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Patients with age-related hearing loss face hearing difficulties in daily life. The causes of age-related hearing loss are complex and include changes in peripheral hearing, central processing, and cognitive-related abilities. Furthermore, the factors by which aging relates to hearing loss via changes in auditory processing ability are still unclear. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated 27 older adults (over 60 years old) with age-related hearing loss, 21 older adults (over 60 years old) with normal hearing, and 30 younger subjects (18–30 years old) with normal hearing. We used the outcome of the upper-threshold test, including the time-compressed threshold and the speech recognition threshold in noisy conditions, as a behavioral indicator of auditory processing ability. We also used electroencephalography to identify presbycusis-related abnormalities in the brain while the participants were in a spontaneous resting state. The time-compressed threshold and speech recognition threshold data indicated significant differences among the groups. In patients with age-related hearing loss, information masking (babble noise) had a greater effect than energy masking (speech-shaped noise) on processing difficulties. In terms of resting-state electroencephalography signals, we observed enhanced frontal lobe (Brodmann’s area, BA11) activation in the older adults with normal hearing compared with the younger participants with normal hearing, and greater activation in the parietal (BA7) and occipital (BA19) lobes in the individuals with age-related hearing loss compared with the younger adults. Our functional connection analysis suggested that compared with younger people, the older adults with normal hearing exhibited enhanced connections among networks, including the default mode network, sensorimotor network, cingulo-opercular network, occipital network, and frontoparietal network. These results suggest that both normal aging and the development of age-related hearing loss have a negative effect on advanced auditory processing capabilities and that hearing loss accelerates the decline in speech comprehension, especially in speech competition situations. Older adults with normal hearing may have increased compensatory attentional resource recruitment represented by the top-down active listening mechanism, while those with age-related hearing loss exhibit decompensation of network connections involving multisensory integration.

Abstract Rational design hybrid nanostructure photocatalysts with efficient charge separation and transfer, and good solar light harvesting ability have critical significance for achieving high solar‐to‐chemical conversion efficiency. Here a highly active and stable composite photocatalyst is reported by integrating ultrathin ZnIn2S4 nanosheets on surface of hollow CdS cube to form the cube‐in‐cube structure. Experimental results combined with density functional theory calculations confirm that the Z‐scheme ZnIn2S4/CdS heterojunction is formed, which highly boosts the charge separation and transfer under the local‐electric‐field at semiconductor/semiconductor interface, and thus prolongs their lifetimes. Moreover, such a structure affords the highly enhanced light‐harvesting property. The optimized ZnIn2S4/CdS nanohybrids exhibit superior H2 generation rate under visible‐light irradiation (λ ≥ 420 nm) with excellent photochemical stability during 20 h continuous operation.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a genetically complex autoimmune disease. Despite the significant progress made in identifying susceptibility genes for SLE, the genetic architecture of the disease is far from being understood. In this study, we set to replicate a number of suggestive association signals found in genome-wide association studies (GWASs) in additional independent cohorts. Replication studies were performed on Han Chinese cohorts from Hong Kong and Anhui, involving a total of 2,269 cases and 5,073 controls. We identified a missense variant in IRF3 (rs7251) reaching genome-wide significance through a joint analysis of GWAS and replication data (OR = 0.876, P = 4.40E-08). A significant correlation was observed between rs7251 and lupus nephritis (LN) by subphenotype stratification (OR = 0.785, P = 0.0128). IRF3 is a key molecule in type I interferon production upon nucleic acid antigen stimulations and may inhibit regulatory T cell differentiation. Further elucidation of the mechanism of this association could help us better understand the pathogenesis of SLE.

By means of impact abrasion tests, micro-hardness tests, and worn surface morphology observation via SEM, a comparison research based upon different impact abrasive wear conditions was conducted in this research to study the influence of different carbon contents (1.25wt.%, 1.35wt.%, and 1.45 wt.%) on the wear resistance and wear mechanism of water-quenched Mn13Cr2 and Mn18Cr2 cast steels. The research results show that the wear resistance of the Mn18Cr2 cast steel is superior to that of the Mn13Cr2 cast steel under the condition of the same carbon content and different impact abrasive wear conditions because the Mn18Cr2 cast steel possesses higher worn work hardening capacity as well as a more desirable combination of high hardness and impact toughness than that of the Mn13Cr2 cast steel. When a 4.5 J impact abrasive load is applied, the wear mechanism of both steels is that plastic deformation fatigue spalling and micro-cutting coexist, and the former dominates. When the carbon content is increased, the worn work hardening effect becomes increasingly dramatic, while the wear resistance of both steels decreases, which implies that an increase in impact toughness is beneficial to improving the wear resistance under severe impact abrasive wear conditions. Under the condition of a 1.0 J impact abrasive load, the wear mechanism of both steels is that plastic deformation fatigue spalling and micro-cutting coexist, and the latter plays a leading role. The worn work hardening effect and wear resistance intensify when the carbon content is increased, which implies that a higher hardness can be conducive to better wear resistance under low impact abrasive condition.

