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Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is frequently linked to genetic abnormalities, with the t (8; 21) translocation, resulting in the production of a fusion oncoprotein AML1-ETO (AE), being a prevalent occurrence. This protein plays a pivotal role in t (8; 21) AML's onset, advancement, and recurrence, making it a therapeutic target. However, the development of drug molecules targeting AML1-ETO are markedly insufficient, especially used in clinical treatment. In this study, it was uncovered that Neratinib could significantly downregulate AML1-ETO protein level, subsequently promoting differentiation of t (8; 21) AML cells. Based on "differentiated active" probes, Neratinib was identified as a functional inhibitor against HNRNPA3 through covalent binding. The further studies demonstrated that HNRNPA3 function as a putative m6A reader responsible for recognizing and regulating the alternative splicing of AML-ETO pre-mRNA. These findings not only contribute to a novel insight to the mechanism governing post-transcriptional modification of AML1-ETO transcript, but also suggest that Neratinib would be promising therapeutic potential for t (8; 21) AML treatment. [Display omitted] • Neratinib could down-regulate the expression of AML1-ETO and induce differentiation of t (8; 21) AML cells. • Neratinib was identified as inhibitor against HNRNPA3, which was identified as m6A reader. • Neratinib targeted HNRNPA3 to impair its recognizing and regulating the alternative splicing of AML-ETO pre-mRNA. • Neratinib could significantly triggered the differentiation of patients' primary AML cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field-assisted laser cladding (FALC) overcomes the limitations of laser cladding through the inherent advantages brought about by the use of various auxiliary energy fields (AEFs). Laser wire cladding (LWC) is limited by the common problems of laser cladding but has a promising future due to the extremely high material utilization rate. In this study, a laser shock assisted laser wire cladding (LSALWC) manufacturing process was proposed. In situ laser shock was introduced into the LWC to obtain finer grains structure and improve product performance. LSALWC does not change the composition of the coating, does not require the use of pretreatment and post-treatment, and does not reduce the efficiency of production. Using high manganese steel (HMS) as the model alloy, LSALWC was employed to achieve the expectation of reducing the proportion of columnar grains, refine the microstructure of columnar grains, and transform columnar grains into equiaxed grains. Compared with the sample (LC) manufactured by LWC, the performance of the sample (LSA) manufactured by LSALWC has been improved, the hardness increased from 285 ± 5 HV 0.5 to 303 ± 6 HV 0.5 , the volume wear rate decreased from 2.1 × 10−4 mm3/N·m to 1.7 × 10−4 mm3/N·m, the primary dendrite spacing of the coating was reduced by 11.5%, and the heterogeneity of coating was more obvious. The cladding process under laser shock was studied using a high-speed camera, and the influence of laser shock on the coating was explained. The mechanism of the performance improvement of the LSA sample was explained. This study showed the disturbance of the molten pool was enhanced by laser shock, and the dendrites at the bottom were deflected or even broken. The broken dendrites were dispersed with the liquid flow and became new nucleation sites. Laser shock increased the supercooling during solidification by reducing the temperature gradient in the molten pool, and created an environment conducive to grain nucleation and growth. This process mitigates various issues in the casting process of HMS and provides a novel method for regulating the grain and microstructure of laser cladding. This research delves into the coupling between the AEF and the dynamic behavior of the molten pool, culminating in a model depicting the evolution of laser cladding solidification under the influence of the AEF, which will provide a new perspective for the research of FALC. [Display omitted] • High manganese steel coating was prepared. • Coating was prepared by laser shock assisted laser wire cladding. • A high-speed camera was used to observe the laser shock on the molten pool. • The solidification process evolution of the coatings was studied in detail. • Property improvement caused by the change of the solidification process was studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asexual eukaryotes tend to occupy broader geographical ranges than their sexually reproducing relatives, with this phenomenon seemingly linked to ecological differentiation among closely related asexual and sexual lineages. Here, we used sympatric asexual and sexual Corbicula lineages to assess their ecological niche divergence and genetic differentiation within East and Southeast Asia. The predicted suitable area for asexual lineages was concentrated to Southern China, South Korea, Japan and a small region in Thailand and Vietnam, while that for sexual lineages mainly covered the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines as well as Indonesia. Potential sympatric distribution of both lineages was found in the Yangtze River Basin in China, the Central and Southern Japan. Anthropogenic activity was an important variable for the distribution of asexual lineages, while precipitation variables underpinned that of sexual lineages. Although both lineages had distinct distribution patterns, the identity and similarity tests overall indicated that the asexual and sexual lineages had similar niche. Genetic analyses suggested that 348 COI sequences from 47 populations were separated into two major clusters; one consisted of sexual lineages, and the other comprised asexual lineages across all studied regions and minor sexual lineages from China. The present study suggests that sexual and asexual Corbicula lineages have similar ecological niches accompanying COI genetic differentiations in East and Southeast Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The AlCoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy (HEA) coating was synthesized by laser cladding and subsequently processed by ultrasonic surface rolling extrusion (USRE) with varying static loads of 100 N, 200 N, and 300 N. This study aimed to explore the effects of static load on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and tribological characteristics of the coatings. The findings indicate that increased static load results in the precipitation of martensitic phases, grain refinement, enhanced microhardness, and an elevated dislocation density. Specifically, after USRE with 300 N static load, the coating's microhardness reaches 753 HV, 1.4 times greater than the un-USRE coating. This enhancement is attributed to the synergistic effect of martensite phase transformation, grain refinement, and dislocation strengthening. The volume wear rate of the coating decreases to 1.31 × 10−4 mm3·N−1·m−1 following USRE at 300 N, demonstrating superior resistance to abrasive wear due to the high microhardness. Besides, the high-density dislocations facilitate rapid migration and diffusion of oxygen elements, thereby enhancing the oxide layer's protective properties and improving the coating's resistance to oxidation wear. • AlCoCrFeNi coatings were strengthened by ultrasonic surface rolling extrusion. • Martensitic phases were induced by ultrasonic surface rolling extrusion. • The effect of static load on the properties of the coatings was investigated. • The hardness was improved by martensite phase, fine grains, and dense dislocations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Strength and magnetic properties of silicon steel were optimized simultaneously. • Adversarial model was applied in silicon steel composition design. • The effect of alloying elements on properties was analyzed based on Association rule mining. Limitations on data volume and quality are key bottlenecks in using machine learning for property prediction and property-oriented composition design of non-oriented silicon steel. In response, this study employed a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) to generate virtual samples for enhancing the in-house experimental data, by which the generated virtual data well captured the distribution of the raw experimental data. As a result, compared with the model without data augmentation, the enhanced prediction model (composition → property) fitted by virtual samples improved its R 2 value from 0.52 to 0.86. Based on this model, a multi-properties-oriented (yield strength σ s , magnetic induction B 50 , and iron loss P 10/400) composition prediction model (property → composition) was established to rapidly discover high-performance non-oriented silicon steel. Experimental characterization and theory calculation of the explored candidate alloys exhibited that their yield strength was above 750 MPa, which primarily results from solid solution strengthening (50 %) and precipitation strengthening (36 %). Moreover, the alloys possessed magnetic induction B 50 of over 1.72 T and low core losses with P 10/400 of 12.1 W/kg (0.2 mm) and 17.0 W/kg (0.35 mm). Further microstructural characterization exhibited that such satisfactory performance is associated with copper (Cu)-rich nanoprecipitates that dramatically improved the yield strength without deteriorating the magnetic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This is the first study to examine the association between serum HE4 and disease severity and hepatic fibrosis in AIH. • Serum HE4 levels were found to be elevated in AIH-LC patients. • Serum HE4 was strongly correlated with the severity of hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis of AIH. • High levels of serum HE4 (≥82.34 pmol/L) were associated with poor outcome. • serum HE4 levels might be a novel biomarker of disease severity and hepatic fibrosis in AIH. Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) has been identified as a biomarker for renal fibrosis. This study aimed to evaluate the role of HE4 in the diagnosis and determination of disease severity and hepatic fibrosis in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Serum HE4 levels were determined via electrochemiluminescence immunoassays in 60 healthy controls and 109 AIH patients (43 without liver cirrhosis and 66 with liver cirrhosis). Liver biopsy was performed on 56 of 109 enrolled patients. We conducted a 5-year follow-up survey of 53 enrolled patients. All continuous variables were reported as median (25th–75th percentile). Serum HE4 levels were significantly elevated in autoimmune hepatitis with liver cirrhosis (AIH-LC) patients compared with AIH patients and healthy controls [98.60 (74.15–139.08) vs 73.50 (59.88–82.00) vs 48.75 (43.38–52.93) pmol/L, p = 0.004]. The serum HE4 levels showed a positive correlation with the METAVIR scoring system in patients with liver biopsy (r = 0.711, p < 0.001). Serum HE4 levels were significantly elevated in Child–Pugh class C patients compared with Child–Pugh class B patients and Child–Pugh class A patients [106.50 (83.46–151.25) vs 110.00 (73.83–166.75) vs 77.03 (72.35–83.33) pmol/L, p = 0.006]. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of serum HE4 for evaluating liver cirrhosis were 69.7 % and 79.07 %, respectively, with a cutoff value of 82.34 pmol/L in enrolled patients. The logistic regression analysis showed that high levels of HE4 (≥82.34 pmol/L) were associated with AIH-LC (OR = 8.751, 95 % CI = 1.412–54.225, p = 0.020). The Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated that high levels of serum HE4 (≥82.34 pmol/L) were associated with poor outcome (log-rank p = 0.037, HR = 0.372, 95 % CI = 0.146–0.946). Serum HE4 levels were found to be elevated in AIH-LC patients and exhibited a strong correlation with the severity of hepatic fibrosis, thus supporting their potential clinical value as a novel biomarker of disease severity and hepatic fibrosis in AIH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, buckypaper (BP) thin film sensor was used to monitor the health of Al 6061-T6 laser welded T-joint structure, including the strain and damage evolution of the joint during tension and bending. Al 6061-T6 T-joint was welded by laser welding technology. Laser welding technology of aluminum alloy is an advanced connection technology, which is of great significance for lightweight and efficient manufacturing of aerospace plate structure. BP sensor was prepared by using commercial multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) through dispersion, vacuum filtration and other processes. It has the advantages of simple manufacture, low cost, wide detection range and good stability. The experimental results indicate that the sensor has advantages such as high sensitivity, high stability, and repeatability. And the sensor can effectively monitor the strain and damage of the joint under tensile load. According to the resistance response of the sensor, three areas can be clearly identified, and joint damage can be predicted in advance. At the same time, sensors can also monitor the deformation of joints under bending, accurately reflecting the status of the joints. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to prepare a new bio-based chromium-free tanning agent. The green epoxide monocase ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE) was grafted with tannic acid (TA) derived from natural plant using the one-pot method to synthesize new plant polyphenol-derived tannic acid-based chromium-free tanning agents (TA-EGDE) with abundant terminal epoxides. FTIR, 1H NMR, XPS, GPC, SEM, and other analytical techniques were used to characterize tanning agents. These consequences manifested that EGDE was successfully grafted with the phenol hydroxyl group of TA. The epoxide value of TA-EGDE showed a tendency to increase and then decrease with increasing EGDE dosage, and the epoxide value of TA-EGDE-2 attained a maximum of 0.262 mol/100 g. GPC analysis showed that the formula weight of the prepared TA-EGDE was partially distributed above 5000 Da. The tanning experiment demonstrated that the shrinkage temperatures (Ts) of the TA-EGDE-tanned leathers were all higher than 81.5 °C. Compared with the traditional commercial chromium-free tanning agent (F-90, TWS), TA-EGDE-tanned leathers exhibited higher Ts and better mechanical properties. The TA-EGDE prepared in this study not only has ecological environmental protection but also provides finished leather with good moisture, heat resistance, and mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multi-core through steel wire reinforced brass composite rod was fabricated using a solid-liquid continuous casting and composite technique. Microstructure evolution, interface, mechanical properties, and deformation behavior of the composite rod during the room temperature tensile process were studied. The results showed that the steel wires in the composite rod were distributed in a regular hexagonal shape, forming a brass/steel interface with good metallurgical bonding. After annealing at 700 °C for 1h, the tensile strength of the composite rod was 376 MPa, and the elongation to failure was 46.3 %, whose tensile strength was 21 % higher than that of the brass cladding single steel wire composite rod with the same steel percentage. During uniform tensile deformation, each steel wire in the composite rod experienced a consistent and uniform tensile stress. When the tensile deformation became unstable, the central steel wire experienced the highest level of tensile stress, initially leading to the occurrence of necking and fracture. As the tensile strain increased, the brass grains underwent twisting and rotation. In addition, the steel grains were elongated along the tension direction, and the number of low-angle boundaries increased. The straight brass/steel interface was transformed into a wavy pattern with a good bonding interface, indicating that the composite rod exhibited excellent synergetic deformation capability. The mixing laws based on hybrid effects have good applicability to multi-core through steel wire reinforced brass composite rod, with a strength error of less than 7 %. • A multi-core through steel wire reinforced brass composite rod was fabricated by using a solid-liquid continuous casting and composite technique • After annealing at 700 °C for 1h, the tensile strength of the composite rod was 376 MPa, it was 21 % higher than that of the brass cladding single steel wire composite rod with the same steel percentage. • The mixing laws based on hybrid effects have good applicability to multi-core through steel wire reinforced brass composite rod [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium-ion battery is a kind of energy storage devices with complex internal reaction and many factors affecting its performance. Accurate prediction of its SOH (State of Health) is of great significance to prolong its service life and improve safety performance. However, the current prediction for SOH has the difficulties of selecting health factors and using data-driven methods with opaque mechanisms. In this paper, a data-driven model will be established with the capacity change during aging of lithium-ion batteries as a health indicator to realize precise prediction of capacity degradation. Firstly, the feature parameters were extracted and analyzed from the battery cyclic aging test dataset. Two in-situ nondestructive characterization methods, incremental capacity analysis curve and differential thermal voltammetry curve, were utilized to resolve the evolution paths of the feature parameters. After that, a data-driven battery capacity degradation estimation is realized based on the GEP (Gene Expression Programming) algorithm, the performance is compared with the existing vehicle-end and cloud-end models, and a higher-accuracy SOH stacking model is developed with an increase of less than 1 ms in computational time. The results indicated that the GEP model proposed in this paper has obvious advantages in terms of physical explain-ability, computational efficiency and robustness. • Establishing a high-precision battery SOH estimation model based on the GEP algorithm. • The relationship between ICA and DTV curves with aging evolution laws is revealed. • Fusion of GEP model with existing vehicle-end and cloud-end models using stacking strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The DNN model predicts the steady-state pollutant emissions from coal stoves well. • The GRU-DNN hybrid model shows higher accuracy and better generalization ability. • The trained DNN model is used to optimize coal decoupling combustion rapidly. • The optimal stove structure enables simultaneous suppression of NO and CO emissions. Decoupling combustion technology enables significant suppression of NO x and CO emissions from solid fuel combustion, but calls for optimizing reactor structure to make full use of its superiority. Taking a coal stove as an example, three different network models were established and trained to predict the steady-state NO and CO emissions from coal decoupling combustion well. The two GRU-DNN models have higher prediction accuracy and better generalization ability than the DNN model, but they both need to be fed with complex sequence data, leading to long training and response time to new inputs. The DNN model with simple fuel properties and structural parameters as the inputs was used to forecast the steady-state NO and CO emissions from various coal-stove combinations with acceptable accuracy, so facilitating the optimization of stove structure and further coal decoupling combustion to lower the NO and CO emissions simultaneously. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyethylene oxide (PEO) based polymer electrolytes have been widely used in solid-state lithium batteries (SSBs) owing to the high solubility of lithium salt, favourable ionic conductivity, flexibility for improved interfacial contact and scalable processing. In this work, we summarize the main limitations remaining to be solved before the large-scale commercialization of PEO-based SSBs, including (1) improving ionic conductivity toward high-rate performance and lower operating temperature, (2) enhancing mechanical strength for improved lithium dendrite resistance and large-scale processing, (3) strengthening electrochemical stability to match high energy density electrodes with high voltage, and (4) achieving high thermal stability toward safe operation. Meanwhile, the characterization methods to investigate the ion transportation mechanism, lithium dendrite growth and decomposition reaction are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Cu-Ni-Si alloy containing (Ni + Si) ≥ 5 wt.