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Electrolytes are considered the lifeblood of lithium batteries, facilitating ion transfer between the cathode and anode. However, the flammability, volatility and corrosiveness of organic electrolytes impede the sustainable development of lithium batteries. Deep eutectic electrolytes (DEEs) have emerged as a promising alternative, exhibiting high stability, non-flammability and wide electrochemical window. Herein, a series of DEEs with varying molar ratios of azoles and LiTFSI were facilely prepared through the interaction of Li⋯N. These DEEs demonstrate unique advantages, including non-flammability, high conductivity and a favourable Li+ transference number. In particular, the DEEs ImL-4:1 and PyL-4:1 (Imidazole:LiTFSI = 4:1 and Pyrazole:LiTFSI = 4:1, respectively) achieve high ionic conductivities of 4.5 × 10−3 and 5.8 × 10−3 S cm−1 at 80 °C, respectively. Notably, the electrochemical window of PyL-4:1 is stable, making it a suitable electrolyte for the lithium metal-free Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 /LiFePO 4 full battery. This system exhibits an initial specific capacity of 147 mAh g−1 and maintains stable cycling performance over 200 cycles. This study offers valuable insights into the design of electrolytes, addressing the challenges posed by traditional organic electrolytes and paving the way for sustainable lithium battery development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) is a well-known biomarker of endothelial activation. This study aimed to determine whether changes in peripheral VCAM-1 levels occurred in major depressive disorder (MDD) patients and explored immune-brain interactions based on neuroimaging. This study included 165 subjects (80 healthy controls [HCs] and 85 MDD patients). Of them, 133 underwent magnetic resonance imaging. VCAM-1 was measured using a commercially available Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay kit following the manufacturer's instructions. The gray matter volume (GMV) and surface-based functional connectivity (FC) were calculated based on Schaefer parcellation 400 parcels. Compared with the HCs, MDD patients exhibited significantly higher level of VCAM-1. The correlation analysis showed that VCAM-1 had a significant negative correlation with GMV of the right medial frontal cortex (MFC) and postcentral (PostCG). The mediation analyses showed that VCAM-1 mediated the association between group and GMV of PostCG and the FC of left ventral prefrontal cortex (vPFC) with right inferior parietal lobe (IPL). This study showed that a high level of VCAM-1 was associated to the decreased GMV in the right MFC and PostCG, and mediated the FC of the left vPFC with right IPL. These findings suggested that VCAM-1 might contribute to the etiology of MDD by influencing brain structure and function. The cross-sectional design makes it difficult to determine the causal relationship and dynamic effect among VCAM-1, brain structure/function features, and depressive symptoms. • The MDD exhibited decreased GMV in the right medial prefrontal cortex and postcentral, which were negatively correlated with VCAM-1. • The MDD showed increased FC between the left ventral prefrontal cortex and right inferior parietal lobe. • The VCAM-1 mediated the association between group and GMV/FC. • The vascular inflammatory factors are related to the brain regions with GMV/FC changes in patients with MDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Structure-activity relationship of MnO 2 for filtering PM particles is clarified. • The tunnel-structured MnO 2 shows much higher activity than the layered MnO 2. • The MnO 2 with 3 × 3 tunnel size outperforms the ones with 1 × 2 and 2 × 2 tunnel sizes. • The updated property is interpreted from systematic characterization studies. • Pore structure plays an important role in enhancing the PM adsorption capability. Particulate matter (PM) is the main contributor to air pollution, and filtration has been reported to be promising for PM capturing. Considering the complexity of polluted air (volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ozone are likely concomitant with PM particles) and in view of the versatility of MnO 2 for the degradation of VOCs and ozone, the feasibility of MnO 2 materials as PM filtering media was investigated in this study, and the effect of crystal structure on PM filtration was clarified. Compared with the layered δ-MnO 2 , the MnO 2 with tunnel structure (including 1 × 2-, 2 × 2- and 3 × 3-MnO 2) exhibited greatly enhanced PM removal efficiencies, and particularly, the 3 × 3-MnO 2 possessed not only significant activity for adsorbing PM particles but also high utilization efficiency of the active surface. Physicochemical properties of the adsorbents were studied by XRD, ATR, isothermal N 2 adsorption, SEM and (HR)TEM. The correlation between pore characteristics and particle elimination activity demonstrates that the most developed mesoporous structure of the 3 × 3-MnO 2 sample played an important role in strengthening the PM adsorption capability. Further comparison of the surface properties of the fresh and spent samples reveals that with respective to the occasion of δ-MnO 2 , the structure of 3 × 3-MnO 2 was robust enough to resist collapse after PM capturing and the great accommodation of the inorganic and organic PM substances in the voluminous pores induced strong affinity between PM particles and 3 × 3-MnO 2. Thereby, a higher particle filtration ability was retained. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postoperative recurrence of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar disc increases the physical damage and financial burden on patients and negatively affects physicians' treatment decisions. We conducted this meta-analysis to explore the risk factors for postoperative recurrence of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar disc for lumbar disc herniation. We conducted article search in the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases. PRISMA guidelines were followed in this review. The data are statistically analyzed by the Roundup Manager (version 3.6.1). The results of the meta-analysis are presented in the form of forest-like plots. We included 13 articles and identified 7524 cases. Patients with older age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.28, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18–1.40), higher body mass index (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.05–1.28), smoker (OR = 1.73, 95% CI: 0.95–3.15), degenerative grades ≥3 (OR = 6.07, 95% CI: 2.81–13.11), and postoperative sagittal motion ≥10° (OR = 2.42, 95% CI: 1.63–3.58) have a higher recurrence rate. A thorough preoperative evaluation is essential to prevent postoperative recurrence of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy. The study addresses several factors of preoperative evaluation, which is hopeful to provide a reference for neurosurgeons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strain-controlled low cycle fatigue tests were carried out at 298 ​K for the newly developed micro-grain casting K4169 superalloy, and the cyclic stress response, deformation and fracture behaviors of the alloy were studied. The results show that the fatigue life of the alloy was increased by more than two times compared with other casting K4169 alloys. This can be partly attributed to grain refinement impeding crack initiation and propagation. When the strain amplitude was in plastic range (Δε t /2 ​≥ ​0.5%), the alloy displayed a short period of initial cyclic stability followed by cyclic softening to fracture. By observing dislocation configurations, only a few dislocations moved around grain boundaries at initial cycles, leading to short cyclic stability. Afterwards, dislocations in the slip bands cut γ" phase continuously leading to cyclic softening. When the strain amplitude was in elastic range (Δε t /2 ​≤ ​0.4%), the alloy exhibited elastic deformation and the peak stress kept stable. In addition, the crack initiation site changed from the MC carbides to the persistent slip bands on surface with increasing strain amplitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the repair effect of Selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) on tomato under the stress of Penthiopyrad (Pen), and expected to select out the optimal concentration and the application time of Se-NPs, to maximize the repair effect without causing phytotoxicity. The results showed that Pen induced severe oxidative stress on tomato and inhibited the growth and flavor quality of fruit. Compared with the control, the application of 1 mg/L Se-NPs at the immature green stage significantly improved the antioxidant capacity of tomato to reduce the MDA content. Besides, the plant hormones were synthesized normally, the contents of soluble sugars, volatile compounds and nutrients were increased, and the contents of organic acids were decreased in the 1 mg/L Se-NPs + Pen treatment group, which finally repaired the fruit flavor and quality. Therefore, the application of 1 mg/L Se-NPs and at the immature green stage represented a promising strategy for repairing the inhibitory effect of Pen on tomato fruit growth and flavor quality. • The growth and flavor quality of tomato were inhibited by the application of Pen. • Se-NPs regulated hormones to promote tomato growth and ripening under Pen stress. • Se-NPs triggered antioxidants to resist abiotic stress caused by Pen. • Se-NPs repaired the taste, aroma and nutritional quality of tomato under Pen stress. • Using 1 mg/L Se-NPs at immature green stage was effective in mitigating Pen toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis (OP) is a metabolic bone disease with a high incidence rate worldwide. Its main features are decreased bone mass, increased bone fragility and deterioration of bone microstructure. It is caused by an imbalance between bone formation and bone resorption. Ginsenoside is a safe and effective traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) usually extracted from ginseng plants, having various therapeutic effects, of which the effect against osteoporosis has been