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• The positive correlation between social media use and corporate ESG performance underscores the platform's role in ESG performance. • The paper finds the importance of public participation in improving corporate ESG performance. • The paper finds that credit financing policy is a key factor supporting corporate ESG performance. The potential causal relationship between social media, relationship marketing and corporate ESG performance is explored in this study. By collecting data from China's A-share companies, this research employs benchmark regression analysis, tests action mechanisms, and conducts heterogeneity analysis. The findings indicate that leveraging social media and implementing relationship marketing strategies can enhance enterprises' ESG performance. This improvement is achieved by strengthening the external monitoring pathway to elevate the ESG level of enterprises. Moreover, these effects are more pronounced in non-state-owned enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A comprehensive investigation of the chemical compositions and bioactivity of Oviductus Ranae and Rana chensinensis ovum. • About 138 compounds have been identified from Oviductus Ranae and Rana chensinensis ovum. • The relationships between the chemical compositions and anti-fatigue effect of Oviductus Ranae and Rana chensinensis ovum have been illustrated. • The anti-fatigue markers of Oviductus Ranae and Rana chensinensis ovum have been revealed using an integrated strategy. This work is the first attempt to reveal the chemical compositions, as well as the relationships between the chemical compositions and anti-fatigue effect of Oviductus Ranae (OR) and Rana chensinensis ovum (RCO). In this work, an integrated strategy was applied containing comprehensive chemical profiling analysis, extraction methods, in vivo study, multivariate statistics, and network pharmacology. Here, 138 compounds were identified or briefly characterized using UPLC-Q/TOF-MS. About 24 and 35 variables were considered to be discriminating compounds from petroleum ether and ethanol extracts of OR and RCO, respectively. In addition, 41 identified compounds in OR and RCO were significantly correlated with anti-fatigue parameters. Finally, 22 candidate markers in OR and RCO were screened. Network pharmacology analysis was employed to verify those markers and screen the potential targets for anti-fatigue effect. Screened targets were further validated using RT-PCR. In muscle tissues, AKT mRNA, PI3K mRNA, and mTOR mRNA were upregulated following OR and RCO administration. This work not only paved the way for further study of OR and RCO in anti-fatigue function, but also provided essential information for their products quality control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Naturally abundant seawater mineral was employed to engineer banana pseudostem and bamboo biochars through pyrolysis at different low temperatures for improving their adsorption capabilities for methylene blue (MB) and tetracycline (TC). The adsorption capabilities were greatly enhanced as the biochars were pyrolyzed at 300 °C with 50/1 (mL/g) dosage of seawater to biomass. For instance, the engineered banana pseudostem biochar exhibited 8.00 and 6.54 times higher adsorption capabilities than the corresponding pristine biochar for MB (447.79 mg/g vs 55.96 mg/g) and TC (100.59 mg/g vs 16.75 mg/g) at 25 °C, respectively. The characterization results indicated that a large number of carboxylates, lactone acid salts, and alkoxides were generated on the engineered biochar and a high cation exchange capacity was gained. The adsorption of MB was mainly attributed to cation exchange complying with hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction, whereas the adsorption of TC was realized by hydrogen bonding and complexation. [Display omitted] • Oxygen containing groups were regulated by seawater mineral-promoted pyrolysis. • Carboxylates, lactonic salts and alkoxides were massively generated. • High cation exchange capacity was obtained. • High adsorption capabilities were achieved for methylene blue and tetracycline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapy is an effective strategy for regenerative therapy. However, safety and ease of use are still issues to be overcome in clinical applications. Exosomes are naturally derived nanoparticles containing bioactive molecules, which serve as ideal cell-free therapeutic modalities. However, issues such as delivery, long-term preservation and activity maintenance of exosomes are other problems that limit their application. In this study, we proposed the use of rapid freeze-dry-thaw macroporous hydrogels for the encapsulation of HucMSC-derived exosomes (HucMSC-Exos) combined with an antimicrobial peptide coating. This exosome-encapsulated hyaluronic acid macroporous hydrogel HD-DP7/Exo can achieve long-term storage and transport by lyophilization and can be rapidly redissolved for treatment. After comprehensively comparing the therapeutic effects of HucMSC-Exos and HucMSC-loaded hydrogels, we found that HucMSC-Exos could also effectively regulate fibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells, and macrophages and inhibit myofibroblast-mediated fibrosis, thus promoting tissue regeneration and inhibiting scar formation in a mouse model of deep second-degree burn infection healing. These properties of