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Perovskite (ABO3) nanosheets with a high carrier mobility have been regarded as the best candidates for gas-sensitive materials arising from their exceptional crystal structure and physical–chemical properties that often exhibit good gas reactivity and stability. Herein, Ag in situ modified porous LaFeO3 nanosheets were synthesized by the simple and efficient graphene oxide (GO)-assisted co-precipitation method which was used for sensitive and selective ethanol detection. The Ag modification ratio was studied, and the best performance was obtained with 5% Ag modification. The Ag/LaFeO3 nanomaterials with high surface areas achieved a sensing response value (Rg/Ra) of 20.9 to 20 ppm ethanol at 180 °C with relatively fast response/recovery times (26/27 s). In addition, they showed significantly high selectivity for ethanol but only a slight response to other interfering gases. The enhanced gas-sensing performance was attributed to the combination of well-designed porous nanomaterials with noble metal sensitization. The new approach is provided for this strategy for the potential application of more P-type ABO3 perovskite-based gas-sensitive devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To explore the value of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) in diagnosis of HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and their relationship with vascular invasion, tumor differentiation and size. Methods: A total of 433 participants were enrolled in this study including 266 cases with HBV-related HCC, 87 cases with HBV DNA positive benign liver disease and 80 healthy individuals. Then we explored the correlation between AFP, PIVKA-II serum level and several pathological features such as vascular invasion, tumor differentiation and size. The value of these two markers used singly or jointly in diagnosing HBV-related HCC was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The ROC curve was also plotted to identify AFP, PIVKA-II serum cut-off values that would best distinguish HBV-related HCC patients with and without vascular invasion. Results: The level of AFP and PIVKA-II in HBV-related HCC group was significantly higher (Z was 7.428, 11.243 respectively, all P < 0.01). When AFP and PIVKA-II were used as the individual tumor marker, the areas under the ROC curve (AUC) of HBV-related HCC diagnosis were 0.765 (95% CI, 0.713 ~ 0.8170) for AFP, 0.901 (95% CI, 0.868 ~ 0.935) for PIVKA-II, and 0.917 (95% CI, 0.886 ~ 0.948) for AFP and PIVKA-II simultaneously. The serum levels of AFP and PIVKA-II were positively correlated with tumor differentiation and size. High AFP and PIVKA-II expression was significantly associated with the presence of vascular invasion (P was 0.007 and 0.014 respectively). The AFP level > 64.4 ng/ml or PIVKA-II level > 957.61mAU/ml was the best critical value to predict the presence of vascular invasion. Conclusion: Our results validate that AFP and PIVKA-II play a significant role in the diagnosis of HBV-related HCC. The diagnostic value of AFP and PIVKA-II combined detection or single assay of PIVKA-II is higher than that of separate assay of AFP. Moreover, their concentration has important clinical value in judging tumor size, tumor cell differentiation and vascular invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, doped 2,2,7,7-Tetrakis(N,N-dip-methoxyphenylamine)-9,9-spirobifluorene (Spiro-OMeTAD) is still state-of-the-art hole transport material (HTM) for inverted perovskite solar cells (PeSCs). Nevertheless, hydroscopic dopants usually lead to accelerated degradation of perovskite and hence reduce the device durability especially those based on all-inorganic perovskite. In this work, we report a series of dopant-free mixtures (SpiPA) of hydrophilic Spiro-OMeTAD and hydrophobic poly(triarylamine) (PTAA), which exhibit tunable surface wettability due to the dominant lateral phase separation. When applying them as HTM for inverted CsPbI 2 Br PeSCs, SpiPA -II based devices yield enhanced efficiency up to 12.52% with significantly reduced hysteresis, as compared to the devices with other mixed HTLs (SpiPA -I , SpiPA -III , SpiPA -IV) and conventional HTLs including pristine Spiro-OMeTAD (10.26%), PTAA (9.05%) and NiO x (10.75%). Additionally, the corresponding mechanism has been studied in detail. Image 1 • We report a dopant-free mixture (SpiPA) of hydrophilic Spiro-OMeTAD and hydrophobic PTAA as new hole transport material. • SpiPA exhibits tunable surface wettability due to the lateral phase separation in the mixed thin film. • SpiPA -II as underlayer leads to the formation of high-quality CsPbI 2 Br perovskite. • SpiPA -II as hole transport layer boosts the performance of inverted CsPbI 2 Br perovskite solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, many new rice–fish co-culture models have been developed to increase economic and ecological benefits. In this study, we added eels (Monopterus albus) to a rice–crayfish system and conducted a 3-year field investigation to compare the yields and availability of fertilizer N among groups with a low density of eels, high density of eels and no eels. We performed a mesocosm experiment and used an isotope tracer technique to detect the fate of fertilizer N. The results showed that the rice yields significantly improved after the introduction of the eels. However, the introduction of a high density of eels significantly limited the crayfish yield, increased water N and N2O emissions and decreased soil N content. The mesocosm experiment suggested that the use efficiency of fertilizer N was significantly increased after the introduction of the eels. The fertilizer N used by rice was significantly higher in rice–crayfish–eel system than in rice–crayfish system. This study indicated that the introduction of eels may be a good practice for improving yields and availability of fertilizer N in a rice–crayfish system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Dynamic behavior of prismatic lithium-ion battery under repeated impact is experimentally investigated at the first time. • Quantitative relationship between battery failure of short circuit and indentation depth is constructed. • Relationships between battery failure with impact velocity, impact energy and impact times are revealed. The daily use of electric vehicles may cause mechanical loading on their batteries, either from one-time impact or repeated/accumulated impact from vibrations, curbstone impact, or minor contacts/scratches. Such repeated impact may ultimately lead to short-circuit failure of the batteries. Open literature comprehensively discusses the one-time impact, but a gap remains regarding battery safety behaviors in repeated impact cases. Therefore, in this study, the dynamic behavior of prismatic lithium-ion battery (PLIB) under repeated impact is experimentally investigated for the first time. The relationships between battery failure of short circuit with impact velocity, impact energy and impact times are revealed. The quantitative relationship between battery failure and indentation depth is constructed. Results show that the increase of impact velocity and energy significantly decreases the number of short-circuit impact. For the prismatic lithium-ion battery studied