extensively studied. We searched a total of 44 relevant articles with using keywords including osteoporosis, ginsenosides, bone mesenchymal cells, osteoblasts, osteoclasts and bone remodeling, all of which investigated the cellular mechanisms of different types of ginsenosides affecting the activity of bone remodeling by mesenchymal stem cells, osteoblasts and osteoclasts to counteract osteoporosis. This review describes the different types of ginsenosides used to treat osteoporosis from different perspectives, providing a solid theoretical basis for future clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocatalytic nitrogen fixation in an aqueous solution is considered a promising approach to ammonia synthesis. Still, this process has low Faraday efficiency and ammonia yield, so it is necessary to develop an efficient, clean, and safe catalyst to promote nitrogen reduction process. Doping can be easily carried out during the crystal growth owing to the weak interaction between the sandwiched layers (due to van der Waals forces) of MoS 2. Here, a Ni-P codoped MoS 2 nanosheets is designed as a highly efficient catalyst for electrochemical nitrogen fixation with superior selectivity. Especially, the doping of Ni achieved the transformation of MoS 2 from 2 H phase to 1 T phase, improving the conductivity of the material. In addition, the doping of P creates more sulfur vacancies in the catalyst, thereby producing more H*, which promotes the adsorption and activation of nitrogen. The as-synthesized Ni-P codoped MoS 2 nanosheets show excellent catalytic performance with a high yield of electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis (84.29 μg NH3 h−1 mg cat −1) and Faraday efficiency (2.39 %) at −0.5 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode in acidic electrolytes (0.005 M H 2 SO 4), which outperformed most electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis catalysts. Furthermore, the Ni-P codoped MoS 2 catalyst also shows outstanding electrochemical stability and durability. This work may offer a hopeful lead for designing effective non-noble-metal NRR electrocatalysts. • Ni-P codoped MoS 2 nanosheets is designed for electrochemical nitrogen fixation. • Ni achieved the transformation of MoS 2 from 2H phase to 1T phase. • P creates more sulfur vacancies in the catalyst. • High yield of electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis and Faraday efficiency are achieved. • Ni-P codoped MoS 2 catalyst shows outstanding electrochemical stability and durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Multi-depth soil moisture is forecasted under varying water replenishment conditions and time scales. • A comprehensive dataset for different irrigation treatments is established. • A dual-branch combined deep learning model (ALFSMP-DBCM) is developed. • The results of ALFSMP-DBCM model outperform the ANN, LSTM, and BiLSTM. Rainfall or irrigation induces substantial fluctuations in soil moisture at various depth. Improving the accuracy of multi-depth soil moisture prediction during these events is crucial for precision irrigation. This study proposes a dual-branch combined model for multi-depth soil moisture prediction in alfalfa (ALFSMP-DBCM). The model employs fully connected layers in the left branch to extract rainfall and irrigation features, while the right branch uses convolutional residual networks to model soil moisture relationships. The fusion of these branches enables effective multi-depth soil moisture prediction for alfalfa. Field experiments were designed and conducted in the Ningxia Irrigation Area of the Yellow River (NIR). A comprehensive dataset, comprising 19,763 data points on alfalfa growth environment in the different precipitation years (2017, 2018, and 2022), was established and utilized as model training data. Three classical deep learning models were employed for comparison. Results demonstrated that the ALFSMP-DBCM model effectively predicted multi-depth soil moisture during all alfalfa growth stages. The R2 of the model within the range of 0.911 to 0.992, with average MAE, MSE, and RMSE within the range of 0.29% to 0.58%, 0.22% to 0.56%, and 0.47% to 0.68%, respectively. Compared to the ANN, LSTM, and BiLSTM models, the ALFSMP-DBCM model improved the prediction accuracy of soil moisture at multi-depth by 7.19%, 11.90%, and 10.32%, respectively. The model exhibited robust performance under instantaneous water replenishment conditions and stability in predicting multi-depth soil moisture with different delay days. These findings provide a valuable reference for precision irrigation regulation and field management of alfalfa in arid and semi-arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The complex nature of sludge was dismantled by pH-varying thermal modification. • The release of N-containing substances (NCS) varied in a tick-like function. • Thermal protons exhibited a notable accumulative mutagenic effect on NCS release. • Release of P-containing substances exhibited a contrasting response to that of NCS. • The reaction sites of thermal H + and OH− for P-containing substances were different. Sewage sludge is promising for the recovery and utilisation of nutrient components, but its complex nature hinders the release of these components. The combination of pH and thermal modifications shows promise for the release of nutrient components from sludge. However, comprehensive studies on the full spectrum of pH levels and corresponding mechanisms of pH-varying thermal modification are lacking. In this study, the main nutrient components, physicochemical properties, molecular structure, and noncovalent interactions of sludge were comprehensively investigated through pH-varying thermal modification (within a pH range of 2.0 to 12.0 under the same thermal condition). The experimental results showed that the release of main organics, particularly nitrogen (N)-containing organics, was well-fitted, with a tick-like function (R 2: 0.74–0.96). The thermal protons exhibited a notable accumulative mutagenic effect on the N-containing organics release, while the thermal hydroxyl ions had a more direct effect, as revealed by the changes in multivalent metals and molecular structures with the protonation–deprotonation of carboxyl groups. The driving force for the release of N-containing organics was identified as the fluctuation of electrostatic interactions at the solid–liquid interface of the sludge. However, the release of phosphorus (P)-containing substances exhibited a contrasting response to that of N-containing substances with varying pH, likely because the reaction sites of thermal protons and thermal hydroxyl ions for P-containing substances were different. Moreover, high concentrations of thermal protons and hydroxyl ions collapsed the Lifshitz–van der Waals interactions of sludge, resulting in a decrease in viscoelasticity and binding strength. These propositions were further confirmed through statistical analyses of the main indicators of the main nutrient components, physicochemical properties, and noncovalent interactions of sludge. These findings can provide a basis for optimising characteristic-specific methods to recovery nutrient components (N/P) from sludge. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel electrochemical sensor was fabricated to detect rutin. • The synergistic effect of these materials further enhances the conductivity and active sites. • This sensor has a wide detection range and a low detection limit for rutin. • It can achieve accurate detection of rutin in serum samples and has good anti-interference ability. In this study, we created a brand-new g-C 3 N 4 -MWCNTs/Ag/β-CD-MOF electrode that can be used as a platform for the electrochemical sensing of Rutin (RT). The g-C 3 N 4 -MWCNTs/Ag/β-CD-MOF composite was synthesized via calcination treatment and electrodeposition, coupled with hydrothermal reaction. This composite could appreciably enlarge the electrochemically active surface area of the as-prepared sensor to promote electron transfer and result in the enhanced response signals.With the assistance of differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and cyclic voltammetry (CV), the electrochemical performance of sensor can be greatly enhanced. Under these optimum conditions, the designed electrochemical sensor was able to sense RT at the lower detection limit (LOD) of 0.69 nM (S/N = 3) with a wider range of 5–500 nM and showed high sensitivity of 1.97 μA. nM−1. cm−2 at room temperature. Additionally, the selective investigation on RT was performed with the related interfering molecules, and the g-C 3 N 4 -MWCNTs/Ag/β-CD-MOF/GCE showed decent stability and reproducibility. The real-time application of the modified electrode for RT detection was monitored in both pharmaceutical and serum samples with the satisfactory recovery. Overall, this research contributes to the field of the electroanalytical sensing and offers the potential applications in the drug monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of anthocyanin-rich black currant extract (BCE) on the structural properties of starch and the inhibition of glycosidases, gathering data and research evidence to support the use of low glycemic index (GI) foods. The BCE induced a change in the starch crystal structure from A-type to V-type, resulting in a drop in digestibility from 81.41 % to 65.57 %. