing behavior and additional breathability, strain sensor can be applied well to monitor human health, including human joints movements (fingers and wrists) and physiological signals (pulse and laryngeal vibration recognition). Finally, a multiaxial robotic arm control system is constructed, which provides a feasible strategy for intelligent robotic arms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The amino-functionalized graphene quantum dots (GQDs), which can emit sharp blue light under optical excitation. • We use GQDs for selective and rapid detection of Cu(II) ions by standard photoluminescence (PL) measurements. • A possible mechanism for inducing GQDs to inhibit PL emission is proposed. Herein, the amino-functionalized graphene quantum dots (GQDs) can be applied for selective detection of Cu(Ⅱ) ions in solutions via photoluminescence (PL) measurement, the PL emission intensities of the GQDs gradually decreased with the increase of Cu2+ concentration (0–100 μm), the PL intensity (quenching effect) decreases almost linearly with increasing Cu2+ concentration. Its correlation coefficient R 2 is 0.9529. Quenching of the PL emission by the presence of copper(Ⅱ) ions is attributed to the surface functional groups attached to the GQDs, which can interact with metal ions so that the electrons in the excited state of the GQDs are transferred into the unoccupied orbits of Cu(Ⅱ) ions. Corresponding physical mechanism is proposed to gain an understanding about how the presence of the Copper(Ⅱ) ions can affect the PL emission from GQDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FeNbO4 sonocatalysts were successfully synthesized by a simple hydrothermal route at pH values of 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, XPS, TEM, SEM, N2 adsorption and DRS to analyse the effect of pH parameters on the physicochemical properties of the materials during hydrothermal synthesis. The sonocatalytic activity of FeNbO4 microspheres was evaluated by using acid orange 7 (AO7) as the simulated contaminant. The experimental results showed that the best sonocatalytic degradation ratio (97.45%) of organic dyes could be obtained under the conditions of an initial AO7 concentration of 10 mg L−1, an ultrasonic power of 200 W, a catalyst dosage of 1.0 g L−1, and a pH of 3. Moreover, the sonocatalysts demonstrated consistent durability and stability across multiple test cycles. After active species capture experiments and calculation of the energy band, a possible mechanism was proposed based on the special Fenton-like mechanism and the dissociation of H2O2. This research shows that FeNbO4 microspheres can be used as sonocatalysts for the purification of organic wastewater, which has a promising application prospect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly detrimental occurrence associated with severe neurological disorders, lacking effective treatment currently. Proteolysis-targeting chimeric molecules (PROTACs) may provide new therapeutic avenues for treatment of podophyllotoxin derivatives-resistant SCLC with LM, warranting further exploration. Methods: The SCLC cell line H128 expressing luciferase were mutated by MNNG to generate H128-Mut cell line. After subcutaneous inoculation of H128-Mut into nude mice, H128-LM and H128-BPM (brain parenchymal metastasis) cell lines were primarily cultured from LM and BPM tissues individually, and employed to in vitro drug testing. The SCLC-LM mouse model was established by inoculating H128-LM into nude mice via carotid artery and subjected to in vivo drug testing. RNA-seq and immunoblotting were conducted to uncover the molecular targets for LM. Results: The SCLC-LM mouse model was successfully established, confirmed by in vivo live imaging and histological examination. The upregulated genes included EZH2, SLC44A4, VEGFA, etc. in both BPM and LM cells, while SLC44A4 was particularly upregulated in LM cells. When combined with PROTAC EZH2 degrader-1, the drug sensitivity of cisplatin, etoposide (VP16), and teniposide (VM26) for H128-LM was significantly increased in vitro. The in vivo drug trials with SCLC-LM mouse model demonstrated that PROTAC EZH2 degrader-1 plus VM26 or cisplatin/ VP16 inhibited H128-LM tumour significantly compared to VM26 or cisplatin/ VP16 alone (P < 0.01). Conclusion: The SCLC-LM model effectively simulates the pathophysiological process of SCLC metastasis to the leptomeninges. PROTAC EZH2 degrader-1 overcomes chemoresistance in SCLC, suggesting its potential therapeutic value for SCLC LM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface charges of catalysts have important influences on the thermodynamics and kinetics of electrochemical reactions. Herein, we develop a modified version of the grand-canonical potential kinetics (GCP-K) method based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations to explore the effect of surface charges on reaction thermodynamics and kinetics. Using the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) on the Pt(111) surface as an example, we show how to track the change of surface charge in a reaction and how to analyze its influence on the kinetics. Grand-canonical calculations demonstrate that the optimum hydrogen adsorption energy on Pt under the standard hydrogen electrode condition (SHE) is around −0.2 eV, rather than 0 eV established under the canonical ensemble, due to the high density of surface negative charges. By separating the surface charges that can freely exchange with the external electron reservoir, we obtain a Tafel barrier that is in good agreement with the experimental result. During the Tafel reaction, the net electron inflow into the catalyst leads to a stabilization of canonical energy and a destabilization of the charge-dependent grand-canonical component. This study provides a practical method for obtaining accurate grand-canonical reaction energetics and analyzing the surface charge induced changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An argon‐based low‐temperature plasma jet (LTPJ) was used to treat chronically infected wounds in Staphylococcus aureus‐laden mice. Based on physicochemical property analysis and in vitro antibacterial experiments, the effects of plasma parameters on the reactive nitrogen and oxygen species (RNOS) content and antibacterial capacity were determined, and the optimal treatment parameters were determined to be 4 standard litre per minute and 35 W. Additionally, the plasma‐treated activation solution had a bactericidal effect. Although RNOS are related to the antimicrobial effect of plasma, excess RNOS may be detrimental to wound remodelling. In vivo studies demonstrated that medium‐dose LTPJ promoted MMP‐9 expression and inhibited bacterial growth during the early stages of healing. Moreover, LTPJ increased collagen deposition, reduced inflammation, and restored blood vessel density and TGF‐β levels to normal in the later stages of wound healing. Therefore, when treating chronically infected wounds with LTPJ, selecting the medium dose of plasma is more advantageous for wound recovery. Overall, our study demonstrated that low‐temperature plasma jets may be a potential tool for the treatment of chronically infected wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]