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Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disease of the pancreas. Despite of a steadily increasing in morbidity and mortality, there is still no effective therapy. Gut microbial dysbiosis and its derived-metabolites disorder have been shown to play an important role in the development of AP, however, little is known regarding the crosstalk between gut microbiota and metabolites. In this study, we assessed the alterations in gut microbiota and metabolites by constructing three AP mouse models by means of metagenomic and metabolomic sequencing, and further clarified their relationship by correlation analysis. The results revealed that each model exhibited unique flora and metabolite profiles. KEGG analysis showed that the differential flora and metabolite-enriched pathway functions were correlated with lipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism. Moreover, two core differential bacterial species on Burkholderiales bacterium YL45 and Bifidobacterium pseudolongum along with eleven differential metabolites appeared to exert certain effects during the course of AP. In conclusion, further exploration of the crosstalk between microbiota and derived metabolites may provide novel insights and strategies into the diagnosis and treatment of AP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the isolation and purification of an endophytic fungus called Aspergillus niger from the leaves of Clausena anisum-olens. Ten natural compounds were identified from the metabolites of Aspergillus niger, including two compounds that were isolated from this genus for the first time. The cytotoxicity of these compounds was evaluated against four cancer cell lines, and compounds 9 and 5 showed high cytotoxicity against HepG2 and HeLa cell lines. The article provides detailed information about the extraction and purification process of these compounds and presents the results of their cytotoxicity testing. The text provides information about several chemical compounds, including Aspernigrin A, Nigerone, Flavasperone, Rubrofusarin B, Isonigerone, 8'-O-Demethylisonigerone, Rubasperone B. The research project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program for University Students. [Extracted from the article]

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Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) is a potential method for ground improvement. It can enhance the physical and mechanical properties of soils through soil particle cementation and pore filling. However, the excessive number of injections of cementing solution required for MICP is a major limitation for practical engineering application. To reduce the number of injections and improve the efficiency of the cementing process, an enhancement method was investigated in this study in which an aluminum ion flocculant (AIF) was added to the cementing solution. It can enhance the curing rate and effect of MICP. Experiments were carried out on MICP-treated sand columns, MICP-treated glass beads and aqueous solutions, and the influence of AIF on the production of calcium carbonate and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) was studied. The effect of AIF on the composition and morphology of the deposited calcium carbonate was evaluated from SEM micrographs and other microscopic observations. The results of the study showed that the addition of AIF to the cementing solution significantly reduced the number of injections required and increased the UCS of the reinforcement compared to those of a control group without adding AIF. The proposed method resulted in the experimental sand column being reinforced after 3 treatments of the cementing solution with an UCS of 323.3 kPa. The UCS reaches 1692 kPa after 5 treatments of the cementing solution, compared to 9 treatments using the conventional method. The UCS was 3.2–12.7 times higher than that of the control group for the same calcium carbonate content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) is a common malignancy amongst women globally. Ubiquitination plays a dual role in the occurrence and development of cancers. This study analyzed the mechanism of long noncoding RNA HOXC cluster antisense RNA 3 (lncRNA HOXC-AS3) in malignant proliferation of CC cells via mediating ubiquitination of lysine demethylase 5B (KDM5B/JARID1B). Methods: The expression patterns of lncRNA HOXC-AS3 and KDM5B were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction or Western blot analysis. After transfection with lncRNA HOXC-AS3 siRNA and pcDNA3.1-KDM5B, proliferation of CC cells was assessed by the cell counting kit-8, colony formation, and 5-Ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine staining assays. The xenograft tumor model was established to confirm the impact of lncRNA HOXC-AS3 on CC cell proliferation in vivo by measuring tumor size and weight and the immunohistochemistry assay. The subcellular location of lncRNA HOXC-AS3 and the binding of lncRNA HOXC-AS3 to KDM5B were analyzed. After treatment of lncRNA HOXC-AS3 siRNA or MG132, the protein and ubiquitination levels of KDM5B were determined. Thereafter, the interaction and the subcellular co-location of tripartite motif-containing 37 (TRIM37) and KDM5B were analyzed by the co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence assays. Results: LncRNA HOXC-AS3 and KDM5B were upregulated in CC tissues and cells. Depletion of lncRNA HOXC-AS3 repressed CC cell proliferation and in vivo tumor growth. Mechanically, lncRNA HOXC-AS3 located in the nucleus directly bound to KDM5B, inhibited TRIM37-mediated ubiquitination of KDM5B, and upregulated the protein levels of KDM5B. KDM5B overexpression attenuated the inhibitory role of silencing lncRNA HOXC-AS3 in CC cell proliferation in vivo and in vitro. Conclusion: Nucleus-located lncRNA HOXC-AS3 facilitated malignant proliferation of CC cells via stabilization of KDM5B protein levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a long time, the low-voltage distribution network has the problems of untimely management and complex and frequently changing lines, which makes the problem of missing grid topology information increasingly serious. This study proposes an automatic grid topology detection model based on lasso algorithm and t-distributed random neighbor embedding algorithm. The model identifies the household-variable relationship through the lasso algorithm, and then identifies the grid topology of the station area through the t-distributed random neighbor embedding algorithm model. The experimental results indicated that the lasso algorithm, the constant least squares algorithm and the ridge regression algorithm had accuracies of 0.88, 0.80, and 0.71 and loss function values of 0.14, 0.20, and 0.25 for dataset sizes up to 500. Comparing the time spent on identifying household changes in different regions, in Region 1, the training time for the Lasso algorithm, the Constant Least Squares algorithm, and the Ridge Regression algorithm is 2.8 s, 3.0 s, and 3.1 s, respectively. The training time in region 2 is 2.4s, 3.6s, and 3.4s, respectively. The training time in region 3 is 7.7 s, 1.9 s, and 2.8 s, respectively. The training time in region 4 is 3.1 s, 3.6 s, and 3.3 s, respectively. The findings demonstrate that the suggested algorithmic model performs better than the other and can identify the structure of LV distribution networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of International Business Studies 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.)

