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The superior stimuli‐responsiveness, narrow linewidth, and high spectral multiplexing capacity of microlasers have led to their use as photonic tags for molecular labeling, encryption, and anticounterfeiting. However, the requirement of consistent lasing features for repeated measurements and the need for lasing features to change regularly with varying analytes pose a challenge to the efficient and convenient authentication of laser‐encoded photonic tags for practical applications. To address this challenge, an optical microsphere array is proposed that provides a set of real‐time typical lasing spectra collected from microspheres coated with specific recognition surface films of different sizes capable of recognizing one analyte or a mixture of analytes. These lasing spectra were transformed into 2D grayscale barcodes. Additionally, a gray value‐quick response code (GV‐QR code) is developed using deep learning methods, which enables the real‐time monitoring and identification of molecular concentration changes through GV‐QR autocoding, resulting in more precise, wide‐ranging, and reliable molecular detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing interest in the flexibility and operational capabilities of soft manipulators in confined spaces emphasizes the need for precise modeling and accurate motion control. Conventional control methods encounter difficulties in modeling and involve intricate computations. This work introduces a novel deep reinforcement learning (DRL) control algorithm based on neural network modeling. Using the Whale Optimization Algorithm, an approximate dynamic model for the soft manipulator is established. The twin delayed deterministic policy gradient is employed for DRL control. Domain randomization is applied during pretraining in a simulated environment. The algorithm addresses issues related to dependency on measurement data quality and redundant mappings, outperforming other methods by 8–15 mm in control accuracy. The trained DRL controller achieves precise trajectory tracking within the soft manipulator's task space, enabling successful grasping tasks in various complex environments, including pipelines and other narrow spaces. Experimental results confirm the autonomy of our controller in performing these tasks without human intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The common methods used for correcting chromatic aberration are typically based on multi‐lens and multi‐material systems, resulting in lens thicknesses that are several orders of magnitude greater than the wavelength and complex combination designs. A method to achieve the singlet achromatic microlens of the wavelength‐scale thickness by utilizing high refractive index materials with an aspherical profile is proposed. A theoretical model based on the dispersion effect is developed to guide the selection of materials and the design of thicknesses for achieving chromatic aberration correction in singlet microlenses of a given diameter and numerical aperture. H‐ZLaF68N (68N) glass, sapphire, and fused silica with relatively high to low refractive index are selected to prepare the singlet achromatic microlenses to verify the validity of the model. The thicknesses of three microlenses are 573, 737 nm, and 1.27 µm, respectively, and all of them have achieved achromatic correction as designed. This indicates that the high refractive index material not only achieves achromatic aberration but also reduces the thickness by ≈50% compared with the conventional low refractive index material of silica glass. The presented wavelength‐scale singlet achromatic microlens hold significant promise for compact wearable devices, dynamic holography, and color projection displays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid advancement of soft robotic technology emphasizes the growing importance of tactile perception. Soft grippers, equipped with tactile sensing, can gather interactive information crucial for safe human–robot interaction, wearable devices, and dexterous manipulation. However, most soft grippers with tactile sensing abilities have limited modes of tactile perception, restricting their dexterity and safety. In addition, existing tactile systems are often complicated, leading to unstable perception signals. Inspired by various organisms, a novel multimodal tactile‐sensing soft robotic finger is proposed. This finger, based on a modified fin ray structure, integrates a distributed fiber optic sensing system as part of its tactile sensory neural system. It replicates human finger capabilities, discerning contact forces as low as 0.01 N with exceptional sensitivity (106.96 mN nm−1). Through training neural networks models, the finger achieves an accuracy exceeding 96% in recognizing roughness, material stiffness, and finger pad position. Assembled into two‐finger parallel gripper, it demonstrates precise manipulation capabilities for fragile items like strawberries and potato chips. Moreover, through synergistic interplay of multimodal tactile sensing, this finger can successfully grasp an underwater transparent sphere, mitigating limitations of visual perception. The developed soft finger holds promise in various scenarios including hazardous environment detection and specialized grasping tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insufficient reactive oxygen species originating from hypoxia and high glutathione (GSH) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is an important reason for radiotherapy (RT) resistance. Currently, radiosensitizers that remodel TME are widely investigated to enhance RT. However, developing an effective nano‐radiosensitization system that removes radiotherapy‐resistant factors from TME to boost RT effect while visualizing tumor imaging to aid therapy remains