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• We designed new HfZrCO 2 monolayer, HfZrCO 2 bilayer and HfZrCO 2 /Hf 2 CO 2 heterostructure. • Their separation mechanisms of photo-induced carriers are discussed. • Their good light absorption ability supports them as water-splitting photocatalysts. In this paper, based on the structure of Hf 2 CO 2 , we designed three new structures by Zr-doped, the HfZrCO 2 monolayer, HfZrCO 2 bilayer and HfZrCO 2 /Hf 2 CO 2 vdW heterostructure. By calculating their electronic properties, we found that they all possess suitable band gap and band edge positions to absorb sunlight to promote the water splitting reactions. To explore the catalytic efficiency, their photo-induced carries separate mechanisms are explored. Results show photo-induced electrons and holes are effectively separate by localized charge for HfZrCO 2 monolayer and HfZrCO 2 bilayer. While for the HfZrCO 2 /Hf 2 CO 2 vdW heterostructure, the photo-induced carries separate by the build-in electric field at the interfaces. Results of optical properties show that these three structures have a considerable absorption coefficient in visible and ultraviolet region. In all, they are all potential water splitting photocatalysts. In following Figure, we presented the side view, top view structure, the band structure and the electronic localization function of HfZrCO 2 bilayers. Compared with HfZrCO 2 monolayer, its band gap is narrowed, but still larger than the span from oxidation potential to reduction potential of water splitting (1.23 eV). From Figure (c), it can be seen that the valence band maximum (VBM) and conduction band minimum (CBM) are contributed by both two layers, which means the photo-induced carriers cannot be effectively separated into different layers. But the electronic localization function of HfZrCO 2 bilayers (show in Figure (d)) is similar to HfZrCO 2 monolayer. It means that, although the effect is not as good as separating different layers, the photo-induced electrons and holes can still be divided in different region in the same layer, which also reduces the combination of photo-induced carriers and improve the catalytic efficiency. Figure. Structure of HfZrCO 2 bilayers (a) Side view, (b) Top view; (c) the band structure of HfZrCO 2 bilayers; (d) the electronic localization functions of HfZrCO 2 bilayers. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the polyvinylpyrrolidone-alizarin nanoparticles (PVP-AZ NPs) with favorable water dispersion and the carbon quantum dots (RQDs) with aggregate induced emission effect were synthesized to construct an eco-friendly film for food freshness monitoring. The introduction of PVP-AZ NPs and RQDs enhanced the network structure and thermal stability of the cassava starch/polyvinyl alcohol film, and reduced its crystallinity and light transmittance via non-covalent binding with the film-forming matrix. The developed film exhibited visually recognizable colorimetric and fluorescent responses to ammonia at 0.025–25 mg/mL, and it can be reused at least 6 times. Practical application experiment proved that the film, as an indicator label, can achieve accurate, real-time, and visual dynamic monitoring of the freshness of shrimp stored at 25 °C, 4 °C, and − 20 °C under daylight (orange yellow to purple) and UV light (red to blue). The integration of multivariate detection technology can eliminate the interference of external factors by self-correction to improve sensitivity and reliability, which provides a reference for the development of other food quality and safety monitoring platforms. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The presence of ZGV is predicted and confirmed in the CFRP-Nomex honeycomb structure. • The ZGV formation mechanism in the honeycomb structure is analyzed and elaborated. • A new debonding detection method is proposed using ZGV feature. Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) − Nomex adhesive honeycomb structures are widely used in aerospace due to their excellent properties. However, debonding defects pose a significant challenge to structural safety due to their hidden nature and high risk. In this work, to address the debonding detection in the CFRP-Nomex honeycomb structure, a method based on the zero group velocity (ZGV) feature is proposed. By calculating the dispersion curve of the structure, it is found that there is the ZGV on the S 1 branch. Further analysis revealed that this ZGV feature is generated by the repulsion between the S 2 and S 1 branches. The simulation and experimental analysis of the acoustic propagation characteristics in the honeycomb structure confirmed the presence of the ZGV feature with its energy localized near the exciting point. When debonding defects occur in the honeycomb structure, this feature disappears. Therefore, the ZGV feature can be used for the debonding detection of CFRP-Nomex honeycomb structures. Compared with ultrasonic C-scan, the results demonstrate that the proposed method can accurately detect and locate debonding defects with a diameter of 20 mm. Due to its simplicity, the method does not require sophisticated equipment or complex signal processing procedures, making it suitable for in-service inspection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is a major environmental stress that limits plant growth, so it's important to identify drought-responsive genes to understand the mechanism of drought response and breed drought-tolerant roses. Protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C) plays a crucial role in plant abiotic stress response. In this study, we identified 412 putative PP2C s from six Rosaceae species. These genes were divided into twelve clades, with clade A containing the largest number of PP2Cs (14.1%). Clade A PP2Cs are known for their important role in ABA-mediated drought stress response; therefore, the analysis focused on these specific genes. Conserved motif analysis revealed that clade A PP2Cs in these six Rosaceae species shared conserved C-terminal catalytic domains. Collinearity analysis indicated that segmental duplication events played a significant role in the evolution of clade A PP2C s in Rosaceae. Analysis of the expression of 11 clade A RcPP2Cs showed that approximately 60% of these genes responded to drought, high temperature, and salt stress. Among them, RcPP2C24 exhibited the highest responsiveness to both drought and ABA. Furthermore, overexpression of RcPP2C24 significantly reduced drought tolerance in transgenic tobacco by increasing stomatal aperture after exposure to drought stress. The transient overexpression of RcPP2C24 weakened the dehydration tolerance of rose petal discs, while its silencing increased their dehydration tolerance. In summary, our study identified PP2Cs in six Rosaceae species and highlighted the negative role of RcPP2C24 on rose's drought tolerance by inhibiting stomatal closure. Our findings provide valuable insights into understanding the mechanism behind rose's response to drought. • A total of 412 PP2Cs were identified in six Rosaceae species. • Clade A PP2Cs exhibit a strong response to drought stress in rose. • RcPP2C24 reduces transgenic tobacco and rose petals' drought tolerance. • RcPP2C24 negatively regulates drought response by inhibiting stomatal closure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The highly conserved MPER region also exhibits variability. • N671S mutation increased viral neutralization sensitivity to 2F5 and 10E8. • K677R increased viral resistance to 10E8, while K677N enhanced viral resistance to 4E10 and 10E8. • Amino acid characterization of the extra-MPER also affects the neutralization sensitivity of the MPER. The membrane-proximal external region (MPER) represents a highly conserved region of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) envelope glycoprotein (env) targeted by several broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs). In this study, we employed single genome amplification to amplify 34 full-length env sequences from the 2005 plasma sample of CBJC504, a chronic HIV-1 clade B infected individual. We identified three amino acid changes (N671S, D674N, and K677R) in the MPER. A longitudinal analysis revealed that the proportion of env sequences with MPER mutations increased from 26.5 % in 2005 to 56.0 % in 2009, and the sequences with the same mutation clustered together. Nine functional pseudoviruses were generated from the 34 env sequences to examine the effect of these mutations on neutralizing activity. Pseudoviruses carrying N674 or R677 mutations demonstrate increased sensitivity to autologous plasma and monoclonal antibodies 2F5, 4E10, and 10E8. Reverse mutations were performed in env including N674, R677, D659, and S671/N677 mutations, to validate the impact of the mutations on neutralizing sensitivity. Neutralization assays indicated that the N671S mutation increased neutralization sensitivity to 2F5 and 10E8. The amino acid R at position 677 increased viral resistance to 10E8, whereas N enhanced viral resistance to 4E10 and 10E8. It has been proposed that critical amino acids in the extra-MPER and the number of potential N-like glycosylation sites (PNGSs) in the V1 loop may have an impact on neutralizing activity. Understanding the mutations and evolution of MPER in chronically infected patients with HIV-1 is crucial for the design and development of vaccines that trigger bnAbs against MPER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shear-thinning hydrogels have emerged for endoscopic submucosal dissection, while wound intervention after surgery has rarely been mentioned. Herein, a catechol-modified chitosan hydrogel with shear-thinning property was developed for simultaneously facilitating endoscopic submucosal dissection and postoperative wound healing. Benefiting from the shear-thinning and self-healing characteristics, the asprepared hydrogel showed easily endoscopic injectability. It also performed very well as submucosal cushion, which could remain above 70% after injection for 120 min in ex vivo porcine large intestine model. In fact, the cushion height of normal saline dramatically decreased to 46% of the initial height at 30 min. Ag nanoparticles encapsulated into the network endowed the hydrogel with almost reached 100% antibacterial effect against E. coli and S. aureus. The hemolysis ratio of the hydrogel was calculated to be as low as 0.8%. Combined with good hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility, the as-prepared hydrogel displayed much higher in vivo wound closure and healing efficacy than normal saline. These results demonstrated the superiority of the shear-thinning chitosan hydrogel in facilitating clinical endoscopic submucosal dissection surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt layer preparation on the contact surface of Ti6Al4V dovetail joint specimens using solid NaCl and Na 2 SO 4 deposition, the effect of hot salt layer on fretting fatigue properties of Ti6Al4V alloy at high temperature was studied. The maximum stress load and temperature are 10 kN and 500 °C, respectively. The results show that the average fatigue life of the base metal dovetail joint sample (BM sample) is 9.93×104, and the average fatigue life of the hot salt dovetail joint sample (HS sample) is increased to 69.9×104. The increase in fatigue life stems from the fact that the hot salt layer promotes the generation of thicker loose oxides on the surface of the Ti6Al4V alloy, besides, the lubricating effect of the oxide with higher hardness and the wear debris alleviates the fretting