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NOSAS (Nonoverlapping Spectral Additive Schwarz) methods are nonoverlapping iterative domain decomposition methods for efficiently solving large sparse linear systems arising from elliptic problems with heterogeneous coefficients. NOSAS methods are of additive Schwarz types with local Dirichlet solver on each nonoverlapping subdomain Ω i , plus a coarse problem on the interface of the subdomains. The coarse problem has global and local interaction components which are associated respectively to low-frequency and high-frequency modes obtained locally from a generalized eigenvalue problem defined on each subdomain's interface. In this paper, we propose several variants of the NOSAS methods by selecting different generalized eigenvalue problems and different coarse space extensions. Additionally, we propose an economic variant to reduce the complexity of these generalized eigenvalue problems. The analysis of all the variants is established, and numerical tests are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a severe condition with high mortality and morbidity rates. Evidence on the effectiveness of pharmacological interventions for ARDS treatment is limited. Recent studies suggest that aspirin may prevent ARDS development, but its efficacy in established ARDS is uncertain. We enrolled patients with ARDS using data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV (MIMIC-IV) database. Primary outcomes were 30- and 90-day mortality rates and length of ICU stay. We employed multivariable Cox regression and linear regression models for statistical analysis and used propensity score matching (PSM) to ensure robust results. The study included 10,042 participants with an average age of 61.8 ± 15.3 years. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed significantly lower 30- and 90-day mortality rates in patients treated with pre-ICU admission aspirin compared with non-aspirin use (p < 0.0001). Multivariable Cox regression models revealed a significant 63% reduction in 30-day mortality for pre-ICU aspirin users (HR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.31–0.44, p < 0.001). Aspirin use in the ICU was associated with a 59% reduction in ICU mortality and a 0.68-day reduction in length of ICU stay (p < 0.05). These findings consistently indicate that aspirin may improve survival in patients with ARDS, even after further stratification of aspirin use and PSM analysis. Our findings suggest that aspirin treatment before ICU admission is associated with significantly reduced 30- and 90-day mortality rates and decreased length of ICU stay in patients with ARDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA 4 mC plays a crucial role in the genetic expression process of organisms. However, existing deep learning algorithms have shortcomings in the ability to represent DNA sequence features. In this paper, we propose a 4 mC site identification algorithm, DNABert-4mC, based on a fusion of the pruned pre-training DNABert-Pruning model and artificial feature encoding to identify 4 mC sites. The algorithm prunes and compresses the DNABert model, resulting in the pruned pre-training model DNABert-Pruning. This model reduces the number of parameters and removes redundancy from output features, yielding more precise feature representations while upholding accuracy.Simultaneously, the algorithm constructs an artificial feature encoding module to assist the DNABert-Pruning model in feature representation, effectively supplementing the information that is missing from the pre-trained features. The algorithm also introduces the AFF-4mC fusion strategy, which combines artificial feature encoding with the DNABert-Pruning model, to improve the feature representation capability of DNA sequences in multi-semantic spaces and better extract 4 mC sites and the distribution of nucleotide importance within the sequence. In experiments on six independent test sets, the DNABert-4mC algorithm achieved an average AUC value of 93.81%, outperforming seven other advanced algorithms with improvements of 2.05%, 5.02%, 11.32%, 5.90%, 12.02%, 2.42% and 2.34%, respectively. [Display omitted] • Train a new pruning pretraining model on DNA sequences to extract feature information. • The introduction of manually assisted features has expanded the search space for sequence feature. • Attention fusion strategy better promotes the fusion output of features from different dimensions. • The complementary nature of machine features and manual features better fits the target features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral ulceration is the most common oral mucosal disease. Oral mucosal ulcers are extremely painful, may interfere with eating and speaking, and potentially complicate systemic symptoms in severe cases. The humid and highly dynamic environment of the oral cavity makes local drug administration for treating oral mucosal ulcers challenging. To overcome these challenges, we designed and prepared a novel dissolving microneedle (MN) patch containing multiple drugs in a core-shell to promote oral ulcer healing. The MNs contained a methacrylate gelatin shell layer of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), a hyaluronic acid (HA) core loaded with dexamethasone (DXMS), and zeolite imidazoline framework-8 (ZIF-8) encapsulated in the HA-based backplane. Progressive degradation of gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) from the tip of the MN patch in the oral mucosa resulted in sustained bFGF release at the lesion site, significantly promoting cell migration, proliferation, and angiogenesis. Moreover, the rapid release of HA and, subsequently, DXMS inhibited inflammation, and the remaining MN backing after the tip dissolved behaved as a dressing, releasing ZIF-8 for its antimicrobial effects. This novel, multifunctional, transmucosal core-shell MN patch exhibited excellent anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and pro-healing effects in vivo and in vitro , suggesting that it can promote oral ulcer healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achilles tendon rupture is a severe injury, and its optimal therapy remains controversial. Tissue engineering scaffolds play a significant role in tendon healing and tissue regeneration. In this study, we developed tri-layered doxycycline/collagen/bupivacaine (DCB)-composite nanofibrous scaffolds to repair injured Achilles tendons. Doxycycline, collagen, and bupivacaine were integrated into poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanofibrous membranes, layer by layer, using an electrospinning technique as healing promoters, a 3D scaffold, and painkillers, respectively. After spinning, the properties of the nanofibrous scaffolds were characterized. In vitro drug discharge behavior was also evaluated. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the DCB–PLGA-composite nanofibers in repairing ruptured Achilles tendons was investigated in an animal tendon model with histological analyses. The experimental results show that, compared to the pristine PLGA nanofibers, the biomolecule-loaded nanofibers exhibited smaller fiber size distribution and an enhanced hydrophilicity. The DCB-composite nanofibers provided a sustained release of doxycycline and bupivacaine for over 28 days in vivo. Additionally, Achilles tendons repaired using DCB-composite nanofibers exhibited a significantly higher maximum load-to-failure than normal tendons, suggesting that the biomolecule-incorporated nanofibers are promising scaffolds for repairing Achilles tendons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) degradation by autophagy (ER-phagy) is a recently revealed selective autophagy pathway that plays important roles in organelle turnover and protein degradation, but the biological functions of ER-phagy are largely unknown. Here, we present an ER-targeting Re(I) tricarbonyl complex (Re-ERLAD) that can accumulate in the ER, induce ER-to-lysosome-associated degradation (ERLAD) upon visible light irradiation, and label ER buds and track their morphological alterations during ER-phagy. The emission of Re-ERLAD is sensitive to viscosity, which is a key parameter reflecting the amount of unfolded protein in the ER. Quantitative detection using two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy shows that ER viscosity initially increases and then decreases during ERLAD, which reveals that ERLAD is a pathway for alleviating ER stress caused by unfolded proteins. In conclusion, our work presents the first specific photoinducer and tracker of ERLAD, which can be used in studying the regulatory mechanism and function of this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation: The precise diagnosis of the major subtypes, lung adenocarcinoma and lung squamous cell carcinoma, of non-small-cell lung cancer is of practical importance as some treatments are subtype-specific. However, in some cases diagnosis via the commonly-used method, that is staining the specimen using immunohistochemical markers, may be challenging. Hence, having a computational method that complements the diagnosis is desirable. In this paper, we propose a gene signature for this purpose. Results: We developed an expression-based method that systematically suggests a huge set of candidate gene signatures and finds the best candidate. By applying this method to a training set, the optimal gene signature was found by considering close to 765 billion candidate signatures. The 8-gene signature found for classifying the 2 aforementioned subtypes comprises TP63, CALML3, KRT5, PKP1, TESC, SPINK1, C9orf152, and KRT7. The signature achieved a high overall prediction accuracy of 0.936 when tested using 34 independent gene expression datasets obtained using different technologies and comprising 2556 adenocarcinoma and 1630 squamous cell carcinoma samples. Additionally, the signature performed well in clinically challenging cases, that is poorly differentiated tumors and specimens obtained from biopsies. In comparison with 2 previously reported signatures, our signature performed better in terms of overall accuracy and especially accuracy of classifying lung squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusions: Our signature is easy to use and accurate regardless of the technology used to obtain the gene expression profiles. It performs well even in clinically challenging cases and thus can assist pathologists in diagnosis of the ambiguous cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. CYP26A1 has been reported in multiple cancers. However, the role of CYP26A1 in pancreatic cancer (PC) has not been explored. Method. The public data used for this study was obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) cell lines. CCK8, colony formation, and EdU assay were used to assess the proliferation ability of cancer cells. Transwell and wound healing assays were used to evaluate the invasion and migration ability of cancer cells. qRT-PCR and western blot assays were used to analyze the RNA and protein level of genes. Survival package was used for prognosis analysis. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was used to identify biological pathway differences between two groups. ssGSEA analysis was used to quantify the immune microenvironment in PC tissue. GDSC and TIDE analyses were used for sensitivity analysis of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Results. Our results showed that CYP26A1 was overexpressed in PC tissue and cell lines. Meanwhile, metastatic PC cell lines tend to have a higher CYP26A1 level compared with the primary PC cell lines based on CCLE data. Moreover, CYP26A1 was associated with worse clinical features. Also, we found that CYP26A1 had a satisfactory efficiency in predicting overall survival, disease-specific survival, and progression-free interval of PC patients, independent of other clinical features. In vitro experiments indicated that CYP26A1 could significantly facilitate the proliferation, invasion, and migration ability of PC cells. GSEA showed that the pathways of angiogenesis, E2F target, MYC target, mTORC signaling, G2M checkpoint, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition were activated in high CYP26A1 patients. Immune infiltration analysis showed that CYP26A1 was positively correlated with macrophages, Th1 cells, and Treg cells, but negatively correlated with Th17 cells. TIDE analysis showed that non_responder patients had a higher CYP26A1 level compared with predicted responder patients of immunotherapy. Drug sensitivity analysis and assay showed that CYP26A1 could increase the chemotherapy sensitivity of gemcitabine. Conclusions. In summary, CYP26A1 promotes PC progression and is a novel biomarker of PC, with potential for clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TikTok, as an emerging digital geography, has transformed remote communication to a live, instant, and uncannily realistic interaction. To explore the implications of TikTok on older adults, this paper examines the accounts of older Chinese TikTok celebrities – their participation in TikTok as well as the major discourses of ageing mediated by TikTok. An empirical study was conducted by quantitatively analysing web‐scraped comments on older TikTok celebrities and by interpreting the themes present in these popular TikTok accounts. The empirical results unveil that TikTok facilitates the social interactions of older digital celebrities by creating a caring environment. However, the healthy ageing paradigm promoted by the Chinese government is also promoted by TikTok's recommendation algorithm and platform capitalism. The healthy ageing paradigm prioritises older adults who are healthy and independent, and as a result marginalises those who have a disease or disability or are dependent on others in some way. As a result, the healthy ageing paradigm promoted by TikTok constitutes another form of ageism. Responding to the call to go beyond "the digital", our research contributes to digital geography by examining the geographies of ageing mediated by TikTok. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose an extended BCSâ€"Hubbard model and investigate its ground state phase diagram in an external magnetic field. By mapping the model onto a model of spinless fermions coupled with conserving Z 2 variables which are mimicked by pseudospins, the model is shown to be exactly solvable along the symmetric lines for an arbitrary on-site Hubbard interaction on the bipartite lattice. In the zero field limit, the ground states exhibit an antiferromagnetic order of pseudospins. In the large field limit, on the other hand, the pseudospins are fully polarized ordered. With the increase of the applied field, a first-order phase transition occurs between these kinds of phases when the on-site Coulomb interaction is less than a critical value U c. Above this critical U c, a novel intermediate phase emerges between the fully polarized and antiferromagnetic phases. The ground states in this phase are macroscopically degenerate, like in a spin ice, and the corresponding entropy scales linearly with the lattice size at zero temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More couples worldwide, delay their childbearing years. The increase in age causes a gradual decrease in female ovarian function and fertility, leading to an exponential decrease in women over 35 years of age having children. Although promising for some, assisted reproductive technology (ART) is not promising for older women. Decreased fertility in advanced age has become a growing concern in the field of reproduction. In this study, high-throughput transcriptome sequencing was used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) of older women (aged 35–44) with infertility and younger women (aged 25–34). The enriched functions and signaling pathways of DEGs were analyzed using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). The function of DEGs were analyzed and predicted combined with clinical ART