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For a class of nonlinear filtration equation with nonlinear second-third boundary value condition, it is shown that a priori boundary of the solution can be estimated and controlled by initial data and integral on the boundary of the region. The priori estimate of the solutions was established by iterative method. By using this estimate the solutions may blow-up on the boundary of the region and thus it may have asymptotic non-stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recently, Peinado proposed a modification on Lee–Hwang–Li’s public key authentication scheme. Peinado claimed that the modified scheme achieves non-repudiation of the user’s public key. However, we show that a dishonest user can forge his public key via the verification equation. Hence, Peinado’s scheme cannot achieve the non-repudiation service, like the previous versions. And then, an improved public key authentication scheme is proposed. Finally, we prove that our improved scheme can provide the non-repudiation service for the user’s public key. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: To provide non-repudiation of the user’s public key, Lee et al. proposed an improved public key authentication scheme for cryptosystems based on discrete logarithms in 2003. However, we demonstrate that a dishonest user can forge the public key via the verification equation. Therefore, this scheme cannot achieve the non-repudiation service like its previous versions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Recently, Zhang and Kim proposed an improved key authentication scheme [Appl. Math. Comput., in press]. Zhang and Kim claimed that the proposed key authentication scheme achieves the non-repudiation service. However, we show that a dishonest user can forge his public key via the verification equation. Hence this scheme cannot achieve the non-repudiation service like the previous variants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Recently, undeniable signature has received a significant attention and has been extensively researched in the cryptographic community. Many undeniable schemes have been proposed. However, most of previous proposed schemes are based on discrete logarithm cryptosystems. In this paper, we present conic analogy of the first undeniable RSA signature scheme proposed by Gennaro, Krawczyk and Rabin at Crypto''97, and propose the first threshold undeniable signature scheme based on conic. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Esophageal cancer is of high importance to occurrence, development, and treatment resistance. As evidenced by recent studies, pathways (e.g., Wnt/β-catenin, AMPK, and Hippo) are critical to the proliferation, differentiation, and self-renewal of esophageal cancer. In addition, the above pathways play a certain role in regulating esophageal cancer and act as potential therapeutic targets. Over the past few years, the function of lipid metabolism in controlling tumor cells and immune cells has aroused extensive attention. It has been reported that there are intricate interactions between lipid metabolism reprogramming between immune and esophageal cancer cells, whereas molecular mechanisms should be studied in depth. Immune cells have been commonly recognized as a vital player in the esophageal cancer microenvironment, having complex crosstalk with cancer cells. It is increasingly evidenced that the function of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is significantly correlated with abnormal lipid metabolism. In this review, the latest findings in lipid metabolism reprogramming in TME are summarized, and the above findings are linked to esophageal cancer progression. Aberrant lipid metabolism and associated signaling pathways are likely to serve as a novel strategy to treat esophageal cancer through lipid metabolism reprogramming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Satellite temporal resolutions are vital for the timely detection of phytoplankton blooms in inland waters using satellite observations due to rapid phytoplankton migration and reproduction. However, the effects of satellite temporal resolutions on the remote derivation of trends in phytoplankton have not yet been assessed. To address this issue, we first used the daily Moderate–resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)–derived phytoplankton blooms in a typical bloom–frequent lake (Lake Taihu, China) between 2001 and 2020 to simulate a series of phytoplankton bloom data sets with temporal resolutions of 2 days to 30 days. We then revealed the differences in the trends of the phytoplankton blooms and their responses to the climatic factors derived from these data sets; we subsequently quantified the relationships between the differences and the temporal resolutions at daily, monthly, and yearly scales. We found that there were significant inconsistencies in the trends in the phytoplankton bloom areas derived from the simulated series data sets with different temporal resolutions; the relations of the MODIS–derived phytoplankton bloom areas to those derived from the simulated series data sets became weaker as the temporal resolutions of the simulated series data sets decreased; the responses of the phytoplankton blooms to the climatic factors quantified by the simulated series data sets were also varied with the temporal resolutions at daily, monthly, and yearly scales. These results from simulated data were also validated by satellite data of Lake Taihu, Lake Chaohu, and Lake Dianchi, three eutrophic lakes in China. In brief, our results cautioned against the use of satellite data with low temporal resolutions to reveal long–term phytoplankton–bloom dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major global health challenge, with high incidence and mortality rates. The role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in cancer progression has received considerable attention. The present study aimed to investigate the function and mechanisms underlying the role of lncRNA RP11-197K6.1, microRNA-135a-5p (hsa-miR-135a-5p), and DLX5 in CRC development. Methods: We analyzed RNA sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas Colorectal Cancer dataset to identify the association between lncRNA RP11-197K6.1 and CRC progression. The expression levels of lncRNA RP11-197K6.1 and DLX5 in CRC samples and cell lines were determined by real-time quantitative PCR and western blotting assays. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to confirm the cellular localization of lncRNA RP11-197K6.1. Cell migration capabilities were assessed by Transwell and wound healing assays, and flow cytometry was performed to analyze apoptosis. The interaction between lncRNA RP11-197K6.1 and miR-135a-5p and its effect on DLX5 expression were investigated by the dual-luciferase reporter assay. Additionally, a xenograft mouse model was used to study the in vivo effects of lncRNA RP11-197K6.1 on tumor growth, and an immunohistochemical assay was performed to assess DLX5 expression in tumor tissues. Results: lncRNA RP11-197K6.1 was significantly upregulated in CRC tissues and cell lines as compared to that in normal tissues, and its expression was inversely correlated with patient survival. It promoted the migration and metastasis of CRC cells by interacting with miR-135a-5p, alleviated suppression of DLX5 expression, and facilitated tumor growth. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the regulatory network and mechanism of action of the lncRNA RP11-197K6.1/miR-135a-5p/DLX5 axis in CRC development. These findings provided insights into the molecular pathology of CRC and suggested potential therapeutic targets for more effective treatment of patients with CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A neural network model needs to be manually designed for ancient mural dynasty recognition, and this paper proposes an ancient mural dynasty recognition algorithm that is based on a neural architecture search (NAS). First, the structural edge information of mural images is extracted for use by the neural network model in recognizing mural missions. Second, an NAS algorithm that is based on contrast selection (CS) simplifies the architecture search to an incremental CS and then searches for the optimal network architecture on the mural dataset. Finally, the identified optimal network architecture is used for training and testing to complete the mural dynasty recognition task. The results show that the top accuracy of the proposed method on the mural dataset is 88.10%, the recall rate is 87.52%, and the precision rate is 87.69%. Each evaluation index used by the neural network model is superior to that of classical network models such as AlexNet and ResNet-50. Compared with NAS methods such as ASNG and MIGO, the accuracy of mural dynasty recognition is higher by an average of 4.27% when using the proposed method. The proposed method is verified on CIFAR-10, CIFAR-100, ImageNet16-120 and other datasets and achieves a good recognition accuracy in the NAS-bench-201 search space, which averages 93.26%, 70.73% and 45.34%, respectively, on the abovementioned datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrolyte is critical for transporting lithium‐ion (Li+) in lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). However, there is no universally applicable principle for designing an optimal electrolyte. In most cases, the design process relies on empirical experiences and is often treated as highly confidential proprietary information. Herein, a solvation structure‐related model for the quantitative design of electrolytes is introduced, focusing on the principles of coordination chemistry. As a paradigmatic example, a high‐voltage electrolyte (i.e., 4.5 V vs anode) aimed at achieving a high energy density and fast charging LIB, which is specifically composed of an emerging, well‐constructed hybrid hard carbon‐silicon/carbon‐based anode, and lithium cobalt oxide cathode, is developed. Not only the functions of each electrolyte component at the molecular scale within the Li+ solvation structure are analyzed but also an interfacial model is introduced to elucidate their relationship with the battery performance. This study represents a pioneering effort in developing a methodology to guide electrolyte design, in which the mutual effects of the Li+ de‐solvation process and solid electrolyte interface (SEI) on the electrode surface are explored concurrently to understand the root cause of superior performance. This innovative approach establishes a new paradigm in electrolyte design, providing valuable insights at the molecular level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A simple polysaccharide injectable hydrogel was prepared based on Schiff base crosslinking. • Nano-hydroxyapatite could be uniformly composited in the hydrogel. • The composite hydrogel showed excellent compact bone repair effect. • The bone repair mechanism meets the concept of Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR). The biomaterials based injectable hydrogel showed great potential as bone tissue engineering scaffold for its biocompatibility, injectable nature and interconnected porous structure that favors loading bioactive substances or cells for bone repair. In this study, N-carboxyethyl chitosan (NCEC) and oxidized dextran (ODex) was synthesized to fabricate a simple polysaccharide injectable hydrogel based on Schiff base crosslinking (dynamic imine bonds), to composite nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAP) for rat cranial bone repair. The polysaccharide hydrogel displayed interconnected porous structure and suitable rheological properties for compositing nHAP. Biochemical properties of the hydrogel were not affected through the composition of nHAP. In vivo cranial bone repair results showed excellent bone repair effect of the composite materials, demonstrating the simply constructed polysaccharide hydrogel is suitable as bone tissue engineering scaffold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biohazard performance of Sr radionuclide can be significantly magnified by its release from the contaminated sedimentation. In this study, hydroxyapatite nanoparticle-functionalized activated carbon electrode (AC-HAP) was synthesized and stacked to the cathode compartment of the electrokinetic (EK) system to develop a unipolar three-dimensional (3D) electrochemical process for Sr2+ removal from spiked soils. Sr2+ adsorption by AC-HAP can be fitted by the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models and the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherm models. The largest monolayer adsorption capacity of AC-HAP of 69.49 mg g−1 was evaluated in the pH range of 10–12 and at 40 °C. 3D EK further intensified the adsorption process of AC-HAP and the corresponding Sr2+ removal from aqueous environments. Voltage gradients and proposing time had a significant effect on the migration and transmission of Sr2+ in the electrolyzer. The influence of competitive ions on Sr2+ removal in the stock solutions followed Al3+ < Mg2+ < K+ < Na+ < Ca2+ while followed Al3+ < Na+ < K+ < Mg2+ < Ca2+ in 3D EK. The first three cycles for AC-HAP had taken roughly 50% of the reusability percentage. Sr2+ removal from spiked samples in 3D EK was achieved by acid dissolution, electromigration, and selective uptake on particle electrode. Image 1 • Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles-loaded activated carbon electrode was synthesized. • AC-HAP was incorporated into a unipolar 3D electrokinetics to remove Sr2+ from soil. • 3D electrokinetic removal of Sr2+ was optimized in an orthogonal design. • Competitivity and repeatability in the adsorption process were quantitatively analyzed. • Mechanisms for Sr2+ removal from spiked soils in 3D electrokinetics were explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the development of a three-dimensional weld pool model in an attempt to study the fluid flow and heat transfer exprienced during the gas metal arc (GMA) welding process. Consideration of both droplet heat content and impact force; How the fluid flow in the weld pool was induced; Calculation of the surface deformation of weld pool; Discussion on the effect of heat flow and fluid characteristics on weld pool geometry.

The evolution of cooperative behavior is studied in the deterministic version of the Prisoners' Dilemma on a two-dimensional lattice. The payoff parameter is set at the critical region 1.8 < b < 2.0, where clusters of cooperators are formed in all spatial sizes. Using the factorial moments developed in particle and nuclear physics for the study of phase transition, the distribution of cooperators is studied as a function of the bin size covering varying numbers of lattice cells. From the scaling behavior of the moments a scaling exponent is determined and is found to lie in the range where phase transitions are known to take place in physical systems. It is therefore inferred that when the payoff parameter is increased through the critical region the biological system of cooperators undergoes a phase transition to defectors. The universality of the critical behavior is thus extended to include also this particular model of evolution dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Osteoblasts show a lower osteogenic potential during exposure to microgravity. • 427 circRNAs and 1912 mRNAs are modulated by microgravity in osteoblasts. • The dysregulated mRNAs are enriched in various GO terms and KEGG pathways. • As a gravity-sensitive circRNA, circ_014154 may play a vital role in osteoblasts. • CeRNA network reveals the potential connection of circRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a new class of non-coding RNA with a stable structure formed by special loop splicing. Research increasingly suggests that circRNAs play a vital role in the pathogenesis and progression of various diseases. However, the roles of circRNAs in osteoblast differentiation under microgravity remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the roles and mechanobiological response of circRNAs in osteoblasts under simulated microgravity. Differential circRNA and mRNA expression profiles of MC3T3-E1 cells during exposure to microgravity were screened by RNA transcriptome sequencing technology (RNA-seq). The selected RNAs were validated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were applied for gene function analyses. A total of 427 circRNAs and 1912 mRNAs were differentially expressed along with osteogenic differentiation in the simulated microgravity group (SMG) compared to the control group (CON). Of these, 232 circRNAs and 991 mRNAs were upregulated, whereas 95 circRNAs and 921 mRNAs were downregulated (fold change ≥ 2, p < 0.05). The results showed that the parental genes of circRNAs and mRNAs were mainly enriched in anatomical