damage between the dovetail joint sample and the contact surface of the fretting pad. Fracture analysis shows that the hot salt layer does not change the crack initiation mechanism, and all of them show single crack source propagation and ductile fracture mechanism. Analysis of crack formation zone by electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD), it is found that the presence of less dislocation distribution in the HS sample relative to the BM sample. The dislocations are more concentrated on the crack propagation paths and the fretting fatigue contact surfaces. This indicates that the BM sample produced more significant plastic deformation in the crack formation zone, accelerating crack initiation. The contact surface plastic deformation of the HS sample is small and the fretting fatigue life is enhanced. • The salt-coated dovetail specimens designed for high-temperature fretting fatigue testing. • The salt-coated specimens had longer life under high temperature fretting fatigue test compared to the matrix specimens. • The mechanism of improved fretting fatigue life of salt-coated specimens relative to matrix specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is a powerful tool for microanalysis of solid materials. Nevertheless, one limitation of the method is the lack of well-characterized homogeneous reference materials (RMs), such as BaF 2 crystal and BaCO 3 ceramics samples, making direct quantification difficult. This work presents a novel Direct Ink Writing (DIW) method to produce RMs for microanalysis. The Mg, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Y, Mo, Pr, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu solutions were gravimetrically doped into BaCO 3 by mixing with the dispersant and then cured with DIW techniques. (94) BaCO 3 powder was combined with a dopant analyte to produce a printable slurry, aided by the use of a dispersant and cellulose. The resulting mixture was then printed using DIW equipment. The retention rates of the doped elements were investigated by internal and external standard method, and the results showed that they were completely dispersed in the solid material. After further optimization, it was found that there was no significant heterogeneity among the printed samples. LA-ICP-MS was used to analyze printed samples, to evaluate micro-scale homogeneity. The mass concentration of the doped element was determined by ICP-MS, verify its move closer to nominal value. Compared with the traditional reference materials preparation methods, the DIW technology greatly increased the sample homogeneity and the accuracy of the desired concentration. (132) As far as we know, there are few reports on the application of DIW method to prepare calibration standards. In brief, it is proved that the proposed method of preparing calibration standard by DIW technique to quantify analytes is valid and robust. This procedure provides great potential for LA-ICP-MS in-situ analysis in the field of well-prepared products, such as ceramic and crystal samples. (63) [Display omitted] • A simple, green and fast DIW procedure for immobilizing powder samples was proposed to prepare calibration standards. • CE-64 was selected as dispersant to prepare slurry with high solid content and low viscosity. • This strategy combines simple procedure, minimal contamination, high printing speed and controllable sample size. • The method was successfully used for the analysis of BaF 2 /BaCO 3 samples, with the excellent accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a series of worldwide applied flame retardants, may influence fetal growth and interfere with thyroid function. The study intended to explore the relationship between in-utero exposure to PBDE mixture and newborn anthropometric indexes and to further examine the potential mediating role of thyroid function. Demographics and laboratory measures of 924 mother-infant pairs were obtained from the database of the Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort Study. We applied gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and electrochemiluminescence immunoassay to measure nine PBDE congeners and seven thyroid function parameters in umbilical cord serum samples, respectively. We fitted generalized linear models and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to evaluate associations of lipid-adjusted cord serum PBDEs, as individuals and as a mixture, with newborn anthropometric and cord serum thyroid function parameters. We applied causal mediation analysis to test our hypothesis that thyroid function parameters act as a mediator between PBDEs and birth outcomes. The molarity of cord serum ∑ 9 PBDE had a median value of 31.23 nmol/g lipid (IQR 19.14 nmol/g lipid, 54.77 nmol/g lipid). BDE-209 was the most dominant congener. Birth length was positively associated with both single exposure to BDE-28 and cumulative exposure to PBDEs. Correspondingly, ponderal index (PI) was negatively associated with BDE-28 and the total effects of PBDE mixture. Free triiodothyronine had a negative trend with BDE-209 and PBDE mixture. In the sex-stratified analysis, BDE-153 concentrations were positively correlated with PI among males (β = 0.03; 95%CI: 0.01, 0.05; P = 0.01) but not among females. Cord serum thyrotropin mediated 14.92% of the estimated effect of BDE-153 on PI. In-utero mixture exposure to PBDEs was associated with birth outcomes and thyroid function. Thyroid function might act as a mediator in the process in which PBDEs impact the growth of the fetus. [Display omitted] • PBDE mixture was associated with higher birth length but lower ponderal index (PI). • PBDE mixture was adversely associated with cord serum free triiodothyronine. • PI was positively associated with BDE-153 only among male offspring. • Thyrotropin mediated 14.92% of the estimated effect of BDE-153 on PI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving highly selective separation of organic mixtures is crucial to modern fine chemicals and pharmaceutical industries. The membrane-based organic solvent reverse osmosis (OSRO) technology is expected to break through this barrier. The key to achieving the separation of organic mixed liquids is to design the OSRO membrane as needed based on the physical and chemical properties of the target separation solvent. However, this poses a huge challenge to traditional OSRO membranes. In this work, we report composite polyamide (PA) OSRO membranes with ultrahigh polar/non-polar organic mixture selectivity. The surface polarity of the composite PA membrane is increased by coating a layer of Fe3+/tannic acid (Fe3+/TA) layer on the surface of the PA membrane. The enhanced surface polarity increases the interaction difference between polar and non-polar solvents and the membrane. And a polarization layer is formed on the membrane surface, which weakens the concentration polarization effect on the membrane surface. Under high-concentration feed liquid (the mass ratio of methanol/hexane is 7:3), the separation factor of the prepared membrane reaches 218, which is the highest value of all OSRO membranes reported so far. For the first time, we establish a partial flux analysis for the OSRO process. This analysis unravels the pressure, concentration dependence, and sensitivity of separation performance. It provides novel insights into the design of high-performance OSRO membranes. [Display omitted] • High-performance OSRO PA membrane prepared by Fe3+/TA surface modification. • Fe3+/TA coating enhances the surface polarity of PA membrane. • Enhanced surface polarity affects membrane-solvent interactions. • PA-Fe3+/TA membranes show ultrahigh separation factor for methanol/hexane mixture. • Established partial flux analysis to gain in-depth understanding of OSRO process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing flame retardant cotton fabrics (CF) is crucial for minimizing the harm caused by fires to people. To improve the flame retardancy of CF, this paper has synthesized a novel flame retardant called diboraspiro tetra phosphonate ammonium salt (N-PDBDN). The structure of N-PDBDN has been analyzed using FT-IR and NMR. Treating CF with N-PDBDN can increase the limiting oxygen index (LOI) to 36.2 % with a weight gain of 10.1 %. Moreover, even after undergoing 50 laundering cycles (LCs), the LOI remains at 27.1 %, indicating good flame retardancy and durability. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) show the presence of P and N elements on N-PDBDN treated CF, suggesting successful bonding between N-PDBDN and cellulose. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results demonstrate that the addition of N-PDBDN significantly enhances the thermal stability and carbon formation ability of CF. Furthermore, cone calorimetry tests reveal reduced heat release rates (HRR), prolonged time to ignition (TTI), and 38 % lower total heat release (THR) in CF treated with N-PDBDN compared with pure cotton. Finally, a potential flame retardant mechanism involving N-PDBDN is proposed. These findings indicate that incorporating an ammonium phosphate group into CF can effectively improve the flame retardancy and durability. [Display omitted] • The flame retardant contains B/P/N elements and has good flame retardancy. • Modification technology for cotton fabrics is simple and eco-friendly. • With only a weight gain of 10.1%, flame-retardant cotton fabrics have a limit oxygen index (LOI) of 36.2%, and even after 50 laundering cycles (LCs), the LOI remains at 27.1%, • According to the test results, the author proposed a possible flame retardant mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal spontaneous combustion often occurs in hidden areas and is one of the main disasters in mines. The process of coal spontaneous combustion can be effectively blocked by adding inhibitors. A composite phase change material with stable performance and large heat storage was prepared based on the staged characteristics of coal oxidation and the critical temperature point. To further explore the inhibitory properties of the material, three factors were selected: inhibitor concentration, coal samples particle size and coal samples volatilization, and the orthogonal table were used to design the experiment. The variation law of index gas with coal temperature was obtained through the programmed heating device. Compared with the characteristic temperature values of CO occurrence temperature, fire coefficient R2 = 0.02 and R3 = 0.1, the range and variance analysis showed that when the addition amount was 4%, the material had the best performance in inhibiting coal oxidation. Then, the effectiveness of range analysis was verified according to the response surface method. According to the infrared spectroscopy experiment, it is found that the composite phase change material effectively reduced the content of oxygen-containing functional groups and methylene groups, and slowed down the process of coal oxidation and self-heating. In addition, during the oxidation process of coal, the material decomposes water molecules to increase the hydroxyl content, which was conducive to reducing the coal temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "A Graphene Composite Film Based Wearable Far-Infrared Therapy Apparatus (GRAFT) for Effective Prevention of Postoperative Peritoneal Adhesion" discusses the development of a wearable device that utilizes far-infrared (FIR) therapy to prevent postoperative peritoneal adhesion (PPA). PPA is a common complication after abdominal and pelvic surgery. The device, made of a graphene-composited film, aims to modulate peritoneal macrophage polarization and reduce post-operative inflammatory responses, offering a non-invasive approach to impede PPA development. The article provides more details on the research conducted by Xiaohuan Lu, Luming Xu, Yu Song, and their colleagues. [Extracted from the article]