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of BCE on glycosidases activity (α -glucosidase: IC 50 = 0.13 ± 0.05 mg/mL and α -amylase: IC 50 = 2.67 ± 0.16 mg/mL) by inducing a change in spatial conformation were confirmed through in vitro analysis. The presence of a 5′-OH group facilitated the interaction between anthocyanins and receptors of amylose, α -amylase, and α -glucosidase. The glycosyl moiety enhanced the affinity for amylose yet lowered the inhibitory effect on α -amylase. The in vivo analysis demonstrated that BCE resulted in a reduction of 3.96 mM·h in blood glucose levels (Area Under Curve). The significant hypoglycemic activity, particularly the decrease in postprandial blood glucose levels, highlights the potential of utilizing BCE in functional foods for preventing diabetes. [Display omitted] • BCE delayed starch digestion by both structural change and glycosidases inhibition. • The 5′-OH of anthocyanin enhanced the ability to bind amylose and glycosidases. • Starch containing BCE attenuated postprandial hyperglycemia in vivo efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a novel HKUST-1/CoFe 2 O 4 /g-C 3 N 4 electrode was successfully prepared via the hydrothermal method and the high-temperature calcination method, which can be applied as an electrochemical sensor for the precise detection of ciprofloxacin (CIP) in physiological samples. The novel electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and its electrochemical performance was further evaluated via the cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) techniques. The results demonstrated that the HKUST-1/CoFe 2 O 4 /g-C 3 N 4 electrode exhibited an optimal linear range of 0.05–180 μmol L−1 for the CIP detection, which demonstrated a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.0026 μmol L−1 and a low limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 0.0087 μmol L−1, respectively. Additionally, the novel semiconductor sensors exhibited exceptional selectivity, stability and repeatability in the determination of CIP. The recovery rate of CIP was found to range from 98.00% to 104.00% in serum, with the relative standard deviations (RSD) below 2.62% (n = 5), while the recovery rate of CIP was found to range from 96.00% to 105.00%, with the RSD less than 3.23% (n = 5) in urine. The current study extends to the application of the semiconductor-based electrochemical sensors and offers a new approach for the clinical pharmaceutical analysis to ensure medication safety, which could provide valuable insights into the potential of semiconductor sensors for future clinical applications. [Display omitted] • A powerful HKUST-1/CoFe 2 O 4 /g-C 3 N 4 sensing platform was constructed. • This electrode showed desirable electron transfer ability and electroactivity. • The potential mechanism of the g–C 3 N 4 –based electrode was explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, nitrogen and sulfur codoped near-infrared emission carbon dots (N,S-NIR-CDs) possessed wide sp2 domains and narrow band gap, leading to the near-infrared ECL emission at 680 nm and low excitation potential from −1.0 to 0 V, which not only decreased the photochemical damage for biomolecules but also reduced the side reaction. Therefore, N,S-NIR-CDs exhibited high ECL efficiency, which lied a strong foundation for the subsequent establishment of biosensing platform. [Display omitted] • N,S-NIR-CDs with large sp2 domain, leading to NIR ECL emission at 680 nm. • N,S-NIR-CDs possessed narrow band gap, leading to low ECL potential from −1–0 V. • EICA strategy could transform trace miRNA-222 into output DNAs in dual-cycle. • The constrcted ECL biosensor realized the ultrasensitive analysis of microRNA-222. In this work, nitrogen and sulfur codoped near-infrared emission carbon dots (N,S-NIR-CDs) were used as neoteric electrochemiluminescence (ECL) emitters with high efficiency to construct a biosensor for ultrasensitive analysis of microRNA-222 (miRNA-222), which has been regarded as prospective biomarkers for early cancer diagnosis. Impressively, compared to conventional CDs with short ECL wavelength and large excitation voltage, N,S-NIR-CDs possessed wide sp2 domains and narrow band gap, leading to the near-infrared ECL emission at 680 nm and low excitation potential from −1.0 to 0 V, which not only decreased the photochemical damage for biomolecules but also reduced the side reaction. Moreover, an improved T7 Exonuclease induced cascade amplification (EICA) strategy was designed to transform trace miRNA-222 into plentiful output DNA in dual-cycle for greatly improving the target conversion efficiency. Therefore, by combining the N,S-NIR-CDs as neoteric ECL emitters and EICA strategy as signal amplifier, the constructed ECL biosensor could realize the ultrasensitive analysis of miRNA-222 with a identification limit of 5.65 aM and successfully employed in miRNA-222 analysis from liver cancer cell (HCCLM3 and MHCC-97L) lysate. This strategy developed a kind of neoteric CDs with NIR ECL emission and low excitation potential to establish a highly efficient biosensor for biomarker analysis, which prepared a road for early diseases diagnosis and lied a foundation for biological ECL imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A hybrid approach is proposed for dynamic polymerization processes. • An enhanced steady-state Monte Carlo simulation method is designed for photoATRP. • Efficiency improved by adopting high-performance computing tool. • Evolutions of both macroscopic and microscopic properties of polymers are predicted. Among the various polymerization mechanisms available for producing polymers, photoinduced atom-transfer radical polymerization (photoATRP) stands out as a promising technique. By utilizing light as an external stimulus, photoATRP facilitates the production of well-defined polymers with precise distributions. The demand for advanced polymeric materials synthesis necessitates a deep understanding of polymer chains at the molecular level. As molecular weight distribution (MWD) is a key quality index of polymers, developing models with embedded MWD information holds significance for process design and optimization tasks. In this work, an accelerated hybrid deterministic and stochastic approach is proposed for simulating dynamic photoATRP processes. The proposed approach demonstrates computational efficiency and flexibility, enabling precise predictions for the evolution of both macroscopic and microscopic properties of polymers. An application to a batch photoATRP system model is presented to illustrate the validity and performance of the proposed hybrid approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Target binding-mediated primer exchange reaction strategy was developed. • A universal fluorescence detection platform was built for multiple sensing. • Significant signal amplification was achieved through primer exchange reaction. • The target binding dependence ensured the selectivity of detection. • The method displayed good performance in complex biological sample. This study introduces a universal fluorescent detection platform based on the binding-mediated primer exchange reaction strategy, designed for highly sensitive and accurate detection of multiple biomolecules. This method uses an intact DNA hybridization probe as the initial target recognition site, forming a stable probe-target complex upon binding to the target. This complex drives the primer exchange reaction to amplify the signal, and then to achieve signal output through fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). The reaction process is initiated directly by the catalytic target binding medium, ensuring method specificity. The versatile platform, equipped with various recognition elements such as antisense nucleic acids, biotin, and split aptamers, demonstrates exceptional universality in detecting a range of biomolecules, including virus nucleic acid fragments, streptavidin, and ATP. The method exhibits strong linear relationships with detection limits of 1.02 pM for virus nucleic acid fragments, 1.08 nM for streptavidin, and 15.7 μM for ATP, respectively. Moreover, the method displays excellent selectivity and outstanding performance in complex biological samples. This promising biosensing platform is believed to find numerous applications spanning bioanalysis, disease diagnosis, and biomedicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Audio deepfake detection (ADD) aims to detect the fake audio generated by text-to-speech (TTS), and voice conversion (VC), etc., which is an emerging topic. Traditionally we read the mono signal and analyze the artifacts directly. Recently, the mono-to-binaural conversion based ADD approach has attracted increasing attention since the binaural audio signals provide a unique and comprehensive perspective on speech perception. Such method attempts tried to first convert the mono audio into binaural, then process the left and right channels respectively to discover authenticity cues. However, the acoustic information from the two channels exhibits both differences and similarities, which have not been thoroughly explored in previous research. To address this issue, we propose a new mono-to-binaural conversion based ADD framework that considers multi-space channel representation learning, termed "MSCR-ADD". Specifically, (1) the feature representations of the respective channels are learned by the channel-specific encoder and stored in the channel-specific space ; (2) the feature representations capturing the difference between the two channels are learned by the channel-differential encoder and stored in the channel-differential space ; (3) after which the channel-invariant encoder learn the channel commonality representations in the channel-invariant space. Note that we propose orthogonal and mutual information maximization losses to constrain the channel-specific and invariant encoders. At last, three representations from various spaces are mixed together to finalize the deepfake detection. It is worth noting that the feature representations in the channel-differential and invariant spaces unveil the differences and similarities between the two channels in binaural audio, enabling us to effectively detect artifacts in fake audio. The experimental results on four benchmark datasets demonstrate that our MSCR-ADD is superior to existing state-of-the-art approaches. • We pioneer the definition of a feature representation of binaural audio as three spaces. • We present MSCR-ADD, a novel ADD scheme with a novel multi-space channel representation learning strategy. • Experimental results on four datasets verify the power of our method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the characteristics of bacteriophages is crucial for the optimization of phage therapy. In this study, the biological and genomic characteristics of coliphage LHE83 were determined and its synergistic effects with different types of antibiotics against E. coli E82 were investigated. Phage LHE83 displayed a contractile tail morphology and had a titer of 3.02 × 109 pfu/mL at an optimal MOI of 0.01. Meanwhile, phage LHE83 exhibited good physical and chemical factors tolerance. The 1-step growth analysis revealed a latent period of approx. 