lyophilized storage and whole-process-repair make HD-DP7/Exo have potential application value and application prospects. [Display omitted] Schedule: HucMSC-Exos immobilized in HD-DP7 antibacterial hydrogel through freeze-drying, can deliver miR-21-5p and thereby promote the healing of deep second-degree burns with bacterial infection, in conjunction with antimicrobial peptides. (A) Preparation of HD-DP7 hydrogels and HucMSC-Exos-loaded HD-DP7/Exo. (B) HD-DP7/Exo can promote scar-free healing of deep second-degree burn wounds with infection through antibacterial action, anti-apoptotic effects, anti-inflammatory properties, promotion of angiogenesis, enhancement of reepithelialization, and regulation of extracellular matrix synthesis. • An effective, safe, cell-free strategy for scarless healing of deep second-degree burn wounds. • A HucMSC-derived exosome and antimicrobial peptide coloaded multifunctional hydrogel. • Maintaining the long-term stability and bioactivity of exosomes and antibacterial peptides by lyophilization. • Regulation of the whole wound healing process with miR-21-5p carried by exosomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traumatic multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections are deadly threat to the public. To combat MDR bacteria, we developed a dual functional pH-sensitive hydrogel based on peptide DP7 (VQWRIRVAVIRK) and oxidized dextran (DP7-ODEX hydrogel). As an antimicrobial peptide, DP7 can synergize with many antibiotics; thus, we loaded ceftazidime into DP7-ODEX hydrogel, which showed an obvious advantage in MDR P. aeruginosa inhibition. Additionally, due to the interaction between aldehyde groups in oxidized dextran and amine groups from wound tissue, the hydrogel could extend on the irregular surface of skin defects and promote epithelial cells adhesion. DP7 could also be used as a wound-healing peptide and accelerate the healing process. We confirmed that the DP7-ODEX hydrogel exerted formidable therapeutic effects in normal or diabetic wound infection model. According to histomorphology analysis we found that DP7 hydrogel also have a scarless wound healing ability. In summary, we developed a hydrogel fabricated by the dual functional peptide DP7 that can kill multidrug-resistant bacteria colonizing the wound bed and boost scarless wound healing. • Antibacterial peptide is used to fabricate hydrogel network and promote scarless wound healing process. • A synergistic strategy was used to treat multidrug resistant bacteria. • The hydrogel can inhibit multidrug resistant bacterial growth without inducing its resistance. • The hydrogel can inhibit multidrug resistant bacterial and biofilm growth by using a low dosage of antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by progressive respiratory difficulties. It has a high incidence and disability rate worldwide. However, currently there is still a lack of highly effective treatment methods for COPD, only symptom relief is possible. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore new treatment options. Almost all cells can secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs), which participate in many physiological activities by transporting cargoes and are associated with the pathogenesis of various diseases. Recently, many scholars have extensively studied the relationship between COPD and EVs, which has strongly demonstrated the significant impact of EVs from different sources on the occurrence and development of COPD. Therefore, EVs are a good starting point and new opportunity for the diagnosis and treatment of COPD. In this review, we mainly describe the current mechanisms of EVs in the pathogenesis of COPD, also the relationship between diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. At the same time, we also introduce some new methods for COPD therapy based on EVs. It is hoped that this article can provide new ideas for future research and contribute to the development of precision medicine. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particle flow code in three dimensions (PFC3D) is used to investigate the bearing capacity and mechanism of a geomembrane-lined landfill under construction loading. The soils and the geomembranes are simulated by numerous balls and parallel bond, respectively. The initial states and loading processes of geomembrane-lined soil are simulated by PFC3D method. The displacement vector diagram, the velocity vector diagram, the stress and the porosity of soil were analyzed using the numerical models. The simulation results demonstrate that the geomembranes keep the underneath soil particles from being displaced under the applied load and can distribute the load uniformly over a wider area. The interface between soil particles and geomembranes, the displacement vector, the contact force and the deformation of the geomembranes are also analyzed. The results showed that the vertical loading affect strength-strain behavior of geomembranes. The contribution of radial displacements on strain and, consequently, the stress crack and potential failure mechanism of geomembranes were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of electric field orientation on phase transitions and electrocaloric effects (ECEs) in BaTiO 3 single crystals is studied by performing molecular dynamics simulation of first-principles-based effective Hamiltonian. The ECE is directly characterized via the adiabatic