Developing flame retardant cotton fabrics (CF) is crucial for minimizing the harm caused by fires to people. To improve the flame retardancy of CF, this paper has synthesized a novel flame retardant called diboraspiro tetra phosphonate ammonium salt (N-PDBDN). The structure of N-PDBDN has been analyzed using FT-IR and NMR. Treating CF with N-PDBDN can increase the limiting oxygen index (LOI) to 36.2 % with a weight gain of 10.1 %. Moreover, even after undergoing 50 laundering cycles (LCs), the LOI remains at 27.1 %, indicating good flame retardancy and durability. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) show the presence of P and N elements on N-PDBDN treated CF, suggesting successful bonding between N-PDBDN and cellulose. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results demonstrate that the addition of N-PDBDN significantly enhances the thermal stability and carbon formation ability of CF. Furthermore, cone calorimetry tests reveal reduced heat release rates (HRR), prolonged time to ignition (TTI), and 38 % lower total heat release (THR) in CF treated with N-PDBDN compared with pure cotton. Finally, a potential flame retardant mechanism involving N-PDBDN is proposed. These findings indicate that incorporating an ammonium phosphate group into CF can effectively improve the flame retardancy and durability. [Display omitted] • The flame retardant contains B/P/N elements and has good flame retardancy. • Modification technology for cotton fabrics is simple and eco-friendly. • With only a weight gain of 10.1%, flame-retardant cotton fabrics have a limit oxygen index (LOI) of 36.2%, and even after 50 laundering cycles (LCs), the LOI remains at 27.1%, • According to the test results, the author proposed a possible flame retardant mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is crucial to design core-shell materials with interfacial interaction, which enhances their electrical conductivity, structural stability, and facilitates efficient charge transfer at the interface. In this study, two core-shell electrodes NC-O-PBA (NC: nickel cobalt layered double hydroxides, O-bridged core-shell materials) and LCCH@Ni(OH) 2 @PBA (LCCH: linear cobalt carbonate hydroxides, PBA: prussian blue analogs) were fabricated via interfacial contrast strategy to investigate the optimization function of oxygen at core-shell interface. Results show that as-prepared NC-O-PBA with high oxygen content creates an ideal condition for the formation of oxygen bridging. Moreover, the NC-O-PBA promotes a strong bond cooperation between core (NiCo-LDH) and shell (NiCo PBAs). The unit in PBAs can partly coordinate with the oxygen (from hydroxyl groups and interlayer ions in LDH), thus forming a strong interfacial coordination bonding between LDH and PBAs (Ni/Co(LDH)-O-CN(PBAs) or Ni/Co(LDH)-O-Ni/Co(PBAs)). Subsequently, NC-O-PBA electrode presents a high capacity of 1040.6 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 and a retention rate of 87.5% at 1500 cycles of 3 A g−1, much higher than LCCH@Ni(OH) 2 @PBA (462.4 F g−1 and 41.26%). Finally, in-situ Raman results demonstrated the enhanced Faraday redox reaction of NC-O-PBA. This interfacial contrast strategy and oxygen-bridged approach provide a novel idea for the development of high-performance core-shell electrode materials and facilitate deeper insights into mechanism. • 3D core-shell electrode NC-O-PBA with oxygen as bridge is prepared. • Interfacial interaction between core and shell is studied by interface comparison strategy. • In-situ Raman results confirm that oxygen can effectively enhance Faradaic redox reaction of the electrode material. • Interfacial interaction and electron transfer between core and shell are strengthened by oxygen bridging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The approach of using semi-rigid elastomer to create soft actuator is proposed. • Small-strain folding (SSF) of the origami structure is utilized to generate motion. • Fabrication by Selective Laser Sintering printing with post-treatment is obtained. • Achieve superior performance in lifespan, linearity, energy efficiency, and force. • The SSF actuators benefit the development of soft robots and their performance. Elastomers with hyperelastic deformation bring prosperity to soft robotics, especially in constituting fluidic actuators, largely due to the merit of large deformation and airtightness. However, the large (typically 0.5–1.5 strain) in-plane stretching of such materials concurrent to motion generation inevitably causes energy loss, hinders force output and accuracy. Particularly, the high nonlinearity of the low-durometer (typically 10A to 30A Shore) hyperelastic elastomers makes the modeling and control of actuators a well-known challenge. In this work, we proposed an alternative approach of using semi-rigid elastomer of significantly larger durometer (70 A–100 A) to create the typical fluidic soft actuator with axial translation, by utilizing small-strain folding to generate motion. Deformation constraints and property programming are combined into a single-piece body, enabling easy fabrication by Selective Laser Sintering 3D-printing and post-treatment for origami patterned structure. Systematic analyses on the principles, modeling and design are presented. The long lifespan (over 1 million cycles), superior output linearity, high energy efficiency (more than 60% increase), and drastically improved force output (more than 98% increase) were validated experimentally, showing high potentials in enabling high-performance soft actuators that are easy to design, fabricate and drive, strong to use, and accurate to control, towards even wider applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Pore evolution of coal under NMP solvent treatment was studied. • The concentration of 100% NMP solvent enlarged the pore structure of coal. • NMP concentrations below 50% cannot change the pore structure of coal. • Improvement in pore structure of 100% NMP-treated coal was the most significant. N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) solvent has been a popular chemical reagent in coalbed stimulation in recent years. To explore the effects of different concentrations of NMP solvent on the pore development of coal, the physical characteristics of porosity, pore size distribution, T 1 -T 2 spectrum and permeability of coal were obtained based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) test. The changes in porosity, fracture structure and coal seam permeability of coal under different concentrations of NMP solvent were analyzed. The results showed that, on the whole, the pore range of coal samples treated with different concentrations of NMP increased correspondingly with the increase in the number of treatments. The concentration of 100 % NMP solvent had the greatest effect on the pore development degree of coal, which significantly expanded the pore space of coal and enhanced the connectivity of coal. Pore throat less than 0.1 μm increased from 35.52 % to 39.14 %, an increase of 3.62 %. Pore throat greater than 0.1 μm increased from 5.74 % to 12.48 %, an increase of 6.74 %. Permeability, free fluid saturation and porosity increased by 261 %, 11.4 % and 22 %, respectively. This study can provide data support and theoretical support for the subsequent research of related reagents, so as to select the optimal reagent concentration and reduce the economic cost. The results of this study provide a valuable reference for the selection of the optimal concentration of NMP solvent in the dredging of pores and fissures in coal seams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Through energy band engineering to optimize the interior inorganic structure and passivate the surface defects, the designed and prepared water-soluble MPA-CdSSe/CdS/ZnS QDs with PL quantum yield up as high as 70% and mono-exponential PL decay dynamics were generated. By optimizing the thickness of CdS shell, the MPA-CdSSe/CdS/ZnS QDs probe with appropriate CdS shell thickness exhibited excellent linear linearity and sensitivity for the detection of Cu2+ ions with limit of detection as low as 0.05 nM. This results provided new insights to design and synthesize high-performance QDs-based fluorescence probes with controllable exciton emission behavior for their applications in biosensor and biological fields. • The MPA-CdSSe/CdS/ZnS QDs with controllable exciton behavior exhibited mono-exponential PL decay dynamics. • The sensing system had excellent sensitivity for Cu2+ determination with the detection limit as low as 0.05 nM. • The fluorescence quenching mechanism of MPA-CdSSe/CdS/ZnS QDs towards Cu2+ was discussed in details. • The proposed method was simple, low lost, and highly sensitivity. Improving the sensitivity of the fluorescence method is crucial in biosensor fields. In this study, an ultrasensitive and excellent selectivity method was developed for the detection of trace Cu2+ ions using 3-mercaptopropionic acid capped CdSSe/CdS/ZnS quantum dots (MPA-CdSSe/CdS/ZnS QDs) as a fluorescent probe. Through energy band engineering to optimize the interior inorganic structure and passivate the surface defects, the photoluminescence quantum yield of the MPA-CdSSe/CdS/ZnS QDs in aqueous solution had as high as 70 %. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis revealed the prepared CdSSe/CdS/ZnS QDs were cubic zinc blende structure with average diameter 7.2 nm. Further, the fluorescence of the MPA-CdSSe/CdS/ZnS QDs was significantly quenched by the Cu2+ with fast response time through an efficient photo-induced electron transfer (PET) progress. By optimizing the thickness of CdS shell, the MPA-CdSSe/CdS/ZnS QDs probe with appropriate CdS shell thickness exhibited excellent linear linearity and sensitivity for the detection of Cu2+ ions with limit of detection as low as 0.05 nM, originating from the CdSSe core QDs possessed a gradient alloy internal structure and photon-generated electrons on the conduction band of CdSSe core QDs were easier delocalized to sample surface. Additionally, ions interference experiments demonstrated the good selectivity of the probe towards Cu2+. Furthermore, this sensing system could also be applied to the measurement of Cu2+ ions in real water samples with satisfactory recoveries. This work provided new insights to design and synthesize high-performance QDs-based fluorescence probes with controllable exciton emission behavior for their applications in biosensor and biological fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stress-induced premature senescent (SIPS) cells induced by various stresses deteriorate cell functions. Dasatinib and quercetin senolytics (DQ) can alleviate several diseases by eliminating senescent cells. α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) is a widely used therapeutic approach for bone restoration but induces bone formation for a comparatively long time. Furthermore, bone infection exacerbates the detrimental prognosis of bone formation during material implant surgery due to oral cavity bacteria and unintentional contamination. It is essential to mitigate the inhibitory effects on bone formation during surgical procedures. Little is known that DQ improves bone formation in Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-contaminated