a challenge. Herein, MnO2 nanosheets are grown on the surface of ultrasmall Eu‐doped NaGdF4 (NaGdF4:Eu3+) nanoparticles and modified by biocompatible DSPE‐PEG2000 to prepare NaGdF4:Eu3+@MnO2@PEG nanoparticles (denoted as GMP NPs) as a radiosensitizer, which not only can reverse the TME by degrading H2O2 to produce oxygen and consuming high GSH but also achieve computed tomography (CT)and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. When GMP NPs synergize with X‐ray, a better antitumor effect is achieved in both HeLa cells and tumor‐bearing mice, compared with X‐ray alone. In addition, both paramagnetic Mn2+ ionsproduced by decomposing MnO2 in TME and NaGdF4:Eu3+ nanoparticles enhance T1‐weighted MR imaging. NaGdF4:Eu3+ nanoparticles containing high atomic number of Gd/Eu effectively attenuate X‐ray to enhance CT imaging. The work provides new insights for developing an efficient RT sensitization platform integrating antitumor therapeutic effect as well as CT/MR dual‐modal imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft robots have recently attracted increasing interest due to their advantages in durability, flexibility, and deformability, which enable them to adapt to unstructured environments and perform various complex tasks. Perception is crucial for soft robots. To better mimic biological systems, sensors need to be integrated into soft robotic systems to obtain both proprioceptive and external perception for effective usage. This review summarizes the latest advancements in flexible sensing feedback technologies for soft robotic applications. It begins with an introduction to the development of various flexible sensors for soft robots, followed by an in‐depth exploration of smart materials and advanced manufacturing methods. A detailed description of flexible sensing modalities and methodologies is also included in the review to illustrate the continuous breakthrough of the technology. In addition, the applications of soft robots based on these advanced sensing technologies are concluded as well. The challenges of flexible sensing technologies for soft robots and promising solutions are finally discussed and analyzed to provide a prospect for future development. By examining the recent advances in intelligent flexible sensing technologies, this review is dedicated to highlighting the potential of soft robotics and motivating innovation within the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary microcephaly is characterized by a head circumference prenatally or at birth that falls below three standard deviations from age‐, ethnic‐, and sex‐specific norms. Genetic defects are one of the underlying causes of primary microcephaly. Since 2014, five variants of the SASS6 gene have been identified as the cause of MCPH 14 in three reported families. In this study, we present the genetic findings of members of a nonconsanguineous Chinese couple with a history of microcephaly and fetal growth restriction (FGR) during their first pregnancy. Utilizing trio whole‐exome sequencing, we identified compound heterozygous variants involving a frameshift NM_194292.3:c.450_453del p.(Lys150AsnfsTer7) variant and a splice region NM_194292.3:c.1674+3A>G variant within the SASS6 gene in the affected fetus. Moreover, reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction from RNA of the mother's peripheral blood leukocytes revealed that the c.1674+3A>G variant led to the skipping of exon 14 and an inframe deletion. To the best of our knowledge, the association between FGR and SASS6‐related microcephaly has not been reported, and our findings confirm the pivotal role of SASS6 in microcephaly pathogenesis and reveal an expanded view of the phenotype and mutation spectrum associated with this gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium aescinate (SA) shows great potential for treating lymphedema since it can regulate the expression of cytokines in M1 macrophages, however, it is commonly administered intravenously in clinical practice and often accompanied by severe toxic side effects and short metabolic cycles. Herein, SA‐loaded chiral supramolecular hydrogels are prepared to prove the curative effects of SA on lymphedema and enhance its safety and transdermal transmission efficiency. In vitro studies demonstrate that SA‐ loaded chiral supramolecular hydrogels can modulate local immune responses by inhibiting M1 macrophage polarization. Typically, these chiral hydrogels can significantly increase the permeability of SA with good biocompatibility due to the high enantioselectivity between chiral gelators and stratum corneum and L‐type hydrogels are found to have preferable drug penetration over D‐type hydrogels. In vivo studies show that topical delivery of SA via chiral hydrogels results in dramatic therapeutic effects on lymphedema. Specifically, it can downregulate the level of inflammatory cytokines, reduce the development of fibrosis, and promote the regeneration of lymphatic vessels. This study initiates the use of SA for lymphedema treatment and for the creation of an effective chiral biological platform for improved topical administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ocean environment has enormous uncertainty due to the influence of complex waves and undercurrents. The human beings are limited in their abilities to detect and utilize marine resources without powerful tools. Soft robots employ soft materials to simplify the complex mechanical structures in rigid robots and adapt their morphology to the environment, making them suitable for performing some challenging tasks in place of manual labor. Due to superior flexible and deformable bodies, underwater soft robots have played significant roles in numerous applications in recent decades. Meanwhile, various technical challenges still need to be tackled to ensure the reliability and practical performance of underwater soft robots in complicated ocean environment. Nowadays, some researchers have developed underwater soft robotic systems based on biomimetics and other disciplines, aiming at comprehensive exploration of ocean and appropriate utilization of unexploited resources. This review presents the recent advances of underwater soft robots in the aspects of intelligent soft materials, fabrication, actuation, locomotion patterns, power storage, sensing, control, and modeling; additionally, the existing challenges and perspectives are analyzed as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: 3M syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive developmental disorder characterized by pre and postnatal growth deficiency, dysmorphic facial features, and normal intelligence. 