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In the organic donor-acceptor system, the dissociation of the chloride anion in the s-triazine group as the acceptor was first investigated under irradiation. Introducing the electron-deficient chromophore as acceptor 2 to the donor-acceptor module allows the photo-induced electron transfer from the s-triazine module, making the dissociation less in the donor-acceptor1-acceptor2 architecture, which has been proven to be a good strategy to increase light-stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous carbon spheres (PCSs) with high surface area were fabricated by the reaction of D-Glucose monohydrate precursor with sodium molybdate dihydrate (Na 2 MoO 4 ·2H 2 O) via a facile hydrothermal method followed by carbonization and aqueous ammonia solution (NH 3 ·H 2 O) treatment. The as-prepared PCSs exhibit a highly developed porous structure with a large specific surface area and show an excellent electrochemical performance as anode material of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). A reversible capacity of 249.9 mA h g −1 after 50 cycles at a current density of 50 mA g −1 and a long cycling life at a high current density of 500 mA g −1 are achieved. The excellent cycling performance and high capacity make the PCSs a promising candidate for long cycling SIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ganoderma mushroom cultivated recently in Malaysia to produce chemically different nutritional fibers has attracted the attention of the local market. The extraction methods, molecular weight and degree of branching of (1-3; 1-6)-β- d -glucan polysaccharides is of prime importance to determine its antioxidant bioactivity. Therefore three extraction methods i.e. hot water extraction (HWE), soxhlet extraction (SE) and ultrasound assisted extraction (US) were employed to study the total content of (1-3; 1-6)-β- d -glucans, degree of branching, structural characteristics, monosaccharides composition, as well as the total yield of polysaccharides that could be obtained from the artificially cultivated Ganoderma . The physical characteristics by HPAEC-PAD, HPGPC and FTIR, as well as the antioxidant in vitro assays of DPPH scavenging activity and ferric reducing power (FRAP) indicated that (1-3; 1-6)-β- d -glucans of Malaysian mushroom have better antioxidant activity, higher molecular weight and optimal degree of branching when extracted by US in comparison with conventional methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between number of circulating T cells and coronary artery disease (CAD) in an elderly Chinese population. Methods: A total of 295 elderly inpatients (age ≥ 60) were included in this cross-sectional study. Their clinical and biochemical characteristics were recorded. Patients were divided to two groups: control patients and CAD patients. The risk factors of CAD were explored by binary logistic regression analysis. Results: Compared with control patients, the ratio of CD4 to CD8 T cells was significantly increased in CAD patients. There was no difference in the number of CD3, CD4, and CD8 T cells between the two groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that CAD was independently associated with age, gender, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), chronic heart failure (CHF) and the CD4/CD8 ratio. In addition, after adjusting for different clinical parameters (including gender, age, CHF, hypertension, arrhythmia, SBP, and BMI), the risk of CAD was significantly increased in patients with a CD4/CD8 ratio > 1.5. Conclusions: There was a strong and independent association between the ratio of CD4/CD8 and CAD in elderly Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetically engineered (GE) bacteria were utilized for developing functional systems upon confinement within a restricted space. Use of natural soft hydrogel such as alginate, gelatin, and agarose, have been investigated as promising approaches to design functional architectures. Nevertheless, a challenge is to develop functional microenvironments that support biofilm-like confinement in a relevant three-dimensional (3D) format for long-term studies. We demonstrate a natural soft hydrogel bioactuator based on alginate core-shell structures (0.25–2 mm core and 50–300 μm shell thickness) that enables 3D microbial colonization upon confinement with high cell density. Specially, our study evaluates the efficiency of bacteria-functional system by recapitulating various GE bacteria which can produce common reporter proteins, to demonstrate their actuator functions as well as dynamic pair-wise interactions. The structural design of the hydrogel can endure continued growth of various bacteria colonies within the confined space for over 10 days. The total amount of cellular biomass upon hydrogel-shell confinement was increased 5-fold compared to conventional techniques without hydrogel-shell. Furthermore, the enzymatic activity increased 3.8-fold and bioluminescence signal by 8-fold compared to the responses from conventional hydrogel systems. The conceptualized platform and our workflow represent a reliable strategy with core-shell structures to develop artificial hydrogel habitats as bacteria-based functional systems for bioactuation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Dumbbell-shaped schwannomas of the hypoglossal nerve are very rare. This report concerns a case with an extradural, dumbbell-shaped hypoglossal schwannoma extending both intra- and extracranially. Case Description: A 25-year-old woman presented with a right hypoglossal palsy. Imaging revealed a dumbbell-shaped tumor with considerable compression and medial displacement of the medulla oblongata, diagnosed as a hypoglossal schwannoma. The tumor mass extended extracranially to the parapharyngeal space through the enlarged hypoglossal canal. The tumor was partially excised by a right far-lateral suboccipital approach and the tumor was found to be predominantly extradural with minimal intradural extension. A histopathologic diagnosis of schwannoma was made. Conclusions: This case emphasizes the importance of recognizing this extradural variant of schwannoma. Staged extracranial and intracranial approaches to these tumors may be necessary. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Urinary TCS, BPA and BPS were associated with increased risk of thyroid cancer. • Urinary TCS, BPA and BPS were positively associated with oxidative stress biomarkers. • Urinary 8-isoPGF 2α and HNE-MA were positively associated with the risk of thyroid cancer. • Urinary 8-isoPGF 2α partially mediated the associations of TCS, BPA and BPS with the risk of thyroid cancer. Phenols have been shown to influence the cellular proliferation and function of thyroid in experimental models. However, few human studies have investigated the association between phenol exposure and thyroid cancer, and the underlying mechanisms are also poorly understood. We conducted a case-control study by age- and sex-matching 143 thyroid cancer and 224 controls to investigate the associations between phenol exposures and the risk of thyroid cancer, and further to explore the mediating role of oxidative stress. We found that elevated urinary triclosan (TCS), bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS) levels were associated with increased risk of thyroid cancer (all P for trends < 0.05), and the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) comparing the extreme exposure groups were 3.52 (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.08, 5.95), 2.06 (95% CI: 1.06, 3.97) and 7.15 (95% CI: 3.12, 16.40), respectively. Positive associations were also observed between urinary TCS, BPA and BPS and three oxidative stress biomarkers measured by 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), 8-iso-prostaglandin F 2α (8-isoPGF 2α) and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal-mercapturic acid (HNE-MA), as well as between urinary 8-isoPGF 2α and HNE-MA and the risk of thyroid cancer. Mediation analysis showed that urinary 8-isoPGF 2α mediated 28.95%, 47.06% and 31.08% of the associations between TCS, BPA and BPS exposures and the risk of thyroid cancer, respectively (all P < 0.05). Our results suggest that exposure to TCS, BPA and BPS may be associated with increased risk of thyroid cancer and lipid peroxidation may be an intermediate mechanism. Further studies are warranted to confirm the findings. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A comprehensive review to highlight the application of 3D faradic materials in CDI field is presented. • The desalination performances of non-3D faradic electrodes and 3D faradic electrodes are systematically compared. • The perspective of 3D faradic materials is discussed to provide guidelines for future CDI development. To address the water scarcity issue, capacitive deionization (CDI) as a burgeoning desalination technology for removing different ions from sea and wastewater have been intensively explored. However, the low salt adsorption capacity and poor cycling stability of widely used carbon materials are difficult to fulfill the demand of practical CDI application, while the non-three-dimensional (non-3D) faradic electrode materials manifest the drawbacks of low specific capacitance and dissolution loss of metal ions, which severely limit their CDI application. Notably, three-dimensional (3D) faradic materials usually possess higher desalination capacity and better cycling stability than carbon materials and non-3D faradic materials, due to their wide ion diffusion channels and versatile structure, which are highly promising for achieving practical CDI application. However, few review papers have specifically focused on the limitations and advantages of 3D faradic materials in CDI field. In this review, a comprehensive insight into 3D faradic materials in terms of the solutions of limitations and corresponding desalination performance (via comparing with the desalination performance of non-3D faradic materials) is provided and the development prospect of 3D faradic materials is also expounded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical water splitting process is always restrained for its sluggish kinetics and high reaction energy barrier. Therefore, developing outstanding bifunctional catalysts to enhance the reaction kinetics and electron transfer efficiency of water splitting is crucial. In this work, we reported a bifunctional nanohybrid electrocatalyst consisting of Fe-doped CoS 2 nanocage-decorated reduced graphene oxide (FCSRGO) with superior water splitting activity. The Fe doping adjusts the density of state (DOS) to increase the conductivity and decreases the adsorption free energy of intermediates, contributing to optimized catalytic activity. Furthermore, the incorporation of RGO reduces the agglomeration of CoS 2 and improves the conductivity, thereby amplifying the charge/species transfer efficiency. By optimizing the amount of RGO, FCSRGO shows exceptional electrocatalytic performance, achieving a benchmark current density of 10 mA·cm−2 at remarkably low overpotentials (ƞ 10) of 107 mV and 239 mV in 1 M KOH solution for HER and OER, respectively. Moreover, the nanohybrid exhibits remarkable stability with the current density retention of 89.8% for HER and 85.8% for OER after 36000 s test. This work highlights the creating of high-performance electrocatalysts for efficient and sustainable hydrogen and oxygen evolution through heteroatom doping and carbon incorporation. [Display omitted] • A bifunctional electrocatalyst consisting of Fe-doped CoS 2 nanocage-decorated reduced graphene oxide is constructed. • The nanohybrid displays large surface area, improved conductivity and decreased adsorption free energy of intermediates. • The nanohybrid exhibits excellent electrocatalytic performances for both hydrogen and oxygen evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Underlying principles governing activity control in cobalt-based electrocatalysts are summarized. • Efficient design of cobalt-based electrocatalysts control strategies is highlighted. • Challenges and prospects of cobalt-based catalysts are addressed. Currently, electrochemical water splitting is recognized as the most efficient key technology for producing hydrogen. However, it faces the challenges such as sluggish reaction kinetics, low energy conversion efficiency and poor cycling stability, limiting its practical applications. Therefore, developing efficient and inexpensive electrocatalysts is urgently needed. Cobalt-based electrocatalysts own outstanding electronic orbital structure and low-cost metallic element so that it stimulates the intense interest of researchers and has been extensively developed as electrocatalysts. However, cobalt-based electrocatalysts expose several drawbacks such as low conductivity, limited intrinsic catalytic activity, and less active site. Intensive efforts have been made to optimize the electrocatalytic activity of cobalt-based electrocatalysts, such as doping, vacancy optimization, interface modulation, structural engineering, multi-active site design, promotion of active phases, nanohybridization, and self-supporting architectures, etc. In this work, we summarize these efforts and discuss the influence of electron structure regulation, active site quantity, and carrier/material transfer efficiency on the catalytic performance of cobalt-based materials. And also, the challenges and prospects of cobalt-based catalysts are addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is proved that introducing the ethyl substituted group to 1-amino will enhance the intramolecular charge transfer ( ICT ) process of 1-N substituted anthraquinone derivatives. Bathochromic shift of the absorption maxima and diminished absorption intensity are observed with the increase of the electron donation abilities of the N-ethyl groups. Moreover, the intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonds further intensify the ICT properties through introducing the end amino group. This work exhibits more effective acceptors than anthraquinone in novel multichromophore materials for organic solar cells and other optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduced graphene oxide/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) sponge (GCNTS) is fabricated via a simple freeze drying of graphene oxide/CNTs mixed solution and subsequent thermal treatment in nitrogen atmosphere, and used as anodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) for the first time. The morphology, structure and electrochemical performance of GCNTS are characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, galvanostatic charge/discharge tests, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, respectively. The results show that GCNTS with 20 wt % CNTs has a highest charge capacity of 436 mA h g −1 after 100 cycles at a current density of 50 mA g −1 and even at a high current density of 10 A g −1 , a capacity of 195 mA h g −1 is maintained after 7440 cycles. The high capacity, excellent rate performance and long life cycling enable the GCNTS to be a promising candidate for practical SIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Layered nickel sulfide (NS)-reduced graphene oxide (RGO) composites are prepared via a simple microwave-assisted method and subsequent annealing in N 2 /H 2 atmosphere. A detailed array of characterization tools are used to study their morphology, structure and electrochemical performance. It was found that these composites exhibit significantly improved sodium-ion storage ability as compared with pure NS under galvanostatic cycling at a specific current of 100 mA g −1 in a potential limitation of 0.005–3.0 V. Furthermore, the composite with the RGO content of 35 wt.% achieves a high maximum reversible specific capacity of about 391.6 mAh g −1 at a specific current of 100 mA g −1 after 50 cycles. These results prove that NS-RGO composites are highly promising when applied directly as anode materials in sodium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How to trigger and maintain the concentration of learners in their learning activities through mobile devices has become an important issue. Research on learning concentration and information presentation mode can provide new insights into the design and selection of m-learning materials and activities. This study used a quasi-experimental design to investigate the interaction effects of interest and presentation mode on the concentration and achievement of learning conceptual knowledge through mobile phones in the classroom setting. A total of 258 Chinese education majors participated in this study. Through correlation analysis, regression analysis, and ANOVA (one-way, two-way, and three-way), the three following major results were obtained: 1) significant correlations existed between interest and concentration as well as between concentration and achievement, 2) no interaction effects on concentration existed between presentation mode and interest while interest alone had a significant effect on concentration, and 3) interaction effects on learning achievement existed between presentation mode and interest as well as between concentration and presentation mode. The research findings imply that visual presentation (e.g., video) is not always the best choice for m-learning, and the factors of concentration, interest, and presentation modes must be fully taken into consideration when selecting m-learning materials. The limitations and directions for future research were also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Soft-sensor predictions were used to predict the receiving river flow to balance with wastewater discharge operation. • Eleven machine learning methods were compared with hyperparameter optimized. • Probabilistic predictions minimized overestimations to provide proper risk management. • Daily adaptive predictions were evaluated for future flexible wastewater management. Many wastewater utilities have discharge permits directly tied with the receiving river flow, so it is critical to have accurate prediction of the hydraulic throughput to ensure safe operation and environment protection. Current empirical knowledge-based operation faces many challenges, so in this study we developed and assessed daily-adaptive, probabilistic soft sensor prediction models to forecast the next month's average receiving river flowrate and guide the utility operations. By comparing 11 machine-learning methods, extra trees regression exhibits desired deterministic prediction accuracy at day 0 (overall accuracy index: 3.9 × 10−3 1/cms2) (cms: cubic meter per second), which also increases steadily over the course of the month (e.g., MAPE and RMSE decrease from 41.46% and 23.31 cms to 3.31% and 2.81 cms, respectively). The overall classification accuracy of three river flow classes reaches 0.79 at the beginning and increases to about 0.97 over the course of the predicted month. To manage the uncertainty caused by potential false negative classification as overestimations, a probabilistic assessment on the predictions based on 95% lower PI is developed and successfully reduces the false negative classification from 17% to nearly zero with a slight sacrifice of overall classification accuracy. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A model for the autotrophic growth of Chlorella vulgaris ( C. vulgaris ) under photolimitation and photoinhibition in cylindrical photobioreactor was developed by taking into account the interactions between the biomass concentration and light intensity. The growth kinetic model for a batch system was developed by coupling the light distribution under photolimitation and photoinhibition effects with the biomass growth with respect to incident light intensity on the surface of the reactor. The developed model could successfully simulate the specific growth rates, light intensity distribution in the reactor, average light intensities, and biomass concentrations at a given incident light intensity with good accuracy. The prediction of the cell density primarily depended on the determination of the parameters included in the specific growth rate expression, which is a function of the light intensity distribution. Despite the limitation of the semi-empirical specific growth rate expression, the coupled model could predict the biomass growth in different reactor sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen-doped porous carbon spheres (NPCSs) were prepared through a fast microwave-assisted approach using sucrose as the precursor in a microwave system and subsequent thermal treatment in ammonia atmosphere at different temperatures. The morphology, structure and electrochemical performance of the NPCSs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and their electrosorption performance in NaCl solution was studied. The results show that NPCSs treated at 1000 °C exhibit an extremely high electrosorption capacity of 14.91 m g g −1 when the initial NaCl concentration is 1000 mg l −1 , which shows great improvement compared with their undoped counterpart. The nitrogen doping is suggested to be a very effective method to improve the electrosorption performance, and the NPCSs should be a very promising candidate as electrode material for CDI application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of nanomaterials in petroleum industry is becoming common. Nanofluids are used as the water phase in the process of water alternating gas injection. Previous studies mainly focused on the effect of nanoparticles on the pore throat properties of porous media or the effect of nanofluids on crude oil emulsification. However, in the process of water gas alternating displacement, the relative flow of water and gas affects the displacement front and gas breakthrough time. Therefore, it is significant to study the effect of nanoparticles on mass transfer at gas-liquid interface. Based on the good dispersion and unique physical properties of nanoparticles in the base solution, in the process of alternating injection of CO 2 and water, water is used as the base solution and nanoparticles are added to form a uniformly dispersed nanofluid. In this study, the enhancement of mass transfer by nanoparticles at the gas-liquid interface was studied. The theoretical model of the micro mass transfer at the gas-liquid interface during the percolation of nanofluid and CO 2 in porous media was deduced. Combined with the absorption experiment of CO 2 mixture, the enhancement effect of nanoparticles on mass transfer process was verified. Different factors affecting CO 2 absorption were also compared. The main fluids used in the experiment were deionized water, SiO 2 , TiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 nanofluids. The experimental results of different nanofluids show that TiO 2 nanoparticles enhance the mass transfer most obviously, and SiO 2 inhibits the mass transfer when the content exceeds a certain content. In addition, the optimum absorption concentrations of the three nanoparticles are in the range of 0.06–0.08 wt‰. Combined with the relative permeability experiment, the influence of nanoparticles on the law of gas-liquid relative permeability is further revealed. This experimental result provides a theoretical guidance for the application of nanoparticles in enhancing oil recovery. • In this study, the influence of nanoparticles on gas-liquid mass transfer was studied. Subsequently, the influence of nanoparticles on gas-liquid relative permeability curve is compared and analyzed through CO 2 absorption experiment and relative permeability experiment. • The main factors affecting gas-liquid mass transfer of nanoparticles are described by theoretical derivation. • The effects of different factors on mass transfer enhancement factors are verified by experiments. • The effect of nanoparticles on gas-liquid relative permeability curve was studied by extension experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study was the first to adapt dental age estimation method to Tibetan children and adolescents to provide ethnic-specific reference data for forensic age assessment. • Dental development of Tibetan girls was more advanced than boys. • The modified method was more accurate in estimating dental age of Tibetan children and adolescents. • Demirjian method and Willems method were not suitable for dental age estimation of Tibetan children and adolescents. Tibetan ethnic group is one of the oldest ethnic groups in China and South Asia. This study set out to analyze the dental development and validate Demirjian method and Willems method in estimating dental age of Tibetan children and adolescents, and to modify Demirjian method based on Tibetan population to provide ethnic-specific reference data and a more reliable method for forensic age assessment in Tibetan ethnic group. In this study, 1951 samples aged between 4 and 15 years were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Multiple linear regression was used to establish relationship between chronological age (CA) and developmental stages of left mandibular permanent teeth. The accuracy of the modified method was tested and compared with that of Demirjian and Willems method. Results showed that dental maturity score (DMS) was significantly greater in girls than in boys in all age groups except for the 4-year age group (p < 0.05). Mean absolute error (MAE) was 0.96 years for both boys and girls by Demirjian method, and 1.06 and 1.16 years for boys and girls respectively by Willems method. Adjusted scores table was established and tested. The age of boys was overestimated by 0.13 years and the age of girls was underestimated by 0.06 years by the adjusted scores table. MAE was lower than that of the other two methods. In conclusion, Demirjian method and Willems method was not sufficiently accurate in estimating dental age of Tibetan population. The modified method was more suitable for dental age estimation of Tibetan population than Demirjian and Willems method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants can effectively remove atmospheric particles, which contribute to air pollution. However, few studies have focused on seasonal variability of plant dust retention, an essential factor to estimate annual dust removal from the atmosphere. This study conducted a field experiment to explore the seasonal variability of particulate retention on evergreen leaved urban greening shrub plants. We performed a meta-analysis to synthesize the available literature on the subject to discuss our findings further. Results showed that particulate matter deposited on leaf surfaces (sPM) in autumn and winter was significantly higher than in spring and summer. In comparison, the particulate matter trapped in epicuticular waxes (wPM) in summer was significantly higher than in the other three seasons. The seasonal differences also existed in both sPM and wPM among particle sizes. The total dust retention of Rhododendron × pulchrum Sweet, Osmanthus fragrans Lour, and Photinia × fraseri Dress were estimated as 360.89 t, 586.66 