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Extremophile organisms are known that can metabolize at temperatures down to − 25 °C (psychrophiles) and up to 122 °C (hyperthermophiles). Understanding viability under extreme conditions is relevant for human health, biotechnological applications, and our search for life elsewhere in the universe. Information about the stability and dynamics of proteins under environmental extremes is an important factor in this regard. Here we compare the dynamics of small Fe-S proteins – rubredoxins – from psychrophilic and hyperthermophilic microorganisms, using three different nuclear techniques as well as molecular dynamics calculations to quantify motion at the Fe site. The theory of ‘corresponding states’ posits that homologous proteins from different extremophiles have comparable flexibilities at the optimum growth temperatures of their respective organisms. Although ‘corresponding states’ would predict greater flexibility for rubredoxins that operate at low temperatures, we find that from 4 to 300 K, the dynamics of the Fe sites in these homologous proteins are essentially equivalent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The convenient construction of carbon-based electrochemical immunosensors with high performance is highly desirable for the efficient detection of tumor biomarkers. In this work, an electrochemical immunosensor was fabricated by integrating a biofunctionalized mesoporous silica nanochannel film with a carbon-based electrode, which can enable the sensitive determination of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in serum. The commonly used carbonaceous electrode, glassy carbon electrode (GCE), was employed as the supporting electrode and was pre-treated through electrochemical polarization to achieve the stable binding of a vertically ordered mesoporous silica film with amino groups (NH2-VMSF) without the use of any adhesive layer. To fabricate the immunorecognition interface, antibodies were covalently immobilized after the amino groups on the outer surface of NH2-VMSF was derivatized to aldehyde groups. The presence of amino sites within the high-density nanochannels of NH2-VMSF can facilitate the migration of negatively charged redox probes (Fe(CN)63-/4-) to the supporting electrode through electrostatic adsorption, leading to the generation of electrochemical signals. In the presence of CEA, the formation of immunocomplexes on the recognitive interface can reduce the electrochemical signal of Fe(CN)63-/4- on the supporting electrode. Based on this principle, the sensitive electrochemical detection of CEA was achieved. CEA can be determined to range from 0.01 ng mL−1 to 100 ng mL−1 with a limit of detection of 6.3 pg mL−1. The fabricated immunosensor exhibited high selectivity, and the detection of CEA in fetal bovine serum was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the association of parity with hypertension prevalence in Japanese women while considering a clinical history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and menopausal status. This cross‐sectional study included 30,530 Japanese women (6700 premenopausal; 23 830 postmenopausal). The association between parity and the prevalence of hypertension was evaluated using a multiple logistic regression model with possible confounders. In premenopausal women, no statistically significant association between parity and hypertension prevalence was found. When not adjusted for current body mass index (BMI), a linear graded association was observed between parity and the prevalence of hypertension in postmenopausal women. However, the association between parity and hypertension prevalence in postmenopausal women was attenuated after adjustment for current BMI. Both current BMI and a clinical history of HDP were significantly associated with a high risk of hypertension in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Our results also suggest that continuous surveillance and preventive measures for hypertension should be provided for women with HDP and high parity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small moving objects at far distance always occupy only one or a few pixels in image and exhibit extremely limited visual features, which bring great challenges to motion detection. Highly evolved visual systems endow flying insects with remarkable ability to pursue tiny mates and prey, providing a good template to develop image processing method for small target motion detection. The insects’ excellent sensitivity to small moving objects is believed to come from a class of specific neurons called small target motion detectors (STMDs). However, existing STMD-based methods often experience performance degradation when coping with complex natural scenes. In this paper, we propose a bio-inspired visual system with spatio-temporal feedback mechanism (called Spatio-Temporal Feedback STMD) to suppress false positive background movement while enhancing system responses to small targets. Specifically, the proposed visual system is composed of two complementary subnetworks and a feedback loop. The first subnetwork is designed to extract spatial and temporal movement patterns of cluttered background by neuronal ensemble coding. The second subnetwork is developed to capture small target motion information where its output and signal from the first subnetwork are integrated together via the feedback loop to filter out background false positives in a recurrent manner. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed spatio-temporal feedback visual system is more competitive than existing methods in discriminating small moving targets from complex natural environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The response of cells to environmental stimuli, under either physiological or pathological conditions, plays a key role in determining cell fate toward either adaptive survival or controlled death. The efficiency of such a feedback mechanism is closely related to the most challenging human diseases, including cancer. Since cellular responses are implemented through physical forces exerted on intracellular components, more detailed knowledge of force distribution through modern imaging techniques is needed to ensure a mechanistic understanding of these forces. In this work, we mapped these intracellular forces at a whole-cell scale and with submicron resolution to correlate intracellular force distribution to the cytoskeletal structures. Furthermore, we visualized dynamic mechanical responses of the cells adapting to environmental modulations in situ. Such task was achieved by using an informatics-assisted atomic force microscope (AFM) indentation technique where a key step was Markov-chain Monte Carlo optimization to search for both the models used to fit indentation force–displacement curves and probe geometry descriptors. We demonstrated force dynamics within cytoskeleton, as well as nucleoskeleton in living cells which were subjected to mechanical state modulation: myosin motor inhibition, micro-compression stimulation and geometrical confinement manipulation. Our results highlight the alteration in the intracellular prestress to attenuate environmental stimuli; to involve in cellular survival against mechanical signal-initiated death during cancer growth and metastasis; and to initiate cell migration. Quantitative knowledge of internal force distribution in living cells is crucial to understand how cellular machinery responds mechanically to changes in the extracellular environment. Conventional force-sensing methods, which rely on pre-attached sensors, are incapable of providing whole-cell information with high spatial resolution. By machine learning assistance, we could improve AFM indentation's force sensitivity to a level that now enabled force (prestress) to be mapped on whole living cells with submicron resolution. The new capability revealed that cells actively redistribute forces among intracellular components to mitigate negative influence from the environment, and such response mechanisms could be used to understand ailing cellular states like cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the application of the pulse voltage method for detecting interturn short-circuit faults in the high-voltage windings of dry-type voltage transformers. We determined the characterization parameters of the high-voltage windings of dry-type voltage transformers and trends in the variation of the characterization parameters with frequency in the presence and absence of faults. The viability of using the pulse voltage method for the detection of interturn short-circuit faults in dry-type voltage transformers was analyzed. A pulse voltage test platform was designed to analyze the response voltage waveforms using pulse-oscillating voltage experiments on