In recent years, great progress has been made on the study of nanozymes with enzyme-like properties. Here, bimetallic Fe and Ni nanoclusters were anchored on the nanosheets of nitrogen-rich layered graphitic carbon nitride by one-step pyrolysis at high temperature (Fe/Ni-CN). The loading content of Fe and Ni on Fe/Ni-CN is as high as 8.0%, and Fe/Ni-CN has a high specific surface area of 121.86 m² g-1. The Fe/Ni-CN can effectively oxidize 3,30,5,50-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of H2O2, and exhibits efficient peroxidase-like activity, leading to a 17.2-fold increase compared to pure graphitic carbon nitride (CN). Similar to the natural horseradish peroxidase (HRP), the Fe/Ni-CN nanozyme follows catalytic kinetics. The Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) value of the Fe/Ni-CN nanozyme for TMB is about 8.3-fold lower than that for HRP, which means that the Fe/Ni-CN nanozyme has better affinity for TMB. In addition, the catalytic mechanism was investigated by combination of free radical quenching experiments and densityfunctional theory (DFT) calculations. The results show that the high peroxidase-like activity is due to the easy adsorption of H2O2 after bimetal loading, which is conducive to the production of hydroxyl radicals. Based on the extraordinary peroxidase-like activity, the colorimetric detection of p-phenylenediamine (PPD) was constructed with a wide linear range of 0.2-30 mM and a low detection limit of 0.02 mM. The sensor system has been successfully applied to the detection of residual PPD in real dyed hair samples. The results show that the colorimetric method is sensitive, highly selective and accurate. This study provides a new idea for the efficient enhancement of nanozyme activity and effective detection of PPD by a bimetallic synergistic strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a method for synthesizing single-molecule magnets through a single-crystal to single-crystal transformation. This process yields two single-molecule magnets with similar triangular Dy3 cores but distinct solvents and space groups achieved via solvent exchange. Magnetic properties reveal that both Dy3 molecules exhibit similar toroidal moments but manifest diverse multiple magnetization dynamic behaviors owing to the spin–lattice coupling influence from different solvent molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salmonella is commonly isolated from raw pork and is a leading cause of foodborne illness. Because China has the highest rate of pork consumption and the largest number of pig breeding facilities in the world, an epidemiological analysis of Salmonella species from pork in China is warranted. In this study, pork samples (n = 1,096) were collected from 20 major free markets in four cities of Jiangsu province from August 2010 to December 2012. A total of 163 Salmonella isolates were recovered from 154 Salmonella-positive samples. Among 14 Salmonella serovars identified, Derby (47.9%) was most prevalent, followed by Typhimurium (10.4%), Meleagridis (9.2%), Anatum (8.6%), and London (6.7%). Antimicrobial sensitivity testing revealed that 134 (82.2%) of the isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent, and 41 (25.2%) were resistant to more than three antimicrobials. The highest resistance was to tetracycline (66.3% of isolates) followed by ampicillin (39.9%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (31.3%), and nalidixic acid (30.1%). Multilocus sequence typing analysis revealed 14 sequence type (ST) patterns; ST40 was the most common (77 isolates) followed by ST64 (19 isolates). Our research revealed a high prevalence of Salmonella in retail pork. Diversity among the Salmonella isolates was high in terms of serovar and genotype, and multidrug resistance was prevalent. Multilocus sequence type was generally associated with serovar and provided a reliable prediction of the most common Salmonella serovars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four ligand-deprotonation induced coordination polymers, {[Cu4(atr)4(H2O)2(btec)2]·2.5H2O}n(1), {[Cu3(atr)4(H2O)2(μ3-OH)(Hbtec)]·2ClO4·2H2O}n(2), [Cu(atr)2(H2O)(H2btec)]n(3), and [Cu(atr)2(H2O)2(H2btec)]n(4) (atr = 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole and H4btec = 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid), were obtained by delicate tuning of the pH value of the reactant mixture. All compounds have been structurally and magnetically characterized. The competitive bridging roles of the two different ligands as well as the degree of deprotonation of the aromatic tetracarboxylic ligand resulted in the formation of four different networks: a coplanar CuII4cluster-based 