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To investigate whether intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) parameters correlate with hypoxia biomarkers, namely hypoxia inducible factor-1ɑ (HIF-1ɑ), carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX), and pimonidazole (PIMO), in fibrosarcoma (FS) murine models. A model of 30 FS nude mice was established. All mice underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans after which the IVIM (standard apparent diffusion coefficient [standard ADC], pure diffusion coefficient [D], pseudo-diffusion coefficient [D*], and perfusion fraction [f]) and DKI parameters (mean diffusion [MD], mean kurtosis [MK]) were obtained. Based on an MRI-pathology controlled method, correlations between each MRI parameter and hypoxia biomarkers were assessed by Pearson or Spearman tests. An independent sample t-test or Wilcoxon's rank sum test, and receiver operating characteristic curves were used to identify whether MRI parameters could differentiate between high and low expressions of hypoxia biomarkers. The IVIM/DKI parameters showed varying degrees of correlation with HIF-1α, CAIX, and PIMO expression. Among them, the D, f, and MK values could confirm HIF-1α expression, while D, f, and MK values could assess CAIX expression. Finally, standard D and MK values could evaluate PIMO expression levels. IVIM and DKI parameters can be used to reflect hypoxic biomarkers of FS and have the potential to detect tumor hypoxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the correlations of histogram parameters from diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) with the heterogeneous features in a nude mouse model of fibrosarcoma. A total of 44 fibrosarcoma xenograft models were established by inoculating HT-1080 cells on the right thigh of mice and subjected tumors to DWI and IVIM imaging with 3.0 T MRI. Whole-tumor histogram parameters were calculated on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), pure diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*), and perfusion fraction (f). Heterogeneous features, including necrosis rate, cell density, Ki-67 labeling index (LI), and microvascular density (MVD) were measured. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), Pearson or Spearman correlation tests, and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) were performed. The 90th percentile, skewness and kurtosis of ADC and D histograms showed correlations with necrosis rate, and the highest correlation coefficient was found for D 90th (r = 0.485). ADC and D histogram parameters showed correlations with cell density and Ki-67 LI; D 90th showed the highest correlation coefficient with cell density (r = −0.504); and D median showed the most significant correlation with Ki-67 LI (r = −0.525). D* skewness , D* kurtosis , D* 90th , f mean , and f median showed correlations with MVD. ADC 90th , ADC skewness , ADC kurtosis , D 90th , and D skewness showed significant differences between the low necrosis and high necrosis groups, and the combination model showed the best diagnostic ability (AUC = 0.882), with 97% sensitivity, and 72.7% specificity. Whole-tumor histogram parameters of DWI and IVIM were correlated with heterogeneous features in nude murine models of fibrosarcoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Mixed method approach to assess agroecosystem services of interdunal wetlands. • Valued total willingness to pay for sustained services is US$ 11568.64/ year. • Alarmingly low payment amount indicates wetland depletion and lesser awareness. • Land use/ land cover dynamics will govern future payment status of reliant populace. Interdunal wetlands of the Medinipur coastal plain provide various agroecosystem services (AES). Local populace had been found to utilize these wetlands for subsistence livelihood since time immemorial. However, many of these wetlands have become degraded by extensive land use conversions along with increasing apathy among young farmers to continue wetland based traditional livelihood practices in the recent years. In this regard, the present study attempts to assess the willingness to pay (WTP) of the local wetland dependent populace towards restoration and management of the various AES of a regional interdunal wetland complex using contingent valuation (CV) method. The CV survey was conducted among 229 households from 14 villages associated to the wetland complex. Four Landsat images from 1990 to 2020 and several ancillary spatial datasets were analysed to detect the current as well as future status (2030) of land use covers using the artificial neural network algorithm. Results showed that socio-economic factors such as age, level of education, monthly income per person, ownership of