%, with the addition of Cr, is fabricated by HCCM continuous casting and two steps of aging treatment. The evolution of the microstructures and precipitations, as well as the effect of Cr atoms, is studied in this paper. An excellent combination of mechanical property (hardness HV 250–270) and electrical conductivity (46–47 %IACS) is obtained by the first step aging at 500 °C for 0.25 h and the second step aging at 450 °C for 1 h. The cold rolling and aging process are directly conducted on the solution treated specimens fabricated by HCCM continuous casting process without hot deformation, since the excellent homogeneity of matrix is obtained by solution treatment with δ-Ni2Si precipitates dissolved. It is found that the formation of discontinuous precipitation is suppressed by the formation of Cr3Si cores of 5–10 nm before the formation δ-Ni2Si. Then, the nucleation and growth of δ-Ni2Si precipitates occurs around the boundaries of these Cr3Si cores, leading to an enhanced nucleation rate. This study provides a promising direction for the design and optimization of Cu-Ni-Si alloys based on the further understanding of the effect of the addition of Cr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The temperature has a significant influence on the performance of lithium‐ion batteries (LiBs). Meanwhile, the heat‐generated accumulation in the battery can trigger the battery's thermal runaway. Hence, the battery thermal management system (BTMS) is essential to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the battery. This paper comprehensively reviewed key technologies of BTMS and proposed a novel digital solution to improve the battery system performance. Firstly, the heat generation mechanisms and the thermal models were reviewed. Then, this paper focuses on a review of liquid cooling thermal management methods. Simultaneously, the solid‐liquid phase change gas‐liquid phase change is also summarized in the phase change material cooling system, and a summary is presented for the existing novel phase change cooling systems. Additionally, the preheating methods to heat the LiBs at low temperatures and the emergency battery thermal barriers upon thermal runaway were discussed. Eventually, a new approach for the BTMS leveraging from the Cyber Hierarchy and Interactional Network framework is indicated and constructed the digital twin reflecting physical battery to improve the LiBs temperature control strategies. Besides, this paper provides a new direction for the design of BTMS through vehicle‐side sensing, edge computing, and cloud‐based digital twin three levels. Novelty Statement: A state‐of‐the‐art digital solution for battery thermal management system.A comprehensive review of battery thermal management methods.A novel guidance scheme for the design of a battery thermal management system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu-Ni-Al–Fe-Mn alloy billets were prepared by heating–cooling combined mould (HCCM) continuous casting at different casting speeds. Then, the cold deformation behaviour of billets was studied by multi-pass cold rolling, and the effects of HCCM continuous casting on cold deformability were discussed by comparing with the mould casting (MC) alloy. The results show that HCCM continuous casting significantly improves the cold deformability of Cu-Ni-Al–Fe-Mn alloy billets. When the rolling reduction is 94%, HCCM continuous casting samples have good edge quality without obvious crack, while the MC sample has severe edge cracks. With the rolling reduction increasing from 40% to 94%, the elongation of the MC samples decreases from 6% to 2%, while that of HCCM continuous casting samples maintains in 6%∼9%, showing good continuous deformability. The HCCM continuous casting samples with lower casting speeds have [001] oriented columnar grains along the casting direction, which make the deformation mechanism change from nano-crystallization to parallel stacking faults. In the meanwhile, HCCM continuous casting improves deformation coordination of as-cast grains and restrains intergranular cracking, which is reflected in the influence on misorientation between as-cast grains and distribution of coarse NiAl phases. In addition, nano-twins found in the rolled MC sample promote the initiation and propagation of cracks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nicotine is the addictive substance in tobacco and it has a broad impact on both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Over the past decades, an increasing number of genes potentially involved in nicotine addiction have been identified by different technical approaches. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying nicotine addiction remain largely unclear. Under such situation, a comprehensive analysis focusing on the overall functional characteristics of these genes, as well as how they interact with each other will provide us valuable information to understand nicotine addiction. In this study, we presented a systematic analysis on nicotine addiction-related genes to identify the major underlying biological themes. Functional analysis revealed that biological processes and biochemical pathways related to neurodevelopment, immune system and metabolism were significantly enriched in the nicotine addiction-related genes. By extracting the nicotine addiction-specific subnetwork, a number of novel genes associated with addiction were identified. Moreover, we constructed a schematic molecular network for nicotine addiction via integrating the pathways and network, providing an intuitional view to understand the development of nicotine addiction. Pathway and network analysis indicated that the biological processes related to nicotine addiction were complex. Results from our work may have important implications for understanding the molecular mechanism underlying nicotine addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress plays a great role in the pathogenesis of heart failure (HF). Oxidative stress results in apoptosis, which can cause the damage of cardiomyocytes. Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), the third gasotransmitter, is a good reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger, which has protective effect against HF. Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) is a highly conserved nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent histone deacetylase that plays a critical role in promoting cell survival under oxidative stress. The purpose of this article is to investigate the interaction between H 2 S and SIRT1 under oxidative stress in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. Oxidative stress was induced by hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). Treatment with NaSH (25–100 µmol/L) dose-dependently increased the cell viability and improved the cell apoptosis induced by H 2 O 2 in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. The protective effect of NaSH against the apoptosis could be attenuated by SIRT1 inhibitor Ex 527 (10 µmol/L). Treatment with NaSH (100 µmol/L) could increase the expression of SIRT1 in time dependent manner, which decreased by different concentration of H 2 O 2 . NaSH (100 µmol/L) increased the cellular ATP level and the expression of ATPase. These effects were attenuated by Ex 527 (10 µmol/L). After NaSH (100 µmol/L) treatment, the decrease in ROS production and the enhancement in SOD, GPx and GST expression were observed. Ex 527 (10 µmol/L) reversed these effects. In conclusion, for the first time, this article can identify antioxidative effects of H 2 S under oxidative stress through SIRT1 pathway in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CD90 (Thy-1) plays important roles in oncogenesis and shows potential as a candidate marker for cancer stem cells (CSCs) in various malignancies. Herein, we investigated the expression of CD90 in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC), with a comparison to normal pancreas and non-malignant pancreatic disease, by immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of tissue microarrays containing 183 clinical tissue specimens. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the correlation between CD90 expression and the major clinicopathological factors after adjustment of age and gender. The IHC data showed that CD90 was significantly overexpressed in PDAC and its metastatic cancers as compared to chronic pancreatitis and benign islet tumors, while it was negative in normal pancreas and 82.7% of adjacent normal pancreas tissues. The abundant CD90 expression was predominantly present in PDAC stroma, such as fibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells, which could serve as a promising marker to distinguish pancreatic adenocarcinoma from normal pancreas and non-malignant pancreatic diseases. Double immunostaining of CD90 with CD24, a CSC marker for PDAC, showed that there was little overlap between these two markers. However, CD90+ fibroblast cells were clustered around CD24+ malignant ducts, suggesting that CD90 may be involved in the tumor-stroma interactions and promote pancreatic cancer development. Furthermore, CD90 mostly overlapped with α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA, a marker of activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs)) in PDAC stroma, which demonstrated that CD90+ stromal cells consist largely of activated PSCs. Double immunostaining of CD90 and a vascular endothelial cell marker CD31 demonstrated that CD90 expression on vascular endothelial cells was significantly increased in PDACs as compared to normal pancreas and non-malignant pancreatic diseases. Our findings suggest that CD90 could serve as a promising marker for pancreatic adenocarcinoma where desmoplastic stroma plays an important role in tumor growth and angiogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kidney disease is emerging as an arsenic (As)-linked disease outcome, however further evidence of this association is warranted. Our first objective