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Recent years have witnessed the transformative impact from the integration of artificial intelligence with organic and polymer synthesis. This synergy offers innovative and intelligent solutions to a range of classic problems in synthetic chemistry. These exciting advancements include the prediction of molecular property, multi-step retrosynthetic pathway planning, elucidation of the structure-performance relationship of single-step transformation, establishment of the quantitative linkage between polymer structures and their functions, design and optimization of polymerization process, prediction of the structure and sequence of biological macromolecules, as well as automated and intelligent synthesis platforms. Chemists can now explore synthetic chemistry with unprecedented precision and efficiency, creating novel reactions, catalysts, and polymer materials under the data-driven paradigm. Despite these thrilling developments, the field of artificial intelligence (AI) synthetic chemistry is still in its infancy, facing challenges and limitations in terms of data openness, model interpretability, as well as software and hardware support. This review aims to provide an overview of the current progress, key challenges, and future development suggestions in the interdisciplinary field between AI and synthetic chemistry. It is hoped that this overview will offer readers a comprehensive understanding of this emerging field, inspiring and promoting further scientific research and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It has been suggested that gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) alters the growth trajectory of a fetus and increases the risk of abnormal birth weight. In spite of this, there is still a significant debate regarding the mode and optimal timing of diagnosing this condition. Our aim was to determine fetal growth velocity and birth biometry in pregnant women with GDM at varying risk levels. Methods: We conducted a cohort study involving 1023 pregnant women at a maternity hospital in Ma'anshan, China. All women completed an oral glucose tolerance test at 24–28 weeks' gestation. We measured fetal head circumference (HC), femoral length (FL), abdominal circumference (AC), biparietal diameter (BPD), and estimate fetal weight (EFW) by ultrasound at 17, 24, 31, and 35 weeks' gestation, respectively. Results: Overall, 5115 ultrasound scans were performed. Among both low-risk and medium–high-risk pregnant women at 17–24 weeks' gestation, GDM exposure was associated with an increase in fetal growth velocity. Neonates born to women with GDM at medium–high risk had significantly larger birth weights than those born to women without GDM, while this was not observed in women at low risk. Conclusion: In medium–high-risk pregnant women, exposure to GDM has a greater effect on the fetus, leading to abnormal fetal growth velocity that lasts beyond week 24. It is evident from our results that the effects of GDM on fetal growth differ between medium–high-risk pregnant women and low-risk pregnant women, and therefore a different screening program based on the risk factor for GDM is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The elemental distributions among various phases in vanadium-bearing slags have been quantified toward high-efficiency separation and extraction by calcium roasting using electron probe X-ray microanalysis. The roles of the roasting conditions were clarified, including roasting temperature, roasting time, and calcium amount. It was found that, with increasing roasting temperature, the V2O5 concentration in the target vanadium-enriched phase, predominantly in a form of 2(Ca,Mn)O·V2O5, decreased along with more SiO2 and Fe2O3 in this phase; while, with increasing roasting time, the V2O5 concentration in the vanadium-enriched phase increased due to a more complete reaction. However, a higher calcium addition induced a lower V2O5 concentration in the vanadium-enriched phase and, therefore, a CaO/V2O5 weight ratio of 0.6 was employed. In addition to the vanadium-enriched phase, the solubilities, especially V2O5 in the SiO2 and Fe2O3 solid solutions under varying roasting conditions, were also identified for a reduction of vanadium loss. Based on those quantitative results, the main principles to target to adjust the elemental distributions among various phases during the calcium roasting of vanadium-bearing slags are discussed toward a low-cost and high-efficiency vanadium extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing an appropriate composition of dephosphorization slag is crucial for effectively reducing phosphorus content in steels and facilitating the development of high-quality steel products. In this study, we conducted dephosphorization equilibrium experiments to elucidate the cationic effect of Ca2+, Fe2+, and Mg2+ on dephosphorization behavior through Raman and 31P MAS-NMR spectroscopy. The results indicate that the addition of CaO, MgO, and FeO induces a consistent transformation from Q2(Si), Q1(Si), and Q1(P) units to Q0(Si) and Q0(P) units, resulting in a reduction in the degree of polymerization of the slag. The dephosphorization rate exhibits a nearly linear increase with CaO and MgO content, reaching its maximum value upon adding 30 mass% FeO. This phenomenon confirms that excessive addition of Fe2+ has an adverse impact on the dephosphorization ability of slag, which can be attributed to a reduced stability of PO4 groups. Moreover, when Fe(II)/(Mg + Ca) is within 0.5, increasing NBO of molten slag is beneficial for improving dephosphorization rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

User–item bipartite graphs and knowledge graphs are frequently employed in recommender systems due to their ability to provide rich information for user and item modeling. However, existing recommender systems predominantly focus on modeling either the user or item individually, with few studies simultaneously considering both aspects. In this paper, we propose a novel double-ended recommendation model, DEKGCI, which aims to fully leverage the advantages of these two information sources. Specifically, DEKGCI harnesses the high-order connectivity information in the user–item bipartite graph to extract user representations, while utilizing the semantic information in the knowledge graph to enrich item representations. By doing so, DEKGCI concurrently learns both user and item representations, effectively capturing the intricate interaction information between users and items. The DEKGCI model was evaluated on three real-world datasets. Computational results demonstrate the high effectiveness of the proposed DEKGCI model compared to seven state-of-the-art reference methods from the literature. In particular, compared to the best-performing KFGAN model, DEKGCI achieved AUC gains of 0.335% in movie recommendations, and F1 gains of 0.023%, 2.203%, and 0.530% in movie, book, and music recommendations, respectively. The code and data are available at https://github.com/miaomiao924/DEKGCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The automated generation of geometry proof problems represents a burgeoning research domain in the realm of artificial intelligence, with significant practical implications for mathematics education. In this study, we present a method for automatically generating fresh geometry proof questions by adapting existing ones. The core of the approach is a novel representation model for geometry proof problems, which we term “point geometry identity". According to this model, the premises and conclusion to be proven in a geometry proof problem, as well as their relationships, can be expressed as an expression. Subsequently, by applying equivalent deformation principles of algebraic expressions, we can modify the premises and conclusions of existing problems to generate new ones. Experimental analysis and expert evaluations indicate that our