t, and 448.84 t per year, respectively. They were significantly different from model estimates if only one season was chosen as an estimator. Furthermore, the meta-analysis revealed significant differences among seasons, particle sizes, and different leaf habits (evergreen or deciduous). In contrast, no significant differences were observed between life forms or between growth forms. Our findings both from field experiment and met-analysis highlights that seasonal variation can significantly affect the dust retention capacity of plants, which should be taken into account into particle matter retention capacity evaluations. [Display omitted] • The most sPM was in autunm and winter, while the most wPM was in summer. • Seasonal differences occurred for particle types and all particle sizes. • Modeled annual values depend highly on parameterization is one or all four seasons. • Seasonal variation must be taken into account in large-scale study of PM retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] NaHCO3 can be used for fast microalgal growth and effective CO2(g) supply to medium. [•] High DIC concentration with mixing greatly enhances autotrophic growth. [•] Use of NaHCO3 under mixing helps overcome DIC limitation for photosynthesis. [•] Photosynthesis is limited by DIC supply followed by light during autotrophic growth. [•] Use of NaHCO3 is limited by salinity generated by Na+ for freshwater algae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An in-situ growth technique is used to construct Sn-based MOFs on MXene (MXene@Sn-MOF) • The introduction of MXene reduces the electron transfer impedance at various states of charge. • MXene@Sn-MOF exhibits remarkable capacity, exceptional rate performance and cycling stability. Due to the poor electron transfer characteristics of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), they always exhibit subpar kinetic performance in Li-ion storage. To address this issue, herein we innovatively devised an in-situ growth technique to enable the construction of Sn-based MOFs on MXene (MXene@Sn-MOF), thereby enhancing its electron transfer capabilities. According to this optimization, the resulting MXene@Sn-MOF composite exhibits excellent Li-ion storage performance, with a remarkable reversible storage capacity of 1009 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g after 100 cycles. It is worth noting that even at a high current density of 2 A/g, the MXene@Sn-MOF composite still maintains a reversible specific capacity of 540 mAh/g after 500 cycles, demonstrating exceptional rate performance and cycling stability. Continuous electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and galvanostatic intermittent titration technique measurements reveal a significant reduction in electron transfer impedance at various states of charge with the introduction of MXene, accompanied by enhanced ion diffusion capabilities, further confirming the beneficial role of MXene in augmenting the Li-ion storage capacity of Sn-based MOFs. We believe that our work provides a promising avenue for the design of anodes with enhanced fast electron transfer ability for Li-ion storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land-based Round Pond is an emerging and efficient aquaculture technique widely adopted in Southwest China. To study the effects of stocking density and feeding frequency on growth, oxidative stress, physiological characteristics, and intestinal flora of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) in Land-Based Round Pond, 3 × 2 two-factor treatment groups were set with three stocking densities (30, 40, and 50 fish/m3) and two feeding frequencies (2 and 3 times/day). Largemouth bass (initial weight of 155.62 ± 2.43 g) were stocked for 60 days. The yield of 30 fish/m3 groups were close to 40 fish/m3 groups, but the 30 fish/m3 groups demonstrated significantly higher growth rate, condition factor and lipid content compared to other density groups with a lower feed conversion ratio (p < 0.05). The feeding frequency of 3 times per day resulted in higher growth rate than 2 times per day with a higher feed conversion ratio (p < 0.05). Physiological and biochemical analyses showed that levels of TC, TG, lysozyme, ALP, T-SOD, CAT, AOC, lipase, and trypsin were significantly higher in the 30 fish/m3 groups than those of other density groups, while MDA content were highest in the 50 fish/m3 groups than other groups (p < 0.05). The T-SOD and CAT activity were significantly higher in the 3 times per day groups than those in the 2 times per day groups (p < 0.05), and no significant effect of feeding frequency on the immunity was observed. No pathological changes were found in muscle and intestinal histology, but infiltration of hemocytes was found in liver in the 50 fish/m3 groups. In intestinal microbial analysis, the 40 and 50 fish/m3 density groups had a higher relative abundance of Proteobacteria, suggesting a higher probability of disease occurrence and an unstable intestinal microflora. These results demonstrate that the optimal stocking density for largemouth bass in Land-Based Round Ponds is 30 fish/m3 (155 g/fish) at a size stage ranging from 155.62 g to 353.83 g, with the optimal feeding frequency of 3 times per day. This study provides a theoretical basis for the development of Land-Based Round Ponds. • 30 tails/m3 groups have higher growth rates, condition factor, and profit per group. • 3 times/day groups have higher growth rates and feed conversion ratio. • 30 tails/m3 groups have better immune and digestive capacity than other groups. • As density increased, Proteobacteria proliferated and intestinal flora was unstable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Conversion of aldoximes into nitriles catalyzed by simple transition metal catalysts, such as copper salts, nickel salts, cobalt salts, zinc salts, iron salts, and manganese salts in acetonitrile was investigated. All the metal salts display catalytic property in the conversion of aldoximes into nitriles and cupric acetate exhibits much higher activity than other catalysts. The corresponding amide was detected in almost all cases and acetonitrile was found to be involved in the conversion of aldoximes into nitriles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Until now, researchers have not addressed the relationship of competition and investment in China''s telecommunications industry, the biggest mobile telecommunications market in the world with unique institutional characteristics. This paper seeks to fill this gap by examining the effects of mobile telecommunications competition on mobile network investment in China. Fixed effects and dynamic panel data models using Chinese regional panel data over the period 2003–2009 show a consistent positive correlation between the mobile market concentration and mobile network investment in the industry. This phenomenon is attributed mainly to the soft budget constraint problem that occurs under asymmetric market competition between state-owned enterprises. It is suggested that the asymmetric competitive structure has been a potential driving force of overinvestment in the mobile network in China; hence, improving the competitive structure by implementing appropriate regulatory policy rather than by policy allowance or inequitable policy burdens would be an effective way to alleviate overinvestment in network facilities. Co-construction and sharing of network infrastructure should be carried out to reduce duplication of infrastructure especially in the coming 3G era of China''s telecommunications industry. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study investigates the group decision making under interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy environment in which the attributes and experts are in different priority level. We first propose some interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy aggregation operators such as the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy prioritized weighted average (IVIFPWA) operator, the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy prioritized weighted geometric (IVIFPWG) operator. These proposed operators can capture the prioritization phenomenon among the aggregated arguments. Then, some of their desirable properties are investigated in detail. Furthermore, an approach to multi-criteria group decision making based on the proposed operators is given under interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy environment. Finally, a practical example about talent introduction is provided to illustrate the developed method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An improved surface-immobilisation system was engineered to target heterologous proteins onto vegetative cells and spores of Bacillus thuringiensis plasmid-free recipient strain BMB171. The sporulation-dependent spore cortex-lytic enzyme from B. thuringiensis YBT-1520, SceA, was expressed in vegetative cells and used as the surface anchoring motif. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) and a Bacillus endo-β-1,3-1,4-glucanase (BglS) were used as the fusion partners to test the binding efficiency and the functional activities of immobilised surface proteins. The surface localisation of the SceA-GFP fusion protein on vegetative cells and spores was confirmed by Western blot, immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. The GFP fluorescence intensity from both vegetative cells and spores was measured and compared to a previously characterised surface display system using a peptidoglycan hydrolase anchor (Mbg). Results demonstrated comparable efficiency of SceA- and Mbg-mediated immobilisation on vegetative cells but a more efficient immobilisation on spores using the SceA anchor, suggesting SceA has greater potential for spore-based applications. The SceA protein was then applied to target BglS onto vegetative cells and spores, and the surface immobilisation was verified by the substantial whole-cell enzymatic activity and enhanced whole-spore enzymatic activity compared to vegetative cells. A dually active B. thuringiensis vegetative cell and spore display system could prove especially valuable for the development of regenerable and heat-stable biocatalysts that function under adverse environmental conditions, for example, an effective feed additive for improved digestion and nutrient absorption by livestock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) films have been successfully fabricated by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique and used as counter electrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The CNTs counter electrodes consisting of a large number of bamboo-like structures with defect-rich edge planes exhibit a highly interconnected network structure with high electrical conductivity and good catalytic activity. A high photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 7.03% is achieved for DSSCs based on the CNTs counter electrodes, which is comparable to the cell based on conventional Pt counter electrode at one sun (AM 1.5G, 100mWcm−2). The results suggest that the present synthetic strategy provides a potential feasibility for the fabrication of low-cost flexible counter electrodes of DSSCs using a facile deposition technique from an environmentally “friendly” solution at low temperature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents a comparative study on electrosorptive behavior of commercial single walled and double walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and as-prepared graphene as potential electrode materials for capacitive deionization (CDI). Their electrosorptive behaviors are evaluated under the same experimental conditions and described by various adsorption isotherms and kinetics models. It was found that the electrosorptive capacity of CNTs (single walled or double walled)-based CDI is higher than that of graphene-based CDI, which is related to their specific surface area, pore structure and hydrophilic functional groups. Electrosorptive kinetics analysis further confirms that CNTs are more suitable as electrode materials than graphene. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this research, a power-assist, lower-limb orthosis is developed to help the elderly or people suffering sports injuries walk or climb stairs. In the pneumatic muscle used for actuation, it is found that hysteresis phenomenon exists during the inflation–deflation process and such a phenomenon deteriorates the control performance. In order to eliminate the influence of hysteresis on the control system, a hysteresis model is constructed and used to devise an inverse control for feedforward compensation. The inverse control is combined with loop transfer recovery (LTR) feedback control to achieve better tracking performance. Moreover, bumpless switching compensators are also incorporated into the combined control system to ensure smooth switching between different phases of operation. To verify that the developed orthosis can effectively accomplish the assistive function, a human subject wearing the orthosis is asked to walk and to climb stairs. Experiments indicate that the orthosis is indeed helpful in assisting human locomotion. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: O6-Methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is critical for repairing pro-mutagenic DNA bases and is correlated with response to alkylating agents in cancers. Since there is great interest in pursuing the potential role of temozolomide, a novel alkylating agent, in the treatment of brain metastases, this study aimed to evaluate MGMT expression as well as its prognostic value in this devastating disease. We studied the expression and methylation status of MGMT in 86 brain metastases of lung cancers. Twenty of them had matched primary lung tumor tissues available for direct comparison. MGMT expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC); the methylation status of MGMT promoter was analyzed by nested methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and validated by quantitative real-time PCR analysis. Positive nuclear MGMT expression was detected more frequently in brain metastases as compared with primary lung cancers (83% versus 50%, P =0.004). The discordance in MGMT expression persisted in the 20 paired primary and metastatic tumors (P =0.031). MGMT promoter hypermethylation was highly correlated with loss of MGMT expression. Both univariate and multivariate analyses showed that median overall survival was significantly longer in patients with positive MGMT expression in brain metastases (16.5 versus 3.5 months, P <0.001). In conclusion, MGMT expression was enhanced in brain metastases as compared with the primary lung cancers. MGMT expression in brain metastases was significantly correlated with better survival. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A simple, mild, and efficient procedure for the oxidation of organic halides to aldehydes and ketones with H5IO6 in ionic liquid [C12mim][FeCl4] has been developed. The oxidation reactions afford the target products in good to high yields and no overoxidation was observed. The products can be separated by a simple extraction with organic solvent, and the catalytic system can be recycled and reused without loss of catalytic activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The impact and molecular mechanism of action of glucocorticoids in connective tissues is largely unclear, even though widely used, and whether factors such as injury and inflammation modulate this response has not been elucidated. This study describes the role of glucocorticoids in the regulation of mRNA levels for collagens I and III, MMP-13, biglycan, decorin, COX-2 and the glucocorticoid receptor in connective tissues of normal and injured joints in an established rabbit in vivo MCL scar model, and examines the potential mechanism(s) involved. In vitro promoter studies were performed using an MMP-13 promoter–luciferase expression construct in transient transfection assays with a rabbit synovial cell line (HIG-82) to identify sites of glucocorticoid-mediated transcriptional regulation and the promoter elements involved. The in vivo results indicate that scar tissue from different phases of healing (early inflammatory, granulation tissue and neovascular, and later remodelling phases, respectively) displays a different pattern of responsiveness to glucocorticoid treatment than uninjured tissue and that this responsiveness is gene dependent. The most significant impact was seen for genes such as collagen I, collagen III and MMP-13, all of which are involved in connective tissue structure and remodelling. The in vitro studies confirmed the apparent in vivo glucocorticoid-mediated response of MMP-13 mRNA and implicated the AP-1 site of the MMP-13 promoter in this regulation. Immunohistochemistry studies showed increased MMP-13 protein expression, consistent with the mRNA findings, following glucocorticoid treatment in injured tissue but not normal tissues. In conclusion, connective tissue responsiveness to glucocorticoid treatment varies depending on injury and the stage of healing of the tissue, and consequently, glucocorticoid-responsiveness may be modulated differently in states of injury and inflammation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • GA alkyl ester with the best antioxidant effect in DHA algae oil was selected. • Octyl gallate showed the best antioxidant effect among ten GA alkyl esters. • Octyl gallate was used in combination with other antioxidants. • DHA algae oil containing octyl gallate and TPP was the most stable to oxidation. • The optimum composite antioxidant extended 4.24-fold shelf life of DHA algae oil. The most effective composite antioxidants for DHA algae oil were optimized by combining the selected gallic acid (GA) alkyl ester with other commonly used antioxidants. Results of Rancimat induction time, peroxide value, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, and free radical generation indicated that octyl gallate (OG) was the best