in this work, under the drop-weight impact test with 34.6 kg weight and 25 mm diameter of the hemispherical impact indenter, once the impact velocity reaches more than 1.75 and 4.0 m/s, the soft and hard short circuits are triggered, respectively. When the impact speed is less than the corresponding velocity, the battery failure of soft and hard short circuits can occur only after multiple impacts. Results provide new insights for understanding battery failure behaviors upon repeated impact and important guidance for battery design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban space exhibits rich and diverse organizational structures, which is difficult to characterize and interpret. Modelling urban spatial structures in the context of mobility and revealing their underlying patterns in dynamic networks are key to understanding urban spatial structures and how urban systems work. Most existing methods overlook its temporal dimension and oversimplify its spatial heterogeneity, and it is challenging to address these complex properties using one single method. Therefore, we propose a framework based on temporal networks for modeling dynamic urban mobility structures. First, we cast aggregated traffic flows into a compact and informative temporal network for structure representation. Then, we explore spatial cluster substructures and temporal evolution patterns to acquire evolution regularities. Last, the capability of the proposed framework is examined by an empirical analysis based on taxi mobility networks. The experiment results enable to quantitatively depict urban space dynamics and effectively detect spatiotemporal heterogeneity in mobility networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Rapid influenza A diagnostic tests (RIDTs) play an important role in the clinical setting, especially in the influenza post-pandemic era with three influenza A viruses in circulation. Objectives: Determine the sensitivity and specificity of a new RIDT (FluA Dot) by comparison with BD Directigen EZ FluA+B and CDC rRT-PCR. Study design: Two sets of experiments were conducted to determine the performance of the new test. (1) Serial dilutions of eight pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (pH1N1) isolates, five seasonal H3N2 isolates, five seasonal H1N1 isolates and three recombinant nucleoproteins were tested by FluA Dot assay, Directigen EZ FluA+B test and CDC real-time RT-PCR. (2) Using CDC rRT-PCR as the gold standard, the clinical sensitivity and specificity of the FluA Dot and Directigen EZ FluA+B were evaluated in nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) specimens of 807 patients presenting with influenza-like illness. Results: The average analytical sensitivity of FluA Dot (0.06ng/mL for recombinant nucleoproteins and 2.16±0.85log10 TCID50 for viruses) was approximately 10-fold higher than Directigen EZ FluA+B (1–2ng/mL for recombinant nucleoproteins and 3.54±0.81log10 TCID50 for viruses), and was approximately 10-fold lower than the CDC rRT-PCR (1.09±0.69log10 TCID50 for viruses). Among 807 NPS specimens tested, the sensitivities and specificities of FluA Dot were 91.1% (95%CI: 86.7–94.4%)/99.7% (95%CI: 98.7–99.9%), and the Directigen EZ FluA+B were 71.9% (95%CI: 65.7–77.6%)/99.8%(95%CI: 99.0–99.9%). Conclusion: The new test (FluA Dot) exhibit higher sensitivity than Directigen EZ FluA+B both in pH1N1 and seasonal influenza A detection. The promising RIDT can play important roles in influenza diagnosis and therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Simple, rapid and low-cost fabrication of a microfluidic algae trap based on PSA tape. • Simple structure with low frequency operation at 8.56 MHz and no sheath flows. • Chlorella trapping efficiency of 82–74 % at a 0.5–2.7 μl/min through-flow in a 800 μm × 85 μm channel. • Diatoms trapping efficiency of 85–79 % at a 0.5–4 μl/min through-flow in a 800 μm × 85 μm channel. • Resettable trapping of chlorella and diatoms, and potential for distributed/portable use. Recently, there has been an increase in the use of algal physiology as a convenient and useful indicator for monitoring of water quality in aquatic ecosystems. However, current methods for monitoring algal physiology are high-cost, power intensive, and have limited sensitivity for practical samples in which algal concentration is low. In order to alleviate these problems, we developed a simple-to-fabricate acoustophoretic particle trapping device that can effectively enrich various types of microalgae such as chlorella and diatoms for real-time monitoring of water quality. This microalgae trap is fabricated by embedding a piezoelectric resonator in a single channel. In comparison to previously reported acoustophoretic particle traps, this device has a simple structure and does not require sheath flows, which makes the device low cost and simple to fabricate and operate. Using Chlorella kessleri and the marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana as model algae, the microalgae trap has demonstrated notable particle trapping efficiencies between 82 % to 74 % for Chlorella with a through-flow of 0.5 μl/min to 2.7 μl/min and 85 % to 79 % for diatoms with a 0.5 μl/min to 4 μl/min through-flow. The trap has also shown to simultaneously trap Chlorella and diatoms at different heights of the microchannel. This device has high promise for trapping, separating and manipulating microalgae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[6,6]-Phenyl-C 61 -butyric acid methylester (PC 61 BM) has been widely used as electron transport material (ETM) for both organic-inorganic hybrid and all inorganic perovskite solar cells (PeSCs) with inverted structure. However, PC 61 BM still remains to be improved due to its low electrical conductivity and inferior passivation effect towards perovskite. In this work, we synthesize two perfluorophenyl-substituted fulleropyrrolidines, 2-(perfluorophenyl)-5-phenyl-C 60 -fulleropyrrolidine (FP-i) and 2,5-bis-(perfluorophenyl)-C 60 -fulleropyrrolidine (FP-ii) via a modified 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction. FP-i and FP-ii are introduced into inverted PeSCs based on organic-inorganic hybrid and all inorganic perovskites (CH 3 NH 3 PbCl 3-x I x and CsPbI 2 Br) as ETMs. The PeSCs based on FP-i and FP-ii display good photovoltaic performance and device stability, which are superior or comparable to those with PC 61 BM. The mechanism studies reveal that FP-i and FP-ii possess higher electrical conductivity, more significant passivation capacity and enhanced hydrophobicity but slightly lower low unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) levels. These results suggest that FP-i and FP-ii are universal ETMs for both organic-inorganic hybrid and all inorganic PeSCs, which are better or comparable to conventional ETM of PC 61 BM. Image 1 • We design and synthesize two perfluorophenyl-substituted fulleropyrrolidines (FP-i and FP-ii). • FP-i and FP-ii are introduced into hybrid and all-inorganic PeSCs, respectively, as ETMs. • The PeSCs with FP-i and FP-ii display good photovoltaic performance. • FP-i and FP-ii outperform or comparable to conventional ETM of PC 61 BM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The impact of influencing factors on injury severity of side