wetlands, and availability of AES primarily determined the average WTP (US$ 0.30 per month) of surveyed households. Thus, the total economic value of the wetland complex, calculated as the aggregate WTP, was remarkably as low as US$ 11568.64 per year, thereby indicating towards lesser environmental awareness and widespread poverty among the respondents. This perilous condition is also manifested in the present and future projected LULC patterns from 1990 to 2030. If the same trend of mismanagement prevails in the imminent years, a drop of more than 50% in areal coverage of interdunal wetlands is anticipated. Based on the findings, it was suggested that the vicious cycle of 'lesser awareness-low WTP-wetland loss-degrading provision of AES' could only be replaced through a three-pronged approach comprising environmental education, technological dissemination, and legislative cum ecotourism interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing carbon intensity is a key strategy in achieving carbon neutrality. Existing joint methods, including log-mean division index and production-theoretical decomposition analysis, were often linked to the Shepherd distance function to identify factors driving carbon intensity. However, this would overlook the biases in decomposition results caused by the disaggregated efficiency in different orientations. To gain a more comprehensive insight into determinants of China's aggregate carbon intensity from regional technological catch-up, technological innovation, technological leadership and low-carbon development mode, this study extended and modified the regional decomposition and attribution analysis framework by incorporating the two aforementioned approaches, the meta-frontier global non-radial Malmquist-Luenberger productivity index, and attribution analysis. The results demonstrated that China's aggregate carbon intensity declined by 56.03% during 2000–2019, which was primarily driven by the technological innovation category. Almost all provinces exhibited negative contributions to output-based technology progress, output-based technology gap, energy structure, and R&D intensity, all of which helped reduce the aggregate carbon intensity. However, this negative contribution was compensated for by the potential energy intensity, potential capital intensity, energy-based technology efficiency, energy-based technology progress, energy-based technology gap, and output-based technology efficiency. The decline of China's aggregate carbon intensity was attributed to the greatest negative effect of output-based technology progress in Shandong. The increase in energy-based technology gap led to a great increase in the aggregate carbon intensity, mainly owing to Liaoning. Our study not only advances research in the field of factor decomposition, but also is of special interests for policy makers tasked with ensuring carbon emission reduction in China. • We extended decomposition methods considering tech and development-mode factors. • Output-based technology progress was vital for decreasing China's carbon intensity. • Energy-based technology gap has great potential for carbon intensity reduction. • Policy should rationalize R&D expenditure and fixed-asset investment utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shape-controlled CeO 2 nano-rods (CeO 2 -R), CeO 2 nano-cubes (CeO 2 -C) and CeO 2 nano-octahedrons (CeO 2 -O) were prepared as support of Ag/CeO 2 for soot combustion. Ag/CeO 2 -C is more active than Ag/CeO 2 -R and Ag/CeO 2 -O, even with the presence of water, whose TOF value is 7.7, 11.4 times of Ag/CeO 2 -R and Ag/CeO 2 -O, respectively. The chemical state of Ag and the ability in oxygen activation is controlled by the support morphology through the interaction between Ag and CeO 2. The weak interaction makes Ag in form of metallic state on Ag/CeO 2 -C which has better contact extent with soot than Ag oxides. Meanwhile, a high concentration of bulk oxygen vacancies on Ag/CeO 2 -C is also formed which efficiently provide active oxygen species by oxygen reverse spillover. It also explores a new pathway boosting soot combustion. As for CeO 2 -R and CeO 2 -O, although the introduced Ag improves the surface reducibility on CeO 2 , similar oxygen desorption behavior with the introduction of Ag reveals the unchanged way in oxygen activation and reaction pathway in soot combustion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroptosis is a type of cell death accompanied by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, thus stimulating ferroptosis may be a potential strategy for treating gastric cancer, therapeutic agents against which are urgently required. Jiyuan oridonin A (JDA) is a natural compound isolated from Jiyuan Rabdosia rubescens with anti-tumor