3M syndrome should be suspected in a proband with a combination of characteristic or recognizable dysmorphic features. The diagnosis of 3M syndrome could be confirmed by identifying biallelic variants in CUL7, OBSL1, or CCDC8. Methods: Whole‐exome sequencing (WES) was performed to identify genetic causes. Reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) was performed to detect aberrant splicing events. Haplotypes were constructed using multiplex PCR and sequencing. Variants of the parental haplotype and target likely pathogenic variants were detected by PCR and Sanger sequencing from the embryos. Copy number variant (CNV) detection was performed by next‐generation sequencing. Results: We present the case of a nonconsanguineous Chinese couple with one abnormal pregnancy, where the fetus showed 3M phenotypes of shortened long bones. WES identified two novel heterozygous mutations in CUL7: NM_014780.5:c.354del (p.Gln119ArgfsTer52) and NM_014780.5:c.1373‐15G>A. RT‐PCR from RNA of the mother's peripheral blood leucocytes showed that c.1373‐15G>A caused the insertion of a 13‐bp extra intron sequence and encoded the mutant p.Leu459ProfsTer25. Both variants were classified as likely pathogenic according to ACMG/AMP guidelines and Clinical Genome Resource specifications. During genetic counseling, the options of prenatal diagnosis through chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis, adoption, sperm donation, and electing not to reproduce, as well as preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders (PGT‐M), were discussed. The couple hopes to conceive a child of their own and refused to accept the 25% risk during the next pregnancy and opted for PGT‐M. They finally successfully delivered a healthy baby through PGT‐M. Conclusion: This study expanded the mutation spectrum of CUL7, detected the aberrant splicing event of CUL7 via RT‐PCR, constructed the haplotype for PGT‐M, and demonstrated the successful delivery of a healthy baby using PGT‐M. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many clinical studies have demonstrated a correlation between psoriasis vulgaris and dementia, yet this correlation remains controversial. Our study employed the Mendelian randomization (MR) method to investigate the causal relationship between psoriasis vulgaris and dementia. Data were obtained from the summary statistics of the genome‐wide association studies from IEU‐OpenGWAS project database. In univariate Mendelian randomization (UVMR) analysis, psoriasis vulgaris was used as exposure. Alzheimer disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), Parkinson's disease with dementia (PDD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) served as the outcomes. In multivariate Mendelian randomization (MVMR) analysis, VaD served as the outcome. The first MVMR analysis used psoriasis vulgaris, mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW) and platelet count (PLT) as exposures. The second MVMR analysis used psoriasis vulgaris, vitamin D level and 25 hydroxyvitamin D level as exposures. The main analysis employed the inverse variance weighted method, and the outcomes were evaluated by odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). In UVMR analysis, the results depicted that psoriasis vulgaris was associated with VaD (OR: 0.903, 95% CI: 0.818–0.996, p = 0.041). The results revealed insignificant associations between psoriasis vulgaris and other dementia types. After adjusting the effects of MPV, PDW and PLT in MVMR analysis, the association between psoriasis vulgaris and VaD was no longer significant (p = 0.164). Similarly, after adjusting the effects of vitamin D level and 25 hydroxyvitamin D level in MVMR analysis, the association between psoriasis vulgaris and VaD was also no longer significant (p = 0.533). Our study suggests that psoriasis vulgaris may potentially decrease VaD incidence. However, the causal association between psoriasis vulgaris and VaD may be impeded by platelet‐related indices, vitamin D level and 25 hydroxyvitamin D level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tactile sensing technology is crucial for soft grippers. Soft grippers equipped with intelligent tactile sensing systems based on various sensors can interact safely with the unstructured environments and obtain precise properties of objects (e.g., size and shape). It is essential to develop state‐of‐the‐art sensing technologies for soft grippers to handle different grasping tasks. In this review, the development of tactile sensing techniques for robotic hands is first introduced. Then, the principles and structures of different types of sensors normally adopted in soft grippers, including capacitive tactile sensors, piezoresistive tactile sensors, piezoelectric tactile sensors, fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors, vision‐based tactile sensors, triboelectric tactile sensors, and other advanced sensors developed recently are briefly presented. Furthermore, sensing modalities and methodologies for soft