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Aims: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a disease with high rates of disability and mortality. The role of epidermal growth factor receptor 1 (ERBB1) in ICH was elucidated in this study. Methods: ICH model was constructed by injecting autologous arterial blood into the right basal ganglia. The protein level of ERBB1 was detected by western blot analysis. To up‐ and downregulation of ERBB1 in rats, intraventricular injection of a lentivirus overexpression vector of ERBB1 and AG1478 (a specific inhibitor of ERBB1) was used. The cell apoptosis, neuronal loss, and pro‐inflammatory cytokines were assessed by TUNEL, Nissl staining, and ELISA. Meanwhile, behavioral cognitive impairment of ICH rats was evaluated after ERBB1‐targeted interventions. Results: ERBB1 increased significantly in brain tissue of ICH rats. Overexpression of ERBB1 remarkably reduced cell apoptosis and neuronal loss induced by ICH, as well as pro‐inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress. Meanwhile, the behavioral and cognitive impairment of ICH rats were alleviated after upregulation of ERBB1; however, the secondary brain injury (SBI) was aggravated by AG1478 treatment. Furthermore, the upregulation of PLC‐γ and PKC in ICH rats was reversed by AG1478 treatment. Conclusions: ERBB1 can improve SBI and has a neuroprotective effect in experimental ICH rats via PLC‐γ/PKC pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Lipid-based lyotropic liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LCNPs) face stability challenges in biological fluids during clinical translation. Ionic Liquids (ILs) have emerged as effective solvent additives for tuning the structure of LCNP's and enhancing their stability. We investigated the effect of a library of 21 choline-based biocompatible ILs with 9 amino acid anions as well as 10 other organic/inorganic anions during the preparation of phytantriol (PHY)-based LCNPs, followed by incubation in human serum and serum proteins. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) results show that the phase behaviour of the LCNPs depends on the IL concentration and anion structure. Incubation with human serum led to a phase transition from the inverse bicontinuous cubic (Q 2) to the inverse hexagonal (H 2) mesophase, influenced by the specific IL present. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and proteomics analysis of selected samples, including PHY control and those with choline glutamate, choline hexanoate, and choline geranate, identified abundant proteins in the protein corona, including albumin, apolipoproteins, and serotransferrin. The composition of the protein corona varied among samples, shedding light on the intricate interplay between ILs, internal structure and surface chemistry of LCNPs, and biological fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kai-Xin-San (KXS) has been prescribed by TCM doctors for treating psychiatric diseases with the core symptoms of anhedonia, amnesia, and dizziness. According to the symptoms of patients, KXS series formulae are created by varying the compatible ratio of herbs. Today, these formulae are still used in the clinic to treat major depressive disorders. We hoped to evaluate the antidepressant-like effect of Kai-Xin-San via regulation of the gut-brain axis. Standardized extracts of three representative compatible ratios of KXS had been prepared, and quality control of the extracts was performed by HPLC-MS/MS. Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depression-like mice were used as the depression animal model. After KXS treatment, the antidepressant-like effects of KXS were assessed by behavioural tests. The gut microbiota compositions in the faeces were determined by 16S rRNA sequencing technology. The levels of LPS, pro-inflammatory cytokines and HPA-axis-related hormones were measured by ELISA kits, and the expression of barrier proteins in the small intestines and prefrontal cortex were determined by Western blot analysis. Furthermore, antibiotics were used to determine the correlation between KXS exerting an antidepressant-like effect and regulating the gut-brain axis. KXS alleviated depression-like behaviours in CUMS-exposed mice. Furthermore, these parameters were also found to be changed after KXS treatment. Alteration of the gut microbiota composition were found in the small intestines. A decrease in the LPS and the pro-inflammatory cytokines were found in both the small intestine and brain. An increase in the tight junction proteins was found in the gut epithelium barrier and the blood-brain barrier. A decrease in the stress-related hormones was found in the central nervous system. Furthermore, antibiotic treatment attenuated the antidepressant-like effect of KXS in CUMS-exposed mice. KXS exerted an antidepressant-like effect regulating the gut-brain axis, which included gut micro-environment modification, suppression of neuronal inflammation in the brain and inhibition of HPA axis activation in CUMS-induced depression-like mice. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat exchanger materials with high strength and thin thickness are highly required due to the increasing demands of weight reduction and fuel economy of the automobile. In this work, 0.5 wt% Cu was added to an Al-1.5Mn-0.3Fe-0.6Si (wt.%) alloy to improve the strength. The microstructure, mechanical properties, and electrochemical properties of the tested alloys were systematically investigated. The results suggest that part of Cu is dissolved into the Al matrix, and the balance is incorporated into the Al(Mn,Fe)Si particles. Cu addition improves the strength at the expense of deteriorating the pitting corrosion resistance. On the one hand, the improved strength derives from enhanced solid solution hardening and increased nanoparticle strengthening. On the other hand, the incorporation of Cu in the Al(Mn,Fe)Si intermetallic particles increases the potential difference between the particles and the Al matrix, resulting in the deteriorated pitting corrosion resistance. Image 1 • Cu element exists in the form of Al(Mn,Fe)Si phase in Al-1.5Mn-0.3Fe-0.6Si-0.5Cu. • Cu addition produces finer grains and dense Al(Mn,Fe)Si nanoparticles. • Cu addition improves strength of Al-1.5Mn-0.3Fe-0.6Si. • Cu addition increases potential difference, so deteriorates corrosion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• GO sheets or nanoribbons were assembled onto the SiRF foam surface via a facile strategy. • Two GO derivatives were well covered and bonded onto the foam skeleton at only 0.10 wt%. • Ultra-low GO derivatives improved mechanical property and flame resistance significantly. • GONRs showed lower reinforcing/flame-retardant effects than the corresponding GO sheets. • The synergistic flame-retardant mechanisms and their difference were discussed and clarified. Lightweight polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) foam materials with outstanding mechanical flexibility and high-temperature stability as well as excellent flame resistance are attractive for various potential applications. However, incorporation of conventional flame retardants needs high filling content and usually induces compromise of other important performance, limiting their practical application significantly. In addition, the problems of complicated procedure and environmental pollution of the traditional processing are imperative but challenging. Here, we report a facile and green in-situ surface-assembly approach to construct two types of graphene oxide (GO) derivative (i.e. sheet and nanoribbon) coatings bonded onto the PDMS foam surface and investigate their discrepancies in thermal and mechanical and flame-retardant properties of the two nanocomposite systems. Interestingly, surface-assembling ultralow loading (≤0.10 wt%) of two GO derivatives can produce significant improvements in thermal stability and flame retardancy of the PDMS foam without affecting its density and elasticity. Typically, ~31% and ~40% reduction in peak heat release rate and ~80% and ~95% improvement in total smoke release were achieved for 0.10 wt% GONR and GO sheet, respectively. Based on the burnt surface zone observation and analysis, the synergistic flame-retardant mechanisms and their differences between the PDMS molecules and two GO derivatives were discussed and clarified. This work provides a new understanding for design and development of green and large-scale fabrication of flame retardant PDMS foam nanocomposite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A low power consumption Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK) modulator employing current reuse cross‐coupled (CRC) LC‐VCO topology and direct injection locking (IL) technique at 10.5‐GHz frequency is presented in this paper. The modulator consumes 864 μW with a DC supply of 1.2 V drawing an average current of 720 μA. The differential VCO is composed of a PMOS‐NMOS pair in stacked series cross‐coupled connection enabling current reuse which results in reduction of the average current drawn from the power source. For comparison, the ASK modulator is also realized with conventional cross‐coupled (CC) topology using NMOS pair. Both circuit approaches