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A novel cationic surfactant-based gelling system is presented in this report. The cationic surfactant 1-dodecylpyridinium bromide (DPB) in the mixture of acetone and water can form gels without additive. The gel structure and the gelation mechanism were studied using techniques of rheology, microscopy, FT-IR and1H NMR spectroscopy. The present results indicate that the DPBs in acetone/water driven by hydrogen bonding, van der Waals force and other non-covalent interactions can self-assemble into rod-like fibers, and the fibers intertwined into a three-dimensional network. Laccase and horseradish peroxidase entrapped in the gel are biologically and/or electrochemically active. In addition, the present gel does not swell in the hydrophobic ionic liquid [Bmim]PF6, showing its great promise in green biocatalysis and biotransformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yersinia pestis causes an acute infection known as the plague. Conventional techniques to enumerate Y. pestis can be labor intensive and do not lend themselves to high throughput assays. In contrast, bioluminescent bioreporters produce light that can be detected using plate readers or optical imaging platforms to monitor bacterial populations as a function of luminescence. Here, we describe the development of two Y. pestis chromosomal-based luxCDABE bioreporters, LuxPtolC and LuxPcysZK. These bioreporters use constitutive promoters to drive expression of luxCDABE that allow for sensitive detection of bacteria via bioluminescence in vitro. Importantly, both bioreporters demonstrate a direct correlation between bacterial numbers and bioluminescence, which allows for bioluminescence to be used to compare bacterial numbers. We demonstrate the use of these bioreporters to test antimicrobial inhibitors (LuxPtolC) and monitor intracellular survival (LuxPtolC and LuxPcysZK) in vitro. Furthermore, we show that Y. pestis infection of the mouse model can be monitored using whole animal optical imaging in real time. Using optical imaging, we observed Y. pestis dissemination and differentiated between virulence phenotypes in live animals via bioluminescence. Finally, we demonstrate that whole animal optical imaging can identify unexpected colonization patterns in mutant-infected animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A luminescent europium–organic framework with tubular channels based on the H4BTMIPA ligand (H4BTMIPA = 5,5′-methylenebis(2,4,6-trimethylisophthalic acid)) was assembled and characterized. The [H2N(CH3)2]+ ions as counterions are located in the channels. The cation exchange between [H2N(CH3)2]+ and metal ions resulted in complex 1 that can selectively sense Fe3+ and Al3+ ions through fluorescence quenching and enhancement, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main research objective of this paper is to develop a low-temperature Eutectic Phase Change Material (EPCM) for use in the Cold Storage Thermal Storage (CETS), with the aim of improving energy efficiency during the cold storage process and addressing energy crises and environmental concerns. In this study, capric acid, n-octanoic acid, and n-tetradecane are prepared as low-temperature EPCMs by melt blending, with the addition of nanographite to enhance their thermal conductivity. The thermal performance parameters, chemical stability, and thermal stability of the EPCMs under phase change cycles are tested and evaluated by using macroscopic experimental methods, DSC, FTIR, and infrared thermal imaging. The research results indicate that the G-2 low-temperature EPCM, prepared by mixing capric acid, n-octanoic acid, n-tetradecane, and nanographite with a mass ratio of 0.231:0.469:0.3:0.06, has optimal thermal properties, specifically including a melting point of 0.32 °C, a melting latent heat of 163.3 J/g, a thermal conductivity of 0.83 W/m·K, and an undercooling of 0.47 °C. These properties make it suitable for cold storage operations. Nanographite can effectively improve the thermal conductivity of EPCM, and a 6 % addition proportion can lead to a 417.45 % increase in thermal conductivity and a 64.39 % decrease in undercooling. However, once the content of nanographite exceeds 6 %, the stability of the EPCM will undergo a significant decline. Furthermore, the results of DSC, FTIR, and infrared thermal imaging confirm that capric acid, n-octanoic acid, n-tetradecane, and nanographite can be effectively co-melted with each other, the heat transfer framework function of nanographite improves the efficiency of latent heat utilization in EPCM, and the G-2 sample maintains acceptable chemical and thermal stability even after undergoing 200 phase change cycles. • A eutectic phase change material (EPCM) was developed using capric acid, n-octanoic acid, n-tetradecane, and nanographite. • The optimal low-temperature EPCM has a phase change temperature of 0.32 °C and a melting latent heat of 163.3 J/g. • The addition of 6 % nanographite in EPCM can lead to an increase in thermal conductivity of 417.45 %. • This new EPCM exhibits acceptable thermal and chemical stability after 200 phase change cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Rougher surface of protein decreased the stability of oil–water interface. • Lower G ′ value and higher tan δ at interface caused lower viscoelastic structure. • Lower α-helix structures promoted N H group and C O group by an obvious redshift. • Lower absolute value of binding energy had stronger combination with protein. This study investigates