grippers are also described in aspects of force measurement, perception of object properties, slip detection, and fusion of perception. The application scenarios of soft grippers are also summarized based on these advanced sensing technologies. Finally, the challenges of tactile sensing technologies for soft grippers that need to be tackled are discussed and perspectives in addressing these challenges are pointed out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ti3C2 MXenes with different halogen modifications are prepared rapidly and efficiently by microwave molten salt method, and the MXene surface functional group modification is successfully achieved to address the problems of low purity, complex functional groups, and uncontrollable energy band structure of MXenes obtained by traditional liquid phase etching. Among them, the modification of the iodine (I) functional group onto the surface of Ti3C2 changes the energy band structure and band gap, resulting in easier photoexcitation and more photogenerated carriers. The increased Fermi energy is closer to the conduction band, the decreased surface work function weakens the electron confinement ability. The photogenerated carriers can migrate to the surface of the material more easily with extended lifetime, so the activity of the catalyst is improved. Further, for gaseous monomeric mercury (Hg0) photo‐oxidative removal, Ti3C2‐I2 exhibits 85.5% efficiency of Hg0 photo‐oxidative removal under visible light. Based on the experimental characterization and density functional theory calculations, a mechanism for the photo‐oxidative removal of Hg° from Ti3C2‐I2 MXene is proposed, which provides a valuable strategy for studying Ti3C2 MXenes in the field of photocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tissue engineering (TE), as a new interdisciplinary discipline, aims to develop biological substitutes for repairing damaged tissues and organs. For the success of tissue regeneration, such biomaterials need to support the physiological activities of cells and allow the growth and maturation of tissues. Naturally, this regulation is achieved through the dynamic remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of cells. In recent years, chiral supramolecular hydrogels have shown higher application potential in the TE field than traditional polymer hydrogels due to their dynamic noncovalent interactions, adjustable self‐assembly structure, and good biocompatibility. These advantages make it possible to construct hydrogels under physiological conditions with structure and function similar to those of the natural ECM. Meanwhile, the chiral characteristics of hydrogels play an important role in regulating cellular activities such as differentiation, adhesion, and proliferation, which is beneficial for tissue formation. In this review, a brief introduction is presented to highlight the importance of chiral fiber supramolecular hydrogels for TE at first. Afterward, the considerations for chiral supramolecular hydrogel design, as well as the influence of external stimuli on chiral hydrogel construction, are discussed. Finally, the potential application prospects of these materials in TE and the significant contribution made by our group in this field are summarized. This review not only helps to reveal the importance of chiral properties in TE but also provides new strategies for TE research based on chiral bionic microenvironments. This article is categorized under:Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanotechnology in Tissue Repair and ReplacementBiology‐Inspired Nanomaterials > Peptide‐Based StructuresNanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Cells at the NanoscaleTherapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being able to precisely manipulate both the morphology and chiroptical signals of supramolecular assemblies will help to better understand the natural biological self‐assembly mechanism. Two simple l/d‐phenylalanine‐based derivatives (L/DPFM) have been designed, and their solvent‐dependent morphology evolutions are illustrated. It was found that, as the content of H2O in aqueous ethanol solutions was increased, LPFM self‐assembles first into right‐handed nanofibers, then flat fibrous structures, and finally inversed left‐handed nanofibers. Assemblies in ethanol and H2O exhibit opposite conformations and circular dichroism (CD) signals even though they are constructed from the same molecules. Thus, the morphology‐dependent cell adhesion and proliferation behaviors are further characterized. Left‐handed nanofibers are found to be more favorable for cell adhesion than right‐handed nanostructures. Quantitative AFM analysis showed that the L929 cell adhesion force on left‐handed LPFM fibers is much higher than that on structures with inversed handedness. Moreover, the value of cell Young's modulus is lower for left‐handed nanofibrous films, which indicates better flexibility. The difference in cell‐substrate interactions might lead to different effects on cell behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using computer simulation tools such as finite element analysis (FEA) to perform material stress analysis is a common design method in engineering practice. In order to model more realistic real‐world systems, simulation models have become more complex, and calculation becomes more expensive as a result. The rise of artificial intelligence technologies has made it possible to integrate deep learning methods and material stress analysis. Herein, FEA software is employed to obtain a large number of analysis cases as training samples and uses a fully connected neural network and long‐short‐term memory neural network as surrogate models, which can predict the stress distribution and stress sequence in the process of the bullet impacting target plates with