temperature change (ΔT) under the microcanonical ensemble. The simulation results demonstrate that different orientation relationship between the electric field and the polarization direction of ferroelectric phase leads to abundant phase structures and ECE behaviors. The electric-field-induced phase transitions produce remarkable ECE peaks/valleys, whereas the polarization rotation and/or extension without phase transition induced by the electric field produces small positive ECEs, which are insensitive to temperature and electric field direction. For the tetragonal-cubic phase transition, ECEs are always positive regardless of the applied electric field direction, and the value and width of ECE peak both increase with the reduction of the angle between electric field and crystallographic orientation. For the orthorhombic-tetragonal and rhombohedral-orthorhombic phase transitions, the sign of ECE gradually changes from negative to positive during the field direction rotates in planes between crystallographic orientations, and the coexistence of positive and negative appears when the field along non-crystallographic directions. Our simulated results shed light on a comprehensive physical understanding of the electric-field-orientation dependent ECE and offer instruction for the design of the refrigeration cycle by combining positive and negative ECEs. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellular alumina foams with porosity of 93.3–94.4% were fabricated by thermo-foaming of powder dispersions in molten d -glucose anhydrous. Up to 8 wt% microsilica was added to ceramic mixtures to explore its effect on the microstructure and properties of the sintered foams. The dispersions revealed a shear thinning and viscosity of the dispersions increased as microsilica addition increased. The shrinkage of samples decreased from 19.70% to 17.82%, the densities of samples decreased from 0.267 to 0.206 g/cm 3 and compressive strength decreased from 1.65 to 0.96 MPa when microsilica addition increased from 0 to 8 wt%. Furthermore, the curves of cell size distribution had a transformation from bimodal to unimodal and the amount of small windows in the foam reduced due to the addition of microsilica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Drying techniques significantly affected the structure and conformation of Rana chensinensis ovum protein isolate. • Freeze drying Rana chensinensis ovum protein isolate exhibited relatively superior nutritional and functional properties. • Pickering emulsion stabilized by freeze drying Rana chensinensis ovum protein isolate showed great characteristics. • Freeze drying Rana chensinensis ovum protein isolate demonstrated a great potential in inhibiting lipid oxidation in food. This work was dedicated to evaluating the drying methods (freeze drying, spray drying, and vacuum drying) of food Rana chensinensis ovum protein isolate (RCOPI) based on comparison of the physicochemical and functional properties. The characterization and evaluation were conducted using scanning electron microscopy, surface hydrophobicity, SDS-PAGE, amino acid composition and nutritional parameters, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and autofluorescence spectroscopy. The results showed the protein structure and conformation of RCOPI were greatly affected by drying techniques, leading to different physicochemical and functional properties. RCOPI possessed four main subunit bands distributed around 110, 90, 35 and 32 kDa. Seven essential amino acids were detected, accounting for 43.27–43.65% of total amino acids. Freeze drying RCOPI (FD-RCOPI) showed superior functional features, including solubility, water holding capacity, oil holding capacity, stabilization of Pickering emulsion and antioxidant capacity. FD-RCOPI exhibited applicability for the manufacture of viscous foods, bakery products and Pickering emulsions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most terrestrial organic matter (OM) is released from clay surfaces when the clay-OM complex enters saline ocean margins and is replaced with ocean OM. However, it remains uncertain how salinity would affect the decoupling of adsorbed OM on clay surfaces. Here we show that the specific location of OM on clay mineral surfaces made a difference on OM migration. The OM trapped on the outer surface of the clay was further consolidated in the presence of salinity, while the OM in the interlayer was exchanged with sodium ions and desorbed. The desorbed OM was further analyzed by Raman spectroscopy and three-dimensional excitation emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy, which analyses revealed that the aromatic protein, fulvic acid-like organics, microbial byproduct, and humic acid-like substances were likely to adsorb on the clay surface under saline conditions. These results indicated that the clay-terrestrial OM association is strong in saline estuaries, with the terrestrial OM unlikely to break away from clay surfaces. • Desorption of OM from the clay-OM complex under saline condition was evaluated. • Position of OM on the clay surfaces influenced its migration in saline conditions. • Interlayer OM was stripped from the interlamellar surface through cation exchange. • OM on the outer surfaces of the clay was consolidated at increased salinity. • OM components after desorption were analyzed with Raman and 3D EEM spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]