crashes at intersections and role of striking and struck vehicles are investigated. • Bayesian bivariate probit model is proposed to accommodate the correlation between the injury severity levels of striking and struck vehicles, and Bayesian approach via Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) is employed to estimate the model. • The Bayesian bivariate probit model can effectively address the correlation and provide better model fit than Bayesian univariate probit model. • The findings can help designers and management departments improve the safety at intersections. Side crashes between vehicles which usually lead to high casualties and property loss, rank first among total crashes in China. This paper aims to identify the factors associated with injury severity of side crashes at intersections and to provide suggestions for developing countermeasures to mitigate the levels of injuries. In order to investigate the role of striking and struck vehicles in side crashes simultaneously, bivariate probit model was proposed and Bayesian approach was employed to evaluate the model, compared to the corresponding univariate probit model. Crash data from Beijing, China for the period 2009–2012 were used to carry out the statistical analysis. Based on the investigation with vehicles and data analysis on events, 130 intersection side crash cases were selected to form a specific dataset. Then, the influence of human, vehicles, roadway and environmental variables on crash severity was examined by means of bivariate probit regression within Bayesian framework. The effects of the factors on striking vehicle drivers and struck vehicle drivers were considered separately and simultaneously to find more targeted conclusions. The statistical analysis revealed vehicle type, lane number, no non-motorized lane and speeding have the corresponding influence on the injury severity of striking vehicles, while time of day and vehicle type of struck vehicles increased the likelihood of being injured. From the results it can be concluded that there indeed exists correlation between striking and struck vehicles in side crashes, although the correlation is not so strong. Importantly, Bayesian bivariate probit model can address the role of striking and struck vehicles in side crashes simultaneously and can accommodate the correlation clearly, which extends the range of univariate probit analysis. The general and empirical countermeasures are presented to improve the safety at intersections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac dysfunction is a common adverse effect of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Autopsy of SAH patients shows immunocyte infiltration into the heart. In this study, a SAH model of endovascular perforation was performed in adult male mice in order to test whether SAH causes cardiac dysfunction in non-primary cardiac disease young adult male mice and whether immune response mediates SAH induced cardiac and neurological deficit. Splenectomy was performed on a subpopulation of mice one week prior to induction of the SAH. Neurological functional tests, transthoracic Doppler echocardiography, immunofluorescent staining, and flow cytometry were performed to investigate neurological and cardiac function and immune/inflammatory effects of SAH in mice with or without splenectomy. We found that SAH significantly induces ventricular fibrillation and cardiac dysfunction identified by significantly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular fractional shortening, decreased heart rate, as well as increased macrophage and neutrophil infiltration into heart and inflammatory factor expression in the heart compared to sham control mice. SAH also induces neurological deficit, increases astrocyte and microglial activity, and inflammatory cell infiltration into brain as well as up-regulates inflammatory factor expression in the brain tissue. Splenectomy not only significantly improves neurological function, but also reduces cardiac dysfunction compared to SAH alone mice. Splenectomy in SAH mice significantly reduces inflammatory cell infiltration, and decreases NADPH oxidase-2 and macrophage chemokine protein-1 expression in heart and brain when compared to non-splenectomy SAH mice. Our data suggest that, SAH induces acute cardiac dysfunction in non-primary cardiac disease mice. Secondary immune response may play an important role in mediating brain-heart damage after SAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary goal of a recommender system is often known as "helping users find relevant items", and a lot of recommendation algorithms are proposed accordingly. However, these accuracy-oriented methods usually suffer the problem of recommendation bias on popular items, which is not welcome to not only users but also item providers. To alleviate the recommendation bias problem, we propose a generic rank aggregation framework for the recommendation results of an existing algorithm, in which the user- and item-oriented ranking results are linearly aggregated together, with a parameter controlling the weight of the latter ranking process. Experiment results of a typical algorithm on two real-world data sets show that, this framework is effective to improve the recommendation fairness of any existing accuracy-oriented algorithms, while avoiding significant accuracy loss. • In the recommendation results of common algorithms, the direct rank number of a user-item pair usually shows a negative correlation with the item degree. • We propose the Two-Way Rank Aggregation framework of the direct and reversed rank results. • Our proposed framework can improved existing algorithms with superior coverage and comparable accuracy and diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a high efficiency wireless energy transfer system based on MEMS coils is first developed. The permanent magnetic core used in the transmitting coil can not only enhance the magnetic flux but also applies a strong and uniform magnetic field distribution around the core. Ansoft hfss is then used to analyze the performance of two coupling coils designed to be resonated at the same frequency. The distribution of magnetic field strength and coupling efficiency is modeled and characterized. High-performance bio-compatible MEMS coils were fabricated on a glass wafer by thick glue photolithography and electroplating technique. We measured a peak value of energy transfer at the resonant frequency of 23 MHz, and the coupling efficiency is higher than 10% within the distance of 10-20 cm by sweeping frequencies from 1 MHz to 200 MHz. Experiments also show that the resonant coupling efficiency is not much affected by the relative position of the two coils in a large range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports a very short and efficient synthesis of chiral dioxocyclens starting from natural amino acids. NMR experiments were undertaken to assess the chiral recognition properties of these chiral macrocycles. The NMR spectra of mandelic acid or its derivatives in the presence and absence of the chiral dioxocyclens showed that these macrocycles have different enantiomeric discriminating ability. It was revealed that this type of dioxocyclen may be promising hosts for chiral discrimination. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Calcareous sand, a foundation material of marine origin, is an indispensable component in marine construction and has found extensive applications in building foundations and airport runways. The complex nature of the marine environment and the unique characteristics of calcareous sand present significant challenges for ensuring the stability and durability of engineering structures. To address these challenges, multistage loading triaxial creep tests were conducted on calcareous sands with different particle gradations to analyze their creep characteristics and underlying mechanisms. The result shows that the amount of ultimate axial creep strain is positively correlated with deviatoric stress but negatively correlated with the coefficient of uniformity (Cu). The creep process demonstrates a significant creep structure effect, characterized by creep rate lag and creep failure lag. The volumetric creep strain-time relationship at different creep stress ratios can be classified into three types. When the creep stress ratio is less than the stress ratio at the dilative point, the sample is first compacted followed by dilatancy; when the creep stress ratio is equal to the stress ratio at the dilative point, only compaction is obtained; as the creep stress ratio becomes larger than the stress ratio at the dilative point, pure dilatancy is found. The particle crushing modes and creep mechanisms of calcareous sand are also examined through meso-observations. It is found that the particle crushing modes can be categorized into three distinct types: grinding, angular breakage, and whole particle breakage. The particle gradation not only impacts the primary particle crushing mode but also governs the movement of particles and fragments, thereby influencing the occurrence of creep deformation. Specifically, a smaller Cu value corresponds to a higher fragmentation rate of the specimen, an increased number of overall crushing and angular fractures, a larger space for fragment migration after crushing, and eventually a greater creep deformation. Finally, a modified Burgers model is proposed based on the test results, which can effectively capture the creep deformation in the presence of creep structure effects and creep failure stages. • The ultimate creep strain is negatively correlated with coefficient of uniformity. • A significant creep structure effect is demonstrated by creep rate and failure lag. • The particle gradation impacts both crushing mode and movements of particles. • A modified Burgers model captured creep structure effect and failure is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel NADH-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas bacterium (Pb ADH) was obtained. • Pb ADH exhibit an excellent tolerance against the high substrate and product concentrations for the asymmetric synthesis of ethyl (S)−4‑chloro-3-hydroxybutyrate from ethyl 4-chloroacetoacetate. • Coexpressing Pb ADH with Bm GDH allows the conversion of COBE at 3.5 M (574 g/L) in a monophasic aqueous media with a single batch charge of substrate. • The constructed coexpressed cells can also catalyze the reduction of another six ketones at high concentrations to prepare the corresponding chiral alcohols. Ethyl (S)-4‑chloro-3-hydroxybutyrate [(S)-CHBE] is attractive as a necessary intermediate for the production of highly valued products in pharmaceutical industries. Nowadays, alcohol dehydrogenases play an increasingly essential role in the asymmetric synthesis of chiral alcohols. In this work, a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas bacterium (Pb ADH) was obtained by genome mining method and identified to exhibit an excellent tolerance against the high substrate and product concentrations. For the regeneration of NADH, Bacillus megaterium glucose dehydrogenase (Bm GDH) was successfully co-expressed with Pb ADH in E. coli cells. So much as 3.5 M (574 g/L) ethyl 4-chloroacetoacetate (COBE) can be converted to (S)-CHBE completely with a > 99 % ee value under the catalysis by recombinant cells, even in a monophasic aqueous media with a single batch charge of substrate. In addition, in order to verify the substrate scope of Pb ADH, six other α/β-ketone esters and aromatic ketones were also evaluated as substrates at high substrate concentrations (100–650 g/L), and the corresponding chiral alcohols with highly optical purity were also achieved by co-expressed E. coli cells. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains a major public health concern because of the inefficiency of currently approved therapies in clearing the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Antibody‐based regimens have demonstrated potency regarding virus neutralization and HBsAg clearance. However, high dosages or frequent dosing are required for virologic control. In this study, a dual‐domain‐engineered anti‐hepatitis B virus (HBV) therapeutic antibody 73‐DY is developed that exhibits significantly improved efficacy regarding both serum and intrahepatic viral clearance. In HBV‐tolerant mice, administration of a single dose of 73‐DY at 2 mg kg−1 is sufficient to reduce serum HBsAg by over 3 log10 IU mL−1 and suppress HBsAg to < 100 IU mL−1 for two weeks, demonstrating a dose‐lowering advantage of at least tenfold. Furthermore, 10 mg kg−1 of 73‐DY sustainably suppressed serum viral levels to undetectable levels for ≈ 2 weeks. Molecular analyses indicate that the improved efficacy exhibited by 73‐DY is attributable to the synergy between fragment antigen binding (Fab) and fragment crystallizable (Fc) engineering, which conferred sustained viral suppression and robust viral eradication, respectively. Long‐term immunotherapy with reverse chimeric 73‐DY facilitated the restoration of anti‐HBV immune responses. This study provides a foundation for the development of next‐generation antibody‐based CHB therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a rare, aggressive, high‐grade neuroendocrine carcinoma with a poor prognosis, mainly seen in elderly men. To date, we have found no studies on predictive models for LCNEC. Methods: We extracted data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database of confirmed LCNEC from 2010 to 2018. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional risk regression analyses were used to identify independent risk factors, and then we constructed a novel nomogram and assessed the predictive effectiveness by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: A total of 2546 patients with LCNEC were included, excluding those diagnosed with autopsy or death certificate, tumor, lymph node, metastasis (TNM) stage, tumor grade deficiency, etc., and finally, a total of 743 cases were included in the study. After univariate and multivariate analyses, we concluded that the independent risk factors were N stage, intrapulmonary metastasis, bone metastasis, brain metastasis, and surgical intervention. The results of ROC curves, calibration curves, and DCA in the training and validation groups confirmed that the nomogram could accurately predict the prognosis. Conclusions: The nomogram obtained from our study is expected to be a useful tool for personalized prognostic prediction of LCNEC patients, which may help in clinical decision‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Recombinant humanized type III collagen (rhCol III) is a highly adhesive biomaterial composed of 16 adhesion‐related tandem repeats refined from human type III collagen. Here, we aimed to investigate the effect of rhCol III on oral ulcers and reveal the underlying mechanism. Methods: Acid‐induced oral ulcers were induced on the murine tongue, and rhCol III or saline drops were administered. The effect of rhCol III on oral ulcers was assessed using gross and histological analyses. The effects on the proliferation, migration, and adhesion of human oral keratinocytes were investigated in vitro. The underlying mechanism was explored using RNA sequencing. Results: Administration of rhCol III accelerated the lesion closure of oral ulcers, reduced the release of inflammatory factors, and alleviated pain. rhCol III promoted the proliferation, migration, and adhesion of human oral keratinocytes in vitro. Mechanistically, the enrichment of genes associated with the Notch signaling pathway was upregulated after rhCol III treatment. Conclusion: rhCol III promoted the healing of oral ulcers, showing promising therapeutic potential in oral clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viruses rely completely on host translational machinery to produce the proteins encoded by their genes. Controlling translation initiation is important for gaining translational advantage in conflicts between the host and virus. The eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) has been reported to be hijacked by potyviruses for virus multiplication. The role of translation regulation in defence and anti‐defence between plants and viruses is not well understood. We report that the transcript level of eIF6 was markedly increased in turnip mosaic virus (TuMV)‐infected Nicotiana benthamiana. TuMV infection was impaired by overexpression of N. benthamiana eIF6 (NbeIF6) either transiently expressed in leaves or stably expressed in transgenic plants. Polysome profile assays showed that overexpression of NbeIF6 caused the accumulation of 40S and 60S ribosomal subunits, the reduction of polysomes, and also compromised TuMV UTR‐mediated translation, indicating a defence role for upregulated NbeIF6 during TuMV infection. However, the polysome profile in TuMV‐infected leaves was not identical to that in leaves overexpressing NbeIF6. Further analysis showed that TuMV NIb protein, the RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase, interacted with NbeIF6 and interfered with its effect on the ribosomal subunits, suggesting that NIb might have a counterdefence role. The results propose a possible regulatory mechanism at the translation level during plant–virus interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last three years, the pandemic of COVID-19 has had a significant impact on people's lives and the global economy. The incessant emergence of variant strains has compounded the challenges associated with the management of COVID-19. As the predominant variant from late 2021 to the present, Omicron and its sublineages, through continuous evolution, have demonstrated iterative viral fitness. The comprehensive elucidation of the biological implications that catalyzed this evolution remains incomplete. In accordance with extant research evidence, we provide a comprehensive review of subvariants of Omicron, delineating alterations in immune evasion, cellular infectivity, and the cross-species transmission potential. This review seeks to clarify the underpinnings of biology within the evolution of SARS-CoV-2, thereby providing a foundation for strategic considerations in the post-pandemic era of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persistent luminescence is an optical phenomenon where solid phosphors can store photoenergy in defects and release the energy by luminescence after stopping excitation. Due to the intriguing optical characteristics, the defect luminescence based persistent phosphors have attracted enormous attention in recent decades, especially in biomedical fields such as biosensing and bioimaging. Persistent luminescence nanoparticles (PLNPs) can effectively avoid the autofluorescence interference from complex samples or tissues, leading to significantly improved sensitivity in biological analysis. In this review, we summarized the methods to control the optical performance of PLNPs from the perspectives of controlled synthesis and defect regulation, and emphasized the close relationship between their optical performance and applications. We further provided a summary about a series of PLNPs nanoprobes designed by our group for biosensing and bioimaging. Our efforts, summarized in this review, will not only open a window for manipulating luminescence in PLNPs, but also further promote the application of PLNPs in biomedicine. What is the most favorite and original chemistry developed in your research group? Synthesis and bioapplications of persistent phosphors. How do you get into this specific field? Could you please share some experiences with our readers? I got into chemistry related to biomedicine during my graduate student period. The research situation of luminescent nanomaterials in China has a strong effect on me, inspiring me to pursuit new luminescent nanomaterials and their applications. We need have interest and concentrate on our research with passion. We are encouraged to work hard. What is the most important personality for scientific research? Curiosity and hard‐working. What are your hobbies? What's your favorite book(s)? Shopping and reading books. My favorite books are novels, such as "The Three‐Body Problem". How do you keep balance between research and family? I have two boys and it takes me much time to take care of them. I need to elevate my work efficiency and work hard. I also buy household service to save time. Who influences you mostly in your life? My father. He loves reading and writing. I know one need to have passion on something under my father's influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Beyond its application as an epilepsy therapy, the ketogenic diet (KD) has been considered a potential treatment for a variety of other neurological and metabolic disorders. However, whether KD promotes functional restoration by reducing the pathological processes underlying individual diseases or through some independent mechanisms is not clear. Methods: In this study, we evaluated the effect of KD on a series of behaviors and synaptic functions of young adult naive mice. Wild‐type C57BL/6J mice at age of 2–3 months were fed with control diet or KD for three months. Body weight and caloric intake were monitored throughout the experiments. We assessed behavioral performance with seizure induction, motor coordination and activity, anxiety level, spatial learning and memory, sociability, and depression. Synaptic transmission and long‐term potentiation were also recorded. Results: KD‐fed mice performed equivalent to control‐diet‐fed mice in the behavioral tests and electrophysiological assays except exhibiting slower weight gain and increased seizure threshold. Conclusions: Our results contribute to the better understanding of effects of the KD on physiological behaviors and synaptic functions. This is