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Soft robots with good deformability and adaptability have important prospects in the bionics and intelligence field. However, current research into soft robots is primarily limited to the study of actuators and ignores the integrated use of functional devices and actuators. To enrich the functions of soft robots and expand their application fields, it is necessary to integrate various functional electronic devices into soft robots to perform diverse functions during dynamic deformation. Therefore, this paper discusses methods and strategies to manufacture optical stimuli-responsive soft actuators and integrate them into functional devices for soft robots. Specifically, laser cutting allows us to fabricate an optically responsive actuator structure, e.g., the curling direction can be controlled by adjusting the direction of the cutting line. Actuators with different bending curvatures, including nonbending, can be obtained by adjusting the cutting depth, cutting width, and the spacing of the cutting line, which makes it easy to obtain a folded structure. Thus, various actuators with complex shape patterns can be obtained. In addition, we demonstrate a fabrication scheme for a worm-like soft robot integrated with functional devices (LEDs are used in this paper). The local nonbending design provides an asymmetric structure that provides driving power and avoids damage to the functional circuit caused by the large deformation during movement. The integration of drive and function provides a new path for the application of soft robots in the intelligence and bionics field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the potential disasters caused by tunnels crossing water-abundant fault areas, this study takes the Jinyunshan Tunnel as an example, and studies the groundwater flow law between different rock layers, the interaction between surrounding rock hydrostatic pressure and soil pressure, and the mechanical features and safety of the lining during construction by combining field tests and finite element simulation analysis. The results show that the displacement change rate of the tunnel vault reaches 2.8 mm/d, and the maximum earth pressure and hydrostatic pressure are 2.3 MPa and 1.15 MPa, respectively, both at the bottom of the tunnel in section II. When the tunnel enters the fault fracture zone from the V surrounding rock, the bending moment of the lining increases by 222.78% at the left haunch and 60.87% at the bottom of the right wall. The axial force of the right spandrel increases by 2579.2%, and the left spandrel increases by 221.18%. The safety factor of the two sections is greater than 2.4, indicating that the overall structure is in a safe state, but the safety factor of the second right shoulder is 2.54, which is close to the safety threshold of 2.4. The research results provide a basis for the safety design and construction safety of tunnels through water-rich sections in similar fault fracture zones, and provide a reference for reducing groundwater loss and protecting ecological vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influenced by the anisotropy and water-softening characteristics of gently inclined layered shale, many tunnels have encountered bottom deformation issues during construction and operation, which severely impact the safety of tunnel structures. The energy evolution law during rock deformation and damage can provide support for the assessment and prediction of structure deformation. However, most studies have been conducted on enstatite, granite, and sandstone with limited research on shale. In this study, both conventional and single-cyclic loading-and-unloading uniaxial compression tests were conducted on shale specimens with varying dip angles of the structural plane (Dφ) and water content (Wc) in addressing the most typical layered shale in the Chaoyang Tunnel. The energy evolution features of rock samples at each stage of the tests were analyzed to determine the discriminating indicator (SC) for tunnel bottom deformation tendency. The indicator was based on the elastic strain energy (Uei) and the post-peak dissipation energy (Udi). The results demonstrated that the Dφ and Wc directly affected the energy storage and dissipation process of rock specimens, which in turn enabled them to exhibit different damage evolution features. The Uei and the total input energy (Uli) satisfied a linear relationship, which was determined by the Dφ and Wc of rock specimens. The energy evolution-based indicator SC can accurately characterize the bottom deformation of the tunnel constructed in a gently inclined layered shale stratum. The findings can offer a scientific foundation for rational evaluation of the structure deformation of tunnels under construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unhealthy diets rich in fats and/or sugar are considered as the major external cause of the obesity epidemic, which is often accompanied by a significant decrease in gut hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP1) levels. Numerous studies have demonstrated notable contributions of the gut microbiota in this process. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanism still needs further investigation. The role of epigenetic modifications in gene expression and metabolism has been well demonstrated, with m6A methylation on RNAs being the most prevalent modification throughout their metabolism. In the present study, we found that the expressions of small intestinal Gcg and Pc3, two key genes regulating GLP1 expression, were significantly downregulated in obese mice, associated with reduced GLP1 level. Immunohistochemistry analysis indicated that a high-fat diet slightly increased the density of enteroendocrine L cells in the small intestine, implying that decreased GLP1 levels were not caused by the changes in L cell intensity. Instead, the small intestinal m6A level as well as the expression of known "writers", mettl3/14 and wtap, were found to be positively correlated with the expression of Gcg and Pc3. Fecal microbiota transplantation with feces from normal and obese mice daily to antibiotic-treated mice revealed that dysbiosis in diet-induced obesity was sufficient to reduce serum GLP1, small intestinal m6A level, and intestinal expressions of Gcg, Pc3, and writer genes (mettl3/14, wtap). However, as the most direct and universal methyl donor, the production of fecal S-adenosylmethionine was neither affected by the different dietary patterns nor their shaped microbiota. These results suggested that microbial modulation of the epitranscriptome may be involved in regulating GLP1 expression, and highlighted epitranscriptomic modifications as an additional level of interaction between diet and individual health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) hold immense potential as luminescent materials for various optoelectronic applications. While significant progress has been made in developing NCs with outstanding optical properties in the visible range, their counterparts emitting in the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum are less developed. Rb2AgI3 is a promising UV-emitting material due to its large band gap and high stability. However, the optical properties of low-dimensional Rb2AgI3 NCs are yet to be thoroughly explored. Here, we synthesized Rb2AgI3 NCs via a hot injection method and investigated their properties. Remarkably, these NCs exhibit UV luminescence at 302 nm owing to self-trapped excitons. The wide-bandgap nature of Rb2AgI3 NCs, combined with their intrinsic UV luminescence, offers considerable potential for applications in UV photonic nanodevices. Our findings contribute to the understanding of Rb2AgI3 NCs and pave the way for exploiting their unique properties in advanced optoelectronic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead-free copper halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) are emerging materials with excellent photoelectric properties. Herein, we present a colloidal synthesis route for orthorhombic Cs2CuCl4 NCs with a well-defined cubic shape and an average diameter of 24 ± 2.1 nm. The Cs2CuCl4 NCs exhibited bright, deep blue photoluminescence, which was attributed to the Cu(II) defects. In addition, passivating the Cs2CuCl4 NCs by Ag+ could effectively improve the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and environmental stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air gap defects inside a spacer reduce its insulation performance, resulting in stress concentration, partial discharge, and even flashover. If such gap defects are located at the interface between the insulation and conductor, a decrease in mechanical stress may occur. In this work, a finite element method-based simulation model is developed to analyze the influence of gap defects on the electrical and mechanical properties of a ±320 kV direct current gas insulated line (DC GIL) spacer. Present findings reveal that a radially distributed air gap produces a more significant effect on the electric field distribution, and an electric field strength 1.7 times greater than that of the maximum surface value is observed at the air gap. The axial distribution dominates the distortion of the surface stress by generating a stress concentration region in which the maximum stress of the air gap is twice the pressure in the surrounding area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, selenium nanoparticles have been drawing attention worldwide, and it is crucial to increase the stability of nano-Se. Morinda officinalis polysaccharides (MOP) are the main active component in Morinda officinalis radix. However, their low activity has limited their application. A novel selenium nanoparticle (Se-MOP) was prepared to solve these problems using MOP as a dispersant. The zeta potential was measured to evaluate the stability, and UV and ATR-FTIR were used to investigate the binding type of selenium and MOP. The morphology was observed by the TEM method. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect on five selected cancer cells (HepG2, MCF-7, AGS, PC9, and HCT8) was evaluated, showing remarkable inhibition of all five cancer cells. The mechanism of inhibition was also investigated by cell circle assay, and it was found that Se-MOP could induce cell circle G0/G1 phase arrest. Immune-enhancing activities were evaluated by measuring the proliferation and cytokines of mouse spleen lymphocytes in vitro and quantitative RT-PCR. The results indicated that single stimulation of Se-MOP and synergistic stimulation with PHA or LPS increased immune capacity and improved immune by increasing the expression of cytokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Based on the principle of polarization imaging, a split-focus plane polarization imaging system is developed, and an image clarity method is proposed. Compared with traditional light intensity imaging detection methods, it is easier to detect metal targets from sediment backgrounds in underwater low-visibility scenes. Aiming at the problems of brightness attenuation and contrast reduction in the target image caused by underwater low-visibility environments, a metal target detection method based on split-focus plane polarization imaging is proposed. Firstly, a hybrid enhancement method is proposed to clarify the degraded polarization image. In this study, the GrayWorld method is improved to compensate the attenuation difference of the total light intensity of the polarization image. Variational contrast and saturation enhancement algorithms are used to reduce the underwater scattering effect; secondly, a split-focus plane polarization imaging system is built to complete the control of camera parameters, polarization