are carried out in GF 130‐nm CMOS technology and the post‐layout simulation results of 0.5 × 0.5 mm2 integrated circuits (ICs) show that the CRC topology consumes less power and half of the average current compared to CC topology. Owing to low power requirements, the CRC ASK modulator can be used in self‐powered active Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag transmitters for higher data rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research of the formation mechanism of iron carbides is significant to design the high-performance catalysts for the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) process. In this paper, the effect of potassium promoter on the formation of atomic carbon via carburization gases dissociation on the iron-based catalyst, the C2H4, C2H2 and CO/H2 adsorption energies and dissociation paths as well as the rate constants of the corresponding elementary steps are investigated by DFT on the Fe(110), Fe(110)-K2O, Fe(211) and Fe(211)-K2O surfaces. The calculation results demonstrated that the K2O promoter can modify the capabilities of surface C formation via the thermodynamic method as well as the kinetical method. The K2O promoter can increase the CO adsorption energy while decreasing the C2H4 adsorption energy both on Fe(110) and Fe(211) surfaces. Kinetically, via tuning the catalyst surfaces from Fe(110) to Fe(211), the K2O promoter can inhibit the ability of C2H4/C2H2 dissociation to atomic carbon, while enhancing the ability of CO/H2 decomposition to atomic carbon. The C2H4/C2H2 dissociation rate constants on Fe(211) and Fe(211)-K2O are about 107 times slower than that on Fe(110) and Fe(110)-K2O, whereas the dissociation rate constants of CO/H2 on Fe(211) are about 106 times faster than that on Fe(110), and about 107 times faster on Fe(211)-K2O than on Fe(110)-K2O. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel aminoacylase from S. maltophilia was discovered by gene mining method. • 49 % conversion, 99.9 % ee p were obtained in kinetic resolution by the whole cells. • A chemical racemization route of D -N- acetyl-PPT to improve yield was constructed. • A low-cost simple preparation method of a substrate from commercial PPT was provided. L-phosphinothricin (L-PPT) is a competitive and environmentally friendly herbicide. To develop an efficient approach for synthesis of l -PPT, a kinetic resolution route with a novel aminoacylase (Sm Acy) mined from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia using N -acetyl-PPT as a substrate was first constructed. This Sm Acy exhibited high hydrolytic activity and excellent enantioselectivity (E > 200) toward N -acetyl-PPT. Optically pure l -PPT (> 99.9 % ee p) was acquired with high conversion (> 49 %) within 4 h by the whole cells. On the basis of the docking analysis, a main reason for high enantioselectivity (E > 200) of Sm Acy towards l -enantiomer would be that the D -N- acetyl-PPT cannot interact with the key general acid-base residue and the metal ions. A low-cost and simple preparation process of the substrate from commercially available racemic PPT for production of L-PPT was provided. A chemical racemization method of the unreacted D-enantiomer of substrate was also provided to recycle the unwanted substrate enantiomer. This study provides a potential route for the industrial production of L-PPT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emissions of greenhouse gases, especially CO2, have been identified as the main contributor for global warming and climate change. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is considered to be the most promising strategy to mitigate the anthropogenic CO2 emissions. This review aims to provide the latest developments of CO2 storage from the perspective of improving safety and economics. The mechanisms and strategies of CO2 storage, focusing on their characteristics and current status, are discussed firstly. In the second section, the strategies for assessing and ensuring the security of CO2 storage operations, including the risks assessment approach and monitoring technology associated with CO2 storage, are outlined. In addition, the engineering methods to accelerate CO2 dissolution and mineral carbonation for fixing the mobile CO2 are also compared within the second section. The third part focuses on the strategies for improving economics of CO2 storage operations, namely enhanced industrial production with CO2 storage to generate additional profit, and co-injection of CO2 with impurities to reduce the cost. Moreover, the role of multiple CCS technologies and their distribution on the mitigation of CO2 emissions in the future are summarized. This review demonstrates that CO2 storage in depleted oil and gas reservoirs could play an important role in reducing CO2 emission in the near future and CO2 storage in saline aquifers may make the biggest contribution due to its huge storage capacity. Comparing the various available strategies, CO2-enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) operations are supposed to play the most important role for CO2 mitigation in the next few years, followed by CO2-enhanced gas recovery (CO2-EGR). The direct mineralization of flue gas by coal fly ash and the pH swing mineralization would be the most promising technology for the mineral sequestration of CO2. Furthermore, by accelerating the deployment of CCS projects on large scale, the government can also play its role in reducing the CO2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underground gas storage reservoirs (UGSRs) are used to keep the natural gas supply smooth. Native natural gas is commonly used as cushion gas to maintain the reservoir pressure and cannot be extracted in the depleted gas reservoir transformed UGSR, which leads to wasting huge amounts of this natural energy resource. CO2 is an alternative gas to avoid this particular issue. However, the mixing of CO2 and CH4 in the UGSR challenges the application of CO2 as cushion gas. In this work, the Donghae gas reservoir is used to investigate the suitability of using CO2 as cushion gas in depleted gas reservoir transformed UGSR. The impact of the geological and engineering parameters, including the CO2 fraction for cushion gas, reservoir temperature, reservoir permeability, residual water and production rate, on the reservoir pressure, gas mixing behavior, and CO2 production are analyzed detailly based on the 15 years cyclic gas injection and production. The results showed that the maximum accepted CO2 concentration for cushion gas is 9% under the condition of production and injection for 120 d and 180 d in a production cycle at a rate of 4.05 kg/s and 2.7 kg/s, respectively. The typical curve of the mixing zone thickness can be divided into four stages, which include the increasing stage, the smooth stage, the suddenly increasing stage, and the periodic change stage. In the periodic change stage, the mixed zone increases with the increasing of CO2 fraction, temperature, production rate, and the decreasing of permeability and water saturation. The CO2 fraction in cushion gas, reservoir permeability, and production rate have a significant effect on the breakthrough of CO2 in the production well, while the effect of water saturation and temperature is limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yttrium and rare earth elements (REY) in aqueous environments have been intensively studied because they record important geochemical information. For example, the cerium anomaly, measured in marine sedimentary rocks, has been widely applied as a paleoredox indicator. Marine carbonates are the main substrate used to reconstruct REY signal in paleo-oceans with the underlying assumption that REY incorporated into carbonate minerals preserve the authigenic seawater signal. However, extracting authigenic REY signals from carbonate rocks are challenging. It requires dissolving carbonate phases using acid leaching procedures without contamination from other non‑carbonate phases such as Mn/Fe oxides (hydroxides), clay minerals, siliciclastic and organic phases. Multiple dissolution protocols, especially partial leaching, were proposed to eliminate potential contaminations. Yet, the efficiency of these procedures in reducing contamination remains ambiguous. Additionally, no systematic study on how each non‑carbonate phase can modify the authigenic REY signal from carbonates. First, we systematically investigated the efficiency of using ammonium acetate buffer pre-treatment to remove exchangeable ions prior to dissolution. We tested a range of concentration, pH, and reaction time of the buffer and we found that ammonium acetate of 1 M with a pH slightly <7, and 30 mins for reaction time works best for efficiency. Second, we tested a range of acid species and molarity to dissolve common non‑carbonate contamination phases including USGS standards NOD-A-1 (manganese nodule) and SBC-1 (Brush Creek shale), as well as montmorillonite, kaolinite, illite from the Clay Minerals Society. We used three batches of acetic and nitric acids with different molarity and found that both the acid species and molarity are key parameters to avoid leaching of non‑carbonate phases. We observed a negative Ce anomaly during leaching of Mn nodule using acetic