the impact of various chain lengths of hydrophilic polyglycerol fatty acid esters (HPGEs), namely SWA-10D, M-7D and M-10D on protein interactions and their influence on the surface morphology and interfacial properties of low-fat aerated emulsions under different pressures conditions. M-7D and M-10D samples exhibited larger particle sizes, higher ζ-potential and rougher surface compared to SWA-10D sample at 1 % concentration of HPGEs. Consequently, M-7D and M-10D samples demonstrated lower values of G′, G′′, and higher values tan δ at the oil–water interface as pressure increased, thereby promoting the formation of less viscoelastic structures. M-7D sample, characterized by lower content of α-helix structures, resulted in an observable redshift in the N H and C O groups of the protein. Molecular docking analysis affirmed that M-7D sample exhibited a lower absolute binding energy value, indicating stronger interaction with the protein compared to other samples, ultimately contributing to the unstable interfacial membrane formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microstructural evolution and strengthening behavior of a polycrystalline Ni 3 Al-based intermetallic alloy were investigated during varying durations of thermal exposure at 1100 °C. The study focused on the topologically closed-packed orthorhombic P phase precipitate, which was found to form in the interdendritic γ channel and grow in the γ' -matrix after thermal exposure. The morphology of the P phase evolved from needle-like to lath-like and then to blocky-like. The crystal structure and composition of the precipitates were analyzed using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and electron probe X-ray microanalysis (EPMA). The chemical composition of the P phase changed continuously during thermal exposure and the P phase was related to the γ' -matrix by three sets of orientation relationships (OR). The alloy's tensile properties and creep fracture time were enhanced during thermal exposure at 1100 °C for 2000 h due to P phase precipitation at grain boundaries or within the grain. Based on the experimental evidence of this study and theoretical strengthening behavior reported in the literature, a novel mechanism for in-situ precipitation strengthening was proposed. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stainless steel anchor channels with channel bolts (SSAC-CBs) provide reliable and flexible fastening for connecting steel fixtures to concrete members subjected to atmospheric or permanently damp internal conditions such as those found in industrial and residential buildings. This study performed static tensile tests to evaluate the mechanical performance of SSAC-CBs (without considering concrete embedment) including their failure modes, load-carrying capacities, ductilities, and strain responses. A total of 30 SSAC-CB specimens were fabricated and tested by varying the tensile loading location, channel type, stainless steel grade, and anchor-to-channel connection configuration. The specimens presented four failure modes: bending deformation of the channel, fracture at the weld connecting the I-shaped anchor to the channel back, localized yielding of the channel lips, and yielding of the anchor. The ductility factors of the specimens were between 5.54 and 9.99 with an average of 7.29, and their peak-to-yield load ratios varied from 1.30 to 2.32. These results indicate that all SSAC-CB assemblies exhibited adequate tensile strength and safety potential as well as the potential for plastic development. Finite element models of the SSAC-CBs were established and validated against the experimental results. Parameter analysis was subsequently conducted to investigate the influence of key parameters on the tensile behaviors of SSAC-CBs, indicating that the thicknesses of the channel web and lips significantly affected the load-bearing capacity and failure mode. When tensile load was applied at the channel midspan, the anchor spacing had a significant effect on the load-bearing capacity and initial stiffness, whereas it had a minor effect on the same when loaded above the anchor. Finally, the restraint of channel deformation by neighboring spans enhanced the load-bearing capacity and thus had a positive effect on the tensile responses of SSAC-CBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Lower nucleation rates cause unstable fat network formed in bulk of emulsion. • Higher nucleation rates at interface promote crystals adsorbed at O/W interface. • Higher fraction of crystals adsorbed at O/W interface promotes partial coalescence. The effect of different types of monoglycerides, including monopalmitin, capryl monoglyceride (GMB), and succinylated monoglyceride (GMSA) in combination with palm kernel stearin (PKS) and beeswax (BW), on the formation, crystal network structure, and partial coalescence properties of aerated emulsions (20 % w/w fat) was investigated. The stability of BW and PKS crystals with a 1 % concentration of GMSA and GMB, respectively, in the oil phase was lower than the other crystals. BW-GMSA and PKS-GMB crystals exhibited a lower crystallization rate, higher contact angles and no significant peak shift in the small-angle X-ray scattering results. The BW-GMSA and PKS-GMB emulsions had a lower nucleation rate in the bulk and a higher nucleation rate at the interface, resulting in a higher fraction of crystals adsorbed at the oil/water interface. This reduced the number of interfacial proteins and led to a high degree of partial coalescence and the formation of stable