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• The MRI diagnosis rate for cervical OPLL was inferior to CT scan. • A novel MR T1 & T2 LQ score provides objective value for diagnosing operated OPLL. • T1 LQ score correlated with Hounsfield Units. • The T1 LQ score achieved an AUC of 0.932 with an objective value of 0.467. No method currently exists for MRI-based determination of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) of the cervical spine using objective criteria. The purpose of this study was to develop an MRI-based score to determine whether a lesion represents a cervical OPLL lesion and to establish the objective diagnostic value. Retrospective cohort in a single medical institution. Thirty-five patients undergoing surgery for OPLL (Group A) and 99 patients undergoing cervical disc arthroplasty for soft disc herniation (Group B) between 2011 and 2020 were retrospectively included. All OPLL lesions on unenhanced MRI scan were correlated with a corresponding CT scan. Demographics were comparable between the two groups. Using unenhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the T1- and T2- lesion quality (LQ) scores were calculated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to calculate the area-under-the-curve (AUC) of both LQ scores as a predictor of the presence of OPLL. Computed tomography (CT)-based Hounsfield unit (HU) values of OPLL lesions were obtained and compared with both LQ scores. The LQ scores for MRI scanners from different manufacturers were compared using Student's t test to confirm the validity of the LQ score by scanner type. The regions of interest for signal intensity (SI) were defined as the darkest site of the lesion and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at the cerebellomedullary cistern. The T1 and T2 LQ scores were measured as the ratio of the SI at the darkest site of the lesion divided by the SI of the CSF. The T1 and T2 LQ scores in Group A were significantly lower than those in Group B (p<.001). ROC analysis determined that T1 and T2 LQ scores of 0.46 and 0.07, respectively, could distinguish the presence of OPLL with an accuracy of 0.93 and 0.89, respectively (p<.001). When the T1 LQ score of the lesion is <0.46, a diagnosis of OPLL may be suspected with 100% sensitivity and 92.3% specificity. The HU of the lesion had a moderate negative correlation with the T1 LQ score (r=−0.665, p<.0001). Both LQ scores were unaffected by manufacturer type. This study found a correlation between the MRI-based T1 LQ scores and CT-based HU value for identifying OPLL lesions. Additional studies will be needed to validate that the T1 LQ score from the unenhanced MRI scan can identify cervical OPLL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on empirical likelihood method, we investigate statistical inference in partially linear single-index quantile regression with high dimensional linear and single-index parameters when the observations are missing at random, which allows the response or covariates or response and covariates simultaneously missing. In particular, applying B-spline approximation to the unknown link function, we establish asymptotic normality of bias-corrected empirical likelihood ratio function and maximum empirical likelihood estimators of the parameters. Variable selection is considered by using the SCAD penalty. Meanwhile, we propose a penalized empirical likelihood ratio statistic to test hypothesis, and prove its asymptotically chi-square distribution under the null hypothesis. Also, simulation study and a real data analysis are conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed methods. • Empirical likelihood for partially linear single-index quantile regression model. • High dimensional statistical inference with observations missing at random. • Hypothesis testing based on penalized empirical likelihood ratio statistic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have performed assessments of genetic variants in the D2 dopamine receptor (DRD2) gene as risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the results are inconsistent. This meta-analysis aimed to systematically summarize published data to evaluate the reliable association between the DRD2 genetic variants and the risk of PTSD and MDD. A systematic literature search was conducted using the Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), Springer, ScienceDirect, Wiley Online Library, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), WANFANG Data, CQVIP, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases before January 1st, 2022. A total of 27 genetic variants in the DRD2 gene were retrieved, and 7 of them met the inclusion criteria for meta-analysis. Our meta-analysis results indicated that the rs1800497 (TaqIA) polymorphism was significantly associated with the increased risk of PTSD (Dominant model (A1A1 + A1A2 vs. A2A2): OR = 1.49, 95 % CI, 1.08–2.04 Z = 2.46, P = 0.014). Subgroup analysis for ethnicity suggested that a significantly increased risk of PTSD was observed in Asians (Dominant model (A1A1 + A1A2 vs. A2A2): OR = 1.39, 95 % CI, 1.08–1.79, Z = 2.60, P = 0.009) and Caucasians (Dominant model (A1A1 + A1A2 vs. A2A2): OR = 1.87, 95 % CI 1.02–3.41, Z = 2.04, P = 0.042). Meanwhile, we detected significant association strengths between the rs1799978 and rs2075652 polymorphisms in the DRD2 gene and MDD (for rs1799978, Homozygote comparison (GG vs. AA): OR = 0.60, 95 % CI = 0.37–0.97, Z = 2.08, P = 0.038; for rs2075652, Homozygote comparison (AA vs. GG): OR = 1.82, 95 % CI = 1.32–2.50, Z = 3.67, P < 0.001). Our cumulative meta-analyses indicated a continuous trend toward association strength with PTSD and MDD. This meta-analysis indicated that genetic variants in the DRD2 gene might potentially contribute to genetic susceptibility for PTSD and MDD. The utilization of DRD2 genetic variants as risk factors for PTSD and MDD requires further validation by large well-designed case-control studies. • The DRD2 variants might be used as biomarkers for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). • This meta-analysis indicated that DRD2 gene may potentially contribute to genetic susceptibility for PTSD and MDD. • The rs1800497 polymorphism was associated with the increased risk of PTSD, particularly Asians and Caucasians. • Significant association strengths between the rs1799978 and rs2075652 polymorphisms of DRD2 gene and MDD were detected. • The utilization of DRD2 variants as risk factors for PTSD and MDD needs further validation by large case-control studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its slow kinetics, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a key limiting reaction in electrocatalytic water separation and fuel cells. Transition metal sulphides with high intrinsic activity, outstanding stability and excellent electrical conductivity have been considered as promising electrocatalysts for OER. In this study, we develop a green and general strategy for the synthesis of nitrogen, sulphur co-doped honeycomb like carbon nanosheets coupled with binary metal sulfides ((M 1 , M 2) x S y @SNC, (M 1 , M 2) = Fe, Co, Ni) derived from chitosan (nitrogen sources) and lignosulfonate (sulphur sources) with NaCl as template. At the same time the sulphonate group in the lignosulphonate as a sulphur source sulphurises the transition metal to binary metal sulfides. The (M 1 , M 2) x S y @SNC has a large specific surface area (171.5 m2g −1), abundant defects and honeycomb-like hierarchical porosity with interconnected pore structures. The overpotential (at 10 mA cm −2) of the prepared (Fe, Ni) 9 S 8 @SNC was only 207 mV in 1 mol KOH. In this study, we provide a green and novel fabrication method for the synthesis of binary metal sulphides and achieves a high-value utilization of biomass. [Display omitted] • The synthesized (M 1 , M 2) x S y @SNC has honeycomb-like hierarchical porosity with interconnected pore structures. • Lignosulfonates were first used to prepare metal sulphides without other sulphur sources which is harmful to environment. • The prepared (M 1 , M 2) x S y @SNC has a lower overpotential than commercial IrO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentrations and distributions of polychlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the whole blood and meat of eight typical edible animals (chicken, donkey, horse, cattle, rabbit, sheep, duck, and pig) were illustrated. Total concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and PCBs (on a basis of liquid volume) in animal bloods were 142-484 pg/L and 46-62 ng/L, respectively. Total concentrations of PCDD/Fs and PCBs (on a basis of dry weight (dw) and lipid weight (lw)) in animal meat samples were 0.47-1090 pg/g dw (0.47-4513 pg/g lw) and 7.2-23 ng/g dw (10-776 ng/g lw), respectively. TEQs for both PCDD/Fs and PCBs in animal blood and meat samples were (67 ± 27) pg/L and (5.3 ± 14) pg/g dw (24 ± 56 pg/g lw), respectively. Besides, the dietary intakes of PCDD/Fs and PCBs were also estimated. Chicken and pig contributed more TEQs than other animals. Chicken contributed the most (95%) with high toxicity, followed by pig (3.4%) with high consumption. The dietary intake of chicken might pose risks to consumers who prefer to eat chicken products, who should comprehensively consider the essential nutrients and contaminants in food during dietary intake. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zn-air batteries are a highly promising clean energy sustainable conversion technology, and the design of dual-function electrocatalysts with excellent activity and stability is crucial for their development. In this work, FeCo alloy loaded biomass-based N and S co-doped carbon aerogels (FeCo@NS-LCA) were fabricated from chitosan and lignosulfonate-metal chelates via liquid nitrogen pre-frozen synergistic high-temperature carbonization with application in electrocatalytic reactions. The abundant oxygen-containing functional groups on lignosulfonates have a chelating effect on metal ions, which can avoid the aggregation of metal nanoparticles during carbonation and catalysis, facilitating the construction of a nanoconfinement catalytic system with biomass carbon as the domain-limiting body and FeCo nanoparticles as the active sites. FeCo@NS-LCA exhibited catalytic activity (E 1/2 = 0.87 V, J L = 5.7 mA cm−2) comparable to the commercial Pt/C in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), excellent resistance to methanol toxicity and stability. Meanwhile, the overpotential of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) was 324 mV, close to that of commercial RuO 2 catalysts (351 mV). This study utilizes the coordination action of lignosulfonate to provide a novel and environmentally friendly method for the preparation of confined nano-catalysts and provides a new perspective for the high-value utilization of biomass resources. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Atherosclerosis (AS) is the common pathophysiological basis of various cardiovascular diseases and the leading cause of death from cardiovascular disease worldwide. When the body is in a hypoxic environment, enhanced oxidative stress and significant accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in tissue cells exacerbate the inflammatory response, resulting in increased release of myeloperoxidase (MPO), catalyzing the formation of large quantities of hypochlorous acid (HOCl), further oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and exacerbating the formation and progression of atherosclerotic plaques. The MAPK signaling pathway is important in oxidative stress-mediated promotion of atherogenesis. MPO -/- mice were used in this study to establish a hypoxia model simulating 5000 m altitude and a Western high-fat diet-induced atherosclerosis model for 12 weeks. Exploring the role of MPO in the atherosclerotic process in hypoxic mice by observing the MAPK signaling pathway to provide a therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of hypoxic atherosclerotic disease in the plateau. We found that hypoxia promotes the formation of atherosclerosis in mice, and the mechanism may be that increased MPO in vivo promotes an inflammatory response, which plays a crucial role in the formation of atherosclerosis. In addition, hypoxia further exacerbates plaque instability by activating the MAPK signaling pathway to upregulate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), which in turn promotes angiogenesis within the plaque. Therefore, a potential target for preventing and treating hypoxic atherosclerotic disease is the inhibition of MPO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel S-scheme heterojunction of Cs 3 Mo x Sb y Br 9 /BiVO 4 has been developed for the photocatalytic coupling of N 2 fixation and H 2 O oxidation. It presents a simultaneous enhancement for redox capacities, exhibiting excellent photocatalytic N 2 reduction to NH 3 activity (300 μmol g−1 h−1) under simulated solar light illumination (100 mW cm−2). [Display omitted] • This work marks the inaugural utilization of lead-free halide perovskite in photocatalytic N 2 fixation. • Attributing to the electronic structure regulation and S-scheme heterojunction design, Cs 3 Mo x Sb y Br 9 /BiVO 4 achieves efficient N 2 photoreduction with H 2 O as the electron source. • The photocatalytic mechanism is explored through theoretical calculation and in-situ characterization. Synergistic nitrogen (N 2) reduction with water (H 2 O) oxidation is meaningful but challenging owing to the inertness of the N 2 molecule and the sluggish kinetics of H 2 O oxidation. Herein, a simutaneous-promotion strategy of redox capacities is presented for constructing a lead-free Cs 3 Sb 2 Br 9 -based S-scheme heterojunction, by decorating Mo-functionalized Cs 3 Sb 2 Br 9 nanocrystals (Cs 3 Mo x Sb y Br 9) on BiVO 4 nanosheet through an in-situ plane-to-point growth manner. The Mo-functionalization for Cs 3 Sb 2 Br 9 enables the regulation of the d-band center position, greatly improving surface reaction kinetics for N 2 reduction. Furthermore, the construction of the S-scheme heterojunction enhances the driving force for H 2 O oxidation and spatial charge separation of photocatalysts. As anticipated, the resultant Cs 3 Mo x Sb y Br 9 /BiVO 4 exhibits an excellent photocatalytic N 2 reduction activity under ambient atmosphere, achieving ammonia (NH 3) production at a rate of 300 ± 5 μmol g−1 h−1 under simulated sunlight illumination (100 mW cm−2), which is nearly 20-fold higher than that of pristine Cs 3 Sb 2 Br 9. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of metal-free electrocatalytic materials that are economical, friendly to the environment, and efficiency towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is of significant interest. Hence, this paper synthesizes nitrogen and sulfur co-doped three-dimensional magnesium lignosulfonate (MLS-derived) flower-like hierarchical porous carbon (NSLPC) materials by a simple and green method. The synthesized NSLPC uses magnesium lignosulfonate as the sulfur source and carbon precursor, melamine as nitrogen source, MgO as hard template, and ZnCl 2 as the activator. We also investigated the effect of the ratio of MgO to ZnCl 2 on the catalyst performance. When the ratio of MgO to ZnCl 2 is 10:0.5, NSLPC-1005 possesses the highest ORR activity with an enormous surface area (1752.54 m2 g−1), abundant active sites, and a hierarchical porous network structure. In alkaline media, NSLPC-1005 has an initial potential of 0.97 V , as well as an excellent half-potential of 0.86 V (vs. Hg/HgO), and an ultimate current density of 5.35 mA cm−2. It exhibits attractive ORR performance as well as outstanding cyclic stability that are comparable to commercial Pt/C electrocatalysts. This research developed an effective approach to synthesize metal-free carbon materials with high activity and long-term durability as electrocatalysts, which have a promising application in sustainable energy conversion technology. [Display omitted] • NSLPC has a 3D flower-like structure facilitating contact of reactants and sites. • NSLPC are constructed of extremely thin carbon nanosheets of only about 10 nm. • Sulfur and nitrogen double doping produce numerous active carbon atoms. • N-doped carbon nanoparticles evenly distributed on NSLPC offering active sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen additive is an important factor for chiral lactic acid fermentation for low-cost and high optical purity of final chiral lactic acid product. This study tried to formulate a low-cost and racemic lactic acids-free nitrogen ingredient for lactic acid bacterium strain using wheat straw as carbon source. Eight available plant proteins were evaluated as potential nitrogen additives for chiral lactic acid fermentation by proteinase catalyzed hydrolysis to release the free amino acids and short peptides. Soybean meal was selected as the most promising nitrogen additive by its high protein content and lactic acids free composition. The plant proteins derived nitrogen additives was found that the inherent deficiency of amino acids in plant proteins led to the insufficient lactic acid fermentation. A minimal yeast extract was added to the plant protein hydrolysates to compensate the amino acid deficiency, and the use of the combinational nitrogen ingredients resulted in the final cellulosic L-lactic acid titer reached 122.9 ± 0.4 g/L with the yield of 88.1% and the optical purity of 99.7% using wheat straw feedstock. Comparing with yeast extract as nitrogen additive, the combinational ingredients substituted 75% of yeast extract with 56.7% cost reduction. This study provides a cost-effective solution of nitrogen ingredients for cellulosic chiral lactic acid production in industrial biorefinery process. • Plant proteins were screened as racemic lactic acids-free nitrogen additives. • A combinational nitrogen ingredient was designed for chiral cellulosic lactic acid fermentation. • 75% of yeast extract was substituted by plant proteins with 56.7% cost reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, the impact of 300 mg L-1 slightly acidic electrolyzed water ice (SAEWI) on postharvest senescence, glucosinolate and sulforaphane contents, and the expression levels of key genes in the glucosinolate metabolic pathway in broccoli was investigated. Results indicated that SAEWI delayed yellowing senescence by slowing the decline of chlorophyll content. Moreover, SAEWI upregulated the expression of genes involved in aliphatic and indole glucosinolate synthesis. Specifically, after 1 d of shelf life, the SAEWI-treated group exhibited 1.01–1.96 times higher expression levels of BoMYB28 , BoSUR1 , BoST5 , BoMYB51 , BoCYP79B2 , and BoCYP83B1 compared to the control group. Similarly, the expression levels of BoCYP79F1 , BoUGT74B1 , and BoFMO GS-OX2 were 2.51–8.67 times higher in the SAEWI-treated group. Consequently, the SAEWI treatment resulted in elevated concentrations of glucoraphanin, glucoiberin, and 4-Methoxy-glucobrassicin, contributing to an overall increase of more than 40% in the total glucosinolate content. Additionally, the expression level of BoMYR in the SAEWI-treated group exceeded that of the control group after 1 d of shelf life, accompanied by enhanced myrosinase activity. These changes led to higher sulforaphane content in the SAEWI-treated group, which was found to be 2.65–4.33 times higher than that of the control group. In conclusion, the findings suggest that SAEWI treatment in the cold chain circulation model not only delays postharvest quality decline but also boosts the accumulation of active substances in broccoli. • SAEWI slows down postharvest