activity, unclear anti-tumor mechanisms and limited water solubility hamper its clinical application. Here, we showed a2 , a new JDA derivative, inhibited the growth of gastric cancer cells. Subsequently, we discovered for the first time that a2 induced ferroptosis. Importantly, compound a2 decreased GPX4 expression and overexpressing GPX4 antagonized the anti-proliferative activity of a2. Furthermore, we demonstrated that a2 caused ferrous iron accumulation through the autophagy pathway, prevention of which rescued a2 induced ferrous iron elevation and cell growth inhibition. Moreover, a2 exhibited more potent anti-cancer activity than 5-fluorouracil in gastric cancer cell line-derived xenograft mice models. Patient-derived tumor xenograft models from different patients displayed varied sensitivity to a2 , and GPX4 downregulation indicated the sensitivity of tumors to a2. Finally, a2 exhibited well pharmacokinetic characteristics. Overall, our data suggest that inducing ferroptosis is the major mechanism mediating anti-tumor activity of a2 , and a2 will hopefully serve as a promising compound for gastric cancer treatment. Natural product derivative, a2 , exhibited anti-tumor activity by inducing ferroptosis through decreasing GPX4 and causing ferrous iron accumulation in gastric cancer cells. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of x/yCuO/NiO-CeO 2 catalysts with a constant Cu+Ni molar content and low copper loading of 1 wt% had been prepared by the step-by-step impregnation method and characterized by various techniques (XRD, N 2 -adsorption/desorption, HR-TEM, H 2 -TPR, Raman and XPS). CO preferential oxidation (CO-PROX) under H 2 /CO 2 -rich conditions had been performed. Experimental results indicated that the catalytic activity of CuO/CeO 2 could be enhanced by substituting partial Cu with Ni, and with a Cu/Ni molar ratio of 1/2, the highest catalytic performance was observed. Under the conditions of temperature 130 ℃, space velocity 20266 mL·g cat −1·h−1 and oxygen excess coefficient 1.2, the 1/2CuO/NiO-CeO 2 catalyst gave rise to a maximum CO conversion of about 94.8%. The 1/2CuO/NiO-CeO 2 catalyst also exhibited good catalytic stability up to 100 h, showing that this catalyst system could be further developed for potential commercial application. Combined with the detailed characterization data, it had been proposed that there was a synergistic interaction among Cu, Ni and CeO 2 in the catalyst, generating more oxygen vacancies than the binary CuO/CeO 2 and NiO/CeO 2 catalysts. With a Cu/Ni molar ratio of 1/2, the formed ternary CuO/NiO-CeO 2 catalyst had the highest content of oxygen vacancies, which was believed to play a crucial role in the CO-PROX reaction. [Display omitted] • Low Cu content of 1 wt% results in highly active catalysts. • Ni doping promotes CO-PROX in CuO/CeO 2 catalysts. • Best activity and stability has been obtained with an optimal Cu/Ni molar ratio of 1/2. • Synergistic interaction among Cu, Ni and Ce produces more oxygen vacancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Banning gasoline vehicle sales policy (BGVSP) is considered a potentially important drivers for achieving carbon peak. This study, therefore, analyzed public support for such policies from the perspective of consumers. Using a grounded-theory approach, we developed a public-support model for BGVSP, on that basis, revealed the effects of the key elements and the theoretical logic. The results revealed: 1) Individual and psychological factors are important internal motivations, while the external driving factors include contextual factors and product factors. 2) The depth of individual perception is key to filling gaps in attitudes and behavior, and it plays an important role in improving public support. 3) The external contextual factors that affect consumer support mainly include external incentives, social influences, and urban contextual variables, which also play a moderating role in the integration model. The results show that the prohibition policy is easy to bring negative emotions, thereby causing public resistance, so the design of BGVSP should be based on the understanding of individual cognition, attitude and emotions. This paper constructs a model of the motivation of public support for China's localized BGVSP, and clarifies the core influencing factors and mechanisms, which provides fresh ideas for the realization of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. • Banning gasoline vehicles increase the speed of carbon peaks in the transportation sector. • The public support for banning gasoline vehicle sales policy has been explored. • Developed a public support model with four core categories, namely, individual, psychological, contextual, and product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing human demand for high-quality animal protein has provided impetus for the development of aquaculture. Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) is a catadromous species rapidly being cultured in China but scientific literature documenting its life cycle environmental and economic consequences remains scarce. This study aims to address this gap by examining the spatio-temporal evolution of crab aquaculture in China since the 2000s and evaluating the environmental and economic characteristics along its life-cycle stages: megalopa, juvenile crab, and adult crab cultivation. The geostatistical analysis shows a more dispersed pattern of crab aquaculture nationally as crab grows, with coastal provinces that have brackish water for megalopa cultivation but wider spatial coverage for juvenile and adult crab cultivation. Our findings reveal that the production of 1 ton of live-weight crab results in 7.65 ton of CO 2 equivalent of greenhouse gas emissions, surpassing previous estimates for finfish fish production by approximately 50%. Most environmental pressures occur during the adult crab cultivation stage, with significant contributions from upstream processes such as electricity and feed production. By comparing between different production systems, our study shows that crab aquaculture in lake systems performs better than pond systems in terms of most global environmental impact categories and economic considerations. This work contributes to the existing literature by elucidating the spatio-temporal changes of crab aquaculture boom in China and constructing a representative life cycle data pool that broadens the benchmark knowledge on its environmental and economic characteristics. We highlight the trade-offs between environmental and economic performance as well as the balance between global and local environmental impacts to promote sustainable growth in the aquaculture industry. [Display omitted] • Spatiotemporal evolution of crab culture in China during 2000–2019 is analyzed. • Environmental and economic consequences are evaluated along the life span of crab. • Megalopa cultivation clusters on the coast, with wider distribution as crab grows. • 1 t live-weight crab generates 7.65 t of CO 2 eq, 50% higher than that for finfish. • We find evidence of trade-offs for crab culture in either pond or lake system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symmetric full-cells, which employ two identical electrodes as both the cathode and anode, attract great research attention, because it has high safety, facial fabrication and lower costs. Unfortunately, the practical utilization of full symmetric energy storage systems, especially the symmetric potassium ion batteries (KIBs), is hindered by the limited choice of the available electrode materials. In this work, a novel NASICON-type K 3 V 2 (PO 4) 3 is prepared and first employed for the symmetric KIBs. Through in-situ measurement, a highly lattice reversibility is found during the K+ insertion/extraction process. KV 2 (PO 4) 3 and K 5 V 2 (PO 4) 3 was generated after the depotassiation and potassiation process at about 4.0 V and below 1.0 V, respectively. The reversible capacity of the full symmetric KIBs is about 90 mAh g−1 between 0.01 and 3.0 V at 25 mA g−1, corresponding to an initial coulombic efficiency of 91.7% which is the highest one among all the previous reported symmetric energy storage systems (including the symmetric lithium/sodium ion batteries). 88.6% reversible capacity was maintained even after 500 cycling test. More importantly, a largest working potential at about 2.3 V was obtained in this work, benefiting the output energy of this symmetric energy storage system. The outstanding cycling stability, large working potential and the highest initial coulombic efficiency endow this work with promising advantages for the future development of the novel energy storage system. The first time to explore the outstanding symmetric potassium ion battery which is assembled with the K 3 V 2 (PO 4) 3 -based electrodes as both anode and cathode using the in-situ measurements. Image 1 • The symmetric K-ion battery with the best performance was prepared. • The K 3 V 2 (PO 4) 3 symmetric electrodes were used as both the anode and cathode. • High working potential, facial fabrication process and high safety of the full cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is one ω-3 fatty acid that is essential for the development and function of the brain. However, a large number of clinical trials found that the DHA supplementation showed no advantage on mental and motor skill development in term infants. A strategy based on DHA nanoencapsulation (nano FO) using an edible plant protein, zein, mimicking the milk structure is applied