acid versus a positive anomaly using nitric acid suggesting that nitric acid may introduce false positive Ce anomalies into samples. We also demonstrated that it is essential to filter the leachate to prevent the later dissolution of floating particles. For instance, Mn oxides, which carry positive Ce anomalies, can overprint the carbonate REY signal because the nitric acid (i.e. 2% v /v) used during later ICP-MS analysis could dissolve tetravalent Ce. Third, we conducted a series of leaching experiments on mixed samples consisting of 80% pure modern limestone and 20% mixed pure contaminants to identify the best protocol to avoid contamination. We demonstrate that using acetic acid with a molarity lower than 0.5 M is sufficient to avoid contaminations from Mn oxides, clay minerals, and siliciclastic phases. Finally, we present a new sequential leaching protocol for calcite (>75% CaCO 3) using two steps of ammonium acetate pre-leaching followed by three steps of 0.3 M acetic acid leaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Coupled shear-flow tests with hydraulic pressure up to 0.8 MPa were conducted. • The influence of joint surface destruction and gouge material was discussed. • The anisotropy of flow regime caused by anisotropic joint surface was discussed. • Modify cubic law with hydraulic gradient, mechanical and hydraulic aperture. The single-fracture seepage model is important for fracture network seepage models and underground engineering, but the existing knowledge is insufficient for the roles of the high hydraulic pressure, joint surface destruction, gouge material, and the anisotropy of flow regime in the single-fracture seepage model during shear process. In this study, coupled shear-flow tests were conducted at 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 MPa hydraulic pressure with radial fluid flow, and then 3D simulation models were established by using COMSOL Multiphysics 5.2a with the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes k- ε turbulence model for initial and peak shear conditions. Results showed that the radial flow cubic law diverged from experimental results seriously, and non-Darcy flow behaviour was remarkable during tests. High hydraulic pressure decreased the accuracy of the radial flow cubic law dramatically by increasing the influence of inertia force, and the accuracy was sensitive to the increase in lower hydraulic pressure. The flow regime and velocity were varied and influenced by the anisotropic tortuosity ratio, maximum inclination angle, and the uneven distribution of aperture. The absolute values of velocity vertical to the radial distance reduced with decreasing roughness. The roughness, tortuosity ratio, and maximum inclination angle of the fracture joint reduced dynamically with destruction of the joint surface and formation of gouge material, leading to a significant change in the relationship between mechanical and hydraulic apertures. Moreover, the radial flow cubic law was modified on the basis of the relationship of mechanical and hydraulic aperture with hydraulic gradient. This study may serve as a basis to establish fracture network seepage model and other similar tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Zr addition results in finer grain sizes and higher volume fraction of LAGBs. • The improved strength derives from finer grain sizes and coherent Al 3 Zr particles. • LAGBs and finer grain sizes are beneficial to pitting corrosion resistance. Automotive heat exchanger materials with high strength and excellent corrosion resistance performance are highly required due to the increasing demands of weight reduction and fuel economy. In this work, 0.16 wt% Zr was added into a Al-1.5Mn-0.3Fe-0.6Si-0.5Cu(wt.%) alloy for the improvement of the related performance. The microstructure, mechanical properties and electrochemical properties were investigated. The results indicate that Zr addition can decrease grain size and increase the volume fraction of low angle boundaries (LAGBs) in the alloy. The improved strength derives from finer grain sizes and Al 3 Zr particle. The enhanced pitting corrosion resistance mainly results from the higher volume fraction of LAGBs and smaller grain sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(vinyl pyridine) has widely been used as a pH‐responsive polymer to trigger changes in self‐assembly of block copolymer micelles. However, the polymer is known to display toxic features, which limits its ultimate applicability for biological applications. Here, poly(4‐vinyl imidazole) (P4VIm), a much more biocompatible polymer, is used as a pH‐responsive block to modulate the self‐assembly of ABC triblock terpolymers. In this article, the synthesis of the poly(1‐acryloyl fructopyranose)‐block‐ poly(n‐butyl acrylate)‐block‐ poly(4‐vinyl imidazole) (PFruA52‐b‐PBuA300‐b‐P4VIm250) triblock terpolymers is first discussed by sequential reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Subsequently, the structure formation of the triblock terpolymer is elucidated by step‐wise solvent exchange. The polymer readily dissolves in methanol, but self‐assembles into micelles with PBuA cores and mixed shell in methanol–water mixtures. Solvent exchange against buffer solutions of pH 6–6.5 leads to collapse of P4VIm due to deprotonation and induces self‐assembly into caterpillar‐like non‐spherical nanoparticles, most likely via the formation of intermediate Janus particles. The rearrangement into larger hierarchical structure, as seen by small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), is found to process within several hours. The article is concluded by demonstrating lower cytotoxicity values for the present polymer in comparison to a structurally analogous triblock terpolymer based on poly(vinyl pyridine). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, fire disasters have killed numerous human lives, and caused tremendous property loss. Fire warning systems play a vital role in predicting fire risks, and are strongly desired to effectively prevent the disaster occurrence and significantly reduce the loss. Among the developed fire warning systems, thermoelectrics (TEs) and thermocells (TECs)-based fire warning materials are extremely important and indispensable in future research, owing to their unique capability of direct conversion between heat and electricity. Here, we present this review of the recent progress of TEs and TECs in fire warning field. Firstly, a brief introduction of existing fire warning systems is provided, including the mechanisms and features of various types. Then, the mechanisms of electronic TE (eTE), ionic TE (iTE) and TEC are elucidated. Next, the basic principles for the material preparation and device fabrication are discussed in their dimension sequence. Subsequently, some important advances or examples of TE fire warnings are highlighted in details. Finally, the challenges and prospects are outlooked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS) foam as one of next-generation polymer foam materials shows poor surface adhesion and limited functionality, which greatly restricts its potential applications. Fabrication of advanced PDMS foam materials with multiple functionalities remains a critical challenge. In this study, unprecedented self-adhesive PDMS foam materials are reported with worm-like rough structure and reactive groups for fabricating multifunctional PDMS foam nanocomposites decorated with MXene/cellulose nanofiber (MXene/CNF) interconnected network by a facile silicone foaming and dip-coating strategy followed by silane surface modification. Interestingly, such self-adhesive PDMS foam produces strong interfacial adhesion with the hybrid MXene/CNF nano-coatings. Consequently, the optimized PDMS foam nanocomposites have excellent surface super-hydrophobicity (water contact angle of ≈159o), tunable electrical conductivity (from 10-8 to 10 S m-1), stable compressive cyclic reliability in both wide-temperature range (from -20 to 200 °C) and complex environments (acid, sodium, and alkali conditions), outstanding flame resistance (LOI value of >27% and low smoke production rate), good thermal insulating performance and reliable strain sensing in various stress modes and complex environmental conditions. It provides a new route for the rational design and development of advanced PDMS foam nanocomposites with versatile multifunctionalities for various promising applications such as intelligent healthcare monitoring and fire-safe thermal insulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing surface roughness theoretical predictive models exhibit high parameter sensitivity and complexity, resulting in low reliability. Moreover, machine learning-based predictive models are constrained by the training parameter range, limiting their precision and generalization. In response to these limitations and from the frequency domain perspective, this paper proposes an innovative surface roughness (Ra) predictive model for silicon nitride ceramics grinding based on the dynamic grinding force model. First, a dynamic grinding force model was established using single grain scratch test results from both ductile and brittle removal stages, with model parameter estimation assisted by Genetic Algorithm. The results demonstrated a Mean Relative Error (MRE) of 19.51% between experimental and theoretical dynamic grinding force values, and a Relative Error (RE) of 9.37% for average grinding force. Subsequently, the frequency domain characteristics of both experimental grinding force signals and surface topography texture curves were extracted, which exhibited a significant correlation based on cosine similarity and Kendall's tau. Finally, leveraging the frequency domain characteristics of grinding force, the surface roughness predictive model was developed through the Convolutional Neural Network. The predictive model achieved an MRE of 12.79%, with random grinding experiments further confirming the model's accuracy with an MRE of 13.65%. These findings indicate that the proposed surface roughness predictive model offers high generalization capability and accurate prediction across a broader parameter range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: A transition‐metal free three‐component coupling reaction of azaindoles, C60, and bromoalkanes/triphenylamines has been developed to provide an efficient access to diverse azaindole functionalized 1,4‐C60 adducts. This protocol exhibits low cost, operational simplicity, wide substrate scope, and mild and convenient conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a serious ischemic heart disease. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) participate in AMI. This article aims to investigate the mechanism of action of Tregs in AMI. We constructed AMI mouse model. Then, AMI mouse and mouse macrophages (RAW264.7) were treated with Tregs or Treg‐derived exosomes. The cardiac function of mice was detected. Triphenyl‐tetrazolium chloride and TdT‐mediated dUTP nick‐end labeling staining were performed to detect the myocardial infarct size or apoptosis. The proportions of macrophages were analyzed by flow cytometry. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and quantitative real‐time PCR was performed to estimate the levels of cytokines and genes. We found that Tregs ameliorated cardiac function, reduced myocardial infarct size and inhibited apoptosis of myocardial cells in AMI mice. Moreover, Treg‐derived exosomes reduced myocardial infarct size and repressed apoptosis of myocardial cells in AMI mice. Furthermore, Treg‐derived exosomes suppressed the expression of M1 macrophage markers, and promoted the expression of M2 macrophage markers in myocardial tissues of AMI mice and RAW264.7 cells. In conclusion, our work demonstrates that exosomes derived from Tregs ameliorate AMI by promoting macrophage M2 polarization. Thus, Tregs may be an essential cell for AMI treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The BiS2‐based layered superconductors with structures similar to those of cuprates and iron‐based superconductors have stimulated much research interest. Here, a new quaternary compound is reported, Bi5O4S3Cl, which crystalizes in a tetragonal structure with P4/mmm (No. 123) space group having alternately stacking unique BiS3 layers and Bi2O2 layers along the c‐axis with a Cl atom located at the center of the unit cell. A superconducting transition above 3 K is observed for both electrical transport and magnetic measurements. Hall resistivity measurements show its multiband character with a conduction dominated by electron‐like charge carriers. The first‐principles calculations exhibit that the semiconducting parent phase Bi5O4S3Cl becomes metallic when sulfur vacancies are introduced, which hints the origin of superconductivity in Bi5O4S3Cl. The findings will inspire the exploration of new BiS‐based superconductors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] An abundance of early warning graphene-based nano-materials and sensors have been developed to avoid and prevent the critical fire risk of combustible materials. However, there are still some limitations that should be addressed, such as the black color, high-cost and single fire warning response of graphene-based fire warning materials. Herein, we report an unexpected montmorillonite (MMT)-based intelligent fire warning materials that have excellent fire cyclic warning performance and reliable flame retardancy. Combining phenyltriethoxysilane (PTES) molecules, poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole) nanofiber (PBONF), and layers of MMT to form a silane crosslinked 3D nanonetwork system, the homologous PTES decorated MMT-PBONF nanocomposites are designed and fabricated via a sol–gel process and low temperature self-assembly method. The optimized nanocomposite paper shows good mechanical flexibility (good recovery after kneading or bending process), high tensile strength of ∼81 MPa and good water resistance. Furthermore, the nanocomposite paper exhibits high-temperature flame resistance (almost unchanged structure and size after 120 s combustion), sensitive flame alarm response (∼0.3 s response once exposure onto a flame), cyclic fire warning performance (>40 cycles), and adaptability to complex fire situations (several fire attack and evacuation scenarios), showing promising applications for monitoring the critical fire risk of combustible materials. Therefore, this work paves a rational way for design and fabrication of MMT-based smart fire warning materials that combine excellent flame shielding and sensitive fire alarm functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of underground engineering, the problem of sudden surge water has become one of the main problems that restrict engineering safety. Grouting method is commonly used to seal the fracture water flow. However, grouting in flowing water streams still faces many challenges. In this study, a rough fracture model is established based on the Barton curve, and the effects of fracture roughness, water flow rate, fracture inclination, and grouting pressure are considered, and orthogonal tests are used to study the diffusion pattern of slurry under the four factors. According to the observed phenomena, there are four main diffusion patterns of the slurry: (1) full slurry coverage with no water passing through; (2) little coverage with watercourses and cavity areas along both sides of the fracture; (3) partial slurry coverage with no obvious watercourses but some cavity areas; and (4) less coverage with larger watercourses and cavity areas. The reduction rate of flow rate at the outlet before and after grouting was used to express the sealing effect. The results show that the degree of influence on the slurry sealing effect from strong to weak is fracture roughness, water flow velocity, grouting pressure, and fracture angle in order. A method to characterize the sealing effect by slurry coverage is proposed based on the final distribution of residual slurry. Considering the mutual influence between different factors, the sealing effect of two factors is analyzed in order to provide reference for engineering practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a potent chemotherapeutic drug for various cancers. Yet, the cardiotoxic side effects limit its application in clinical uses, in which ferroptosis serves as a crucial pathological mechanism in DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC). A reduction of Na+/K + ATPase (NKA) activity is closely associated with DIC progression. However, whether abnormal NKA function was involved in DOX-induced cardiotoxicity and ferroptosis remains unknown. Here, we aim to decipher the cellular and molecular mechanisms of dysfunctional NKA in DOX-induced ferroptosis and investigate NKA as a potential therapeutic target for DIC. A decrease activity of NKA further aggravated DOX-triggered cardiac dysfunction and ferroptosis in NKAα1 haploinsufficiency mice. In contrast, antibodies against the DR-region of NKAα-subunit (DR-Ab) attenuated the cardiac dysfunction and ferroptosis induced by DOX. Mechanistically, NKAα1 interacted with SLC7A11 to form a novel protein complex, which was directly implicated in the disease progression of DIC. Furthermore, the therapeutic effect of DR-Ab on DIC was mediated by reducing ferroptosis by promoting the association of NKAα1/SLC7A11 complex and maintaining the stability of SLC7A11 on the cell surface. These results indicate that antibodies targeting the DR-region of NKA may serve as a novel therapeutic strategy to alleviate DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. [Display omitted] • NKAα1 deficiency aggravates doxorubicin-induced cardiac dysfunction and ferroptosis. • Antibodies targeting the DR-region of the NKAα-subunit suppress doxorubicin-induced cardiac dysfunction and ferroptosis. • The inhibitory effect of DR-Ab on doxorubicin-induced ferroptosis is by promoting the association of NKAα1/SLC7A11 complex and maintaining the stability of SLC7A11 on the cell surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is one of the stroke subtypes with the highest mortality. Secondary brain injury is associated with neurological dysfunction and poor prognosis after ICH. Caveolin-1 (CAV1) is the key protein of Caveolae. Previous studies have shown that CAV1 plays an important role in central nervous system diseases, and pointed out that in a collagenase-induced ICH model in vivo, CAV1 is associated with neuroinflammatory activation and poor neurological prognosis. In this study, we explore the role and the molecular mechanism of CAV1 in brain injury via a rat autologous whole blood injection model and an in vitro model of ICH. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats ICH model was induced through autologous whole blood injecting into the right basal ganglia. The changes in protein levels of CAV1 in brain tissues of ICH rats were detected by western blot analysis. The immunofluorescent staining was used to explore the changes of CAV1 in microglia/macrophages (Iba1+ cells). Lentivirus vectors were administered by intracerebroventricular injection to induce CAV1 overexpression and knockdown respectively. The western blot analysis, immunofluorescence staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling and Nissl staining were performed to explore the role of CAV1 in secondary brain injury after ICH. Meanwhile, the rotarod test, foot fault test, adhesive-removal test, and Modified Garcia Test, as well as Morris Water Maze test, were performed to evaluate the behavioral cognitive impairment of ICH rats after genetic intervention. Additionally, BV-2 cells treated with oxygen hemoglobin for 24 h, were used as an in vitro model of ICH in this study to explore the molecular mechanism of CAV1 in brain injury; we performed western blot analysis after precise regulation of CAV1 in BV2 cells to observe changes in protein levels and phosphorylated levels of C-Src, IKK-β, and NF-κB. The expression of CAV1 in microglia/macrophages (Iba1+ cells) was elevated and reached the peak at 24 h after ICH. CAV1 knockdown ameliorated ICH-induced neurological deficits, while CAV1 overexpression significantly worsened neurological dysfunction of ICH rats. CAV1 knockdown attenuated cellular apoptosis and promoted neuronal survival in brain tissues of ICH rats, while the ICH rats with CAV1 overexpression presented more cellular apoptosis and neuronal loss. Meanwhile, CAV1 knockdown inhibited the microglia activation and neuroinflammatory response, while CAV1 overexpression abolished these effects and aggravated neuroinflammation in brain tissues of ICH rats. Additionally, by inducing to CAV1 knockdown in BV2 cells in an in vitro model of ICH, the levels of p-C-Src, CAV-1, p-CAV-1, and p-IKK-β in cytoplasm and the level of NF-κB p65 in nucleus of BV2 cells were significantly decreased, while they were increased by inducing to CAV1 overexpression. Our research revealed CAV1 aggravated neurological dysfunction in a rat ICH model. CAV1 knockdown exerted neuroprotective effect by suppressing microglia activation and neuroinflammation after ICH might via the C-Src/CAV1/IKK-β/NF-κB signaling pathway. • The expression of CAV1 in microglia was elevated after ICH. • CAV1 knockdown inhibited the activation of microglia and neuroinflammatory response on ICH. • CAV1 knockdown exerted neuroprotective effect on ICH might via the C-Src/CAV1/IKK-β/NF-κB signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water has a significant impact on the dielectric constant of materials. As a multiphase composite material, the effect of water content must be taken into account when modeling the composite dielectric of cement concrete. Cement concrete traditionally has been thought of as a three-phase mixed material consisting of mortar, aggregate (limestone), and pores (air). Water was used as a constituent material of cement concrete in this paper, and its content was described in terms of water saturation. By abstracting the components of cement concrete into independent medium units and arranging them according to certain rules, the four-phase mixing model of cement concrete can be established. To investigate the effect of water, the dielectric constant of cement concrete was measured using a network analyzer at various water saturation levels. The experimental results show that water significantly can enhance the dielectric constant of cement concrete, and this effect is related to porosity: the higher the water saturation, the faster the dielectric constant increases. According to the established concrete four-phase mixed model, combined with the parallel plate capacitor theory, a composite dielectric model considering water saturation was developed which can improve the prediction accuracy under different water saturation conditions and provide a foundation for the application of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) in the quality inspection of cement concrete pavement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peanut seeds are susceptible to Aspergillus flavus infection, which has a severe impact on the peanut industry and human health. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this defense remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to analyze the changes in differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differential metabolites during A. flavus infection between Zhonghua 6 and Yuanza 9102 by transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis. A total of 5768 DEGs were detected in the transcriptomic study. Further functional analysis showed that some DEGs were significantly enriched in pectinase catabolism, hydrogen peroxide decomposition and cell wall tissues of resistant varieties at the early stage of infection, while these genes were differentially enriched in the middle and late stages of infection in the nonresponsive variety Yuanza 9102. Some DEGs, such as those encoding transcription factors, disease course-related proteins, peroxidase (POD), chitinase and phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL), were highly expressed in the infection stage. Metabolomic analysis yielded 349 differential metabolites. Resveratrol, cinnamic acid, coumaric acid, ferulic acid in phenylalanine metabolism and 13S-HPODE in the linolenic acid metabolism pathway play major and active roles in peanut resistance to A. flavus. Combined analysis of the differential metabolites and DEGs showed that they were mainly enriched in phenylpropane metabolism and the linolenic acid metabolism pathway. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses further confirmed that peanuts infected with A. flavus activates various defense mechanisms, and the response to A. flavus is more rapid in resistant materials. These results can be used to further elucidate the molecular mechanism of peanut resistance to A. flavus infection and provide directions for early detection of infection and for breeding peanut varieties resistant to aflatoxin contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A magnetically induced self-assembled graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) method is reported to synthesize MFe2O4/GNRs (M = Co,Ni). It is found that MFe2O4 compounds not only locate on the surface of GNRs but anchor on the interlayers of GNRs in the diameter of less than 5 nm as well. The in situ growth of MFe2O4 and magnetic aggregation at the joints of GNRs act as crosslinking agents to solder GNRs to build a nest structure. Additionally, combining GNRs with MFe2O4 helps to improve the magnetism of the MFe2O4. As an anode material for Li+ ion batteries, MFe2O4/GNRs can provide high reversible capacity and cyclic stability (1432 mAh g−1 for CoFe2O4/GNRs and 1058 mAh g−1 for NiFe2O4 at 0.1 A g−1 over 80 cycles). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this paper, the force controlling bubble formation is calculated in anode reaction region by establishing a two-phase dynamic model. The whole dynamic process of bubble generation, growth, merging and detachment in porous media and microchannels are analyzed in depth. The effects of methanol concentration and discharge current on the bubble in the pores of the diffusion layer are analyzed, and the cross-section effect and hydrophobic effect of the flow channel are simulated. Besides, through visual experiments, a further understanding of cell performance, anode bubble growth characteristics and the behavior of bubbles are established to verify the simulation. Simulation and experimental results both show that the size and number of anode CO 2 bubbles are highly correlated with cell operating conditions. More and smaller bubbles are easily generated when the anode reaction is more intense. Highlights • The force on process of bubble formation is calculated by dynamic model. • The whole bubble dynamic process are analyzed. • The effects of parameters on the bubble are simulated. • More but smaller CO 2 bubbles appear with better operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A new colorimetric fluorescent probe 1 contained a C˭C double bond for the detection of bisulfite (HSO 3 -) via Michael-Addition was developed. Significantly, probe 1 can detect HSO 3 - with excellent selectivity, high sensitivity, fast response (< 10 min) and low detection limit (21 nM). Furthermore, the live cell imaging results provided a powerful method to study HSO 3 - chemistry in biological systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The study investigates the open-circuit characteristics of a passive direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) based on temperature-induced convection effects, including the reactants distributions at anode, the non-uniform