aging of broccoli. • SAEWI upregulates the expression of key genes involved in GLS. • SAEWI increases the content of sulforaphane in postharvest broccoli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Our model outperforms experienced experts in detecting oral cancer-related diseases. • Our model improved oral lesion diagnosis accuracy of general dentists and specialists. • It brought general dentists and specialists comparable to experienced experts. • Our app integrates our model for timely detection of oral cancer in smartphone photos. We aim to develop a YOLOX-based convolutional neural network model for the precise detection of multiple oral lesions, including OLP, OLK, and OSCC, in patient photos. We collected 1419 photos for model development and evaluation, conducting both a comparative analysis to gauge the model's capabilities and a multicenter evaluation to assess its diagnostic aid, where 24 participants from 14 centers across the nation were invited. We further integrated this model into a mobile application for rapid and accurate diagnostics. In the comparative analysis, our model overperformed the senior group (comprising three most experienced experts with more than 10 years of experience) in macro-average recall (85 % vs 77.5 %), precision (87.02 % vs 80.29 %), and specificity (95 % vs 92.5 %). In the multicenter model-assisted diagnosis evaluation, the dental, general, and community hospital groups showed significant improvement when aided by the model, reaching a level comparable to the senior group, with all macro-average metrics closely aligning or even surpassing with those of the latter (recall of 78.67 %, 74.72 %, 83.54 % vs 77.5 %, precision of 80.56 %, 76.42 %, 85.15 % vs 80.29 %, specificity of 92.89 %, 91.57 %, 94.51 % vs 92.5 %). Our model exhibited a high proficiency in detection of oral lesions, surpassing the performance of highly experienced specialists. The model can also help specialists and general dentists from dental and community hospitals in diagnosing oral lesions, reaching the level of highly experienced specialists. Moreover, our model's integration into a mobile application facilitated swift and precise diagnostic procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the AlSi10Mg alloys with distinct molten pool structures, namely fish-scale and lamellar, were fabricated by using selective laser melting (SLM) technology. The effects of solid solution temperature on the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of the two types of alloys were systematically investigated. The relationship among initial structure, heat treatment and mechanical properties was revealed. The experimental results showed that for the alloy with fish-scale structure, Si diffused more easily after solid solution treatment due to the finer eutectic network, resulting in a larger Si particle size. At 510 °C, the nano Si particles in the fish-scale sample basically disappeared, but a small amount of nano Si particles still existed in the lamellar sample, leading to a bimodal distribution in the Si particle size. Different sizes and distributions of Si particles present different strengthening mechanisms and affect the nucleation and growth of recrystallized grains in the α-Al matrix, leading to significant differences in mechanical properties. The strength of the lamellar sample decreased with increasing the temperature, and the abnormally growth of grains could be found after being treated at 510 °C, resulting in a poor mechanical property. The strength of fish-scale sample first decreased and then increased with the increase of solid solution temperature. When the alloy with fish-scale structure was solid solution treated at 510 °C, Si particles could promote the nucleation of recrystallized grains but hinder their growth, and the ultimate tensile strength decreased from 478.8 MPa of SLMed state to 393.4 MPa, a reduction of 17.8%, while the elongation increased from 7% to 21%, an increase of 300%, showing an excellent overall mechanical property. Therefore, the present study demonstrates that adjusting the SLMed molten pool structure and heat treatment parameters is necessary to obtain a good combination of microstructure and mechanical property. • SLMed AlSi10Mg alloys with different initial structures have distinct mechanical behaviors after heat treatment. • The size and distribution of silicon particles affect the recrystallisation behavior of α -Al. • The relationship among initial structure, heat treatment and mechanical properties was analysed. • Synergistic optimization of SLM and heat treatment parameters was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escherichia coli is one of the important reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG), which often causes food-borne diseases and clinical infections. Contamination with E. coli carrying clinically important antimicrobial resistance genes in retail meat products can be transmitted to humans through the food chain, posing a serious threat to public health. In this study, a total of 330 E. coli strains were isolated from 464 fresh meat samples from 17 food markets in China, two of which were identified as enterotoxigenic and enteropathogenic E. coli. Whole genome sequencing revealed the presence of 146 different sequence types (STs) including 20 new STs, and 315 different clones based on the phylogenetic analysis, indicating the high genetic diversity of E. coli from retail meat products. Antimicrobial resistance profiles showed that 82.42 % E. coli were multidrug-resistant strains. A total of 89 antimicrobial resistance genes were detected and 12 E. coli strains carried clinically important antimicrobial resistance genes bla NDM-1 , bla NDM-5 , mcr-1 , mcr-10 and tet (X4), respectively. Nanopore sequencing revealed that these resistance genes are located on different plasmids with the ability of horizontal transfer, and their genetic structure and environment are closely related to plasmids isolated from humans. Importantly, we reported for the first time the presence of plasmid-mediated mcr-10 in E. coli from retail meat. This study revealed the high genetic diversity of food-borne E. coli in retail meat and emphasized their risk of spreading clinically important antimicrobial resistance genes. • A total of 330 E. coli strains were isolated from retail meat in 17 food markets in China. • WGS revealed that there were 146 different STs including 20 novel STs, with high genetic diversity. • A total of 89 antimicrobial resistance genes were detected, including bla NDM , mcr and tet (X4). • Ten plasmids carrying clinically important antimicrobial resistance genes were characterized. • It is the first time to report plasmid-mediated mcr-10 in E. coli from retail meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crystalline and amorphous phases often coexist in the organic active layers of their electronic devices, which further undergo morphological changes over time. Understanding of the characteristics of the microscopic processes in polycrystalline organic films is essential for optimizing organic semiconductors and their devices, particularly in the context of flexible electronics. Here, we systematically investigate the charge-carrier distributions and transport in polycrystalline organic films, focusing on the impact of the crystallinity and grain density. These polycrystalline morphology data were generated from an efficient Monte Carlo method, which were then incorporated into molecular-level device simulations that can describe the microscopic charge-transport processes. These results demonstrate the distributions and transport characteristics of charge carriers in different phases of the polycrystalline organic semiconductor films, as well as the influencing factors. Importantly, we show that the influence of a polycrystalline morphology becomes more pronounced at low driving voltages, which has been the subject of significant research efforts. Our study also revealed a decrease in mobility at low crystallinities, a phenomenon that was not previously anticipated. [Display omitted] • Most charge carriers are found at the surface of the grains. • Charge mobilities decrease at first when crystallization starts. • These impacts are more pronounced at low voltages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate and reliable load forecasting can ensure the safety and economy of power system operation. To improve the accuracy of short-term power load forecasting, this paper adopts feature extraction combined with a variety of machine learning methods,(Empirical wavelet decomposition (EWT), Convolutional neural network (CNN) model, Recurrent neural network (RNN) model, Long short-term memory network (LSTM) model, Bayesian optimization (BOA) algorithm). A new hybrid forecasting model, the EWT-CNN-S-RNN + LSTM model is proposed to predict power consumption. In this method, the fixed mode of EWT decomposition is used to extract statistical features, and the LSTM/RNN model is selected according to the statistical features. This method uses the Bayesian optimization (BOA) algorithm to optimize the parameters to solve the model gradient explosion problem. Based on the electricity consumption data of 2007 (Australian Energy Market Operator) and a total of 336 power load data, a good load forecasting result is obtained, which can provide indirect support for power regulation and sustainable development of electricity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Abietic acid with an excellent assembly profile is used to stabilize curcumin. • The bioavailability of curcumin can be improved with loading by abietic acid. • Abietic acid and curcumin have synergistic antioxidant activity. This research constructed composite nanoparticles (NP s) using abietic acid (AA) as a carrier for significantly enhancing the bioavailability of curcumin (CCM). CCM -loaded AA NPs were synthesized using a low-energy microemulsification method, and the obtained nanoparticles had a spherical morphology with an average diameter of 458.66 nm, a narrow size distribution and a negative surface charge of −19.13 mV. The encapsulation efficiency of CCM was 17.98 %, while its solubility was 20-fold that of free curcumin. FITR, UV, and MD revealed hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic forces between AA and CCM. The in-vitro release profile showed sustainable release of CCM in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids up to 2 h at 37 °C. In cellular studies, CCM -loaded AA NPs with the same CCM concentration exhibited greater bioaccessibility and bioavailability than free CCM. These data suggested a possible utilization of AA NPs in improving water solubility, bioavailability and activity of lipophilic bioactive food factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In neural tissue engineering, biomaterial scaffolds that have high conductivity and customized structures are crucial in promoting nerve regeneration. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) has emerged as a promising conductive polymer with excellent chemical stability and biocompatibility. However, traditional three-dimensional (3D) printing of PEDOT-based conductive scaffolds faces challenges in limited printing resolution, poor solubility, and brittleness of conductive materials. Herein, digital light processing (DLP) printing was used to fabricate complex hydrogel structures using gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) and chitosan (CS) while incorporating PEDOT nanoparticles through interfacial polymerization to create conducting pathways within a hydrogel structure. The integration of PEDOT significantly enhanced the electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of the GelMA/CS hydrogel while preserving printed details. The GelMA/CS-PEDOT hydrogel promoted cell proliferation and facilitated axon outgrowth of PC12 cells and Schwann cells during in vitro culture. Moreover, in vitro direct current electrical stimulation promoted axon elongation of PC12 cells cultured on a conductive substrate. In vivo studies used a conductive nerve conduit to repair a 10-mm rat sciatic nerve defect, validating the efficacy of GelMA/CS-PEDOT scaffold in peripheral nerve injury repair. These findings highlight the significant potential of conductive GelMA/CS-PEDOT hydrogel in the field of neural tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • PVDF/BaTiO 3 PENG was manufactured via chemical foaming assisted FDM, with macro–micro hierarchy (MMH). • Piezoelectric electrets from charged micropores via corona polarization boost output with synergetic macro truss design. • Implanted MMH-PENG can be attachable to wearable items for VR gaming, and precise robotic arm control. Piezoelectric polymeric composites exhibit pronounced impact on flexible electronic devices, demonstrating the capacity to harvest high-entropy energy. Nevertheless, the conventional incorporation of piezoelectric ceramics is gradually approaching its limitations due to the unexpected increase in Young's modulus and the resulting deterioration in output. In this study, we propose a macro–micro hierarchical (MMH) design concept for the preparation of a polyvinylidene fluoride/barium titanate piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG). Micro porosity is introduced into the macro truss structure through in-situ foaming additive manufacturing. Leveraging the synergistic effects of the micro-porous structure (stress concentration and piezoelectret) and the macro-truss design (strain accumulation), the output capacity, i.e., open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current of the MMH-PENG, is effectively amplified from 16.1 V and 350 nA to 24.5 V and 642 nA, respectively. Upon further integration onto a flexible substrate, the MMH-PENG exhibits compelling features, including substantial flexibility, controllable sensitivity, easy detachability, and reusability, facilitating practical applications as a wearable and self-powered controller. Illustrated by applications in video game and robotic controllers, the MMH-PENG introduces a pioneering concept that enhances output performance through the simultaneous construction of a macro–micro hierarchy, paving the way for potential large-scale utilization of piezoelectric nanogenerators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fuel cells are a promising renewable energy technology that depend heavily on noble metal Pt-based catalysts, particularly for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The discovery of new, efficient non-precious metal ORR catalysts is critical for the continued development of cost-effective, high-performance fuel cells. The synthesized carbon material showed excellent electrocatalytic activity for the ORR, with half-wave potential (E 1/2) and limiting current density (JL) of 0.88 V and 5.10 mA·cm−2 in alkaline electrolyte, respectively. The material has a Tafel slope of (65 mV dec−1), which is close to commercial Pt/C catalysts (60 mV dec−1). Moreover, the prepared materials exhibited excellent performance when assembled as cathodes for zinc-air batteries. The power density reached 110.02 mW cm−2 and the theoretical specific capacity was 801.21 mAh g−1, which was higher than that of the Pt/C catalyst (751.19 mAh g−1). In this study, with the assistance of Mg 5 (CO 3) 4 (OH) 2 ·4H 2 O, we introduce an innovative approach to synthesize advanced carbon materials, achieving precise control over the material's structure and properties. This research bridges a crucial gap in material science, with potential applications in renewable energy technologies, particularly in enhancing catalysts for fuel cells. [Display omitted] • The lignin is used as a green carbon precursor. • Synthesis of Fe-CNCs-800 with flower-like hierarchical porosity and interconnected pore structure. • Precise doping of Fe on N was realized to form more Fe-N-C structures to improve ORR activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxidation behaviors of Al-free and 1Al ferritic heat-resistant stainless steels (FHSSs) at 1100 °C were investigated. After oxidation for 100 h, the Al-free FHSS had triple oxide layers of a first layer Fe 2 O 3 + MnCr 2 O 4 , a second layer MnCr 2 O 4 + Cr 2 O 3 + MnO, a third layer SiO 2 and oxides of Nb and Ti. The 1Al FHSS had double oxide layers of a first layer Ti-bearing (Al, Cr) 2 O 3 particles, a second layer dense (Al, Cr) 2 O 3. The (Al, Cr) 2 O 3 layer with self-repairing feature can reduce the thickness of oxide layer by 515 times, and reduce the oxidation weight gain rate of the FHSS by 5 orders of magnitude. • The addition of Al reduces the oxidation weight gain rate by 5 orders of magnitude at 1100 °C. • The addition of Al reduces the thickness of oxide layer by 515 times at 1100 °C. • The addition of Al produces an oxide layer with self-repairing characteristics at 1100 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a promising food packaging material with biocompatible, nontoxic and biodegradable. In order to reduce the deterioration of aquatic products caused by microorganisms, PLA coaxial nanofiber films with cinnamaldehyde (CMA), tea polyphenol (TP) and its composite as core materials were prepared by using coaxial electrospinning technology. Its microscopic morphology and structure were characterized separately, and its thermal stability, wettability and mechanical properties were determined. The antibacterial activity and antibacterial mechanism of nanofiber films were studied with Shewanella putrefaciens (S. putrefaciens) which is the dominant spoilage of aquatic products as the target of action. The results show that the CMA/TP (m/m = 2:5)-PLA coaxial nanofibers have small diameter, uniform distribution, smooth surface, no pores and fracture. At the same time, the film has strong hydrophobicity, good thermal stability and mechanical properties. Its antibacterial performance is better than that of single-core nanofiber films, which effectively destroys the cell membrane of S. putrefaciens , increases the permeability of cell membrane, and interferes with the synthesis and expression of its protein. The coaxial nanofiber films with CMA, TP and its composite as core material can be used as a fresh-keeping material with antibacterial properties, and has potential application value in the field of food preservation. • CMA/TP-PLA nanofiber films with the coaxial structure and two core materials are prepared. • The addition of the core material improves the physicochemical properties of the nanofiber films. • The CMA has synergistic antibacterial effect with TP. • CMA acts on the phospholipid bilayer of the cell membrane, destroying the cell membrane. • TP destroys extracellular proteins, leading to cell membrane perforation and cell death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IGF-1 plays important roles in mammalian fertility by promoting cell growth and increasing steroid hormone secretion. Although IGF-1 significantly upregulated luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) gene expression in granulosa cells in a previous study, the mechanism was unclear. The present experiment was designed to primarily explore the regulation of LHCGR expression by IGF-1. First, based on a porcine LHCGR double-luciferase reporter experiment, c-Fos significantly inhibited the activity of the LHCGR promoter. Second, porcine granulosa cells were cultured in vitro with IGF-1, and we observed that the expression of LHCGR was significantly increased and the expression of c-Fos mRNA significantly reduced. After c-Fos overexpression in granulosa cells, IGF-1 attenuated the inhibitory effect of c-Fos on