data. Sequencing results were verified by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Retrospective clinical data and bioinformatics analyses revealed marked reductions in the retrieved oocyte, metaphase II oocyte, 2PN fertilization, and effective embryo numbers in older women. Although the clinical pregnancy and live birth rates did not differ notably between the groups, the miscarriage rate increased significantly in older women. In total, 620 DEGs were identified, of which 246 were upregulated, and 374 were downregulated in the older group. GO, and KEGG analyses indicated that the mechanism of fertility decline in older women was probably related to chronic inflammation, cytokine receptor interaction, and oxidative stress. In conclusion, combined with basic clinical ART data and pregnancy outcomes, we tried to provide a more intuitive and in-depth understanding of age-related reduction in ovarian function and pathogenesis of infertility with regard to chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of laser scanning in the realm of bridge assessment has been primarily limited to measuring large bridge dimensions. Given the scale of these measurements compared to standard accuracy metrics for LiDAR sensors, it follows that they may be captured with relatively small errors (<1%). This paper explores LiDAR's capacity to (a) estimate smaller cross-section dimensions of an operating bridge, and (b) quantify the observed errors in terms of capacity calculations (as opposed to simple percent errors). To satisfy these objectives, sixteen LiDAR scans of an eleven-span steel girder bridge were completed under normal operating conditions. Various dimensional quantities were extracted from the data both directly and using standard plane-fitting approaches (Plane Fitting, Ransac). Results indicated that dimensions obtained from Plane Fitting resulted in flexural capacities 4%-7% less than those computed using the dimensions from the bridge plans. The Ransac method estimated errors within 7%-10%, while the dimensions obtained directly from the point cloud data resulted in capacity errors of 9%-13%. Due to common errors sources, all dimensions were conservatively estimated throughout this study. However, the observed distortion of elements due to fabrication stresses, showed to have the potential of overestimation of dimensions if planar assumptions are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pichia pastoris (Komagataella phaffii) is a model organism widely used for the recombinant expression of eukaryotic proteins, and it can metabolize methanol as its sole carbon and energy source. Methanol is oxidized to formaldehyde by alcohol oxidase (AOX). In the dissimilation pathway, formaldehyde is oxidized to CO2 by formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FLD), S-hydroxymethyl glutathione hydrolase (FGH) and formate dehydrogenase (FDH). Results: The transcriptome and metabolome of P. pastoris were determined under methanol cultivation when its dissimilation pathway cut off. Firstly, Δfld and Δfgh were significantly different compared to the wild type (GS115), with a 60.98% and 23.66% reduction in biomass, respectively. The differential metabolites between GS115 and Δfld were mainly enriched in ABC transporters, amino acid biosynthesis, and protein digestion and absorption. Secondly, comparative transcriptome between knockout and wild type strains showed that oxidative phosphorylation, glycolysis and the TCA cycle were downregulated, while alcohol metabolism, proteasomes, autophagy and peroxisomes were upregulated. Interestingly, the down-regulation of the oxidative phosphorylation pathway was positively correlated with the gene order of dissimilation pathway knockdown. In addition, there were significant differences in amino acid metabolism and glutathione redox cycling that raised our concerns about formaldehyde sorption in cells. Conclusions: This is the first time that integrity of dissimilation pathway analysis based on transcriptomics and metabolomics was carried out in Pichia pastoris. The blockage of dissimilation pathway significantly down-regulates the level of oxidative phosphorylation and weakens the methanol assimilation pathway to the point where deficiencies in energy supply and carbon fixation result in inefficient biomass accumulation and genetic replication. In addition, transcriptional upregulation of the proteasome and autophagy may be a stress response to resolve formaldehyde-induced DNA–protein crosslinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Torsades de pointes (TdP) is an irregular heart rhythm characterized by faster beat rates and potentially could lead to sudden cardiac death. Much effort has been invested in understanding the drug-induced TdP in preclinical studies. However, a comprehensive statistical learning framework that can accurately predict the drug-induced TdP risk from preclinical data is still lacking. We proposed ordinal logistic regression and ordinal random forest models to predict low-, intermediate-, and high-risk drugs based on datasets generated from two experimental protocols. Leave-one-drug-out cross-validation, stratified bootstrap, and permutation predictor importance were applied to estimate and interpret the model performance under uncertainty. The potential outlier drugs identified by our models are consistent with their descriptions in the literature. Our method is accurate, interpretable, and thus useable as supplemental evidence in the drug safety assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-resolution face recognition (CRFR), which is important in intelligent surveillance and biometric forensics, refers to the problem of matching a low-resolution (LR) probe face image against high-resolution (HR) gallery face images. Existing shallow learning-based and deep learning-based methods focus on mapping the HR-LR face pairs into a joint feature space where the resolution discrepancy is mitigated. However, little works consider how to extract and utilize the intermediate discriminative features from the noisy LR query faces to further mitigate the resolution discrepancy due to the resolution limitations. In this study, we desire to fully exploit the multi-level deep convolutional neural network (CNN) feature set for robust CRFR. In particular, our contributions are threefold. (i) To learn more robust and discriminative features, we desire to adaptively fuse the contextual features from different layers. (ii) To fully exploit these contextual features, we design a feature set-based representation learning (FSRL) scheme to collaboratively represent the hierarchical features for more accurate recognition. Moreover, FSRL utilizes the primitive form of feature maps to keep the latent structural information, especially in noisy cases. (iii) To further promote the recognition performance, we desire to fuse the hierarchical recognition outputs from different stages. Meanwhile, the discriminability from different scales can also be fully integrated. By exploiting these advantages, the efficiency of the proposed method can be delivered. Experimental results on several face datasets have verified the superiority of the presented algorithm to the other competitive CRFR approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroptosis is a programmed cell death pathway discovered in recent years, and ferroptosis‐inducing agents have great potential as new antitumor candidates. Here, we report a IrIII complex (Ir1) containing a ferrocene‐modified diphosphine ligand that localizes in lysosomes. Under the acidic environments of lysosomes, Ir1 can effectively catalyze Fenton‐like reaction, produce hydroxyl radicals, induce lipid peroxidation, down‐regulate glutathione peroxidase 4, and result in ferroptosis. RNA sequencing analysis shows that Ir1 can significantly affect pathways related to ferroptosis and cancer immunity. Accordingly, Ir1 can induce immunogenic cells death and suppress tumor growth in vitro, regulate T cell activity and immune