different materials. These models can give results similar to FEA with 92.19% and 92.41% accuracy, respectively. The experimental results show that the deep learning surrogate models have great potential in material stress analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LIM homeobox 6 (LHX6) has been reported to be downregulated and inhibits cell proliferation in various cancers. Alternative splicing of LHX6 leads to six annotated isoforms, which can be found in the NCBI database. However, the expression patterns and potential roles of these isoforms remain poorly characterized in cervical cancer. Here, we demonstrated that the LHX6 isoforms containing exon 12 (LHX6EX(+12) group) and isoforms lacking exon 12 (LHX6EX(–12) group) were differentially expressed in cervical tissue by qRT‐PCR. The mRNA expression level of LHX6EX(+12) group was higher than that of LHX6EX(−12) group in cervical cancer tissue. Knockdown of LHX6EX(+12) group and all LHX6 isoforms (LHX6All group) inhibited cell growth, increased cell apoptosis, and induced cell cycle arrest from G0/G1 phase to S phase in vitro. Consistently, overexpression of the LHX6EX(+12) group promoted cervical cancer cell proliferation in vitro. In contrast, no significant differences in cell proliferation were found between LHX6EX(−12) isoform knockdown group and its control. RNA‐sequencing suggested that the LHX6EX(+12) isoform group might exert its cancer‐promoting effects in cervical cancer via regulating MAPK signaling pathway. Downregulation of the LHX6EX(+12) group significantly suppressed the phosphorylation of MRK, ERK, JNK, and P38 at the protein level. We also identified some unique biological processes and signaling pathways in which each isoform group might be involved. In summary, our results indicated that LHX6EX(+12) isoform group was the dominant oncogenic type of LHX6 in cervical cancer, which may be a new biomarker and a potential precise therapeutic target for cervical cancer in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rubber plantations have rapidly replaced natural forests (NFs) in Mainland Southeast Asia, yet the relevant impacts on the terrestrial carbon cycle remain uncertain especially with an increase in drought frequency. Our study compared eddy‐covariance measurements of carbon and water fluxes from two rubber monoculture plantations (at a northern marginal site and a southern traditional plantation site) with a second‐growth NF between 2015 and 2018, and their responses to a prolonged drought during 2015/2016. The NF had higher light use efficiency, water use efficiency and gross primary productivity (GPP, 2.94 ± 0.41 kg C m−2 yr−1) than the northern rubber (NR) monoculture (2.45 ± 0.17 kg C m−2 yr−1), while lower ecosystem carbon use efficiency (eCUE) caused a lower net ecosystem productivity (NEP, 0.75 ± 0.25 kg C m−2 yr−1) compared to the plantation (1.19 ± 0.22 kg C m−2 yr−1). Drought decreased the NF eCUE by 23% with significant carbon uptake restrictions across multiple seasons, while the rubber GPP reduction was only substantial in the warm‐dry season with an overall 17% decline in eCUE. The NR site's GPP was mainly controlled by soil water content throughout the year. Higher light availability offset the negative effect of drier conditions on the rubber GPP, resulting in larger carbon uptake compared to the southern plantation (GPP, 2.12 ± 0.12 kg C m−2 yr−1; NEP, 1.07 ± 0.14 kg C m−2 yr−1). In contrast, the NF GPP was mainly restricted by vapor pressure deficit, especially during the drought. Plain Language Summary: Both rubber expansion from south to north and increased drought events lead to large uncertainties in forest carbon and water cycles in Mainland Southeast Asia. To better understand their potential impacts, our study compared the carbon and water fluxes, and how they respond to drought in a marginal rubber planting area with a traditional planting area, and with a second‐growth natural forest (NF) near the marginal plantation over 4 years using eddy‐covariance technique. We found the NF absorbed more carbon with a higher use efficiency of light and water, while it was largely used for ecosystem respiration resulting in decreased carbon uptake than the rubber plantation. The decreased carbon uptake during drought was significant across multiple seasons in the NF, while it was only substantial in the warm‐dry season in the rubber plantations. Compared to the traditional planting area, carbon uptake in the marginal site was higher and mainly driven by soil moisture. The negative effect of drier conditions was offset by higher light availability during the rainy season. In contrast, the NF carbon uptake was mainly controlled by atmospheric water demand, especially during the drought. Key Points: Rubber plantations had a lower annual gross primary productivity yet higher carbon sequestration than a natural forest (NF)Higher light availability offset the negative effect of drier conditions on the rubber gross primary productivity in a marginal areaDrought increased the importance of soil moisture and vapor pressure deficit on the rubber and NF carbon uptake, respectively [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metasurfaces, known as ultra‐thin and planar structures, are widely used in optical components with their excellent ability to manipulate the wavefront of the light. The key function of the metasurfaces is the spatial phase modulation, originated from the meta‐atoms. Thus, to find the relation between the phase modulation and the parameters of an individual meta‐atom, including the sizes, shapes, and material's optical properties, is the most important but also time‐consuming part in the metasurface design. Here by developing a backpropagation neural network based machine learning tool, the design process of a high performance achromatic metalens