LHCGR. Furthermore, the level of LHCGR mRNA stimulated by IGF-1 in the presence of SB203580 was markedly lower than that of IGF-1 alone action. In conclusion, IGF-1 enhanced the expression of LHCGR by regulating c-Fos in granulosa cells, which may be mediated by the p38MAPK-signaling pathway. • c-Fos significantly inhibited the activity of the LHCGR promoter. • IGF-1 promoted the expression of LHCGR gene by suppressing c-Fos. • IGF-1 may regulate c-Fos through the p38MAPK-signaling pathway, consequently influencing the expression of LHCGR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we explored the effects of combining goat milk and oligosaccharides on the large intestine environment of mice. A combination of goat milk with each of 3 oligosaccharides—stachyose, fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS), and a prebiotics mix—were independently fed to mice. We investigated composition changes in the microbiota of the large intestine using 16S rRNA gene sequencing; measured short-chain fatty acid content using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry; and performed a Spearman correlation analysis between microorganisms and short-chain fatty acids. Our results showed that microbial diversity in the large intestine decreased significantly in the FOS group. In terms of α diversity, microbial richness significantly declined in all 3 treatment groups; in terms of β diversity, the intestinal microbial structures clearly changed in the FOS group. The abundance of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus increased markedly in the FOS group compared with the other groups. Functional predictions showed that FOS reduced intestinal bacterial infections and improved the endocrine and immune systems. Spearman correlation analysis showed that propionic, isobutyric, and valeric acids were all positively correlated with certain microbiota. Our findings suggest that FOS-enriched goat milk is beneficial for improving the large intestine environment in the host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate load forecasting plays an important role in promoting low-carbon energy and high-quality utilization of electricity, as well as carbon reduction and safety in energy and power systems. The complexity of power system trends leads to widespread uncertainty in load forecasting. This article analyzes the internal mechanisms of load and meteorological factors at the level of multidimensional uncertainty and proposes a bidirectional memory feature hybrid model based on a new intelligent optimization method. The VMD optimized by gray wolf decomposes the electricity load data into different information modal components. The decomposed components are statistically analyzed with multidimensional uncertainty analysis to extract statistical patterns. The GTO part is optimized according to the fitness value to update the population and global optimal solution. Furthermore, convolutional neural networks (CNN) are used to extract potential features from load and meteorological data and enhance the correlation between input and output data. Then, short-term load forecasting is realized by using bi-directional short-term memory neural network (BiLSTM). The results show that the proposed model has smaller errors than several commonly used models, and has higher prediction accuracy. It can provide some new ideas for relevant departments to carry out power economic dispatch work in low-carbon modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Optimal bit allocation based on PCRLB is proposed. • Keep tracking accuracy and satisfy limited bandwidth constraint. • Genetic algorithm for bit allocation is proposed in this paper. • IMMPF with quantized measurements is investigated. Due to the limited energy and bandwidth in underwater wireless sensor networks(UWSNs), the original measurements should be quantized before transmitted to the fusion center. In this paper, the optimal bit allocation is utilized to improve the tracking accuracy on the premise of transmitting the same number of quantized bits of data. The relationship between the quantization level of sensor nodes and posterior Cramer–Rao lower bounds (PCRLB) is derived and taken as the performance bound for tracking accuracy. Then the problem of optimal bit allocation is converted into an optimization problem. To make computation-efficiency, allocating the maximum bits for each candidate sensors and then the generalized Breiman, Friedman, Olshen, and Stone (GBFOS) algorithm is adopted to delete one bit at a time until the total number of bits is satisfied. In addition, the genetic algorithm for bit allocation (GABA) is proposed in this paper to solve the optimization problem when the transmission bits and the number of candidate sensors are large.The simulation results illustrate the performance of the proposed scheme in improving the tracking accuracy on the condition of limited communication bandwidth. Compared to GBFOS, GABA proposed in this paper can satisfy the real-time target tracking requirements and ensure tracking performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a coordinated power control method with virtual inertia (VI) for fuel cell-based DC microgrids (MGs) cluster based on the multi-agent system (MAS) control frame. In the primary control layer, a local energy management strategy with virtual inertia is adopted to suppress the bus voltage disturbance, smooth the output power of fuel cell, as well as manage the power flow in the DC MG. In the secondary and tertiary control layers, a coordinated power control method based on MAS frame is implemented for the power flow among the sub-MGs. More specifically, the secondary voltage control loop is used for the bus voltage smooth control at the moment of microgrids interconnection, and the power flow tertiary control regular is applied for the battery SoC converge uniformly in finite time. Also, a fuel cell-based DC microgrids cluster real-time simulation platform is established to verify the control performance of the proposed coordinated power control method on the bus voltage smooth control, the SoC consistency control, load abrupt response and 'plug and play' capability. • A primary control layer with virtual inertia is adopted to enhance power quality of DC MG. • A MAS-based supervisory control method is proposed for coordinated management in FC-based MGC. • The overall performance of the coordinated power control method is verified in a real-time simulation platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatigue tests were performed on the forged aluminum alloy EN AW-2618A in the T61 state. Different stress ratios (R = −1, R = 0.1) were selected to study the influence of mean stress on fatigue life. Two overaged states (10 h/230 °C, 1000 h/230 °C) were also tested to investigate the influence of overaging on fatigue life. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to characterize the precipitates (S-phase), which are mainly responsible for the strength of the alloy. A fractographic analysis was also performed to determine the failure mode. Overaging reduces the fatigue life compared to the T61 state. The longer the aging time, the lower the fatigue resistance. The reason is the decrease in (yield) strength, which correlates with the radius of the S-phase: the precipitate radius increases by a factor of approximately two for the overaged states compared to the initial state. The analysis of the fracture surfaces showed crack initiation occurs predominantly on the outer surface and is associated with the primary phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pt single-atom catalysts are promising for efficient hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) due to their ultra-high catalytic activity and atomic utilization. However, developing a scalable preparation method of binder-free Pt single-atom catalysts with optimal electronic structures for large-scale hydrogen production is still a serious challenge. In this work, we fabricated tailored nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanofibers as a support for engineering the electronic structure of Pt single-atom sites via initial micropore trapping and subsequent optimized nitrogen/carbon anchoring. The as-prepared Pt single-atom catalysts exhibited impressively enhanced HER activity and satisfactory stability, superior to the state-of-the-art single-atom catalysts. X-ray absorption structure analysis combined with theoretical simulation demonstrated the mechanisms for HER performance improvement. In particular, the free-standing Pt single-atom catalysts for a binder-free electrode showed a low overpotential of 64 mV even at 500 mA cm−2, indicating promising application for the large-scale hydrogen production. [Display omitted] • Tailored nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanofibers were proposed for engineering the electronic structure of Pt single-atom. • The Pt single-atom catalyst exhibited impressively enhanced HER performance, superior to the state-of-the-art catalysts. • Experimental investigations and theoretical calculations revealed the mechanism of Pt single-atom for efficient HER. • The as-prepared Pt single-atom catalyst as a binder-free electrode achieved efficient large-scale hydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper experimentally investigates the pull-out behavior of single studs and stud groups embedded in ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC). A total of 33 pull-out tests are conducted. The effects of the fiber content (ρ), effective embedded depth of stud (h ef), ratio of embedded depth to diameter of stud shank (h ef /d), diameter of stud head (d h) are considered for single studs; the effects of the arrangement, number, and spacing of studs are considered for stud groups. Results indicate that when concrete