structure morphogenesis, anchoring junction and protein binding. KEGG analysis results showed that the differentially expressed mRNAs were enriched in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, focal adhesion, and Ras signalling pathway. Subsequently, 9 core regulatory genes, including 6 mRNAs and 3 circRNAs, were identified based on their possible function in osteoblast differentiation. Based on this analysis, circ_014154 was selected as the target circRNA, which likely plays important roles in osteogenic differentiation processes under microgravity. The circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network showed that circRNAs might act as miRNA sponges to regulate osteoblast differentiation. By presenting a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of genes and circRNAs in simulated microgravity, the present study will provide a novel view of circRNAs in the regulation of osteogenic differentiation and bone formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• High-speed multi-species optical diagnostic techniques and DMD analysis method are performed. • Continuous and whole volatile combustion process of the same particle is obtained. • The oscillation frequency characteristics of pulverized coal flame were captured. • Both oxygen concentration and particle aggregation have effects on the frequency characteristics. This paper investigated the oscillation characterization of volatile combustion of single coal particles using high-speed OH-PLIF and CH* chemiluminescence, meanwhile advanced data-driven algorithm as post-processing. The measurement region of in-situ 500 Hz OH-PLIF system was set to 53mm × 35 mm with a spatial resolution of ~23 µm per pixel, which was used to capture the continuous and whole volatile combustion process of single particle in a group of pulverized coal particles (SPGCP). A high-volatiles bituminous coal (30 wt%) burned at a gas temperature of 1700 K with oxygen mole fractions in the range of 10%–30%. The morphology of volatile flame and dynamic evolution was obtained. Dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) method can provide a new insight into combustion oscillation of pulverized coal. The oscillation frequency characteristics of pulverized coal flame were captured, and the red-shift phenomenon of dominant frequency with the increase of oxygen concentration was found. The particle aggregation might lead the low-frequency oscillation of pulverized coal combustion. On the contrary, individual or separated particle combustion could generate larger oscillation frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Sulfidation method affected the Fe0 content and Fe crystalline structure. • Sulfidation method affected the S speciation and distribution. • Co-sulfidized S-nZVI incorporated more sulfur than post-sulfidized S-nZVI. • S-in-Fe(1 1 0) can block more H adsorption sites than S-on-Fe(1 1 0). • Sulfidation blocked the H 2 evolution and enhanced the florfenicol dehalogenation. Recently, sulfidation of nanoscale zerovalent iron (S-nZVI) has become a potential remediation technology. However, the impact of sulfidation methods and actual sulfur content ([S/Fe] particle) on the physicochemical properties and the reactivity of S-nZVI remains unknown. Here, we synthesized S-nZVI via one co-sulfidation and three post-sulfidation methods to determine how different sulfur reagents and addition procedures affect the reactivity of S-nZVI for defluorination. The measured S amounts of co-sulfidized S-nZVI and post-sulfidized S-nZVI was much lower than their dose. Different sulfur reagents and sulfidation approach would affect the amount and speciation of sulfur in the particles. Sulfidation of nZVI improved the reactivity for dechlorination (up to 12-fold) and defluorination (up to 3-fold) of florfenicol (FF), but inhibited the reactivity with water (up to 31-fold). Density functional theory calculations showed that sulfidation increases the hydrophobicity of materials, and the amount and nature of sulfur affect the hydrophobicity and the number of blocked H sites. S-nZVI particles with more S2− and S 2 2− species showed faster dechlorination and defluorination of FF. Up to ~ 45% of FF was defluorinated by S-nZVI after 15 days reaction at room temperature and pressure. The [S/Fe] particle and Fe0 content was responsible for the initial and long-term defluorination, respectively. These results suggest that S-nZVI could be a promising agent for defluorination, and the sulfur reagents and sulfidation approach would affect its properties and reactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to accurately analyze and evaluate multi-index and multi-route traffic schemes for comparison and selection, we introduce herein a comprehensive weight and an intelligent selection algorithm for traffic scheme optimization to improve upon the shortcomings of common qualitative and quantitative analysis methods. Firstly, we establish an evaluation index system of transportation by traffic scheme considering the factors of technology, ecological environment, social environment, and economy, based on the whole life cycle. Secondly, the comprehensive weight based on subjective and objective factors is constructed. Finally, we establish an optimization method for transportation schemes by using the comprehensive weight and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) model. The results show that the evaluation index system based on the whole life cycle is more comprehensive and accurate. The comprehensive weight vector avoids the defects of single weight methods and makes full use of subjective data and expert opinions. The comprehensive weight vector is introduced into the decision-maker's preference coefficient, so that analysts can determine the scheme according to the subjective and objective information and to the required accuracy. This method uses a large number of evaluation groups to evaluate the scheme, and the evaluation results show greater objectivity and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insecticidal proteins encoded by the truncated genes from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in transgenic crops are released into soil mainly through root exudate and crop residues. In the present study, Bt Cry1Ac protein was hydrolyzed by pronase that was secreted by the soil bacterium Streptomyces griseus. Six peptides were identified as the products of enzymatic hydrolysis by nano liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). One of the six peptides was labeled with radioactive isotope iodine-125 and then purified. The 125I-peptide solution was irrigated to the rhizosphere soil of watermelon seedlings (Citrullus lanatus L.) and wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum L.), which the two crops usually intercrop with cotton in China. Detection of radioactivity in both plant tissues within one hour proved adsorption, uptake and translocation of the peptide into watermelon and wheat seedlings. Three of the identified peptides were sprayed onto the seedling leaves of watermelon, wheat and maize (Zea mays L.) in the field or the growth chamber. No significant effects on plant growth were observed. These peptides also did not affect growth of organic phosphate-dissolving, nitrogen-fixing, and potassium-dissolving bacteria in the culture. This study provides a new view of GMO risk assessment methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Properly scoring protein-protein docking models to single out the correct ones is an open challenge, also object of assessment in CAPRI (Critical Assessment of PRedicted Interactions), a community-wide blind docking experiment. We introduced in the field CONSRANK (CONSensus RANKing), the first pure consensus method. Also available as a web server, CONSRANK ranks docking models in an ensemble based on their ability to match the most frequent inter-residue contacts in it. We have been blindly testing CONSRANK in all the latest CAPRI rounds, where we showed it to perform competitively with the state-of-the-art energy and knowledge-based scoring functions. More recently, we developed Clust-CONSRANK, an algorithm introducing a contact-based clustering of the models as a preliminary step of the CONSRANK scoring process. In the latest CASP13-CAPRI joint experiment, we participated as scorers with a novel pipeline, combining both our scoring tools, CONSRANK and Clust-CONSRANK, with our interface analysis tool COCOMAPS. Selection of the 10 models for submission was guided by the strength of the emerging consensus, and their final ranking was assisted by results of the interface analysis. Results: As a result of the above approach, we were by far the first scorer in the CASP13-CAPRI top-1 ranking, having high/medium quality models ranked at the top-1 position for the majority of targets (11 out of the total 19). We were also the first scorer in the top-10 ranking, on a par with another group, and the second scorer in the top-5 ranking. Further, we topped the ranking relative to the prediction of binding interfaces, among all the scorers and predictors. Using the CASP13-CAPRI targets as case studies, we illustrate here in detail the approach we adopted. Conclusions: Introducing some flexibility in the final model selection and ranking, as well as differentiating the adopted scoring approach depending on the targets were the key assets for our highly successful performance, as compared to previous CAPRI rounds. The approach we propose is entirely based on methods made available to the community and could thus be reproduced by any user. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Sulfidation changed the surface chemistry, hydrophobicity, and reactivity of nZVI. • Surface S/Fe and hydrophobicity of S-nZVI were correlated to its reactivity. • Sulfidation improved the anti-aging property of nZVI in water. • nZVI maintained high electron efficiency for denitration after aging in water. • S-nZVI maintained high electron efficiency for dechlorination after aging in water. Sulfidized nanoscale zerovalent iron (S-nZVI) has been reported to be highly reactive towards lots of contaminants. However, the effects of surface chemistry evolution (e.g. surface S/Fe) and hydrophobicity on its reactivity and selectivity towards the reduction of different functional groups on contaminants are unclear. Here, the reactivity and electron selectivity of aged nZVI and S-nZVI in water for the denitration of chloramphenicol (CAP) and dechlorination of florfenicol (FF) were investigated. The reactivity of nZVI for the denitration of CAP was greatly inhibited after sulfidation, and the k obs, CAP by nZVI decreased along with the aging time. However, the reactivity of nZVI for the dechlorination of FF was significantly improved after sulfidation, and the k obs, FF by S-nZVI firstly increased then decreased with the aging time, which was correlated well with the evolution of S/Fe molar ratio on the surface. S-nZVI with higher hydrophobicity was proved to be more reactive for the dechlorination of FF but less reactive for the denitration of CAP. Interestingly, the electron efficiencies of CAP denitration by nZVI and FF dechlorination by S-nZVI were both maintained >99% no matter the materials were fresh or aged. These results revealed that the sulfidation would change the physicochemical properties and reactivity of nZVI, and it is of great importance to measure the surface chemical composition and hydrophobicity of S-nZVI and apply the materials with appropriate target contaminants to maximum the electron utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nanofibrous membranes grafted with acrylic acid and acrylamide on its surface were used as an absorbent to remove Cu2+ in the aqueous solution. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nanofibrous membranes grafted with acrylic acid and acrylamide on its surface were used as an absorbent to remove Cu2+ in the aqueous solution. Factors influencing the adsorption of Cu2+, including the initial metal concentration and pH value, were investigated. SEM images show that the membranes possess geometrically uniform and defect-free nanofibrous structure. FT-IR indicates carboxyl and acryl amino groups were successfully grafted on the surface of PET membranes. The result of the water contact angle (WCA) proves that PET nanofibrous membranes successfully changed from the hydrophobic to hydrophilic membranes. XPS spectra confirm the presence of Cu2+ adsorbed on the surface of the modified membranes. PET nanofibrous membranes with surface modified with carboxyl and acryl amino groups offer specific functional groups enable effective, high capacity, strong sorption of Cu2+ and high reusability. This study extended the type of adsorbent for removing heavy metal ions Cu2+ from aqueous solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research on precipitation stable isotopes is beneficial for gaining insight into the water cycle in the monsoon region. However, the variability of monsoon and lack of high-resolution collection of precipitation stable isotopes in the monsoon region has been posing a limitation on learning the controlling factors on its variations. This study collects the daily precipitation stable isotopes in Guiyang from April 2022 to March 2023. The research results show that the precipitation stable isotopes display seasonal variations with the slope and intercept of the fitted local meteoric water line (LMWL) being 8.9 and 19.69, respectively. During the year, precipitation δ18O has a weak negative correlation with precipitation amount and temperature, but the correlation between precipitation δ18O and local environmental factors is not as significant as the one between precipitation δ18O and precipitation amount and outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) of the upstream area. During the monsoon season (MS), as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) migrates northward, the oceanic water vapor and upstream convective activity cause the decrease in precipitation stable isotopes. While during the non-monsoon season (NMS), the local circulation water vapor becomes the dominant water vapor source, leading to the increase in precipitation stale isotopes. The above studies demonstrate that water vapor sources and upstream convective activities play a critical role on variations of precipitation stable isotopes in Guiyang, which can provide basic information for future research on the water cycle in the monsoon region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rubidium isotope analysis and isotope ratio determination are significant in the fields of environmental monitoring and geological dating. A measurement system for rubidium isotope analysis was constructed by combining tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy with the redox reduction sample processing method. The system reduced the Doppler effect of the spectra via a micro-channel array structure and verified the collimation performance by the rubidium D1 line (794.98 nm, minimum isotope shift 2 pm). In addition, to increase the detection sensitivity of the system, the self-designed open optical multi-pass cell was used in rubidium absorption spectroscopy. The optimum distribution of the MPC spot was determined by analyzing the absorption intensity of atoms at various spatial positions. The results show that the multi-pass approach increased the spectral signal intensity by 6.3 times and signal-to-noise ratio by 3.8 times compared to single-path direct absorption. Based on optimized experimental conditions, the relative deviation and LOD of the system were 1.16% and 0.94‰ (3σ), respectively. This study applied the multi-pass cell to atomic absorption spectroscopy for the first time, providing an innovative and alternative high-sensitivity detection method for the ratio analysis of rubidium and other metal isotopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, to promote the separation of photogenerated carriers, prevent the catalyst from photo-corrosion, and improve the photo-Fenton synergistic degradation of organic pollutants, the coating structure of FeOOH/BiO2−x rich in oxygen vacancies was successfully synthesized by a facile and environmentally friendly two-step process of hydrothermal and chemical deposition. Through a series of degradation activity tests of synthesized materials under different conditions, it was found that FeOOH/BiO2−x demonstrated outstanding organic pollutant degradation activity under visible and near-infrared light when hydrogen peroxide was added. After 90 min of reaction under photo-Fenton conditions, the degradation rate of Methylene Blue by FeOOH/BiO2−x was 87.4%, significantly higher than the degradation efficiency under photocatalysis (60.3%) and Fenton (49.0%) conditions. The apparent rate constants of FeOOH/BiO2−x under photo-Fenton conditions were 2.33 times