approach can efficiently generate a substantial number of diverse problems suitable for mathematics education within a short span of time. Moreover, under the same input conditions, our method can generate novel problems that existing techniques cannot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sex is a crucial biological variable, and influence of biological sex on the change of gene expression in ageing skeletal muscle has not yet been fully revealed. In this study, the mRNA expression profiles were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Key genes were identified by differential expression analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis. The gene set enrichment analysis software and Molecular Signatures Database were used for functional and enrichment analysis. A protein–protein interaction network was constructed using STRING and visualized in Cytoscape. The results were compared between female and male subgroups. Differentially expressed genes and enriched pathways in different sex subgroups shared only limited similarities. The pathways enriched in the female subgroup were more similar to the pathways enriched in the older groups without taking sex difference into consideration. The pathways enriched in the female subgroup were more similar to the pathways enriched in the older groups without taking sex difference into consideration. The muscle myosin filament pathways were downregulated in the both aged female and male samples whereas transforming growth factor beta pathway and extracellular matrix-related pathways were upregulated. With muscle ageing, the metabolism-related pathways, protein synthesis and degradation pathways, results of predicted immune cell infiltration, and gene cluster associated with slow-type myofibers drastically different between the female and male subgroups. This finding may indicate that changes in muscle type with ageing may differ between the sexes in vastus lateralis muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urinary incontinence is a common disease among middle-aged and elderly women, which not only affects the physical and mental health of patients, but also brings a great medical burden to society. Obesity is a known risk factor for urinary incontinence and is the most common secondary cause of hyperlipidemia. Most obese patients also suffer from hyperlipidemia in the clinic. However, few studies have explored the role of hyperlipidemia in women with urinary incontinence. Using data from the 2005–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), we aimed to evaluated the independent associations of high body mass index and hyperlipidemia with urinary incontinence in Americans by conducting a weighted multivariate logistic regression model. Additive interactions were also assessed using the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), attributed proportion of interaction (AP) and synergy index (S). This study demonstrated that hyperlipidemia was associated with a higher risk of stress urinary incontinence among women with obesity (OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.03–2.25), and there was a significant synergistic effect of hyperlipidemia and obesity on stress urinary incontinence(adjusted RERI: 3.75, 95% CI 0.30–7.20; adjusted AP: 0.67, 95% CI 0.54–0.80; adjusted S: 5.49, 95% CI 4.15–7.27). Moreover, fasting serum triglyceride lipids were the most relevant blood lipid indicator for the risk of stress urinary incontinence, especially among obese women younger than 50 years old, which contributes to the development of more refined lipid control protocols for patients with urinary incontinence in different age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we clarified the elemental migrations among various phases in vanadium-bearing slags modified using V2O3, CaO and "FeO" at 1380 °C, where the main methodology included high temperature experiments, quenching and electron probe X-ray microanalysis. We quantified the oxide distributions between the spinel and the liquid phases, including the major oxides such as "FeO", CaO, SiO2, V2O3 and Cr2O3, etc., and the minor oxides such as Al2O3, MnO and MgO, etc. We first found that V2O3 and Cr2O3 were mainly present in the spinel phase, determining the primary phase of this system. With an increasing total V2O3 content, the V2O3 concentration in the spinel phase remarkably increased, and the Cr2O3 concentration decreased; while those in the liquid phase remained at a low level. More CaO induced an increasing V2O3 concentration in the liquid phase moved from the spinel phase, and correspondingly the Cr2O3 concentration in the spinel phase increased. In comparison, "FeO" mainly affected the chemical compositions of the spinel phase but not the liquid phase, i.e., with an increasing total "FeO" content, the "FeO" concentration in the spinel phase gradually increased at the cost of V2O3 and Cr2O3. Our study thus provided useful clues for process design and in-site modification of vanadium-bearing slags toward clean utilizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is associated with high mortality and disability rates, and secondary white matter injury is an important cause of poor prognosis. However, whether brain capillary pericytes can directly affect the differentiation and maturation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) and subsequently affect white matter injury repair has still been revealed. This study was designed to investigate the effect of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3) for OPC differentiation and maturation. PDGFRβret/ret and wild-type C57B6J male mice were used to construct a mouse model of SAH via endovascular perforation in this study. Mice were also treated with vehicle, TIMP-3 RNAi or TIMP-3 RNAi + TIMP-3 after SAH. The effect of TIMP-3 on the differentiation and maturation of OPCs was determined using behavioral score, ELISA, transmission electron microscopy, immunofluorescence staining and cell culture. We found that TIMP-3 was secreted mainly by pericytes and that SAH and TIMP-3 RNAi caused a significant decrease in the TIMP-3 content, reaching a nadir at 24 h, followed by gradual recovery. In vitro, the myelin basic protein content of oligodendrocytes after oxyhemoglobin treatment was increased by TIMP-3 overexpression. The data indicates TIMP-3 could promote the differentiation and maturation of OPCs and subsequently improve neurological outcomes after SAH. Therefore, TIMP-3 could be beneficial for repair after white matter injury and could be a potential therapeutic target in SAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zymomonas mobilis is regarded as a potential chassis for the production of platform chemicals. Genome editing using the CRISPR-Cas system could meet the need for gene modification in metabolic engineering. However, the low curing efficiency of CRISPR editing plasmid is a common bottleneck in Z. mobilis. In this study, we utilized a theophylline-dependent riboswitch to regulate the expression of the replicase gene of the editing plasmid, thereby promoting the elimination of exogeneous plasmid. The riboswitch D (RSD) with rigorous regulatory ability was identified as the optimal candidate by comparing the transformation efficiency of four theophylline riboswitch-based backbone editing plasmids, and the optimal theophylline concentration for inducing RSD was determined to be 2 mM. A highly effective method for eliminating the editing plasmid, cells with RSD-based editing plasmid which were cultured in liquid and solid RM media in alternating passages at 37 °C without shaking, was established by testing the curing efficiency of backbone editing plasmids pMini and pMini-RSD in RM medium with or without theophylline at 30 °C or 37 °C. Finally, the RSD-based editing plasmid was applied to genome editing, resulting in an increase of more than 10% in plasmid elimination efficiency compared to that of pMini-based editing plasmid. Key