aerated networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stainless steel anchor channels with channel bolts (SSAC-CBs) have been chosen as alternatives to conventional carbon steel anchor channels to enhance corrosion resistance, ductility, and load-bearing capacity. This study evaluated the shear performance of SSAC-CBs embedded in concrete members under perpendicular and longitudinal shear loads using static monotonic tests. The failure modes and shear capacities of the specimens were compared with those obtained by finite element analysis (FEA) models established using ABAQUS. Concrete edge breakout failure accompanying the channel flexural yielding and channel bolt fracture dominated in the SSAC-CBs under perpendicular shear. The load–displacement curves for perpendicular shear exhibited four salient stages: initial linear elasticity, slippage, strain hardening, and damage and failure. Under longitudinal shear, the SSAC-CB specimens exhibited a failure of the serrations in the contact area between the serrated channel bolt head and channel lips and slip failure between the hook-type channel bolt and channel lips. In addition, the numerical analysis results indicated that the load-bearing capacities, initial elastic stiffnesses, and failure modes obtained through the FEA models were consistent with the test results. Furthermore, theoretical formulas were proposed for the shear capacity for SSAC-CBs under perpendicular and longitudinal shear. The research outcomes provide valuable guidance for the design and application of SSAC-CBs in engineering. • Experimentally investigated the shear behavior of SSAC-CBs in concrete members under shear loads. • Proposed a finite element model of the shear behavior of SSAC-CBs in concrete. • Proposed theoretical expressions of the shear capacities for SSAC-CBs in concrete members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The oxidation index raw pecan oil increased with storage time. • The oleosome structures were related to the degree of pecan kernel oxidation. • The hydrolysis of endogenous proteins, mainly oleosins, caused the rupture of the oleosomes. • Pecan kernel oil oxidation was accelerated by oleosome rupture. The oxidative stability of pecan kernels and its relationship with the in-vitro behavior of oleosomes during storage were analyzed. The oxidation index of oil extracted from pecans stored for 20 days increased significantly. At the same time oleosomes in pecans were damaged, indicating a relationship between oleosomes and the oxidative stability of pecans. The rupture of oleosomes increases contact between oil and oxygen leading to an acceleration of oil oxidation. Further analysis of oleosomes showed that their oil content decreased during storage while their particle size increased significantly. It is possible that hydrolysis of endogenous proteins, especially oleosins, was responsible for the rupture of oleosomes, as seen by Tricine-SDS-PAGE. As a result, the content of free fatty acids and oxidized triacylglycerols in oleosomes increased, whereas the polyunsaturated fatty acids content decreased significantly. An in-vitro model confirmed that rupture of oleosomes led to oil leakage and thus accelerated endogenous oil oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A copper-catalyzed trifunctionalization (trifluoromethylation, heteroarylation, and cyanation) of heteroaryl-substituted 1-hexenes via remote heteroaryl migration is reported. A variety of CF 3 and heteroaryl-containing nitriles were readily constructed under mild conditions. The reaction features high chemo- and regioselectivities and represents a convenient method for the synthesis of multifunctionalized molecules in organic synthesis., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Introduction: Cigarette package inserts that describe quitting benefits and tips may promote cessation; however, research is needed to understand better their effects, including potentially enhancing the effects of pictorial health warning labels (PHWLs)., Methods: A randomized trial with a 2×2 factorial design was conducted with adult smokers (n=356) assigned to either small text-only health warning labels (HWLs; control); inserts with cessation messages, and the small text-only HWLs (inserts-only); large PHWLs (PHWLs-only); both inserts and PHWLs (inserts + PHWLs). Participants received a 14-day supply of their preferred cigarettes with packs labeled to reflect their group. Upon finishing the trial, participants reported their past 14-day frequency of noticing, reading, thinking about smoking harms and cessation benefits, talking about labels, and forgoing cigarettes because of the labels. Ordered logistic models regressed these outcomes on labeling groups, and mediation analyses assessed whether attention (i.e. noticing, reading) to labels mediated effects of labeling exposure on other outcomes (i.e. thinking about harms/benefits, talking, forgoing)., Results: The inserts + PHWLs group reported higher frequencies than the control group for all outcomes. Compared to the control group, both the inserts-only and PHWLs-only groups reported higher frequency of noticing (AOR=3.53 and 2.46, respectively) and reading labels (AOR=2.89 and 1.71), thinking about smoking risks because of the labels (AOR=1.93 and 1.82), and talking about labels (AOR=2.30 and 2.70). Participants in the inserts-only group also reported more frequent thinking about quitting benefits (AOR=1.98). Attention mediated all labeling effects except for the contrast between PHWLs only and