Background: With the global increase in the use of injectable fillers, more cases with serious adverse events such vision loss are being reported. This article aims to review the cases of hyaluronic acid (HA) filler-related vision loss and to discuss the potential efficacy of hyaluronidase (HYASE) treatment via different given methods. Methods: A total of 29 articles presenting 144 cases of HA filler-related vision loss were included in this study. Results: Most cases of HA filler-related vision impairment were reported from China, followed by Korea. The majority of cases were seen in women. The nose, forehead and glabella were the most commonly injection sites. All cases had vision impairment and nearly all cases were unilateral with immediate onset of visual signs and symptoms. Ophthalmic artery occlusion (OAO) and central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) were the two most commonly involved arterial obstruction patterns featured with a very poor prognosis followed by branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO), the most favorable involved arterial pattern for a better prognosis. HYASE given subcutaneously and intra-arterially helped with visual recovery to different degrees, while retrobulbar HYASE seemed to be less helpful. Conclusion: Complications after HA-based filler injection are extremely rare but can cause disastrous visual impairment. HYASE given subcutaneously and intra-arterially helped with visual recovery to different extents, and the efficacy might be reinforced when performed together, while retrobulbar HYASE seemed to be less helpful. However, to accurately access the efficacy of HYASE via different administration methods, further randomized controlled trials are needed. Level of Evidence III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hemorrhagic progression of a contusion (HPC) after Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the important causes of death in trauma patients. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the predictive effect of imaging features of Computed tomography (CT) on HPC after TBI. A comprehensive systematic search was performed using PubMed, EMBASE, and WEB OF SCIENCE databases to identify all relevant literature. A total of 8 studies involving 2543 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Meta-analysis showed that subarachnoid hemorrhage (OR 3.28; 95% CI 2.57–4.20), subdural hemorrhage (OR 4.35; 95% CI 3.29–5.75), epidural hemorrhage (OR 1.47;95% CI 1.15–1.89), contrast extravasation (OR 11.81; 95% CI 4.86–28.71) had a predictive effect on the occurrence of HPC. Skull fracture (OR 1.64; 95% CI 0.84–3.19) showed no statistical significance, and midline displacement > 5 mm (OR 4.66; 95% CI 1.87–11.62) showed high heterogeneity. The results of this meta-analysis showed that some imaging features were effective predictors of HPC after TBI. Well-designed prospective studies are needed to more accurately assess the effective predictors of HPC after TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we construct three classes of permutation quadrinomials with Niho exponents of the form f (x) = α 0 x r + α 1 x s 1 (p m - 1) + r + α 2 x s 2 (p m - 1) + r + α 3 x s 3 (p m - 1) + r ∈ F p n [ x ] , where p is an odd prime, n = 2 m is a positive even integer, and (r , s 1 , s 2 , s 3) = (1 , - 1 p k - 2 , 1 , p k - 1 p k - 2) , (1 , p k + 1 p k + 2 , 1 , 1 p k + 2) and (3, 1, 2, 3), respectively. The exponents of the first two classes are considered for the first time, and the third class covers all the permutation polynomials proposed by Gupta (Designs Codes and Cryptography 88, 1–17, 2020). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative disease of joints, which can appear in almost any joint of the body. Therefore, the widespread occurrence of this disease has a huge impact on the lives of patients around the world. As an important part of metabolism, lipid metabolism is closely related to the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis. Method: We screened UGCG and KLF4 based on weighted co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and SVM-REF analysis. The data from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and single-cell data verified the expression of these two genes. We analyzed KLF4-related genes and established a diagnosis model of OA related to lipid metabolism through the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis. RT-PCR was used to verify the expression of KLF4 in osteoarthritis. Results: Ten important lipid metabolism related genes (LMRGs) in OA were obtained. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis showed that they are involve in the formation of immune microenvironment in osteoarthritis. CIBERSORT analysis revealed that there were significant differences in the immune microenvironment between osteoarthritis patients and normal controls. RT-PCR results showed that the expression of KLF4 in OA samples was lower than that in normal samples. The diagnostic model can be used to diagnose OA patients well. Conclusions: Overall, we demonstrated the potential relationship between the abnormal lipid metabolism and the pathological process of OA. Finally, we identified KLF4 as our significant LMRG and constructed a KLF4-related scoring model to accurately diagnose OA. In conclusion, therapy strategies targeting on regulating lipid metabolism may become a key factor in treating OA. Key Points (a) We identified the significant LMRG KLF4 and constructed a novel KLF4-related scoring model for the accuracy diagnosis of OA. (b) The potential relationship between lipid metabolism and the immune microenvironment in OA was demonstrated in our research. (c) The relationship of lipid metabolism and OA has been further improved in our research and provided novel insight for the diagnosis and therapy for OA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) is an immensely growing technique that utilizes the metabolic pathways of bacteria to form calcite precipitation throughout the soil matrix, leading to improve geotechnical engineering properties. However, the excessive number of treatments limited the application of MICP for strengthening calcareous sand. To reduce the number of treatments and develop efficiencies, this paper investigates the optimized treatment protocol of adding aluminum ion flocculants to the cementing solution to accelerate the curing rate of the MICP and its effect. The results show that adding a certain concentration of AlCl3 to the cementing solution can resulted in a rapid increase in strength of the calcareous sand column. When 0.02 M aluminum chloride was added to the cementing solution, the unconfined compressive strength of the sand column reached 827 kPa after three treatments, and it reached 2 MPa after five treatments, while the control group needed to be treated 10 and 15 times, respectively, to reach equivalent strengths. In this paper, the unconfined compressive strength of the sand column formed using the proposed method was 27–40 times that of the control group at the same calcium carbonate content. The presented experimental approach can be used as a tool to design the treatment protocol for the engineering application of MICP-reinforced calcareous sand in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we design and analyze the iterative two-grid methods for the discontinuous