10 min with a burst size of 87 pfu/infected cell. Phage LHE83 belongs to the genus Dhakavirus. Its genome consists of 170,464 bp with a 40% GC content, and a total of 268 Open Reading Frames (ORF) were predicted with no detected virulent or resistant genes. ORF 213 was predicted to encode the receptor binding protein (RBP) and confirmed by the antibody-blocking assay. Furthermore, a phage-resistant strain E. coli E82R was generated by co-culturing phage LHE83 with E. coli E82. Genomic analysis revealed that OmpA served as the receptor for phage LHE83, which was further confirmed by phage adsorption assay using E. coli BL21ΔOmpA, E. coli BL21ΔOmpA: OmpA and E. coli BL21:OmpA strains. Additionally, a synergistic effect was observed between phage LHE83 and spectinomycin against the drug-resistant strain E. coli E82. These results provide a theoretical basis for understanding the interactions between phages, antibiotics, and host bacteria, which can assist in the clinical application of phages and antibiotics against drug-resistant bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cs 2 SO 4 as bifunctional agent is incorporated at the SnO 2 /perovskite interface to modify SnO 2 and regulate the crystal growth process of perovskite. • Cs 2 SO 4 -modified SnO 2 demonstrates superior charge extraction and enhanced conductivity. • SnO 2 /Cs 2 SO 4 fabricated perovskite film exhibits effectively reduced defect density and suppressed no-radiative recombination. SnO 2 -based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) suffer severe nonradiative recombination owing to inefficient carrier extraction and poor perovskite film quality hindering their device performance. It is highly necessary to develop a desirable strategy to minimize nonradiative recombination losses by modifying SnO 2 interface and optimizing perovskite film quality. Herein, Cesium Sulfate (Cs 2 SO 4) is used to modify SnO 2 interface and regulate the crystal growth process of perovskite. The Cs 2 SO 4 -modified SnO 2 demonstrates superior charge extraction and enhanced conductivity as compared to untreated SnO 2 (control). Furthermore, SnO 2 /Cs 2 SO 4 fabricated perovskite film exhibits reduced defect density and suppressed no-radiative recombination. Through this interface modification strategy, effective carrier extraction and recombination suppression are achieved synchronously. These favorable results translate into an efficiency enhancement from 21.51% to 22.66%. In addition, SnO 2 /Cs 2 SO 4 -based PSCs also display improved device stability owing to the chemical interconnection between the SnO 2 /Cs 2 SO 4 and the light absorption layer. This work provides a way of enhancing carrier extraction and suppressing nonradiative recombination to realize efficiency and stability enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, composite sorbents with high activity in promoting H 2 production during sorption-enhanced steam gasification of pine sawdust (PS) were developed by doping coal gasification fine slag (FS) and NaOH into calcined conch shell (CS). The tests performed in a laboratory-scale fixed bed reactor demonstrated that the composite sorbents greatly improved H 2 concentration and yield over that achieved with CHCS (CS after hydration and calcination), reaching 73.5% and 600.7 mL/g-PS, respectively. This promotion effect on H 2 production was not influenced by the unburned carbon in FS. To obtain high H 2 concentration and yield with as little NaOH and as much FS as possible, the optimum sorbent was found to be 3CS-2FS-0.32Na (in mass ratio of CS:FS:NaOH = 3:2:0.32). Under this condition, the H 2 concentration and yield reached 74.3% and 572.3 mL/g-PS, respectively. In five cycles of experiment, although the H 2 yield of 3CS-2FS-0.32Na decreased from 572.3 mL/g-PS to 416.6 mL/g-PS, it was always higher than with CHCS alone by at least 28%. The results in this study indicate that FS has potential to be an effective inert support material that endows CaO with high activity in H 2 production during sorption-enhanced steam gasification. This might help to provide a new approach to minimizing the negative environmental impact of FS. • A new method to recycle coal gasification fine slag was proposed. • Ca/Na/FS composite sorbents were synthesized for SESGB. • NaOH addition enhanced H 2 yield but decreased CO 2 sorption capacity. • FS addition improved CO 2 sorption capacity. • Composite sorbents presented better H 2 production ability during five cycling tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study examined the extent to which the network structure of anxiety and depression among adolescents identified during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic could be cross-validated in a sample of adolescents assessed after the COVID-19 peak.Methods: Two cross-sectional surveys were conducted between February 20 and 27, 2020 and between April 11 and 19, 2020, respectively. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the 20-item Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression and 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder, respectively. Anxiety-depression networks of the first and second assessments were estimated separately using a sparse Graphical Gaussian Model combined with the graphical least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method. A Network Comparison Test was conducted to assess differences between the two networks.Results: The most central symptoms in the first and second survey networks were Depressed affect and Nervousness. Compared with connections in the first survey network, connections in the second survey network analysis between Relax-Nervousness-Depressed affect-Interpersonal problems (diff, contrast: second survey-first survey. diff=-0.04, P = 0.04; diff=-0.03, P = 0.03; diff=-0.03, P = 0.04), and Irritability-Somatic complaints (diff=-0.04, P = 0.02) were weaker while connections of Somatic complaints-Nervousness (diff=0.05, P<0.001), Somatic complaints-Depressed affect (diff=0.03, P = 0.009), and Irritability-Control worry-Restlessness (diff=0.02, P = 0.03; diff=0.05, P = 0.02) were stronger.Conclusions: Depressed affect emerged as a robust central symptom and bridge symptom across Anxiety-Depression networks. Considering the negative impact of depression and anxiety on daily life, timely interventions targeting depressed affect should be implemented to reduce the co-occurrence of anxious and depressive symptoms among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The applicability of CFD-CGDEM in the simulation of packed bed is discussed. • The characteristics show dependence on scaled spring constant for CGDEM. • CGDEM with moderate scaling scheme is less dependent on spring constant. • The scale-up uncertainties for CFD-CGDEM increase with coarsen degree. The numerical modelling with computational fluid dynamics coupled with discrete element method (CFD-DEM) could be of high fidelity but rather time consuming, which leads to the development of coarse grain DEM (CFD-CGDEM). This paper describes the effects of scaling criteria for CFD-CGDEM on the modelling of multi-phase flow in packed bed. Four representative scaling criteria for particles contact interaction are discussed to analyze the packing structure and pressure drop and compare the relative deviation between CFD-CGDEM and CFD-DEM. It is found that when the spring constant in CFD-CGDEM is enlarged by α 3 or α 2 times or remains the same as that in original CFD-DEM, as α is defined as coarsen degree which is referred as the ratio between parcel size and particle size, a relatively large spring constant should be chosen to maintain the similar porosity and pressure drop. However, when the spring constant in CFD-CGDEM was scaled moderately by α times, the modelling results of CFD-CGDEM are comparable to data from CFD-DEM regardless of the value of spring constant. Furthermore, a quantitative analysis shows that the relative deviation in porosity and pressure drop between CFD-DEM and CFD-CGDEM will be enhanced as coarsen degree increases but the variation is insignificant with domain size for periodic boundary. The increase of parcel size could affect the simulation of porosity in packed bed and deviate the predicted hydrodynamics away from the CFD-DEM. In addition, the comparison of computational efficiency illustrates the speed up of CFD-CGDEM increases with the coarsen degree while the relative deviation also increases. This study provides instructive guidance for the application of CFD-CGDEM to model the multiphase flow in packed beds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early monitoring of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is crucial for its treatment and prognosis. Hence, highly specific and sensitive detection method is urgently needed. In this study, we propose a novel herringbone microfluid chip with aptamer functionalized core-shell photonic crystal (PhC) barcode integration for high throughput multiplex CVD detection. Based on the PhC derived from co-assembled carboxylated single-wall carbon nanotubes and silicon dioxide nanoparticles, we obtain core-shell PhC barcodes by hydrogel replicating and partially etching. These core-shell PhC barcodes not only retain the original structural colors coding element, but also fully expose a large number of carboxyl elements in the ore for the probe immobilization. We further combine the functionalized barcodes with herringbone groove microfluidic chip to elucidate its acceptability in testing clinical sample. It is demonstrated that the special design of microfluidic chip can significantly enhance fluid vortex resistance and contact frequency, improving the sample capture efficiency and detection sensitivity. These features indicate that our core-shell PhC barcodes-integrated herringbone microfluidic system possesses great potential for multiplex biomarker detection in clinical application. • We present a new photonic crystal