implants and its intrinsic mechanisms in the study of maxillofacial bone defects. This study aims to investigate whether the administration of DQ ameliorates the impairments on bone repair inflammation and contamination by eliminating SIPS cells. α-TCP and LPS-contaminated α-TCP were implanted into Sprague-Dawley rat calvaria bone defects. Simultaneously, bone formation in the bone defects was investigated with or without the oral administration of DQ. Micro-computed tomography and hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that senolytics significantly enhanced bone formation at the defect site. Histology and immunofluorescence staining revealed that the levels of p21- and p16-positive senescent cells, inflammation, macrophages, reactive oxygen species, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive cells declined after administering DQ. DQ could partially alleviate the production of senescent markers and senescence-associated secretory phenotypes in vitro. This study indicates that LPS-contaminated α-TCP-based biomaterials can induce cellular senescence and hamper bone regeneration. Senolytics have significant therapeutic potential in reducing the adverse osteogenic effects of biomaterial-related infections and improving bone formation capacity. [Display omitted] • LPS-contaminated biomaterials induce cellular senescence and impede bone regeneration. • Senolytics reduce senescent cells and adverse osteogenic effects. • Senolytics may enhance bone formation in infections associated with biomaterial implantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bionic tactile device is designed for object surface texture recognition, taking inspiration from the microstructure of human fingerprints. The sense of touch in humans is achieved through the frictional vibration and generation of electrical potential signals by subcutaneous receptors. Constructing a tactile sensing device involves generating distinct signals upon interacting with different materials. The piezoelectric film PVDF is particularly suitable as a sensitive material for sensors due to its excellent flexibility, strong mechanical strength, excellent dynamic response and cost-effectiveness. This paper presents the design of a PVDF-based fingerprint-inspired tactile sensor capable of differentiating various textures. By combining the collected signals with machine learning algorithms, diverse textures can be effectively identified. To demonstrate the sensor's superior performance, two experiments were conducted—one focused on recognizing different material textures, and the other on recognizing Braille characters. The accuracy achieved in these experiments was 97.4% and 96.5%, respectively, highlighting the technology's significant potential in intelligent robotics and human-computer interaction. [Display omitted] • A bionic tactile sensor with three different layers were proposed. • Two types of texture datasets were representatively constructed for analytical study. • Some eigenvalue parameters combined with machine learning algorithms was used to achieve high recognition accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing utilization of metallic glass (MG) has resulted in a heightened requirement for precise regulation of its liquid. Liquid-liquid phase transition (LLPT) is often observed in glass-forming liquids, and its influence on mechanical properties of glasses necessitate further elucidation. In this work, we discover that the elastic modulus of MGs quenched below LLPT temperature increases by 12 % compared to MGs quenched above LLPT temperature, and the number of activated shear bands during deformation increases by 40 %. Through transmission electron microscopy and molecular dynamics simulation, we find that CuZr 2 nanocrystals with good plasticity are formed in the low-temperature MGs, which facilitates the generation of numerous shear bands during deformation, thereby enhancing the plasticity of the sample. Conversely, brittle AlCu nanocrystals are formed in the high-temperature MGs, which hampers the initiation of shear bands and leads to the formation of localized stress concentration. This study not only advances the comprehension of solidification process involved in MGs preparation, but also offers insight into modulating mechanical properties of MGs from liquid states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines how freeze-thaw cycles influence the shear transfer characteristics at the interface of section steel with stud connectors and concrete. Push out tests were performed on fourteen section steel reinforced concrete composite structures with stud connectors (SRCSC) and two without them. The analysis focused on examining the impact of variables such as the number of freeze-thaw cycles, the diameter of studs, and the arrangement of studs on the interfacial shear capacity of the SRCSCs. Experimental results showed that with an increase in the number of freeze-thaw cycles, the damage morphology of the SRCSCs transitions from stud shearing to concrete splitting. Concurrently, the interfacial shear capacity and shear stiffness of SRCSCs diminish. Large-diameter studs could effectively improve the interfacial shear properties of SRCSCs. Additionally, SRCSCs with studs positioned in the web demonstrate enhanced interfacial shear transfer capabilities compared to those with studs located in the flange. The proposed method for the residual interfacial shear capacity of the SRCSCs after freeze-thaw cycles was based on experimental data analysis. Results from this calculation method were consistent with the experimental observations. • The shear transfer performance of section steel reinforced concrete composite columns with studs connectors (SRCSCs) after freeze-thaw cycles was studied. • An in-depth analysis of the failure modes of SRCSCs after push-out tests was conducted. • The shear transfer mechanism of SRCSCs after experiencing freeze-thaw cycles was clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, GH4169 dovetail specimens were coated on both sides with a bonded solid lubricant coating. Fretting fatigue tests were carried out at 500 °C and compared with untreated dovetail specimens. The results showed that the fretting fatigue life of the coated specimens was increased by about 41.4% compared to the untreated specimens. This is attributed to the inherent shear properties of the two-dimensional material and its uniform adsorption at the friction interface, which provides excellent lubrication, significantly reduces the interfacial shear, effectively inhibits early crack initiation, and to a certain extent promotes crack closure to slow down the crack propagation rate. This study further demonstrates that interfacial lubrication has a positive effect on the enhancement of fretting fatigue life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inspection of broken wires in prestressed concrete cylinder pipes is crucial for ensuring the safety and reliability of the pipeline. Traditional point detection techniques always require labor-intensive periodic inspections and cannot deployed along the entire pipeline, significantly limiting the development of the industry. Hence, there is an urgent need for more advanced and intelligent sensors that can achieve 100% coverage and provide sufficient accuracy assurance. In this work, we develop a distributed acoustic sensing -based automated monitoring system to accurately classify the rupture of prestressed wires. First, a computer vision approach is employed to primarily screen out potential vibrational signals from DAS array images. Then, a pre-trained support vector machine model is used to classify the vibrations as either wire breakages or non-wire breakages. This model's performance surpassed other classification strategies, achieving 99.62% accuracy, 99.41% precision, 98.82% recall, and 99.12% F1-score in a side-to-side comparison. Our innovative workflow provides a comprehensive solution for detecting broken wires and offers guidance for the application of artificial intelligence-based DAS to complex vibration systems with limited training data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The ubiquitin–proteasome system is significantly disturbed in patients with CRC. • The ubiquitin prognostic risk model can predict the survival rate of CRC patients. • Ubiquitin-associated prognostic genes can forecast the efficacy of immunotherapy. • Sorafenib and regorafenib can treat high ubiquitin-related risk CRC patients. A growing body of research indicates that colorectal cancer (CRC) is significantly influenced by the ubiquitin–proteasome system. Nevertheless, reliable immune landscapes and ubiquitin-associated prognostic markers are still scarce. We systematically analyzed the RNA-seq data of 2,830 ubiquitin-related genes from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). A CRC prognostic risk model was developed based on ubiquitin-associated gene signatures. In-depth multi-dimensional analyses were performed on ubiquitin-related subgroups with high and low risk. Drug response sensitivity for high-risk CRC patients was also predicted. A total of 131 ubiquitin-related differentially expressed genes were retrieved, of which 9 prognostic genes for CRC were ultimately identified and further validated by our clinical CRC tumor and adjacent normal samples. The expression pattern of these 9 ubiquitin-associated genes was found to be strongly related to overall survival, immune cell fractions, and immune-related genes of CRC patients. CRC patients stratified by the ubiquitin prognostic model exhibited distinct clinicopathological characteristics and immune landscapes. A comprehensive framework for personalized medicine prediction identified regorafenib and sorafenib as the most promising therapeutic agents for high ubiquitin-related risk CRC patients, which was confirmed in cell viability assays. Ubiquitin characteristics can reflect CRC prognosis and help develop innovative biomarkers for precision treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We retrospectively evaluated the characteristics of these patients and the effectiveness of ankle arthrodesis in the treatment of ankle arthritis caused by Kashin-Beck disease (KBD).A retrospective study of KBD patients with ankle osteoarthritis who underwent ankle arthrodesis between December 2012 and January 2022 was performed. A total of 46 patients were included. The general characteristics, clinical manifestations and imaging features of the patients were recorded and summarized. measured using the VAS score, and ankle function was assessed by the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score.Multiple subchondral cystic changes were found in 42(91.3%) patients. The VAS scores for both resting and weight-bearing conditions were 6.28 ± 1.30 vs. 2.09 ± 1.12 (P < .001) and 6.87 ± 1.01 vs. 2.17 ± 0.98 (P < .001), respectively. The AOFAS scores were 59.17 ± 5.50 and 88.39 ± 1.42, respectively (P < .001).The subchondral multiple cystic transformation of the ankle KBD has a certain suggestive role.Arthrodesis is an effective method to reduce ankle pain and improve ankle function in KBD patients with ankle osteoarthritis.Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the characteristics of these patients and the effectiveness of ankle arthrodesis in the treatment of ankle arthritis caused by Kashin-Beck disease (KBD).A retrospective study of KBD patients with ankle osteoarthritis who underwent ankle arthrodesis between December 2012 and January 2022 was performed. A total of 46 patients were included. The general characteristics, clinical manifestations and imaging features of the patients were recorded and summarized. measured using the VAS score, and ankle function was assessed by the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score.Multiple subchondral cystic changes were found in 42(91.3%) patients. The VAS scores for both resting and weight-bearing conditions were 6.28 ± 1.30 vs. 2.09 ± 1.12 (P < .001) and 6.87 ± 1.01 vs. 2.17 ± 0.98 (P < .001), respectively. The AOFAS scores were 59.17 ± 5.50 and 88.39 ± 1.42, respectively (P < .001).The subchondral multiple cystic transformation of the ankle KBD has a certain suggestive role.Arthrodesis is an effective method to reduce ankle pain and improve ankle function in KBD patients with ankle osteoarthritis.Results: We retrospectively evaluated the characteristics of these patients and the effectiveness of ankle arthrodesis in the treatment of ankle arthritis caused by Kashin-Beck disease (KBD).A retrospective study of KBD patients with ankle osteoarthritis who underwent ankle arthrodesis between December 2012 and January 2022 was performed. A total of 46 patients were included. The general characteristics, clinical manifestations and imaging features of the patients were recorded and summarized. measured using the VAS score, and ankle function was assessed by the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score.Multiple subchondral cystic changes were found in 42(91.3%) patients. The VAS scores for both resting and weight-bearing conditions were 6.28 ± 1.30 vs. 2.09 ± 1.12 (P < .001) and 6.87 ± 1.01 vs. 2.17 ± 0.98 (P < .001), respectively. The AOFAS scores were 59.17 ± 5.50 and 88.39 ± 1.42, respectively (P < .001).The subchondral multiple cystic transformation of the ankle KBD has a certain suggestive role.Arthrodesis is an effective method to reduce ankle pain and improve ankle function in KBD patients with ankle osteoarthritis.Conclusions: We retrospectively evaluated the characteristics of these patients and the effectiveness of ankle arthrodesis in the treatment of ankle arthritis caused by Kashin-Beck disease (KBD).A retrospective study of KBD patients with ankle osteoarthritis who underwent ankle arthrodesis between December 2012 and January 2022 was performed. A total of 46 patients were included. The general characteristics, clinical manifestations and imaging features of the patients were recorded and summarized. measured using the VAS score, and ankle function was assessed by the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score.Multiple subchondral cystic changes were found in 42(91.3%) patients. The VAS scores for both resting and weight-bearing conditions were 6.28 ± 1.30 vs. 2.09 ± 1.12 (P < .001) and 6.87 ± 1.01 vs. 2.17 ± 0.98 (P < .001), respectively. The AOFAS scores were 59.17 ± 5.50 and 88.39 ± 1.42, respectively (P < .001).The subchondral multiple cystic transformation of the ankle KBD has a certain suggestive role.Arthrodesis is an effective method to reduce ankle pain and improve ankle function in KBD patients with ankle osteoarthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of snow and ice on the surface of roadways can threaten driving safety, which is a major pain point in winter. To address the issue of pavement icing, this paper researched the biological antifreeze protein (AFP) filler, which was then mixed with a portion of mineral powder to create a blend. This blend was further combined with emulsified asphalt modified by a combination of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and waterborne epoxy resin (WER) to produce a micro-surfacing mixture with active anti-icing capabilities. The road performance tests were conducted to assess whether the anti-icing micro-surfacing mixture's road performance was affected. Subsequently, improved and innovative anti-icing tests were conducted to evaluate the anti-icing performance of the anti-icing micro-surfacing. The anti-icing tests encompassed freezing tests, ice-melting and snow-melting tests, active de-icing simulation tests, and ice adhesion force tests. The road performance tests indicate that the incorporation of antifreeze filler enhances the resistance of the micro-surfacing mixture against water erosion during freeze-thaw cycles, with a minimal impact on rutting resistance and abrasion resistance. The freezing test demonstrates the excellent active antifreeze function of the anti-icing micro-surfacing. Furthermore, the ice-melting and snow-melting test reveals that the anti-icing micro-surfacing effectively speeds up the melting process of snow and ice on the surface of roadways. The active de-icing simulation test and adhesion test confirm that the anti-icing micro-surfacing significantly accelerates the rate of active de-icing. Overall, the anti-icing micro-surfacing demonstrates a significant active anti-icing effect while maintaining its road performance capabilities. • The active anti-icing effect of micro-surfacing mixture is analyzed from the root cause. • The effect of anti-icing fillers blending on anti-icing effect is analyzed by self-designed anti-icing test at micro-surfacing. • The self-developed modified bio-antifreeze protein micro-surfacing combines anti-icing performance and road performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The immune system acts as a vital defense barrier against pathogenic invasions, and its stable operation is crucial for maintaining body health. Nevertheless, various natural or artificial factors can compromise the body's immune function, leading to immunosuppression, which may interfere with the efficacy of vaccination and increase the susceptibility of the body to disease-causing pathogens. In an effort to ensure successful vaccinations and improve overall physical well-being, the search for appropriate immune regulators to enhance immunity is of paramount importance. Lentinan (LNT) has a significant role in immune regulation and vaccine adjuvants. In the present study, we constructed an immunosuppressive model using dexamethasone (DEX) and demonstrated that LNT could significantly improved antibody levels in immunosuppressive mice and stimulated T-lymphocyte proliferation and differentiation in intestinal Peyer's patches. LNT also increased the production of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) in the duodenal fluid, the number of goblet cells, and the proportion of mucin area. Moreover, LNT modulated the intestinal microbiota and increased the production of short-chain fatty acids. Additionally, LNT promoted the proliferation, differentiation, and pro-inflammatory cytokines production of DEX-treated splenic T lymphocytes in vitro. Thus, the present study highlights the potential of LNT in reversing immunosuppression and avoiding the failure of vaccination. • LNT increased IgG level in dexamethasone-induced immunosuppressed mice. • LNT elevated the level of sIgA in the intestinal fluid. • LNT modulated the intestinal microbiota and promote the production of SCFAs. • LNT increased the proliferation and differentiation activities in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve the national objective of "carbon peak and carbon neutrality," it is imperative to significantly enhance the utilization of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, in the transformation of China's energy infrastructure. However, the intermittent, volatile, and unstable nature of wind and solar power generation systems is often subject to the influence of local weather conditions. Furthermore, recent years have witnessed a growing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, posing considerable constraints on the effective exploitation of wind and solar resources. Consequently, conducting a comprehensive climate risk analysis pertaining to wind and solar resources is of paramount importance in expediting their adoption while mitigating potential energy security risks. In this study, we conducted an extensive examination of inefficient wind and solar resources across China, encompassing the intensity, spatial distribution, and duration of such events. Leveraging high-resolution wind and solar resource datasets spanning from 2000 to 2021, we employed intensity-area-duration analysis to elucidate the spatial and temporal characteristics of these inefficiencies nationwide. Moreover, we conducted a diagnostic assessment of key factors, including scope, duration, and frequency. Additionally, we proposed a comprehensive index system to evaluate the viability of wind and solar resource development. Our findings revealed that climate risks associated with wind and solar resources were predominantly concentrated in autumn and winter. Regions such as Xinjiang, Sichuan, and the middle reaches of the Yangtze River exhibited a higher frequency of inefficient wind and solar events. Notably, the North China Plain and the middle reaches of the Yangtze River were primarily affected by haze and plum rain weather, respectively, leading to these inefficiencies. Conversely, the northwest and northeast regions demonstrated a superior suitability for wind and solar resource development. This study provides valuable scientific insights for guiding the selection of optimal locations for wind and solar power plants, as well as the development of regional renewable energy infrastructure in China. • Wind and solar resource fluctuations were assessed using high-resolution datasets across China. • The intensity-area-duration (IAD) method was employed. • An index system was proposed to evaluate the suitability of wind and solar resource. • The insufficient resource events have seasonal variations and spatial disparities. • Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang have great potential for renewable energy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How hydrothermal factors and CO 2 concentration affect the vegetation carbon sink over time and across elevation gradients is crucial for carbon sequestration and enhancement, which remains unclear. Here, the temporal changes of the interannual relationship of net primary productivity (NPP) with hydrothermal factors and CO 2 concentration over elevation were revealed using ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) method and moving window-based multiple regression analysis during 1981–2018, in a case study of six provinces along the 'Maritime Silk Road' of China. We found that: (1) except for low-elevation farmland, the interannual relationship of vegetation NPP with CO 2 (R NPP-CO2), precipitation accumulation (R NPP-PA), soil moisture (R NPP-SM), downward surface shortwave radiation (R NPP-SR) and minimum temperature (R NPP-TMN) is mainly positive, while the relationship with maximum temperature (TMAX, R NPP-TMX) and vapor pressure deficit (VPD, R NPP-VPD) is mainly negative, indicating that most hydrothermal factors can increase NPP except TMAX and VPD. Most of the interannual relationship is strengthening, especially for thermal factor, indicating the strengthened impacts of hydrothermal factors and CO 2, while the weakening relationship with hydrological factors accounted for large areas, which cannot be ignored. (2) With increasing elevation, the positive R NPP-CO2 diminished, while the positive R NPP-SM and the negative R NPP-VPD amplified, indicating the positive impacts from CO 2 decreased, while those from SM and VPD increased. Meanwhile, R NPP-SR , R NPP-TMN , and R NPP-PA reversed from positive to negative, while R NPP-TMX reversals from negative to positive, indicating reversed impacts. (3) With increasing