control., Conclusions: Compared to text-only HWLS, cigarette labeling that involves inserts, PHWLs, or both appears more effective at drawing attention to warnings, which mediated the effects on cessation-related psychosocial and behavioral outcomes., Competing Interests: The authors have completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. The authors declare that they have no competing interests, financial or otherwise, related to the current work. All the authors report that since the initial planning of the work, this study was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health. J.W. Hardin reports that in the past 36 months participated on scientific review board of Celgene (Bristol Myers Squibb), which is unrelated to this manuscript. E.E. Hackworth reports that in the past 36 months received support for attending meetings and travelling from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Society for the Study of Addiction, University of South Carolina. J.F. Thrasher reports that in the past 36 months there were grants or contracts from the UK Medical Research Council, the University of South Carolina, the Food & Drug Administration/NIH, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council and the American Cancer Society. In the past 36 months, he has also received consulting fees from the University of Stirling and has received payments for lectures/ presentations from the University of Alabama. He has also participated on the University of South Carolina Board for NIH for a funded clinical trial. Finally, J.F. Thrasher reports that in the past 36 months participated in the “Smokefree South Carolina” and the Tobacco Product Scientific Advisory Committee of the US Food and Drug Administration. J. Niederdeppe reports that in the past 36 months there were grants or contracts from the Agency for Research on Healthcare Quality (Grant to Cornell), Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (Multiple Grants to Cornell), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (Grant to Cornell) and the National Science Foundation (Grant to Cornell). In the past 36 months, he has also received Payment for service on academic panel during Policy Dissemination Science workshop from New York University, Honorarium for public lecture and keynote speech + travel reimbursement from Peking University, a small payment (which is standard) for service on several grant review panels from NIH Office of the Director. He also reports that he has travelled for several workshops and consensus committee report meetings paid for by the National Academies (no honoraria or consulting fee is part of this work) from the National Academy of Medicine, and has travelled to Monterrey for a 2-day meeting to inform public health investments for the Hayward Institute (received small honorarium as well) from the Hayward Institute. In the past 36 months, he has offered service on center grant EAB, including consulting payment and travel to one meeting/year from the University of North Carolina, and has offered service on center grant EAB, including consulting payment and travel to one meeting/year from the University of Wake Forest. Finally, J. Niederdeppe reports that in the past 36 months he had an unpaid role on BOD for local non-profit that provides mental health and wellness services from Family & Childrens Service of Ithaca. M. Kim reports that in the past 36 months there were grants or contracts from the National Institute of Drug Abuse and the Food and Drug Administration., (© 2024 Lambert V.C. et al.)

Purpose: To examine the potential association between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hyperuricemia and to elucidate the underlying contributory factors., Methods: Retrospective study on 603 women with PCOS and 604 women without PCOS. Anthropometric features, reproductive hormone profiles, and metabolic parameters were measured and compared between two groups of patients. Examinations of correlations between SUA levels and other parameters were conducted to discern potential correlations., Results: Both serum uric acid levels and the incidence of hyperuricemia exhibited statistically significant elevations in women with PCOS when compared to their counterparts without PCOS. Nonetheless, this statistical difference was not found between the obese subgroup after stratifying study subjects by body mass index (BMI). Pearson's correlation analysis underscored the prominence of BMI as a robust factor influencing SUA levels in women, regardless of their PCOS status. Furthermore, multivariable linear regression model demonstrated significant positive associations between SUA levels and several variables, namely dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), free androgen index (FAI), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), free fatty acids (FFA), fasting insulin (FINS), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), area under the curve for insulin (AUC-I), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Additionally, it is noteworthy that the prevalence of hyperuricemia exhibited a positive association with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels, while conversely, it displayed a negative association with estradiol (E2) levels., Conclusions: PCOS is associated with a significant elevation of SUA level and hyperuricemia prevalence. HA, IR, and dyslipidemia may be the mediators in the pathogenesis of hyperuricemia in women with PCOS., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Gong, Sun, Zhang, Zhu and Shi.)