the first study to specially investigate the influence of long‐term feeding of the ketogenic diet (KD) on various behaviors and synaptic functions in young adult naive mice. We found that KD‐fed mice performed similarly to control‐diet‐fed mice on the behavioral tests and electrophysiological assays except exhibiting slower weight gain and increased seizure threshold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wavelength step-swept light source (WSSL) using a recirculating frequency shifter loop (RFSL) based on a single-side-band (SSB) modulator is proposed, in order to achieve a linear and fast wavelength-sweeping. The swept step can be tuned from 1.2 pm to 128 pm by adjusting a precise and stable radio frequency (RF) signal that is applied to the SSB modulator. The swept rate can be tuned up to 99 kHz in a range of over 5.12 nm. Wavelength-to-time mapping is used to measure static strain-induced or temperature-induced shifting of the reflected central wavelength of a fiber Bragg grating (FBG). Because of the high linearity of the light source, the interrogation linearity of the strain and the temperature are as high as 0.99944 and 0.99946, respectively. When a dynamic periodic strain applied to FBG sensor, the dynamic performance of the FBG sensor is successfully recorded in the time domain and its power spectral density of a fast Fourier transform (FFT) is calculated. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the power spectral density is over 40 dB for a 100 Hz dynamic strain and the calculated sensitivity is 0.048 με/Hz1/2. A sharp change in the strain frequency from 100 Hz to 500 Hz is captured in real time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purposes: Gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) is essential for articular cartilage to respond appropriately to physical or biological stimuli and maintain homeostasis. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), identified as an endochondral ossification genetic factor, plays a vital role in cell proliferation, migration and adhesion. However, how CTGF regulates GJIC in chondrocytes is still unknown. This study aims to explore the effects of CTGF on GJIC in chondrocytes and its potential biomechanism. Materials and methods: qPCR was performed to determine the expression of gene profile in the CCN family in chondrocytes. After CTGF treatment, CCK‐8 assay and scratch assay were performed to explore cell proliferation and migration. A scrape loading/dye transfer assay was adopted to visualize GJIC in living chondrocytes. Western blot analysis was done to detect the expression of Cx43 and PI3K/Akt signalling. Immunofluorescence staining was used to show protein distribution. siRNA targeting CTGF was used to detect the influence on cell‐cell communication. Results: The CTGF (CCN2) was shown to be the highest expressed member of the CCN family in chondrocytes. CTGF facilitated functional gap junction intercellular communication in chondrocytes through up‐regulation of Cx43 expressions. CTGF activated PI3K/Akt signalling to promote Akt phosphorylation and translocation. Suppressing CTGF also reduced the expression of Cx43. The inhibition of PI3K/Akt signalling decreased the expressions of Cx43 and thus impaired gap junction intercellular communication enhanced by CTGF. Conclusions: For the first time, we provide evidence to show CTGF facilitates cell communication in chondrocytes via PI3K/Akt signalling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Minks are raised in many countries and have transmitted severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to humans. However, the biologic properties of SARS-CoV-2 in minks are largely unknown. Here, we investigated and found that SARS-CoV-2 replicates efficiently in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts, and transmits efficiently in minks via respiratory droplets; pulmonary lesions caused by SARS-CoV-2 in minks are similar to those seen in humans with COVID-19. We further found that a spike protein-based subunit vaccine largely prevented SARS-CoV-2 replication and lung damage caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection in minks. Our study indicates that minks are a useful animal model for evaluating the efficacy of drugs or vaccines against COVID-19 and that vaccination is a potential strategy to prevent minks from transmitting SARS-CoV-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The ketogenic diet (KD) has been recognized as a potentially effective therapy to treat neuropsychiatric diseases, including epilepsy. Previous studies have indicated that KD treatment elevates γ-Amino butyric acid (GABA) levels in both human and murine brains, which presumably contributes to the KD's anti-seizure effects. However, this has not been systematically investigated at the synaptic level, and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Methods: Kainic acid (KA)-induced acute and chronic seizure models were utilized to examine the effects of KD treatment on seizure threshold and epileptogenesis. Synaptic activities in the hippocampus were recorded with the technique of electrophysiology. The effects of the KD on Neuregulin 1 (Nrg1) expression were assessed via RNA sequencing, real-time PCR and Western blotting. The obligatory role of Nrg1 in KD's effects on seizures was evaluated through disruption of Nrg1 signaling in mice by genetically deleting its receptor-ErbB4. Results: We found that KD treatment suppressed seizures in both acute and chronic seizure models and enhanced presynaptic GABA release probability in the hippocampus. By screening molecular targets linked to GABAergic activity with transcriptome analysis, we identified that KD treatment dramatically increased the Nrg1 gene expression in the hippocampus. Disruption of Nrg1 signaling by genetically deleting its receptor-ErbB4 abolished KD's effects on GABAergic activity and seizures. Conclusion: Our findings suggest a critical role of Nrg1/ErbB4 signaling in mediating KD's effects on GABAergic activity and seizures, shedding light on developing new therapeutic interventions to seizure control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A neutral organics (5ʹ-CMP) is used as additive to modulate the crystallization of inorganic CsPbI 2 Br film. • The CsPbI 2 Br film with 5ʹ-CMP features improved crystallinity mitigated strain and reduced defects density. • Inverted devices with 5ʹ-CMP deliver an optimal PCE of 33.22% under indoor illumination. • Flexible devices with 5ʹ-CMP deliver an optimal PCE of 13.23% (one-sun) with excellent mechanical stability. Cesium-based all-inorganic perovskites have been of great interest due to their excellent thermal and light stability. However, these inorganic perovskites more often suffer from poor crystallization and unfavorable mechanical flexibility, hence delivering inferior photovoltaic performance and limited device lifetime. In this work, cytidine 5ʹ-monophosphate (5ʹ-CMP), a natural organics with multiple functional groups, is used as an additive to facilitate the crystallization of CsPbI 2 Br film, and meanwhile to mitigate the interfacial defects and residual strain, which could be attributed to the strong interactions between 5ʹ-CMP and PbI 2 precursor as well as perovskite lattice. As a result, the