image acquisition and information processing. Under different underwater low-visibility conditions, polarization imaging of targets with different materials can be realized; finally, an image quality evaluation system is constructed to compare the light intensity and degree of polarization images that are collected by the focal plane polarization imaging system. The polarization characteristics of metal and nonmetal target plates are analyzed. The results show that under the condition of low visibility, the obtained polarization image contrast of the metal target is relatively high, and its EME, information entropy and average gradient are increased by 183.82%, 53.46% and 586.22% on average relative to the image of light intensity. In an underwater low-visibility scene, the method of focal plane polarization imaging proposed in this paper can reduce the difficulty of metal target detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steroidal alkaloids (SAs) and steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs) are common constituents of plant species belonging to the Solanaceae family. However, the molecular mechanism regulating the formation of SAs and SGAs remains unknown. Here, genome-wide association mapping was used to elucidate SA and SGA regulation in tomatoes: a SlGAME5-like glycosyltransferase (Solyc10g085240) and the transcription factor SlDOG1 (Solyc10g085210) were significantly associated with steroidal alkaloid composition. In this study, it was found that rSlGAME5-like can catalyze a variety of substrates for glycosidation and can catalyze SA and flavonol pathways to form O-glucoside and O-galactoside in vitro. The overexpression of SlGAME5-like promoted α-tomatine, hydroxytomatine, and flavonol glycoside accumulation in tomatoes. Furthermore, assessments of natural variation combined with functional analyses identified SlDOG1 as a major determinant of tomato SGA content, which also promoted SA and SGA accumulation via the regulation of GAME gene expression. This study provides new insights into the regulatory mechanisms underlying SGA production in tomatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Permian Lucaogou Formation has developed mixed shale reservoirs, but there are few studies on the diagenetic facies, and the control effect of differential diagenesis on the reservoir capacity of shale oil reservoirs in this area is not clear. Therefore, shale samples of the Lucaogou Formation were systematically selected in this study, and through cast thin sections, field emission scanning electron microscopy, XRD mineral analysis, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption and high-pressure mercury injection experiments, the reservoir capacity of the shale oil reservoirs was evaluated from the perspective of diagenetic evolution. The results show that the shale oil reservoir of the Lucaogou Formation in Jimsar Sag is in the middle diagenetic stage A. The diagenetic evolution sequence is compaction—chlorite cementation—silica cementation—first-stage carbonate cementation—first-stage dissolution of authentic albite—illite/smectite mixed layer cementation—second-stage carbonate cementation—second-stage dissolution. The shale reservoirs are divided into five diagenetic facies: tuffaceous–feldspar dissolution facies, mixed cementation dissolution facies, chlorite thin-membrane facies, carbonate cementation facies and mixed cementation compact facies. Among them, the former two diagenetic facies have strong dissolution and weak cementation and are high-quality diagenetic facies, mainly characterized by large pore volume and good pore connectivity, with relatively low D2 values defined as the fractal dimension of mesopores. On the basis of the above research, three different control models of Lucaogou Formation shale oil reservoirs are proposed, including dissolution to increase pores, chlorite cementation to preserve pores, and strong compaction cementation to reduce pores. The quality of reservoirs developed in this model is successively high, medium, and low. This work can provide guidance for the fine characterization and grading evaluation of mixed shale oil reservoirs in saline lake basins and has important theoretical and practical significance for the prediction of shale oil "sweet spot" distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The taproot of purple carrot accumulated rich anthocyanin, but non-purple carrot did not. MYB transcription factors (TFs) condition anthocyanin biosynthesis in many plants. Currently, genome-wide identification and evolution analysis of R2R3-MYB gene family and their roles involved in conditioning anthocyanin biosynthesis in carrot is still limited. In this study, a total of 146 carrot R2R3-MYB TFs were identified based on the carrot transcriptome and genome database and were classified into 19 subfamilies on the basis of R2R3-MYB domain. These R2R3-MYB genes were unevenly distributed among nine chromosomes, and Ka/Ks analysis suggested that they evolved under a purified selection. The anthocyanin-related S6 subfamily, which contains 7 MYB TFs, was isolated from R2R3-MYB TFs. The anthocyanin content of rhizodermis, cortex, and secondary phloem in 'Black nebula' cultivar reached the highest among the 3 solid purple carrot cultivars at 110 days after sowing, which was approximately 4.20- and 3.72-fold higher than that in the 'Deep purple' and 'Ziwei' cultivars, respectively. The expression level of 7 MYB genes in purple carrot was higher than that in non-purple carrot. Among them, DcMYB113 (DCAR_008994) was specifically expressed in rhizodermis, cortex, and secondary phloem tissues of 'Purple haze' cultivar, with the highest expression level of 10,223.77 compared with the control 'DPP' cultivar at 70 days after sowing. DcMYB7 (DCAR_010745) was detected in purple root tissue of 'DPP' cultivar and its expression level in rhizodermis, cortex, and