Introduction: Little experimental research has evaluated whether the effects of cigarette package inserts with efficacy messages and/or pictorial health warning labels (PHWLs) differ across key subgroups of adults who smoke., Methods: Adults who reported currently smoking (n=367) were randomly assigned to one of four groups: small text-only health warning labels (HWLs) on pack sides (control); inserts with efficacy messages and small HWLs (inserts-only); PHWLs showing harms of smoking (PHWLs-only); both (inserts+PHWLs). Participants received a 14-day supply of cigarettes labeled to reflect their group. Every evening over two weeks, participants reported forgoing and stubbing out cigarettes before they finished smoking over the prior 24 hours, combined into a binary indicator of either behavior (e.g., forgoing/stubbing). Separate mixed-effects logistic models were estimated to evaluate moderation of labeling group contrasts (i.e., PHWLs vs not; inserts vs. not; inserts-only vs. inserts+PHWLs; PHWLs-only vs. inserts+PHWLs) by baseline covariates (self-efficacy to quit, intention to quit, education, health literacy, time discounting), predicting day-level forgoing/stubbing., Results: Education moderated PHWL effects, with PHWLs predicting more forgoing/stubbing only among those with low education (OR=4.68, p<0.001). Time discounting moderated insert effects, with inserts promoting fogoing/stubbing only among those with low time discounting (i.e., lower impulsivity; OR=4.35, p<0.001)., Conclusions: Inserts with efficacy messages appear effective mostly among people with low time discounting, whereas PHWLs appear most effective amongst those with low education, suggesting their potential to address education-related disparities. Labeling strategies appeared equally effective across subgroups defined by self-efficacy to quit, quit intention, and health literacy. Combining inserts with PHWLs did not appear to mitigate moderation effects., Implications: This randomized trial with adults who smoke suggests that cigarette packs with inserts describing cessation benefits and tips can promote cessation-related behaviors (i.e., forgoing or stubbing out cigarettes) among those with low time discounting (i.e., low impulsivity). Alternative interventions may be needed for people with high time discounting, as found in cessation trials. Pictorial health warning labels (PHWLs) appear most effective among those with low education, potentially addressing education-related disparities. No differential effects were found for those with different levels of self-efficacy to quit, quit intentions, or health literacy. Combining inserts and PHWLs may not be more effective than either alone., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Under the guidance of antioxidant evaluation combined with molecular networking, six pairs of enantiomeric lignans including seven undescribed ones (1a, 2a/2b-4a/4b), along with five known analogs (1b, 5a/5b-6a/6b) were isolated from Cimicifuga heracleifolia Kom. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic data analysis, including HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR, experimental and calculated ECD. All the enantiomeric isolates were evaluated for antioxidation by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2, 2'-azino-bis (3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radical scavenging tests. Compounds 1a and 3a/3b exhibited great DPPH and ABTS scavenging activities. The results are of great value for understanding structurally interesting enantiomeric lignans with antioxidant activity from C. heracleifolia in depth and providing its further development in functional evaluation and drug development., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Eucommiae Cortex is one of important traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) used in Asia for preventing and treating osteoporosis induced by estrogen deficiency. However, the low exposure of prototype components in Eucommiae Cortex in vivo is difficult to interpret its efficacy. Under the guidance of UPLC-Q/TOF-MS, 42 metabolites including 32 lignans and 10 phenolics, 21 of which were new compounds, were isolated from rat urine and feces after oral administration of aqueous extract of E. ulmoides Oliv. by various chromatographic techniques. Their structures were determined based on extensive physicochemical analyses and spectral data. Their absolute configurations were determined by experimental and calculated ECD spectra, along with the calculated NMR with DP4 evaluation. Additionally, all isolated metabolites were evaluated for their estrogen-like activities, and there are 15 metabolites having estrogen-like effects after assessing influences in MCF-7 cells. Further, Dual Luciferase Reporter Gene Assay was used to determine their activation with estrogen receptor, M10 and M11 mixtures, M14, M19, M33, M27, M31, M38-M41 could activate ERα, and M19 and M41 could activate ERβ. These results not only clarify the pharmacological substances of Eucommiae Cortex, but also provide a basis for guiding its clinical application., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Supercritical fluids (SCFs) can be found in a variety of environmental and industrial processes. They exhibit an anomalous thermodynamic behavior, which originates from their fluctuating heterogeneous micro-structure. Characterizing the dynamics of these fluids at high temperature and high pressure with nanometer spatial and picosecond temporal resolution has been very challenging. The advent of hard x-ray free electron lasers has enabled the development of novel multi-pulse ultrafast x-ray scattering techniques, such as x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) and x-ray pump x-ray probe (XPXP). These techniques offer new opportunities for resolving the ultrafast microscopic behavior in SCFs at unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution, unraveling the dynamics of their micro-structure. However, harnessing these capabilities requires a bespoke high-pressure and high-temperature sample system that is optimized to maximize signal intensity and address instrument-specific challenges, such as drift in beamline components, x-ray scattering background, and multi-x-ray-beam overlap. We present a pressure cell compatible with a wide range of SCFs with built-in optical access for XPCS and XPXP and discuss critical aspects of the pressure cell design, with a particular focus on the design optimization for XPCS., (© 2024 Author(s). All article content, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).)