transformers with various short-circuit faults. The results demonstrate that during a turn-to-turn short circuit, the equivalent resistance and inductance of a high-voltage winding are significantly lowered. When employing the pulse voltage method to investigate interturn short-circuit faults, tiny inductors are connected in parallel to produce an oscillating voltage waveform that is more uniform. Upon incurring a short circuit between turns, the pulse's oscillating voltage frequency increases. The greater the number of turns in the short-circuit fault is, the more significant the effect of the test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dickkopf‐related protein (DKK) 3, a member of the DKK family, is a secreted glycoprotein that acts as a modulator of Wnt signaling in organogenesis and carcinogenesis. Recent studies have demonstrated that DKK3 has a variety of functions, suggesting that it plays roles not only in tumorigenesis, but also tumor neovascularization, prostatic acinus formation, cardiac vascular remodeling, renal and cardiac fibrosis, and immunological activity. The function of DKK3 is therefore of great interest, but details of the receptors and mechanisms involved have remained unclear. Here, we focused on the extracellular function of DKK3 as a secreted protein, and identified transforming growth factor beta induced protein ig‐h3 (TGFBI) as a secreted protein interacting with DKK3. To investigate the function of these secreted proteins, we employed an in vitro cell model involving human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, human embryonic kidney cells, or non‐neoplastic hepatocyte cells. We showed that DKK3 functions as an extracellular matrix‐like molecule supporting adhesion, motility, and invasion, and that its interaction with TGFBI inhibits the functions of secreted DKK3 in cells expressing both proteins. These results suggest that this extracellular interaction between DKK3 and TGFBI modulates cell adhesion and motility through focal adhesion kinase signaling, and that this might serve as a potential therapeutic target in the context of cancer invasion and metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid organic framework materials are a class of hierarchical porous crystalline materials that have emerged in recent years, composed of three types of porous crystal materials, namely metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs). The combination of various organic framework properties in hybrid organic frameworks generates synergistic effects, which has attracted widespread attention from researchers. The synthesis methods of hybrid organic frameworks are also an intriguing topic, enabling the formation of core-shell heterostructures through epitaxial growth, template conversion, medium growth, or direct combination. These hybrid organic framework materials have demonstrated remarkable performance in the application of photocatalytic wastewater purification and have developed various forms of applications. This article reviews the preparation principles and methods of various hybrid organic frameworks and provides a detailed overview of the research progress of photocatalytic water purification hybrid organic frameworks. Finally, the challenges and development prospects of hybrid organic framework synthesis and their application in water purification are briefly discussed. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal–organic frameworks have been a new type of adsorbent in environmental remediation due to their simple preparation processes and stable chemical properties in water. However, they are limited by their low adsorption capacities to some organic pollutants. Herein, ZIF-67 nanoparticles with a high Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) surface area were designed and successfully synthesized by a time-saving, low cost, and environment liquid phase synthesis method at room temperature. The physicochemical properties of ZIF-67 nanoparticles were well studied by various measurements, such as x-ray diffraction, BET analysis, and scanning transmission microscopy. Meanwhile, the ZIF-67 nanoparticles with the stable structure are introduced as the adsorbent for trapping brilliant green in pollutant water, exhibiting the ultra-high adsorption capacity of 1989 mg g−1 due to their high specific surface area (425 m2 g−1) and the interaction between π–π and the benzene ring. Moreover, the ZIF-67 showed acceptable reusability after regeneration with ethanol. Evidently, the ZIF-67 nanoparticles show excellent adsorption performances for organic dyes. This work can give a new application to zeolite imidazole framework materials in water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted an in situ study on CFRP fracturing process using atomic-force-microscopy-based stress-sensitive indentation. Tensile stress distribution during fracture initiation and propagation was directly observed quantitatively. It led to a discovery that previously believed catastrophic fracture of individual carbon fiber develops in a controllable manner in the polymer matrix, exhibiting 10 times increase of fracture toughness. Plastic deformation in crack-bridging polymer matrix was accounted for the toughening mechanism. The model was applied to explain low temperature strength weakening of CFRP bulk material when matrix plasticity was intentionally 'shut down' by cryogenic cooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a powerful tool for sensing, which can detect a broad range of chemical and biological analytes at the single-molecule level. In this work, a hybrid structure of Au nanodot array and high-quality graphene monolayer is used as SERS substrate, which integrates the electromagnetic enhancement from Au nanodots and chemical enhancement from monolayer graphene. The fabricated SERS substrates consist of uniform round top shape Au nanodot array with coverage of 36.9% where their diameter and gap distribution ranges from ~ 33 to ~ 42 nm and from ~ 22 to ~ 28 nm. The hybrid Au nanodot array/monolayer Gr SERS substrate exhibited a 4.67 times enhanced Raman signal compared to Au nanodots without Gr at the R6G concentration of 10−6 M. The detection limit of R6G is achieved as low as 4.69 × 10−9 M on the Au nanodot array/Gr SERS substrate. These experiments demonstrate a facile approach to fabricate hybrid metal nanostructure/2D materials SERS substrate for biomedical and environmental sensing and provide a clue for high-performance optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elastic modulus measured through atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based indentation on single carbon fiber (CF) is found with dependence on lateral applied stress. An in situ indentation experiment inside a high-resolution transmission electron microscope was performed to quantitatively understand this phenomenon by observing microstructure change in the indented area. Change of graphitic basal plane misalignment angle during indentation was linked to a continuous change of modulus with the help of finite element simulation. The established relationship between modulus and indentation force was further used to calculate residual stress distribution in CF imbedded in a CF reinforced polymer composite using the AFM indentation technique. The stress-induced formation of nanoscale defects in the CF and their transformation into fracture were directly characterized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composite-structure protective systems in head-on collision with objects are largely subjected to dynamic compression load along the thickness of composite structure. A typical plain weave aramid fabric reinforced polyamide (PA) composite, which is defined as one of single polymer composites (SPCs), is addressed in this paper. Firstly, in the process of sample preparation, processing characteristics of the single polymer composites are skillfully achieved and discussed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and capillary rheometer. Secondly, the out-of-plane compression properties of the composite are studied on Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) apparatus in the strain rate range of 400–1200s −1 . Effects of fiber content and strain rate on dynamic off-plane compression properties are investigated and quasi-static properties are obtained on a universal testing machine as a comparison. Results provide a basis for selecting composite composition and lay-up for designing armor with improved impact resistance. Additionally, penetration of the resin through the fabric is observed by the digital microscope and the internal damage of the laminates is qualitatively predicted by the microstructure of the internal fabric yarns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional cotton water dyeing has a considerable