detection technique based on herringbone chip. • Grooves in the chip perturbed the fluid, efficiently capturing the biomarkers in sample. • Silica was endowed with active groups by co-assembly. • Multiple detection of myocardial injury biomarkers was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of high specificity and affinity antibodies is challenging due to limited information on characteristic groups of haptens in traditional design strategy. In this study, we first predicted characteristic groups of flurogestone acetate (FGA) using quantitative analysis of molecular surface combined with atomic charge distribution. Subsequently, FGA haptens were rationally designed to expose these identified characteristic groups fully. As a result, seven monoclonal antibodies were obtained with satisfactory performance, exhibiting IC 50 values from 0.17 to 0.45 μg/L and negligible cross-reactivities below 1% to other 18 hormones. The antibody recognition mechanism further confirmed hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions involving predicted FGA characteristic groups and specific amino acids in the antibodies contributed to their high specificity and affinity. Finally, one selective and sensitive ic-ELISA was developed for FGA determination with a detection limit as low as 0.12 μg/L, providing an efficient tool for timely monitoring of FGA in goat milk samples. [Display omitted] • An effective strategy was proposed and evaluated to identify the characteristic groups. • Antibody to FGA with high specificity and affinity was first obtained. • The recognition mechanism of mAb 1D4 and 10F3 was investigated by molecular simulation. • An ic-ELISA was developed to detect FGA in goat milk samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saiga antelope horn (SAH) is a traditional Chinese medicine for treating hypertension with liver-yang hyperactivity syndrome (Gan-Yang-Shang-Kang, GYSK), that has a long history of clinical application and precise efficacy, but its mechanism and functional substances are still unknown. Based on the demand for alternative research on the rare and endangered SAH, the group designed and carried out the following studies. The purpose of this research was to demonstrate the functional substances and mechanisms of SAH in the treatment of GYSK hypertension. The GYSK-SHR model was constructed by administering a decoction of aconite to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Blood pressure (BP), behavioural tests related to GYSK, and pathological changes in the kidneys, heart and aorta were measured to investigate the effects of SAH on GYSK-SHRs. Proteomic analysis was used to identify the keratins and peptides of SAH. Moreover, network pharmacology and plasma metabolomics studies were carried out to reveal the mechanisms by which functional peptides in SAH regulate GYSK-hypertension. SAH has a significant antihypertensive effect on GYSK hypertensive animals. It has also been proven to be effective in protecting the function and structural integrity of the kidneys, heart and aorta. Moreover, SAH improved the abnormalities of 31 plasma biomarkers in rats. By constructing a "biomarker-target-peptide" network, 10 functional peptides and two key targets were screened for antihypertensive effects of SAH. The results indicated that SAH may exert a therapeutic effect by re-establishing the imbalance of renin-angiotensin (RAS) system. Functional peptides from keratin contained in SAH are the main material basis for the treatment of GYSK-hypertension and exhibited the protective effect on the GYSK-SHR model through the RAS system. [Display omitted] • SAH exhibit antihypertensive effect and improve liver-yang hyperactivity syndrome. • SAH protect the structure and function of kidneys, heart and aorta. • SAH rectifying RAS system imbalance. • Functional peptides were screened for antihypertensive effects of SAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The NiO/Ni foam composites were prepared by in-situ growing NiO particles on the surface of nickel foam using a facile calcination strategy. • The effects of calcination conditions on microwave absorption properties of NiO/Ni composite foams were studied. • At a filler content of 60 wt%, the RL min reaches -39.71 dB, accompanied by an EAB of 5.15 GHz. Light weight is a significant target for the magnetic metal-based electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorbents. Constructing foams with porous structure and low density has been proved to be a feasible way. However, the high conductivity of the metal foam will bring a poor impedance match, which hinders the EMW absorbing property. Herein, we reported a facile one-step calcination strategy for the magnetic metal foams toward improved impedance match. The NiO/Ni foam composites were obtained with NiO particles in situ grown on the surface of foams. Greatly enhanced EMW absorption performance was obtained with minimum reflection loss (RL min) of −39.71 dB at a frequency of 13.6 GHz and a thickness of 2.0 mm. Meanwhile, the effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) could reach 5.15 GHz. The introduction of surface NiO weakens the conductivity of pure metals and the abundant pore structures of NiO as well as the inherent three-dimensional (3D) networks of metal foams further promote the multiple reflections and scattering of the EMWs. Consequently, this work provides a feasible and convenient way for the massive production of magnetic metal foams as excellent EMW absorbents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ag(Ⅰ) complexes based on benzothiazole-phosphine ligands exhibit bright long-lived phosphorescence at 298 K. [Display omitted] • Two ionic silver(I) complexes based on benzothiazole-phosphine N^P ligands have been synthesized. • Two complexes in powder exhibit bright long-lived phosphorescent emissions at 298 K. • The coordination geometries around Ag(I) centers adopt distorted tetrahedron (1) and trigonal planar (2), respectively. Two ionic mononuclear silver(I) complexes (1 and 2) with formula of [Ag(N^P)(Xantphos)]SbF 6 , where N^P = 2–(benzo[ d ]thiazol)–2–yl) diphenylphosphine derivatives, Xantphos = 4,5-Bis(diphenylphosphino)-9,9-dimethylxanthene, have been synthesized and characterized. Single crystal analysis reveals that the geometries around Ag(I) centers adopt distorted tetrahedron (1) and trigonal planar (2). In powder at 298 K, these complexes exhibit bright emissions with high photo-luminescent quantum yields of 55.2 % (1) and 46.7 % (2) and lifetimes of 0.426 ms (1) and 1.87 ms (2), respectively. The results suggested that these complexes containing bulky benzothiazole phosphine can realize efficient long-lived phosphorescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NAC transcription factors play a significant role in regulating plant responses to biological processes and environmental stresses. Our previous study revealed 21 ThNAC proteins, and ThNAC13 is a nuclear protein that responds to saline stress in Tamarix hispida. To determine whether ThNAC13 regulates downstream genes, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and DNA affinity purification sequencing (DAP-seq) were used to identify the binding sites of ThNAC13 at the whole-genome level. In RNAi-silenced ThNAC13 transgenic Tamarix , a total of 4 downregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 114 peaks strongly associated with four different motifs were identified compared with those in empty vector transgenic Tamarix under salt stress. The c48149.graph_c0 gene contains the key domain of the phloem protein 2 (PP2) protein and is a candidate gene downstream of ThNAC13. Yeast one-hybrid (Y1H), chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and dual-luciferase reporter (LUC) assays were used to identify ThNAC13 as an upstream regulator of ThPP2. Transgenic Tamarix plants in which ThPP2 was transiently expressed or silenced via RNAi were used for functional gain and loss experiments. The ThPP2- overexpressing plants exhibited decreased hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2), superoxide (O 2 •−), and electrolyte leakage (EL) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activity. In contrast, transient RNAi-mediated silencing of ThPP2 in Tamarix had the opposite effect. ThNAC13 binds to the promoter region of the ThPP2 gene and reduces the reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and enhances antioxidant enzyme activity, positively regulating salt stress tolerance in Tamarix. • 4 down-regulated DEGs and 4 different motifs were identified in RNAi-silenced ThNAC13 compare with empty vector transgenic Tamarix under salt stress. • The phloem protein 2 (PP2) protein as a downstream gene by ThNAC13 TFs. • Overexpression of ThPP2 Tamarix decreased the contents of H 2 O 2 , O 2 •−, EL and MDA; induced the activities of SOD, POD and CAT. • In contrast, transiently RNAi-silenced ThPP2 Tamarix showed the opposite result. • ThNAC13 binds to ThPP2 gene through reduces the ROS accumulation and enhances antioxidant enzyme activity to improve salt stress tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N 2)-fixing legumes can be used for phytoremediation of toxic heavy metal Mercury (Hg) contaminated soil, but N 2 -fixation highly relies on phosphorus (P) availability for nodule formation and functioning. Here, we characterized the significance of P deficiency for Hg accumulation and toxicity in woody legume plants. Consequences for foliar and root traits of rhizobia inoculation, Hg exposure (+Hg) and low P (-P) supply, individually and in combination were characterized at both the metabolite and transcriptome levels in seedlings of two Robinia pseudoacacia L. provenances originating from contrasting climate and soil backgrounds, i.e., GS in northwest and the DB in northeast China. Our results reveal that depleted P mitigates the toxicity of Hg at the transcriptional level. In leaves of Robinia depleted P reduced oxidative stress and improved the utilization strategy of C, N and P nutrition; in roots depleted P regulated the expression of genes scavenging oxidative stress and promoting cell membrane synthesis. Rhizobia inoculation significantly improved the performance