temperature distribution and the methanol crossover. A two-dimensional, well-thought-out numerical model coupling with mass transfer and momentum transfer is exploited for DMFC to investigate its inner component and temperature distributions under open-circuit condition. In addition, a 4.0 cm2 passive DMFC has been designed and manufactured by the laser-cutting technology for experimental verification. The average methanol crossover flux, methanol diffusion coefficient and crossover current are obtained, which coincide with the simulation data well. The temperature-induced convection simulation results show that the distorted temperature distribution becomes more obvious with higher methanol concentration. Furthermore, the polarization curve, cell temperature and open-circuit voltage (OCV) are measured by varying the methanol concentration to conduct more in-depth research on DMFC performance at open circuit state. The results indicate that the temperature is increased, whereas the OCV is decreased with the increase of methanol concentration, accompanied by the phenomenon of methanol crossover is aggravated. The paper provides the theory basis and the optimal operating parameters for safe start-up of DMFC. Highlights • A cell model is built to explore the cell performance under open circuit state. • Temperature-induced convection effects are considered in the model. • Novel experiments are developed to verify the accuracy of developed model. • The direct and indirect influences of various parameters on DMFC are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ca2Ga2GeO7: Pr3+ (0.1%) is prepared by sintering stoichiometric amounts of CaCO3, Ga2O3, GeO2, and Pr6O11 in air (Al2O3, crucible, 1300 °C, 2 h). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies suggest that cell therapy may be an effective way to repair intervertebral disc degeneration. As a strong immune suppressor, TGF-β1 has been shown to inhibit inflammation respond effectively. The objective of this study was to explore the effects of TGF-β1 during bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells-based therapy for disc degeneration. In vitro assays demonstrated that co-culturing of nucleus pulposus cells with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells resulted in significantly higher levels of TGF-βl secretion. This increase inhibited IκB phosphorylation and NF-κB activation, detected by western blot analysis. Meanwhile, in a rabbit model, MRI analysis revealed significant recovery of signal intensity in the degenerative discs of rabbits receiving cells transplantation, than receiving cells treated with a TGF-β1 inhibitor or saline. These findings indicated that enhanced TGF-β1 production recovered the degeneration of intervertebral disc. And also immunohistochemical staining detected enhanced collagen II expression in the rabbits treated with cell transplantation. However, the NF-κB positive cells were significantly less than other two control groups. Thus, cell therapy promoted TGF-β1 expression in nucleus pulposus, leading to anti-inflammatory effects via the inhibition of NF-κB, and the amelioration of disc degradation due to increased expression of collagen II and aggrecan in degenerative intervertebral disc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bioterrorism threat is perceived to be a real challenge to our nation''s security. This threat has necessitated the design of better and faster assays for the detection of biothreat agents including staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), a causative agent of food poisoning. This study describes a simple, fast and highly sensitive fluorescence-based immunoassay, in which the antibody is fluorescently-labeled for use in this assay. Use of labeled antibodies resulted in very low level of detection of SEB, 100 pg/well. This method is four times faster than classical and conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The synthesis of a large variety of the desired heterocyclic structures becomes possible under microwaves with high regio- and chemoselectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), is known to disproportionately affect older individuals. How aging processes affect SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and disease progression remains largely unknown. Here, we found that DNA damage, one of the hallmarks of aging, promoted SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in vitro and in vivo. SARS‐CoV‐2 entry was facilitated by DNA damage caused by extrinsic genotoxic stress or telomere dysfunction and hampered by inhibition of the DNA damage response (DDR). Mechanistic analysis revealed that DDR increased expression of angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the primary receptor of SARS‐CoV‐2, by activation of transcription factor c‐Jun. Importantly, in vivo experiment using a mouse‐adapted viral strain also verified the significant roles of DNA damage in viral entry and severity of infection. Expression of ACE2 was elevated in the older human and mice tissues and positively correlated with γH2AX, a DNA damage biomarker, and phosphorylated c‐Jun (p‐c‐Jun). Finally, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and MDL‐800, which promote DNA repair, alleviated SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and disease severity in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our data provide insights into the age‐associated differences in SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and a novel approach for antiviral intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slow release active packaging films can realize the sustained release of active agents and prolong the shelf life of food. For this aim, a novel slow release active polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film was developed by using solution casting method. With porous starch loaded with tea polyphenols (PSTP) as core material and maltodextrin (MD) as wall material, PSTP@MD microcapsules were prepared using freeze drying method and used as slow release carrier of tea polyphenols (TP) in the active films. The interactions between PSTP@MD microcapsules and PVA molecular chains were physical interactions. In addition, the relative crystallinity of the slow release active films was reduced to 23.74 %. The addition of PSTP@MD microcapsules can enhance the ductility of active films and reduce the water content and swelling degree of active films by 46.74 % and 54.38 %, respectively. Moreover, the thermal stability, water vapor and ultraviolet barrier properties of active films were promoted. The transparency and antioxidant activity of active films was high, and the radical scavenging activity of active films was 58 %. The encapsulation of TP with PSTP@MD microcapsules can realize the slow release of TP. The slow release active films had antioxidant activity and sustained release properties, which could be used as an active packaging film to extend the shelf life of food. [Display omitted] • Porous starch loaded with tea polyphenols (TP) was used to prepare microcapsules. • PVA and microcapsules were used to prepare active packaging film (PPMF). • Adding microcapsules can improve the ductility and thermal stability of film. • The water vapor and ultraviolet barrier properties of PPMF are enhanced. • The release of TP is sustained and the antioxidant activity of PPMF is good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the contrary, I M. robustus i and the two new species described here share with Ripipterygidae pro- and meso-tarsi with only two tarsomeres, metatarsi with only one tarsomere, unsegmented cerci and developed paraproctal lobes. Graph: Figure 4 Details of Magnidactylusgracilis sp. nov.: (A) photograph of left mesotibia, (B) line drawing of left mesotibia, (C) photograph of right metatarsus, (photograph obtained by holding specimen SICAU-A-085 upright with its side up), (D) line drawing of right metatarsus, (E) photograph of terminal abdominal and (F) line drawing of terminal abdominal. Ripipterygidae are characterized by unsegmented cerci (the cerci are two-segmented in Tridactylidae), uninflated mesotibiae (the mesotibiae are distinctly inflated in Tridactylidae) and modified paraproctal lobes (in Tridactylidae, the paraproctal lobes are unmodified and cylindrical in shape) [[2], [4], [6]]. Protibia slightly inflated distally with four or five dactyls; metatibia lacking swimming plates, metatarsus over twice as long as apical spurs, with a subapical denticular process; paraproctal lobe modified and two-segmented, clavate, longer than the cercus. [Extracted from the article]