ecological impact because of the use of water, but the available anhydrous cotton dyeing technologies cannot balance low recyclable energy consumption and excellent dyeing effects. In this study, a recyclable anhydrous cotton dyeing technology was designed and implemented by mixing supercritical carbon dioxide, dimethyl sulfoxide, and ethanol for the first time. Compared to the existing anhydrous cotton dyeing technologies, the novel technology could simultaneously obtain low recyclable energy consumption and excellent dyeing effects, such as dye penetration, washing and crocking fastness, levelness, color depth control and color matching. The dye fixations of reactive dyes in the novel technology are 5.1%–26.4% higher than those in traditional water dyeing. Meanwhile, the energy consumption of the novel technology is only 70% of that of traditional water dyeing, and the comprehensive cost of materials and energy of the novel technology is only 56% of that of traditional water dyeing. It is a new green option with low energy consumption for cotton dyeing. [Display omitted] • No water involves in SC-CO 2 /EtOH/DMSO multi-medium dyeing. • All dyeing media of SC-CO 2 /EtOH/DMSO multi-medium dyeing are recyclable. • SC-CO 2 /EtOH/DMSO multi-medium dyeing is a low-energy process. • SC-CO 2 /EtOH/DMSO multi-medium dyeing has excellent dyeing effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effect of gypenosides on porcine pancreatic lipase (PL) activity was determined in vitro. Gypenosides inhibited the PL activity in a dose-dependent manner at the concentrations of 0-1.0 mg/ml. The Lineweaver-Burk plots for gypenosides indicated that the inhibition on PL by gypenosides was noncompetitive. The conformation of PL was investigated by means of circular dichroism and fluorescence. The result revealed the decrease in α-helix contents, increase in β-sheet and the decrease in fluorescence intensity after gypenosides treatment. The incorporation of cholesterol into micelles was inhibited by gypenosides. A complex was observed by transmission electron microscopy, indicating interaction between cholesterol and gypenosides which led to the decrease in cholesterol micelle solubility. The result revealed the fact that gypenosides played a role in inhibiting PL activity and reducing intestinal cholesterol absorption via inhibition of micelle formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct spectroscopic evidence for a hydride bridge in the Ni-R form of [NiFe] hydrogenase has been obtained using iron-specific nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS). The Ni-H-Fe wag mode at 675 cm−1 is the first spectroscopic evidence for a bridging hydride in Ni-R as well as the first iron-hydride-related NRVS feature observed for a biological system. Although density function theory (DFT) calculation assisted the determination of the Ni-R structure, it did not predict the Ni-H-Fe wag mode at ∼675 cm−1 before NRVS. Instead, the observed Ni-H-Fe mode provided a critical reference for the DFT calculations. While the overall science about Ni-R is presented and discussed elsewhere, this article focuses on the long and strenuous experimental journey to search for and experimentally identify the Ni-H-Fe wag mode in a Ni-R sample. As a methodology, the results presented here will go beyond Ni-R and hydrogenase research and will also be of interest to other scientists who use synchrotron radiation for measuring dilute samples or weak spectroscopic features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of Ni dithiolene complexes Ni[S2C2(CF3)]2 n ( n = −2, −1, 0) ( 1, 2, 3) and a 1-hexene adduct Ni[S2C2(CF3)2]2(C6H12) ( 4) have been examined by Ni K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine-structure (EXAFS) spectroscopies. Ni XANES for 1- 3 reveals clear pre-edge features and approximately +0.7 eV shift in the Ni K-edge position for `one-electron' oxidation. EXAFS simulation shows that the Ni-S bond distances for 1, 2 and 3 (2.11-2.16 Å) are within the typical values for square planar complexes and decrease by ∼0.022 Å for each `one-electron' oxidation. The changes in Ni K-edge energy positions and Ni-S distances are consistent with the `non-innocent' character of the dithiolene ligand. The Ni-C interactions at ∼3.0 Å are analyzed and the multiple-scattering parameters are also determined, leading to a better simulation for the overall EXAFS spectra. The 1-hexene adduct 4 presents no pre-edge feature, and its Ni K-edge position shifts by −0.8 eV in comparison with its starting dithiolene complex 3. Consistently, EXAFS also showed that the Ni-S distances in 4 elongate by ∼0.046 Å in comparison with 3. The evidence confirms that the neutral complex is `reduced' upon addition of olefin, presumably by olefin donating the π-electron density to the LUMO of 3 as suggested by UV/visible spectroscopy in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional energy calibration for nuclear resonant vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS) is usually long. Meanwhile, taking NRVS samples out of the cryostat increases the chance of sample damage, which makes it impossible to carry out an energy calibration during one NRVS measurement. In this study, by manipulating the 14.4 keV beam through the main measurement chamber without moving out the NRVS sample, two alternative calibration procedures have been proposed and established: (i) an in situ calibration procedure, which measures the main NRVS sample at stage A and the calibration sample at stage B simultaneously, and calibrates the energies for observing extremely small spectral shifts; for example, the 0.3 meV energy shift between the 100%-57Fe-enriched [Fe4S4Cl4]= and 10%-57Fe and 90%-54Fe labeled [Fe4S4Cl4]= has been well resolved; (ii) a quick-switching energy calibration procedure, which reduces each calibration time from 3-4 h to about 30 min. Although the quick-switching calibration is not in situ, it is suitable for normal NRVS measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-ray absorption and scattering spectroscopies involving the 3 d transition-metal K- and L-edges have a long history in studying inorganic and bioinorganic molecules. However, there have been very few studies using the M-edges, which are below 100 eV. Synchrotron-based X-ray sources can have higher energy resolution at M-edges. M-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) could therefore provide complementary information to K- and L-edge spectroscopies. In this study, M2,3-edge XAS on several Co, Ni and Cu complexes are measured and their spectral information, such as chemical shifts and covalency effects, are analyzed and discussed. In addition, M2,3-edge RIXS on NiO, NiF2 and two other covalent complexes have been performed and different d- d transition patterns have been observed. Although still preliminary, this work on 3 d metal complexes demonstrates the potential to use M-edge XAS and RIXS on more complicated 3 d metal complexes in the future. The potential for using high-sensitivity and high-resolution superconducting tunnel junction X-ray detectors below 100 eV is also illustrated and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L2,3-edge X-ray magnetic circular dichroism(XMCD) spectrahave been measured for the well-defined dilute NiIIandMnIIions doped into a MgO crystal, with sub-Kelvin dilutionrefrigerator cooling and 2 T magnetic field magnetization. A 30-elementGe array X-ray detector has been used to measure the XMCD for thesedilute ions, whose concentrations are 1400 ppm for NiIIand 10 000 ppm for MnII. Large XMCD effects havebeen observed for both NiIIand MnII, and multipletsimulation described the observed spectra. The fluorescence-detectedL-edge absorption spectrum and XMCD of NiIIin MgO arecomparable with both theoretical calculations and the total electronyield measured ions in similar chemical environments, at least qualitativelyvalidating the use of the sensitive fluorescence detection techniquefor studying XMCD for dilute 3d metal ions, such as various metalloproteins.Sum rule analyses on the XMCD spectra are also performed. In addition,these XMCD measurements have also been used to obtain the sample’smagnetization curve and the beamline’s X-ray helicity curve.This study also illustrated that bend magnet beamlines are still usefulin examining XMCD on dilute and paramagnetic metal sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An energy-balance-based analytical method and finite element (FE) simulations were developed in this paper to study the dynamic response of metallic sandwich panels subject to blast loadings. The analytical model can be used to predict approximately the deflection of the panels, while the FE model can take into account fluid-structure interactions and the effect of strain rate. Both models were validated by