failure governs, for single studs in UHPC with fibers: (i) the pull-out strength and ductility increase with increasing ρ , h ef , or d h , (ii) the pull-out strength and ductility are higher than those in normal concrete (NC), and (iii) the radius of failure cone is greater than that in NC, increasing from 1.5 h ef to 2.5 h ef. Stud groups in UHPC with fibers also have higher pull-out strength and ductility, but the group effect is more significant due to the increased overlap of the failure surface. The group effect reduces with the increasing spacing of studs, but is not obviously influenced by the fiber content. New design equations are proposed to estimate the pull-out strength of single studs and stud groups in steel-UHPC composite structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• VUV and anion-exchange resin reduced organic carbon to an ultralow concentration (5 μg/L). • VUV oxidation transformed electroneutral carbonyls to carboxylic acids. • VUV and anion exchange resin is 2.1–2.4 times of VUV for TOC removal. • Acetate was the primary product penetrating anion-exchange resin. • Modeling was developed to optimize the method performance and cost. Electroneutral carbonyls (ENCs) with low molecular weights (e.g., aldehydes and ketones) are recalcitrant to single water treatment process to achieve ultralow concentration. Residual ENCs are present in reverse osmosis permeate and pose risks to human health during potable use or industrial application in manufacturing processes. Herein, a combined vacuum–UV (VUV) oxidation and anion-exchange resin (AER) adsorption method was developed to treat the ENCs and reduce total organic carbon (TOC) to an ultralow concentration (< 5 μg/L) with high efficiency and at low cost. VUV-AER was 2.1–2.4 times more efficient than VUV alone for the removal of TOC. VUV oxidized the ENCs to electronegative carboxylic acids, which were adsorbed by the AER through electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding. When the VUV fluence was lower than 643 mJ cm−2, the AER could not achieve ultralow TOC removal of ENCs. The treat capacity of 1500–2900 valid bed volume (BVs) was achieved after increasing the VUV fluence to 1929 mJ cm−2. The AER could more efficiently adsorb carboxylic acids that contained more carboxylic groups or shorter carbon chain. Acetate was identified as the primary breakthrough product at relatively low VUV fluence, and oxalate was the main byproduct at relatively high VUV fluence. A mathematical model to predict TOC breakthrough was developed considering the VUV–oxidation kinetics and the AER breakthrough curve. The model was used to optimize the method to maximize TOC removal and minimize energy consumption. These results imply that VUV-AER is technically feasible and economically applicable to eliminate recalcitrant ENCs to ultralow concentration for the production of water requires high quality (e.g., potable water or electronic-grade ultrapure water). [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the fast development of DC Microgrid (MG) technology, its operating economy and reliability are getting more and more concern. The traditional distributed control method is aimed at power balance and system stability, and is difficult to meet the requirement of energy management system for multi-source hybrid DC MG. This paper provides a two-level energy management strategy for PV-fuel cell-battery-based DC MG, which is divided into device control level and system control level. At the device control level, the distributed control methods based on MPPT-droop dual-mode control and droop control are proposed to enhance system reliability; at the system control level, the equivalent consumption minimization strategy (ECMS) is used to distribute system net power between battery pack and fuel cell system. A lab-scale DC microgrid platform is developed to verify the proposed energy management strategy in this paper. Moreover, the analysis and compare of the results show that the proposed two-level energy management strategy can achieve lower equivalent hydrogen consumption than classical PI control and state machine control method. • Developing a lab-scale PV-fuel cell-battery-based DC microgrid platform. • Proposing a two-level energy management strategy for DC microgrid. • The analysis and compare of the results among various management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), which functions as a molecular chaperone, plays an important role in reproduction and cellular defense. Among the HSP90 family, HSP90AB is an important isoform. Stress-inducible protein 1 (Stip1) acts as a co-chaperone that mediates interactions with HSP90 and appears to be a player in spermatogenesis and stress response. However, the functions of both HSP90 and Stip1 during spermatogenesis and heat stress response in Boleophthalmus pectinirostris remain unknown. We investigated mRNA expression patterns of HSP90AB and Stip1 under heat stress conditions. The results showed that mRNA levels of HSP90AB and Stip1 were significantly upregulated in the gill and liver tissues, indicating that HSP90AB and Stip1 appear to play roles in protection against heat stress. Then we cloned the complete cDNA of HSP90AB and Stip1 , which have product lengths of 2546 and 2652 bp, respectively. The predicted secondary and tertiary structures of B. pectinirostris. HSP90AB and Stip1 contain conserved domains. We investigated the expression patterns of HSP90AB and Stip1 in different tissues by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, HSP90AB and Stip1 were found to be ubiquitously expressed in all major tissues and exhibited varying expression levels, indicating that HSP90AB and Stip1 have conserved biological functions. HSP90AB and Stip1 were found to be strongly expressed in the testis, indicating their special roles in this organ. We also tracked the dynamic locations of germinal cells using in situ hybridization. Results from in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence localization showed that both mRNA transcripts and proteins of HSP90AB and Stip1 were ubiquitously expressed in spermatocytes, spermatids, and spermatozoa, indicating that HSP90AB and Stip1 are both involved in spermatogenesis. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The mobility of nodes in depth is utilized to improve tracking performance. • A complete tracking scheme including sensor selection and depth adjustment. • The method has the superiority in tracking accuracy and computation efficiency. • The observation model with additive and multiplicative noise is considered. Abstract The effective node depth adjustment of distance-measuring sensors for target tracking in underwater wireless sensor networks (UWSNs) is investigated in this paper. Due to the limited energy and bandwidth in UWSNs, there is only a part of sensors participating in the tracking task at each time step. In this paper, the mobility of sensor nodes in depth is utilized to improve the tracking accuracy on the premise of employing the same number of sensors. Firstly, the relationship between the depth of sensor nodes and direct conditional posterior Cramer-Rao lower bounds (D-CPCRLB) is derived and taken as the performance bound for tracking accuracy. Secondly, the problem of optimal depth adjustment with the constraint on total moving distance is converted into an optimization problem and the objective function of which is D-CPCRLB. Finally, by combining the optimal depth adjustment and sensor selection algorithm, the best task sensors with optimal depth adjustment are selected for the purpose of the energy-efficiency. In particular, according to the sensor combination classification, the optimization problem is disassembled into that with and without an analytical solution, which improves computation efficiency. The simulation results illustrate the performance of the proposed scheme in improving the tracking accuracy and energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A sensitive self-enhanced rolling circle amplification strategy was proposed even if only two probes were involved. • A sensing platform is developed for intracellular miRNA imaging, displaying high sensitivity and desirable universality. • The measured data demonstrates its potential application in clinical diagnosis and other areas relying on miRNA analysis. Abstract MicroRNAs (miRs) are a class of non-coding, small RNA molecules that play important roles in gene expression. The aberrant expression of miRs is associated with various human diseases, and miRs have been regarded as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer treatment. In this work, using miR-21 as model target species, an efficiently self-enhanced rolling circle amplification (seRCA)-based biosensing platform was developed for the ultrasensitive detection of cancer-related miRs. In the presence of target, a linear DNA template can be cyclized by ligase and initiate the first RCA (fRCA) reaction. Without any separation step and chemical modification, the fRCA products (fRCAp) are capable of activating the second exponential RCA and produce a much higher fluorescence signal, causing the self-enhancement effect of RCA reaction. Because two different signal amplification processes are introduced, there are two linear dynamic ranges together over 7 orders of magnitude. Target miR can be detected down to 1.0 fM with very high specificity, eliminating the interference from homologous miRs. If a fluorescently modified oligonucleotide probe is involved, the seRCA-based biosensing strategy is able to be employed for the intracellular imaging of cancer-related miR. Significantly, the comparative evaluation demonstrates that the proposed strategy exhibits the impressive capability to execute the miR imaging within cells higher than classical fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method. The newly-developed powerful sensing strategy for the specific miR imaging would offer a unique opportunity to promote molecular biological research, early diagnosis and treatment of human cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This research presents an optimum design scheme and a hierarchical energy management strategy for an island PV/hydrogen/battery hybrid DC microgrid (MG). In order to efficiently utilize this DC MG, the optimum structure and sizing scheme are designed by HOMER pro (Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources) software. The designed structure of hydrogen MG includes a PV generation, a battery as well as a hydrogen subsystem which composes a fuel cell (FC) system, an electrolyzer and hydrogen tank. To improve the robustness and economy of this DC MG, this study schedules a hierarchical energy management method, including the local control layer and the system control layer. In the local control layer, the subsystems in this DC MG are controlled based on their inherent operating characteristics. And the equivalent consumption minimization strategy (ECMS) is applied in the system control layer, the power flow between the battery and FC is allocated to minimum the fuel consumption. An island DC MG hardware-in-loop (HIL) Simulink platform is established by RT-LAB real-time simulator, and the simulation results are presented to validate the proposed energy management strategy. Highlights • An optimum design scheme for PV/hydrogen/battery DC microgrid. • A hierarchical energy management strategy based on ECMS. • DC MG HIL experimental platform based on RT-LAB real-time simulator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study aimed to determine the microRNA (miRNA) profiles in granulosa cells (GCs) from the follicular fluid (FF) of patients with varying levels of ovarian reserve function. We included 45 women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment. After collecting GCs from each patient, total RNA was extracted from 12 samples. Using Illumina/deep-sequencing technology, we analyzed the small RNAs in each group. Using the R package, we identified the differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs among patients with varying levels of ovarian reserve function. We identified 20 conserved and 3 novel miRNAs that were upregulated in the poor ovarian response (POR) group and 30 conserved miRNAs and 1 novel miRNA that were upregulated in the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) group. Bioinformatics analysis revealed complementary pairing between miR-23a and the 3′-untranslated region (UTR) of the Sirt1 mRNA. miR-23a can regulate SIRT1 protein expression at the posttranscriptional level in GCs. Overexpressing miR-23a can inhibit the expression of SIRT1, decrease the stimulatory effect of SIRT1 on the ERK1/2 pathway, inhibit the expression of p-ERK1/2, and increase apoptosis in GCs. Previous studies confirmed that miR-23a targets SIRT1 and promotes apoptosis in GCs by inhibiting the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. This study provides a novel perspective regarding the role of miRNAs in the regulation of human GC apoptosis in vitro. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • 20 miRNAs in poor ovarian reserve and 30 miRNAs in PCOS were highly expressed. • There is a complementary pairing between miR-23a and 3′-UTR of Sirt1 mRNA. • miR-23a can regulate SIRT1 protein expression at the post-transcriptional level. • miR-23a overexpression can inhibit the expression of SIRT1 through ERK pathway. • miR-23a overexpression increases the apoptosis of granulosa cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • 30 Alkyl Dithiocarbamate derivatives are synthesized in good to excellent yields. • The substrates are cheap and environmentally benign. • The methodology features efficiency, transition-metal-free and easy performance. Abstract An efficient and environmentally benign protocol for the synthesis of S -alkyl dithiocarbamates has been achieved. By reacting tetraalkylthiuram disulfides with alkyl halides, the desired products could be obtained in good to excellent yields. The methodology features efficiency, transition-metal-free, nice yields and easy performance, illustrating it practical synthetic value for the convenient preparation of some potential biologically active molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The effect of Ni/Co ratio on the catalytic performance of Ni Co/ceramic foam catalyst for hydrogen production by steam reforming of real coal tar was studied. The Ni Co/ceramic foam catalyst was synthesized by deposition-precipitation (DP) method and characterized with different methods. The experiments were conducted in a two-stage fixed-bed reactor. The results showed that the reducibility of the metallic oxides in bimetallic Ni Co/ceramic foam catalysts was influenced obviously by the Ni/Co ratio. Both gas and hydrogen yield increased first and then decreased with the decline of Ni/Co ratio, and the highest hydrogen yield of 31.46 mmol g−1 was obtained when the Ni/Co ratio was 5/5. The lowest coke deposition of 0.34 wt% was generated at the same Ni/Co ratio. The lifetime test showed the catalyst maintained catalytic activity after 14 cycles (28 h), indicating the coal tar steam reforming on Ni Co/ceramic foam catalyst is a promising method for hydrogen production. Highlights • Comparison of Ni Co/ceramic foam catalysts with different Ni/Co ratios was studied. • The highest H 2 yield of 31.46 mmol g−1 coal tar was obtained as the Ni/Co = 5/5. • The catalyst exhibited a stable catalytic behavior during a 28-h lifetime test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The concentrations and distribution of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) in the whole blood of eight typical terrestrial meat animals (chicken, duck, rabbit, pig, cattle, sheep, horse and donkey) consumed daily in our life were investigated. The total concentrations (on a liquid volume basis) of PCNs were in a range from 305 to 987 pg/L. Donkey blood contained the highest PCN concentrations. Mono-CNs were the dominant homolog group, accounting for 38%–71% PCNs. Apart from the mono-CNs and tri-CNs homolog groups, two hepta-CNs (mean: 9.5%) contributed most, followed by tetra-CNs (mean: 6.5%). The congeners CN1, 5/7, 24/14, 27/30, 52/60, 66/67, and 73 were the most abundant congeners or congener groups. The highest toxicity equivalencies (TEQs) were observed in cattle blood (117.4 fg TEQ/L) then chicken blood (117.1 fg TEQ/L). CN73 contributed 65% to total TEQs, followed by CN70 (20%) and CN66/67 (14%). The dietary intakes of PCNs were also estimated. Chicken meat, which forms the second largest component of meat product consumption in China, contributed most to the total TEQs (61%), followed by beef (27%) and pork (5.9%). The consumption of chicken might pose the highest risk from exposure to PCNs than other types of meat to populations who prefer to eat chicken meat. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of rapid approaches to detect prognostic markers is significant in reducing the morbidity and mortality of cancer. In this paper, we describe a rapid and specific biosensing platform for target DNA (p53 gene as a model) detection based on reverse strand displacement amplification (R-SDA). When the p53 gene is added, multifuctional molecular beacon (MMB) is unfolded via the hybridization with p53 gene. With the assist of Klenow fragment (KF) and Nt.BbvCI (the nicking endonuclease), p53 gene recycling could be initiated and considerable amount of complementary sequences for the MMBs (Nicked fragments, NFs) could be formed, generating enhanced fluorescence signal. Using this amplification strategy, the proposed biosensor displays the detection limit of 1 nM and a wide linear range from 1 to 100 nM, even if only one type of probe is involved. Notably, remarkable detection specificity for single-base mismatched target p53 gene is achieved. Moreover, the described biosensor also exhibited the stability in real biological samples (human serum). The rapid detection strategy can be performed less than 30 min without harsh reaction conditions or expensive nanoparticles. This biosensor shows great potential for application in clinic assay, especially, for early cancer diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been used clinically and experimentally to relieve severe immune-related diseases due to their immunomodulatory properties, but these are impaired by inflammation. Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a T cell-mediated chronic inflammatory mucosal disease. In the present study, we found MSCs from OLP with higher expression of interleukin (IL)-6, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and IL-10 compared with control. Total glucosides of paeony (TGP) significantly improves the immunomodulatory function of MSCs by inhibiting IL-6 and TNF-α expression and increasing TGF-β and IL-10 expression. Moreover, TGP can downregulate p -STAT3 expression through upregulation of miR-124. The changes of IL-6, TGF-β and p -STAT3 were further confirmed by overexpression and knockdown of miR-124 in MSCs. Taken together, the immune-regulating function of MSCs can be improved by TGP via the miR-124/STAT3 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is an important step in the widespread application of metal-air batteries, so it is necessary to study and develop low-cost and efficient metal-free carbon-based catalysts to catalyze the ORR reaction. Heteroatomic doping, especially N and S co-doped carbon materials, has received much focus as a promising ORR catalyst. Meanwhile, the lignin material has high carbon content, wide source, and low price, and has wide application prospects for the preparation of carbon material catalysts. Here we report a hydrothermal‑carbonation preparation method for the synthesis of carbon microspheres by utilizing lignin derivatives as carbon precursors. And a variety of N, S co-doped carbon microsphere materials were prepared by adding different nitrogen sources (urea, melamine, NH 4 Cl) to the microspheres. The N, S co-doped carbon microspheres (NSCMS-MLSN) catalysts achieved with NH 4 Cl as the nitrogen source displayed superior RR catalytic activity with high half-wave potential (E 1/2 = 0.83 V vs. RHE) and current density (J L = 4.78 mA cm−2). This work provides some references on the method of preparing carbon materials co-doped with N and S and the choice of nitrogen sources. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a high-strength Al–Cu–Mg–Si alloy was prepared by a selective laser melting (SLM) process with blended powders consisting of AlSi10Mg and microsized pure Cu powders. The influence of Cu addition on the microstructure and mechanical properties of AlSi10Mg alloy has been systematically investigated. The Al–Cu–Mg–Si alloy has a hardness of 173 HV, an ultimate tensile strength of 732 MPa, and a yield strength of 389 MPa, reaching the level of high-strength aluminum alloys. Such increase in the strength and hardness can be attributed to the refinement of eutectic network, enhanced solid solution strengthening and elimination of fracture-prone heat affected zone (HAZ). In addition, the formation of the GP zone caused by adding Cu promotes the precipitation of Si particles within the eutectic network, and Si particles, as the non-shear deformed second-phase, can significantly increase the Orowan strengthening effect. After aging at 180 °C for 2 h, the hardness and yield strength of the alloy are increased to 183 HV and 522 MPa respectively. The presence of the θ′-Al 2 Cu phase and the high-density of Si particles after 2 h of peak aging further increases the strength and hardness of the alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon trading is an effective tool to reduce emissions. And the implementation of the policy requires the cooperation of all participants in the carbon market, then it will cause a contradiction between social benefits and individual benefits. To break the dilemma faced by the carbon market, it is necessary to fully consider the behavioral strategies of all participants. However, no known literature discusses the effect of quota allocation under the banking mechanism on the behavior strategies of carbon market participants from the limited rational perspective. This paper analyzes the effect of the banking mechanism on each party's strategy in the carbon market. Results show that, under the regulation of the carbon trading management center, the promotion of carbon trading policy is separated into four periods, respectively, policy trial, policy promotion, policy adjustment, and policy stability. The evolutionary stability equilibrium represents the optimal equilibrium point of the system. Adopting a banking mechanism do not affect the outcome of evolutionary stability equilibrium, but has an effect on the rate convergence to the evolutionary stability equilibrium. The findings can be utilized as a guide for accelerating the achievement of the carbon-neutral goal, perfecting the carbon market mechanism, and creating targeted emission-reduction incentive policies. • The game of carbon market participants is a complex evolutionary process. • The stable period of policy represents the optimal equilibrium point of the system. • The banking mechanism accelerates the process of emission reduction. • Limited rational analysis reduces the deviation in the carbon trading policy design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The kind, chain length and concentration of polymers are key factors in regulating the crystal habit of PABA. • PVP-K17 at low concentrations showed the best control effect which regulated PABA crystal from rodlike to blocklike. • The regulation mechanism of PVP-K17 on the crystal habit of PABA was proposed by combining experiments and molecular simulation. This study focuses on how polymers regulate the crystal habit of p -aminobenzoic acid (PABA) from long rodlike to blocklike. To propose the regulation mechanism of polymers on the crystal habit of PABA, experiments include cooling crystallization and single crystal growth as well as molecular simulation have been carried out. Firstly, crystal form of PABA from cooling crystallization was determined as α form. Secondly, among four 1.0 wt% polymers, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) played a more significant role in regulating crystal habit, which inhibited the growth of long axis resulting the growth rates of the long axis from 92.1 μm/h down to 6.7 μm/h. Furthermore, the effect of PVP chain length and concentration on crystal habit has also been studied, 0.2 wt% PVP-K17 regulated the crystal habit of PABA from long rodlike to blocklike but the effect of PVP was weakened with increasing chain length and decreasing concentration. Molecular simulation results show that the interaction between PVP-K17 and (1 1 0)/(0 1 1) face, which determines the axial growth rate, is stronger compared with other crystal faces. The mechanism of PVP-K17 regulating crystal habit was that it can be selectively adsorbed on (1 1 0) and (0 1 1) faces, hindering the diffusion and adsorption of solute molecules, inhibiting the growth of the long axis of PABA crystals, so the crystal habit of obtained crystal is blocklike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a synthetic pigment, Sudan red is commonly used as a food additive and is harmful to the human kidney and can even cause cancer. In this work, we developed a one-step strategy to synthesize lignin-based hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (LHDES), which were fabricated via methyltrioctylammonium chloride (TAC) as hydrogen bond acceptor and alkali lignin as hydrogen bond donor. LHDES with different mass ratios were synthesized and the mechanism of formation was determined by different characterization techniques. The synthetic LHDES was used as the extraction solvent to establish a vortex-assisted dispersion-liquid microextraction method for the determination of Sudan red dyes. The practicality of LHDES was evaluated by applying it to the detection of Sudan Red I in real water samples (seawater, river water) and duck blood in foodstuffs, and the obtained extraction rate reached up to 98.62 %. The method is simple and effective for the determination of Sudan Red in food. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, S30432 steel containing trace TiC/TiB 2 nano-particles was manufactured, and the effects of TiC/TiB 2 nano-particles on the microstructure and room and high-temperature mechanical properties of the S30432 steel were investigated. The addition of trace TiC/TiB 2 nano-particles can reduce the grain size from 19 ± 2.3 μm to 13 ± 4.5 μm. This is because the nano-particles provide efficient nucleation sites and constrain dendrite growth. Trace nano-particles can simultaneously enhance the strength and plasticity of the S30432 steel at room temperature. At high temperature of 600 °C, the S30432 steel with trace TiC/TiB 2 nano-particles can still maintain high strength and plasticity. However, as the ambient temperature increases, the strength increment of the S30432 steel with trace TiC/TiB 2 nano-particles decreases gradually, while the elongation increment significantly increases. The dynamic recrystallization process is promoted by the addition of nano-particles, causing an increased softening degree. Trace TiC/TiB 2 nano-particles exhibit good plasticizing effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Healthy ageing is a process of developing or maintaining the functional capability. • Find out linear and non-linear effects of clean air policy on functional capacity. • Long-term exposure PM 2.5 was applied as a proxy of clean air policy. • The subpopulations possibly modify the effects of air pollution. • Different influencing mechanism of air pollutant on outdoor and indoor activities. Since there is limited knowledge about health effects of the clean air policy (CAP, i.e., a series of emission-control actions) on continuum functional capacity (CFC) among the older adults on a large representative data, our research was to fill this gap. We used a continuous variable of airborne fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) particles as a proxy for the CAP to evaluate the linear and non-linear effect of PM 2.5 exposure on CFC of older adults, under the quasi-experimental framework of the temporal contrast between 2011 (before the CAP) and 2015 (after the CAP). Multiple environmental factors were considered and spline function was utilized to fit the spatial autocorrelations. A competing risk model was constructed to qualify the impact of PM 2.5 on multidimensional disability. After adjusting for potential confounders, a J-shaped association was found between PM 2.5 concentration increase on CFC, with a threshold 2μg/m3. We also demonstrated that a 10-µg/m3 increase in PM 2.5 concentration was related to a 14.0% (95% CI :0.00, 19.00%) increment risk in the functional decline. Similarly, the competing risk model presented a hazard ratio of multidimensional disability ranging from 1.707(0.928-4.141) at 40μg/m3 concentration of PM 2.5 to 4.384 (1.970-9.755) over 80μg/m3. Stratified analyses showed that married men less than 80 years old in rural areas are more likely to be affected by PM 2.5 exposure, where the influencing mechanism of air pollutant to outdoor and indoor activities might be the potential cause. Implementing CAP might improve CFC, prevent the occurrence of disability, and update the air policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]