microenvironments in vivo. In conclusion, we show the potential of small molecules with ferroptosis‐inducing capabilities for effective cancer immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroptosis is a programmed cell death pathway discovered in recent years, and ferroptosis‐inducing agents have great potential as new antitumor candidates. Here, we report a IrIII complex (Ir1) containing a ferrocene‐modified diphosphine ligand that localizes in lysosomes. Under the acidic environments of lysosomes, Ir1 can effectively catalyze Fenton‐like reaction, produce hydroxyl radicals, induce lipid peroxidation, down‐regulate glutathione peroxidase 4, and result in ferroptosis. RNA sequencing analysis shows that Ir1 can significantly affect pathways related to ferroptosis and cancer immunity. Accordingly, Ir1 can induce immunogenic cells death and suppress tumor growth in vitro, regulate T cell activity and immune microenvironments in vivo. In conclusion, we show the potential of small molecules with ferroptosis‐inducing capabilities for effective cancer immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The security of data propagation is a critical challengefor the widespread use of networked control systems (NCSs), while the conventional strategies based on estimation techniques cannot solve this issue well. Furthermore, the contradiction between the security and the real-time nature of the control method has not been settled yet. The aim of this article is to propose a novel real-time control method empowered by blockchain technologies to resolve the security problems of NCSs under potential cyberattacks. To facilitate the analysis of blockchain-assisted NCSs, a cyber-authentic-physical system (CAPS) framework is proposed. One of the significant features of the CAPS is that the defense of NCSs against attacks is built by introducing a blockchain protocol. Theoretical analysis reveals the relationship among the scale of the peer-to-peer network, the security of the CAPS, and the latency of NCSs, as well as clarifies the impact of the introduction of the blockchain mechanism on the performance of NCSs. With the networked secure control mechanism designed in this article, the security and stability of NCSs can be achieved simultaneously, and their sufficient conditions are also given. Finally, simulations and practical experiments are presented to show the efficacy of the suggested secure control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the planning idea of denser road networks and smaller blocks has received particular interest from planners and researchers. However, what is the impact of road network density on the efficiency of automobile traffic? Does a denser road network operate better? To address these questions, we develop an analytical approach taking the influence of intersection delay into account in this research. It is proved that there exists an optimal road network density that maximizes the average travel speed and travel production simultaneously under a given vehicle accumulation. When determining the reasonable road network density, the optimal density under peak-hour vehicle accumulation can be an important reference but not the final choice. If the peak-hour traffic fluctuates acutely, a denser road network should be considered for providing higher reliability. If the peak period is quite short, a sparser road network may be a better choice for providing higher travel speed as well as higher travel production during off-peak periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the multivariate nonparametric change point detection problem, where the data are a sequence of independent $p$ -dimensional random vectors whose distributions are piecewise-constant with Lipschitz densities changing at unknown times, called change points. We quantify the size of the distributional change at any change point with the supremum norm of the difference between the corresponding densities. We are concerned with the localization task of estimating the positions of the change points. In our analysis, we allow for the model parameters to vary with the total number of time points, including the minimal spacing between consecutive change points and the magnitude of the smallest distributional change. We provide information-theoretic lower bounds on both the localization rate and the minimal signal-to-noise ratio required to guarantee consistent localization. We formulate a novel algorithm based on kernel density estimation that nearly achieves the minimax lower bound, save possibly for logarithm factors. We have provided extensive numerical evidence to support our theoretical findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface morphologies and microstructures of triangular defects in 4H-SiC homoepitaxial layers were investigated by laser confocal microscopy before and after molten KOH etching and microwave plasma etching. Three different triangular defects, namely TD-I (grains), TD-II (micro-pits), and TD-III (washboard-like defects), were analyzed. After molten KOH etching on the Si-face and plasma etching on the C-face, TD-I is identified to be bounded by one partial dislocation (PD) on each side. Simultaneously, multiple etch pits of PDs are lined up along the sides of the triangle. In addition, TD-II and TD-III are generated due to the micropipes and dislocations in the substrate, respectively. In order to investigate the formation mechanisms of complex microstructures of triangular defects, selected triangular defects are characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Results indicated that all the triangular defects consist of 3C-SiC or Frank-type SFs. Furthermore, {111} 3C-SiC twins are observed inside the TD-III, and the 3C/4H boundaries exhibited a periodic structure in which each cell consists of 12 basal planes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the regeneration mechanism of electrochemical regeneration technology, and emphatically introduces the effects of current density, regeneration time, electrolyte, electrolyte mass concentration, pH value and regeneration position on GAC regeneration efficiency, and the reactor for electrochemical regeneration of GAC. Finally, the development trend of electrochemical regeneration method is discussed, and it is pointed out that optimizing mechanism, developing other technologies based on electricity, and exploring the combination of electrochemistry and other technologies are the future research focuses of electrochemical regeneration of granular activated carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work the electronic and optical properties of luminescent materials XSiN 2 (X = Ca, Sr, Ba) were revisited based on density function theory (DFT) calculations with a newly developed DFT-1/2 scheme. It was found that the DFT-1/2 correction on nitrogen can well correct the band gaps to approach the experimental values, showing its advantage comparing to the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE) and the Strongly Constrained and Appropriately Normed (SCAN) functionals. Then the electronic band structures and optical properties of the three compounds were investigated using the DFT-1/2 scheme. Within the three compounds, the band gap shows a monotonic decrease along with the atomic number of alkali earth metal mainly due to the downshift of the conduction band edge, where the electronic conductivity is primarily based on electron since it shows a much smaller effective mass than hole. CaSiN 2 owns more flat valence bands, while SrSiN 2 gives lighter electron. Moreover, the three compounds show high optical absorption, but distinct behavior of light absorption and refractivity in specific energy range, suggesting their applications in optical applications. • A more accurate method was chosen to address the band gap of XSiN 2 (X=Ca,Sr,Ba). • The physical properties were computationally investigated using this approach. • The compounds are predicted to be good candidates for luminescent