secondary phloem was 3.23-fold higher than that of secondary xylem at 110 days after sowing. Our results should be useful for determining the precise role of S6 subfamily R2R3-MYB TFs participating in anthocyanin biosynthesis in carrot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is known to alter the biventricular shape and temporal phases of the cardiac cycle. The presence of interventricular septal (IVS) displacement has been associated with the severity of PH. There has been limited cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) data regarding the temporal parameters of the cardiac cycle in PH. This study aimed to quantify the temporal changes in the cardiac cycle derived from CMR in PH patients with and without IVS displacement and sought to understand the mechanism of cardiac dysfunction in the cardiac cycle. Methods: Patients with PH who had CMR and right heart catheterization (RHC) examinations were included retrospectively. Patients were divided into an IVS non-displacement (IVSND) group and an IVS displacement (IVSD) group according to IVS morphology, as observed on short-axis cine CMR images. Additionally, age-matched healthy volunteers were included as the health control (HC). Temporal parameters, IVS displacement, ventricular volume and functional parameters were obtained by CMR, and pulmonary hemodynamics were obtained by RHC. The risk stratification of the PH patients was also graded according to the guidelines. Results: A total of 70 subjects were included, consisting of 33 IVSD patients, 15 IVSND patients, and 22 HC patients. In the IVSND group, only the right ventricle ejection fraction (RVEF) was decreased in the ventricular function, and no temporal change in the cardiac cycle was found. A prolonged isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT) and shortened filling time (FT) in both ventricles, along with biventricular dysfunction, were detected in the IVSD group (p < 0.001). The IRT of the right ventricle (IRTRV) and FT of the right ventricle (FTRV) in the PH patients were associated with pulmonary vascular resistance, right cardiac index, and IVS curvature, and the IRTRV was also associated with the RVEF in a multivariate regression analysis. A total of 90% of the PH patients in the IVSD group were stratified into intermediate- and high-risk categories, and they showed a prolonged IRTRV and a shortened FTRV. The IRTRV was also the predictor of the major cardiovascular events. Conclusions: The temporal changes in the cardiac cycle were related to IVS displacement and mainly impacted the diastolic period of the two ventricles in the PH patients. The IRT and FT changes may provide useful pathophysiological information on the progression of PH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the influence of education for sustainable development, active learning classrooms, as the new learning environment in higher education, have become increasingly diversified and flexible, with a greater emphasis on student experience and engagement. Most research on these learning environments is centered on formal learning analysis and discussion, whereas empirical research on the perception of informal learning in active learning classrooms outside of class time is lacking. Based on informal learning perceptions, this study explored the strengths and weaknesses of active learning classroom spatial environments using a mixed quantitative and qualitative research approach. Through a questionnaire survey of 154 students and one-on-one semi-structured interviews with 15 students, this study found that most students were satisfied with the informal learning experience in active learning classrooms, comfortable and flexible space perception and humanized learning support facilities in active learning classrooms were critical spatial factors influencing students' informal learning, the private environment and positive learning atmosphere in active learning classrooms could promote students' informal learning behaviors, and for active learning classrooms, better resource management could help them develop a better quality full-time learning environment. Based on these findings, this study makes recommendations for optimizing the environment design and management of active learning classrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the changes of carotenoids in the taproot of carrots under salt treatment is helpful to probe the salt stress response mechanism of carrots. The carotenoid concentration and the expression profiles of 10 carotenoid-related genes were determined in two carrot cultivars with different taproot colors. Under salt stress, the biosynthesis of carotenoids in the taproot of both 'KRD' and 'BHJS' was activated. RT-qPCR manifested that the expression levels of DcPSY1, DcPSY2, DcZDS1, DcCRT1 and DcCRT2 increased significantly in both 'KRD' and BHJS' under salt stress, but DcCHXE transcripts decreased and DcPDS transcripts maintained a basal level compared to that of the control. In the taproot of 'KRD', the expression level of DcLCYB, DcLCYE and DcCHXB1 climbed dramatically. However, there was no significant change in the taproot of 'BHJS'. The study showed that salt stress can stimulate the biosynthesis of carotenoids. The accumulation of lutein in the taproots of 'KRD' and 'BHJS' may be mainly attributed to the variation in DcLCYE and DcCHXB1 transcripts. The increase in β-carotene accumulation is speculated to increase salt tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most globally important crops, nutritionally and economically. Therefore, analyzing the genetic basis of its nutritional quality is a paramount prerequisite for cultivating new varieties with increased nutritional health. To systematically compare the nutritional quality differences between landraces and cultivated rice, and to mine key genes that determine the specific nutritional