optimal devices with an inverted structure exhibit an enhanced efficiency of 15.94% or 33.22% along with excellent operational stability under one-sun or white light emitting diode (WLED) illumination conditions. In addition, the perovskite film with 5ʹ-CMP exhibits a reduced modulus, hence rendering the flexible devices with improved mechanical stability. This work thus demonstrates a promising strategy to optimize inverted all-inorganic perovskite devices for versatile applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the study, the creep characteristics and meso-mechanism of calcareous sand under different stresses are explored through triaxial creep tests. The influence of particle size on calcareous sand creep is also considered. Furthermore, the particularity of calcareous sand creep is revealed by comparing with the creep behavior of silica sand. The results show that during creep, the calcareous sand is more stable than silica sand due to the interlocking of irregular particles. When creep deviatoric stress is small, the creep of calcareous sand is manifested as nonlinear attenuation creep (primary creep), and the creep deformation is smooth without creep failure. With the increase of creep deviatoric stress, the creep deformation is concentrated, resulting in a strain concentration zone similar to the shear band, and the associated creep rate first decreases and then suddenly increases, finally, creep failure occurs. With increasing particle size of calcareous sand, the particle crushing increases, which induces a higher creep deformation, however, the overall creep failure is not generated. During the graded creep of calcareous sand, an obvious creep structural effect is observed, which is temporary and results in a significantly reduction of creep rate. Only after the previous creep structure effect is destroyed by the continuously creep process, the creep response can restore to its original behavior. The meso-behavior is represented by particle morphology, i.e., the fractal dimension and aspect ratio. It is found that both confining pressure and particle size can influence the evolution of particle morphology during creep. With the increase of confining pressure, the fractal dimension of calcareous sand decreases which means that particle grinding is always existent, while the aspect ratio of small-sized calcareous sand after creep decreases first and then stabilizes (slightly increases), suggesting that the overall particle breakage is the main cause of deformation. However, the aspect ratio of large-sized calcareous sand continually decreases, indicating that the main contribution for its deformation is angular cracking. The meso scopic behavior of silica sand is basically unaffected by creep, and its creep deformation is mainly caused by particle rearrangement. Fig. 1 Creep rate and related evolution of particle morphology for calcareous sand under different creep stresses: (a) Creep rate-time relationship; (b) Photos of samples before and after creep; (c) Variation of fractal dimension D p ; and (d) Variation of fractal dimension of mean aspect ratio. [Display omitted] • Performing triaxial creep tests to explore the creep behavior of calcareous sand. • The creep behavior is influenced by confining pressure, creep deviatoric stress, particle size and particle crushing. • The particle shape before and after creep is characterized by fractal dimension and aspect ratio. • Only sand that can form strain concentration band by creep process can lead to creep failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serving as the basis of cell life, interactions between nucleic acids and proteins play essential roles in fundamental cellular processes. Aptamers are unique single-stranded oligonucleotides generated by in vitro evolution methods, possessing the ability to interact with proteins specifically. Altering the structure of aptamers will largely modulate their interactions with proteins and further affect related cellular behaviors. Recently, with the in-depth research of aptamer–protein interactions, the analytical assays based on their interactions have been widely developed and become a powerful tool for biomolecular detection. There are some insightful reviews on aptamers applied in protein detection, while few systematic discussions are from the perspective of regulating aptamer–protein interactions. Herein, we comprehensively introduce the methods for regulating aptamer–protein interactions and elaborate on the detection techniques for analyzing aptamer–protein interactions. Additionally, this review provides a broad summary of analytical assays based on the regulation of aptamer–protein interactions for detecting biomolecules. Finally, we present our perspectives regarding the opportunities and challenges of analytical assays for biological analysis, aiming to provide guidance for disease mechanism research and drug discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the effects of Traditional Chinese medicine, Periplaneta americana extract (PAE), on osteoblast differentiation of human alveolar bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (hABMMSCs). Materials and Methods: Human alveolar bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells were treated with different concentrations of PAE. Cell Counting Kit‐8 (CCK‐8) assay and transwell migration assay were conducted to evaluate cell proliferation and migration, respectively. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, ALP activity assay, and Alizarin red S staining were performed to detect osteogenesis in hABMMSCs. In addition, real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) and western blot (WB) assay were performed to evaluate expression levels of osteogenic markers. Finally, RNA sequencing analysis and WB were carried out to elucidate the underlying mechanism. Results: A total of 0.1 mg/ml PAE promoted cell proliferation and migration. PAE also increased ALP activity and mineralized nodule formation of hABMMSCs. In addition, PAE upregulated the expression of osteogenesis‐related genes (RUNX2, COL1A1, and BGLAP). RNA‐sequencing analysis revealed that PAE activated the focal adhesion signaling pathway. Treatment with Defactinib, an inhibitor of FAK, attenuated the effects induced by PAE. Conclusions: PAE could enhance osteoblast differentiation of hABMMSCs through focal adhesion signaling pathway, suggesting a therapeutic potential for the alveolar bone defect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In massive open online courses (MOOCs), learners have diverse types of motivation. Learners with different motivations have different interaction behaviours, presence, and learning outcomes. However, scant research has investigated the moderating role of learner motivations in the associations between presence and learning outcomes. This study examined MOOC learner motivation and its moderating role by surveying 646 MOOC learners. By exploratory factor analysis, this study identified four types of motivation: interest in knowledge, curiosity and expansion, connection and recognition, and professional relevance. Based on motivation, the study clustered learners into high-motivation, low-motivation, and asocial learners. Both high-motivation and asocial learners reported