and 3.32 times higher than photocatalysis and Fenton catalysis, respectively. The amorphous FeOOH was tightly coated on the layered BiO2−x, which significantly increased the specific surface area and the number of active sites of the composites, and facilitated the improvement of the separation efficiency of the photogenerated carriers and the prevention of photo-corrosion of BiO2−x. The analysis of the mechanism of photo-Fenton synergistic degradation clarified that ·OH, h+, and ·O2− are the main active substances involved in the degradation of pollutants. The optimal degradation conditions were the addition of the FeOOH/BiO2−x composite catalyst loaded with 20% Fe at a concentration of 0.5 g/L, the addition of hydrogen peroxide at a concentration of 8 mM, and an initial pH of 4. This outstanding catalytic system offers a fresh approach to the creation and processing of iron-based photo-Fenton catalysts by quickly and efficiently degrading various organic contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact crater is the most dominant geomorphic structural units over the planetary surface and its accurate extraction is of great significance to investigate the evolution of the Moon, the impact history of the solar system and the space environment. Through the impact crater's identification, especially small-scale, and their spatial distribution characteristics, the impact flux, morphological characteristics, age of impact craters and surface degradation can be revealed. Therefore, this paper presents an automatic method for the impact crater detection, especially small-scale ones, using anchor-free deep learning. Due to the limitation of traditional object proposals for detecting different types of impact craters, we retrain the anchor-free CenterNet model using a transfer learning strategy, where the detection task of impact crater is formulated into the detection of its center point and regression of its property (i.e., size) without non-maximal suppression. We select the stacked Hourglass network as backbone to aggregate different levels of feature for enhancing the capability of estimating the impact crater centers. Moreover, we find the center points of impact craters on the image features' heatmap only based on their locations, instead of box overlap, which allows us to detect different types of impact craters, even the impact craters that contain other impact craters. The model is trained in an end-to-end manner and applied to detect the impact craters on the lunar images between ±50° of latitude, with the spatial resolution of 100 m/pixel, from Wide Angle Camera (WAC) onboard Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission. The obtained results are compared relative to an existing crater database both qualitatively and quantitatively that suggests the reliability and robustness of the developed method in the automatic detection of small-scale impact craters, where the smallest one is 500 m. Moreover, the developed method is capable to detect different types of impact craters, including dispersal and connective ones, with the recall of 73.66% and precision of 78.27% compared with an existing crater database. The code is publicly available at https://github.com/ShuoweiZhang/crater_detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advancements in brain–machine interfaces and neurological treatments urgently require the development of improved brain electrodes applied for long-term implantation, where traditional and polymer options face challenges like size, tissue damage, and signal quality. Carbon nanotubes are emerging as a promising alternative, combining excellent electronic properties and biocompatibility, which ensure better neuron coupling and stable signal acquisition. In this study, a new flexible brain electrode array based on 99.99% purity of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) was developed, which has 30 um × 40 um size, about 5.1 kΩ impedance, and 14.01 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The long-term implantation experiment in vivo in mice shows the proposed brain electrode can maintain stable LFP signal acquisition over 12 weeks while still achieving an SNR of 3.52 dB. The histological analysis results show that SWCNT-based brain electrodes induced minimal tissue damage and showed significantly reduced glial cell responses compared to platinum wire electrodes. Long-term stability comes from SWCNT's biocompatibility and chemical inertness, the electrode's flexible and fine structure. Furthermore, the new brain electrode array can function effectively during 7-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging, enabling the collection of local field potential and even epileptic discharges during the magnetic scan. This study provides a comprehensive study of carbon nanotubes as invasive brain electrodes, providing a new path to address the challenge of long-term brain electrode implantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed weight is an important target trait in pomegranate breeding and culture. Expansins act by loosening plant cell walls and cellulosic materials, permitting turgor-driven cell enlargement. However, the role of expansin genes (EXPs) in pomegranate seed weight remains elusive. A total of 29 PgrEXPs were identified in the 'Dabenzi' genome. These genes were classified into four subfamilies and 14 subgroups, including 22 PgrEXPAs, 5 PgrEXPBs, 1 PgrEXPLA, and 1 PgrEXPLB. Transcriptome analysis of PgrEXPs in different tissues (root, leaf, flower, peel, and seed testa) in 'Dabenzi', and the seed testa of the hard-seeded pomegranate cultivar 'Dabenzi' and soft-seeded cultivar 'Tunisia' at three development stages showed that three PgrEXPs (PgrEXPA11, PgrEXPA22, PgrEXPA6) were highly expressed throughout seed development, especially in the sarcotesta. SNP/Indel markers of these PgrEXPs were developed and used to genotype 101 pomegranate accessions. The association of polymorphic PgrEXPs with seed weight-related traits (100-seed weight, 100-kernel weight, 100-sarcotesta weight, and the percentage of 100-sarcotesta to 100-seed weight) were analyzed. PgrEXP22 was significantly associated with 100-seed weight and 100-sarcotesta weight and is a likely candidate for regulating seed weight and sarcotesta development in particular. This study provides an effective tool for the genetic improvement of seed weight in pomegranate breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Chromoplasts act as a metabolic sink for carotenoids, in which plastoglobules serve as versatile lipoprotein particles. PGs in chloroplasts have been characterized. However, the features of PGs from non‐photosynthetic plastids are poorly understood. We found that the development of chromoplast plastoglobules (CPGs) in globular and crystalloid chromoplasts of citrus is associated with alterations in carotenoid storage. Using Nycodenz density gradient ultracentrifugation, an efficient protocol for isolating highly purified CPGs from sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) pulp was established. Forty‐four proteins were defined as likely comprise the core proteome of CPGs using comparative proteomics analysis. Lipidome analysis of different chromoplast microcompartments revealed that the nonpolar microenvironment within CPGs was modified by 35 triacylglycerides, two sitosterol esters, and one stigmasterol ester. Manipulation of the CPG‐localized gene CsELT1 (esterase/lipase/thioesterase) in citrus calli resulted in increased lipids and carotenoids, which is further evidence that the nonpolar microenvironment of CPGs contributes to carotenoid accumulation and storage in the chromoplasts. This multi‐feature analysis of CPGs sheds new light on the role of chromoplasts in carotenoid metabolism, paving the way for manipulating carotenoid content in citrus fruit and other crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CrAlN coatings and CrAlON coatings with varying oxygen content were prepared on the surface of TC4 using multi-arc ion plating. Oxygen introduction resulted in the formation of a (CrAl)(ON) solid solution, leading to finer coating grains and enhanced corrosion resistance. Following a 240-hour immersion in an alternating hydrostatic pressure (AHP) environment, the coatings retained strong adhesion to the substrate. Moreover, they displayed varied improvements in surface hardness and corrosion resistance. The CrAlN coating's improved performance is