traits of landraces, a seed metabolome database of 985 nutritional metabolites covering amino acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and vitamins by a widely targeted metabolomic approach with 114 rice varieties (35 landraces and 79 cultivars) was established. To further reveal the molecular mechanism of the metabolic differences in landrace and cultivated rice seeds, four cultivars and six landrace seeds were selected for transcriptome and metabolome analysis during germination, respectively. The integrated analysis compared the metabolic profiles and transcriptomes of different types of rice, identifying 358 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) and 1982 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), establishing a metabolite–gene correlation network. A PCA revealed anthocyanins, flavonoids, and lipids as the central differential nutritional metabolites between landraces and cultivated rice. The metabolite–gene correlation network was used to screen out 20 candidate genes postulated to be involved in the structural modification of anthocyanins. Five glycosyltransferases were verified to catalyze the glycosylation of anthocyanins by in vitro enzyme activity experiments. At the same time, the different mechanisms of the anthocyanin synthesis pathway and structural diversity in landrace and cultivated rice were systematically analyzed, providing new insights for the improvement and utilization of the nutritional quality of rice landrace varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have investigated the spatial attributes of Active Learning Classrooms (ALCs) and their impact on students' learning experiences and learning engagement independently; however, a holistic investigation of the relationship between these attributes and students' learning engagement has not been conducted. This study explored how the spatial attributes of ALCs affect students' learning experiences and learning engagement. An empirical questionnaire was administered to freshmen taking English classes in four different types of ALCs at one university, and 224 valid questionnaires were analyzed. This study provides design insight for future learning environments in ALCs by linking two Likert scales: one rating spatial attributes in ALCs that influence learning experiences, and the other rating students' learning engagement in ALCs. The results revealed that the spatial attributes of ALCs significantly affected the learning experience, specifically instructional interaction, furniture perception, learning support, and physical environment. Among them, instructional interactions and physical environment are the most critical in promoting student learning engagement. The survey findings can help architects design more flexible and sustainable learning environments in the future, supporting university students in developing active and collaborative learning skills, as well as providing better references and beneficial insights for future education for sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO2 phase transition fracturing (CPTF) is considered to be a promising way to improve the recovery efficiency of coalbed methane in deep, tight coal seams. In addition, it is significant to the CO2-ECBM and CO2 storage in coal. To better understand the fracturing radius and time effects of CPTF, a field experimentation was conducted on the Ji-15 coal seam of Pingmei 8th Coal Mine. The results indicate that the fracturing radius and time effects are significantly related; with the increase in fracturing radius, the time for extraction rate to reach the peak value is shorter. The calculated value of effective fracturing radius is 7.56 m via the fitting relationship. According to the CO2 content in different extraction boreholes after fracturing, it can be concluded that the crack zone is 5 m. In addition, the extraction rate of methane firstly increases slowly for a while, and then reaches the peak. This work could provide theoretical directions for the arrangement of fracturing and extraction boreholes in CO2 fracturing works related to CO2-ECBM and gas pre-extraction in coal mining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photophysical and biological properties of two new phenanthroline-based ligand ruthenium complexes were investigated in detail. Their DNA interaction modes were determined to be the intercalation mode using spectra titration and viscosity measurements. Under irradiation, obvious photo-reduced DNA cleavages were observed in the two complexes via singlet oxygen generation. Furthermore, complex 2 showed higher DNA affinity, photocleavage activity, and singlet oxygen quantum yields than complex 1. The two complexes showed no toxicity towards tumor cells (HeLa, A549, and A375) in the dark. However, obvious photocytotoxicities were observed in the two complexes. Complex 2 exhibited large PIs (phototherapeutic indices) (ca. 400) towards HeLa cells. The study suggests that these complexes may act as DNA intercalators, DNA photocleavers, and photocytotoxic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart windows can dynamically and adaptively adjust the light transmittance in non-energy or low-energy ways to maintain a comfortable ambient temperature, which are conducive to efficient use of energy. This work proposes a liquid crystal (LC) smart window with highly efficient near-infrared (NIR) response using carbon nanotubes grafted by biphenyl LC polymer brush (CNT-PDB) as the orientation layer. The resultant CNT-PDB polymer brush can provide the vertical orientation of LC molecules to maintain the initial transparency. At the same time, the smart window shows a rapid response to NIR light, which can quickly adjust the light transmittance to prevent sunlight from entering the room. Different from common doping systems, this method avoids the problem of poor compatibility