for this paper was to examine the potential renal toxicity of As exposure in Bangladesh. Our second objective relates to examining whether the previously reported positive association between urinary creatinine (uCrn) and As methylation may be explained by renal function. We had hypothesized that these associations relate to supply and demand for s-adenosylmethionine, the methyl donor for both creatine synthesis and As methylation. Alternatively, renal function could influence both As and creatinine excretion, or the As metabolites may influence renal function, which in turn influences uCrn. We conducted a cross-sectional study (N = 478) of adults, composed of a sample recruited in 2001 and a sample recruited in 2003. We assessed renal function using plasma cystatin C, and calculated the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Consistent with renal toxicity of As, log-uAs had a marginal inverse association with eGFR in the 2003 sample (b = −5.6, p = 0.07), however this association was not significant in the 2001 sample (b = −1.9, p = 0.24). Adjustment for eGFR did not alter the associations between uCrn and the %uAs metabolites, indicating that GFR does not explain these associations. Increased eGFR was associated with increased odds of having %uInAs >12.2% (2001: OR = 1.01, 95%CI (1.00,1.03); 2003: OR = 1.04, 95%CI (1.01,1.07)). In the 2003 sample only, there was a negative association between eGFR and %uDMA (b = −0.08, p = 0.02). These results may indicate differential effects of renal function on excretion of InAs and DMA. Alternatively, a certain methylation pattern, involving decreased %InAs and increased %DMA, may reduce renal function. Given that these studies were cross-sectional, we cannot distinguish between these two possibilities. Discrepancies between the samples may be due to the higher As exposure, poorer nutrition, and lower As methylation capacity in the 2003 sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inorganic arsenic(As) is metabolized through a series of methylation reactions catalyzed by arsenic(III)-methyltransferase (AS3MT), resulting in the generation of monomethylarsonic (MMAs) and dimethylarsinic acids (DMAs). AS3MT activity requires the presence of the methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine, a product of folate-dependent one-carbon metabolism, and a reductant. Although glutathione (GSH), the primary endogenous antioxidant, is not required for As methylation, GSH stimulates As methylation rates in vitro. However, the relationship between GSH redox and As methylation capacity in humans is unknown. We wished to test the hypothesis that a more oxidized plasma GSH redox status is associated with decreased As methylation capacity and examine whether these associations are modified by folate nutritional status. Concentrations of plasma GSH and GSSG, plasma folate, total blood As (bAs), total urinary As (uAs), and uAs metabolites were assessed in a cross-sectional study of n=376 Bangladeshi adults who were chronically exposed to As in drinking water. We observed that a decreased plasma GSH/GSSG ratio (reflecting a more oxidized redox state) was significantly associated with increased urinary %MMA, decreased urinary %DMA, and increased total bAs in folate-deficient individuals (plasma folate ↜9.0nmol/L). Concentrations of plasma GSH and GSSG were independently associated with increased and decreased As methylation capacity, respectively. No significant associations were observed in folate-sufficient individuals, and interactions by folate status were statistically significant. Our findings suggest that GSH/GSSG redox regulation might contribute to the large interindividual variation in As methylation capacity observed in human populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• C70250 plate with columnar grains along casting direction were produced by HCCM continuous casting. • Solid-liquid interface location is a key factor to control precipitate content in columnar grains. • Columnar grain plate had better plasticity than equiaxed grain plate due to grain orientation. C70250 (Cu-2.6 wt%Ni-0.5 wt%Si) alloy plates with straight columnar grains, inclined columnar grains and equiaxed grains were produced by a heating-cooling combined mold (HCCM) horizontal continuous casting, respectively, and the influences of microstructure on the mechanical properties of the alloy were studied. The results showed that, when the casting speed was 30 mm/min, the straight columnar grains along the casting direction formed in the C70250 alloy plate and the precipitate content was relatively high, ～ 10%. When the casting speed was 50 mm/min and 80 mm/min, inclined columnar grains and equiaxed grains formed, respectively, with a low precipitate content of 6%. The high casting speed made the solid-liquid interface at the entrance of the cold mold and the solidified plate was cooled rapidly due to strong cooling effect, which suppressed formation of precipitated phase. The yield strength of the alloy plate with equiaxed grains were 219 MPa and the elongation to failure was 36%. For the plate with inclined columnar grains, its yield strength (76 MPa) were obviously lower than that of the other two plates and the elongation reached 45%. Compared with the equiaxed grain plate, the columnar grain plate had smaller grain orientation difference, better intergranular deformation compatibility and intergranular deformation uniformity, which was mainly responsible for its better plasticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The blood‐brain barrier (BBB) plays a principal role in the healthy and diseased central nervous systems, and BBB disruption after ischaemic stroke is responsible for increased mortality. Smyd2, a member of the SMYD‐methyltransferase family, plays a vital role in disease by methylation of diverse substrates; however, little is known about its role in the pathophysiology of the brain in response to ischaemia‐reperfusion injury. Methods: Using oxygen glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R)‐induced primary brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) and Smyd2 knockdown mice subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion, we evaluated the role of Smyd2 in BBB disruption. We performed loss‐of‐function and gain‐of‐function studies to investigate the biological function of Smyd2 in ischaemic stroke. Results: We found that Smyd2 was a critical factor for regulating brain endothelial barrier integrity in ischaemia‐reperfusion injury. Smyd2 is upregulated in peri‐ischaemic brains, leading to BBB disruption via methylation‐mediated Sphk/S1PR. Knockdown of Smyd2 in mice reduces BBB permeability and improves functional recovery. Using OGD/R‐induced BMECs, we demonstrated that Sphk/S1PR methylation modification by Smyd2 affects ubiquitin‐dependent degradation and protein stability, which may disrupt endothelial integrity. Moreover, overexpression of Smyd2 can damage endothelial integrity through Sphk/S1PR signalling. Conclusions: Overall, these results reveal a novel role for Smyd2 in BBB disruption in ischaemic stroke, suggesting that Smyd2 may represent a new therapeutic target for ischaemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A numerical model considering incline factors was established to investigate the changes in cladding layer morphology under various inclination angles. It provided theoretical guidance and predictive analysis for inclined cladding process. • The cladding layer morphology and molten pool flow under four distinct overlapping paths were studied to derive their characteristics and formation mechanisms. • The flow field and morphology of multi-track cladding layers were explored to identify the optimal cladding path as positive x-axis scanning and positive y-axis overlap. Laser cladding has been mostly studied based on the horizontal substrate state, but the component surface to be repaired is often complex in actual restoration process. Inclined substrate repair is the basis for studying complex surface repair. In this study, 316L stainless steel powder was taken as the research object. The simulation and experimental verification combined method was adopted to study the morphology of single-track and multi-track overlap on the inclined substrate. The main research contents were as follows: Through the simulation model, the molten pool flow and final cladding layer morphology under different scanning paths of laser cladding on the inclined substrate were analyzed. The results showed that when the inclination angle was less than 90°, the change of the cladding layer morphology had regularity. When the inclination angle was greater than 90°, splashing and dripping occurred in the molten pool under several scanning paths, and the cladding layer morphology was highly unstable. Excessively large inclination angle was not suitable for coaxial powder feeding. Neither positive nor negative y-direction scanning overlap cladding layer was horizontal under inclined posture. The cladding layer morphology with x-positive scanning and y-negative overlap was the most stable. An inclined cladding model considering the inclination factor was established in this study, which provided theoretical guidance and predictive analysis for laser cladding on the inclined substrate. Contributions were made to process optimization, path optimization and improvement of cladding layer quality for inclined substrate cladding in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate early prediction of the degradation trajectory of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) can accelerate battery development, production, and design optimization. However, existing early-stage prediction methods for degradation trajectory prediction face challenges in dealing with insufficient data and the generalization under different operational conditions. To address this issue, a novel transfer learning based data-driven method is proposed, which integrates convolutional neural network (CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) neural networks. Additionally, we incorporate a temporal attention (TA) mechanism to selectively focus on informative capacity fade patterns and leverage Bayesian Optimization (BO) for hyper-parameters optimization. The proposed