Galerkin (DG) discretization of semilinear elliptic partial differential equations (PDEs). We first present an iterative two-grid method that is just like the classical iterative two-grid methods for nonsymmetric or indefinite linear elliptic PDEs, namely, to solve a semilinear problem on the coarse space and then to solve a symmetric positive definite problem on the fine space. Secondly, we designed another iterative two-grid method, which replace the semilinear term by using the corresponding first-order Taylor expansion. Specifically, we need to construct a suitable initial value, which can be sorted out from an auxiliary variational problem, for the second iterative method. We also provide the error estimates for the second iterative algorithm and present numerical experiments to illustrate the theoretical result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NARFL was reported to be a component of cytosolic iron–sulfur cluster assembly pathway and a causative gene of the diffused pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (dPAVMs). NARFL knockout dramatically impaired mitochondrial integrity in mice, which might promote mitochondrial dysfunction and lead to worse survival rate of lung cancer. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of NARFL deficiency in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unknown. Knockdown assay was performed in A549 and H1299 cells. The protein levels of HIF-1α and DNMT1 were measured, and then Complex I activity, mtDNA copy numbers and mRNA levels of mtND genes were determined. Cisplatin resistance and cell proliferation were conducted using CCK8 assay. Cell migration and invasion were detected using wound heal assay and transwell assay. Survival analysis of lung cancer patients and KM plotter database were used for evaluating the potential value of NARFL deficiency. NARFL protein was expressed in two cell lines and knockdown assay significantly reduced its levels. Knockdown NARFL increased the protein levels of HIF-1α and DNMT1, and downregulated the mRNA levels of ND genes, mitochondrial Complex I activity, mtDNA copy number, and ATP levels. The mitochondrial dysfunction caused by NARFL deficiency were ameliorated by siHIF-1α and DNMT1 inhibitor. Knockdown NARFL increased the drug resistance and cell migration, and siHIF-1α reversed this effect. Moreover, NSCLC patients with NARFL deficiency had a poor survival rate using a tissue array and KM plotter database, and it would be a target for cancer prognosis and treatment. NARFL deficiency caused dysregulation of energy metabolism in lung cancer cells via HIF-1α–DNMT1 axis, which promoted drug resistance and cell migration. It provided a potential target for treatment and prognosis of lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasingly prominent problem of population aging, osteoarthritis (OA), which is closely related to aging, has become a serious illness affecting the lives and health of elderly individuals. However, effective treatments are still lacking. OA is typically considered a low-grade inflammatory state. The inflammatory infiltration of macrophages, neutrophils, T cells, and other cells is common in diseased joints. These cells create the inflammatory environment of OA and are involved in the onset and progression of the disease. Exosomes, a type of complex vesicle containing abundant RNA molecules and proteins, play a crucial role in the physiological and pathological processes of an organism. In comparison to other therapeutic methods such as stem cells, exosomes have distinct advantages of precise targeting and low immunogenicity. Moreover, research and techniques related to exosomes are more mature, indicating a promising future in disease treatment. Many studies have shown that the impact of exosomes on the inflammatory microenvironment directly or indirectly leads to the occurrence of various diseases. Furthermore, exosomes can be helpful in the management of illnesses. This article provides a comprehensive review and update on the research of exosomes, a type of extracellular vesicle, in the treatment of OA by modulating the inflammatory microenvironment. It also combines innovative studies on the modification of exosomes. In general, the application of exosomes in the treatment of OA has been validated, and the introduction of modified exosome technology holds potential for enhancing its therapeutic efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid evolution of resistance in agricultural pest poses a serious threat to global food security. However, the mechanisms of resistance through metabolic regulation are largely unknown. Here, we found that a GST gene cluster was strongly selected in North China (NTC) population, and it was significantly genetically-linked to lambda-cyhalothrin resistance. Knockout of the GST cluster using CRISPR/Cas9 significantly increased the sensitivity of the knockout strain to lambda-cyhalothrin. Haplotype analysis revealed no non-synonymous mutations or structural variations in the GST cluster, whereas GST_119 and GST_121 were significantly overexpressed in the NTC population. Silencing of GST_119 or co-silencing of GST_119 and GST_121 with RNAi significantly increased larval sensitivity to lambda-cyhalothrin. We also identified additional GATAe transcription factor binding sites in the promoter of NTC_GST_119. Transient expression of GATAe in Hi5 cells activated NTC_GST_119 and Xinjiang (XJ)_GST_119 transcription, but the transcriptional activity of NTC_GST_119 was significantly higher than that of XJ_GST_119. These results demonstrate that variations in the regulatory region result in complex expression changes in the GST cluster, which enhances lambda-cyhalothrin resistance in field-populations. This study deepens our knowledge of the evolutionary mechanism of pest adaptation under environmental stress and provides potential targets for monitoring pest resistance and integrated management. A glutathione S-transferase gene cluster in the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, contributes to natural insecticide resistance in this agricultural pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe the characteristics and clinical course of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)-like ridges in healthy full-term newborns. Methods: A retrospective medical record review was performed on newborns who underwent fundus photography within 72 h of birth between January 1st and December 31st, 2019 at Women & Children's Health Care Hospital of Huantai, China. The RetCam 3 wide-field digital imaging system was used for fundus photography. ROP-like ridges were discovered and described. Results: Total of 5507 full-term infants underwent fundus photography. ROP-like ridges were discovered in 90 eyes from 57 infants (1.0%). Stage 1 ROP-like was seen in 63 of the eyes (70%), Stage 2 ROP-like in 26 of the eyes (28.9%), and Stage 3 ROP-like in 1 eye (1.1%). These ROP-like ridges were found in Zone II (41.1%) and Zone III (58.9%), but not in Zone I. Eight (8.9%) of the eyes had pre-plus-like diseases. No eyes had plus disease. All ROP-like ridges and pre-plus-like diseases were spontaneously regressed with a mean duration of 39.0 ± 8.2 days. Male sex (P = 0.003) was positively associated with ROP-like changes. Conclusion: Healthy full-term newborns may have incomplete retinal vascularization and ROP-like ridges at birth. These ROP-like ridges showed signs of spontaneous