between the LC host and photothermal conversion materials, which is beneficial for improving the durability of the device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase-transition and orientation of liquid crystal (LC) are two crucial factors for LC application. In this work, a long rod-like LC compound containing double azobenzene (M1) is successfully designed and synthesized. The combing technologies of nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR, 13C NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) are used to identify the chemical structure of the molecule. Additionally, the polarized optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and one-dimensional wide-angle X-ray diffraction (1D WAXD) experimental results show that M1 exhibits an ultrawide range of LC phases and a stable LC structure even at ultrahigh temperature, which indicates that this LC can be applied in some especial devices. Further, the compound M1 is used to tune the LC temperature range of the commercial LC 4-cyano-4′-pentylbiphenyl (5CB). A series of samples 1–7 are obtained through doping different contents of M1, which show different LC temperature ranges that are dependent on the composition ratio of M1 and 5CB. More interestingly, all resultant samples show spontaneous vertical orientation on the hydrophilic glass substrate. Meanwhile, due to the effect of azobenzene in the compound M1, a reversible transition between homeotropic to random orientation of the LC molecules is achieved when these LC cells are alternately exposed to UV irradiation and visible light, which implies that this material shows potential application in especial display and optical storage technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, a real-time nowcasting system for regional landslide-hazard assessment under extreme-rainfall conditions was established by integrating a real-time rainfall data retrieving system, a landslide-susceptibility analysis program (TRISHAL), and a real-time display system to show the stability of regional slopes in real time and provide an alert index under rainstorm conditions for disaster prevention and mitigation. The regional hydrogeological parameters were calibrated using a reverse-optimization analysis based on an RGA (Real-coded Genetic Algorithm) of the optimization techniques and an improved version of the TRIGRS (Transient Rainfall Infiltration and Grid-based Regional Slope-Stability) model. The 2009 landslide event in the Xiaolin area of Taiwan, associated with Typhoon Morakot, was used to test the real-time regional landslide-susceptibility system. The system-testing results showed that the system configuration was feasible for practical applications concerning disaster prevention and mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increasingly strict supervision, the complexity of enterprises' annual reports has increased significantly, and the size of the text corpus has grown at an enormous rate. Information fusion for financial reporting has become a research hotspot. The difficulty of this problem is in filtering the massive amount of heterogeneous data and integrating related information distributed in different locations according to decision topics. This paper proposes a Graph NetWork (GNW) model that establishes the overall connection between decentralized information, as well as a graph network generation algorithm to filter large and complex data sets in financial reports and to mine key information to make it suitable for different decision situations. Finally, this paper uses the Planar Maximally Filtered Graph (PMFG) as a benchmark to show the effect of the generation algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The improvement of food-grade emulsifiers in the properties and stability of complex emulsion has attracted much interest. In this study, the effects of six food-grade emulsifiers with a hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB) range of 3.4–8.0 on a casein-maltodextrin-soybean oil compound emulsion were investigated by centrifugal precipitation rate (CPR), emulsifying activity index (EAI), microrheological properties, zeta potential, average particle size, and Turbiscan stability index (TSI). The optimal amounts of added succinylated monoglyceride (SMG) and polyglycerol fatty acid ester were 0.0025% and 0.1% (w/w), respectively, while that of the other four emulsifiers was 0.2% (w/w), according to the CPR. Thereinto, the SMG-stabilized emulsion exhibited the highest emulsifying activity and the lowest viscosity value and possessed the highest stability over 14 days of storage, which was indicated by the lowest TSI value and the smallest change in delta backscattering signal, relative to those of the other groups. Moreover, the emulsion stabilized by SMG displayed better emulsion stability than the control under a range of pH (6.0–8.0) and calcium ion concentrations (0–10 mM), which was attributed to the increased zeta potential value and the decreased average particle size of droplets with the addition of SMG. The present study provides a basic understanding for SMG improving the properties and stability of the complex emulsion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of production logging to evaluate fluid flow inside pipe, logging tools that force all flow to pass through a small measuring pipe are commonly utilized for measuring mixture density. For these logging tools, studying the fluid flow phenomenon inside the small diameter pipe and improving the prediction accuracy of pressure drop are beneficial to accurately measure mixture density. In this paper, a pressure drop prediction system is designed based on a combination of an eight-electrode rotating electric field conductance sensor (REFCS), plug-in cross-correlation conductance sensor, and differential pressure sensor. This combination overcomes the limitation of the