of both Robinia provenances under individual and combined +Hg and -P by promoting photosynthesis, increasing foliar N and P content and reducing H 2 O 2 and MDA accumulation despite enhanced Hg uptake. DB plants developed more nodules, had higher biomass and accumulated higher Hg amounts than GS plants and thus are suggested as the high potential Robinia provenance for future phytoremediation of Hg contaminated soils with P deficiency. Soil pollution and nutrient depletion constitute serious threats for human and environmental health. However, information on the responses of plants to combined Hg pollution and P depletion has so far not been reported, at both, the metabolite and transcriptome levels. In the present study, we characterized the interaction of Hg exposure with P depletion in Robinia -rhizobia associations of two Robinia provenances originating from different environments at the metabolic and transcriptional levels. Provenance-specific differences in Robinia performance upon rhizobia inoculation at Hg and low P exposure were identified. From these results we recommend one of the two Robinia provenances for future remediation of Hg contaminated soils with low P content. [Display omitted] • P depletion showed antagonistic effects when combined with Hg exposure on Robinia-rhizobia symbiosis. • Rhizobia inoculation improved plant performance under combined Hg and depleted P. • Provenance-specific responses of Robinia plants. • Mechanisms in physiological and transcriptional levels were reported. • The DB provenance is feasible than GS for phytoremediation of Hg exposure in P-depleted soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An interpretable MCRNet is proposed for intelligent fault diagnosis. • Multiple interpretable TFFKs are analytically designed for time-frequency filtering. • Using the anti-aliasing strategy to enhance the time-frequency expressions of TFFKs.. • Visualization analysis provides the insights into model interpretability of MCRNet. • Extensive experiments are implemented to verify effectiveness of MCRNet. With strong feature representation ability, deep learning has been widely used in equipment fault diagnosis. Nevertheless, the "black box" nature has always been restricting its further application in the field of intelligent diagnosis. Combining the intrinsic characteristics of the time–frequency representation of vibration signals, this study proposes a multiplication-convolution residual network (MCRNet) and it consists of two substructures, including a time–frequency filtering layer (TFFLayer) and a residual learner. Different from the conventional interpreter for deep learning, multiple ex-ante interpretable time–frequency filtering kernels (TFFKs), including 2D-Wiener filtering kernel and 2D-Gaussian filtering kernel, are analytically designed with deep learning and signal processing collaborated. With the deep learning block of benchmark ResNet18 employed, each TFFK in the TFFLayer, aims to mathematically extract explainable features by dot-multiplication time–frequency operation with only three variable parameters. Finally, the residual learner is used to abstract high-level feature representations and make the final decision. Specially, to strengthen the representation capacity of TFFLayer, an anti-aliasing strategy is presented to force TFFKs to mine differential knowledge as much as possible. Comparisons with the existing convolution sensing models verify the effectiveness and superiority of MCRNet via one self-made dataset and three open-source datasets. Besides, the analysis of model interpretability and anti-noise capability also demonstrate that the designed TFFKs can adaptively sense fault-sensitive time–frequency knowledge as interpretable feature representation. This further indicates that the proposed deep learning collaborated with and signal processing architecture can not only contribute novel and in-depth insights into model interpretability, but also provide trustworthy intelligent decision-making for reliable equipment maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite being purposefully designed and strategically placed in buildings to facilitate efficient evacuation, emergency exit doors are frequently underutilized during evacuations. To address this issue, this study explores why individuals often fail to use emergency exit doors during evacuations via a virtual reality and eye-tracking experimental study and investigates human emergency wayfinding behaviors through the lens of perceptions and attention. The results show that individuals' attention to wayfinding clues is positively related to their exit choices. Failure to notice an emergency exit door is a key contributor to explaining how familiarity affects the usage of the emergency exit door. Participants in the familiarity group were less likely to pay attention to the exit door and thus rarely use it. However, when participants had fixations on the door, their exit choices were not significantly different between the familiarity and unfamiliarity groups. In the present experiment, door color and type did not have a significant impact on participants' visual attention and exit choices. Specifically, the effect of door type on participants' exit choices was impaired by the presence of the stairwell sign. The experimental results reveal the conspicuity and visibility of exit doors and explicit and clear wayfinding information are crucial to increasing their usage during indoor evacuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic film mulching improves the soil water content and temperature and, thus, contributes to enhanced grain yield in arid and semi-arid areas, such as Northwest China. However, in traditional film-covering methods, plastic films are difficult to recycle, causing environmental issues. Therefore, developing cultivation methods with enhanced film recovery rates is important for sustainable agricultural development. Here, we evaluated how the planting method affected the soil temperature, water content, film recovery rate, and grain yield by applying the following three planting patterns to the traditional crop, foxtail millet, in 2021–2022: no plastic film mulching (NP), plastic film mulching (MP), and planting on the film edge (PFE); in the latter, holes were not punched in the film and crops were planted approximately 5 cm from the film edge. The results for 2021 showed that the biomass ranged from 27.69 g to 33.76 g per plant, and the biomass was increased by 21.9% and 3.2% in PFE compared with NP and MP, respectively. However, in 2022, the biomass increased in PFE by 52.5% and 17.7% compared with NP and MP, respectively. In 2021, the highest grain yield was observed in PFE (2480 kg/hm2), followed by MP (2470 kg/hm2) and NP (2343 kg/hm2); in 2022, a significantly higher grain yield was observed in PFE than that in MP and NP. Although the soil temperature increased in PFE, it was not as high as in MP. The relatively higher soil temperature increased the root growth process, stimulated the production of root exudates (acetic acid and citric acid), and increased the soil enzyme (sucrase and urease) activity. Increases in organic acids and soil enzymes assisted in the decomposition of soil organic matter and induced relatively higher levels of available nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and the higher root reuse rates contributed to higher grain yields. In addition, fewer holes were punched in the film of the PFE model, which improved film recovery, and the recovery rate of PFE was higher than that of MP. These results indicate that the proposed unperforated film-covered planting pattern is suitable for millet production in sandy soil. [Display omitted] • PFE increased millet grain yield in sandy soils compared with NP and MP. • PFE enhanced soil temperature mildly and stimulated root exudates. • PFE presented a higher plastic film recovery rate than MP. • PFE increased soil water content as well as MP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insufficient data is a long-standing challenge for Brain–Computer Interface (BCI) to build a high-performance deep learning model. Though numerous research groups and institutes collect a multitude of EEG datasets for the same BCI task, sharing EEG data from multiple sites is still challenging due to the heterogeneity of devices. The significance of this challenge cannot be overstated, given the critical role of data diversity in fostering model robustness. However, existing works rarely discuss this issue, predominantly centering their attention on model training within a single dataset, often in the context of inter-subject or inter-session settings. In this work, we propose a hierarchical personalized Federated Learning EEG decoding (FLEEG) framework to surmount this challenge. This innovative framework heralds a new learning paradigm for BCI, enabling datasets with disparate data formats to collaborate in the model training process. Each client is assigned a specific dataset and trains a hierarchical personalized model to manage diverse data formats and facilitate information exchange. Meanwhile, the server coordinates the training procedure to harness knowledge gleaned from all datasets, thus elevating overall performance. The framework has been evaluated in Motor Imagery (MI) classification with nine EEG datasets collected by different devices but implementing the same MI task. Results demonstrate that the proposed framework can boost classification performance up to 8.4% by enabling knowledge sharing between multiple datasets, especially for smaller datasets. Visualization results also indicate that the proposed framework can empower the local models to put a stable focus on task-related areas, yielding better performance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first end-to-end solution to address this important challenge. • This work provided new insights on federated learning for the BCI. • Enabled knowledge sharing across heterogeneous EEG datasets. • Proposed a new paradigm to build a deep learning model for BCI. • Designed a personalized FL EEG decoding framework, evaluated on 9 MI datasets. • Improved classification performance up to 8.4% by