application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Homogeneous mixed Mn 2-x Fe x O 3 were derived from bimetallic Metal-Organic Frameworks. • Mn 1.82 Fe 0.18 O 3 shows superb toluene conversion up to 90 % at 226 °C in 60000 h−1. • Fe doping makes the Mn 2 O 3 surface less acidic and weakens toluene adsorption. • Fe doping could elongate M = O bond and enhance nucleophilicity of active oxygen. • Mn 1.82 Fe 0.18 O 3 has excellent water resistance and recycling performance. Homogeneous mixed iron-manganese oxide nanoparticles prepared from bimetallic MOFs were examined for their catalytic performance to examine toluene degradation. Introducing Fe into Mn 2 O 3 to obtain Mn 2-x Fe x O showed significantly improved catalytic combustion of toluene compared to single manganese or iron oxide. Among these catalysts, Mn 1.82 Fe 0.18 O 3 exhibited optimal catalytic performance showing the lowest T 10 , T 50 and T 90 in weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of 60000 mL·(g·h)-1. In high-water content atmosphere, catalytic activity was excellent even after four cycles and such a good catalytic performance of Mn 1.82 Fe 0.18 O 3 might be due to the high surface area (103 m2·g−1) and uniform doping of Fe caused by MOFs roasting. Fe doping enhanced the weak acid sites onto Mn 2 O 3 surface, thus promoting the activation of toluene. The doped Fe elongated M = O bond to enhance the nucleophilicity of the active sites, which increased the intrinsic activity of Mn 2 O 3 catalyst. This study could serve as a reference for active sites modification of metal oxide catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "Retraction Note: A Mixed-Ligand Co(II)-Coordination Polymer: Biological Activity on Early Brain Injury after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage by Regulating TRAF6 Expression" has been retracted by the Editor-in-Chief and the Publisher of the Journal of Cluster Science. The retraction was prompted by evidence of systematic manipulation of the publication process, including issues with citations, phrasing, figures, and ethics approval statements. The Editor-in-Chief no longer has confidence in the results and conclusions of the article. The authors have not responded to correspondence regarding the retraction. Springer Nature, the publisher, remains neutral in terms of jurisdictional claims and institutional affiliations. [Extracted from the article]

• We designed a fiber sensor system comprising fused silica fiber Bragg grating and silicon core fiber-based fiber Bragg grating. • A hybrid fiber Bragg grating sensor system was proposed, employing only two sensing devices to detect three different environmental targets. • Our focus was solely on addressing the connection between two distinct fibers, namely fused silica and silicon core fiber. We discussed the associated loss and spectral distortion issues. In this article, we introduce a multi-parameter fiber sensor system that utilizes a hybrid FBG design. The design combines a fused silica fiber Bragg grating and a fiber Bragg grating based on a silicon core fiber. This combination enables the sensor to detect surrounding temperature, water level, and refractive index. The sensor successfully measured temperature within the range of 10 to 40 °C, water level within the range of 40 to 140 cm, and refractive index within the range of 1.2 to 1.4. These ranges exhibit a high level of linearity within the proposed sensing range. Additionally, we discuss the challenges associated with connecting the fused silica fiber and the silicon core fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Directed networks appear in an expanding array of applications, for example, the world wide web, social networks, transaction networks, and citation networks. A critical task in analyzing directed networks is clustering, where the goal is partitioning the network's nodes based on their similarities while accounting for the direction of relationships between nodes. Non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) and its variations have been used to cluster the nodes in directed networks by approximating their adjacency matrices efficaciously. The differences between the corresponding entries of the actual and approximate adjacency matrices are considered as errors, which are assumed to follow Gaussian distributions. However, these errors could deviate from Gaussian distributions in various real-world networks. In this work, we propose a robust asymmetric non-negative matrix factorization method to cluster the nodes in directed networks. Recognizing that the errors do not follow Gaussian distributions in real-world networks, the proposed method assumes that the errors follow a Cauchy distribution, which resembles the Gaussian distribution but has heavier tails. Experiments using real-world as well as artificial networks show that the proposed method outperforms existing NMF methods and other representative work in clustering in various settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals who fall from heights of ≥6 m can suffer from complex pelvic and acetabular fractures. The extent to which an intentional fall correlates with prognosis and outcome after osteosynthesis is unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes of fallers with pelvic and acetabular fractures after osteosynthesis and compare the radiological and functional outcomes between intentional and accidental fallers. We retrospectively reviewed 49 fallers who fell from heights of ≥6 m, developed pelvic and acetabular fractures, survived after resuscitation, and completed surgical treatment between 2014 and 2017. Fallers were divided into intentional and accidental fallers. Sixteen patients were intentional fallers, whereas the rest of the patients were accidental fallers. Psychiatric counseling was provided to each of the intentional fallers during follow-up. All intentional fallers had preexisting mental disorders, and the most common diagnosis was adjustment disorder. The group of intentional fallers predominantly comprised females that had a higher injury and new injury severity scores and longer hospital stays. However, early loss of fixation (<3 months) and functional outcomes (Merle d'Aubigné and Majeed hip scores at 6- and 12-month follow-ups) did not significantly differ between intentional and accidental fallers. We found that intentional fallers with pelvic and acetabular fractures may have more severe combined injuries compared to accidental fallers. However, the radiological and functional outcomes of the intentional fallers after osteosynthesis were not inferior to those of the accidental fallers with the implementation of well-designed surgical protocols and individualized physical and mental rehabilitation programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prevalence of primary coronary cameral fistula (CCF) is extremely rare, especially for CCF with its drainage channel into the left ventricle (LV). We describe a 45‐year‐old male patient with giant aneurysm associated with proximal right coronary artery (RCA), and the distal end of RCA draining into the LV through a fistula, which was discovered by echocardiography. Dual‐source computer tomography revealed only the CCF‐related giant RCA aneurysm. The drainage site of the fistula and the above coexistent abnormality could not be visualized clearly by coronary artery angiography because of deficient contrast medium filling into the aneurysm. The patient underwent surgical resection of the giant aneurysm and occlusion of the fistula in 2015. Finally, the patient accepted another operation to occlude the residual coronary fistula in 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anastomosis of renal artery and renal vein in mouse models of kidney transplantation is technically challenging. Conventional technique using suture may result in vascular thrombosis. We developed a simple cuff method to anastomose both renal artery and vein. Briefly, the left renal artery was occluded at the junction