existing pressure drop prediction model that the inlet flow velocity needs to be known. An experiment is conducted in a flow loop facility with 20 mm inner diameter small pipe. The responses of the combination sensors are collected. The REFCS is used to identify flow pattern and measure water holdup. During which five flow patterns are identified by recurrence plot method, i.e., slug flow, bubble flow, churn flow, bubble-slug transitional flow, and slug-churn transitional flow. The mixture velocity of two-phase flow is determined by the plug-in conductance sensor. The differential pressure sensor provides a differential pressure fluctuation signal. Five models of prediction of pressure drop are evaluated. The mixture friction factor of gas-water two-phase flow is obtained by a fitting method based on the measured parameters and flow pattern identification using the optimal model. Then, the pressure drop can be predicted according to the measurement results of a conductance sensor and fitting relationship. The results of pressure drop prediction show that the model proposed by Ansari et al. presents a higher accuracy compared with the other four differential pressure models with the absolute average percentage deviation (AAPD) of less than 2.632%. Moreover, the accuracy of pressure drop prediction of the Zhang et al. model is improved by using the mixture friction factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer is one of the major causes of cancer-related death in Taiwan and worldwide. Patients with peritoneal metastasis from colorectal cancer have reduced overall survival and poor prognosis. Hybrid protein-inorganic nanoparticle systems have displayed multifunctional applications in solid cancer theranostics. In this study, a gold nanocore-encapsulated human serum albumin nanoparticle (Au@HSANP), which is a hybrid protein-inorganic nanoparticle, and its radioactive surrogate 111In-labeled Au@HSANP (111In-Au@HSANP), were developed and their biological behaviors were investigated in a tumor/ascites mouse model. 111In-Au@HSANP was injected either intravenously (iv) or intraperitoneally (ip) in CT-26 tumor/ascites-bearing mice. After ip injection, a remarkable and sustained radioactivity retention in the abdomen was noticed, based on microSPECT images. After iv injection, however, most of the radioactivity was accumulated in the mononuclear phagocyte system. The results of biodistribution indicated that ip administration was significantly more effective in increasing intraperitoneal concentration and tumor accumulation than iv administration. The ratios of area under the curve (AUC) of the ascites and tumors in the ip-injected group to those in the iv-injected group was 93 and 20, respectively. This study demonstrated that the ip injection route would be a better approach than iv injections for applying gold-albumin nanoparticle in peritoneal metastasis treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small noncoding ~22-nt RNAs, which have been reported to play a crucial role in maintaining bone development and metabolism. Osteogenesis originates from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiating into mature osteoblasts and each period of bone formation is inseparable from the delicate regulation of various miRNAs. Of note, apprehending the sophisticated circuit between miRNAs and osteogenic homeostasis is of great value for artificial skeletal regeneration for severe bone defects. In this review, we highlight how different miRNAs interact with diverse osteo-related genes and endeavor to sketch the contours of potential manipulations of miRNA-modulated bone repair.

Momordica charantia Linn. is used as an edible and medicinal vegetable in sub-tropical areas. Until now, studies on its composition and related activities have been confined to compounds of low molecular mass, and no data have been reported concerning the plant's polysaccharides. In this work, a crude polysaccharide of M. charantia (MCP) fruit was isolated by hot water extraction and then purified using DEAE-52 cellulose anion-exchange chromatography to produce two main fractions MCP1 and MCP2. The immunomodulatory effects and physicochemical characteristics of these fractions were investigated in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that intragastric administration of 150 or 300 mg·kg-·d⁻¹ of MCP significantly increased the carbolic particle clearance index, serum haemolysin production, spleen index, thymus index and NK cell cytotoxicity to normal control levels in cyclophosphamide (Cy)-induced immunosuppressed mice. Both MCP1 and MCP2 effectively stimulated normal and concanavalin A-induced splenic lymphocyte proliferation in vitro at various doses. The average molecular weights of MCP1 and MCP2, which were measured using high-performance gel permeation chromatography, were 8.55×10⁴ Da and 4.41×10⁵ Da, respectively. Both fractions exhibited characteristic polysaccharide bands in their Fourier transform infrared spectrum. MCP1 is mainly composed of glucose and galactose, and MCP2 is mainly composed of glucose, mannose and galactose. The results indicate that MCP and its fractions have good potential as immunotherapeutic adjuvants.

Acerola cherry is a world famous fruit which contains abundant antioxidants such as vitamin C, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and phenolics. However, studies concerning bioactivity components from aerial parts of acerola (Malpighia emarginata) are scarce. In view of this, we have examined the constituents of aerial parts of acerola, and three new tetranorditerpenes acerolanins A-C (1-3) with a rare 2H-benz[e]inden-2-one substructure were isolated. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectral studies and acerolanin C was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Furthermore, three new compounds have been studied for their cytotoxic activity.