regression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decades, because of their significantly important applications, a large number of papers were devoted to constructing cryptographic functions with interesting properties by various methods. In this paper, our motivation is to construct more families of such functions up to EA-equivalence (extended affine equivalence) by using the properties of CCZ-equivalence (Carlet-Charpin-Zinoviev equivalence). To this end, we present two CCZ-equivalent forms, and show their applications on bent functions, vectorial functions having the maximum number of bent components, and vectorial plateaued functions with single amplitude, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulation of inorganic nanoparticles in living organisms can cause an increase in cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a dose-dependent manner. Low doses of nanoparticles have shown possibilities to induce moderate ROS increases and lead to adaptive responses of biological systems, but beneficial effects of such responses on metabolic health remain elusive. Here, we report that repeated oral administrations of various inorganic nanoparticles, including TiO2, Au, and NaYF4 nanoparticles at low doses, can promote lipid degradation and alleviate steatosis in the liver of male mice. We show that low-level uptake of nanoparticles evokes an unusual antioxidant response in hepatocytes by promoting Ces2h expression and consequently enhancing ester hydrolysis. This process can be implemented to treat specific hepatic metabolic disorders, such as fatty liver in both genetic and high-fat-diet obese mice without causing observed adverse effects. Our results demonstrate that low-dose nanoparticle administration may serve as a promising treatment for metabolic regulation. Inorganic nanoparticles can accumulate in living organisms causing a dose-dependent increase in cellular reactive oxygen species. Here, the authors leverage this as a potential scheme for regulating metabolic disorders, showing that that low-dose nanoparticle administration can enhance lipid hydrolysis and alleviate fatty liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to explore the spatio-temporal variation of soil nutrients as well as soil organic matter (SOM), and clarify the role of environmental and soil management factors in determining soil nutrients and SOM in farmland over Jiangxi Province of Southern China. Materials and methods: Between 2005 and 2012, we collected 16,504 surface soil samples (0–20 cm) from farmland across Jiangxi Province. Based on this soil dataset, we summarized the changes in SOM, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen (available N), available phosphorus (P), available potassium (K), pH, and cation exchange capacity. Then, we used the geostatistical method to explore and map the spatio-temporal variability of SOM, and available N, P, and K. Finally, the random forest algorithm was used to identify the main factors controlling the variation of SOM and available N, P, and K. Results and discussion: Our results revealed a clear right-skewed trend for the histogram of available P and K, pH, and cation exchange capacity in farmland soil of Jiangxi Province. From 2005 to 2012, the average concentrations of SOM and available P showed an insignificant decreasing temporal trend in the farmland of Jiangxi Province. The average concentrations of available N and available K showed a significant increasing trend between 2005 and 2012. In general, most of the soil samples had SOM, available N and P content at or above the level of Class 3 (high grade), and available K at or below the level of class 4 (moderate grade). The apparent lack of K fertility was detected. Regarding the spatio-temporal variation pattern, noticeable changes in the concentrations of SOM and available N, P, and K were detected in most of the region in 2012 when compared with 2005. Conclusion: Farmland soils in Jiangxi Province had good fertility, and soil nutrients and SOM in farmland showed strong spatial variability. Overall, the climate (e.g., mean annual precipitation and mean annual temperature) and soil management (e.g., straw return and chemical fertilizer application) had dominant effects on soil nutrients and SOM, while other factors such as relief and soil properties had slight effect. The straw return is a sustainable way to improve soil fertility. Moreover, soil pH has a slight impact on soil nutrients and SOM. Great efforts are needed to prevent farmland soils from further acidification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two-dimensional Quantum Hall effect with no external magnetic field is called the Quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) effect. So far, experimentally realized QAH insulators all exhibit ferromagnetic order and the QAH effect only occurs at very low temperatures. On the other hand, up to now the QAH effect in collinear antiferromagnetic (AFM) materials has never been reported and the corresponding mechanism has never been proposed. In this work, we realize the QAH effect by proposing a four-band lattice model with static AFM order, which indicates that the QAH effect can be found in AFM materials. Then, as a prototype, we demonstrate that a monolayer CrO can be switched from an AFM Weyl semimetal to an AFM QAH insulator by applying strain, based on symmetry analysis and the first-principles electronic structure calculations. Our work not only proposes a scenario to search for QAH insulators in materials, but also reveals a way to considerably increase the critical temperature of the QAH phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The manufacture of products in the industrial sector is the principal source of carbon emissions. To slow the progression of global warming and advance low-carbon economic development, it is essential to develop methods for accurately predicting carbon emissions from industrial sources and imposing reasonable controls on those emissions. We select a support vector machine to predict industrial carbon emissions from 2021 to 2040 by comparing the predictive power of the BP (backpropagation) neural network and the support vector machine. To reduce noise in the input variables for BP neural network and support vector machine models, we use a random forest technique to filter the factors affecting industrial carbon emissions. The statistical results suggest that BP's neural network is insufficiently adaptable to small sample sizes, has a relatively high error rate, and produces inconsistent predictions of industrial carbon emissions. The support vector machine produces excellent fitting results for tiny sample data, with projected values of industrial carbon dioxide emissions that are astonishingly close to the actual values. In 2030, carbon emissions from the industrial sector will have reached their maximum level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effect of pentoxifylline (PTX) on Chlorine (Cl2)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Female BALB/c mice were exposed to Cl2 at 400 ppm for 15 min. H&E staining was used to observe the degree of lung injury. scRNA-seq was conducted to analysis of normal and Cl2-exposed mice lung tissues. Immunofluorescence was used to observe genes of interest. Thirty-two mice were randomly divided into four groups: Control, Cl2, Cl2+Fer-1, Cl2+PTX. TEM, WB and ELISA were used to detect ferroptosis-related indicators. The 5, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20 clusters were epithelial cells and 4, 15, 18, 19, 21 clusters were endothelial cells. Pseudo-time analysis revealed the differentiation trajectory of epithelial cells and key regulatory genes (Gclc, Bpifa1, Dnah5 and Dnah9) during the process of injury. Cell–cell communication analysis identified several important receptor–ligand complexes (Nrp1-Vegfa, Nrp2-Vegfa, Flt1-Vegfa and Flt4-Vegfa). Ferroptosis were found up-regulated in epithelial and endothelial cells by GSVA analysis. Highly expressed genes to which closely related ferroptosis were found by SCENIC analysis. PTX could significantly decrease the levels of MDA and abnormal high expression of solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11, the key transporter of cystine) as well as increase the expression of GSH/GSSG and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) (p < 0.05). This study revealed novel molecular features of Cl2-induced ALI. PTX may be a potential specific drug by inhibiting the process of ferroptosis in epithelial and endothelial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this manuscript, a facile strategy was proposed to synthesize hollow spherical polyaniline by using the functionalized polystyrene sphere as the template, the resulting hollow spherical polyanilines were primarily uniform and few of them were stuck together. The obtained polyaniline was semicrystalline emeraldine with the SBET of 14.1 m2 g−1 and an average diameter of 300 nm as well as a shell thickness of 100 nm. This strategy probably provided a potential way to synthesis of the hollow spherical polyaniline. Furthermore, the synthesized hollow spherical polyaniline displayed high adsorption capacity of CR (46.91 mg g−1) and RhB (61.75 mg g−1). These values were higher than many other polyaniline-based adsorbents. The results suggested that the fabricated hollow spherical polyaniline had potential to be employed as adsorbent for CR and RhB removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) is one of the most successful and powerful methods for separable minimization optimization. Based on the idea of symmetric ADMM in two-block optimization, we add an updating formula for the Lagrange multiplier without restricting its position for multi-block one. Then, combining with the Bregman distance, in this work, a Bregman-style partially symmetric ADMM is presented for nonconvex multi-block optimization with linear constraints, and the Lagrange multiplier is updated twice with different relaxation factors in the iteration scheme. Under the suitable conditions, the global convergence, strong convergence and convergence rate of the presented method are analyzed and obtained. Finally, some preliminary numerical results are reported to support the correctness of the theoretical assertions, and these show that the presented method is numerically effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finding new (up to CCZ-equivalence) constructions of APN functions is one of the important but difficult topics in the study of cryptographic functions. Up to now, only 6 infinite families of power APN functions and 14 infinite families of APN polynomials are known. Although the CCZ-equivalence between power APN functions has been completely characterized, a similar theoretical analysis between polynomial APN functions and power APN functions is still missing. In this paper we prove that, in dimension not multiple of 3, a recently introduced family of APN quadrinomials is CCZ-inequivalent to any power APN function. Moreover, we prove that a more general family of APN functions is EA-equivalent to this family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study retrospectively investigated in which cycle measurable residual disease (MRD) is associated with prognosis in patients in first complete remission (CR1) of intermediate-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Methods: The study enrolled 235 younger patients with intermediate-risk AML. MRD was evaluated by multiparameter flow cytometry after the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd chemotherapy cycles (MRD1–3, respectively). Results: No significant association was detected after the 1st and 2nd cycles. However, the 5-year incidence of relapse was higher in the MRD3-positive group (n = 99) than in the negative group (n = 136) (48.7% vs. 13.7%, P = 0.005), while 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were lower in the MRD3-positive group than in the negative group (43.2% vs. 81.0% and 45.4% vs. 84.1%; P = 0.003 and 0.005, respectively). Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation led to a lower 5-year relapse, and higher DFS and OS rates than chemotherapy in the MRD3-positive group (22.3% vs. 71.5%, 65.9% vs. 23.0%, and 67.1% vs. 23.9%; P < 0.001, 0.002, and 0.022, respectively), but did not affect the MRD-negative group. Conclusions: MRD3 could serve as an indicator for post-remission treatment choice and help improve outcomes for intermediate-risk AML in CR1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are environmentally friendly stabilizers to improve the engineering properties of excavated soils with high water contents. The present study aims to evaluate the durability of stabilized soil with SAP subjected to wetting–drying cycles. A series of laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate the variation in mass loss, unconfined compressive strength (qu), hydraulic conductivity, as well as microstructure of stabilized soil exposed to wetting–drying cycles. The results showed that SAP significantly reduced the mass loss, which in turn enhanced qu of stabilized soil subjected to wetting–drying cycles. An optimal SAP content was observed in terms of the highest durability index (the ratio of qu subjected to wetting–drying cycles to original state). At the early stage of wetting–drying, the durability index increased with the increase in SAP content. Once exceeding the fourth cycle, a further decrease in the durability index was observed at higher SAP contents due to large extent of cracks and spalling on the specimen surface, resulting from the significant water content difference between the inner and outer perimeters. The changes in hydraulic conductivity with wetting–drying cycles were governed by the variation in macro-pore (> 1 μm) volume. With no wetting–drying cycle, the macro-pore volume increased with SAP, leading to an increase in hydraulic conductivity. After the first cycle, the macro-pores decreased significantly with SAP content, resulting in a decrease in hydraulic conductivity. Up to the fourth cycle, the wetting–drying-induced cracks dominated the water flow path. Thus, the hydraulic conductivity increased with the amount of cracks, leading to a rapid rise of hydraulic conductivity at larger SAP content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the clinical features and surgical outcomes in infants with glaucoma secondary to a special anterior-anterior type of persistent fetal vasculature (AAPFV). Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of infants who underwent of the synechialysis, pupilloplasty, with or without lensectomy and limbal vitrectomy due to AAPFV and with at least 6 months of postoperative follow-up. Results: Eleven patients were included. The median age at surgery was 4.0 months (interquartile range: 7 months). The mean follow-up was 21.0 ± 11.3 months. All patients achieved a normal anterior chamber, improved pupillary configuration, and normal intraocular pressure (IOP), except one that developed phthisis bulbi at the last visit. A total of 81.8% (9/11) eyes exhibited improved corneal transparency. Histopathologic findings of four pupillary membranous specimens under light microscopy showed similar components compared with PFV. Two eyes developed postoperative complications, including retinal detachment and hyphema, requiring additional surgeries. Postoperative visual acuity changed from no light perception to light perception in 6/9 patients. Conclusions: AAPFV is a special type of PFV with a potential for secondary glaucoma. Surgery treatment may offer better vision with improved cosmetic outcomes and a better controlled IOP. Trial registration: The study was approved by the local institutional review board (IRB) (Approval No. XHEC-D-2021–043, Ethical Committee of Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the retinal vascularization of repeated intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) for reactivated retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) treated with IVR monotherapy. Methods: The retrospective study reviewed ROP infants who accepted IVR injection as the first treatment in our department from January 2017 to December 2018. The ratio of the distance from the center of the optic disc to the border of the vascularized zone (DB) to the distance from the center of the disc to the fovea (DF) was used for the vascular outgrowth analysis. Results: Seventy-eight infants were included in the study. A total of 54.3% of the reactivated ROP patients could achieve complete vascularization after repeated IVR injections. Gestational age (GA) > 29 weeks and a temporal DB/DF ratio ≥ 3 in the first IVR were potential predictors for complete retinal vascularization after IVR monotherapy. The temporal DB/DF ratio ≥ 3.6 in the second IVR injection was a potential predictor for complete retinal vascularization after repeated IVR for ROP reactivation. Conclusions: Reactivated ROP after IVR monotherapy can be treated successfully with repeated IVR injections. GA and temporal DB/DF ratio are potential predictors of complete retinal vascularization in ROP infants treated with IVR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intestinal microbiota is an important prognostic factor for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), but its role in predicting survival has not been determined. Here, stool samples at day 15 ± 1 posttransplant were obtained from 209 patients at two centers. Microbiota was examined using 16S rRNA sequencing. The microbiota diversity and abundance of specific bacteria (including Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, Erysipelotrichaceae, and Enterobacteriaceae) were assigned a value of 0 or 1 depending on whether they were positive or negative associated with survival, respectively. An accumulated intestinal microbiota (AIM) score was generated, and patients were divided into low- and high-score groups. A low score was associated with a better 3-year cumulative overall survival (OS) as well as lower mortality than a high score (88.5 vs. 43.9% and 7.1 vs. 35.8%, respectively; both P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, a high score was found to be an independent risk factor for OS and transplant-related mortality (hazard ratio = 5.68 and 3.92, respectively; P < 0.001 and 0.003, respectively). Furthermore, the AIM score could serve as a predictor for survival (area under receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.836, P < 0.001). Therefore, the intestinal microbiota score at neutrophil recovery could predict survival following allo-HSCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Compared with Magnolia biondii, higher anthocyanin content and higher expression level of related structural genes involved in flavonoids biosynthesis were detected in its variety M. biondii var. purpurascens. Magnolia plants are old species and have evolved a variety of flower colors. Color differences occur between Magnolia biondii (MB) and its variety M. biondii var. purpurascens (MBP). MB shows pink at the bottom and white at the top of petals, while MBP shows purple at the bottom and red at the top. To understand the underlying mechanism of color difference between these two Magnolia plants, the petal color phenotypic parameters, the composition and content of flavonoids, and the expression of related structural genes involved in flavonoids biosynthesis were compared and analyzed between MB and MBP. Generally, L* and b* values of MB were higher than those of MBP, and a* and C* values of MB were lower than those of MBP. Four anthocyanins and ten flavonols were identified in both MB and MBP. Total anthocyanin content (TA) in MBP was higher than that in MB at five developmental stages, while total flavonols content (TF) in MBP was higher than that in MB just at the soft bud stage. TA was significantly negatively correlated with L* value, but showed significant positive correlation with a* and C* values. Higher anthocyanin accumulation in MBP was related with high expression of many structural genes, but lower expression level of MbF3'H in MBP from soft bud stage to half blossom stage retards the increase of anthocyanins' accumulation. These results will provide a foundation for revealing the underlying mechanism of color difference between MB and MBP, and understanding flower color evolution in Magnolia plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the functions and molecular mechanism of miR-196a in esophageal cancer (EC). miR-196a as well as UHRF2 and TET2 mRNA and protein levels in EC tissues and cells were detected using quantitative real-time PCR or western blot, respectively. Cell proliferation was evaluated via MTT assay. Transwell assays were used to detect cell migration. In addition, the targeted relationship between miR-196a and UHRF2 was assessed through a dual luciferase reporter assay. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to detect the levels of the cytosine intermediates 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC). We found increased miR-196a expression in EC tissues and cells but decreased UHRF2 and TET2 expression. Next, functional experiments showed that knockdown of miR-196a or UHRF2 overexpression suppress EC cell proliferation and migration. miR-196a negatively regulates TET2 expression by directly targeting UHRF2. UHRF2 overexpression decreased 5mC levels but increased 5hmC levels. Furthermore, TET2 downregulation reversed the functions of miR-196a inhibition on EC cell proliferation and migration. Collectively, our study suggested that miR-196a was closely related to the progression of EC possibly by regulating the UHRF2/TET2 axis. Thus, miR-196a represents a potential new EC therapeutic target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During an investigation of the diversity of aquatic hyphomycetes from southern China, two interesting isolates were collected. These two isolates were cultured and sequenced, and a BLAST search of their LSU sequences against data in GenBank revealed that the closest related taxa were in the genus Microthyrium. Phylogenetic analyses, based on the combined sequence data from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large nuclear subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU), revealed that our isolates belong to the Microthyriaceae. Combined morphological characters allowed us to