points: • An effective strategy for curing CRISPR editing plasmid has been established in Z. mobilis. • Elimination efficiency of the CRISPR editing plasmid was enhanced by 10% to 20% under the regulation of theophylline-dependent riboswitch RSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How to automatically generate short and easy-to-understand proofs for geometric theorems has long been an issue of concern in mathematics education. A novel automated geometric theorem proving method based on complex number identities is proposed in this paper, which acts as a bridge between geometry and algebra. According to the proposed method, the geometric relations in the given proposition are first transformed into a complex number expression, then the complex number identity is generated by the elimination method; finally, the closure property under all four operations of real numbers is employed to prove the proposition. A test on more than 300 geometric problems shows that the proposed method is highly effective, and the corresponding proofs are short, with obvious geometric meaning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study primarily aimed to analyze the levels of THBS2 in the serum of patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and subsequently evaluate its potential as a diagnostic biomarker for NSCLC. Methods: Serum samples were collected from 150 diagnosed NSCLC patients and 150 healthy individuals. The THBS2 concentration in these samples was determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The study also investigated the correlation between THBS2 levels and various clinicopathological characteristics in NSCLC patients. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of serum THBS2 for NSCLC were assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and their corresponding area under the curve (AUC). Results: Serum THBS2 levels in NSCLC patients were significantly elevated compared to those in healthy individuals. THBS2 levels showed a significant correlation with tumor differentiation grade, tumor size, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis. No significant correlation was identified between serum THBS2 levels and other parameters such as gender, age, height, weight, BMI, smoking history, and tumor histological type. At a cutoff value of 7.62 ng/mL, THBS2 could effectively differentiate NSCLC patients from healthy individuals, with a sensitivity of 85.31% and a specificity of 88.92%. The AUC for NSCLC diagnosis using THBS2 was 0.812, significantly surpassing the performance of traditional tumor markers tested, including CEA (0.728), and CYFRA 21‑1 (0.685). Conclusions: Elevated serum THBS2 levels in NSCLC patients suggest its potential as a novel and reliable diagnostic biomarker for NSCLC. Its superior diagnostic performance could potentially outperform traditional tumor markers, leading to improved patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has recently emerged as an effective treatment for patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. Accurate prediction of postoperative conduction disturbance after TAVR is crucial for successful surgery planning. Most current risk prediction models for conduction disturbance rely on monomodal data methods, such as images. However, predicting conduction disturbance based on multimodal features becomes a challenge. We propose a new memory-augmented graph neural network (MemGCN) to deal with this challenge. The GCN in the proposed network is constructed by taking the patient's image features as nodes' features and creating the edges based on the patient's clinical features, thus effectively fusing the patients' images and clinical feature information. Moreover, the traditional GCN model trains feature extractors and GCNs independently due to limited computing resources, which can negatively impact the feature learning process. We introduce the memory bank and propose a local update learning algorithm to address this issue. Specifically, the proposed method connects the feature extractors and GCN through a memory bank. The CNN module extracts patients' features from their ECG images and updates the memory bank. The GCN constructs the graph using the patients' characteristics in the memory bank as node features. In this way, the node features are cached in the memory bank and gradually updated at each optimization iteration so that the feature extractors and GCN are optimized jointly. The experiments on a real-world TAVR dataset show the proposed method's superior performance. It improves the prediction accuracy by over 4 % compared to the traditional GCN model. Furthermore, to demonstrate the applicability of our proposed method to other multimodal data analysis tasks, we evaluate the performance of the proposed method on an ocular disease intelligent recognition benchmark. The proposed method achieves competitive prediction performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urogenital congenital anomalies (UCAs) is defined as "any live-birth with a urinary or genital condition" and affects millions of men and women worldwide. However, sex differences and related environmental risk factors in UCAs burden on a global scale have not been assessed. Using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019, we estimated prevalence, incidence, mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of UCAs from 1990 to 2019 by sex, region, and socio-demographic Index (SDI) in 204 countries and territories. The disease burden of UCAs was also estimated attributable to each risk factor were estimated according to risk exposure. In 2019, UCAs caused 10,200 all-ages deaths (95% UI 7550–13,400). The combined global incidence rate was 8.38 per 1000 (95% UI 5.88–12.0) live births. The ASIR increased slightly, while the ASDR decreased from 1990 to 2019.The UCAs burden varies greatly depending on the development level and geographical location. The UCAs burden was significantly higher in men than in women, and the sex differences showed an enlarging trend. Health risks and issues, including pollution, child and maternal malnutrition, diet habits, unsafe sanitation and water source, were detected to be positively related to UCAs burden. Albeit the age-standardised prevalence, mortality, incidence, and DALYs of UCAs have decreased, they still cause a public health challenge worldwide. The high deaths and DALYs rates in low and low-middle SDI countries highlight the urgent need for improved preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic measures. Global strategies for enhancing water safety, reducing pollution, and healthy diets are crucial steps in reducing the burden of UCAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein the elemental distributions (V2O3, Cr2O3, Al2O3, and MgO) between spinel and liquid phases were identified in vanadium-bearing slags at 1200 °C to 1600 °C. The methodology includes melting, quenching and EPMA. We found upon increasing temperatures, V2O3 concentration in spinel decreased while that in liquid phase increased; and more CaO induced the transfer of V2O3 from spinel to liquid phase. This study provided important clues to target adjust elemental distributions among key phases in vanadium-bearing slags. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study establishes a 3-D simulation model based on a real project, which reveals the problem that the metro structure deformation induced by unilateral excavation without any support exceeds the safety threshold. According to the metro structure deformation warning area, this study proposes a support technology that combines cover plate braces and diagonal steel braces. The research shows that the lateral deformation reduction ratio of the metro station under the diagonal steel brace is about 10% – 20%. The deformation reduction ratio under the cover plate brace is about 35% – 40%. To ensure construction safety, this study adopts the optimal support combination of 3 cover plates and 6+9+11 steel pipes. Monitoring feedback and simulation prediction shows that the comprehensive support system can reduce structural deformation by 56.1%, and effectively control the deformation within a safe range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The frequent exposure of the widely used dye, basic fuchsin (BF), is seriously threatening the health of human central nervous system. Thus, removing the environmental pollution caused by BF is crucial, and photocatalytic technology recently has been used to degrade the pollutions dye. In this study, the binary composite SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+/g-C3N4 was prepared by high-temperature calcination and then applied in BF photodegradation. The results confirmed that the composite material had lower band gap value (Eg) and stronger visible light absorption ability. The photocatalytic capacity of the new composite materials was enhanced compared to that of the non-composite materials. By using the new binary-composited materials, 80% of BF could be degraded in 10 min, and the degradation ratio reached 100% in 30 min. More importantly, even the light source was removed, the photocatalytic reaction could continue due to the luminescence of SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+, and the degradation efficiency of BF could finally reach more than 90% within 3 h. By quenching experiments and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra analysis, superoxide anion (·O2−) was verified to be the main active substance in this reaction process. Moreover, the excellent stability and recyclability of this catalyst was also proved. Furthermore, the new composite materials were utilized to degrade the BF aqueous solution and actual lake water, and the total organic matter contents (TOC) were measured. TOC values in these two systems decreased after photocatalytic reaction, which indicated that this catalyst has a great development prospect in the removal of organic matter in water. Our study confirmed a new kind of material of high performance with great significance for emergency treatment of water pollution in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A higher incidence of conduction disturbances and permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) has been observed after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with bicuspid aortic valves (BAVs) as compared to those with tricuspid aortic valves (TAVs). This study aimed to provide an anatomical explanation for this observation, supported by an in-depth anatomical mapping of the membranous septum (MS) in a large cohort of BAVs and TAVs using cardiac computed tomography (CT). A total of 300 cardiac CT scans were analysed, revealing a significantly shorter sub-annular length of the MS in BAVs at all measuring points compared to TAVs (p < 0.001). In the current BAV cohort, the MS was found to be at its shortest at the RCC site, measuring less than 1 mm in depth. In addition, the MS was located more anteriorly towards the RCC in BAVs, where the transcatheter aortic valve tends to be implanted deeper, and we observed a trend towards a higher PPI rate in BAVs. Future studies should investigate whether anatomical mapping of the MS in patients undergoing TAVI could be a useful tool for decision-making and potentially mitigate the risk of conduction disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a letter to the editor in response to an article titled "Prospective study of functional outcomes and return to sports after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in the knee." The authors of the letter express their interest in the article and provide some important questions and concerns. They suggest that the rehabilitation regimen outlined in the article may be outdated and recommend incorporating more advanced physical therapy techniques. They also highlight the omission of psychological factors in patient evaluation and suggest that including these factors could provide more insights into the decision to return to sports. Additionally, they call for a more detailed exploration of the factors influencing return to sport after ACL reconstruction. The authors of the letter also mention controversial aspects and hope that their discussion can assist future researchers. [Extracted from the article]

Highlights: A multifunctional SiC@SiO2 nanofber aerogel (NFA) was successfully prepared, which exhibits ultra-elastic, fatigue-resistant, high-temperature thermalstability, thermal insulation properties, and signifcant strain-dependent piezoresistive sensing behavior. The SiC@SiO2 NFA shows excellent electromagnetic wave absorption performance with a minimum refection loss value of −50.36 dB and a maximum effective absorption bandwidth of 8.6 GHz.Traditional ceramic materials are generally brittle and not flexible with high production costs, which seriously hinders their practical applications. Multifunctional nanofiber ceramic aerogels are highly desirable for applications in extreme environments, however, the integration of multiple functions in their preparation is extremely challenging. To tackle these challenges, we fabricated a multifunctional SiC@SiO2 nanofiber aerogel (SiC@SiO2 NFA) with a three-dimensional (3D) porous cross-linked structure through a simple chemical vapor deposition method and subsequent heat-treatment process. The as-prepared SiC@SiO2 NFA exhibits an ultralow density (~ 11 mg cm− 3), ultra-elastic, fatigue-resistant and refractory performance, high temperature thermal stability, thermal insulation properties, and significant strain-dependent piezoresistive sensing behavior. Furthermore, the SiC@SiO2 NFA shows a superior electromagnetic wave absorption performance with a minimum refection loss (RLmin) value of − 50.36 dB and a maximum effective absorption bandwidth (EABmax) of 8.6 GHz. The successful preparation of this multifunctional aerogel material provides a promising prospect for the design and fabrication of the cutting-edge ceramic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many ways to support the foundation pit, such as earth berm and anchor. However, the combined support structure of earth berm and anchor cable for over-excavation foundation pit is lack of theoretical research. To investigate the interaction between reserved earth berm and anchor cable in large over-excavation foundation pit engineering, the theoretical model of anchor cable internal force under over-excavation considering the earth berm is deduced based on the elastic resistance method and the slip line field theories. Furthermore, combined with practical engineering cases, the influence law of control factors on anchor cable internal force is explored, and the corresponding construction parameter optimization is proposed. The main conclusions can be drawn as follows: (i) stratum unit weight, internal friction angle, and cohesion are all closely related to the moment of anchor cable, and appropriate improvement of active side soil (increasing internal friction angle and cohesion) will significantly reduce anchor cable internal force caused by deep excavation; (ii) anchor cable internal force can be obviously reduced by increasing relaxation coefficient and compactness of earth berm; (iii) when earth berm top width exceeds 7m, it has little effect on anchor cable internal force; when earth berm height reaches about 20m, the anchor cable is no longer needed to provide support; (iv) due to the comprehensive influence of inclination, height and top width of earth berm, there is a critical line of anchor cable internal force; when top width is less than the critical value, anchor cable moment increases with the increase of inclination, which is opposite to that when top width is greater than the critical value; therefore, it is better to increase top width and inclination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glutaraldehyde (Glut)-crosslinked porcine