elevation, the temporal changes of positive R NPP-CO2 and R NPP-SM varied from weakening to strengthening and from strengthening to weakening, respectively, while those of R NPP-SR and R NPP-TMN together with R NPP-PA varied from strengthening positive to strengthening negative and weakening negative, respectively. Meanwhile, the strengthening negative of R NPP-TMX , and R NPP-VPD , changed to weakening positive and weakening negative, respectively. Our study highlights the importance of the divergent trends of the interannual relationship of NPP with hydrothermal factors and CO 2 concentration across elevation for accurate prediction of future carbon sink potential under global change. [Display omitted] • Interannual relationships between environmental factors and NPP were mostly positive. • Interannual relationship are strengthening, especially for thermal factors. • Elevation has significant effects on the temporal trends below 200m and above 1000m. • The relationship showed divergent trends across elevation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pavement failure is a main type of road damage. To investigate the fracture performance of asphalt mixtures with large aggregates, this study utilized the semi-circular bending test to compare the specimens of LSAM-30 (the large stone asphalt mixture) and AC-13 (the fine aggregate asphalt mixture). The research focuses on examining the effects of specimen thickness, notch length, loading rate, and test temperature on the fracture performance. In the assessment of the experimental outcomes, this study employs fracture energy, J-integral, BCI, and CRI as parameters for comparison. The findings demonstrate that under the same conditions, the large stone asphalt mixture exhibits higher peak load, greater fracture energy, higher BCI and CRI values, as well as better J-integral fracture toughness in comparison to the fine aggregate asphalt mixture. At 20°C, the crack path in the large stone asphalt mixture (LSAM) circumvented the large aggregates and thus presented to be bent and long, while the crack in the fine aggregate asphalt mixture was shorter and straighter. The longer and more curved crack path in the LSAM consumed greater energy, resulting in better fracture resistance. At 0°C, the cracks in both asphalt mixtures were linear, but the large aggregate mixture required a stronger load to damage the larger aggregates. Therefore, the LSAM demonstrates a slightly better fracture resistance at low temperatures. In conclusion, the higher peak load, fracture energy, BCI, and CRI of the LSAM indicate a superior fracture performance. The longer and more curved crack path implies greater energy consumption during the fracture. As a result, the LSAM exhibits better fracture performance and resistance to pavement failure compared with the fine aggregate asphalt mixture. [Display omitted] • The large particle size mixture was tested by semicircular bending test. • The test parameters suitable for large particle size mixtures were determined. • The reasons for the difference of crack resistance of the mixture were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • RuNPs possess multi-types of enzymatic activities for scavenging ROS and RNS. • RuNPs exhibit anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway. • RuNPs prevent postoperative adhesion by alleviating inflammation and oxidative stress. Postoperative peritoneal adhesion is one of the most common complications after abdominal and pelvic surgery. Early inflammatory response and oxidative stress induced by peritoneal injury play important roles in adhesion formation. However, current research mainly focuses on developing barrier materials to physically separate injury sites for preventing peritoneal adhesions, but often ignores the pathologic changes promoting adhesion formation, resulting in unsatisfactory outcomes. Herein we report a versatile nanozyme (ultrasmall ruthenium nanoparticles, RuNPs) with great antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects targeting the intrinsic causes of peritoneal adhesions. RuNPs sufficiently protect mesothelial cells from oxidative stress by scavenging reactive species and suppress inflammatory response via NF-κB pathway blockade. In rats with cecum abrasion-abdominal wall defect, RuNPs alone or combined with barrier material effectively prevent adhesion formation and promote injured tissue healing through alleviating oxidative stress and inflammation. This study not only generates a promising nano-agent for preventing adhesions but also provides a novel therapeutic strategy by targeting the underlying causation of adhesion formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past several years, with the in-depth development of RNA-related research, exploring the application of transcriptome and corresponding RNA biomarkers has become one of the research hotspots in the field of forensic science. High-quality RNA is essential for successful downstream workflows, especially in the steps of screening biomarkers by microarray or RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Thus, accurately evaluating the quality of RNA samples is a critical step in obtaining meaningful expression data. The RNA integrity number (RIN) generated from the Agilent Bioanalyzer system has been widely used for RNA quality control in the past two decades. Recently, Thermo Fisher Scientific launched a ratiometric fluorescence-based method to quickly check whether an RNA sample has degraded, and the results are presented as RNA integrity and quality number (RNA IQ). Both quality score systems determine RNA quality using a numerical system based on a scale of 1–10, with 1 denoting significantly degraded specimens and 10 representing high-quality, intact RNA samples. In this preliminary study, we evaluated the consistency, reproducibility and linearity of two quality scores in RNA quality determination by analyzing heat- and RNase- artificially degraded samples. Meanwhile, the expression levels of three microRNAs (hsa-let-7 g-5p, hsa-miR-93–5p and hsa-miR-191–5p) in intact and severely degraded RNA samples were estimated by TaqMan-qPCR and droplet digital PCR. Overall, both quality scores showed good repeatability and reproducibility in their respective tests. In the samples subjected to thermal degradation, RIN showed a trend corresponding to heating time, while RNA IQ value showed almost no change on the time gradient. However, in RNase A mediated degradation, RNA IQ value observed better linearity. Furthermore, the expression levels of three microRNAs in the severely degraded samples did not show significant changes compared to the intact RNA samples. RNA degradation is a very complex and highly variable process, which is difficult to comprehensively evaluate through any one index and cannot directly compare these two parameters. Nevertheless, combined with previous research results and the expression levels of three microRNAs in this study, analyzing RNA biomarkers with stable regions or small sizes in challenged samples may be a conservative and reliable approach. • Two quality scores, RIN and RNA IQ, were evaluated by heat- and RNase A- degraded samples. • RIN showed a trend corresponding to heating time. • RNA IQ value observed better linearity for RNase A- degraded samples. • The expression levels of three miRNAs in intact and severely degraded RNA samples were estimated by qPCR and ddPCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collaborative fairness in federated learning rewards high-contribution clients with high-performance models when multiple clients train a machine learning model cooperatively. Existing approaches ignore the information on data distribution when evaluating the clients' data quality, resulting in a mismatch between the reward allocation and the real data quality of clients under different data heterogeneity settings. To address this problem, we propose a novel Federated learning framework with Adaptive data Value Evaluation mechanism (FedAVE) to ensure collaborative fairness without affecting the predictive performance of models. First, an adaptive reputation calculation module is designed to generate reputations that match the clients' contributions based on the information of their data distribution, respectively. Second, a dynamic gradient reward distribution module is devised to allocate a certain number of aggregated model parameter updates/gradients as the rewards corresponding to the reputations and the data distribution information. Extensive experiments on three public benchmarks show that the proposed FedAVE outperforms all baseline methods in terms of fairness, and achieves comparable performance to the state-of-the-art methods in terms of accuracy. Code available at https://github.com/wangzihuixmu/FedAVE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• NMR testing was introduced to study the effect of RES on CSC. • RES can effectively inhibit the development of pore cracks. • Free radicals in coal can be eliminated by RES. • Effect of RES on CSC was studied from of physicochemical evolution. Studying the evolution of the physicochemical structure of coal during coal spontaneous combustion (CSC) by antioxidants is of great significance for revealing the mechanism of CSC and preventing it. The effects of three concentrations of Resveratrol (RES) on the physicochemical structure evolution of coal during the low-temperature oxidation (L-TO) process of CSC were comprehensively analyzed through low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) experiments. The results showed that the pore cracks in the coal develop more fully with the increase in oxidation temperature. Besides, there was an increase in porosity and permeability, and a full development of pore throat. Based on the T 1 -T 2 2D fluid identification results, it was found that as the oxidation temperature increased, the adsorption capacity and permeability of the coal were stronger. RES can effectively inhibit the CSC process of coal, with a maximum reduction of 23 % in porosity and a maximum reduction of 82 % in permeability. The hydroxyl groups and CH 3 /CH 2 of coal samples treated with RES decreased by a maximum of 42 % and 43 %, respectively. The oxygen-containing functional groups increased by a maximum of 77 %. RES can not only cover on the coal surface to prevent oxygen from seeping into the coal, but also infiltrate into the pores of coal to inhibit the combination of the active functional groups and oxygen molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This is the first study to investigate microplastic detachment during transient flow. • Transient flow leads to more microplastic detachment compared to steady flow. • Drying of the substrate significantly restricts the detachment of microplastics. • Microplastics may migrate into primary energy minimum during water evaporation. • Detachment of hydrophilic microplastics is greater than that of hydrophobic microplastics. The detachment of microplastics (MPs) from porous media under different moisture conditions and flow regimes has garnered limited attention within the research community. The present study investigates the detachment of MPs from porous media under wet and dry conditions combined with steady and transient flow. For both the wet and dry conditions, the increase in flow rates is found to decrease the detachment of hydrophobic polyethylene of two sizes and of hydrophilic polymethylmethacrylate. Intermittent flow is found to result in effluent peaks and a higher rate of MP detachment compared to steady flow. The ionic strength of inflow drops in a stepwise manner, leading to abrupt peaks followed by a tail corresponding to the arrival of each ionic strength front. Each step increase in flow rate leads to a steep peak followed by slow release over several pore volumes. Although transient flow facilitates the detachment of MPs, drying significantly impedes the detachment of MPs irrespective of flow regime. Ultraviolet weathering of MPs for 60 days weakens the inhibition effect of drying on hydrophilic polymethylmethacrylate, facilitating their detachment. Furthermore, the release of MPs decreases markedly with an increase in air-drying duration from 0 h to 72 h. Hydrus-1D two-site kinetic models are used to successfully simulate time-dependent processes, implying that drying heightens the energy barrier for MPs to detach. Our analysis confirms the significance of moisture in determining the remobilization of MPs, providing valuable insights concerning the fate of MPs in unsaturated substrate under prolonged drought conditions. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the rough mouthfeel of brown rice, the effects of ultrasound (U) combined with hydrothermal (H) treatment on texture, sensory score and cooking quality of brown rice were studied, and the improvement mechanism was revealed from the aspects of room temperature water absorption, water droplet contact angle, microstructure and starch ordered structures. The results showed that ultrasound hydrothermal treatment cycle (UH-UH) can significantly improve the eating quality of brown rice. After UH-UH, the hardness, chewiness, optimal cooking time and volume expansion rate all reached to the level of white rice, and the stickiness significantly increased from 0.126 N of the control to 1.114 N. The sensory score of cooked brown rice rose from 57.37 to 76.70. On the other hand, room temperature water absorption rate far exceeded that of white rice, and the water droplet contact angle and relative crystallinity decreased significantly. In addition, scanning electron microscopy found that the cracks and micropores on the surface of treated brown rice grains increased greatly, which may be the underlying reasons for the improvement in the eating quality of brown rice. This study helps to provide a new way for producing high-quality brown rice. [Display omitted] • Ultrasonic hydrothermal treatment improved the eating quality of brown rice. • The stickiness of cooked brown rice was improved by combination treatment. • The relative crystallinity of brown rice was reduced by combination treatment. • The water droplet contact angle of brown rice grains decreased significantly. • Surface breakage and internal porosity of rice grains occurred after treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, emerging pollutants, including nonylphenol (NP) and nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE), have become a prominent topic. These substances are also classified as persistent organic pollutants. NP significantly affects the hormone secretion of organisms and exhibits neurotoxicity, which can affect the human hippocampus. Therefore, various countries are paying increased attention to NP regulation. NPEs are precursors of NPs and are widely used in the manufacture of various detergents and lubricants. NPEs can easily decompose into NPs, which possess strong biological and environmental toxicity. This review primarily addresses the distribution, toxicity mechanisms and performance, degradation technologies, management policies, and green alternative reagents of NPs and NPEs. Traditional treatment measures have been unable to completely remove NP from wastewater. With the progressively tightening management and regulatory policies, identifying proficient and convenient treatment methods and a sustainable substitute reagent with comparable product effectiveness is crucial. [Display omitted] • Stricter nonylphenol (NP) regulation is required owing to its environmental impact as an emerging pollutant. • The widespread presence of NPs in urban and natural environments raises concerns. • NP's neurotoxic and endocrine-disrupting properties raise health and ecosystem-related concerns. • Efficient chemical technologies show promise in NP treatment and remediation. • Effective NP governance requires the implementation of strict policies, comprehensive planning, and proactive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 1. Predicting renal prognosis accurately in ERT- naive FD patients poses a significant challenge. • 2. COX analysis identified sex, proteinuria, eGFR, and Lyso-Gb3 as independent factors for kidney progression. • 3. Combined model and clinical model both exhibited favorable predictive performance. • 4. Lyso-Gb3 improved the predictive ability of the combined model for renal outcomes in low-risk patients compared to the clinical model. • 5. Early intervention is warranted for the underestimated-risk subgroup with eGFR over 60 ml/min/1.73 m 2 or proteinuria levels less than 1. g / d. Kidney damage is common in patients with Fabry disease (FD), but more accurate information about the risk of progression to kidney failure is needed for clinical decision-making. In particular, FD patients with mild renal involvement often lack timely intervention and treatment. We aimed to utilize a model to predict the risk of renal progression in FD patients. Between November 2011 and November 2019, ERT-naive patients with FD were recruited from three medical centers in China. To assess the risk of a 50% decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) or end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), Cox proportional hazards models were utilized. The performance of these models was assessed using discrimination, calibration, and reclassification. A total of 117 individuals were enrolled. The mean follow-up time was 4.8 years, during which 35 patients (29.9 %) progressed to the composite renal outcomes. Male sex, baseline proteinuria, eGFR and globotriaosylsphingosine (Lyso-Gb3) were found to be independent risk factors for kidney progression by the Cox model, based on which a combined model containing those clinical variables and Lyso-Gb3 and clinical models including only clinical indicators were constructed. The two prediction models had relatively good performance, with similar model fit measured by R2 (59.8 % vs. 61.1 %) and AIC (51.54 vs. 50.08) and a slight increase in the C statistic (0.949 vs. 0.951). Calibration curves indicated closer alignment between predicted and actual renal outcomes in the combined model. Furthermore, subgroup analysis revealed that Lyso-Gb3 significantly improved the predictive performance of the combined model for kidney prognosis in low-risk patients with a baseline eGFR over 60 ml/min/1.73 m 2 or proteinuria levels less than 1 g / d when compared to the clinical model. Lyso-Gb3 improves the prediction of kidney outcomes in FD patients with a low risk of progression, suggesting that these patients may benefit from early intervention to assist in clinical management. These findings need to be externally validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mn-MOF extensively activates the regeneration-associated genes (RAGs) of Schwann cells. • STAT3 and C-JUN signaling pathways are involved in Mn-MOF-induced RAGs activation. • MOF-SS implantation significantly promotes the structural regeneration and functional repair of long-gap sciatic nerve defects. Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is one of the most common causes of adult disability. Following PNI, Schwann cells (SCs) dedifferentiate, proliferate, and upregulate a variety of regeneration-associated genes (RAGs), including neurotrophic factors, ultimately promoting nerve regeneration. Even though certain reported biomaterials could upregulate one or several neurotrophic factors of SCs, none of them was able to activate these RAGs extensively. Herein, this work represents a novel manganese organic framework material (Mn-MOF) capable of effectively upregulating RAGs of SCs. In vitro cell coculture assay revealed that these Mn-MOF treated SCs enhanced the axon extension of PC12 cells, further confirming the axon regeneration-promoting activity of this framework. STAT3 and C-JUN signaling pathways were involved in Mn-MOF-induced RAGs activation. Using sericin, a well-proved biomaterial with neuroprotective properties, a Mn-MOF modified sericin conduit (MOF-SS) was prepared via π-π interactions between the cyclobenzene of framework materials and the aromatic acid of natural proteins. The microstructures and physiochemical properties of MOF-SS were comprehensively characterized, and its RAGs-activating effect on SCs was well confirmed. When applied in vivo to bridge 13-mm sciatic nerve defect, this conduit significantly promoted nerve microstructural regeneration, enhanced electrical conduction performance of regenerated nerve, improved functional recovery, and more importantly, alleviated muscle atrophy. In summary, this work represents a novel Mn-MOF modified sericin conduit capable of extensively activating RAGs of SCs, significantly promoting long-gap PNI repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power management is an efficacious route to promote the development of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), in which the buck switch for efficient energy extraction has always been a challenge. Here, we propose a three-port cantilever buck switch which can autonomously release energy from the TENG in maximum by the generated electrostatic field of the TENG. The influence of closing voltage of the buck switch on different structure parameters has been thoroughly investigated. The U-Q curve indicates that the optimal energy extraction can reach 90.86%, and the matched impedance of the TENG is reduced from 60 MΩ to 470 kΩ. Compared to the output power at matched impedance, the average power managed by this three-port cantilever buck switch is increased by 1.554 times, which can power the Bluetooth device, electronic watch, calculator and thermo-meter. This work has realized ultra-efficient power management of TENG by leveraging an autonomous cantilever buck switch, which can contribute to the efficient utilization of micromechanical energy. • A three-port cantilever buck switch controlled by the electrostatic field of the TENG for its power management is pioneered. • A detailed analysis of the force-electricity conversion process has been conducted. • U-Q curve and P-R curve has been linked to characterize the output efficiency for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chip-scale external-cavity lasers with a wide tuning range and a narrow linewidth are widely used in optical communication, optical sensing, and optical detection systems. The reflector cavities of such lasers typically consist of Vernier ring structure, but conventional design with wide tuning range is difficult to achieve a high side mode suppression ratio. Here, we use a novel radius optimization method to achieve the product of side mode suppression ratio and tuning range 2141.2 and firstly analyze how the method works. And the external cavity laser simulation obtains side mode suppression ratio about 80 dB, tuning range 106 nm and power above 10 dBm. This result is ahead of the result obtained by conventional design method. It promotes the development of external-cavity lasers by realizing reflector cavities with high side mode suppression ratio and wide tuning range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste beverages are utilized as resources