with abdominal aorta using a small vessel clip, transected at the renal hilum, irrigated with heparinized saline, and passed through the lumen of a seamless tubing made of polyimide. The loose end of the artery was everted over the cuff and secured using an 8-0 silk suture. The cuffed artery was inserted into the donor renal artery and secured with an 8-0 suture. Anastomosis of the renal vein was performed similarly. Isograft transplantation was conducted using BALB/c mice as donor and recipient mice (n = 20). The total operative time was 77 ± 3 min, and the cold ischemic time of the graft kidney was minimized to 20 min. One animal was excluded due to anatomic variant vessels and another one died at three day after surgery without thrombosis. Serum creatinine increased insignificantly after transplantation and remained stable over 12 weeks posttransplant. Five recipient mice were sacrificed for histologic examination at 12 weeks after transplantation. No vascular thrombosis was observed at the site of anastomosis. The isografts showed no evidence of acute and chronic lesions such as extinctive ischemic sclerosis and interstitial fibrosis. In summary, cuff anastomosis can be used to eliminate thrombosis formation in the mouse model of kidney transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bio‐ceramic coating was prepared on the surface of ZK60 magnesium alloys by micro‐arc oxidation (MAO) method. The substrate (BM) and coated (MAO) specimens were pre‐corroded in a simulated body fluid (SBF) for 12 h. Strain‐controlled and stress‐controlled loading modes were used to conduct fatigue tests for the specimens with non‐corroded and pre‐corroded, and the cyclic deformation behavior of different specimens was studied. The fatigue life of pre‐corroded MAO specimen is higher than that of pre‐corroded BM specimen. The mechanism of cyclic deformation under different loading conditions is related to twinning and slip. For the same specimens, the higher the absolute value of ratcheting strain, the lower the fatigue life. A modified total strain energy model is proposed, and the precision of life prediction is higher than that of traditional fatigue model. Highlights: A bio‐ceramic MAO coating was prepared on the surface of ZK60 magnesium alloys.Fatigue tests were carried out by strain‐controlled and stress‐controlled loading.Ratcheting behavior of non‐corroded and pre‐corroded specimens was studied.A modified total strain energy model was used to predict the fatigue life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan and its derivatives show potent biocompatibility, biodegradability, antimicrobial activity, hemostatic effects, and wound healing properties. Their application in wound dressings has garnered substantial research interest. In this work, we prepared a drug-loaded hydrogel by mixing N-glycosylated chitosan with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), followed by loading of ofloxacin. A 2:1 volume ratio of chitosan to PVA was found to be optimal based on swelling and water evaporation rates. The slow-drug-release performance of the blended hydrogel was best when the ofloxacin loading was 5.0%. The ofloxacin-loaded hydrogel shows excellent antimicrobial properties in vitro and wound healing ability in an in vivo rabbit full-thickness excision wound model. The chitosan/PVA blended hydrogel has great potential for use in wound dressings and sustained drug release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposed a fiber sensor based on a Silicon core fiber incorporated with a fused silica grating design. The proposed structure has a high sensitivity in refractive index and temperature variation through theoretical calculation and finite element method simulation. The sensitivities of the refractive index in different polarization directions are 1838.7 and 1949.8 nm/RIU, respectively, within the index range from 1.28 to 1.38 RIU. The temperature range within 15–40 °C has the sensitivity up to 1.6 nm/°C by using ethanol analyte. The proposed fiber sensor can provide a method or a solution for intelligent sensing systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. We aimed to observe the impact of ginkgolic acid (GA) on the proliferation and metastasis ability of ovarian cancer (OCa) cells and to further explore whether GA affects the malignant progress of OCa via regulating the lncRNA MALAT1/JAK2 axis. Methods. OCa cells SKOV3 and CAOV3 were administered with 1 ng/ml GA, 5 ng/ml GA, 10 ng/ml GA, 20 ng/ml GA, and DSMO as control, respectively. The cell proliferation and migration ability of the abovementioned cells in each group were measured by CCK-8 test and Transwell experiments. The expression levels of lncRNA MALAT1 and JAK2 protein were examined by qRT-PCR and western blot, respectively. Subsequently, in OCa cells treated with GA, lncRNA MALAT1 overexpression vector was transfected to continue to detect the proliferation activity and migration ability of each treatment group. Finally, the regulation of GA on activity of lncRNA MALAT1/JAK2 axis in OCa cells was further explored in nude mice. Results. Our data showed that the proliferation inhibition rate of cells at each ginkgolic acid concentration was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05), suggesting that GA has an inhibitory influence on the proliferation of OCa cells, in a dose-dependent way. GA was able to inhibit the proliferation rate and migration ability of OCa cells. Administration of ginkgolic acid downregulated the levels of lncRNA MALAT1 and JAK2 protein. Overexpression of lncRNA MALAT1 partially reversed the inhibited OCa proliferative capacity caused by GA treatment. Consistent with the results observed in vitro, we also found that the OCa tumor weight and volume of nude mice injected with lncRNA MALAT1 overexpression vector were enhanced and JAK2 protein level increased remarkably in comparison to the ginkgolic acid group. Conclusions. In summary, GA may exert its inhibitory effect on the proliferative and migratory capacities of OCa cells through suppressing the activity of lncRNA MALAT1/JAK2 axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochanin A (Bioch A) is a natural plant estrogen, with various biological activities such as anti-apoptosis, anti-oxidation, and suppression of inflammation. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of Bioch A on angiotensin II (AngII) – induced dopaminergic (DA) neuron damage in vivo and on molecular mechanisms. Spontaneous activity and motor ability of mice among groups was detected by open-field test and swim-test. The expression of TH, microtubule-associated proteins light chain 3B II (LC3BII)/LC3BI, beclin-1, P62, forkhead box class O3 (FoxO3), phosphorylated (p) FoxO3a/FoxO3a, FoxO3, and endophilin A2 were determined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence staining. Our results showed that AngII treatment significantly increased the behavioral dysfunction of mice and DA neuron damage. Meanwhile, AngII treatment increased the expression of LC3BII/LC3BI, beclin-1, P62, and FoxO3a and decreased the expression of endophilin A2 and p-FoxO3a/FoxO3a, however, Bioch A treatment alleviate these changes. In summary, these results suggest that Bioch A exerts protective effects on AngII-induced mouse model may be related to regulating endophilin A2, FoxO3a, and autophagy-related proteins; however, the specific mechanism is not yet clear and needs further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of efficient synthetic methods for accessing enantioenriched α‐chiral amines is of great importance in the disciplines of medicinal and synthetic organic chemistry. Enantioselective Rh‐catalyzed 1,2‐addition reactions to activated imine derivatives are regarded as useful protocols for forming α‐chiral amines. This personal account outlines our efforts to develop chiral bicyclo[2.2.1]heptadiene ligands for Rh‐catalyzed asymmetric additions of various organoboron reagents to a wide range of imine derivatives. Transformations of the