the proposed FL framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone marrow has the capacity to produce different types of immune cells, such as natural killer cells, macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells. Improving the activation of immune cells in the bone marrow can enhance the therapy of bone metastases. Previously, we designed an engineered probiotic Lactococcus lactis, capable of expressing a fusion protein of Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand and co-stimulator OX40 ligand (FOLactis), and proved that it can induce the activation and differentiation of several immune cells. In this research, we successfully establish mouse models of bone metastasis, lung metastasis and intraperitoneal dissemination, and we are the first to directly inject the probiotics into the bone marrow to inhibit tumor growth. We observe that injecting FOLactis into the bone marrow of mice can better regulate the immune microenvironment of tumor-bearing mice, resulting in a tumor-suppressive effect. Compared to subcutaneous (s.c.) injection, intra-bone marrow (IBM) injection is more effective in increasing mature DCs and CD8+ T cells and prolonging the survival of tumor-bearing mice. Our results confirm that IBM injection of FOLactis reprograms the immune microenvironment of bone marrow and has remarkable effectiveness in various metastatic tumor models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, three acidic polysaccharides (OFPP-1, OFPP-2 and OFPP-3) were isolated from the pulps of Opuntia dillenii Haw. fruits, and their chain conformations, physicochemical and rheological properties were investigated. The molecular weight and conformational parameters (M w , M n , M z , R g and R h) of OFPPs in 0.1 M NaNO 3 solution were detected by HPSEC-MALLS-RI. In addition, based on the parameters ρ and v, it was concluded that these three polysaccharide chains exhibited sphere-like conformation in 0.1 M NaNO 3 solution, which was consistent with AFM and TEM observations. Furthermore, the Congo Red experiment showed that OFPP-2 had a triple-helix structure, which may be conducive to its biological activity. This study also found that OFPPs were semi-crystalline structures with high thermal and pH stability. The rheological analyses indicated that the apparent viscosity of OFPPs solutions exhibited concentration-, temperature-, and pH-dependence, and the viscoelasticity of them was affected by molecular characteristics and concentration. The results of this study are helpful to elucidate the structure-activity relationship of OFPPs. Moreover, this study can provide theoretical reference for the application of OFPPs as bioactive ingredients or functional materials in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries and the development and utilization of the O. dillenii Haw. fruits resource. • OFPPs exhibit sphere-like conformation in 0.1 M NaNO 3 solution. • OFPP-2 has a triple-helix structure. • OFPPs are semi-crystalline structures with high thermal and pH stability. • OFPPs show shear-thinning behavior and non-Newtonian fluid properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) biosensor based on bacteriophage long tail fibre proteins (LTFPs) to capture and detect Salmonella. First, based on the genetic information of a Salmonella enterica bacteriophage (SEP37), we found that the genes ORF99, ORF100, and ORF256 encode proteins associated with host recognition. We used the pETdue1 plasmid to construct ORF99–ORF100 and ORF256 co-expression vectors to express (LTFPs) in Escherichia coli and used purified LTFPs as specific biorecognition elements. Then, we fixed gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), cysteamine (Cys), and LTFPs on a gold disk electrode surface via layer-by-layer assembly to construct an EIS biosensor. Salmonella in the sample can be captured by LTFPs on the electrode surface and reduce the electron transfer sites. We applied the EIS biosensor to detect Salmonella spiked in lake water. It showed a good linear relationship within the concentration range of 10 ∼ 1 × 106 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL. The detection limit was 9 CFU/mL. This method based on bacteriophage LTFPs does not require complex pretreatment steps and extends the application of tail fibre proteins as a biorecognition element in the detection field. [Display omitted] • ORF99-100 and ORF256 were inserted into plasmid to construct co-expression vector. • The long tail fibre protein of phage SEP37 was co-expressed in E. coli. • This protein was used as bio-recognition element to construct an EIS biosensor. • This biosensor can quickly detect Salmonella in lake water samples. • This method allowed a detection limit of 9 CFU/mL for Salmonella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural complexity of industrial softwood kraft lignin (ISKL) strongly interrelates to the heterogeneous chemical reactions of kraft delignification process. In this work, structural properties of an ISKL were revealed by the investigation on the structural properties of fractions with gradient molar mass and trace/high amount of carbohydrates. Moreover, the variation in structural composition of ISKL enables its classification into three distinct categories, which potentially correspond to the the lignin dissolved at different phases of kraft delignification. In general, the low molar mass fraction, characterized by an abundance of reduced subliknages and a minimal presence of native linkages, are tentatively associated with the lignin dissovled at the inital phase of delignification. The medium molar mass fractions with trace amounts of carbohydrates, exhibiting similarities in the quantites of β-O-4, benzyl ether (BE), and β-5 linkages, are probably dissolved into kraft liquor in the period of the bulk phase of delignification. The lignin fraction with the highest molar mass, containing a large amount of native sublinkages and carbohydrates, is correlated with the lignification phase toward the late of delignification. This study of structural characteristics of lignin fractions and their relationship to kraft delignification chemistry is anticipated to facilitate the separation of lignin to fractions with significantly reduced structural heterogeneity, thereby enhancing the potential for high-value application based on their compositional structure. [Display omitted] • Divide industrial softwood kraft lignin (ISKL) into three categories based on their sublinkages composition. • Low Mw fraction is featured by abundant reduced sublinkages and phenolic -OH. • Moderate Mw fractions maintain a stable ratio of phenolic/aliphatic -OH, reduced and native sublinkages, except for β-β. • The major high Mw fraction has abundant native linkages and carbohydrates. • High content of β-β and β-5 improve the thermal/alkali resistance of lignin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Five proposals are designed to optimize the flow field of the flow channel to enhance the desalination performance. • The PFF proposal can achieve the best balance in the desalination performance and electrode uniformity utilization. • The flow arrangement effect on performances is deeply revealed by considering the seepage flow in the BDI modeling. • More thoroughly reveal the BDI desalination mechanism with flow field and introduce the uniformity indicator in evaluation. Battery electrode deionization (BDI) is a technique for removing salts from brine. It works with the aid of electrochemical reactions between ions and active compounds in electrodes under the electric field. In the BDI device, the function of the flow channel is to transport the electrolyte into the cell and assign the reactants to the electrode surface. The BDI flow field with classical plate structures typically suffers large flow dead zones, which greatly reduces the uniformity of the reactants supplied to the electrodes. This will affect the desalination performance of the cell. In particular, the flow field distribution will have an increasing impact on the desalination performance, considering the demand for commercialization and large scaling. In this work, five flow channel proposals of the BDI device are investigated numerically. Flow patterns and intercalation-Na clouds are used to analyze the distribution of the flow field and the intercalation-Na degree. The uniformity factors are introduced to describe the uniformity of Na+ ion concentration and intercalation-Na degree distribution. The salt adsorption capacity (SAC), average salt adsorption rate (ASAR), and volumetric energy consumption are used to evaluate the desalination performance of the system. The results showed that proposals with flow field design can effectively reduce the dead zone within the flow channel and utilize the electrodes more uniformly and fully, and the SAC and ASAR are also improved as a result. Reducing the charging current density and increasing the inlet flow rate can optimize the uniformity of ion distribution within the flow channel and the uniform utilization of the electrode, as well as reduce the volumetric energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fermented meat products have been favored by consumers due to their characteristic qualities, especially their unique flavors. The aroma-active compounds originating from catabolism of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) are perceived as malt, nuts, and cheese aromas, remarkably contributing to the overall aroma characteristics of fermented meat products. Research on formation pathways and enhanced production for branched-chain flavor compounds has garnered attention. This review summarized the presence, level, and contribution of branched-chain flavor compounds in fermented meat products, as well as the sources of amino acid precursors and the synthetic pathways. Furthermore, strategies for enhancing the levels of branched-chain flavor compounds are emphatically discussed in aspect of starter culture of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The findings revealed that aroma-active flavor compounds, such as branched-chain aldehydes, alcohols, and acids, are present in various fermented meat products, significantly