pericardium and bovine pericardium are mainly consisted of collagen and widely used for the preparation of heterogenous bioprosthetic heart valves (BHV), which play an important role in the replacement therapy of severe valvular heart disease, while their durability is limited by degeneration due to calcification, thrombus, endothelialization difficulty and prosthetic valve endocarditis. Herein, we develop a novel BHV, namely, TPly-BP, based on natural tannic acid and polylysine to improve the durability of Glut crosslinked bovine pericardium (Glut-BP). Impressively, tannic acid and polylysine could form nanoaggregates via multiple hydrogen bonds and covalent bonds, and the introduction of nanoaggregates not only improved the mechanical properties and collagen stability but also endowed TPly-BP with good biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. Compared to Glut-BP, TPly-BP showed significantly reduced cytotoxicity, improved endothelial cell adhesion, a low hemolysis ratio and obviously reduced platelet adhesion. Importantly, TPly-BP exhibited great antibacterial and in vivo anti-calcification ability, which was expected to improve the in vivo durability of BHVs. These results suggested that TPly-BP would be a potential candidate for BHV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has rapidly developed in the coronary artery disease (CAD) field. However, manual coronary artery tree segmentation and reconstruction are time-consuming and tedious. Deep learning algorithms have been successfully developed for medical image analysis to process extensive data. Thus, we aimed to develop a deep learning tool for automatic coronary artery reconstruction and an automated CAD diagnosis model based on a large, single-centre retrospective CCTA cohort. Methods: Automatic CAD diagnosis consists of two subtasks. One is a segmentation task, which aims to extract the region of interest (ROI) from original images with U-Net. The second task is an identification task, which we implemented using 3DNet. The coronary artery tree images and clinical parameters were input into 3DNet, and the CAD diagnosis result was output. Results: We built a coronary artery segmentation model based on CCTA images with the corresponding labelling. The segmentation model had a mean Dice value of 0.771 ± 0.021. Based on this model, we built an automated diagnosis model (classification model) for CAD. The average accuracy and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were 0.750 ± 0.056 and 0.737, respectively. Conclusion: Herein, using a deep learning algorithm, we realized the rapid classification and diagnosis of CAD from CCTA images in two steps. Our deep learning model can automatically segment the coronary artery quickly and accurately and can deliver a diagnosis of ≥ 50% coronary artery stenosis. Artificial intelligence methods such as deep learning have the potential to elevate the efficiency in CCTA image analysis considerably. Key Points: • The deep learning model rapidly achieved a high Dice value (0.771 ± 0.0210) in the autosegmentation of coronary arteries using CCTA images. • Based on the segmentation model, we built a CAD autoclassifier with the 3DNet algorithm, which achieved a good diagnostic performance (AUC) of 0.737. • The deep neural network could be used in the image postprocessing of coronary computed tomography angiography to achieve a quick and accurate diagnosis of CAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) is a heterogeneous disease with a poor prognosis. Individualized survival prediction tool is useful for this population. We constructed the predicted nomograms for breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) and overall survival (OS) using the data identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. The Concordance index (C-index), the area under the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and the calibration curves were used for the discrimination and calibration of the nomograms in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. 1962 mTNBC patients with a median follow-up was 13 months (interquartile range, 6–22 months), 1639 (83.54%) cases died of any cause, and 1469 (74.87%) died of breast cancer. Nine and ten independent prognostic factors for BCSS and OS were identified and integrated to construct the nomograms, respectively. The C-indexes of the nomogram for BCSS and OS were 0.694 (95% CI 0.676–0.712) and 0.699 (95% CI 0.679–0.715) in the training cohort, and 0.699 (95% CI 0.686–0.712) and 0.697 (95% CI 0.679–0.715) in the validation cohort, respectively. The AUC values of the nomograms to predict 1-, 2-, and 3-year BCSS and OS indicated good specificity and sensitivity in internal and external validation. The calibration curves showed a favorable consistency between the actual and the predicted survival in the training and validation cohorts. These nomograms based on clinicopathological factors and treatment could reliably predict the survival of mTNBC patient. This may be a useful tool for individualized healthcare decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation is a contributing factor to the initiation and progression of many diseases, and some food-derived biofunctional peptides show high anti-inflammatory activity. In our previous study, we demonstrated that peptides derived from trypsin hydrolysis of rice protein show good immunological activity. In the present study, proteins of broken rice were extracted and identified by macroporous resin fractionation and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Subsequently, a bioinformatics prediction and in silico simulation approach was used to screen for peptides showing anti-inflammatory activity, including inhibition of the production of nitric oxide and proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α) by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 mice macrophages. Three peptides (DNIQGITKPAIR, IAFKTNPNSMVSHIAGK, and IGVAMDYSASSKR) that demonstrated the highest binding affinity were synthesized, and their in vitro anti-inflammatory activity was investigated. This is the first study that integrates LC-MS/MS identification and bioinformatics prediction for reporting the anti-inflammatory activity of anti-inflammatory peptides derived from broken rice protein. The study findings revealed that the peptides derived from the byproduct of rice milling could be potentially used as natural anti-inflammatory alternativities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: Overexpression of JcSEP3 causes defective stamen development in Jatropha curcas, in which brassinosteroid and gibberellin signaling pathways may be involved. SEPALLATAs (SEPs), the class E genes of the ABCE model, are required for floral organ determination. In this study, we investigated the role of the JcSEP3 gene in floral organ development in the woody plant Jatropha curcas. Transgenic Jatropha plants overexpressing JcSEP3 displayed abnormal phenotypes such as deficient anthers and pollen, as well as free stamen filaments, whereas JcSEP3-RNA interference (RNAi) transgenic plants had no obvious phenotypic changes, suggesting that JcSEP3 is redundant with other JcSEP genes in Jatropha. Moreover, we compared the transcriptomes of wild-type plants, JcSEP3-overexpressing, and JcSEP3-RNAi transgenic plants. In the JcSEP3-overexpressing transgenic plants, we discovered 25 upregulated genes involved in anther and pollen development, as well as 12 induced genes in brassinosteroid (BR) and gibberellin (GA) signaling pathways. These results suggest that JcSEP3 directly or indirectly regulates stamen development, concomitant with the regulation of BR and GA signaling pathways. Our findings help to understand the roles of SEP genes in stamen development in perennial woody plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multi-organ contouring (MOC) task is required when a radiotherapy is performed to eradicate the cancerous tissue while minimizing the