thus‐obtained adducts into known natural products or molecules of pharmaceutical importance serve to confirm their synthetic usefulness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: The current treatment of ovarian cancer is surgery and adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy. However, relapse and drug resistance are common. We have demonstrated the platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFR) is highly expressed in epithelial ovarian cancer, promoting ovarian cancer cell proliferation and invasion. The objective was to explore the effect of PAFR expression on cisplatin (CDDP) in ovarian cancer cells to provide novel theoretical basis for ovarian cancer therapy. Methods: The upregulation of PAFR in CDDP-treated ovarian cancer cells was observed using Western blot and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RTFQ-PCR). The role of nuclear factor Kappa-B (NF-κB)/p65 and hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in modulating PAFR expression was assessed using Western blot, siRNA and immunofluorescence. The effect of PAFR on CDDP sensitivity was observed using a pharmacological inhibitor and siRNA knockdown. Results: CDDP induced dose- and timedependent upregulation of PAFR in two ovarian cancer cell lines (P<0.01). The downregulation of PAFR by CDDP correlated with the inhibitions of NF-κB and HIF-1α which were accumulated by CDDP in the nucleus. Inhibition of PAFR expression by PAFR specific small molecule antagonist WEB2086 or RNA interference could significantly improve the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to CDDP. The cell proliferation ability decreased significantly (P<0.01), while the apoptotic rate increased significantly (P<0.01). Increased expression of PAFR activated downstream AKT and ERK pathways in CDDP-treated cells. Conclusion: CDDP induces upregulation of PAFR by accumulating NF-κB and HIF-1α in the nucleus. PAFR inhibition may modulate the CDDP sensitivity in ovarian cancer cells, which is a novel and promising therapeutic target for sensitizing ovarian cancer cells to CDDP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Minimally invasive breast biopsy (MIBB) is the standard of care for the diagnosis of breast cancer, with consensus guidelines suggesting MIBB goals of 90% of total biopsies. In a previous study of patients in the rural state of Vermont, USA (population size of 640,000), rural breast cancer patients had open biopsies 42% of the time compared to 29% of urban breast cancer patients. The aim of this study was to assess overall population‐based biopsy trends in Vermont. Methods: The Vermont Breast Cancer Surveillance System (VBCSS) was used to identify women receiving MIBB and excisional breast biopsies in Vermont. Patient zip code at the time of initial biopsy was used to determine the patient residence rurality by rural–urban commuting area codes (RUCA 2.0™). Results: There were 9122 diagnostic episodes from 1999 to 2018. MIBB was the initial biopsy method in 7524 (82.5%) cases, while surgical excision was the initial biopsy method in 1598 (17.5%) cases. A linear trend fit estimated an increase of 1.3% per year (p < 0.001, 95% CI 1.1%–1.5%) in the fraction of patients undergoing MIBB. Patients living in rural areas were less likely to receive MIBB (78.5%) than those living in urban areas (94.9%), p < 0.001. Multivariate analysis showed that urban patients and those patients in the years 2014–2018 were more likely to receive MIBB (OR 5.00, 95% CI 4.13–6.05 [p < 0.05] and OR 4.41, 95%CI 3.68–5.28 [p < 0.05], respectively). The rate of MIBB for rural patients increased and met the 90% quality standard in 2013 and ultimately matched urban patient rates of MIBB in 2018. Conclusions: For the first time, we show that MIBB usage is above 90% in the state of Vermont and that there no longer exist disparities in breast biopsies between urban and rural patients or rural/urban facilities in the state, overall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Auxiliary stopping area (ASA) is the key guarantee for high-speed maglev train operation safety. Aiming at the layout of the ASA along the track, this article constructs an optimized model of ASA layout and proposes a solving algorithm based on the single target genetic algorithm by analyzing the influence factors of ASA layout. The result of the numerical experiment shows that the proposed method could fulfill the requirements of the maglev train operation safety and efficiency and optimize the cost of the ASA layout while taking the complex line situation, train tracking operation, and bidirectional operation on a single line into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim. and Bulbus allii Macrostemi are the components of Gualou Xiebai decoction (GLXB), a commonly used herbal combination for the treatment of coronary heart disease (CHD) in traditional Chinese medicine. Although GLXB is associated with a good clinical effect, its active compounds and mechanism of action remain unclear, which limits its clinical application and the development of novel drugs. In this study, we explored key compounds, targets, and mechanisms of action for GLXB in the treatment of CHD using the network pharmacology approach. We identified 18 compounds and 21 action targets via database screening. Enrichment analysis indicated that the effects of GLXB in patients with CHD are primarily associated with the regulation of signalling pathways for tumour necrosis factor, nuclear factor-kappa B, hypoxia-inducible factor-1, arachidonic acid metabolism, and insulin resistance. GLXB thus exerts anti-inflammatory, antihypoxic, and antiagglutinating effects; regulates lipid metabolism; and combats insulin resistance in CHD via these pathways, respectively. After reverse targeting, we observed that the main active compounds of GLXB in the treatment of CHD were quercetin, naringenin, β-sitosterol, ethyl linolenate, ethyl linoleate, and prostaglandin B1. To explore the potential of these compounds in the treatment of CHD, we verified the affinity of the compounds and targets via molecular docking analysis. Our study provides a bridge for the transformation of natural herbs and molecular compounds into novel drug therapies for CHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An environmentally friendly and efficient electrochemical fluorosulfonylation of styrenes has been developed. With the use of sulfonylhydrazides and triethylamine trihydrofluoride, a diverse array of β-fluorosulfones could be readily obtained. This reaction features mild conditions and a broad substrate scope, which could also be conveniently extended to a gram-scale preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) has become one of the common clinical diseases. How to promote the regeneration and function recovery of the damaged peripheral nerve has been the focus of attention in the medical field. Evidence suggests that the longitudinal filling of oriented fibers in nerve guide conduit (NGC) is especially beneficial to the repair of long gap PNI. In this study, polypyrrole (PPy) nanospheres (PNSs) were prepared by the soft-templating method, and mixed with poly (lactic acid) (PLA) to prepare conductive PNSs/PLA NGC, and the optimal ratio of PNSs was 4.5%. PLA and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as shell, chitosan (CS) and paeoniflorin (PF) as core, oriented coaxial nanofibers were obtained and then filled into PNSs/PLA NGC. The composite NGC has excellent mechanical properties, electrical conductivity, hydrophilic properties, and degradation properties. Besides, the successive release of VEGF and PF can play a synergistic role in promoting nerve regeneration. In vitro experiments showed that the composite NGC was nontoxic and suitable for the adhesion and proliferation of nerve cells. In addition, PNSs combined with electrical stimulation (ES) can significantly promote the differentiation and proliferation of nerve cells, which is conducive to nerve regeneration. These positive