one in DHA algae oil among GA alkyl esters with various chain lengths. Therefore, OG was used to combine other antioxidants (antioxidant of bamboo leaves, rosemary extract, tea polyphenols, tea polyphenol palmitate (TPP), ascorbyl palmitate, vitamin E, phytic acid and phospholipid) for further improving the oxidative stability of DHA algae oil. The combination of OG + TPP showed the best antioxidant effect among the composite antioxidants of two and three components. Through optimization of mixture ratio, the combination of 53.20 mg/kg OG + 360 mg/kg TPP demonstrated the best antioxidant capacity, which prolonged the shelf life of DHA algae oil by 4.24 folds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ternary NiCoFe-PBA/CNT was designed through composition/structural engineering. • Ternary NiCoFe-PBA/CNT shows extraordinary redox capacity and structural stability. • NiCoFe-PBA/CNT-based RCDI features a high desalination capacity of 140.8 mg g−1. • NiCoFe-PBA/CNT-based RCDI enjoys superior desalination rate and cycling stability. Prussian blue analogs (PBAs) have attracted considerable interest in capacitive deionization (CDI) as promising faradic electrode material candidates owing to their remarkable redox activity, non-toxic characteristics and cost-effectiveness. Yet, the desalination performance of the currently reported PBA-based CDI system falls far short of practical applications. Herein, the NiCoFe-PBA/carbon nanotube (CNT) composite is finely customized by a synergistic strategy of doping the Ni2+ into the CoFe-PBA and further employing conductive CNT as the interconnected framework for in-situ growth of NiCoFe-PBA particles, endowing the composite with excellent electrical conductivity, abundant redox-active sites, and structural stability. Moreover, we further coupled the NiCoFe-PBA/CNT composite with the rocking-chair CDI (RCDI) cell to avoid the capacity mismatch between the cathode and anode. As a result, the NiCoFe-PBA/CNT-based RCDI system achieves a high desalination capacity of 140.8 mg g−1 and a superior desalination rate of 0.51 mg g−1 s−1, which outperform most current PBA-based systems and are comparable to current state-of-the-art CDI systems. Besides, the system also exhibits excellent stability with almost no capacity degradation over 40 desalination cycles. This work highlights the importance of meticulous electrode material design and strategic CDI configurations in overcoming CDI bottlenecks, offering valuable insights for the advancement of future high-performance desalination systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The polygenic risk score (PRS) based on 38 SNPs exhibited the most robust association with the risk of radiation-induced brain injury (RBI). • Significant interactions were detected between genetic and clinical variables associated with the risk of RBI. • The PRS has the potential to serve as a valuable tool for informing personalized radiotherapy decisions for individuals. • The addition of PRS to the clinical model resulted in a statistically significant improvement in the predictive accuracy of the combined model. Radiation-induced brain injury (RBI) is a severe radiotoxicity for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients, greatly affecting their long-term life quality and survival. We aim to establish a comprehensive predictive model including clinical factors and newly developed genetic variants to improve the precision of RBI risk stratification. By performing a large registry-based retrospective study with magnetic resonance imaging follow-up on RBI development, we conducted a genome-wide association study and developed a polygenic risk score (PRS) for RBI in 1189 NPC patients who underwent intensity-modulated radiotherapy. We proposed a tolerance dose scheme for temporal lobe radiation based on the risk predicted by PRS. Additionally, we established a nomogram by combining PRS and clinical factors for RBI risk prediction. The 38-SNP PRS could effectively identify high-risk individuals of RBI (P = 1.42 × 10−34). Based on genetic risk calculation, the recommended tolerance doses of temporal lobes should be 57.6 Gy for individuals in the top 10 % PRS subgroup and 68.1 Gy for individuals in the bottom 50 % PRS. Notably, individuals with high genetic risk (PRS > P 50) and receiving high radiation dose in the temporal lobes (D 0.5CC > 65 Gy) had an approximate 50-fold risk over individuals with low PRS and receiving low radiation dose (HR = 50.09, 95 %CI = 24.27–103.35), showing an additive joint effect (P interaction < 0.001). By combining PRS with clinical factors including age, tumor stage, and radiation dose of temporal lobes, the predictive accuracy was significantly improved with C-index increased from 0.78 to 0.85 (P = 1.63 × 10−2). The PRS, together with clinical factors, could improve RBI risk stratification and implies personalized radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight previously undescribed indole-diterpenoids named penerpenes O–V (1 – 8), together with seven known analogues (9 – 14), were isolated from the marine soft coral-derived fungus Aspergillus sp. ZF-104. Their structures including the absolute configurations of these compounds were assigned on the basis of spectroscopic data and ECD analysis along with quantum ECD and NMR calculations. Compounds 4 and 5 bear rare indolin-2-one units in their structures and 6 bears a reconstructed novel skeleton in which the indole ring and the terpenoid substructure are cleaved before they are reconnected through the nitrogen atom. Compounds 1 , 2 , 7 , and 10 showed protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibitory activities comparable to that of the positive control NaVO 3. Eight previously undescribed indole-diterpenoids were isolated from the marine soft coral-derived fungus Aspergillus sp. ZF-104. Compounds 1 , 2 , 7 , and 10 showed protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibitory activities comparable to that of the positive control NaVO 3. [Display omitted] • Eight previously undescribed indole-diterpenoids named penerpenes were isolated from Aspergillus sp. ZF-104. • Two compounds bear rare indolin-2-ones in their structures and 6 bears a reconstructed novel skeleton. • Four compounds showed protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibitory activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Organic electrolytes expand electrochemical stable window of zinc ion batteries. • Machine learning predicts oxidation potentials of organic electrolyte solvents. • Relationship between solvent structures and oxidation potentials is analyzed. • Experimentally measured oxidation potentials align with the predicted values. Currently, inherent deficiencies of water-based electrolytes, such as a narrow electrochemical stable window (ESW), lead to low operating voltage and insufficient energy density of zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs). Incorporating organic electrolytes into ZIBs is an effective strategy for expanding the ESW but the exploration on introducing organic solvent into zinc electrolyte is still scarce. In this work, the ESWs of 307 organic solvents in ZIBs were investigated assisted by machine learning (ML) methods. Four ML models were employed to predict the oxidation potentials (OPs) of organic solvents for zinc electrolytes. Among them, Gradient Boosting Regression (GBR) and Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) exhibit exceptional performance and achieve remarkable prediction results. Specifically, GBR model displays a highest R2 score of 0.905, an absolute error of 0.258 and an absolute percentage error of 8.30% on test set. The effect of selected features on the prediction results was investigated and the features with significant impact on the prediction of OP were summarized. ESWs (OPs) of six non-aqueous zinc electrolytes using three distinct organic solvents were measured by experimental methods and there is a notable agreement between measured ESW (OP) and the solvent OP computed by Density Functional Theory and ML models in general. Furthermore, Zn//Zn symmetrical batteries assembled with these electrolytes demonstrate remarkable cycling stability, showcasing their potential applications in ZIBs. This work develops ML models that can efficiently predict a large number of organic solvent OP for ZIBs, and provides a useful guidance for developing advanced non-aqueous and hybrid zinc electrolytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ten MiPR1 genes were first identified in mango. • MiPR1 family genes had different expression patterns under salt, drought stress and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. • Overexpression of MiPR1A in Arabidopsis improved plant resistance to salt stress and drought stress. • Overexpression of MiPR1A in Arabidopsis improved plant resistance to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides stress. Pathogen-related protein 1 (PR1) is an essential component of plant defense mechanisms against a variety of biotic and abiotic stresses. However, knowledge of PR1 in mango (Mangifera indica L), one of the most important horticultural crops, is limited. In the present study, a total of 10 PR1 family members were first discovered by bioinformatics analysis of the mango genome. Chromosomal mapping revealed that the MiPR1 genes were unevenly distributed on the five chromosomes of mango. The conserved domain and genetic structure analysis showed that all ten MiPR1 genes have a conserved CAP domain and intron-free. Cis element analysis indicated that several stress response elements were found in these promoters. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that the MiPR1 genes have differences in expression patterns among the organs and under low temperature, polyethylene glycol (PEG), sodium chloride (NaCl) and anthracnose treatments. Furthermore, MiPR1A was selected for further functional analysis. Overexpression of MiPR1A increased salt and drought tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis , superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and proline content were significantly upregulated and malondialdehyde (MDA) content was significantly downregulated in transgenic Arabidopsis compared with control lines. In addition, MiPR1A enhanced resistance to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Taken together, these findings provide insight into the potential functional roles of the MiPR1A gene in biotic and abiotic stress tolerance in mango. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron carbide (Fe 3 C) has become a significant type of anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its intrinsic catalytic ability for the reversion of solid electrolyte interface (SEI) film. However, the low electrical conductivity and structural instability still hinder its practical application. The combination of Fe 3 C with highly conductive matrix is effective at addressing this issue. In this work, nano-Fe 3 C decorated N, S co-doped carbon nanotubes (Fe 3 C-NSC) was synthesized through a facile one-pot in-situ growth method. Benefiting from the synergetic effects between nano-Fe 3 C and N, S co-doped carbon nanotubes, Fe 3 C-NSC demonstrated an ultrahigh reversible capacity of 926 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1 after 100 cycles, and maintained a reversible capacity of 510.9 mAh g-1 at 500 mA g−1 after 900 cycles. Even when operated at −20 °C, Fe 3 C-NSC still delivered 373.4 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1 after 100 cycles. The strategy in this work should provide new insight into Fe 3 C-based anode of LIBs. [Display omitted] • Fe 3 C nanocrystals are decorated on N, S co-doped carbon nanotubes. • A facile one-pot in-situ growth strategy is developed. • The composite was evaluated as anode of lithium-ion batteries. • The composite demonstrates ultrahigh reversible capacity at both room and low temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of photothermal and photodynamic therapy (PTT/PDT) shows pronounced potential as a prominent therapeutic strategy for tumor treatment. However, the efficacy is limited by insufficient tumor-targeted delivery of PTT and PDT reagents and the hypoxic nature of the tumor microenvironment. To overcome these limitations, tumor acidity-responsive lipid membrane-enclosed perfluorooctyl bromide oil droplet nanoparticles (NPs) surface modified with N -acetyl histidine-modified D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (PFOB@IMHNPs) were developed, capable of co-delivering oxygen, IR780 (a photothermal agent) and mTHPC (a photodynamic sensitizer) into tumors. Through self-sufficient oxygen transportation in combination with promotion of cellular uptake upon acid-triggered generation of surface positive charge, the PFOB@IMHNPs effectively delivered IR780 and mTHPC and produced singlet oxygen within hypoxic TRAMP-C1 cells following exposure to irradiation at 660 nm. This led to effective killing of hypoxic cancer cells in vitro. Importantly, when irradiation at 808 and 660 nm was carried out, PT/PD combination therapy utilizing PFOB@IMHNPs dramatically suppressed the growth of TRAMP-C1 tumors through effective tumor-targeted cargo delivery and relief of tumor hypoxia. Our results suggest the high potential of the PFOB@IMHNPs developed in this study in clinical application for cancer treatment. Tumor microenvironment-responsive and oxygen self-sufficient oil droplet nanoparticles for enhanced photothermal/photodynamic combination therapy against hypoxic tumors Unlabelled Image • Smart oil droplets were developed for photothermal/photodynamic combined therapy. • pH-induced charge conversion on NP surfaces highly enhanced cellular uptake. • Oil droplet NPs carried oxygen and accumulated in tumor significantly. • Oxygen supply modulated tumor hypoxia and enhanced photodynamic therapy. • Functionalized phototherapy oil droplets effectively suppressed tumor growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dual-laser source is used to study the propagation and scattering characteristics of ultrasound generated in the specimen containing branched-breaking defects. This propagation process between ultrasonic wave and the branched-breaking defects is analyzed in detail, when the inclination of the branched-breaking defects changes from 30° to 60° (the depth of the branched-breaking defects changes from 0 mm to 0.5 mm), the maximum amplitude of the R-wave signal spectrum gradually decreases. When the depth of the branched-breaking defects changes from 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm, the R-wave signal spectrum has no any change. The method of dual-laser source generated ultrasonic wave is used to identify and analyze the branch surface-breaking defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal oxide nanoparticles are one kind of important electrode materials for capacitive deionization (CDI) application. Unfortunately, most metal oxide materials usually exhibit poor electrical conductivity and often experience slow dissolution of metallic species, thereby resulting in limited desalination performance. Overcoming these obstacles still remains challenging due to the lack of synthetic approaches. Taking it into consideration, herein we proposed a dual confinement strategy to promote the CDI application of metal oxide nanoparticles. Nb 2 O 5 was synthesized as a typical example for designing metal oxide/MXene-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) derived from Nb 2 CT x MXene/graphene oxide (GO) under hydrothermal condition. In the hybrid, Nb 2 CT x and rGO serve as both the confinement agent and conductive support for Nb 2 O 5 nanoparticles, endowing Nb 2 O 5 /Nb 2 CT x -rGO with improved electronic conductivity and structural stability. As a result, the hybrid shows an outstanding desalination performance, including a NaCl adsorption capacity of 41.07 mg g−1, an ultra-fast average NaCl adsorption rate of 4.14 mg g−1 min−1 and excellent long-term cycling stability of 50 cycles (81 % desalination capacity retention rate). This work is expected to bring new insights in the synthesis of metal oxide materials for electrochemical desalination. [Display omitted] • A "dual-confinement" system of Nb 2 O 5 /MXene-rGO was constructed from Nb 2 CT x /GO. • Nb 2 O 5 /MXene-rGO was applied as electrode for hybrid capacitive deionization. • Nb 2 O 5 /MXene-rGO exhibited high desalination capacity/rate and good cycling stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CONSTANS (CO) is the key gene in the photoperiodic pathway that regulates flowering in plants. In this paper, a CONSTANS-like 14A (COL14A) gene was obtained from mango, and its expression patterns and functions were characterized. Sequence analysis shows that MiCOL14A-JH has an additional A base, which leads to code shifting in subsequent coding boxes and loss of the CCT domain. The MiCOL14A-JH and MiCOL14A-GQ genes both belonged to group Ⅲ of the CO / COL gene family. Analysis of tissue expression patterns showed that MiCOL14A was expressed in all tissues, with the highest expression in the leaves of seedling, followed by lower expression levels in the flowers and stems of adult leaves. However, there was no significant difference between different mango varieties. At different development stages of flowering, the expression level of MiCOL14A-GQ was the highest in the leaves before floral induction period, and the lowest at flowering stage, while the highest expression level of MiCOL14A-JH appeared in the leaves at flowering stage. The transgenic functional analysis showed that both MiCOL14A-GQ and MiCOL14A-JH induced delayed flowering of transgenic Arabidopsis. In addition, MiCOL14A-JH enhanced the resistance of transgenic Arabidopsis to drought stress, while MiCOL14A-GQ increased the sensitivity of transgenic Arabidopsis to salt stress. Further protein protein interaction analysis showed that MiCOL14A-JH directly interacted with MYB30-INTERACTING E3 LIGASE 1 (MiMIEL1), CBL-interacting protein kinase 9 (MiCIPK9) and zinc-finger protein 