due to the formation of a surface passivation film, while the high‑oxygen CrAlON coating's enhancement is primarily attributed to filling surface defects with corrosion products under static water pressure. • Oxygen refines the grains of CrAlN coating and improves the corrosion resistance. • Tomography techniques characterized 3D hardness distribution. • In the AHP environment, coating shows stable adhesion and enhanced corrosion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light-oxygen-voltage (LOV) proteins play an important role in blue-light-dependent physiological processes in many organisms. The LOV domain of the blue-light receptor YtvA from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FZB42 has been purified and crystallized at 277 K using the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method with 2-ethoxyethanol as a precipitant. A data set was collected to 1.60 Å resolution from a single crystal at 100 K using synchrotron radiation. The LOV domain of YtvA crystallized in space group C2221, with unit-cell parameters a = 64.95, b = 83.76, c = 55.81 Å. The crystal structure of the LOV domain of YtvA was determined by the molecular-replacement method. The crystal contained one molecule per asymmetric unit, with a Matthews coefficient ( VM) of 3.04 Å3 Da−1; the solvent content was estimated to be 59.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Creating new nanostructured materials inspired by biomaterials is one of the most fascinating topics owing to their fantastic properties. Herein, we synthesize a new hollow aurilave-like carbon using the natural spores of Lycoperdon Boavista (SLBs) as hard-template, where the heteroatom of nitrogen and oxygen can be in-situ doped simultaneously. The hollow N/O-co-doped carbon (HNOC) has a high specific surface area and is rich in defects, enabling high performances in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) and supercapacitors (SCs). A high sodium storage capacity of 246 and 107 mAh g−1 with superior stability over 1000 cycles can be achieved at the rates of 0.1 and 2 A g−1, respectively. Besides, the high rate capacity of 260 F g−1 at 5 A g−1 and extraordinary cycling stability over 10,000 cycles are also demonstrated in SCs. The great features of HNOC are further studied versus Na 3 V 2 (PO 4) 3 cathode in a sodium ion full battery, where the excellent stability and span life are both confirmed. We hope this newly-designed carbon material could complement the structure-related properties in electrochemistry, and also the presented synthetic strategy can be widely extended for designing more functional materials with greater capabilities. Image 1 • Bio-inspired hollow Aurilave-like carbon in-situ doped by N and O is introduced. • High performances of HNOC is confirmed in sodium batteries and in supercapacitors. • New sodium-ion battery of HNOC.| Na 3 V 2 (PO 4) 3 with greater capabilities is presented. • Structural-related performance analysis is performed to understand the behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Urea pretreatment of biomass realized aqueous or gaseous ammonia treatment effect. • Unwashed corn stover after pretreatment was used for anaerobic digestion directly. • Urea treatment at low and high solids loading achieved comparable lignin removal. • Urea pretreatment evidently enhanced the methane production of corn stover. • Delignification kinetics of corn stover conformed to three first-order reactions. Solids loading is a key factor in aqueous or gaseous ammonia production from urea. Methane production from urea-pretreated corn stover, as well as the physicochemical characteristics and delignification kinetics of the corn stover, were investigated with four solids loading values (10%–70%) and five ratios of urea to corn stover (1:100–7:10) at 35 °C for 6 weeks. A 1:20 ratio of urea to corn stover was optimal for achieving high lignin removal with ≤50% solids loading, and 7:10 was optimal with 70% solids loading. Under the two optimal conditions, 85.56% and 82.35% of cellulose and 85.76% and 85.49% of hemicellulose were retained. The maximum lignin removal rates of 69.67% and 68.27% and methane production of 294.70 and 292.56 L/kg volatile solids (VS) were achieved, respectively. The delignification kinetics of the urea-pretreated corn stover conformed to three first-order reactions. Most of the lignin was degraded within the first 3 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless sensor networks have been widely adopted, and neighbor discovery is an essential step to construct the networks. Most existing studies on neighbor discovery are designed on the assumption that either all nodes are fully connected or only two nodes compose the network. However, networks are partially connected in reality: some nodes are within radio range of each other, while others are not. Low latency and energy efficiency are two common goals, which become even more challenging to achieve at the same time in partially connected networks. We find that the collision caused by simultaneous transmissions is the main obstruction of achieving the two goals. In this paper, we present an efficient algorithm called Panacea to address these challenges by alleviating collisions. To begin with, we design Panacea-NCD (Panacea no collision detection) for nodes that do not have a collision detection mechanism. When n is large, we show the discovery latency is bounded by O (n · ln n) for any duty cycle (the percentage time to turn on the radio), where each node has n neighbors on average. For nodes that can detect collisions, we then present Panacea-WCD which also bounds the latency within O (n · ln n) slots. Finally, we conduct extensive evaluations and the results also corroborate our analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate that using neoprene as a binder during the fabrication of TiO2-coated fabrics enhances the rates of photodegradation of dyes by the fabrics. The neoprene binder simultaneously modifies the surface of the TiO2 particles with Cl and dopes the TiO2 with Cl, without requiring high temperatures or other harsh laboratory treatments. The adsorption of chlorine on the surface and doping of the lattice with chlorine were confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The chloride ions adsorbed onto the TiO2 surface introduces a negative surface charge that enhances electrostatic adsorption of cationic dyes, and greatly improves the self-sensitizing degradation performance of the dyes. Chloride ions replace lattice oxygen atoms in TiO2, inducing lattice oxygen vacancies, that reduce the apparent band gap of the TiO2 particles, enhancing its absorption of visible light, and further increasing the photocatalytic activity of the composite-coated fabric. The degradation rates of RhB and MB over 50 min were 95.2% and 96.0%, respectively. The degradation rate for MO reached 95.4% after 180 min. We also show that •OH and •O2− are active agents in the dye-degradation mechanism. Moreover, the photocatalytic performance of the composite-coated fabric was unchanged after eight cycles of photocatalytic degradation of RhB, demonstrating that the photocatalyst-coated fabrics was highly recyclable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diffraction peak shift toward a large angle in Co doped CsPbCl 3 NCs with increasing Co doping concentration is observed in XRD patterns, indicating the doping of Co ions in lattice of NCs. The photoluminescence enhancement of Co doped and Co and Mn codoped CsPbCl 3 NCs with different Co doping concentration is demonstrated, respectively. • Intrinsic and Mn codoped CsPbCl 3 perovskite NCs with Co doping were synthesized. • The photoluminescence quantum yields of CsPbCl 3 NCs were improved. • The photoluminescence quantum yields of Mn doped CsPbCl 3 NCs were enhanced. • The emission enhancement is related to reduction of nonradiative defects through Co ion doping. In this work, the effects of Co2+ ions on the structural and luminescent properties of intrinsic and Mn doped CsPbCl 3 NCs were studied by using photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The undoped and Mn doped CsPbCl 3 NCs with various Co/Pb molar ratios were synthesized at 190 °C. It was found that the quantum yields of purple emissions in these CsPbCl 3 NCs were greatly enhanced up to 30% after Co2+ ions were doped. The diffraction peaks in XRD patterns shifted to a large angle with the increase of Co/Pb molar