Health status during the reproductive years influences fecundity, fertility, and the future health of males and their offspring. There remains a dearth of literature examining men's preconception health, especially among high-risk populations, such as those with disabilities. The objective of this study was to examine indicators of preconception health, including chronic medical conditions, lifestyle behaviors, and health care utilization, among males of reproductive age with and without disabilities in the United States. Data were from 3,702 males of reproductive age (18-44 years) who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 2013-2018. Approximately 14% of males reported having at least one disability related to vision, hearing, cognition, mobility, self-care, or independent living. Among all men, suboptimal preconception health indicators were prevalent including poor or fair self-rated health; low education and household income status; lack of health insurance and no recent utilization of health care and dental care; cigarette smoking; frequent alcohol consumption and binge drinking; marijuana and illegal drug use; obesity; low fruit and vegetable intake and no multi-vitamin use; low physical activity; short sleep durations; depressive symptoms; and hypertension and asthma. Compared to males with no disabilities, males with any disabilities were more likely to have suboptimal preconception health indicators. Strategies to promote and improve sexual health, preconception care, and family planning services among all men are needed. For males with disabilities, specifically, further investigation of their specific health needs related to sex, reproduction, family planning, and fatherhood, as well as interactions with health care providers, is required.

Background: Sneathia amnii is a conditional pathogen of the female genital tract that is involved in bacterial vaginosis and poor reproductive and perinatal outcomes. Few studies have reported subcutaneous cysts following invasive infection caused by S amnii., Case Presentation: Here we report the case of a 27-year-old woman who presented with Bartholin's gland cyst due to S amnii infection, and was successfully treated with surgical neostomy and antibiotic agents. The isolate was gram-negative, bacillary, anaerobic, and was identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the 16 S rRNA., Conclusions: S amni is an important but underappreciated pathogen that needs further investigation. This report describes the microbial and pathogenic characteristics of S amnii and is expected to provide a valuable reference in obstetric and gynecologic clinical practice., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Fats are essential in healthy diets, but how dietary fats affect immune cell function and overall health is not well understood. Mimicking human high-fat diets (HFDs), which are rich in different fatty acid (FA) components, we fed mice various HFDs from different fat sources, including fish oil and cocoa butter. Mice consuming the fish oil HFD exhibit a hair-loss phenotype. Further studies show that omega-3 (n-3) FAs in fish oil promote atypical infiltration of CD207 - (langerin - ) myeloid macrophages in skin dermis, which induce hair loss through elevated TNF-α signaling. Mechanistically, epidermal fatty acid binding protein (E-FABP) is demonstrated to play an essential role in inducing TNF-α-mediated hair loss by activating the n-3 FA/ROS/IL-36 signaling pathway in dermal resident macrophages. Absence of E-FABP abrogates fish oil HFD-induced murine hair loss. Altogether, these findings support a role for E-FABP as a lipid sensor mediating n-3 FA-regulated macrophage function and skin health., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Vision-based detection and tracking of surgical instrument are attractive because it relies purely on surgical instrument already in the operating scenario. The vision knowledge of the surgical instruments is a crucial piece of topic for surgical task understanding, autonomous robot control and human-robot collaborative surgeries to enhance surgical outcomes. In this work, a novel method has been demonstrated by developing a multitask lightweight deep neural network framework to explore surgical instrument articulated joint detection. The model has an end-to-end architecture with two branches, which share the same high-level visual features provided by a lightweight backbone while holding respective layers targeting for specific tasks. We have designed a novel subnetwork with joint detection branch and an instrument classification branch to sufficiently take advantage of the relatedness of surgical instrument presence detection and surgical instrument articulated joint detection tasks. The lightweight joint detection branch has been employed to efficiently locate the articulated joint position with simultaneously holding low computational cost. Moreover, the surgical instrument classification branch is introduced to boost the performance of joint detection. The two branches are merged to output the articulated joint location with respective instrument type. Extensive validation has been conducted to evaluate the proposed method. The results demonstrate promising performance of our proposed method. The work represents the feasibility to perform real-time surgical instrument articulated joint detection by taking advantage of the components of surgical robot system, contributing to the reference for further surgical intelligence., (© 2022. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine.)