can be greatly simplified and accelerated. A library of the phase modulation data from 15 753 meta‐atoms can be generated in less than 1 s by our backpropagation neural network. In the experiment, it is demonstrated that the designed metalens shows an excellent achromatic focusing and imaging ability in the visible wavelengths from 420 to 640 nm without the polarization dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thallium (Tl) is a highly toxic heavy metal, for which its removal from aqueous environments has gained increasing attention. However, removal of Tl from the gas phase is yet to be addressed, especially at low temperature. Herein, we synthesized and characterized a manganite‐based active carbon (Mn–AC) catalyst via an impregnation method process. The Mn–Ac catalyst was then used for elemental Tl removal from simulated flow gas in a laboratory‐scale fixed‐bed reactor. Tl(I) was adsorbed by the AC and oxidized by active Mn, resulting in Tl(III). In addition, experiments were performed at varying temperatures and different Mn dosages to evaluate the efficiency of Tl removal in various conditions. The Mn–AC catalysts were shown to oxidize Tl(I) to Tl(III) on their surface with Tl removal efficiency decreasing with increasing temperature, reaching a removal rate of 90% over 8 h at 25°C. Further, increasing Mn content led to a decrease in surface area and a convolution of the AC morphology. Mn(10%)–AC was shown to have the highest gas‐phase Tl removal efficiency (≥90%, over 8 h). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Optimal robust state estimation (SE) and fault detection (FD) methods of discrete‐time linear parameter varying systems with measurement error‐affected scheduling variables are proposed under the boundedness assumption of system uncertainties. By using the weighted Frobenius norm of the generator matrix of SE zonotope to characterize the set size, the optimal observer gain can be computed by a zonotopic Kalman filter (ZKF) procedure for the purpose of observation. Meanwhile, by minimizing the influence of system uncertainties while maximizing that of faults on SE to enhance the sensitivity of FD, the optimal FD criterion is characterized based on an on‐line fractional programming problem, which can be equivalently transformed into a parametric quadratic programming (pQP) problem. The pQP problem can be efficiently solved by searching the root of its nonlinear characteristic equation using secant method. In general, as long as sensors with sufficiently high precision are equipped to measure the scheduling variables, the bounds of measurement errors of scheduling variables can be less conservative than those direct bounds of scheduling variables, which can reduce the conservatism of FD or SE in this way. At the end of this article, a case study based on a practical circuit model is used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intellectual disability (ID) describes a wide range of serious human diseases caused by defects in central nervous system development and function. Some mutant genes have been found to be associated with these diseases, but not all cases can be explained, thus suggesting that other disease‐causing genes have not yet been discovered. Sialic acid is involved in a number of key biological processes, including embryo formation, nerve cell growth, and cancer cell metastasis, and very recently it has been suggested that N‐acetylneuraminic acid synthase‐mediated synthesis of sialic acid is required for brain and skeletal development. CMP‐sialic acid synthetase (CMAS) is one of four enzymes involved in NeuNAc metabolism, as it catalyzes the formation of CMP‐NeuNAc. Before the present study, no links between mutations in CMAS and incidences of human ID had been reported. In the current study, we recruited a recessive nonsyndromic ID pedigree with consanguineous marriage in which all patients have typical clinical manifestations of ID. We identified the NM_018686.3:c.563G > A (p.Arg188His) substitution in CMAS as being responsible for the disease in this family. Conservation analysis, structural prediction, and enzyme activity experiments demonstrated that (p.Arg188His) influences protein dimerization and alters CMAS enzyme activity. Our results offer a new orientation for future research and clinical diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes to design an unknown input observer (UIO) for the linear-parameter-varying (LPV) system on the basis of the set theory, which is named as the set-theoretic UIO (SUIO). The advantage of the SUIO consists in that it combines active and passive approaches to obtain robustness in state estimation (SE) and fault detection (FD). The active approach is based on the use of UIO to decouple unknown inputs, while the passive approach is based on the set theory to bound uncertain factors that cannot be actively decoupled. As a result, the effect of both unknown inputs (process disturbances, modeling errors, etc.) and measurement noises can be appropriately handled in the residual signals compared with the standard UIO-based SE and FD approaches. The design of SUIO can overcome the limitations of the traditional UIO design conditions, which can significantly broaden the application of the UIO-based SE and FD theory. Moreover, this paper proposes a generalized framework that can provide more flexibility in the design of SUIO guaranteeing their stability by means of a group of matrix inequalities. Because the LPV system uses a collection of online obtainable scheduling variables to embed nonlinearities, the design of SUIO for the LPV system can be used to address the SE and FD problems of nonlinear systems. At the end of this paper, two case studies are used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an integrated actuator and sensor active fault-tolerant model