ratio, indicating Co doping in Pb-site. Further both intrinsic and Mn doped CsPbCl 3 NCs exhibited uniform cubes with average sizes of 8–10 nm and good crystallinity after Co doping. The enhancement of purple emissions from excitons in the CsPbCl 3 NCs was related to the reduction of nonradiative defects in these NCs through Co2+ doping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modulated nanoparticle-coating surfaces were fabricated by an improved electrophoretic deposition technique in this study. Pool boiling experiments were studied for HFE-7200 on the modulated nanoparticle-coating surfaces, with a smooth surface and uniform coating surfaces as comparison. It was found that the present modulated coating surfaces can enhance the heat transfer coefficient and the critical heat flux by 60% and 20%–40%, respectively, in comparison to the smooth surface, while the uniform coating surface can improve heat transfer coefficients by maximum 100%, but cannot enhance critical heat fluxes. Heat transfer on the modulated nanoparticle-coating surfaces was theoretically analyzed by a mechanistic model which considered free convection, transient conduction and microlayer evaporation. The heat transfer can be predicted by the model, especially at low-to-moderate heat fluxes. Additionally, referring to the bubble visualization at critical heat fluxes, possible mechanisms to trigger critical heat fluxes were discussed. Afterwards, a critical heat flux model originating from the Zuber hydrodynamic instability model, was employed to predict the experimental results, showing a good prediction ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In-situ fabrication of nanocomposites facilitates the dispersion of nanofillers in organic matrixes by decreasing the agglomeration of nanofillers compared to a mechanical mixing method. UHMWPE nanocomposites filled SiO 2 nanospheres (SNS) were in-situ fabricated by a sol-gel method in this work. Their sliding coefficient of friction and wear rate were determined by a high-speed ring-block wear test apparatus against 45# steel under dry friction conditions, and the tribological behaviors at elevated temperature were tested by a slurry abrasion wear configuration. The in-situ filled SiO 2 nanospheres presented an excellent dispersion on UHMWPE, and the fabricated SNS/UHMWPE nanocomposites were found a remarkable enhancement in stiffness, glass transition temperature and hydrophobicity. Furthermore, the SNS/UHMWPE nanocomposites exhibited markedly improved tribological performances than the matrix UHMWPE and the referenced sample prepared by a mechanical mixing method: the sliding coefficient of friction was reduced by over 50% than that of the pristine UHMWPE against a 45# steel ring under dry friction, and the mass wear rate was ca. 59% of the UHMWPE matrix determined by a water-bath mortar at an elevated temperature. Image 1 • An in-situ fabrication method of nanocomposites is disclosed. • The silica nanospheres were in situ filled into UHMWPE in liquid phase. • The filled silica nanospheres were well dispersed and combined with UHMWPE. • The COF against 45# steel and wear rate in sand slurry were markedly reduced. • The content of aqueous ammonia and the loading of nanofillers were key points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Co-based catalyst is a great candidate for the hydrogenation of CO2. Herein, a support-free nanoporous Co catalyst with high surface area and hierarchical pores was prepared by chemical dealloying, which exhibited excellent performance in the reverse water–gas shift (RWGS) reaction. High conversion of 54.2% and RWGS reaction rate of 812 μmolCO2/gcat/s could be obtained at a high weight hourly space velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel framework to extract metro tunnel cross sections (profiles) from Terrestrial Laser Scanning point clouds. The entire framework consists of two steps: tunnel central axis extraction and cross section determination. In tunnel central extraction, we propose a slice-based method to obtain an initial central axis, which is further divided into linear and nonlinear circular segments by an enhanced Random Sample Consensus (RANSAC) tunnel axis segmentation algorithm. This algorithm transforms the problem of hybrid linear and nonlinear segment extraction into a sole segmentation of linear elements defined at the tangent space rather than raw data space, significantly simplifying the tunnel axis segmentation. The extracted axis segments are then provided as input to the step of the cross section determination which generates the coarse cross-sectional points by intersecting a series of straight lines that rotate orthogonally around the tunnel axis with their local fitted quadric surface, i.e., cylindrical surface. These generated profile points are further refined and densified via solving a constrained nonlinear least squares problem. Our experiments on Nanjing metro tunnel show that the cross sectional fitting error is only 1.69 mm. Compared with the designed radius of the metro tunnel, the RMSE (Root Mean Square Error) of extracted cross sections' radii only keeps 1.60 mm. We also test our algorithm on another metro tunnel in Shanghai, and the results show that the RMSE of radii only keeps 4.60 mm which is superior to a state-of-the-art method of 6.00 mm. Apart from the accurate geometry, our approach can maintain the correct topology among cross sections, thereby guaranteeing the production of geometric tunnel model without crack defects. Moreover, we prove that our algorithm is insensitive to the missing data and point density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonmetallic doping and in situ growth techniques for designing electrode materials with excellent electrocatalytic activity are effective strategies to enhance the electrochemical performance. Bifunctional electrode materials for supercapacitors (SCs) and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) have attracted great interest due to their potential applications in green energy storage and conversion. Herein, the bimetallic MnCo LDH is anchored on a hollow sulfur (S)-doped MnCo-MOF-74 surface, forming a poplar flower-like 3D composite which is used for SCs and the HER in alkaline media. The fabricated S-MnCo-MOF-74@MnCo LDH/NF electrode exhibits a favorable specific capacitance of 1875.4 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 and steady long-term cycling performance. Moreover, the assembled HSC using S-MnCo-MOF-7@MnCo LDH/NF as the cathode material and active carbon (AC) as the anode material shows 546.4 F g−1 capacitance (1 A g−1) with a maximum energy density of 58 W h kg−1 at 14 000 W kg−1 power density. As an electrocatalyst, S-MnCo-MOF-7@MnCo LDH/NF exhibits excellent HER properties with a small Tafel slope of 128.9 mV dec−1 a low overpotential of 197 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and durable performance for 10 hours in alkaline media. The present work provides insights into understanding and designing active electrode materials for stable hydrogen evolution and high-performing supercapacitors in an alkaline environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been shown to improve gut dysbiosis in dogs; however, it has not completely been understood in police dogs. This study aimed to investigate the effects of FMT on performance and gut microflora in Kunming police dogs. Twenty Wolf Cyan dogs were randomly assigned to receive physiological saline or fecal suspension at low, medium, or high doses through oral gavage for 14 days. Growth performance, police performance, serum biochemical profiling, and gut microflora were determined 2-week post-FMT. Dogs after FMT treatment were also subjected to an hour road transportation and then were evaluated for serum stress indicators. Overall, FMT enhanced the growth performance and alleviated diarrhea rate in Kunming dogs with the greatest effects occurring in the low dose FMT (KML) group. The improvement of FMT on police performance was also determined. These above alterations were accompanied by changed serum biochemical parameters as indicated by elevated total protein and albumin and reduced total cholesterol and glycerol. Furthermore, the serum stress indicators after road transportation in dog post-FMT significantly decreased. Increased bacterial diversity and modified bacterial composition were found in the feces of dogs receiving FMT. The fecal samples