4 (MiZFP4), but MiCOL14A-GQ could not interact with these three stress-related proteins. Together, our results demonstrated that MiCOL14A-JH and MiCOL14A-GQ not only regulate flowering but also play a role in the abiotic stress response in mango, and the lack of the CCT domain affects the protein protein interaction, thus affecting the gene response to stress. The insertion of an A base can provide a possible detection site for mango resistance breeding. • An A base inserted into the coding region of MiCOL14A-JH , resulted in loss of the CCT domain missing. • Overexpression of MiCOL14A in Arabidopsis resulted in late flowering. • Overexpression of MiCOL14A-GQ decreased the salt stress tolerance. • Overexpression of MiCOL14A-JH enhanced the drought stress tolerance. • MiCOL14A-JH interact with MiMIEL1, MiCIPK9 and MiZFP4 Proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A index system for assessing the ecological security of island tourism is established. • A new methods are proposed to measure the ecological security of tourist islands. • An empirical analysis of Mount Putuo Island, Zhejiang Province, China, was carried out. • A complementary to theoretical studies of ecological risk on islands. Comprehensive assessment of the ecological risks of oceanic island destinations is conducive to determining the characteristics and rules of ecological risks brought by oceanic island tourism development. The purpose of this study is to scientifically examine and study the ecological risks of oceanic island destinations and seek for sustainable development, taking Mount Putuo Island of Zhoushan in China as a case. Based on the landscape ecological risk (ERI) assessment results, pressure-state-response (PSR) ecological risks assessment results of tourism development, and the overlay function of ArcGIS, we carried out a study about comprehensive assessment of ecological risks of oceanic island destinations. The results showed that: (1) From 2010 to 2019, the areas of low-level and medium–low-level ERIs on Mount Putuo Island decreased, whereas the areas of medium-level and medium–high-level ERIs increased year by year, with growth rates of 6.038% and 8.99%, respectively. (2) The results of ecological risks of tourism development showed that the construction of risk tourist attractions, tourism service facilities, tourism accommodations, and commercial facilities is critical to promoting the gradual increase in medium-level and medium–high-level areas. (3) The analysis of comprehensive ecological risks revealed that from 2010 to 2019, the areas of low ecological risks regions decreased significantly, whereas the areas of medium and high ecological risks regions spread from south to north in a concentrated way mainly near the tourist attractions of Mount Putuo Island, with significant hierarchical characteristics and spatial effects. The research results can provide theoretical basis and decision-making reference for the management and monitoring of the ecological security of oceanic island destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the correlation between thyroid hormone (TH) concentrations and the serum fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) concentration in septic patients and to assess the collaborative value of these factors in predicting 28-day mortality in septic patients. A total of 120 consecutive patients with sepsis were divided into two groups according to their survival or death within 28 days after initial diagnosis of sepsis. Patients in the non-survivor group had significantly higher serum FGF21 concentrations but lower total and free triiodothyronine (T3) and tetraiodothyronine (T4) concentrations than those in the survivor group. Thyroid hormone concentrations, including T3, free T3, T4 and free T4, were significantly negatively correlated with the ∆SOFA and APACHE II scores as well as the serum FGF21, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-10, procalcitonin, and C-reactive protein concentrations. Logistic regression analysis showed that the ∆SOFA score, serum FGF21 concentration, and free T3 concentration were significant predictors of 28-day mortality. The model with variables of ∆SOFA score and serum FGF21 and free T3 concentrations had the greatest area under the curve of 0.969. The addition of free T3 and serum FGF21 to ∆SOFA score provided a significantly improved ability to predict 28-day mortality in septic patients. • Non-survivor septic patients had higher serum FGF21 but lower TT3, FT3, TT4 FT4. • Thyroid hormone levels negatively correlated with ∆SOFA, APACHE II and serum FGF21 in septic patients. • ∆SOFA score, serum FGF21 level, and FT3 level were predictors of 28-day mortality. • Addition of FT3 and FGF21 to ∆SOFA improved mortality prediction in septic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background We redesigned decompressive craniectomy and cranioplasty procedures to decrease the inherent risk of complications. This novel technique, called decompressive cranioplasty, not only may decrease the complication rate but also may improve the cosmetic result, obviate the need for artificial skull implant, and increase the decompressive volume compared with traditional craniectomy. Methods In decompressive cranioplasty, the Agnes Fast craniotomy was adopted without cutting the temporalis muscle from the underlying bone flap. After opening the dura with or without removal of intracranial hematomas, duraplasty was performed with an intracranial pressure monitor inserted. Four miniplates were bent into a "Z" shape, and the vascularized bone flap was elevated approximately 1.2–1.5 cm above the outer cortex of the skull and fixed with the miniplates. Subsequent cranioplasty was done with a mini-incision on the miniplate sites and reshaping of the miniplate to align the outer cortex of the bone flap. Results We successfully performed decompressive cranioplasty in 3 emergent cases—2 traumatic subdural hematomas and 1 malignant middle cerebral artery infarction. Postoperative brain computed tomography demonstrated adequate decompression in all cases. Cosmetic outcome was excellent, and there was no temporal hallowing. Mastication function was not affected. At 6-month follow-up, there was no bone flap shrinkage and no hydrocephalus. Conclusions Decompressive cranioplasty is a safe and effective method in the management of patients with brain edema and intracranial hypertension. It is simple to perform and may reduce the morbidity associated with traditional decompressive craniectomy and subsequent cranioplasty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aimed to determine the association between lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), a marker for inflammation in the vessel wall and independently associated with atherosclerosis, and the incidence of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).Methods: A total of 1452 patients were enrolled in this retrospective cross‑sectional study. We recruited patients with T2D who were tested for glycated hemoglobin, fasting and 2 h post-meal serum C-peptide, blood lipid profile, 24 h urine albumin excretion rate (UAER), blood creatine, blood albumin, uric acid, and Lp-PLA2.Results: Among the patients with T2D, 40.3% were diagnosed with DKD and the correlation between DKD and Lp-PLA2 was the most significant one compared to other diabetic complications (odds ratio = 1.651, P < 0.001). Plasma Lp-PLA2 level in patients with DKD was significantly higher and increased Lp-PLA2 level was independently associated with the incidence of DKD after adjustment for age, gender, duration of diabetes, glycated hemoglobin, body mass index, blood lipids, blood pressure, presence of coronary heart disease and carotid plaque, and use of statins (odds ratio = 1.545, P = 0.013). Lp-PLA2 was found to be positively correlated with UAER (r = 0.123, P < 0.001) and negatively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (r = -0.71, P = 0.009).Conclusions: Increased plasma level of Lp-PLA2 is associated with incidence and development of DKD in patients with T2D. Lp-PLA2 should be considered as a biomarker for early detection and follow-up of DKD.Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov, No. NCT03362112, Registered 30 November 2017, retrospectively registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This research presents a successful case, in which geotextile tubes have been used to construct a tailings dam for fine tailings disposal since 2008. Up to the end of 2016, the tailings dam raise has reached 9 m in height. The total height of the dam including the starter dike was 61 m. In order to ensure that the tailings reservoir is safe in its current condition and during future construction, the comprehensive geotechnical investigation and stability analyses of the tailings embankment are conducted in this study. The results show that the application of geotextile tubes in the construction of tailings dam is a good alternative for fine tailings disposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]