3D framework for 1, triangular CuII3-core-derived 2D layers for 2, and H2btec2−-bridged 1D zig-zagor linear chains for 3and 4, respectively. Magnetic measurements reveal antiferromagnetic couplings with variable strength ranging from −188.9 to −0.712 cm−1within the isolated CuII4, CuII3, and H2btec2−-bridged CuIInodes in 1–4. These couplings are essentially determined by the spatial orientation and coordination characteristics of the homo- and heterobridges between the adjacent spin carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel 3D MnIIcoordination framework with Kagomé sublattice, [Mn3(py)2(nip)2]n(py−= 2-((1H-tetrazol-5-yl)methyl)pyridine and nip2−= 5-nitroisophathalate), was in situsolvothermally synthesized and shows the coexistence of spin-canting, spin-frustration as well as field-induced metamagnetic and spin-flop transitions at 2.9 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (amtrz)-based 3D MOFs, [Cu4(amtrz)2(μ3-OH)2(btc)2]n(1), and [Cu5(amtrz)2(H2O)2(μ3-OH)2(btec)2]n(2) (btc3−= 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate and btec4−= 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylate), were hydrothermally synthesized and structurally and magnetically characterized. Each cationic [Cu4(amtrz)2(μ3-OH)2]6+cluster in 1is periodically extended into an infinite 3,6-connected rtl-type topological network viasix btc3−ligands. In contrast, analogous CuII4clusters to 1and square-planar CuII1cores in 2are alternately interlinked through btec4−linkers to generate a 3D (44·62)2(46·64)4(48·66·8)3framework, which is a scarcely observed higher-dimensional coordination polymer with a CuII4+ CuII1motif. More interestingly, both the coordination polymers display strong antiferromagnetic couplings up to −154.6 cm−1due to the favorable multiple heterobridges in the analogous CuII4component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this work is to systematically investigate the influence of the functional co-ligands and metal ions on the self-assembly and properties of the in situgenerated 5-(pyrazinyl)tetrazolate (ptz−)-based metal complexes. A series of nine metal complexes, {[Co3(H2O)4(ptz)2(btec)]·5H2O}n(1), [Cu2(H2O)4(ptz)2(H2btec)]n(2), [Hg2(ptz)2Cl2]n(3), [Hg3(H2O)2(ptz)4(μ1,1-N3)2]·2H2O (4), Hg(H2O)2(ptz)2(5), [Cd2(H2O)2(ptz)2(ox)]n(6), [Cd(H2O)(ptz)I]n(7), {[Cd(H2O)(ptz)X]·H2O}n(X = Br for 8and Cl for 9) (btec = 1,2,4,5–benzenetetracarboxylate and ox = oxalate), was obtained by a subtle variation of co-ligands and metal ions, in which the HgIIion is firstly observed as an efficient Lewis acid to catalyze the in situreaction. Significantly, resulted from the cooperative and/or competitive binding between the mixed ligands and the metal ions with different coordination geometry, complexes 1–9feature interesting structural subunits (mono-, bi- and tri-metallic core) and various dimensionalities ranged from polymeric three-dimensional (3D) frameworks to discrete zero-dimensional (0D) entities. Three high-dimensional complexes with a binodal (3,8)-connected tfz-d microporous framework for 1, a trinodal (3,4)-connected unusual (6·82)2(6·83·102) topology for 3, and a six-connected α-polonium-type network for 6are observed, respectively. Complexes 2and 7–9are bi-metallic node-based 2D layers (7) and 1D chains (2, 8, and 9). In contrast, the rarely linear tri-metallic core and commonly observed mononuclear entities are generated for 4and 5, respectively. Additionally, CuII-based polymer 2displays weak intra-dimeric antiferromagnetic coupling interaction. Complexes 1and 3–9with considerable metal ion-dependent thermal stability exhibit ptz−-based photoluminescence with variable intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two 3D coordination polymers with the same components but different structures, [CuII2CuI(trz)3(Hbtc)]n (1) and [Cu4(Htrz)2(μ3-OH)2(btc)2]n (2), were obtained together by a one-pot hydrothermal reaction of Cu(OAc)2·H2O, 1,2,4- triazole (Htrz), and 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (H3btc). Complex lisa mixed-valence CuI/II honeycomb built from wavy CuII-trz-carboxylate layers and CuI nodes with doubly deprotonated Hbtc2- ligands covalently tilled in the channels. In contrast, 2 is a tetranuclear [Cu4(Htrz)2(μ3-OH)2]6+ cluster-based framework extended by a fully deprotonated btc3- ligand, displaying a 3,6-connected topological network. More interestingly, spin-canted antiferromagnetism and overall strong antiferromagnetic couplings up to -147.1 cm-1 are respectively observed tor 1 and 2, which are significantly due to the antisymmetric magnetic exchange in the wavy CuII-trz-carboxylate sublayerof 1 and the cooperative 4-fold heterobridges within