comparing their predictions with the test results available in the literature. Parametric studies were then carried out to assess various factors that are influential in characterizing the dynamic behavior of sandwich panels subject to blast loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are several practical and intertangled issues which make the experiments of nuclear resonant vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS) on biological samples difficult to perform. The sample temperature is one of the most important issues. In NRVS the real sample temperatures can be very different from the readings on the temperature sensors. In this study the following have been performed: (i) citing and analyzing various existing NRVS data to assess the real sample temperatures during the NRVS measurements and to understand their trends with the samples' loading conditions; (ii) designing several NRVS measurements with (Et4N)[FeCl4] to verify these trends; and (iii) proposing a new sample-loading procedure to achieve significantly lower real sample temperatures and to balance among the intertangled experimental issues in biological NRVS measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A 50-μm thick lithium manganese oxide (parent material LiMn2O4) battery electrode (positive electrode; cathode) was charged, slightly discharged and then sliced with a scotch tape test-type method. A selected number of slices was then subject to synchrotron soft X-ray emission spectroscopy near the Mn Lα,β emission lines in order to determine changes in the oxidation state of the manganese as a function of sampling depth. The emission spectra showed a minute yet noticeable and systematic chemical shift of up to 0.25eV between the layer near the current collector and the layer near the electrolyte separator. The average manganese oxidation state near the separator was smaller than the average oxidation state in the interior of the electrode, or near the current collector. Since the data provide an oxidation state depth profile of the cathode, a Li+ depth profile can be inferred. This method provides information on the spatial chemical inhomogeneity of electrodes prior to and after electrochemical cycling, and thus can aid in degradation studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The lithium(1s) K-edge X-ray absorption spectra of lithium-ion battery relevant materials (Li metal, Li3N, LiPF6, LiC6, and LiMn1.90Ni0.10O4) are presented. The Li and LiC6 spectra are discussed and compared with literature data. The Li in lithium-intercalated carbon LiC6, typically used as anode battery electrode material, could be clearly identified in the spectrum, and a presumed purely metallic character of the Li can be ruled out based on the chemical shift observed. The Li in corresponding cathode electrode materials, LiMn1.90Ni0.10O4, could be detected with near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy, but the strong (self-) absorption of the spinel lattice provides an obstacle for quantitative analysis. Owing to its ionic bonding, the spectrum of the electrolyte salt LiPF6 contains a sharp π-resonance at 61.8eV, suggesting a distinct charge transfer between Li and the hexafluorophosphate anion. In addition, LiPF6 resembles many spectral features of LiF, making it difficult to discriminate both from each other. Residual electrolyte on anodes or cathodes poses a problem for the spectroscopic analysis of the electrodes, because its Li spectrum overshadows the spectral features of the Li in the anode or cathode. The electrolyte must be removed from electrodes prior to spectroscopic analysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

L-edge X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy and Kβ emission spectroscopy were applied to monitor ex situ chemical valence changes of manganese in battery electrode materials as they appear during electrode processing and battery operation. We found that significant chemical shifts of the spectra occur already during electrode fabrication, prior to any electrochemical treatment. Employment of these two different techniques allows for the qualitative separation of contributions originating from the surface and from the bulk of the electrode particles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the association of maternal birth weight (MBW) with early and late gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods: A total of 69318 pregnant Japanese women were included in this birth cohort study. The associations between maternal birth weight and early gestational diabetes mellitus (diagnosed at <24 gestational weeks) and late GDM (diagnosed at ≥24 gestational weeks) were investigated using a multinomial logistic regression model, with an maternal birth weight of 3000–3499 g as the reference category. Results: Lower maternal birth weight was associated with higher odds of developing early and late gestational diabetes mellitus (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively). The adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for early gestational diabetes mellitus in participants with a MBW of <2500 g and 2500–2999 g were 1.345 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.912–1.984) and 1.338 (95% CI: 1.098–1.629), respectively. The aORs for late gestational diabetes mellitus in participants with a MBW of <2500 g and 2500–2999 g were, 1.657 (95% CI: 1.298–2.115) and 1.218 (95% CI: 1.058–1.402), respectively. Conclusions: Regardless of the gestational age when gestational diabetes mellitus was diagnosed, a lower maternal birth weight was associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, the association of a MBW <2500 g with late gestational diabetes mellitus tended to be stronger than that with early gestational diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofertilizers with phosphate-solubilizing microorganism (PSM) inoculations have been suggested to diminish the limitation of phosphorus (P) deficiency in plants. However, their applications in agriculture are restricted due to the inconstant effects of various PSMs. Proper carriers for the inoculations may overcome this shortcoming and improve PSMs' effectiveness. The objective of this study was to investigate whether straw compost, a type of organic material, can act as a carrier for improving the efficiencies of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria and fungi named Acinetobacter sp. and Aspergillus niger, respectively, in soils. We monitored the growth and cellular physiological responses of one type of model plants, named perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), under four soil treatments, including non-fertilization, PSM inoculation alone, straw compost addition alone, and the combined applications of both PSMs and straw compost. We found the combined treatments significantly improved the growth by 14.7% for shoot height and 79.7% for shoot weight, respectively, on average. P and potassium (K) uptakes of ryegrass were also increased by 102.5% and 65.3%, respectively, after the application of both PSMs and straw compost. Furthermore, physiological properties, such as photosynthetic efficiency and P-transportation capacity, of ryegrass were also significantly improved under combined treatments when compared to other treatments, regardless of the types of PSM included. The piecewise structural equation model further indicated that PSM inoculation and straw compost input are synergistically contributing to the nutrient uptake of ryegrass through many direct and indirect ways. We propose that straw compost is a good carrier material for PSMs' survival and would improve their plant growth promotion ability in soil. Our results provide valuable insights into the exploitation and utilization of P-biofertilizers in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protonation of FeMo-cofactor (FeMo-co) is important for the process of substrate hydrogenation. Its structure has been clarified as Δ-Mo*Fe7S9C(R-homocit*)(cys)(Hhis) after the efforts of nearly 30 years, but it remains controversial whether FeMo-co is protonated or deprotonated with chelated ≡C − O(H) homocitrate. We have used protonated molybdenum(V) lactate 1 and its enantiomer as model compounds for R-homocitrate in FeMo-co of nitrogenase. Vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectrum of 1 at 1051 cm−1 is attributed to ≡C − OH vibration, and molybdenum(VI) R-lactate at 1086 cm−1 is assigned as ≡C − Oα-alkoxy vibration. These vibrations set up labels for the protonation state of coordinated α-hydroxycarboxylates. The characteristic VCD band of NMF-extracted FeMo-co is assigned to ν(C − OH), which is based on the comparison of molybdenum(VI) R-homocitrate. Density functional theory calculations are consistent with these assignments. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that protonated R-homocitrate in FeMo-co is confirmed by VCD spectra. The nitrogenase FeMo-cofactor is chelated by homocitrate, but the protonation state of this key ligand is debated. Here vibrational circular dichroism studies of the extracted cofactor suggest that it is protonated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To analyze the role of C5a, C5a receptor (CD88), glutamic acid, and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptors (NMDAR1 and NMDAR2B) in the onset of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) disease in mice. Method. To select C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) mice and C5a receptor gene knockout (C5aR-/-) mice, use NMO-IgG and hemolytic complement to intervene in spinal cord tissue sections and optic nerves to establish an NMO model in vitro. The experiment was carried out with five groups (control group, WT group, C5aR-/- group, C5a group, and C5a+C5aRA group), with six mice in each group. The differences of American spinal cord injury (ASIA) motor scores were compared among all groups. The expressions of aquaporin (AQP4), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), NMDAR1, and NMDAR2B in spinal cord and optic nerve tissues were detected. The difference of glutamic acid (Glu) concentrations in culture solutions of the spinal cord and optic nerves was compared. Result. The ASIA motor score of the control group was significantly lower than that of the other four groups. The C5a-/- group was significantly higher than the WT group. The C5a+C5aRA group was significantly higher than the C5a group in terms of ASIA motor score. In the control group, AQP4 and GFAP showed expression loss. The C5aR-/- group's loss rate was significantly higher than that of the WT group. The loss rate of the C5a+C5aRA group was significantly higher than that of the C5a group. In the control group, the protein expressions of NMDAR1 and NMDAR2B were significantly lower than that of the other four groups. The C5aR-/- group was significantly higher than the WT group. The C5a+C5aRA group was significantly higher than the C5a group in protein expression. In the control group, the concentration of Glu in the C5aR-/- group was significantly higher than that in the WT group, and the C5a group was significantly lower than the C5a+C5aRA group. Conclusion. The deletion of the C5a receptor promotes NMDAR activity, which affects the toxic excitatory effect of NMDAR in NMO and regulates the neurotoxic effect of glutamic acid, thus participating in the pathogenesis of NMO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For large-scale equipment, e.g. aerospace and architecture industry, it is valuable to guarantee that one structure could survive partial damages. Due to the location of the damage is unknown in prior, results in a high number of failure scenarios to be calculated when considering fail-safe requirement in topology optimization. In this article, we propose an efficient continuum topology optimization method on the basis of the design philosophy of robust fail-safe structure. A number of patches with predefined shapes are used to simulate the material failure. The material properties of damaged models are interpolated by von Mises stress to construct the well-posed optimization model. The damaged compliance for the worst failure case is set as the optimization objective, and the KS function is adopted to approximate the non-differentiable max-operator. A computationally efficient sensitivity formulation is derived via the adjoint method. To suppress the highly nonlinear stress behavior and the phenomenon of optimization oscillation, an extended variable update scheme within the framework of Optimality Criteria (OC) method is developed. Representative benchmarks show that the presented strategy has the effectiveness at yielding the fail-safe structure by using acceptable computational cost. • A novel fail-safe approach based on the von Mises stress is developed. • The unnecessary failure scenarios are eliminated by von Mises stress to save the computational cost. • By adjusting the allowable stress, we could choose to obtain the conservative or non-conservative fail-safe designs. • The effectiveness of the presented fail-safe approach is justified in both 2D and 3D examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional settlements are widely concerned by academic circles for their unique settlement patterns, exquisite residential buildings, and rich historical and cultural connotations, and their protection and development is an important proposition for rural revitalization. Therefore, from the perspective of big data mining (BDM), this paper explores its application in architectural space and settlement protection of traditional settlements in Hainan and provides new ideas for the protection and renewal of traditional settlements in Hainan. The attribute elements of spatial data of settlement groups are analyzed by the decision tree classification mining method. In order to avoid the multivalued tendency of ID3 algorithm and improve the efficiency of decision tree generation by ID3 algorithm, an improved ID3 algorithm is proposed by introducing user interest and simplifying the calculation process of the algorithm. At the same time, the graph theory recognition method of grid pattern is proposed. Aiming at the intersection graph and direction relation graph of straight line pattern, grid pattern recognition is realized by solving the connectivity, intersection, and subsequent construction of the maximum complete subgraph. Experiments show that the improved ID3 algorithm has better running efficiency than the parallel algorithm based on cooccurrence matrix. The analysis of the architectural space of traditional settlements in Hainan will help us better grasp social activities and provide direction for the protection and renewal of traditional settlements from the perspective of tourists and residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In adolescence, the brain is still maturing, and disorders in maturation may affect the normal development of the brain. Exposure to titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) has various potential negative effects on the central nervous system. Bergamot essential oil (BEO) has been found to be effective for neuroprotection. Methods: The rats were injected intraperitoneally with TiO2 NPs (20 mg/kg) and/or BEO (200 mg/kg). The endogenous antioxidant state and inflammatory parameters were estimated using ELISA kits, and then the memory ability and anxiety‐like behavior in rats were assessed. Results: TiO2 NPs exposure during the adolescent period induced anxiety‐like behavior, cognitive impairment, neuroinflammation and oxidative damage in hippocampus, and BEO treatment could significantly ameliorate the neurotoxicities induced by TiO2 NPs exposure. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the negative effects of TiO2 NPs exposure during the adolescent period on anxiety‐like behavior and cognitive function may be related to oxidative stress and neuroinflammation induced by TiO2 NPs exposure. In addition, BEO may ameliorate the neurotoxicities induced by TiO2 NPs exposure in adolescent rats through the antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activity of BEO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quinoa is of great interest because it is cold- and drought-resistant; however, little research has been performed on quinoa under high relative humidity (RH) stress. In this study, quinoa seedlings of a highly HR-resistant variety ("Dianli-439") and a sensitive variety ("Dianli-969") were subjected to morphological and physiological measurements and metabolome and transcriptome analyses to investigate their response to high RH stress. In total, 1060 metabolites were detected, and lipids and flavonoids were the most abundant, with 173 and 167 metabolites, respectively. In total, 13,095 differentially expressed genes were identified, and the results showed that abscisic acid, auxin, and jasmonic-acid-related genes involved in plant hormone signaling may be involved in the response of quinoa seedlings to high RH stress. The analysis of the transcription factors revealed that the AP2/ERF family may also play an important role in the response to high RH stress. We identified the possible regulatory mechanisms of the hormone signaling pathways under high RH stress. Our findings can provide a basis for the selection and identification of highly resistant quinoa varieties and the screening of the metabolite-synthesis- and gene-regulation-related mechanisms in quinoa in response to RH stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a dicotyledonous annual amaranth herb that belongs to the family Chenopodiaceae. Quinoa can be cultivated across a wide