method is validated using experimental degradation data from six 5Ah low-temperature batteries (−20 °C, −10 °C) and public datasets. Results demonstrate high accuracy leveraging merely 10% of initial battery data. For the low-temperature aging experimental data, the best prediction result proposed is 0.025 Ah root mean square error (RMSE) and 0.019 Ah mean absolute error (MAE). Compared to baseline CNN-LSTM models, our framework achieved an average reduction of 62.6% in RMSE for early battery capacity trajectory prediction, while maintaining high accuracy across diverse operational conditions. The proposed framework puts forward a promising solution toward enabling adaptive data-driven capacity monitoring under different practical application conditions. • Early degradation trajectory prediction method is proposed. • Bayesian optimization strategy efficiently optimizes the hyper-parameters. • Temporal attention mechanism is used to focus on informative fading patterns. • Validation is conducted on low-temperature experimental and public data. • Realizes high prediction accuracy across diverse operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microstructure, microhardness, and the tribological behavior of Zr, Nb and Mo-doped Fe 2 Ni 2 CrV 0.5 high-entropy alloy (HEA) coatings prepared by laser cladding were investigated and compared in parallel. The Nb-doped coating with 86 % volume fraction Fe 2 Nb Laves phase containing only three slip systems exhibits superior tribological properties than Zr-doped coating which has 78 % proportion of FCC phase. The Nb-doped coating with microhardness of 745 HV is invulnerable to wear loss due to triple constraint effect of dislocation movement, while the Zr-doped coating is susceptible to severe delamination wear owing to the lower microhardness (287 HV) compared to the GCr15 counterpart (650 HV). The Mo-doped coating with the microhardness of 585 HV presents the best wear resistance, which is attributed to the strength-toughness synergistic effect caused by σ phase and alternating arrangement eutectic nanoscale lamellar structure (FCC/σ). Relatively large microhardness difference leads to the abrasive chips adhesion phenomenon between the coatings and the GCr15 counterpart, except for the friction pair of Mo-doped coating/GCr15. • The Zr, Nb and Mo-doped Fe 2 Ni 2 CrV 0.5 high-entropy alloy (HEA) coatings were prepared on 40CrNiMoA substrate by laser cladding technology. • The phase constitution of Fe 2 Ni 2 CrV 0.5 HEA system was regulated by doping Zr, Nb, and Mo element, respectively. • The microhardness and tribological behavior of Zr, Nb and Mo-doped Fe 2 Ni 2 CrV 0.5 HEA against GCr15 steel ball were investigated. • The outstanding wear resistance of Mo-doped coating was attributed to strength-toughness synergistic performance caused by the eutectic lamellar structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Environmental correlates for essential tremor (ET) are largely unexplored. [•] Harmane (1-methyl-9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole) is a potent tremor-producing toxin. [•] Brain (cerebellar) harmane levels were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography. [•] Brain harmane levels were elevated in ET cases vs. controls, and highest in familial ET cases. [•] This study provides additional evidence of a possible etiological importance of this toxin in ET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A distinctive combustion phenomenon is revealed by promoted ignition combustion tests of Ti-25V-15Cr and Ti-6Al-4V alloys. The relationship between ignition temperatures and oxygen pressures obeys the Van't Hoff equation. The ignition temperatures of Ti-25V-15Cr are higher than that of Ti-6Al-4V due to the decomposition and volatilization of V 2 O 5. However, the burning velocity of Ti-25V-15Cr is faster than that of Ti-6Al-4V, attributed to the different migration way of solid-liquid interface. The phase structure of the matrix is considered as the key factor that controls the spreading rate of the solid-liquid interface and the burning velocities of Ti-25V-15Cr and Ti-6Al-4V alloys. [Display omitted] • The burning velocity of Ti-25V-15Cr is faster than that of Ti-6Al-4V. • Migration of interface is affected by peritectic reaction for Ti-6Al-4V • Migration of interface is controlled by grain boundaries melting for Ti-25V-15Cr. • Different ways of interface migration are related to the different phase structures. • Ignition temperature depends on alloying elements and burning velocity is affected by phase structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural colors forming by photonic crystal microspheres as a novel coloring method has received more and more attention in many fields. However, photonic crystal polymer microspheres usually do not have special functions, which limits their application. In this study, a novel polymer photonic crystal microspheres of poly (hexafluorobutyl methacrylate-co-glycidyl methacrylate) (P(HFBMA-co-GMA)) containing hydrophobic functional groups and reactive epoxy groups were synthesized. The structural colorized cotton fabrics with Janus characteristic of different colors and different hydrophilicity of two sides were prepared by spraying the functional P(HFBMA-co-GMA) microspheres on the polydopamine (PDA) modified cotton fabrics. P(HFBMA-co-GMA) microspheres can self-assemble into amorphous photonic crystals (APCs) with long-range disordered and short-range ordered on PDA modified cotton fabrics, showing crack-free and bright structural colors. The Janus structural colorized cotton fabrics with four different colors were obtained by spraying the P(HFBMA-co-GMA) microspheres with different particle diameters which were prepared by changing the molar ratios of HFBMA and GMA. The Janus structural colorized cotton fabrics have excellent flexibility, air permeability and colorfastness showing a good application prospect in functional textiles. This research provides a new strategy to prepare the functional structural color fabrics with Janus characteristic based on the synthesis of the functional polymer microspheres. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu2+ contamination and food spoilage raise food and drinking water safety issues, posing a serious threat to human health. Besides, Cu2+ and H 2 S levels indicate excess Cu2+-caused diseases and protein-containing food spoilage. Herein, a coumarin-containing bifunctional paper-based fluorescent platform integrated with a straightforward smartphone color recognition app is developed by an all-in-one strategy. The proposed fluorescent materials can simultaneously detect Cu2+ and H 2 S for on-demand food and drinking water safety monitoring at home. Specifically, a coumarin-derived fluorescence sensor (referred to as CMIA) with a low detection limit (0.430 μM) and high-selectivity/-sensitivity for Cu2+ is synthesized through a simple one-step route and then loaded onto commercially used cellulose fiber filter paper to engineer a biomass-based fluorescent material (CMIA-FP). The CMIA-FP offers user-friendly, high-precision, fast-responsive, and real-time visual monitoring of Cu2+. Moreover, CMIA forms a chemically stable complex with Cu2+, loaded onto filter paper to prepare another biomass-based fluorescent platform (CMIA-CU-FP) for visual real-time monitoring of H 2 S. Based on the exquisite composition design, the proposed dual-function paper-based fluorescent materials equipped with a smartphone color recognition program concurrently realize fast, accurate, and easy real-time monitoring of Cu2+ in drinking water and H 2 S in chicken breast-/shrimp-spoilage, demonstrating an effective detection strategy for the Cu2+ and H 2 S monitoring and presenting the new type of biomass-based platforms for concentrated reflection of drinking water and food safety. [Display omitted] • On-demand platform enabling simultaneously home-detecting Cu2+/H 2 S was proposed. • The platform realizes user-friendly, low-cost, fast-response detecting of Cu2+/H 2 S. • The platform achieves real-time monitoring of drinking-water and meat-storage safety. • The study provides effective tactics for the integrated Cu2+ and H 2 S home-detecting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Carbonyl iron/Fe3O4 powder based soft-magnetic fluids were analyzed in this work. • Sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, oleic acid, polyethylene glycol, graphite, and diatomite were added in base fluids. • Magnetorheological fluids (MRF) of developed fluids were measured with AI. For mechanical devices such as haptic gadgets, mechanical dampers, and brake systems to function properly, magnetorheological fluids (MRF)—also known as smart fluids—are crucial. An innovative method for optimizing the preparation process of magnetorheological fluid that is both cost-effective and data-driven in nature is investigated in this article. In this MRF preparation experiment, silicone oil is the carrier liquid and carbonyl iron and Fe 3 O 4 powders are carefully selected as magnetic particles to prepare soft magnetic fluids. Sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, oleic acid, polyethylene glycol, graphite, and diatomite were added to improve the MRF's physical qualities. Then, the MRF properties were examined with artificial intelligence method and an enhanced grey wolf optimization algorithm is developed for improving the hyperparameters of the least square support vector machine. In addition, a new procedure for updating individual positions is suggested to better preserve population variety and increase solution quality, and a better updating technique is created for the convergence coefficient vector to avoid local optima. The results show that the suggested modified least square support vector machine is the best algorithm to predict the MRF properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CoCrFeMnNi HEA coatings incorporating WC ceramic particles with varying contents (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) are synthesized by laser cladding in this study. The phase evolution, strengthening mechanisms, and dry sliding wear behavior are investigated. The microstructure analysis revealed that coatings with WC content up to 20% consist of a single FCC