predictive control scheme. In this scheme, fault detection is implemented by using a set-valued observer, fault isolation (FI) is performed by set manipulations, and fault-tolerant control is carried out through the design of a robust model predictive control law. In this paper, a set-valued observer is used to passively complete the fault detection task, while FI is actively performed by making use of the constraint-handling capability of robust model predictive control. The set-valued observer is chosen to implement fault detection and isolation (FDI) because of its simple mathematical structure that is not affected by the type of faults such as sensor, actuator, and system-structural faults. This means that only one set-valued observer is needed to monitor all considered actuator and sensor statuses (health and fault) and to carry out the fault detection and isolation task instead of using a bank of observers (each observer matching a health/fault status). Furthermore, in the proposed scheme, the advantage of robust model predictive control is that it can effectively deal with system constraints, disturbances, and noises and allow to implement an active FI strategy, which can improve FI sensitivity when compared with the passive FI methods. Finally, a case study based on the well-known two-tank system is used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed fault-tolerant model predictive control scheme. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daidzin, genistin, and glycitein are major isoflavone compounds in soybean that are indispensable nutrients in traditional Chinese foods. Generally, strategies for detecting and separating soy isoflavones have been based on HPLC and chromatographic techniques, which are tedious and time-consuming procedures. In the present study, we developed an ELISA-based approach for daidzin detection using a broad-specificity monoclonal antibody (clone number: AA9) with an effective detection range of 10-10 000 ng/mL. Subsequently, we prepared an immunoaffinity column by coupling the monoclonal antibody AA9 to CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B. Our results demonstrate that the immunoaffinity column can efficiently and specifically extract daidzin, glycitein, and genistin from numerous structurally similar soy isoflavones in leguminous plants, thereby providing a new method for the extraction of target components from similar compounds in natural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specific knockout technology provides a powerful tool to confirm the role of target compounds in a plant or its derived prescriptions, and this principle is the same as that with knockout genes. In this study, we generated an immunoaffinity column conjugated with an anti-baicalin monoclonal antibody and then loaded Gegenqinlian Decoction extracts, followed by washing with deionized water and an elution solvent. The results of the high-performance liquid chromatography fingerprints and high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry showed that the immunoaffinity column was able to specifically knockout baicalin, oroxylin A-7- O-glucuronide, wogonoside, wogonin, and baicalein from Gegenqinlian Decoction. A reliable one-step method to specifically knockout baicalin was established with an immunoaffinity column. Gegenqinlian Decoction and its knocked-out fraction induced the expression of superoxide dismutase and were compared in human umbilical vein endothelial cells cultured with a high glucose concentration; the results showed that the Gegenqinlian Decoction and its knocked-out fraction showed no significant difference, which indicated that the baicalin, oroxylin A-7- O-glucuronide, wogonoside, wogonin, and baicalein that were knocked out by the immunoaffinity column might not be key compounds for the induction of Gegenqinlian Decoction superoxide dismutase secretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a new monoclonal antibody specific for glycyrrhizic acid was prepared and characterized. A hybridoma secreting an anti-glycyrrhizic acid monoclonal antibody was produced by fusing splenocytes from a mouse immunized against a glycyrrhizic acid-bovine serum albumin conjugate with the hypoxanthine-aminopterin-thymidine-sensitive mouse myeloma cell line (Sp2/0-Ag14). Subsequently, an indirect, competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for glycyrrhizic acid was developed using the monoclonal antibody. In this assay, we detected an effective measuring range of 78.12-2500 ng/mL. Both intra-assay and inter-assay repeatability and precision were achieved, with relative standard deviations lower than 10%. In addition, glycyrrhizic acid levels in both formulated Chinese medicines and biological samples were determined with high sensitivity and efficiency. We then successfully developed a reliable immunoaffinity chromatography to separate glycyrrhizic acid completely from its parent medicine. These methods will contribute to further research investigations to better understand the interactions of glycyrrhizic acid with other drugs in the complex system of traditional Chinese medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidoxime polyacrylonitrile (AOPAN) nanofibrous membranes were generated by the reaction between electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibrous membranes and hydroxylamine hydrochloride. AOPAN nanofibrous membranes were further modified by Fe(III) chelation for immobilizing catalases with coordination bonds. The surface morphologies of the nanofibrous membranes and immobilized catalases were observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy. Chelation of Fe(III) onto AOPAN nanofibrous membranes was studied by the Langmuir isothermal adsorption model. It was found that the maximum amount of coordinated Fe(III) ( qm) was 4.5045 mmol g−1 (dry nanofibrous membranes) and the binding constant ( Kl) was 0.0698 L mmol−1. The amounts of immobilized enzymes were determined by the method of Bradford. Kinetic parameters were analyzed for both immobilized and free catalases. The value of Vmax (7122.6 µmol mg−1 min−1) for the immobilized catalases was smaller than that for the free catalases (9203.2 µmol mg−1 min−1), and the Km for the immobilized catalases was larger. The immobilized catalases showed better resistance to pH and temperature change than the free catalases, and the storage stability of immobilized catalases was higher than that of free catalases. As for reusability, the immobilized catalases retained 71% of their activity after eight repeated uses. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manganese‐ and cerium oxide‐modified titania catalysts were prepared by the deposition precipitation for the removal of elemental mercury (Hg0) from simulated yellow phosphorus off‐gas at low temperature. In addition, these catalysts were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller measurements, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and field‐emission scanning electron microscope to determine the surface morphology of the obtained compounds and explore their formation mechanism. The results revealed that a Mn–Ce loading and reaction temperature of 10% and 150 °C, respectively, as well as a Mn/Ce molar ratio of 2:1, led to an optimal efficiency for the oxidation of elemental mercury. Furthermore, the effects of flue gas components were investigated. The presence of O2 clearly promoted the oxidation of Hg0. A CO atmosphere did not affect the Hg0 oxidation, when compared with N2, whereas the presence of H2S and water vapor inhibited the oxidation process. Furthermore, the X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra of Hg 4f revealed that the elemental mercury adsorbed by the catalyst is present as HgO. Finally, the Hg0 catalytic oxidation mechanism was discussed on the basis of the experimental results and characterization analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of Ce modified catalysts were prepared using equivalent‐volumetric ultrasonic impregnation method for AsH3 removal. The performance of catalytic oxidation of AsH3 under dynamic conditions was studied under different synthesis and reaction conditions. Through screening tests, the optimum catalyst was impregnated by 10 wt.% Ce (CH3COO)3 precursor and subsequently calcinated at 550 °C. When the reaction temperature reached 170 °C, the Ce‐HZSM‐5 catalyst could maintain an oxidation efficiency of over 90% in 82 hrs. Furthermore, the chemical structure and properties of the catalyst and its catalytic oxidation mechanism with AsH3 were analyzed using SEM‐EDS, BET, XRD, XPS, H2‐TPR and FT‐IR. The results showed that Ce mainly existed on the catalyst surface in the forms of Ce4+ and Ce3+. In the reaction process, the chemisorbed oxygen played a key role in the transformation between the two valence states. AsH3 was firstly oxidized to elemental As with the participation of lattice oxygen. Then, the elemental As was partially blown into the rear part of the adsorption column along with the air flow and subsequently, de‐sublimed on the column wall. Herein, the elemental As remained on the surface of Ce‐HZSM‐5 catalyst, which would further oxidize to As2O3. For the recovery of As, Ce‐HZSM‐5 proved to be a promising catalyst in AsH3 removal. Highlights: The CeOx modified HZSM‐5 catalyst was used to catalytic oxidation of AsH3.The Ce‐HZSM‐5 catalyst could maintain over 90% oxidation efficiency in 82 hrs.AsH3 was catalytic oxidized to elemental As and H2O on the catalyst surface and the As can be collected.The As adsorbed on the catalyst surface can be oxidized to As2O3 but cannot be further oxidized to As2O5. AsH3 was removed by catalytic oxidation on the Ce‐HZSM‐5 catalyst. When reaction temperature was 170 °C, Ce‐HZSM‐5 catalyst could maintain over 90% oxidation efficiency in 82 hrs. During the reaction, AsH3 was catalytic oxidized to elemental As. A portion of elemental As in air flow can be collected, while the elemental As adsorbed on the catalyst surface was further oxidized to As2O3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Removal efficiency of elemental mercury (Hg0) over activated carbon (AC) modified with ferric chloride (FeCl3) is investigated at low temperatures. The effects of impregnation concentration, reaction temperature, oxygen content, relative humidity, and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on Hg0 removal efficiency are investigated. The results indicate that the removal ability of Hg0 can be significantly improved by the introduction of FeCl3. Furthermore, the FeCl3‐modified AC exhibit the best removal efficiency toward Hg0 when the concentration of FeCl3 is 0.15 mol L−1 and reaction temperature is 50 °C. In addition, H2S shows a positive effect on Hg0 removal, while H2O(g) can inhibit the removal of Hg0 due to competitive adsorption. Fe2O3 and CCl are generated on FeCl3‐modified AC (with FeCl3 impregnation concentration of 0.15 mol L−1) catalyst and contribute to Hg0 removal. Moreover, Hg exists mainly in the form of mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and mercuric oxide (HgO) on the surface of the samples. Finally, the removal of Hg0 is achieved through the following two pathways: by the reaction of Hg0 with CCl and reaction of Hg0 with Fe2O3. The ferric chloride modification of activated carbon exhibits excellent performance for Hg0 removal. Oxygen and hydrogen sulfide had a positive effect in the removal of Hg0, while H2O(g) can inhibit the Hg0 removal efficiency. According to the characterization results, Hg0 on the surface of AIFCE‐0.15 exist mainly in the form of HgCl2 and HgO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]