range of climatic conditions. With regard to its cultivation, nitrogen-based fertilizers have a demonstrable effect on the growth and development of quinoa. How crops respond to the application of nitrogen affects grain quality and yield. Therefore, to explore the regulatory mechanisms that underlie the responses of quinoa seedlings to the application of nitrogen, we selected two varieties (i.e., Dianli-1299 and Dianli-71) of quinoa seedlings and analyzed them using metabolomic and transcriptomic techniques. Specifically, we studied the mechanisms underlying the responses of quinoa seedlings to varying concentrations of nitrogen by analyzing the dynamics of metabolites and genes involved in arginine biosynthesis; carbon fixation; and alanine, aspartate, and glutamate biosynthetic pathways. Overall, we found that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) of quinoa are affected by the concentration of nitrogen. We detected 1057 metabolites, and 29,012 genes were annotated for the KEGG. We also found that 15 DEMs and 8 DEGs were key determinants of the differences observed in quinoa seedlings under different nitrogen concentrations. These contribute toward a deeper understanding of the metabolic processes of plants under different nitrogen treatments and provide a theoretical basis for improving the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of quinoa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Quinoa is a highly nutritious and novel crop that is resistant to various abiotic stresses. However, its growth and development is restricted due to its limited utilization of soil phosphorus. Studies on the levels of phosphorus in quinoa seedlings are limited; therefore, we analyzed transcriptome data from quinoa seedlings treated with different concentrations of phosphorus. Results: To identify core genes involved in responding to various phosphorus levels, the weighted gene co-expression network analysis method was applied. From the 12,085 expressed genes, an analysis of the gene co-expression network was done. dividing the expressed genes into a total of twenty-five different modules out of which two modules were strongly correlated with phosphorus levels. Subsequently we identified five core genes that correlated strongly either positively or negatively with the phosphorus levels. Gene ontology and assessments of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes have uncovered important biological processes and metabolic pathways that are involved in the phosphorus level response. Conclusions: We discovered crucial new core genes that encode proteins from various transcription factor families, such as MYB, WRKY, and ERF, which are crucial for abiotic stress resistance. This new library of candidate genes associated with the phosphorus level responses in quinoa seedlings will help in breeding varieties that are tolerant to phosphorus levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) originates in high altitude areas, such as the Andes, and has some inherent characteristics of cold, drought, and salinity tolerance, but is sensitive to high temperature. Results: To gain insight into the response mechanism of quinoa to high temperature stress, we conducted an extensive targeted metabolomic study of two cultivars, Dianli-3101 and Dianli-3051, along with a combined transcriptome analysis. A total of 794 metabolites and 54,200 genes were detected, in which the genes related to photosynthesis were found down-regulated at high temperatures, and two metabolites, lipids and flavonoids, showed the largest changes in differential accumulation. Further analysis of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway and transcription factors revealed that quinoa inhibits photosynthesis at high temperatures, and the possible strategies being used for high temperature stress management are regulation of heat stress transcription factors (HSFs) to obtain heat tolerance, and regulation of purine metabolism to enhance stress signals for rapid response to high temperature stress. The tolerant genotype could have an enhanced response through lower purine levels. The induction of the stress response could be mediated by HSF transcription factors. The results of this study may provide theoretical references for understanding the response mechanism of quinoa to high temperature stress, and for screening potential high temperature tolerant target genes and high temperature tolerant strains. Conclusions: These findings reveal the regulation of the transcription factor family HSF and the purinergic pathway in response to high temperature stress to improve quinoa varieties with high temperature tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Organs which receive an irradiation dose because they are located in the vicinity of the irradiation target are considered organs of risk. Before a new irradiation technique is tested in clinical trials, it is important to make an assessment of the potential adverse effects in these organs of risk. Microbeam radiotherapy is an innovative radiotherapy technique suitable to control tumours which are considered radioresistant with conventional, already clinically established irradiation techniques. In a small animal model, we have conducted a risk assessment in the thoracic spinal cord as organ of risk during microbeam irradiation in the thoracic cavity and determined the upper dose limit beyond which neurological signs of temporary or permanent damage occur. Microbeam radiotherapy (MRT), a high dose rate radiotherapy technique using spatial dose fractionation at the micrometre range, has shown a high therapeutic efficacy in vivo in different tumour entities, including lung cancer. We have conducted a toxicity study for the spinal cord as organ of risk during irradiation of a target in the thoracic cavity. In young adult rats, the lower thoracic spinal cord was irradiated over a length of 2 cm with an array of quasi-parallel microbeams of 50 µm width, spaced at a centre-to-centre distance of 400 µm, with MRT peak doses up to 800 Gy. No acute or subacute adverse effects were observed within the first week after irradiation up to MRT peak doses of 400 Gy. No significant differences were seen between irradiated animals and non-irradiated controls in motor function and sensitivity, open field test and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP). After irradiation with MRT peak doses of 450–800 Gy, dose-dependent neurologic signs occurred. Provided that long-term studies do not reveal significant morbidity due to late toxicity, an MRT dose of 400 Gy can be considered safe for the spinal cord in the tested beam geometry and field size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assessed the correlation between cortisol (COR) levels and concurrent infection for the patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis for corresponding countermeasure analysis. In total, 86 patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis (non‑infection group) and 32 patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis complicated with infection (infection group) who were diagnosed and treated in the Beijing YouAn Hospital from March 2014 to March 2017 were selected. The fasting venous blood of all the patients was drawn to detect COR, cortisol binding globulin (CBG), blood routine indexes, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), endotoxin and other indicators. The relative expression of CBG mRNA was detected by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The differences and correlation of COR levels between the infection and non-infection groups were compared and analyzed. The concentrations of COR and CBG were decreased with the increase of Child‑Pugh grade, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). COR, CBG and free cortisol (FC) concentrations with the same Child‑Pugh grade in the non-infection group were higher than those in the infection group (P<0.05). COR, CBG and FC concentrations of abdominal infection complicated with sepsis or abdominal infection complicated with pulmonary infection were lower than those of simple abdominal infection (P<0.05). The relative expression of CBG mRNA was detected by RT-qPCR, which also showed that: for Child-Pugh grade, grade A > grade B > grade C (P<0.05), non-infection group > infection group (P<0.05), abdominal infection + sepsis group and abdominal infection + pulmonary infection group were lower than the simple abdominal infection group (P<0.05). The values of white blood cells (WBC), neutrophils, CRP, PCT and endotoxin in the infection group were higher than those in the non-infection group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). COR, CGB and FC were negatively correlated with inflammatory indexes such as WBC, neutrophils, CRP, PCT and endotoxin. The r value of COR and FC