phase, while those with WC content exceeding 30% exhibit a combination of FCC and polymorphic M 3 W 3 C phases. The microhardness increases from 169HV to 517HV with the content of WC varies from 0% to 40%. The contributions of precipitation strengthening and dislocation strengthening are the primary factors driving hardness increment. The presence of M3W3C further contributes to precipitation strengthening, resulting in enhanced hardness with increasing WC content. Moreover, the coating with 30% WC particles exhibits the most superior wear resistance, with a significantly reduced volume wear rate of 2.37 × 10−6 mm3/(N·m), which is merely 0.7% in comparison to the WC-free coating. With increased WC content, the wear mechanism of the coatings shifts from adhesive wear to oxidation wear, attributed to the hierarchical interfaces between the FCC matrix and the WC/M 3 W 3 C phase. This study offers valuable insights for enhancing the durability and performance of advanced coatings. [Display omitted] • CoCrFeMnNi high entropy alloy coatings incorporating WC ceramic particles were synthesized successfully by laser cladding. • The formation mechanism of carbides with different morphologies was revealed. • The effect of W-atom and C-atom content in the melt pool on the phase composition was investigated. • The contribution of each strengthening mechanism to the microhardness was quantitatively analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the influence of laser cladding scanning paths on the microstructure and properties of coatings by employing a combination of numerical simulations and experiments. Two novel scanning paths, namely a segmented guided scanning path inspired by the "back welding method" and a real-time temperature feedback scanning path, are introduced and analyzed alongside the conventional one-way sequential scanning methods. The research reveals that the microhardness distribution within the coating is strongly affected by the scanning method. Notably, the one-way sequential scanning method yields the highest microhardness, followed by segmented guided scanning, and finally real-time temperature feedback scanning path. Segmenting the scanning path does not contribute to uniform microhardness distribution, particularly at the overlapping positions. Furthermore, the temperature gradient within the coating during the entire cladding process is significantly influenced by the scanning method. Segmented scanning reduces the temperature gradient compared to single long-path scanning, and further improvements are achieved through path optimization based on real-time temperature feedback. The residual stress levels on the coating surface also differ among scanning methods. Conventional one-way sequential scanning results in a residual stress of 727.0 MPa, while segmented guided scanning produces a higher residual stress of 1041.0 MPa. In contrast, the real-time temperature feedback path generates a lower residual stress of 680.0 MPa on the coating surface compared to the other two methods. These findings underscore the importance of selecting an appropriate scanning path for laser cladding processes. Optimized scanning paths not only reduce the tendency of gray cast iron to form martensite and the temperature gradient but also result in lower residual stress levels on the coating surface. This research provides valuable insights for enhancing the performance of laser-clad coatings in various industrial applications. • Two novel scanning paths, namely a segmented guided scanning path and a real-time temperature feedback scanning path, are introduced and analyzed. • The cooling rate and microhardness distribution within the coating is strongly affected by the scanning method. • The real-time temperature feedback path reduces the temperature gradient and generates the lowest residual stress of 680.0 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu Fe alloys with high iron content (Fe > 10 wt%) are a class of promising copper alloys with high strength and high conductivity. However, the strength and conductivity trade-off dilemma is a longstanding problem in the high iron content Cu Fe alloys owing to macro-segregation of iron particles and incomplete precipitation of solid solution iron atoms in the traditional casting process. We adopted a comprehensive strategy of designing the ultra-fine dual structures with fine copper grains and micro-nano iron particles, and adding phosphorus element to induce solid solution iron atoms precipitation to break through the above bottleneck. In this study, Cu 20Fe alloys with 0.05–1.0 wt% P were prepared through powder metallurgy process. The results showed that the addition of P promoted the precipitation of soluble Fe atoms, reduced oxygen content, and activated sintering. Ultimately, the strength and conductivity of cost-effective Cu 20Fe alloys were significantly improved. The annealed Cu 20Fe 0.1P alloys possess unprecedented comprehensive properties with 608 MPa tensile strength and 65.2% IACS electrical conductivity, which were 7.8% and 19.8% higher than the Cu 20Fe alloys, respectively. The annealed Cu 20Fe 1.0P alloys achieved 59.7% IACS electrical conductivity, increased by 10% compared to Cu 20Fe alloys. The results broke the conventional understanding that increasing P content deteriorated material properties. The influence of P on the microstructure and properties of powder metallurgy Cu 20Fe alloys was investigated in detail. These findings provide new insight into overcoming the dilemma of the inverted relationship between the strength and conductivity of copper alloys. • Simultaneous enhancement of the mechanical and electrical properties of Cu 20Fe alloys by introducing phosphorus. • The Cu 20Fe 0.1P alloys possess unprecedented comprehensive properties and property-costs. • The influence of P on the microstructure and properties of powder metallurgy Cu 20Fe alloys was investigated in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their structural diversities and prevalent biological activities, natural products (NPs) are momentous resources for drug discovery. Although NPs have a wide range of biological activities, many exhibit structural complexity that leads to synthetic difficulties, which combines with inefficient biological activity, toxicity, and unfavorable pharmacokinetic characteristics and ultimately imparts poor safety and efficacy outcomes. Progress in crystallization and computational techniques allow crystallography to have a seasonable influences on drug discovery. By co-crystallizing with proteins, therapeutic targets of NPs in specific diseases can be identified. By analyzing the co-crystal information, the structure-activity relationships (SARs) of NPs targeting specific proteins can be grasped. Under the guidance of co-crystal information, directional structural modification and simplification are powerful strategies for overcoming limitations of NPs, improving the success rate of N P-based drug discovery, and obtaining N P-based drugs with high selectivity, low toxicity and favorable pharmacokinetic characteristics. Here, we review the co-crystal information of a selection of NPs, focusing on the SARs of NPs reflected by co-crystal information and the modification and simplification strategies of NPs, and discuss how to apply co-crystal information in the optimization of N P-based lead compound. [Display omitted] • A compilation of protein target structural biology in complex with NPs or NPDs in their roles as ligands was showcased. • The critical role of co-crystal complexes in N P-based drug discovery and optimization strategies was highlighted. • Drug optimization and discovery based on co-crystal structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particle clusters affect interphase interaction and dominate the overall performance of gas-solid fluidized beds. In this work, the particle image velocimetry, particle tracking velocimetry and digital image analysis were coupled to characterize clustering dynamics in a lab-scale riser. The clusters were identified by the Otsu algorithm based on grayscale distribution, and the cluster properties such as equivalent size, solids concentration and velocity distribution were extracted and analyzed under various operating conditions. It was found macroscopic operating conditions affect cluster characteristics significantly whereas the effect of particle composition is secondary. A bimodal or skewed probability density function was observed for not only the time-averaged hydrodynamic velocity but also the particle velocity around the cluster interface, indicating the coexistence of dilute and dense phases and the breaking of equilibrium assumption. The nonuniform distributions for laminar and Reynolds-stress-like granular temperatures were further discussed, which show remarkable anisotropy at both the microscopic and mesoscopic scales. [Display omitted] • The PIV technique and image processing were coupled to quantify cluster dynamics. • Statistical analysis of particle clustering characteristics was carried out. • The particle velocity distribution around the cluster boundary was analyzed. • Remarkable anisotropy was found at both the microscopic and the mesoscopic scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new intelligent optimization algorithm, the African vultures optimization algorithm (AVOA) has been widely used in various fields today. However, when solving complex multimodal problems, the AVOA still has some shortcomings, such as low searching accuracy, deficiency on the search capability and tendency to fall into local optimum. In order to alleviate the main shortcomings of the AVOA, a nonlinear African vulture optimization algorithm combining Henon chaotic mapping theory and reverse learning competition strategy (HWEAVOA) is proposed. Firstly, the Henon chaotic mapping theory and elite population strategy are proposed to improve the randomness and diversity of the vulture's initial population; Furthermore, the nonlinear adaptive incremental inertial weight factor is introduced in the location update phase to rationally balance the exploration and exploitation abilities, and avoid individual falling into a local optimum; The reverse learning competition strategy is designed to expand the discovery fields