The solution properties of four fractions (LPI-IV) from crude longan pulp polysaccharides (LP3) were analyzed by size-exclusion chromatography combined with laser light scattering, viscometry, complex formation with Congo red, and atomic force microscopy. Their radii of gyration (z)(½) were 43.3, 62.6, 43.2 and 77.3 nm, exponents of (z)(½) = k M(w)(v) were 0.04, 0.50, 0.52 and 0.02, and intrinsic viscosities ([η]) were 9.945, 25.38, 308.2 and 452.1 mL/g, respectively. Moreover, the dependence of [η] on M(w) was established to be [η] = 5.3 × 10⁻²M(w)⁰·⁶¹ (mL/g). LPI had both a sphere-like conformation and a triple-helix structure, and LPII-IV existed as flexible chains. LP3, LPI, LPII and LPIII all exhibited direct inhibitory effects on A549, HeLa and HepG2 cells in a positive dose-dependent manner in the range of 50-400 µg/mL. The activities of LPIII, especially the inhibition of HepG2 cell proliferation, were stronger than those of others, which may be partly related to its flexible conformation. The present results support the cancer therapeutic potential of longan polysaccharides.

Litchi fruit pericarp (LFP) contains significant amounts of phenolics which have been found to exhibit diverse biological activities. The purpose of this work was to determine the varietal differences in phenolic profiles and antioxidant activity of LFP from nine commercially available cultivars. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents ranged from 9.39 to 30.16 mg gallic acid equivalents/g fresh weight (FW) and from 7.12 to 23.46 mg catechin equivalents/g FW, respectively. The total anthocyanin contents ranged from 1.77 to 20.94 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalents/100 g FW. Three anthocyanins, including cyanidin-3-rutinoside, cyanidin-3-glucoside, malvidin-3-glucoside, were detected, and cyanidin-3-rutinoside was the predominant constituent which contributes from 68.8% to 100% to total anthocyanins, The total procyanidin contents ranged from 4.35 to 11.82 mg epicatechin equivalents/g FW. Procyanidin B2, epicatechin, A-type procyanidin trimer, and procyanidin A2 were detected in all nine litchi varieties. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity activities and DPPH radical-scavenging activities ranged from 430.49 to 1752.30 μmol TE/100 g FW and from 4.70 to 11.82 mg/g (IC50), respectively. These results indicate that there are significant differences in phytochemical profiles and antioxidant activity among the tested varieties. Knowing the phenolic profiles and antioxidant activity of LFP of different varieties gives the insights into its potential application to promote health.

The immunomodulatory function of longan pulp polysaccharide-protein complex (LP3) was investigated in immunosuppressed mice models. Compared with the model control, peroral administration of 100 mgkg⁻¹d⁻¹ LP3 could significantly increase/enhance antibody production against chicken red blood cell (CRBC), concanavalin A (ConA)-induced splenocyte proliferation, macrophage phagocytosis, NK cell cytotoxicity against YAC-1 lymphoma cell, and interferon-gamma (INF-γ) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion in serum (P < 0.05). The immunomodulatory effects, except for those on splenocytes and macrophages (P > 0.05), were also observed in mice administered with 50 or 200 mgkg⁻¹d⁻¹ LP3 (P < 0.05). The beneficial effects of 50-200 mgkg⁻¹d⁻¹ LP3 were comparable to those of 50 mgkg⁻¹d⁻¹ ganoderan. The strong immunomodulatory activity of LP3 confirmed its good potential as an immunotherapeutic adjuvant.

Three polysaccharide-protein complexes of longan pulp (LP1-3) were isolated in this work. Their physicochemical characteristics and immunomodulatory effects on splenocytes, natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages in vitro were investigated. The carbohydrate portions of LP1-3 were principally composed of glucose, arabinose and mannose. LP3 displayed the maximal moisture absorption, and the thermal stability of LP2 was obviously higher than that of LP1 and LP3. All of them showed the characteristic polysaccharide and protein bands in the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrum. For a certain dose, all the fractions could significantly stimulate splenocyte proliferation, macrophage phagocytosis against neutral red, and NK cell cytotoxicity against YAC-1 lymphoma cell (P < 0.05). The results demonstrated that the polysaccharide-protein complexes of longan pulp have medical potential as immunotherapeutic adjuvants due to their immunomodulatory activities.