results indicate that the composite NGC is a promising candidate in the repair of long gap PNI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: The current treatment of ovarian cancer is surgery and adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy. However, relapse and drug resistance are common. We have demonstrated the platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFR) is highly expressed in epithelial ovarian cancer, promoting ovarian cancer cell proliferation and invasion. The objective was to explore the effect of PAFR expression on cisplatin (CDDP) in ovarian cancer cells to provide novel theoretical basis for ovarian cancer therapy. Methods: The upregulation of PAFR in CDDP-treated ovarian cancer cells was observed using Western blot and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RTFQ-PCR). The role of nuclear factor Kappa-B (NF-κB)/p65 and hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in modulating PAFR expression was assessed using Western blot, siRNA and immunofluorescence. The effect of PAFR on CDDP sensitivity was observed using a pharmacological inhibitor and siRNA knockdown. Results: CDDP induced dose- and time-dependent upregulation of PAFR in two ovarian cancer cell lines (P<0.01). The downregulation of PAFR by CDDP correlated with the inhibitions of NF-κB and HIF-1α which were accumulated by CDDP in the nucleus. Inhibition of PAFR expression by PAFR specific small molecule antagonist WEB2086 or RNA interference could significantly improve the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to CDDP The cell proliferation ability decreased significantly (P<0.01), while the apoptotic rate increased significantly (P<0.01). Increased expression of PAFR activated downstream AKT and ERK pathways in CDDP-treated cells. Conclusion: CDDP induces upregulation of PAFR by accumulating NF-κB and HIF-1α in the nucleus. PAFR inhibition may modulate the CDDP sensitivity in ovarian cancer cells, which is a novel and promising therapeutic target for sensitizing ovarian cancer cells to CDDP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the potential wear performance of commonly utilized hydraulic system polymer components, we investigated the effects of different working conditions on the frictional and wear behaviors of three polymer sealing materials in this study. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), nylon (PA), and polypropylene (PP) composites were prepared using copper (Cu) and glass fiber (GF) as fillers. The tribological and wear properties (wear rate, surface appearance, wear patterns) of the sealing composites were evaluated. The results showed consistent trends toward increasing average coefficient of friction as load and speed increased for PTFE. The incorporation of filler improved the wear resistance of the composites. The addition of Cu particles showed lower coefficient under higher load and sliding speed. PA with continuous glass fiber (CGF) sealing composites showed lower coefficient, less wear volume, and relatively smoother wear zone surfaces than PTFE-based composites or PP with short glass fiber (SGF). We propose that PA-CGF outperforms other materials in regards to fatigue and friction and wear even under extremely high silding speed,as well as sealing properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the coal-rich provinces of Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Inner Mongolia, the landscape bears the scars of coal extraction—namely subsidence and deformation—that disrupt both the terrain and the delicate ecological balance. This research delves into the transformative journey these mining regions undergo, from pre-mining equilibrium, through the tumultuous phase of extraction, to the eventual restoration of stability post-reclamation. By harnessing a suite of analytical tools, including sophisticated remote sensing, UAV aerial surveys, and the meticulous ground-level sampling of flora and soil, the study meticulously measures the environmental toll of mining activities and charts the path to ecological restoration. The results are promising, indicating that the restoration initiatives are effectively healing the landscapes, with proactive interventions such as seeding, afforestation, and land rehabilitation proving vital in the swift ecological turnaround. Remote sensing technology, in particular, emerges as a robust ally in tracking ecological shifts, supporting sustainable practices and guiding ecological management strategies. This study offers a promising framework for assessing geological environmental shifts, which may guide policymakers in shaping the future of mining rehabilitation in arid and semi-arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Regenerable methods for phosphate (P) recycling have received intense attention due to their potential environmental and economic benefits. In this study, to improve the electrosorptive removal of P in membrane capacitive deionization, an activated carbon (AC) electrode was coated with a heterogeneous anion-exchange resin layer, and named the AE-AC composite electrode. It was shown that the AE-AC electrode exhibited a good capacitive behavior for electrical double-layer charging. The batch-mode experiments indicted that when the solution pH changed from 5 to 8, the predominant P species shifted from monovalent H 2 PO 4 − to divalent HPO 4 2− that was preferentially electroadsorbed for competitive electrosorption with Cl−. Importantly, the AE-AC composite electrode significantly increased the selectivity coefficient of P over Cl− to 0.56 that was 2.24-fold greater than that of the uncoated AC electrode, at 1.2 V in single-pass mode operation. This improvement can be ascribed to the preferential transport of P through the thin coating layer containing quaternary amine functional groups. The permselectivity of the coating also significantly increased the electrosorption capacity of P from 0.031 to 0.101 mmol/g with a high charge efficiency (97%) by the reduction in the co-ion repulsion effect. When the reverse voltage (−1.2 V) was applied, electroadsorbed P was reversibly desorbed from the AE-AC electrode in repeated operation. This work suggests that coating an anion-exchange resin layer on the surface of a carbon electrode shows great potential to improve the selective removal of P through electrosorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T-cells have been demonstrated to modulate ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI) in the kidney, lung, liver, and intestine. Whereas most T-cell subpopulations contribute primarily to the antigen-specific effector and memory phases of immunity, γδ-T-cells combine adaptive features with rapid, innate-like responses that can place them in the initiation phase of immune reactions. Therefore, we aimed to clarify the role of γδ-T-cells in intestinal IRI. Adult wild-type (WT) and γδ-T-cell-deficient mice were subjected to acute intestinal IRI. Gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and influx of leukocyte subpopulations in the gut were assessed by qPCR and flow cytometry. Serum transaminases were measured as an indicator of distant organ IRI. Intestinal IRI led to increased influx of neutrophils, pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and LDH/ALT/AST elevation. Selective deficiency of γδ-T-cells significantly decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and neutrophil infiltration in the gut following IRI compared to controls. Furthermore, γδ-T-cell deficiency resulted in decreased LDH and transaminases levels in sera, indicating amelioration of distant organ injury. Increasing evidence demonstrates a key role of T-cell subpopulations in IRI. We demonstrate that γδ-T-cell deficiency ameliorated pro-inflammatory cytokine production, neutrophil recruitment and distant organ injury. Thus, γδ-T-cells may be considered as mediators contributing to the inflammatory response in the acute phase of intestinal IRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]