for the optimal solution and strengthen the ability to jump out of the local optimal solution. HWEAVOA and other advanced comparison algorithms are used to solve classical and CEC2022 test functions. Compared with other algorithms, the convergence curves of the HWEAVOA drop faster and the line bodies are smoother. These experimental results show the proposed HWEAVOA is ranked first in all test functions, which is superior to the comparison algorithms in convergence speed, optimization ability, and solution stability. Meanwhile, HWEAVOA has reached the general level in the algorithm complexity, and its overall performance is competitive in the swarm intelligence algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The merits of hyaluronic acid (HA) as a representative biological carbohydrate polymers especially in bioactivity and tailorability makes it ideal building block for the engineering of tissue engineering scaffolds. HA-based bio-composites integrate the characteristics of multi-component materials, possessing versatility and further improving the therapeutic efficacy. Human like collagen (HLC), which is hydrophilic, biomimetic, and bio-safe, with human tissue-derived collagen biofunction, has attracted extensive attention worldwide. Herein, we developed a novel method for HA/HLC bio-composite membranes preparation, comprising one-step surface modification-assembly process by which the HLC self-assembles are simultaneously loaded on the oxidized-modified HA (oxi-HA) from the surface/interface micro-scale. Comprehensive material characterizations and in vitro/in vivo biostudies proved that the HLC/oxi-HA composite membranes exhibited significantly enhanced biological activity, hemostatic performances, and wound healing properties compared to that of the pristine HA. The results of this study highlight the great potential of the prepared biomimetic HLC/oxi-HA bio-composites as a new generation of multifunctional HA-based wound-healing materials. • HLC/oxi-HA was synthesized by one-step surface modification-assembly process • HLC/oxi-HA exhibited higher biological activity properties than HA • HLC/oxi-HA-15 endowed satisfied hemostatic performance • Mechanism of one-step surface modification-assembly were explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) is a promising solid electrolyte material for solid‐state lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries, but low intrinsic ionic conductivity, poor mechanical properties, and failure to hinder the polysulfide shuttle effect limits its application. Herein, a polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM) is synthesized and applied as an organic framework to comprehensively enhance the performance of PEO by forming a composite electrolyte (PEO‐PIM). The unique structure of PIM‐1 not only enhances the mechanical strength and hardness over the PEO electrolyte by an order of magnitude, increasing stability toward the metallic lithium anode but also increases its ionic conductivity by lowering the degree of crystallinity. Furthermore, the PIM‐1 is shown to effectively trap lithium polysulfide species to mitigate against the detrimental polysulfide shuttle effect, as electrophilic 1,4‐dicyanooxanthrene functional groups possess higher binding energy to polysulfides. Benefiting from these properties, the use of PEO‐PIM composite electrolyte has achieved greatly improved rate performance, long‐cycling stability, and excellent safety features for solid‐state Li‐S batteries. This methodology offers a new direction for the optimization of solid polymer electrolytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The primary aim of this investigation was to analyze the microbiome in patients with combined periodontal-endodontic lesions.Method: Patients with loose and/or painful teeth referred for treatment from March 2020 to December 2020 in the First People's Hospital of Jinzhong were recruited. Samples were collected from teeth diagnosed as chronic periodontics (PE), ulcerative pulpitis (PU), and retrograde pulpitis (RE). Genomic DNA was extracted. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction, targeting the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA), was adopted for the quantification of bacteria. Then, the V3-V4 hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene were amplified and subjected to next-generation sequencing. The statistical analysis was performed by R software (V3.5.1).Results: A total of 57 qualified samples were collected from 48 patients and analyzed (7 PE, 21 PU, and 19 RE). By linear discriminant analysis effect size, Kingella and Barnesiella were significantly increased in the periodontal pocket of retrograde pulpitis (RE-PE), compared with PE. The relative abundance of Clostridiales Incertae Sedis XI, Fusobacteriaceae, Fusobacterium, Parvimonas, Micrococcaceae, and Rothia was significantly increased in the pulp of retrograde pulpitis (RE-PU) than PU and RE-PE. Prevotella, Leptotrichia, Porphyromonas, Streptococcus, and Fusobacterium are consistently at a high abundance, across PU, RE-PE, and RE-PU.Conclusion: The current study highlighted the evidence that a specific microbial community is associated with the occurrence of retrograde pulpitis. The microenvironment of the root canal and pulp chamber will select microbiota. This study offered insights into the pathogenesis of retrograde pulpitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The methylation of lysine residues has been involved in the multiple biological and diseases processes. Recently, some particular non‐histone proteins have been elucidated to be methylated by SMYD2, a SET and MYND domain protein with lysine methyltransferase activity. Methods: SMYD2 was evaluated in synovial tissue and cells derived from rheumatoid arthritis patients. We confirmed TRAF2 could be methylated by SMYD2 using Mass spectrometry, pull‐down, immunoprecipitation, methyltransferase assay, ubiquitination assay, luciferase reporter assays, and western blot analyses. Using loss‐ and gain‐of function studies, we explored the biological functions of SMYD2 in vitro and in vivo. Using acute and chronic inflammation with different mice models to determine the impact of SMYD2. Results: Here, we first time confirmed that the cytoplasmic protein TRAF2 as the kernel node for NF‐κB signaling pathway could be methylated by SMYD2. SMYD2‐mediated TRAF2 methylation contributed to the durative sensitization of NF‐κB signaling transduction through restraining its own proteolysis and enhancing the activity. In addition, we found knocking down of SMYD2 has different degrees of mitigation in acute and chronic inflammation mice models. Furthermore, as the lysine‐specific demethylase, LSD1 could resist methylation on TRAF2 induced by SMYD2. Conclusions: Our data uncovered an unprecedented cytoplasmic protein network that employed methylation of TRAF2 for the maintenance of NF‐κB activation during inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Though discrete particle simulation (DPS) has been widely used for investigating gas–solid flows from a more detailed level as compared to traditional two-fluid models (TFMs), it is still seriously limited by the computational cost when large scale systems are simulated. GPUs (graphic processing units), with their massive parallel architecture and high floating point performance, provide new possibilities for large-scale DPS. In this paper, a multi-scale CPU (central processing unit)–GPU hybrid computation mode is developed, in which the fluid flow is computed by CPU(s) while the particle motion is computed by GPU(s). To explore its feasibility, this mode is adopted to simulate the flow structures in the fluidization of Geldart D and A particles, respectively. Further coupled with an EMMS (energy minimization multi-scale) based meso-scale model, the flow behavior in an industrial fluidized bed is finally simulated, shedding light on the engineering applications of DPS, as an alternative to TFM. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We used data from a national survey to examine arrest rate disparities between African American and White adolescents (aged 12-17 years; n = 6725) in relation to drug-related and other illegal behaviors. African American adolescents were less likely than Whites to have engaged in drug use or drug selling, but were more likely to have been arrested. Racial disparities in adolescent arrest appear to result from differential treatment of minority youths and to have long-term negative effects on the lives of affected African American youths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An emerging body of evidence indicates that early-life arsenic (As) exposure may influence the trajectory of health outcomes later in life. However, the mechanisms underlying these observations are unknown. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of prenatal As exposure on global methylation of cord blood DNA in a study of mother/newborn pairs in Matlab, Bangladesh. Design: Maternal and cord blood DNA were available from a convenience sample of 101 mother/newborn pairs. Measures of As exposure included maternal urinary As (uAs), maternal blood As (mbAs) and cord blood As (cbAs). Several measures of global DNA methylation were assessed, including the [3H]-methyl-incorporation assay and three Pyrosequencing assays: Alu, LINE-1 and LUMA. Results: In the total sample, increasing quartiles of maternal uAs were associated with an increase in covariate-adjusted means of newborn global DNA methylation as measured by the [3H]-methyl-incorporation assay (quartile 1 (Q1) and Q2 vs. Q4; p = 0.06 and 0.04, respectively). Sex-specific linear regression analyses, while not reaching significance level of 0.05, indicated that the associations between As exposures and Alu, LINE-1 and LUMA were positive among male newborns (N = 58) but negative among female newborns (N = 43); tests for sex differences were borderline significant for the association of cbAs and mbAs with Alu (p = 0.05 and 0.09, respectively) and for the association between maternal uAs and LINE-1 (p = 0.07). Sex-specific correlations between maternal urinary creatinine and newborn methyl-incorporation, Alu and LINE-1 were also evident (p<0.05). Conclusions: These results suggest that prenatal As exposure is associated with global DNA methylation in cord blood DNA, possibly in a sex-specific manner. Arsenic-induced epigenetic modifications in utero may potentially influence disease outcomes later in life. Additional studies are needed to confirm these findings and to examine the persistence of DNA methylation marks over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Drinking water manganese (WMn) is a potential threat to children''s health due to its associations with a wide range of outcomes including cognitive, behavioral and neuropsychological effects. Although adverse effects of Mn on cognitive function of the children indicate possible impact on their academic achievement little evidence on this issue is available. Moreover, little is known regarding potential interactions between exposure to Mn and other metals, especially water arsenic (WAs). In Araihazar, a rural area of Bangladesh, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 840 children to investigate associations between WMn and WAs and academic achievement in mathematics and languages among elementary school-children, aged 8–11 years. Data on As and Mn exposure were collected from the participants at the baseline of an ongoing longitudinal study of school-based educational intervention. Annual scores of the study children in languages (Bangla and English) and mathematics were obtained from the academic achievement records of the elementary schools. WMn above the WHO standard of 400μg/L was associated with 6.4% score loss (95% CI=−12.3 to −0.5) in mathematics achievement test scores, adjusted for WAs and other sociodemographic variables. We did not find any statistically significant associations between WMn and academic achievement in either language. Neither WAs nor urinary As was significantly related to any of the three academic achievement scores. Our finding suggests that a large number of children in rural Bangladesh may experience deficits in mathematics due to high concentrations of Mn exposure in drinking water. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The relationship between ecstasy use and suicidal behavior among adolescents in the United States was examined. Data from the adolescent subsample (ages 12-17, N = 19,301) of the 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse were used in the analyses. Information on adolescent substance use, suicidal behaviors, and related sociodemographic, family, and individual factors was obtained in the survey. The rate of past year suicide attempt among adolescents with lifetime ecstasy use was almost double that of adolescents who had used other drugs only, and nine times that of adolescents with no history of illicit drug use. In multinomial logistic regression analyses controlling for related factors, the effect of ecstasy use remained significant. Adolescent ecstasy users may require enhanced suicide prevention and intervention efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Comprehensive numerical and experimental analyses of the effect of temperature on cavitation oscillations are performed. In the experimental study, the oscillation of a laser-generated single cavitation bubble near a rigid boundary is obtained using a fiber-optic diagnostic technique based on optical beam detection (OBD). The maximum and minimum bubble radii as well as the oscillation times for each oscillation cycle are determined according to the characteristic signals. And cavitation bubble tests are performed using water at different temperatures, and its temperature ranges from freezing point (0°C) to near boiling. Furthermore, a modified Rayleigh–Plesset equation is derived for calculating the temporal development of the bubble radius at different temperatures. Both the experimental and the numerical results show that the maximum bubble radius and bubble lifetime both increase as temperature increases. The mechanism behind it has also been discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We collected eleven bench samples of No. 6 coal from the Heidaigou Surface Mine, Jungar Coalfield, Inner Mongolia, China, and four samples from the affiliated coal preparation plant. Based on these samples, we used inductively coupled-plasma mass spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer techniques, and borehole exploration data, to investigate the distribution, occurrence and enrichment causes of gallium (Ga) in the coals. Our results show: (1) Gallium is significantly enriched in the coal seams from the study area, with an average content of 18.8-26.0 ppm. Gallium is distributed heterogeneously in the coals, and reaches ore-forming scales only in No. 6 coal of Heidaigou Surface Mine, not in the other mining districts of Jungar Coalfield. (2) On the horizontal plane, Ga is enriched in the main minable coals from the northern and middle part of the coalfield. In the vertical profile, Ga content in the coal seams is higher at the base of Taiyuan Formation (Nos. 8 and 9) and Shanxi Formation (Nos. 3 and 4) than at the top of the Taiyuan Formation. Within the identical coal seam, Ga content is higher in the benches near the roof and floor than in the middle section. (3) Gallium in the coals is associated mainly with kaolinite and boehmite. Additionally, Ga may be adsorbed to some extent by humic acid, resulting in a high level in weathering coal. (4) Geological factors affect Ga enrichment in coal, such as the property of parent rocks in the source area, the sedimentary environment, organic matter, structure, and past magmatic hydrothermal activity. Especially, Ga content in parent rocks plays a leading role. (5) The mobility and precipitation of trace elements like Ga are controlled principally by the geochemical behavior of the major element Al. Terrestrial and transgressive environments can cause the precipitation of bauxite, whereas marine-continental depositional environments may cause the separation of Ga from Al. In addition, Ga may migrate in the form of gas, and may be affected by the ground temperature. Thus, it is relatively enriched in high-volatile coal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prognostic role of CD20 expression and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positivity in post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) after solid organ transplantation (SOT) in paediatric patients is poorly understood. We retrospectively examined the relationship of CD20 and EBV with the time interval from SOT to PTLD diagnosis, and PTLD-related event-free (EFS) and overall survival (OS) in 45 consecutive PTLD patients (≤25 years) following SOT. These 45 paediatric SOT patients (28 heart, 11 liver, six kidney) were diagnosed with PTLD 45 months (mean; SD 43; range 4-153; median 24·5) after SOT, with PTLD diagnosis at 118 months (mean) (SD 77; range 14-287) of age. Of 40 evaluable tumours (11 monomorphic, 19 polymorphic, five early lesions, five rare subtypes), 32 (80%) had detectable EBV and 28 (70%) were classified as CD20. Patients whose PTLD expressed CD20 or EBV had shorter intervals between SOT and PTLD onset (28 vs. 64 or 77 months for CD20 and EBV respectively) ( P < 0·02), even after adjusting for age at SOT. Patients with CD20 tumours had higher 5-year PTLD-related EFS (83·7% vs. 28·6%, P < 0·001) and OS (95·8% vs. 56·3%, P = 0·01). EBV expression was unrelated to PTLD-related EFS or OS. CD20 expression is associated with timing of development of PTLD and predicts survival in PTLD diagnosed following paediatric SOT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Global hypomethylation of DNA is thought to constitute an early event in some cancers and occurs in response to arsenic (As) exposure and/or selenium (Se) deficiency in both in vitro and animal models. In addition, antagonism between As and Se, whereby each reduces toxicity of the other, has been well documented in animal models. Se status may therefore modify the health effects of As in As-exposed populations. Objective: The primary objectives of our study were to test the hypothesis that Se deficiency is associated with genomic hypomethylation of lymphocyte DNA and to determine whether Se levels are associated with blood As (bAs) and urinary As (uAs) concentrations in adults exposed to As-contaminated groundwater in Bangladesh. A secondary objective was to explore the relationships between plasma Se and As metabolites. Design: We assessed plasma Se concentrations, As metabolite profiles in blood and urine, and genomic methylation of leukocyte DNA in a cross-sectional study of 287 adults. Results: After adjustment for potential confounders, we observed an inverse association between Se (micrograms per liter) and genomic DNA methylation (disintegrations per minute per 1-μg/L increase in Se): β = 345.6; 95% confidence interval (CI), 59-632. Se concentrations were inversely associated with total As concentrations (micrograms per liter) in blood (β = -0.04; 95% CI, -0.08 to -0.01) and urine (β =20.1; 95% CI, -29.3 to -10.9). Se levels were negatively associated with the percentage of monomethylarsinic acid (β =0.59; 95% CI, -1.04 to -0.13) and positively associated with the percentage of dimethylarsinic acid (β = 0.53; 95% CI, 0.04 to 1.01) in blood. Conclusions: Our results suggest that Se is inversely associated with genomic DNA methylation. The underlying mechanisms and implications of this observation are unclear and warrant further investigation. In addition, Se may influence bAs and uAs concentrations, as well as relative proportions of As metabolites in blood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single or mixed use of Agaricus bisporus residue and microbial agent had better control effect on cucumber root-knot nematode disease in greenhouse. The results showed that the control effect of single use of A. bisporus residue was 32. 9% - 34.1% , and the yield increasing rale was 2. 1 % - 8.1% ; the control effect of mixed use of A. bisporus residue and microbial agent was 59. 1% - 63. 6%, and yield increasing rate was 2. 6% - 3.5%.The experimental dose had no adverse effects on soil physical and chemical properties. The mixed use of A. bisporus residue and microbial agent was one of the effective ways to control root-knot nematode disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]