in the non-infection group was 0.678, while that of OR and FC in the infection group was 0.787. COR was positively correlated with FC before and after infection. The results of the study show that the cortisol levels of patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis are significantly correlated with whether infected or not, levels of disease condition and infection types, and can be used as sensitive indicators of hepatitis B cirrhosis infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel origami-based acoustic metamaterial (OBAM) was designed and fabricated. • OBAM's tunable and broadband TL capacity at low frequencies was demonstrated. • OBAM's thickness is only 1/18–1/6 λ with λ being the working wavelength. • OBAM allows airflow-permeating and owns high design flexibility and programmability. Noise reduction is of critical importance in many engineering applications. One way to achieve noise reduction is using acoustic metamaterials. However, traditional acoustic metamaterials have long been criticized for the fixed and narrow frequency band in low- and medium-frequency sound attenuation. In this study, by incorporating the accordion origami into Helmholtz resonators as the side cavity, a novel origami-based acoustic metamaterial (OBAM) with tunable and broad bandwidth sound-eliminating capacities is developed. The sound attenuation properties of the proposed OBAM, quantified by transmission loss (TL), are extensively investigated by theoretical, numerical, and experimental methods. The sound attenuation of the OBAM can be readily tuned by air pressure via capitalizing on the single-degree-of-freedom property of accordion origami. The transfer matrix method is used to compute the TL of the OBAM analytically, compared with those obtained from the finite element and acoustic impedance methods. Results show that the theoretical, numerical, and experimental methods have good consistency, and the TL can be easily and quantitatively tuned by pressure in the low-medium frequency band. The working frequency bandwidth (TL larger than 10 dB), achieving an effective attenuation of more than 90% of the sound energy, can reach 500 Hz in the range of 271–790 Hz, in which the thickness of the OBAM is only 1/18–1/6 λ with λ being the working wavelength, demonstrating the powerful and broadband low-frequency sound elimination capacity of the OBAM at sub-wavelength. Moreover, the proposed OBAM allows airflow-permeating, possesses high design flexibility and programmability, and remains scale-independent, real-time tuning, and free of the complex control algorithm. This study paves the way for effective tunable and broadband sound insulation attenuation equipment with efficient ventilation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term hypoxia can induce oxidative stress and apoptosis in hippocampal neurons that can lead to brain injury diseases. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is widely used in the antiapoptotic therapy of brain injury diseases. However, its mechanism of action is still not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the effect of AS-IV on hypoxia-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in hippocampal neurons and explored its possible mechanism. In vivo, mice were placed in a hypoxic circulatory device containing 10% O2 and gavaged with AS-IV (60 and 120 mg/kg/d) for 4 weeks. In vitro, mouse hippocampal neuronal cells (HT22) were treated with hypoxia (1% O2) for 24 hours in the presence or absence of AS-IV, MDL-28170 (calpain-1 inhibitor), or YC-1 (HIF-1α inhibitor). The protective effect of AS-IV on brain injury was further explored by examining calpain-1 knockout mice. The results showed that hypoxia induced damage to hippocampal neurons, impaired spatial learning and memory abilities, and increased oxidative stress and apoptosis. Treatment with AS-IV or calpain-1 knockout improved the damage to hippocampal neurons and spatial learning and memory, attenuated oxidative stress and inhibited cell apoptosis. These changes were verified in HT22 cells. Overexpression of calpain-1 abolished the improvement of AS-IV on apoptosis and oxidative stress. In addition, the effects of AS-IV were accompanied by decreased calpain-1 and HIF-1α expression, and YC-1 showed a similar effect as AS-IV on calpain-1 and caspase-3 expression. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that AS-IV can downregulate the calpain-1/HIF-1α/caspase-3 pathway and inhibit oxidative stress and apoptosis of hippocampal neurons induced by hypoxia, which provides new ideas for studying the antiapoptotic activity of AS-IV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acne patients frequently receive combination therapy. However, there has been no rigorous review of the efficacy of combining alpha hydroxy acid with IPL for acne vulgaris treatment. Objective: Assessing the effectiveness and safeness of alpha hydroxy acids in combination with IPL in the treatment of people with acne vulgaris. Methods: A computer search of common biomedical databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, Wanfang, CNKI, SinoMed, and VIP, was extensively conducted to identify previous studies on randomized controlled trials of alpha hydroxy acid combined with IPL in the management of acne vulgaris. Results: A total of 18 publications were included (1435 patients with common acne met the inclusion criteria). The meta‐analysis showed that alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) combined with IPL had higher overall efficacy than the control group (OR = 4.24; 95% CI 2.66 ~ 6.74; p < 0.01). In the case of acne vulgaris, AHA combined with IPL and the AHA alone showed a remarkable difference in total efficiency (OR = 4.10; 95% CI 2.12 ~ 7.91; p < 0.01), and AHA combined with IPL were more effective than IPL alone (OR = 4.02; 95% CI 2.25 ~ 7.16; p < 0.01). In addition, the occurrence of adverse reactions that occurred in AHA combined with IPL and control groups did not differ (OR = 0.86; 95% CI 0.46 ~ 1.60; p = 0.64). Conclusion: AHA combined with IPL therapy was superior to other therapies. Although it was slightly more expensive, it was effective and had a wide range of applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the structural vibration can be suppressed by adjusting eigenvalues outside the excitation frequency band, it becomes increasingly difficult to suppress vibration as the width of the excitation frequency band increases. Besides, for some high-precision equipment, e.g. space telescope mirror substrate and rocket motor casings, their complex and diverse modals directly affect the performance. Thus, a novel optimization algorithm was proposed, which applies to achieve eigenvector-based modal control and vibration suppression. The eigenvectors were defined as the objective function, and Nelson's method without truncation error was used to calculate the sensitivity information. Due to the introduction of dynamic equations, the non-linearity of the objective function is prominent. Then, an improved solver that can handle this non-linear topology optimization problem was proposed. The optimization was performed under a multi-material framework, and the extended multi-material interpolation scheme was proposed to readily realize the optimization with three or more materials. In addition, the consistent mass matrix constructed by multi-material interpolation was used to describe the mass matrix without concentrated mass in the dynamic equation. Moreover, the modal assurance criterion was used to track jumping modals. Finally, the modal controllability was achieved through several numerical examples, which verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. • The objective function is derived from the frequency response function. • The mode shape can be designed, and the phase of the key point can be reversed. • Reduce the frequency response function peak to achieve vibration suppression. • Modified solver for nonlinear optimization problems caused by dynamic equation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Electrochemical ammonia synthesis. • Vibration structure of nitrogenase protein. • Outlook on ammonia economy. The 100th anniversary of a leading nitrogen fixation technology developer like CASALE SA is a reason to reflect over the 20th century successful solution of the problem of world food supply, and to look out for solutions for sustainable developments with respect to ammonia production. We review the role of nitrogen as essential chemical constituent in photosynthesis and biology, and component of ammonia as it is used as fertilizer for primary production by photosynthesis for farming and food supply and its future role as energy carrier. While novel synthesis methods and very advanced synchrotron based x-ray analytical techniques are being