for enhanced maternal and fetal absorptions of DHA to improve early brain development. The nano FO achieved increased absorption in GI tract, enhanced delivery to the maternal, fetal, and offspring brains, and reduced fatty acid accumulation in the fetal liver. In the behavior assessments, the nano FO diet showed enhanced learning and memory improvement compared to the normal FO diet. It indicated that zein nanoencapsulation is with high potential for drug and nutrient deliveries to brain and through placenta to fetus with no toxicity concern. Graphical Abstract A suspension of zein nanoencapsulation (B) was formed mimicking the milk structure (A). Zein nanoencapsulation of fish oil (nano FO, D) is a protective structure of DHA similar as the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) to the triglycerides (C). MFGM essentially is a tri-layer structure (E). While, zein is an amphiphile with 9–10 identical α-helix segments aligned in an anti-parallel fashion connected at each end by glutamine-rich bridges (G). The encapsulated FO will bind to the outer surface of the helices of zein, which was hydrophobic, whereas the glutamine-rich bridges, which were hydrophilic, will face to the suspension environment (F). Unlabelled Image Highlights • Nanoencapsulation suspensions (NES) biomimetic of milk structure showed advantages in in vivo delivery efficiency. • Maternal, fetal, and offspring brain absorptions of DHA were improved by using NES. • Behavioral assessments showed improved early brain development of mice after the administration of NES of DHA. • Reduced fatty acid accumulation in the fetal liver was observed when using the NES of DHA. • In vivo safety evaluation of NES showed no changes related to control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emergency logistics is an essential component of post-disaster relief campaigns. However, there are always various uncertainties when making decisions related to planning and implementing post-disaster relief logistics. Considering the particular environmental conditions during post-disaster relief after a catastrophic earthquake in a mountainous area, this paper proposes a stochastic model for post-disaster relief logistics to guide the tactical design for mobilizing relief supply levels, planning initial helicopter deployments, and creating transportation plans within the disaster region, given the uncertainties in demand and transportation time. We then introduce a robust optimization approach to cope with these uncertainties and deduce the robust counterpart of the proposed stochastic model. A numerical example based on disaster logistics during the Great Sichuan Earthquake demonstrates that the model can help post-disaster managers to determine the initial deployments of emergency resources. Sensitivity analyses explore the trade-off between optimization and robustness by varying the robust optimization parameter values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implementation of the banning gasoline vehicles sales policy (BGVSP) will help China achieve its dual carbon goal, but it will harm consumers' rights of choice. Thus, we used grounded theory, a questionnaire survey, and structural equation modeling to build a theoretical motivation model of the public willingness to support (PWTS). Based on 1371 questionnaires, we verified the core influencing factors and mechanisms of the PWTS. The main results are as follows. (1) Because of their different motives, the PWTS can result from three reasons, i.e., decision-making, interpersonal, and civic, in which the proportion of civic awareness is higher. (2) Among individual factors, an environmentally oriented lifestyle and preference for environmental protection have a higher positive effect on the improvement of support intention, but for interpersonal support intention, the effect of economic preference is more significant. (3) The mediating role and effect of psychological factors among the individual factors are quite different. The indirect effect of values and public awareness is higher. (4) The product factors related to new energy vehicles are external moderator variables that affect the PWTS, which play negative effects in the role of preference factors. Hence, from a micro perspective, this study has improved the research scope around the BGVSP, and also contributed feasible recommendations to promote the implementation of the ban. • A motivation model of the PWTS for the BGVSP was constructed based on grounded theory. • 1371 primary data on the PWTS were collected. • The PWTS were classified into three categories because of the differences in intentions. • Fresh ideas are provided to promote the withdrawal of global ICEVs from the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]