from FMT dogs were characterized by higher abundances of the genera Lactobacillus, Prevotella, and Fusobacterium and lower concentrations of Cetobacterium, Allobaculum, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcus. The present study supports a potential benefit of FMT on police performance in Kunming dogs. Key points: • FMT improves the growth performance and reduces diarrhea rates in Kunming police dogs. • FMT alleviates the serum stress profiles after road transportation in Kunming police dogs. • FMT modifies the gut microbiota composition of Kunming police dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The robust identification and quantification of various biomarkers is of utmost significance in clinical diagnostics and precision medicine. Fluorescent immunoassays are widely used and considered as a gold standard for biomarker detection due to their high specificity and accuracy. However, current commercial immunoassay tests suffer from limited detection sensitivity and complicated, labor-intensive operation procedures, making them impractical for point-of-care diagnosis, particularly in resource-limited regions. Recently, microfluidic immunoassay devices integrated with plasmonic nanostructures have emerged as a powerful tool for sensitive detection of biomarkers, addressing specific issues, such as integration schemes, easy operation, multiplexed detection, and sensitivity enhancement. In this paper, we provide a discussion on the recent advances in the plasmonic nanostructures integrated with microfluidic devices for fluorescent immunoassays. We shed light on the nanofabrication strategies and various fluidic designs for rapid, sensitive, and highly efficient sensing of antigens. Finally, we share our perspectives on the potential directions of these integrated devices for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been shown to improve gut dysbiosis in dogs; however, it has not completely been understood in police dogs. This study aimed to investigate the effects of FMT on performance and gut microflora in Kunming police dogs. Twenty Wolf Cyan dogs were randomly assigned to receive physiological saline or fecal suspension at low, medium, or high doses through oral gavage for 14 days. Growth performance, police performance, serum biochemical profiling, and gut microflora were determined 2-week post-FMT. Dogs after FMT treatment were also subjected to an hour road transportation and then were evaluated for serum stress indicators. Overall, FMT enhanced the growth performance and alleviated diarrhea rate in Kunming dogs with the greatest effects occurring in the low dose FMT (KML) group. The improvement of FMT on police performance was also determined. These above alterations were accompanied by changed serum biochemical parameters as indicated by elevated total protein and albumin and reduced total cholesterol and glycerol. Furthermore, the serum stress indicators after road transportation in dog post-FMT significantly decreased. Increased bacterial diversity and modified bacterial composition were found in the feces of dogs receiving FMT. The fecal samples from FMT dogs were characterized by higher abundances of the genera Lactobacillus, Prevotella, and Fusobacterium and lower concentrations of Cetobacterium, Allobaculum, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcus. The present study supports a potential benefit of FMT on police performance in Kunming dogs. Key points: • FMT improves the growth performance and reduces diarrhea rates in Kunming police dogs. • FMT alleviates the serum stress profiles after road transportation in Kunming police dogs. • FMT modifies the gut microbiota composition of Kunming police dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultra‐high dose rate radiotherapy (FLASH‐RT) has emerged as a novel tool for cancer radiotherapy owing to its extremely rapid radiation delivery to target species. Although FLASH‐RT can protect normal tissues and organs, tumor self‐protection mechanisms limit its therapeutic effect, thus necessitating technological improvement. Here, a multipathway ferroptosis‐enhanced radioimmunotherapeutic strategy that combines single‐atom nanozyme (SAzyme)‐based GSH depletion and CO gas therapy is reported. Personalized FLASH radioimmunotherapy is achieved through encapsulation of the carbon monoxide donor (MnCO)‐loaded porous Pd‐C SAzyme (SM) within 4T1 cancer cell membranes (CSM). Camouflaging with the cancer cell membrane enables the navigation of the MnCO‐loaded Pd‐C SAzyme to the tumor region via homologous targeting. There, it releases MnCO, which generates CO from overexpressed H2O2 to induce mitochondrial apoptosis. Furthermore, the generated CO and Pd‐C SAzyme oxidized glutathione and downregulates glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) expression to induce ferroptosis. The palladium in the SAzyme of the CSM further enhances the photoelectric effects of FLASH‐RT. The CSM‐mediated FLASH‐RT also invokes potent antitumor immunity, suppressing distant tumors, and immune memory, inhibiting tumor recurrence. This work presents a unique personalized nanozyme and CO gas synergistic approach wherein FLASH radioimmunotherapy avoids damage of normal tissues while simultaneously inducing ferroptosis for orthotopic tumor treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine whether interrupting prolonged sitting with three different activity breaks has both acute and chronic effects on postprandial lipid metabolism immediately after the activity‐break period and on the following day, this study is a secondary analysis of an experimental research, which included 16 sedentary healthy adults (7 men, 24 ± 3 years, BMI 22.2 ± 2.3 kg/m2) who completed four 26‐h laboratory trials. Participants spent 22.5 hours in a whole room calorimeter for testing energy expenditure (EE), including a 9‐h activity‐break period: (a) 9‐h prolonged sitting (SIT); (b) 3 minutes of brisk walking (60% VO2max) in between every 30‐min sitting bout (WALK3), (c) 5 minutes every 45‐min (WALK5), and (d) 8 minutes every 60‐min (WALK8). Total area under the curve (tAUC) and incremental AUC (iAUC) for 2‐h postprandial serum triglyceride (TG) levels and non‐esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels were examined immediately after the 9‐h trial (post‐dinner) and the next morning (post‐breakfast). WALK8 reduced the post‐breakfast TG tAUC by 11% (P =.041) relative to SIT, and the effect was attenuated after adjustment for EE. The tAUC and iAUC indicated no significant treatment effects on post‐dinner TG and NEFA, and post‐breakfast NEFA in any of the activity‐break trials. EE was positively associated with the post‐breakfast NEFA iAUC (unstandardized β = 0.17 µmol/L/MJ [0.05‐0.28], P =.006). There was a chronic effect of interrupting sitting with short bouts (8 minutes) of brisk walking every 60 minutes on postprandial lipemia the following morning after intervention, and higher activity bout‐induced EE may be more effective in sedentary, healthy adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae cultivation in wastewater is an economic way to solve environment problems. This study determined the effects of unsterilized chicken manure biogas slurry (UCMBS) on microalgal cultivation. UCMBS (at ratios of 10, 20, and 30%) was mixed with a BG11 culture medium to cultivate Chlorella pyrenoidosa (CP) and C. vulgaris (CV) as experimental microalgal species. Both these species adapted well to the biogas slurry culture environment after a short inhibition period, when the UCMBS addition ratios were lower at 10% and 20%. However, when the UCMBS addition ratio was higher (30%), the growth status of CP was better than that of CV. Compared with CV, CP was more adaptable to a high-concentration biogas slurry culture environment. Under the experimental conditions, the addition of 20% UCMBS resulted in better CV growth and comprehensive removal efficiency of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, chemical oxygen demand, and ammonia nitrogen than the addition of 10 and 30% UCMBS did. The maximum total nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, total phosphorus, and chemical oxygen demand removal rates of the system were 90.6, 95.8, 93.5, and 89.8%, respectively. This study therefore provides fundamental information for further optimization and use of unsterilized biogas slurry to cultivate microalgae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]