The utilization of mechanical energy to control water pollutants under dark conditions is currently a point of study focus. Herein, biochar -zinc oxide (BC-ZnO) composites with various structures were synthesized by co-pyrolysis of cotton and ZnO at different temperature and used for tribo-catalytic reaction. The introduction of BC can improve charge transmission and separation efficiency. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectra (UPS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculation prove the addition of BC can reduce work function of ZnO, and enhance its electron-donating ability. Specially, suitable adsorption amount is the key factor to improve the tribo-catalytic performance. When the pyrolysis temperature is 600 °C, BC-ZnO has the best degradation efficiency, which can degrade 90% Rhodamine B (RhB) in 75 min, while ZnO can degrade only 38%. On this basis, using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model, the effect of tribo-catalytic reaction on controlling proteins in water was studied by fluorescence excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy (3D EEM) and infrared microscope, and the transformation of proteins was further analyzed. This study provides a new strategy to improve the tribo-catalytic performance of ZnO, and explores its application prospects of biological wastewater control., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Multidentate carboxylate ligands have been widely used in the construction of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) owing to the rich variety of their coordination modes, which can lead to crystalline products with interesting structures and properties. Two new main-group MOFs, namely, poly[[di-μ-aqua-diaqua(dimethylformamide)[μ 7 -5,5'-methylenebis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzene-1,3-dicarboxylato)]dibarium(II)] trihydrate], {[Ba 2 (C 23 H 20 O 8 )(C 3 H 7 NO)(H 2 O) 4 ]·3H 2 O} n or {[Ba 2 (BTMIPA)(DMF)(H 2 O) 4 ]·3H 2 O} n (1), and poly[[diaqua[μ 6 -5,5'-methylenebis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzene-1,3-dicarboxylato)]dilead(II)] 2.5-hydrate], {[Pb 2 (C 23 H 20 O 8 )(H 2 O) 2 ]·2.5H 2 O} n or {[Pb 2 (BTMIPA)(H 2 O) 2 ]·2.5H 2 O} n (2), were prepared by the self-assembly of metal salts with the semi-rigid tetracarboxylic acid ligand 5,5'-methylenebis(2,4,6-trimethylisophthalic acid) (H 4 BTMIPA). Both structures were characterized by elemental analysis (EA), single-crystal X-ray diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), IR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Complex 1 reveals a three-dimensional (3D) flu network formed via bridging tetranuclear secondary building units (SBUs) and complex 2 displays a 3D framework with an sqp topology based on one-dimensional metal chains. The BTMIPA 4- ligands adopt a rare coordination mode in 2, although the ligands in both 1 and 2 are X-shaped. The luminescence properties of both complexes were investigated in the solid state.

Purpose: The knowledge of laparoscope vision can greatly improve the surgical operation room (OR) efficiency. For the vision-based computer-assisted surgery, the hand-eye calibration establishes the coordinate relationship between laparoscope and robot slave arm. While significant advances have been made for hand-eye calibration in recent years, efficient algorithm for minimally invasive surgical robot is still a major challenge. Removing the external calibration object in abdominal environment to estimate the hand-eye transformation is still a critical problem., Methods: We propose a novel hand-eye calibration algorithm to tackle the problem which relies purely on surgical instrument already in the operating scenario for robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery (RMIS). Our model is formed by the geometry information of the surgical instrument and the remote center-of-motion (RCM) constraint. We also enhance the algorithm with stereo laparoscope model., Results: Promising validation of synthetic simulation and experimental surgical robot system have been conducted to evaluate the proposed method. We report results that the proposed method can exhibit the hand-eye calibration without calibration object., Conclusion: Vision-based hand-eye calibration is developed. We demonstrate the feasibility to perform hand-eye calibration by taking advantage of the components of surgical robot system, leading to the efficiency of surgical OR.