The one-pot transformation involves the formation of four new C-C and two new C-N bonds, as well as the construction of three new rings with efficient use of all reactants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In firefighting area, the novel CH 3 N 5 -Sr(NO 3 ) 2 is of growing interest as solid propellant gas generating agent. However, undesirable reaction temperature and burning rate of CH 3 N 5 -Sr(NO 3 ) 2 limit their applications to fire-fighting systems, which forces fire researchers to find more fitting ingredient proportions or burning rate catalysts. This paper presents a detailed experimental study adding nanosized metal oxides (Fe 2 O 3 , CuO, and NiO) effects on CH 3 N 5 -Sr(NO 3 ) 2 burning behaviors, including thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, specific surface area measurement, and thermal conductivity test. Results show, the additions of transition metal oxides (TMOs) increase the burning rate of the CH 3 N 5 -Sr(NO 3 ) 2 -based propellants and decrease reaction temperature. The modifying effects of TMOs on combustion behavior alter both the condensed phase and gas phase reactions in a synergistic manner. The novel propellant formulation has shown a superior property to promote CH 3 N 5 -Sr(NO 3 ) 2 -based propellants’ application into fire-fighting area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lightweight, mechanically flexible and flame retardant polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) foam materials modified with low content of nano-fillers are highly needed for versatile applications. Instead of the direct mechanical mixing technique that induced the embedment of nanofillers inside the matrix, herein, a facile, rapid and green restricted assembly strategy was established to prepare PDMS foam composites coated with an extremely low content of restricted graphene oxide (GO) sheets. A GO/water mixture in silicone oil emulsion was prepared to produce the restricted assembly of GO layers precisely and solely on the foam surface with no GO sheets inside the skeleton. Based on such restricted assembly induced by the amphiphilic surfactant molecules, the presence of only ∼0.04 wt% GO greatly improved the flame resistance (e.g., 40.6% reduction in heat release rate and 27.1% of limit oxygen index) of PDMS foams without affecting the low density (∼0.23 g/cm3) and mechanical flexibility (unchanged stress at strain 70% after 100 cycles under 200 °C). Observations and analysis of the burnt zones demonstrated that the restricted ultralow content GO sheets formed a compact protective layer facilitated by the pyrolysis of the PDMS molecules, thus protecting the inside of the PDMS material from the heat and oxygen attacks. These results confirmed that the restricted self-assembly of 2D nano-fillers approach is effective for the fabrication of flame-retardant PDMS foams and retention of other important properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Two kinds of DESs with similar chemical structure but different physical state (i.e., solid and liquid) are fabricated. • The solid–liquid phase transition occurs at the initial stage of friction (before 500 cycles) even under low loads. • The solid–liquid phase transition of ChCl-thiourea DES prolongs the running-in period under fretting. • The formation of different friction film after solid–liquid phase transition leads to the reduction of wear. Inspired by the fact that ice lubrication with solid–liquid phase change might be a good candidate for lubrication regime, we designed a new lubrication strategy based on solid–liquid phase change of deep eutectic solvents (DESs). The melting point controllable character of DESs makes them easy to realize solid–liquid phase change during friction. Here, two choline chloride (ChCl)-type DESs with different physical state (i.e., solid and liquid) were synthesized through regulating their composition. The two DESs were applied to explore the relationship between solid–liquid phase change of DES and friction-wear under sliding and fretting conditions. Results show that ChCl-thiourea DES undergoes solid–liquid phase change at the initial stage of friction (before 500 cycles) under low loads. The solid–liquid phase change under fretting conditions prolongs the running-in period of friction. Most pronounced under ChCl-thiourea DES lubrication at 5 N-0.1 Hz under sliding friction, the friction coefficient is around 0.03, and the wear volume is 54.3 % lower than that of ChCl-urea DES. ChCl-thiourea DES after solid–liquid phase change forms physical adsorption film and tribochemical reaction film under fretting and sliding, respectively, which results in the reduction of friction-wear as compared with ChCl-urea DES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the cryopreservation of human spermatozoa must overcome the adverse effects of excessive oxidation. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementation of cryopreservation medium with cyanidin‐3‐Ο‐glucoside (C3G) on sperm quality. Semen samples were obtained from men with normozoospermia according to WHO criteria (n = 39). The sperm parameter values were compared after cryopreservation in medium supplemented with and without C3G.Compared with the control group (without additive), low doses (50 μM and 100 μM) of C3G improved sperm viability and motility and decreased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) of spermatozoa, while high doses (200 μM) of C3G did not obviously enhance sperm quality. The amount of DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and high DNA stainability (HDS) after freezing were higher in the control group than in the C3G supplementation groups. Low‐concentration C3G supplementation (50 μM) was negatively correlated with sperm ROS levels (r = −0.2, p = 0.03). Collectively, our findings suggest that C3G could be an efficient semen cryoprotectant that ameliorates oxidative stress in human sperm during cryopreservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Introducing phenyl groups onto Si–O–Si chains can tailor the foaming and cross-linking match. • The lowest density of the optimized PhSiRF material is as light as ∼100 mg/cm3. • The pore structure and morphology in the PhSiRF materials can be easily achieved. • The PhSiRF presents good wide-temperature flexibility and exceptional thermal insulation. Silicone foam materials with unique inorganic/organic molecular networks and porous structures are widely used in many emerging fields from aerospace to new energy fields. However, current silicone foam materials still show some limitations, such as the relatively high-density values of >200 mg cm−3, complex fabricating process and difficulty in tailoring pore structure. Herein, we report a large-scale and facile fabricating strategy to prepare phenyl-containing silicone foam materials (PhSiRF) with ultra-lightweight feature, tunable pore structure, and excellent wide-temperature mechanical flexibility. Interestingly, the presence of phenyl groups onto the Si–O–Si backbone tailors the chemical foaming rate probably due to the steric hindrance effect, thus producing tunable pore size distributions in the range of 180–500 μm. Typically, the PhSiRF with 50 % phenyl groups not only shows a very low density of ∼100 mg cm−3, superior to previous silicone foams and composites, but also exhibits wide-temperature flexibility (stable compressive strain of 80 % from −90 to 210 °C) and excellent thermal insulation performance, which outperforms those of conventional polymer foams including polyurethane, polyethylene and melamine foams. Based on the structure observation and theory analysis, the influence of different pore morphological structures on the thermal insulation performance is discussed and demonstrated. Clearly, this work provides a new yet simple method for developing high-performance silicone rubber foam materials for promising thermal insulation applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anoikis plays a crucial role in the progression, prognosis, and immune response of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, its specific impact on LUAD remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the intricate interplay of nesting apoptotic factors in LUAD. By analyzing nine key nesting apoptotic factors, we categorized LUAD patients into two distinct clusters. Further examination of immune cell profiles revealed that Cluster A exhibited greater infiltration of innate immune cells than did Cluster B. Additionally, we identified two genes closely associated with prognosis and developed a predictive model to differentiate patients based on molecular clusters. Our findings suggest that the loss of specific anoikis-related genes could significantly influence the prognosis, tumor microenvironment, and clinical features of LUAD patients. Furthermore, we validated the expression and functional roles of two pivotal prognostic genes, solute carrier family 2 member 1 (SLC2A1) and sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1), in regulating tumor cell viability, migration, apoptosis, and anoikis. These results offer valuable insights for future mechanistic investigations. In conclusion, this study provides new avenues for advancing our understanding of LUAD, improving prognostic assessments, and developing more effective immunotherapy strategies. [Display omitted] • The molecular characteristics associated with anoikis-related genes in lung adenocarcinoma were developed. • Anoikis-related gene prognostic model predicts lung adenocarcinoma prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy. • SLC2A1 and SPHK1 were highly expressed in lung adenocarcinoma. • SLC2A1 and SPHK1 knockdown decreased migration and increased anoikis in A549 and H1650 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Izbash's law, which has a simpler form and exhibits narrower