describe our isolates as two new genera and species in Microthyriaceae, named as: Keqinzhangia aquatica and Pseudocoronospora hainanense. The full descriptions, illustrations, and a phylogenetic tree showing the position of the two new genera were provided in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The rate of awareness of prospective prescription review for inpatient prescriptions remains low, and no study has evaluated prospective prescription review systems among hospitalized patients. In this study we evaluate the effect of a prospective prescription review system on the use of analgesics, clinical outcomes, and medical costs in hospitalized patients who underwent surgery. Methods: A single-center, real-world study was conducted retrospectively at Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing, China. Patient data were extracted from the medical records, before (June 2016–May 2017) and after (June 2018–May 2019) prescription review system implementation. The primary outcome was proportion of prescriptions of analgesics with potential risks. The secondary outcomes included prescription of opioids or non-opioids, usage of medications to manage analgesics-related adverse events, clinical outcomes, and medical costs. Propensity score matching was used to balance the cohort of patients before and after implementation of the prescription review system. Results: A total of 28,150 inpatients were included for study analysis. After implementation of the prescription review system, the proportion of prescriptions of analgesics with potential risk was significantly reduced (6.3% vs 26.1%, P < 0.05). A significant decrease was observed in the proportion of patients prescribed opioids (24.3% vs 27.5%, P < 0.001) and tramadol (4.7% vs 12.1%, P < 0.001). There was a significant decrease in prescription of antiemetics (21.8% vs 34.1%, P < 0.001) and cathartics (38.4% vs 50.6%, P < 0.001) which were used in the management of opioid-related adverse events. There was a decreased length of stay in hospital [median (Q1, Q3) 10 (6, 17) vs 11 (7, 18), P < 0.01)] with similar readmission rates within 30 days post discharge (1.0% vs 0.8%, P = 0.099). Conclusions: The introduction of the prescription review system was associated with safer prescribing, including a reduction in prescriptions of analgesics with potential risk and necessity of medication to manage analgesics-related adverse events, which resulted in better clinical outcomes and cost saving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We theoretically investigate the second-order sideband generation (SSG) in a photonic-molecule optomechanics with phonon pump under the condition of resonance and off-resonance. We find that the efficiency of SSG presents four sideband peaks in resonance with controlling the different parametric regimes including the cavity-cavity coupling J, the ratio parameter δ of the two cavities, and the amplitude f and the phase ϕm of the phonon pump. Combining the two cavities coupling and phonon pump, the efficiency of SSG can be significantly enhanced. Furthermore, the SSG is also sensitive to the condition of off-resonance, which presents mode splitting behavior under different parametric regimes, and our work offer a promising route towards achieving tunable optical nonlinearity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese herbal medicine is widely cultivated in Southwest China, where the soil cadmium (Cd) contamination of farmland is more serious than that in China as a whole. In this study, Polygonatum sibiricum was exposed to Cd at concentrations of e−1, e0, e2, and e4 mg/kg for 30, 60, and 90 days, and the physiological stress responses, Cd and mineral element uptake, antioxidant enzyme activities, and content changes of pharmaceutical ingredients (polysaccharides) were analyzed to decipher the feasibility of safe utilization in Cd-contaminated soil. The results show that the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) in the aboveground part was always higher than that in the underground part. The underground part of Polygonatum sibiricum mobilizes nonenzymatic systems to facilitate the synthesis of polysaccharides (PCP1, PCP2) with antioxidant properties to cope with Cd stress. Mineral elements (P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, and Zn) significantly (p < 0.05) changed after 90 d of cultivation. In particular, the changes in the iron and zinc content were significantly correlated (p < 0.05) with the activities of SOD and POD. Soil Cd at e0 mg/kg can guarantee the safe production and utilization of Polygonatum sibiricum, and the stimulation of Cd promotes polysaccharide synthesis and biomass growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effectively supporting millimeter-wave (mmWave) beamforming is still a major challenge in 5G cloud radio access network (5G C-RAN) systems with evolved common public radio interface-based (eCPRI-based) fronthaul. Herein, an optical true time delay pool based hybrid beamforming (OTTDP-HBF) scheme, enabling centralized beamforming control, is proposed for mmWave 5G C-RAN systems. The weight control of the OTTDP-HBF is physically implemented by a pre-designed optical wavelength matrix which is mapped from a series of optical carriers. After introducing optical true time delay, this optical wavelength matrix then maps to the defined OTTDP. In this scheme, all physical implementation and the computational processing of analog beamforming can be centrally deployed into a centralized unit or distributed unit (CU/DU). Each active antenna unit (AAU) therefore becomes very simple. For single-user and multi-user scenarios, the OTTDP-based hybrid precoders are formulated respectively. In the developed OTTDP-based multi-user hybrid precoder, the spectral efficiency is improved by making use of all RF chains. For a 9-element uniform planar array deployed at an AAU, a designed example of the OTTDP-HBF is presented, where spectral efficiency curves obtained via different precoding schemes for single-user and multi-user scenarios are compared and discussed respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Concentrated growth factor (CGF) is a third-generation platelet concentrate product; the major source of growth factors in CGF is its extract; however, there are few studies on the overall effects of the extract of CGF (CGF-e). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of CGF-e on MC3T3-E1 cells in vitro and to explore the effect of combination of CGF-e and bone collagen (Bio-Oss Collagen, Geistlich, Switzerland) for bone formation in cranial defect model of rats in vivo. Methods: The cell proliferation, ALP activity, mineral deposition, osteogenic-related gene, and protein expression were evaluated in vitro; the newly formed bone was evaluated by histological and immunohistochemical analysis through critical-sized cranial defect rat model in vivo. Results: The cell proliferation, ALP activity, mineral deposition, osteogenic-related gene, and protein expression of CGF-e group were significantly increased compared with the control group. In addition, there was significantly more newly formed bone in the CGF-e + bone collagen group, compared to the blank control group and bone collagen only group. Conclusions: CGF-e activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to enhance osteogenic differentiation and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells and promoted the bone formation of rat cranial defect model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Information related to spatial distribution and dominants of soil organic matter (SOM) is critical for evaluating soil quality and assessing the carbon sequestration capacity, which play essential role in soil management and climate change mitigation. Until now, no reported research has conducted an extensive survey to predict SOM content, analysed SOM spatial variability, and determined the main controls of SOM variation in areas around Dongting Lake in southern China. Therefore, this study aims to (1) explore the spatial variability of SOM content; (2) build a model to quantitatively predict SOM content with various sources of covariates and with the RF method; and (3) identify potential controls of SOM based on the relative importance of variables. Materials and methods: A total of 8040 soil samples were collected from Yueyang County in Eastern Dongting Lake Plain. Ordinary kriging was used to produce a map of SOM and then the random forest algorithms were used to predict SOM content with 17 covariates covered terrain attributes, land use, climate, soil management policies, soil properties, and geologic information. Finally, the main dominants of SOM variability were identified. Results and discussion: The SOM content in the survey region varied from 4.00 to 446.60 g kg−1 and had an average content of 33.17 g kg−1, which indicated fertile soil in the study area. SOM presented strong spatial variability in the area under study. The high SOM values were majorly located in the northeast and southwest parts of the survey regions. The R2 of our developed model was 0.74 and the RMSE was 0.16 g kg−1. The main controls of SOM variability in the study area were available phosphorus, precipitation, soil group, rotation system, available potassium, altitude, and slope. Conclusion: Our developed model showed a good performance to estimate SOM content using auxiliary variables. Soil properties and agricultural management measures played the most important roles in predicting SOM in the study area. Results obtained from this study could provide new insights for estimating SOM and contribute to the sustainable development of agriculture and better regulation of soil quality in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) serves as a critical upstream regulator of lipophagy and lipid metabolism in hepatocyte. However, the role of CMA in lipid metabolism of macrophage, the typical component of atherosclerotic plaque, remains unclear. In our study, LAMP-2A (L2A, a CMA marker) was reduced in macrophages exposed to high dose of oleate, and lipophagy was impaired in advanced atherosclerosis in ApoE (−/−) mice. Primary peritoneal macrophages isolated from macrophage-specific L2A-deficient mice exhibited pronounced intracellular lipid accumulation. Lipid regulatory enzymes, including long-chain-fatty-acid-CoA ligase 1 (ACSL1) and lysosomal acid lipase (LAL), were increased and reduced in L2A-KO macrophage, respectively. Other lipid-related proteins, such as SR-A, SR-B (CD36), ABCA1, or PLIN2, were not associated with increased lipid content in L2A-KO macrophage. In conclusion, deficient CMA promotes lipid accumulation in macrophage probably by regulating enzymes involved in lipid metabolism. CMA may represent a novel therapeutic target to alleviate atherosclerosis by promoting lipid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, hierarchically porous ZIF-8 (HZIF-8) adsorbents were prepared successfully with the assistance of sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS) through a facile one-pot self-assembly method at room temperature, and their adsorption of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) was studied in water by bath adsorption experiments. The structural characteristics of the adsorbents were confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and N2 adsorption/desorption measurements. The research results indicated that the final hierarchically porous ZIF-8 with a large Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area (1423.78 m2 g−1) had a higher TCH adsorption capacity (574.71 mg g−1) than microporous ZIF-8 by improving the mass transfer rate. The adsorption isotherm was expressed well by the Freundlich isotherm model and the kinetic data fit the pseudo-second-order kinetic model better. Mechanistic studies implied that coordinate bonds, π–π interactions and electrostatic interactions played vital roles in the TCH adsorption process based on the effect of pH, zeta potential of adsorbents, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Moreover, the addition of SDS altered the ZIF-8 porosity and exposed more active sites of adsorbents. As synthesized, the hierarchically porous ZIF-8 displayed excellent regenerability and could be expected to expand the application range regarding the removal of antibiotics from aqueous solution. Highlights: Hierarchically porous ZIF-8 (HZIF-8) were prepared by sodium dodecyl sulfonate-assisted strategy for tetracycline hydrochloride elimination. The maximum adsorption capacity of the HZIF-8 reached 574.71 mg g−1. Coordinate bond, π–π interaction and electrostatic interaction were the possible adsorption mechanism. The used HZIF-8 had good reusability via simple washing with solvents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates with high detection sensitivity were prepared by thermal oxidation, and magnetron sputtering and the SERS properties of these substrates were studied using methylene blue as probe molecule. The result showed that the SERS substrate has good enhancement effect (analytical enhancement factor ~ 107), stability, and reproducibility. The minimum detection limit for methylene blue can reach 10–9 M. The SERS intensity and the concentration has a linear dependence (R2 > 0.9). This suggests that the substrate has great potential in the detection of biological and chemical substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the help of double hydrogen bonds between urea groups, a self-healing anti-icing coating was prepared from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based polyurea (PDMSPU) that was synthesized from bis(3-aminopropyl)-terminated PDMS and 2,4-toluene diisocyanate. Furthermore, by incorporating a lubricant of inert silicone oil and the cross-linking agent of 1,3,5-tris-(4-aminophenoxy)benzene (TAPOB), the anti-icing coatings exhibited elastic, slippery and durable properties. The wettability, ice shear strength, abrasion-resistance, mechanical and self-healing properties of the prepared anti-icing coatings were systematically investigated. Results showed that the ice shear strength of the PDMSPU anti-icing coating with 150 wt% silicone oil was 7.9±2.9 kPa, significantly lower than that of pristine PDMSPU (74.7±7.2 kPa). The additional introduction of 2 wt% TAPOB could effectively counteract the adverse effect of the lubricant so that the tensile strength (∼1 MPa) of the coating could be comparable to pristine PDMSPU (855±96 kPa). The PDMSPU coating containing 150 wt% silicone oil and 2 wt% TAPOB could maintain the ice shear strength below 50 kPa against 10 icing/deicing cycles and at 12.0±3.3 kPa after 5000 abrasion cycles, and exhibit self-healing properties after treating at 60°C for 10 or 15 h. The slippery self-healing PDMSPU anti-icing coatings could be suitable for anti-icing surfaces in low temperature environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]