in various valuable, albeit energy-consuming, waste-to-energy processes. There is a growing need for alternative cost-effective methods to harness their potential. This study explored the feasibility of employing waste beverages as feedstock for the counterpart component of a TiO 2 -based composite photocatalyst. Several commonly available carbonated soft drinks from the Japanese market have been investigated to achieve this goal. The investigation revealed that a mild hydrothermal treatment condition could transform all examined beverages into carbonaceous materials suitable for fabricating a core-shell structure with TiO 2 , resulting in a remarkably efficient visible light active photocatalyst. Notably, a pH-adjusted photocatalyst derived from Coca Cola® exhibited superior visible light photodegradability toward dye molecules and enhanced bactericidal efficacy compared to the counterpart derived from pure sucrose. The heightened visible light photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the distinctive carboxy-rich surface functional groups, based on the findings of experimental analyses and density functional theory calculations. The bidentate-type bonding of these groups with TiO 2 induces a modified interfacial bond structure that facilitates the efficient transfer of photoexcited carriers. This study presents a novel avenue for the effective utilization and recycling of waste beverages, and adds value under environmentally benign conditions. [Display omitted] • Waste beverages are good feedstocks of carbon microspheres under mild hydrothermal preparation condition. • Coca-Cola®-based CS@TiO 2 core-shell nanostructure shows the highest visible light photocatalytic performance. • Bidentate-type C–TiO 2 bonding is an effective chemical structure facilitating interfacial charge transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Temple skin temperature reflects an increased level of thermal stress in high temperatures. • The cognitive performance significantly changed with the increase in temple skin temperature. • An inverted U-shaped curve demonstrates the relationship between the accuracy of cognitive performance and temple skin temperature. • Introducing the temple skin temperature-cognitive performance(TST-CP) model to predict cognitive performance based on temple skin temperature. • The TST-CP model has demonstrated strong reliability in predicting cognitive performance. The study aimed to explore temple skin temperature as a potential physiological indicator reflecting the impact of high temperatures on cognitive performance. The feasibility of this indicator was substantiated through a thorough analysis of climate-controlled experimental data conducted at varying high temperatures: 33 °C, 37 °C, and 39 °C. The temple skin temperature was carefully monitored during the experiments, alongside cognitive tests that measured work memory, concentration, and neurobehavioral abilities. In total, 1459 valid samples were collected, contributing to the robustness of the study. The results elucidated a noteworthy finding: a significant decline in cognitive test accuracy commenced when the temple skin temperature reached 37 °C (p < 0.05). Intriguingly, the correlation between the relative accuracy of cognitive tests and temple skin temperature showcased a distinctive inverted U-shaped pattern. Employing a quadratic regression model facilitated the quantification of this relationship, yielding coefficients of determination (R2) for the fitted models that were close to or exceeded 0.9. These findings imply that temple skin temperature can be used to assess the effect of high temperature on cognitive performance. Furthermore, this research suggests the promising prospect of employing temple skin temperature for real-time monitoring of job safety in high-temperature environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coupling behavior of α and β relaxations in supercooled liquids (SLs) is a key scientific issue that relates to the essence of glass transition and the modulation of glass properties. Here, we observe the evolution of α and β relaxations in Au 50 Ag 7.5 Cu 17.5 Si 25 alloys from glass to SLs by nano calorimetric technique. We find that all the β participates in α relaxation in these metallic glasses (MGs) upon heating. Two typical coupling (or decoupling upon cooling) modes of α and β relaxations in Au-based MG SLs have been discovered, dependent on the degree of coupling between α and β relaxations in glasses. The coupling degree increases during the isothermal annealing process as the energy state of the glass decreases. Above a critical degree the decoupling mode changes from " β splits from α " to " α splits from β ". A survey including metallic glasses, polymer glasses and oxide glasses shows the general existence of the critical degree of coupling in glasses. The differences in local structure feature in glasses with different coupling degree is elucidated by analysis on atomic nonaffine displacements using molecular dynamics simulations. Further our work demonstrates that the plasticity of MGs can be effectively modulated by altering the coupling behavior between α and β relaxation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we demonstrate the synthesis of coffin-shaped ZSM-5 molecular sieves in polyacrylamide (PAM)/graphene oxide (GO) composite hydrogel using the hydrothermal method. The as-synthesized products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Thermogravimetry analyses (TGA). The effect of PAM and GO addition on the morphology and structure of ZSM-5 was investigated. The results indicated that the introduction of PAM and GO promoted the growth of the ZSM-5 (101) plane. Moreover, samples synthesized in the PAM/GO hydrogel exhibited a longer c-axis and a more pronounced coffin-shaped morphology compared to samples synthesized solely in PAM hydrogel. The Si/Al ratio decreased with the addition of GO, possibly due to interface effects leading to the formation of ZSM-5 precursors with a higher Al content. TG, FT-IR, and XPS characterization revealed hydrogen bonding interactions between PAM and GO, and the addition of GO likely restricted the movement of polymers, improving cross-linking between monomers and forming a more uniform network structure. The sample G-15 (P-5) exhibited higher mesopore volume and average pore diameter, contributing to enhanced catalytic performance. However, with increasing GO content, the average pore diameter decreased, potentially due to functional groups on the surfaces of graphene oxide and polyacrylamide forming a more uniform and structurally stable three-dimensional network structure. This allowed for controlled modulation of the molecular sieve morphology and pore size. The introduction of PAM/GO hydrogel resulted in a moderate amount of weak acid and an increased amount of strong acid, both shifting to lower temperatures. The ZSM-5 molecular sieves synthesized in the PAM/GO composite hydrogel demonstrated outstanding MTO catalytic performance, exhibiting high selectivity for light olefins and an extended catalytic lifespan. This work is expected to provide new ideas and methods for developing efficient ZSM-5 catalysts. [Display omitted] • The ZSM-5 synthesized in PAM/GO composite hydrogel exhibit excellent MTO catalytic performance. • PAM and GO enhanced the growth of the (101) facet of ZSM-5. • PAM and GO interact via hydrogen bonds. • PAM and GO contribute to the formation of a more uniform network structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-view clustering methods group data into different clusters by discovering the consensus in heterogeneous sources, which however becomes difficult when partial views of real-world data are missing. Consequently, reducing the impact of missing views and leveraging available views are the key concerns for the Incomplete Multi-view Clustering (IMvC) problem. In this research, we take an innovative, geometry-based perspective to investigate the IMvC problem under a commonly-used weight aggregation framework. We conduct a geometric analysis to understand how missing views shift the aggregation solution from the one achieved with full views, subsequently impacting the clustering result. Drawing from our analysis, we introduce a weight reallocation approach that minimizes the shift and approximates the full-view solution by reallocating the factual weight of each available view. Furthermore, we address the IMvC problem by using our reallocation method on a graph aggregation algorithm to obtain reliable clusters. Our extensive experiments demonstrate that our proposed approach outperforms previous IMvC methods, reporting superior results on four datasets with three metrics. Especially, on the Caltech101-7 dataset with 40 percent missing data, our method achieves an accuracy of 0.686, which significantly outperforms the results of other comparison methods that are no larger than 0.662. Further, our method can be used as a flexible plugin to improve other weight aggregation algorithms. The source code of this work is publicly available at https://github.com/bjlfzs/Geometric-Inspired-Graph-based-Incomplete-Multi-view-Clustering. • We conduct geometric analyses to mitigate missing views in weight aggregation. • Our analyses aid graph aggregation for incomplete multi-view clustering. • Experiments show our method's effectiveness and flexibility in weight aggregation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tai Chi was found to improve motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD). Whether long-term Tai Chi training could improve non-motor symptoms (NMS) and the related mechanisms were unknown. To investigate Tai Chi's impact on non-motor symptoms in PD and related mechanisms. 95 early-stage PD patients were recruited and randomly divided into Tai Chi (N = 32), brisk walking (N = 31), and no-exercise groups (N = 32). All subjects were evaluated at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months within one-year intervention. Non-motor symptoms (including cognition, sleep, autonomic symptoms, anxiety/depression, and quality of life) were investigated by rating scales. fMRI, plasma cytokines and metabolomics, and blood Huntingtin interaction protein 2 (HIP2) mRNA levels were detected to observe changes in brain networks and plasma biomarkers. Sixty-six patients completed the study. Non-motor functions assessed by rating scales, e.g. PD cognitive rating scale (PDCRS) and Epworth Sleepiness scale (ESS), were significantly improved in the Tai Chi group than the control group. Besides, Tai Chi had advantages in improving NMS-Quest and ESS than brisk walking. Improved brain function was seen in the somatomotor network, correlating with improved PDCRS (p = 0.003, respectively). Downregulation of eotaxin and upregulation of BDNF demonstrated a positive correlation with improvement of PDCRS and PDCRS-frontal lobe scores (p ≤ 0.037). Improvement of energy and immune-related metabolomics (p ≤ 0.043), and elevation of HIP2 mRNA levels (p = 0.003) were also found associated with the improvement of PDCRS. Tai Chi improved non-motor symptoms in PD, especially in cognition and sleep. Enhanced brain network function, downregulation of inflammation, and enhanced energy metabolism were observed after Tai Chi training. • Tai Chi improved non-motor symptoms in PD, especially in cognition and sleep. • Enhanced brain network function was associated with Tai Chi training. • Downregulation of inflammation was associated with Tai Chi training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]