dosage delivered to the surrounding healthy organs. Currently most of the task is done manually with enormous labor and time cost. To reduce the scheduling waiting time from increasing cancer population, it is beneficial to both the patients and therapeutists to have an automatic contouring tool. In this work an Attention-LSTM fused U-Net model is proposed to perform the multiple organ segmentation from a CT image series. The organs to be delineated include lung, liver, stomach, esophagus, heart, and kidneys. To train and evaluate our model, the CT image series of 146 patients was acquired from a local hospital with IRB approval. The segmentation accuracy of the six organs in terms of Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) were 99.27%, 95.48%, 88.53%, 80.81%, 93.8%, and 93.46%, respectively. To make the AI-embedded MOC system readily applicable in clinical environments, a data processing workflow and the corresponding GUI were also implemented and published on Github. The doctors can download the CT image data from the PACS server, use our system to perform MOC tasks, and output the contouring results in DICOM-RT format so they can be uploaded back to the treatment planning system for further fine-tuning and dosage/path calculation. To our best knowledge the work might be the first non-commercial model-integrated system compatible with the commercial treatment planning systems and ready to be used by the doctors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imidacloprid as a widely used neonicotinoid insecticide can cause harmful pesticide residue inevitably. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were innovatively composited to improve the light absorption and degradation performance of Bi2WO6 semiconductor, which expanded the photodegradation application in solving environmental problems. Based on the synergistic effect of Bi2WO6 and NH2-MIL-88B(Fe), a Bi2WO6/NH2-MIL-88B(Fe) (BNM) heterojunction photocatalyst with high-performance of photocatalytic degradation activities was successfully synthesized. The optimized BNM catalyst had a good degradation rate under visible light, which was mainly caused by generation of the active ·OH. Transient photocurrent response and electrochemical impedance tests verified that 1:2 BNM exhibits a highest charge separation and a lowest carrier recombination rate which were favorable to the photocatalytic activity. Cycle experiments show that the composite photocatalyst had good reusability and stability which were very important for potential industry applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent conducting films are extensively used in optoelectronic devices. In this work, fluorine-doped zinc oxide (FZO) thin films were deposited from a ZnO:ZnF2 (3 mol%) target by radio frequency magnetron sputtering. A post-deposition rapid thermal annealing (RTA) was performed in vacuum at 400 °C for 15–120 s. Effect of RTA time on the structural, electrical, and optical properties of FZO thin films was explored. X-ray diffraction patterns showed intense (0 0 2) diffraction peaks at 2θ ~ 34.4°, corresponding to a hexagonal wurtzite structure. As the RTA time increased from 0 to 30 s, the film resistivity decreased by 36% and reached the lowest value, 7.97 × 10–4 Ω cm. Obvious absorption edges were observed in the ultraviolet region, and the average transmittance of all films in the visible region exceeded 91%. The corresponding optical bandgap increased from 3.751 to 3.804 eV after the 30 s-RTA process. The figure of merit for evaluating TCO performance increased by 91% to 1.92 × 10–2 Ω−1. For solar cell applications, the HCl-etched FZO thin films exhibited a crater-like surface structure and achieved a high average haze of 27.3% in the visible region. By utilizing the developed FZO thin film as the front electrode of the superstrate α-Si:H thin-film solar cell, the conversion efficiency increased by 20% compared with the counterpart without RTA. These results demonstrate that post-deposition RTA is an effective method to enhance the optoelectronic properties of FZO thin films. The developed RTA-treated FZO film is an effective alternative to the transparent electrode of solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Fe3O4/mesoporous graphitized carbon (Fe3O4/m-GC) composite was prepared through a facile calcination method with iron-based metal–organic frameworks (Fe-MOFs) as a sacrificial template. After carbonization, the Fe3O4 nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed in the mesoporous carbon support, resulting in spatial structural stability. The mesoporous carbon support obtained was highly graphitized and exhibited eminent electrical conductivity, which accelerated the electron transfer between the Fe3O4 nanoparticles by Fe(II)/Fe(III) redox cycles and m-GC by C = Csp2/C-Csp3 redox cycles, leading to the excellent peroxidase-mimetic activity of Fe3O4/m-GC. Km values for tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and H2O2 were 26.8 and 15.8 times lower than that of natural horseradish peroxidase, respectively. Taking advantage of the peroxidase-mimetic activity of Fe3O4/m-GC, a colorimetric assay was fabricated for detecting glucose in the range 0.5 ~ 200 μM, with a limit of detection of 0.24 μM. Fig 1 A Schematic illustration of the preparation process of Fe3O4/m-GC, B schematic illustration of a proposed synergistic catalytic mechanism of TMB oxidation by Fe3O4/m-GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Herz is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Photo-controlled reversible-deactivation radical polymerization (photo-RDRP) has been investigated as a "green" and spatiotemporally controlling pathway for polymer synthesis. While the combination of photo-RDRP and flow chemistry has offered opportunities to increase light intensity and enable uniform light irradiation, problems associated with flow approaches still remain for photoflow-RDRP, which has hindered merging flow polymerization with other cutting-edge techniques. Herein, we summarize challenges and recent achievements in photoflow-RDRP including the development of (a) droplet/slug-flow to regulate residence time distribution, (b) mixing techniques to tailor polymer, (c) polymerization induced self-assembly, and (d) computer-aided synthesis. We hope this work will provide informative knowledge to people in related fields and stimulate novel ideas to promote polymer synthesis in both academia and industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automated discovery of geometric theorems has attracted considerable attention from the research community. In this paper, a new method is proposed to discover geometric theorems automatically. This method first generates vector equations based on given geometric relations about a geometric figure and then transforms the vector equations into a system of homogeneous linear equations; after computing the determinants of the coefficient matrices corresponding to the system of equations, the elimination method is applied to obtain a large number of geometric relationships. The test on more than 200 geometric problems shows that the geometric relationships discovered automatically by the proposed method are of obvious geometric meaning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We sought to identify the impact of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) on changes of fractional flow reserve computed tomography (FFRCT) values and the associated clinical impact. Methods: A retrospective analysis was done with CT obtained pre-TAVI, prior to hospital discharge and at 1-year follow-up, which provided imaging sources for the calculation of FFRCT values based on an online platform. Results: A total of 190 patients were enrolled. Patients with pre-procedural FFRCT value > 0.80 (i.e., negative) and ≤ 0.80 (i.e., positive) demonstrated a significantly opposite change in the value after TAVI (0.8798 vs. 0.8718, p < 0.001 and 0.7634 