variations of coefficients than Forchheimer's law, has been successfully used to describe nonlinear flow in rough fractures. However, the meaning of its coefficients and its relationship with Forchheimer's law are poorly understood. Based on mathematical derivations, we identified the relationship between the cubic law, Forchheimer's law, and Izbash's law. An improved, dimensionally consistent Izbash's law which can be treated as the modified cubic law was formulated by incorporating a correction coefficient m I. The value of this coefficient depends on fluid properties, fracture geometries, and flow rate, and can be used to estimate the nonlinear flow state at given flow rates, in a similar fashion to Forchheimer number (F 0). A critical m I value (m cri) of 1.1 was determined that indicates whether the nonlinear effect can be ignored. Because m I is flow-rate-dependent, it can serve to describe the local flow behaviors, whereas the Izbash's exponent m is generally treated as a constant. At the maximum flow rate for a given pressure gradient versus flow rate curve, the value of m is approximately equal to that of m I , indicating that m represents the maximum nonlinear deviation. To validate the improved Izbash's law and the relevant findings, results from four experimental studies were utilized, and numerical simulations were performed. The result of this validation suggests the rationality of the analysis. The multiscale roughness effects on the coefficients were also investigated by selecting two different sampling intervals to construct the fracture surface. It was demonstrated that secondary roughness can enhance the development of nonlinear flow and increase the value of m , while its effects are strongly dependent on internal geometrical properties. • Relationship between cubic law, Forchheimer's law, and Izbash's law is revealed. • An improved Izbash's law is proposed. • The critical value of m for characterizing the onset of nonlinear flow is 1.1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and efficient synthesis of pyrrolo[2,3,4- kl]acridine-1-one derivatives via the cascade reaction of isatins with enaminones catalyzed by silica sulfuric acid (SSA) has been established. In this reactions, SSA shows a highly catalytic nature: easy to handle procedure, short reaction time, recycle exploitation, insensitivity to air and moisture, and excellent isolated yields. The catalyst could be recycled at least five times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The DNA damage response (DDR) pathway generally protects against genome instability, and defects in DDR have been exploited therapeutically in cancer treatment. We have reported that histone demethylase PHF8 demethylates TOPBP1 K118 mono-methylation (K118me1) to drive the activation of ATR kinase, one of the master regulators of replication stress. However, whether dysregulation of this physiological signalling is involved in tumorigenesis remains unknown. Here, we showed PHF8-promoted TOPBP1 demethylation is clinically associated with breast tumorigenesis and patient survival. Mammary gland tumors from Phf8 knockout mice grow slowly and exhibit higher level of K118me1, lower ATR activity, and increased chromosomal instability. Importantly, we found that disruption of PHF8-TOPBP1 axis suppresses breast tumorigenesis and creates a breast tumor-specific vulnerability to PARP inhibitor (PARPi) and platinum drug. CRISPR/Cas9 mutation modelling of the deleted or truncated mutation of PHF8 in clinical tumor samples demonstrated breast tumor cells expressing the mimetic variants are more vulnerable to PARPi. Together, our study supports the pursuit of PHF8-TOPBP1 signalling pathway as promising avenues for targeted therapies of PHF8-TOPBP1 proficient tumors, and provides proof-of-concept evidence for loss-of-function of PHF8 as a therapeutic indicator of PARPis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Catalytic effect of boron powder mainly exerts on latter stages for 5AT pyrolysis. • Solution recrystallization method has better modification effect for 5AT pyrolysis. • Copper powder can optimize the pyrolysis behaviors for 5AT pyrolysis. • Kinetic models for 5AT in each stage have been deduced by model-fitting method. As a novel rich nitrogen content material, 5-Amino-1 H -Tetrazole (5AT) has been considerably popularized in the propellants area recently. The pyrolysis is deemed as the prelude of combustion for solid phase 5AT, which plays a crucial role in combustion process and grasping the pyrolysis characteristics will be more beneficial to further explore the combustion properties of 5AT-based propellant. In this paper, several efforts have been made to enhance the pyrolysis behaviors of 5AT, including employing metal particles as catalysts, and modifying the surface treatment method. Due to the calorific value, the boron and copper powder are selected as the potential catalysts. The solvent/non-solvent (S/NS) and solution recrystallization method are compared to explore the impact of these two modification methods. TG-FTIR technique is applied to capture evolved signals of organic compounds to further deduce the most probable decomposition pathway. Moreover, model-free and model-fitting methods are both employed to calculate the kinetic parameters. The results reveal that, for the modified 5AT samples with the same boron powder catalyst, the activation energies and reaction model (all governed by F4) in the initial stage (100–330 °C) are not significantly impacted by these two modification methods. However, during the latter stages (400–750 °C), the catalytic actions of boron powder appear to be more active, and solution recrystallization method exerts better modification effect, the activation energies was reduced 18.3 kJ/mol and 10.9 kJ/mol respectively for the latter stages compared to S/SN method. Also, the reaction model is transformed from n th -dimensional model (D3) to n th -order model (F1) in the third stage. Particularly, the catalytic actions of copper powder results in the simplification of decomposition steps for 5AT, the activation energies was 138.8 kJ/mol and the catalytic effect of which was improved about 25% compared to the catalytic effect of boron powder in the first stage and its reaction model is also found to be changed into F3. It illustrates that copper powder could embody a better catalytic effect than boron powder under the same modification method. The conclusions of this study could provide a worthwhile guidance for the understanding, designs and applications of the 5AT-based propellants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicone rubber foam (SiRF) is increasingly recognized as a versatile polymeric foam in industrial applications, owing to its broad temperature stability, weather resistance, and outstanding thermal insulation properties. However, the inherent flammability of SiRFs limits their application in certain areas. Previous attempts to enhance the flame retardancy of SiRFs typically involved the addition of various functional fillers and complex assembly strategies, which often lead to complicated processes, weak interfacial bonding, and potential degradation of other key properties. Therefore, preparing flame-retardant silicone rubber using a simple, low-filler, and large-scale production strategy is a significant challenge. In this study, we introduce a self-adhesive silicone rubber foam (Sa-SiRF) modified with residual Si-H reactive groups using a straightforward dip-coating method, employing graphene oxide nanosheets (GO) for this enhancement. The refined Sa-SiRF-GO nanocomposite exhibits exceptional mechanical properties across a temperature range of 30–200 °C, as well as remarkable surface hydrophobicity, evidenced by a high water contact angle (WCA) of approximately 142.6°. Additionally, this material demonstrates robust structural stability under varying environmental conditions (pH = 1, 7, 14), and an improved flame retardancy, with the limiting oxygen index (LOI) rising from 21.5 % to 27.0 %. Furthermore, a comprehensive analysis of the flame retardation mechanism of Sa-SiRF-GO samples was conducted. This flame-retardant silicone rubber foam, developed through a GO-enhanced dip-coating process, shows great promise for applications that require both flame retardancy and thermal insulation. Our approach, which leverages interfacial engineering to create GO-coated self-adhesive SiRF composites, effectively overcomes the limitations associated with high filler content and the complexities of traditional methods. This innovative technique is poised to spur further advancements in conventional PDMS foams and contribute to the development of advanced polymer foam nanocomposites. [Display omitted] • A multifunctional composite material was designed and fabricated by coating GO solution onto the surface of SiRF with residual Si-H bonds at room temperature. • The residual Si-H bonds on SiRF reacted with GO and enabled firm attachment of GO onto the SiRF surface. • Surface modification of SiRF was achieved by assembling an ultra-low content of GO onto the surface. • The optimized GO-Sa-SiRF exhibited excellent flame retardancy, hydrophobicity and stable mechanical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]