demonstrating high odor activity values. BCAA, generated through the combined action of endogenous muscle enzymes and microbial proteases, are crucial precursors for developing corresponding flavor compounds. Branched-chain flavor compounds can be formed through either Strecker degradation or biosynthesis via the α-keto acid decarboxylase pathway and α-keto acid dehydrogenase pathway by LAB. The targeted enhancement strategies for branched-chain volatiles include increasing precursor supply, optimizing fermentation conditions, and genetically modifying strain genes. Future research endeavors should prioritize the screening of more efficient production strains and the optimization of metabolic engineering techniques to enhance the production of branched-chain flavor compounds. • The effect of branched-chain flavor compounds in fermented meats is reviewed. • Chemical and biosynthetic pathways of branched-chain aldehydes are elucidated. • LAB produce 3-methylbutanal via both direct and bypass pathways. • Tactics employed by LAB to enhance branched-chain flavor compounds are summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probiotics such as Bifidobacterium spp. generally possess important physiological functions. However, maintaining probiotic viability is a challenge during processing, storage, and digestive transit period. Microencapsulation is widely considered to be an attractive approach. In this study, B. animalis F1–7 microcapsules and B. animalis F1–7-HMO microcapsules were successfully prepared by emulsification/internal gelation with high encapsulation efficiency (90.67 % and 92.16 %, respectively). The current study revealed that HMO-supplemented microcapsules exhibited more stable lyophilized forms and thermal stability. Additionally, a significant improvement in probiotic cell viability was observed in such microcapsules during simulated gastrointestinal (GI) fluids or storage. We also showed that the individual HMO mixtures 6′-SL remarkably promoted the growth and acetate yield of B. animalis F1–7 for 48 h (p < 0.05). The synbiotic combination of 6′-SL with B. animalis F1–7 enhanced SCFAs production in vitro fecal fermentation, decreasing several harmful intestinal bacteria such as Dorea , Escherichia-Shigella , and Streptococcus while enriching the probiotic A. muciniphila. This study provides strong support for HMO or 6′-SL combined with B. animalis F1–7 as an innovative dietary ingredient to bring health benefits. The potential of the synbiotic microcapsules with this combination merits further exploration for future use in the food industry. • Microcapsules exhibited high encapsulation efficiency above 90 % for probiotics. • Incorporation of HMOs improved F1–7 viability during gastric digestion and storage. • Synbiotic combination of F1–7 and 6′-SL has great potential. • The synbiotic-driven in vitro fecal fermentation promoted SCFA metabolism. • F1–7 + 6′-SL increased AKK and reduced several harmful gut bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A gas-assisted atomization injection model was developed for biodiesel. • The spray characteristics of biodiesel were investigated by numerical simulation. • Higher ambient pressure reduces the aerodynamic force on the biodiesel droplets resulting in a small spray penetration and SMD. • Longer fuel injection duration results in excessive accumulation of droplets at the outlet of gas-assisted injector nozzle. • Increasing ambient temperature results in stable fuel SMD and slight increase of spray penetration. Atomization is crucial for the application of biodiesel in APEs. GAAI is effective in solving the fuel atomization difficulty. The GAAI spray characteristics of biodiesel by numerical simulation are investigated. The influences of ambient pressure, fuel injection duration, and ambient temperature on spray characteristics are emphasized. The results show that a relatively large ambient pressure leads to a relatively small spray penetration depth and SMD. Smaller droplets are more susceptible to gas flow than larger droplets, and larger fuel droplets tend to move independently. A relatively long injection duration suggests that the fuel stays in the gas-assisted injector for too much time, resulting in excessive accumulation of droplets at the outlet of the nozzle. The larger the droplet size is, the less affected it is by ambient temperature. When the ambient temperature increases, the density of the ambient gas decreases, reducing momentum exchange between the gas and droplets. The temperature of large fuel droplets remains approximately the same as the initial fuel temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rituximab effectively targets B cells and reduces relapses in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). But the ideal dosage and treatment intervals remain unanswered. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of low and ultralow-dose rituximab in NMOSD. We conducted a retrospective analysis of NMOSD patients treated with rituximab at two Chinese tertiary hospitals. Patients received either a low-dose regimen (500 mg reinfusion every 6 months) or an ultralow-dose regimen: 100 to 300 mg rituximab based on CD19+B cells (100 mg for 1–1.5% of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, 200 mg for 1.5–5%, and 300 mg for over 5%). We analyzed data from 136 patients (41 in the low-dose group, 95 in the ultralow-dose group) with median follow-up durations of 43 and 34.2 months, respectively. Both groups exhibited similar sex distribution, age at disease onset, annual relapse rate, and baseline disease duration. Survival analysis showed that ultralow-dose rituximab was noninferior to low-dose rituximab in preventing relapses. Infusion reactions occurred in 20 of 173 (11.6%) low-dose treatments and 9 of 533 (1.7%) ultralow-dose treatments. B-cell re-emergence was observed in 137 of 236 (58.1%) monitors in the low-dose group and 367 of 1136 (32.3%) monitors in the ultralow-dose group. Ultralow dose rituximab was noninferior to low-dose rituximab in preventing NMOSD relapses. A randomized controlled trial is essential to validate these findings. • Ultralow-dose rituximab was noninferior to low-dose rituximab in preventing relapses. • Ultralow-dose rituximab has less infusion reactions than low-dose rituximab. • A randomized controlled trial is essential to validate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The unmixing method in the remote sensing field was transferred and improved to identify water pollution sources for the first time. • The UV–VIS spectra of surface water samples are used for the source abundance inversion. • The proposed automatic encoder algorithm for radial basis bilinear hybrid model structure has higher precision than the traditional unmixing algorithm. Water resources are one of the most important strategic resources for human survival and development. At present, surface water pollution incidents occur frequently, most of which are caused by enterprises' over-discharge, stolen discharge, and other activities to evade supervision. Automatic and rapid determination of pollution source types is conducive to further targeting pollution-causing enterprises and realizing scientific accountability in law enforcement. The existing method mainly adopts the pattern recognition method for pollution discrimination, which is only suitable for the situation of a single source of pollutant, and cannot identify the pollution for multiple pollution sources mixed surface water. To solve the problem of identification of mixed chemical pollutants in surface water pollution sources and identification of simultaneous emission of multiple pollution sources, a total pollution source analysis method based on spectral unmixing is proposed in this paper, which is a radial basis bilinear mixing model automatic encoder algorithm. The unsupervised autoencoder neural network method was used to solve the proportion of water pollution types by using the spectral database of water pollution sources to realize the identification function of water pollution types and determine the types of pollutant discharge enterprises. In this paper, surface water was collected as experimental samples, mixed with domestic sewage, industrial sewage, agricultural sewage, and other pollution sources, and simulated experiments were carried out to estimate the type and proportion of water pollution. Experimental results show that the detection accuracy of the proposed algorithm is significantly improved compared with the traditional algorithm. Among them, the accuracy of judging whether there is industrial sewage in the mixed experiment of three types of pollution is as high as 95.2%. This method provides an important basis for pollution source investigation and accountability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The optimal CGM dosage to facilitate P release and VFAs production was different. • FePs dissolved and P released by forming a weakly acidic co-fermentation system. • Hydrolytic and acidogenic bacteria were significantly enriched with CGM addition. • Oscillospiraceae was a biomarker responsible for the enhancement of VFAs production. The anaerobic co-fermentation of iron bound phosphorus (P) compounds (FePs)-bearing sludge with corn gluten meal (CGM) and the underlying mechanisms associated with P release and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production were investigated. The optimal CGM dosage for P release was 0.6 g chemical oxygen demand (COD)/g total suspended solid (TSS), which resulted in an increase in efficiency from 7 % (control sample) to 39 %. However, the optimal CGM dosage for VFAs production was 0.4 g COD/g TSS, and the yield increased from 37.4 (control sample) to 331.7 mg COD/g volatile suspended solid. The addition of CGM enhanced hydrolysis and acidogenesis by supplying abundant organic substrates to promote the growth of hydrolytic and acidogenic bacteria. A higher VFAs/ammonium-nitrogen ratio resulted in a lower pH, which promoted greater FePs dissolution and P release from the sludge. This study provides novel insights into the effects of CGM on P release and VFAs production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]