In recent years, coordination polymers constructed from multidentate carboxylate ligands and N-containing ligands have attracted much attention since these ligands can adopt a rich variety of coordination modes which can lead to crystalline products with intriguing structures and interesting properties. A new coordination polymer, namely poly[[diaqua[μ-2,7-bis(1H-imidazol-1-yl)fluorene-κ 2 N 3 :N 3' ][μ-5,5'-methylenebis(3-carboxy-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoato)-κ 2 O 1 :O 1' ]zinc(II)] hemihydrate], {[Zn(C 23 H 22 O 8 )(C 19 H 14 N 4 )(H 2 O) 2 ]·0.5H 2 O} n , 1, was prepared by the self-assembly of Zn(NO 3 ) 2 ·6H 2 O with 5,5'-methylenebis(2,4,6-trimethylisophthalic acid) (H 4 BTMIPA) and 2,7-bis(1H-imidazol-1-yl)fluorene (BIF) under solvothermal conditions. The structure of 1 was determined by elemental analysis, single-crystal X-ray crystallography, powder X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Each Zn II ion is six-coordinated by two O atoms from two H 2 BTMIPA 2- ligands, by two N atoms from two BIF ligands and by two water molecules, forming a distorted octahedral ZnN 2 O 4 coordination geometry. Adjacent Zn II ions are linked by H 2 BTMIPA 2- ligands and BIF ligands, leading to the formation of a two-dimensional (2D) (4,4)-sql network, and intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions connect the 2D layer structure into the three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular structure. Each 2D layer contains two kinds of helices with the same direction, which are opposite in adjacent layers. The luminescence properties of complex 1 in the solid state have also been investigated.

It is clear that obesity increases the risk of many types of cancer, including breast cancer. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms by which obesity is linked to cancer risk remain to be defined. Herein, we report that circulating adipose fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) promotes obesity-associated breast cancer development. Using clinical samples, we demonstrated that circulating A-FABP levels were significantly increased in obese patients with breast cancer in comparison with those without breast cancer. Circulating A-FABP released by adipose tissue directly targeted mammary tumor cells, enhancing tumor stemness and aggressiveness through activation of the IL-6/STAT3/ALDH1 pathway. Importantly, genetic deletion of A-FABP successfully reduced tumor ALHD1 activation and obesity-associated mammary tumor growth and development in different mouse models. Collectively, these data suggest circulating A-FABP as a new link between obesity and breast cancer risk, thereby revealing A-FABP as a potential new therapeutic target for treatment of obesity-associated cancers., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Skin lipids (e.g., fatty acids) are essential for normal skin functions. Epidermal FABP (E-FABP) is the predominant FABP expressed in skin epidermis. However, the role of E-FABP in skin homeostasis and pathology remains largely unknown. Herein, we utilized the 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene and 12-O-tetradecanolyphorbol-13-acetate-induced skin tumorigenesis model to assess the role of E-FABP in chemical-induced skin tumorigenesis. Compared to their wild-type littermates, mice deficient in E-FABP, but not adipose FABP, developed more skin tumors with higher incidence. 12-O-tetradecanolyphorbol-13-acetate functioning as a tumor promoter induced E-FABP expression and initiated extensive flaring inflammation in skin. Interestingly, 12-O-tetradecanolyphorbol-13-acetate -induced production of IFN-β and IFN-λ in the skin tissue was dependent on E-FABP expression. Further protein and gene expression arrays demonstrated that E-FABP was critical in enhancing IFN-induced p53 responses and in suppressing SOX2 expression in keratinocytes. Thus, E-FABP expression in skin suppresses chemical-induced skin tumorigenesis through regulation of IFN/p53/SOX2 pathway. Collectively, our data suggest an unknown function of E-FABP in prevention of skin tumor development, and offer E-FABP as a therapeutic target for improving skin innate immunity in chemical-induced skin tumor prevention., (Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Transgenic mouse model with fluorescently labeled sperm has extensive application value. It is an auxiliary tool for investigating the mechanism of fertilization, especially for visualizing the oviduct-migrating ability of sperm in vivo. Here, we produced transgenic mouse lines whose sperm were tagged with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) according to the previously described method. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of tail-tip genomic DNA identified 13 founders, of which 5 male founders produced offspring to form transgenic lines. We showed that EGFP was testis-specifically expressed, sharing similar expression pattern with endogenous acrosin. It has luminal side restricted distribution in seminiferous tubules and acrosomal aggregation in mature sperm. In addition, interstrain hybridization obtained Prss37(-/-)EGFP(tg/+) males produced sperm with impaired oviduct-migrating ability as visualized under fluorescence microscope, compared with Prss37(+/+)EGFP(tg/+) counterparts. These results indicate that a transgenic mouse model with fluorescently labeled sperm has been successfully established and it is a useful tool for evaluating the oviduct-migrating ability of sperm., (© The Author 2015. Published by ABBS Editorial Office in association with Oxford University Press on behalf of the Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences.)