developed, we feel it is important to refer to the historical and economical context of nitrogen. The breaking of the N N triple bond remains a fundamental chemical and energetic problem in this context. We review the electrochemical ammonia synthesis as an energetically and environmentally benign method. Two relatively novel X-ray spectroscopy methods, which are relevant for the molecular understanding of the catalysts and biocatalysts, i.e. soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy and nuclear resonant vibration spectroscopy are presented. We illustrate the perceived reality in fertilizer usage on the field, and fertilizer production in the factory complex with photos and thus provide a contrast to the academic view of the molecular process of ammonia function and production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Altrenogest (ALT), a synthetic progestogen, serves a critical role in estrus synchronization among animals like gilts and mares. However, its practical application in animal husbandry is hampered due to its poor solubility and limited oral bioavailability. To address this challenge, a solvent evaporation method was employed to create an inclusion complex of ALT with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (ALT/HP-β-CD). The formation of this inclusion complex was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, power X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and docking calculations. In addition, we further conducted pharmacokinetic investigation involving gilts, comparing ALT/HP-β-CD inclusion complex to an ALT oral solution. The physicochemical characterization results unveiled a transformation of ALT's crystal morphology into an amorphous state, with ALT effectively entering the cavity of HP-β-CD. Compared with ALT, the solubility of ALT/HP-β-CD inclusion complex increased by 1026.51-fold, and its dissolution rate demonstrated significant improvement. Pharmacokinetic assessments further revealed that the oral bioavailability of ALT/HP-β-CD inclusion complex surpassed that of the ALT oral solution, with a relative bioavailability of 114.08 %. In conclusion, complexation with HP-β-CD represents a highly effective approach to improve both the solubility and oral bioavailability of ALT. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Chromatin loops juxtapose distal enhancers with active promoters, but their molecular architecture and relationship with transcription remain unclear. In erythroid cells, the locus control region (LCR) and β-globin promoter form a chromatin loop that requires transcription factor GATA1 and the associated molecule Ldb1. We employed artificial zinc fingers (ZF) to tether Ldb1 to the β-globin promoter in GATA1 null erythroblasts, in which the β-globin locus is relaxed and inactive. Remarkably, targeting Ldb1 or only its self-association domain to the β-globin promoter substantially activated β-globin transcription in the absence of GATA1. Promoter-tethered Ldb1 interacted with endogenous Ldb1 complexes at the LCR to form a chromatin loop, causing recruitment and phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II. ZF-Ldb1 proteins were inactive at alleles lacking the LCR, demonstrating that their activities depend on long-range interactions. Our findings establish Ldb1 as a critical effector of GATA1-mediated loop formation and indicate that chromatin looping causally underlies gene regulation. PaperFlick: Display Omitted [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginkgolide B (GB), which has been demonstrated as the most efficacious naturally occurring platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonist, is extensively utilized for the management of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular ailments. Nevertheless, its limited oral bioavailability is hindered by its low solubility in gastric acid and inadequate stability in intestinal fluid, thereby constraining its practical application. This study aimed to develop GB nanocrystals (GB-NCs) and GB nanocrystals self-stabilized Pickering nano-emulsion (GB-NSSPNE) using a miniaturized wet bead milling method. Comparative evaluations were conducted in vivo and in vitro to assess their effectiveness. The findings revealed that GB-NSSPNE, with its intact nanoparticle slow release and absorption, was more effective in enhancing the oral bioavailability of GB compared to the rapid release and absorption of GB-NCs. This finding suggests a potential novel strategy for the oral delivery of GB. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals have been reported to affect liver function. However, there is currently little and inconsistent knowledge about the effects of combined and individual urinary metals on specific parameters of liver function in the general population. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate their associations. This study involved 807 general population from the China National Human Biomonitoring of Zhejiang Province 2017–2018. Concentrations of urinary metals, including Chromium (Cr), Cobalt (Co), Nickle (Ni), Arsenic (As), Selenium (Se), Molybdenum (Mo), Cadmium (Cd), Thallium (Tl) and Lead (Pb) were measured. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), direct bilirubin (DBIL), total bilirubin (TBIL) as liver function biomarkers. Multivariable linear regression and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression were employed to explore the associations of urinary metals with liver function biomarkers. Subgroup analysis stratified by gender and age, excluding smokers and drinkers for sensitivity analysis. Both statistical models indicated that urinary metals were positively associated with ALT and AST, while negatively with TP, ALB, DBIL and TBIL. In the WQS analysis, each quartile increase in the ln-transformed levels of metal mixtures was associated with 4.11 IU/L (95% CI: 1.07, 7.15) higher ALT and 3.00 IU/L (95% CI: 1.75, 4.25) higher AST, as well as, with 0.67 g/L (95% CI: 1.24, −0.11) lower TP, 0.74 g/L (95% CI: 1.09, −0.39) lower ALB, 0.38 μmol/L (95% CI: 0.67, −0.09) lower DBIL, and 1.56 μmol/L (95% CI: 2.22, −0.90) lower TBIL. The association between urinary metals and ALT was primarily driven by Cd (55.8%), Cr contributed the most to the association with AST (20.2%) and TBIL (45.2%), while the association with TP was primarily driven by Ni (38.2%), the association with ALB was primarily driven by As (32.8%), and the association with DBIL was primarily driven by Pb (30.9%). The associations between urinary metals and liver function might differ by sex and age. Urinary metals were significantly associated with liver function parameters. Further studies are required to clarify the relationship between heavy metals and liver function. [Display omitted] • Urinary metals were significantly associated with liver function biomarkers individually in the general population. • Both statistical models indicated that urinary metals were positively associated with ALT and AST, and negatively associated with TP, ALB, DBIL, and TBIL. • The associations between urinary metals and liver function might differ by sex and age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel design for a three-dimensional compression-torsion mechanical metamaterial based on the three-period minimal surface (TPMS) theory. Unlike the conventional approach of utilizing chiral or diagonal rod structures to achieve compressive-torsional properties in metamaterials, this paper employs a two-dimensional level of TPMS theory and the synergistic effect of a re-entrant structure to achieve compressive-torsional properties. Theoretical, experimental, and numerical methods were employed to investigate the deformation characteristics and mechanical properties of the proposed structure. The paper investigates the impact of the periodic value of the TPMS on the torsion direction, as well as the influence of unit cell radius r on the deformation characteristics, torsion angle, and Poisson's ratio of the lattice structure. The length of radius r can be appropriately selected to control the torsion angle and negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) effect of the structure. Furthermore, by adjusting the period values of the TPMS, the torsion direction of the structure can be controlled. Finally, the torsion angle, Poisson's ratio, stiffness and specific energy absorption (SEA) were compared with the structure with a diagonal rod microstructure (SDRM). The findings indicate that the proposed structure exhibits superior torsion performance and NPR effect compared to the previously proposed three-dimensional compression-torsion material. This design concept has significant implications for the development of smart devices, aerospace engineering, and conservation engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]