vs. 0.8222, p < 0.001, respectively). The history of coronary artery disease (CAD) was identified as an independent predictor for FFRCT changing from negative to positive after TAVI (odds ratio [OR] 2.927, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.130–7.587, p = 0.027), with lesions more severely stenosed (OR 1.039, 95% CI 1.003–1.076, p = 0.034) and in left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) (OR 3.939, 95% CI 1.060–14.637, p = 0.041) being prone to change. Conclusions: TAVI directly brings improvement in FFRCT values in patients with compromised coronary flow. Patients with a history of CAD, especially with lesions more severely stenosed and in LAD, were under risk of FFRCT changing from negative to positive after TAVI. Key Points: •The effect of TAVI on coronary hemodynamics might be influenced by different ischemic severity and coronary territories reflected by FFRCTvalues. •As different FFRCTvariations did not impact outcomes of TAVI patients, AS, but not coronary issues, may be the primary problem to affect, which needs further validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytidine base editor (CBE), which is composed of a cytidine deaminase fused to Cas9 nickase, has been widely used to induce C-to-T conversions in a wide range of organisms. However, the targeting scope of current CBEs is largely restricted to protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) sequences containing G, T, or A bases. In this study, we developed a new base editor termed "nNme2-CBE" with excellent PAM compatibility for cytidine dinucleotide, significantly expanding the genome-targeting scope of CBEs. Using nNme2-CBE, targeted editing efficiencies of 29.0%–55.0% and 17.3%–52.5% were generated in human cells and rabbit embryos, respectively. In contrast to conventional nSp-CBE, the nNme2-CBE is a natural high-fidelity base editing platform with minimal DNA off-targeting detected in vivo. Significantly increased efficiency in GC context and precision were determined by combining nNme2Cas9 with rationally engineered cytidine deaminases. In addition, the Founder rabbits with accurate single-base substitutions at Fgf5 gene loci were successfully generated by using the nNme2-CBE system. These novel nNme2-CBEs with expanded PAM compatibility and high fidelity will expand the base editing toolset for efficient gene modification and therapeutic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the phase transformations of steelmaking slags were identified for the purpose of phosphorus separation and material recycling, where the samples after high-temperature experiments and quenching were characterized using electron probe x-ray microanalysis and x-ray diffraction. For hot slags held under argon atmosphere, the main phases changed from (Fe,Mg)O, (Fe,Ca)O and C2S-C3P (Ca2SiO4-Ca3P2O8) at 1450–1400°C to (Fe,Mg,Ca)O, C2S-C3P and CaO-TiO2-FeO-Al2O3 liquid at 1200–600°C. From the respect of phosphorus concentration in C2S-C3P, 1400°C was an optimum temperature, which also accounted for a suitable treatment temperature for cooled slags. Moreover, air atmosphere resulted in more liquid phase, CaO-MgO-Fe2O3-SiO2, due to the oxidation of Fe2+ to Fe3+. In addition to C2S-C3P, P2O5 was also present in this liquid phase, a drawback for further phosphorus recovery. The P2O5 concentration in the liquid phase decreased with decreasing temperature, and thus, a relatively lower temperature was preferred in air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined influence of chemical composition, molecular weight (MW) and molecular weight distribution (Đ) on the functions and performances of polymeric materials necessitates simultaneous satisfaction of multidimensional requirements during polymer synthesis. However, the complexity of polymerization reactions often dissuades chemists when precisely accessing diversified polymer targets. Herein, we developed a machine learning (ML)-assisted systematical polymerization planning (SPP) platform for addressing this challenge. With ML model providing integrated navigation of the reaction space, this approach can conduct multivariate analysis to uncover complex interactions between the polymerization result and conditions, prescribing optimal reaction conditions to achieve discretionary polymer targets concerning three dimensions including chemical composition, MW and Đ values. Given the increasing importance of polymerization in advanced material engineering, this ML-assisted SPP platform provides a universal strategy to access tailored polymers with on-demand prediction of polymerization parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monomer sequence influences the properties and applications of polymers. Consequently, massive efforts have been made to implement sequence control of polymers. In this work, we developed a computer-aided droplet-flow polymerization based on photo-controlled reversible-deactivation radical polymerization (photo-RDRP), enabling synthesis of gradient copolymers of tunable sequential arrangements, low dispersity and good structural fidelity from various monomers without following their intrinsic reactivities, which is a key limitation in sequence control. The obtained gradient copolymers exhibit unique thermal properties and stimulus responsiveness comparing with the random and block counterparts, and their glass transition behaviour could be regulated by the gradient tendency. We believe that the unprecedented gradient photo-RDRP based on flow synthesis opens a robust and versatile avenue to streamline the synthesis of well-defined gradient polymers, and is compatible with other polymerization mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Herz is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The challenges of developing neuromorphic vision systems inspired by the human eye come not only from how to recreate the flexibility, sophistication, and adaptability of animal systems, but also how to do so with computational efficiency and elegance. Similar to biological systems, these neuromorphic circuits integrate functions of image sensing, memory and processing into the device, and process continuous analog brightness signal in real-time. High-integration, flexibility and ultra-sensitivity are essential for practical artificial vision systems that attempt to emulate biological processing. Here, we present a flexible optoelectronic sensor array of 1024 pixels using a combination of carbon nanotubes and perovskite quantum dots as active materials for an efficient neuromorphic vision system. The device has an extraordinary sensitivity to light with a responsivity of 5.1 × 107 A/W and a specific detectivity of 2 × 1016 Jones, and demonstrates neuromorphic reinforcement learning by training the sensor array with a weak light pulse of 1 μW/cm2. To emulate nature biological processing, highly-integrated ultra-sensitive artificial neuromorphic system is highly desirable. Here, the authors report flexible sensor array of 1024 pixels using combination of carbon nanotubes and perovskite QDs as active matetials, achieving highly responsive device for reinforcement learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A porous polymeric ligand (PPL) has been synthesized and complexed with copper to generate a heterogeneous catalyst (Cu@PPL) that has facilitated the efficient C-N coupling with various (hetero)aryl chlorides under mild conditions of visible-light irradiation at 80 °C (58 examples, up to 99% yields). This method could be applied to both aqueous ammonia and substituted amines, and is compatible to a variety of functional groups and heterocycles, as well as allows tandem C-N couplings with conjunctive dihalides. Furthermore, the heterogeneous characteristic of Cu@PPL has enabled a straightforward catalyst separation in multiple times of recycling with negligible catalytic efficiency loss by simple filtration, affording reaction mixtures containing less than 1 ppm of Cu