the tetranuclear cluster of 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By reaction of a zinc salt, 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (H3btc) and 1,2,4-triazole (Htrz) under hydrothermal conditions, three mixed ligands protonation-dominated crystals, showing a 3-D microporous framework for 1, a 3-D pillared-layer structure for 2, and a 1-D chain motif for 3, have been stepwise isolated by crystallization of the reaction mixture and evaporation of the filtrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two trypsin isoforms (GT-A and GT-B) from the grass carp ( Ctenopharyngodon idellus) intestine were isolated and purified. SDS-PAGE electrophoresis showed that GT-A and GT-B had relative molecular masses of 30,740 and 26,400, respectively. Enzyme activity was inhibited by three organic trypsin inhibitors but not by EDTA. They had optimal pH of 8.0 and 8.5, and optimal temperatures of 38.5 and 44.0°C, respectively, when hydrolyzing N–benzoyl- l-arginine ethyl ester·HCl (BAEE). They lost 95.8 and 93.7% of their activities, respectively, after heating for 20 min at 65°C. Their thermal denaturation temperatures, respectively, were 66.3 and 67.3°C. GT-A has a Km value of 21.2 μM and a Vmax of 2.0 × 103 min−1, and GT-B has a Km value of 31.7 μM and a Vmax of 3.3 × 103 min−1. Their physiological efficiencies were 94.3 and 105.3 μM−1 min−1, respectively. The Arrhenius activation energies of GT-A and GT-B were 4.16 and 4.38 kcal/mol, respectively. The activities of GT-A and GT-B were not activated by Ca2+, but their thermostability was improved in the presence of Ca2+. Enzyme activity was reduced in presence of Zn2+, Cu2+, Hg2+ and Al3+. Thermal stabilities of GT-A and GT-B were intermediate between Arctic and tropical fish species, and consistent with the wide range of water temperatures to which grass carp are exposed in most provinces of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hedgehog (Hh) signaling plays an important role in embryonic development of many tissues, including the gastrointestinal tract. Sonic Hh-and Indian Hh-deficient mice die before or soon after birth, precluding further study of this signaling pathway in the mature intestine. Maternal transfer of inactivating monoclonal antibodies to Hh proteins (anti-Hh moAb) during late stages of embryogenesis or to early postnatal mice produced intestinal villous abnormalities, progressive runting, and severe malabsorption of dietary fat. In the present study, we sought to determine the effect of inhibiting Hh signaling on weight gain and lipid absorption in adult mice. Anti-Hh moAb was administered to adult Balb/c mice fed either a low-fat, nonpurified diet or a high-fat, semipurified diet, and to adult ob/ob mice fed the low-fat, nonpurified diet. Weight gain was significantly inhibited by anti-Hh moAb treatment in Balb/C mice fed the high-fat, but not the low-fat diet and in ob/ob mice. Further analysis of adult Balb/c mice fed the high-fat diet demonstrated that although total lipid absorption was normal, the rate of triglyceride absorption was significantly delayed in mice treated with anti-Hh moAb and they had significantly increased fecal FFA excretion. Hepatic steatosis, found in high-fat fed Balb/c mice treated with the control moAb, was abrogated by anti-Hh moAb administration. These findings point to a potential role for Hh signaling pathways in diet-induced abnormalities of lipid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) can cause severe damage to body functions and even lead to death. The prevention of CINV is critically important in patients receiving emetogenic chemotherapy regimen. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and treatment of CINV in Grade-A tertiary hospitals in Shanghai and explore risk factors of CINV to improve its management. Methods: The clinical data of 376 cancer patients in Grade-A tertiary hospitals in Shanghai from October 2022 to December 2022 were collected retrospectively. The questionnaire was used to conduct a cross-sectional study. The univariate and multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the influencing factors of CINV. Results: The management and coincidence of the guideline in 2022 significantly improved compared to five years ago. For patients receiving high-emetic-risk chemotherapy regimen, the coincidence of the guideline increased from 21.6% to 67.0%. For patients receiving moderate-emetic-risk chemotherapy regimen, the neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor antagonist was not significantly associated with CINV. Multivariable analysis showed that the chemotherapy regimen was the only risk factor for CINV during the whole period (P