residue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: ABCE model genes along with genes related to GA biosynthesis and auxin signalling may play significant roles in male flower development inJatropha curcas. Flowering plants exhibit extreme reproductive diversity. Jatropha curcas, a woody plant that is promising for biofuel production, is monoecious. Here, two gynoecious Jatropha mutants (bearing only female flowers) were used to identify key genes involved in male flower development. Using comparative transcriptome analysis, we identified 17 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in floral organ development between monoecious plants and the two gynoecious mutants. Among these DEGs, five floral organ identity genes, Jatropha AGAMOUS, PISTILLATA, SEPALLATA 2-1 (JcSEP2-1), JcSEP2-2, and JcSEP3, were downregulated in ch mutant inflorescences; two gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis genes, Jatropha GA REQUIRING 1 and GIBBERELLIN 3-OXIDASE 1, were downregulated in both the ch and g mutants; and two genes involved in the auxin signalling pathway, Jatropha NGATHA1 and STYLISH1, were downregulated in the ch mutant. Furthermore, four hub genes involved in male flower development, namely Jatropha SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE 1, CRYPTOCHROME 2, SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CO 1 and JAGGED, were identified using weighted gene correlation network analysis. These results suggest that floral organ identity genes and genes involved in GA biosynthesis and auxin signalling may participate in male flower development in Jatropha. This study will contribute to understanding sex differentiation in woody perennial plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tazarotene-induced gene 1 (TIG1) is a retinoid acid receptor-responsive gene involved in cell differentiation and tumorigenesis. Aberrant methylation of CpG islands in the TIG1 promoter is found in multiple cancers. Currently, the exact mechanism underlying the anticancer effect of TIG1 is unknown. Here, we show that TIG1 interacts with cathepsin V (CTSV), which reduces CTSV stability and subsequently affects the production of activated urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), an epithelial–mesenchymal transition-associated protein. Ectopic expression of CTSV increased the expression of activated uPA and the number of migrated and invaded cells, whereas ectopic TIG1 expression reversed the effects of CTSV on the uPA signaling pathway. Similar patterns in the production of activated uPA and number of migrated and invaded cells were also observed in TIG1-expressing and CTSV-knockdown cells. The results suggest that CTSV may participate in TIG1-regulated uPA activity and the associated downstream signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlling thermal anisotropy structure is important for emerging heat management applications such as thermal shield, thermal camouflage, and heat concentration. In this work, alternating stack epoxy composites (AECs) are prepared, inspired by the multilayer structure of an onion. Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and expanded vermiculite (E-ver) are used as fillers in epoxy resin (Epon), taking as heat-dissipation layers and heat-insulation layers, respectively. Vertical heat isolation and local hotspot protection are endowed by the effective structural design. The temperature rise time of top surface is delayed by 404.2%, and the stabilized temperature is reduced by 10–15 °C (the bottom is heated to 120 °C); meanwhile, the whole composites are heated to 80 °C with good heat-dissipation performance, compared with those of homogeneous materials. There are two thermal phenomena synergistically in the anisotropy structure: excellent thermal protection when heating and good heat dissipation when cooling. Further, a thermal transfer mechanism of heat insulation and heat dissipation is analyzed based on numerical simulation and experiment. The multilayer epoxy composites are promising for the development of high-performance thermal products such as heat spreader, equipment cooling, and thermal hose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Great merits have been identified for the continuous production of copper, and different continuous converting (CC) processes are developed and increasingly used for copper making. For the CC process, the equilibria of multiple phases including iron silicate slags, spinel, gas, blister, and white metal phases are clarified under a high-level P(SO2) 0.4 atm in the temperature range of 1523 K to 1573 K (1250 °C to 1300 °C). The microstructures and chemical compositions of various phases in the equilibrium system after high-temperature experiments are quantified using an electron probe X-ray micro-analyzer (EPMA). Both P(O2) and P(SO2) are accurately controlled, and based on the phase transformations in the CC system equilibrated under P(O2) of 10−5, 10−5.5, 10−5.75, and 10−6 atm, the required P(O2) range for the CC process is firstly obtained at each operational temperature. Accordingly, the phase equilibria of iron silicate slags are derived, including the equilibrium Fe/SiO2 ratio and "Cu2O" content in the liquid phase versus varying operational temperatures. The results obtained here thus provide important clues for the development of CC copper-making process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferrous calcium silicate (FCS) slags are reported to have high potential for use in the copper converting process. However, no phase equilibrium study has been carried out under a simulated converting gas atmosphere in the presence of SO2. In this study, under accurately controlled P(SO2) 0.4 atm and P(O2) 10−6 atm, the phase equilibria of FCS slags in a liquid/spinel/white metal/gas system were investigated for the copper converting process. The liquidus temperatures of slags in the Fe-Ca-Cu-Si-S-O system were quantified as well as the solid solubilities of Cu2O in the spinel phase. The experimental results were compared with the FactSage predictions, which provided clues for further improvement of the thermodynamic modelling. The applications of the FCS slags were further discussed and compared with iron silicate slags. The results obtained will contribute to slag development for converting operations and thermodynamic calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucokinase (GCK) is a key enzyme in glucose sensing and glycemic regulation. In humans, mutations in the GCK gene cause maturity-onset diabetes of the young 2 (MODY-2), a disease that is characterized by an early-onset and persistent hyperglycemia. It is known that Gck knockout (KO) is lethal in mice with Gck KO mice dying within 2 weeks after birth. Therefore, Gck KO mice are not suitable for preclinical study and have limited suitability to study the pathophysiological role of glucokinase in vivo. Here, we report the generation of a novel rabbit with a non-frameshift mutation of GCK gene (GCK-NFS) by cytoplasm microinjection of Cas9 mRNA and gRNA. These GCK-NFS rabbits showed typical features of MODY-2 including hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance with similar survival rate and weight compared to wild-type (WT) rabbits. The diabetic phenotype including pancreatic and renal dysfunction was also found in the F1-generation rabbits, indicating that the genetic modification is germline transmissible. Treatment of GCK-NFS rabbit with glimepiride successfully reduced the fasting blood glucose drastically and improved its islet function. In conclusion, this novel GCK mutant rabbit generated with the CRISPR/Cas9 system mimics most, if not all, histopathological and functional defects seen in MODY-2 patients such as hyperglycemia and will be a valuable rabbit model for preclinical studies and drug screening for diabetes as well as for studying the pathophysiological role of glucokinase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]