strong interest in knowledge and professional relevance, but asocial learners reported the lowest level of connection and recognition among the three groups of learners. Despite the low social presence, the asocial learners still had high levels of cognitive and teaching presence and learning outcomes. In addition, learners with higher presence generally perceived higher cognitive learning, but asocial learners with higher social presence were less satisfied. The results highlight the impacts of specific types of motivation to enrol in MOOCs and suggest designing different environments for learners with different motivation types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem cells play an irreplaceable role in the development, homeostasis, and regeneration of the craniofacial bone. Multiple populations of tissue-resident craniofacial skeletal stem cells have been identified in different stem cell niches, including the cranial periosteum, jawbone marrow, temporomandibular joint, cranial sutures, and periodontium. These cells exhibit self-renewal and multidirectional differentiation abilities. Here, we summarized the properties of craniofacial skeletal stem cells, based on their spatial distribution. Specifically, we focused on the in vivo genetic fate mapping of stem cells, by exploring specific stem cell markers and observing their lineage commitment in both the homeostatic and regenerative states. Finally, we discussed their application in regenerative medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel and lethal infectious disease, posing a threat to global health security. The number of cases has increased rapidly, but no data concerning kidney transplant (KTx) recipients infected with COVID-19 are available. To present the epidemiological, clinical, and therapeutic characteristics of KTx recipients infected with COVID-19, we report on a case series of five patients who were confirmed as having COVID-19 through nucleic acid testing (NAT) from January 1, 2020 to February 28, 2020. The most common symptoms on admission to hospital were fever (five patients, 100%), cough (five patients, 100%), myalgia or fatigue (three patients, 60%), and sputum production (three patients, 60%); serum creatinine or urea nitrogen levels were slightly higher than those before symptom onset. Four patients received a reduced dose of maintenance immunosuppressive therapy during hospitalization. As of March 4, 2020 NAT was negative for COVID-19 in three patients twice in succession, and their computed tomography scans showed improved images. Although greater patient numbers and long-term follow-up data are needed, our series demonstrates that mild COVID-19 infection in KTx recipients can be managed using symptomatic support therapy combined with adjusted maintenance immunosuppressive therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resonators with multi-frequency generations at the device-level are highly desired in the future multi-band, reconfigurable, and compact wireless communications. In this work, a switchable radio frequency micro-electro-mechanical system (RF-MEMS) resonator with multiple electrodes is presented. The resonator is designed to operate at the whispering gallery modes (WGMs). Simultaneous excitations of the second to seventh modes with high Q values are implemented within a single device using a pair of electrodes for driving and sensing. For effective multi-frequency excitations, the electrode span angle is optimized. The frequencies of the 37 μm and 18 μm-radius resonators range from 53 MHz to 176 MHz and 112 MHz to 366 MHz, respectively. The Q values in each mode are over 104. Moreover, with the multi-electrode configurations, the specific mode can be enhanced with other modes suppressed. A more than 6 dB improvement of the spectrum peak is realized and the high Q values are maintained. A comprehensive theory is built up to clarify the driving/sensing principles under different electrode configurations. Furthermore, the air damping is found to have a significant effect on Q values for resonator with high stiffness vibrating in all the WGMs. The Q values in vacuum have at least two times improvement. The high-performance switchable resonator could dramatically reduce the power consumption, simplify the processing circuits, and occupy less footprint, which has great potential applications in future advanced RF front end systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel wideband high-gain planar antenna array for $E$ -band backhaul applications is presented in this article. The antenna element is composed of a substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) cavity-backed patch and a stepped waveguide horn. The SIW cavity-backed patch is worked as wideband waveform and impedance transformer to excite the stepped waveguide horn on the upper layer. The stepped waveguide horn is employed to enhance the gain of the antenna element by increasing the radiation aperture. Based on the proposed antenna element, a $2 \times 2$ subarray with element spacing larger than a wavelength is designed. A groove, which works as secondary radiation source, is etched between the elements to improve the gain and suppress the high sidelobes of the $2 \times 2$ subarray. By taking the advantage of the groove, the $2 \times 2$ subarray achieves a maximum boresight gain of 17 dBi and an −10 dB impedance bandwidth of 21.8% from 70 to 87 GHz. For further enhancing the gain, a prototype including $16 \times 16$ elements is manufactured and measured. The experimental results confirm that the proposed antenna achieves the −10 dB impedance bandwidth of 22.4% from 71 to 88.5 GHz and a peak gain of 28.8–30.9 dBi. With the merits of a wider operating bandwidth, high gain, low profile, and low cross-polarization, the proposed antenna array is suitable for application in the $E$ -band wireless backhaul systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oblique lateral interbody fusion surgery has become increasingly popular for lumbar degenerative diseases. The oblique corridor is between the psoas muscle and the retroperitoneal vessels, and its use could result in decreased tissue trauma, minimal blood loss, and short operation times. Patients who undergo oblique lateral interbody fusion surgery are always placed in the right lateral position to avoid damage to the inferior vena cava, which is typically a right-sided vessel. There is a substantial risk of vascular injury during the operation if there are anatomical variations in the vessels.Case Presentation: A 77-year-old man, of the Han nationality, with lumbar spinal stenosis underwent stand-alone oblique lateral interbody fusion surgery. Transverse magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine indicated that his inferior vena cava was left-sided. A three-dimensional reconstructed image of abdominal computed tomography angiography showed that the inferior vena cava was located on the left side. Finally, the surgeon decided to change the position of our patient from a right lateral position to a left lateral position before the surgery.Conclusions: To date, this is the first reported case where a patient underwent oblique lateral interbody fusion surgery in a left lateral decubitus position due to a left-sided inferior vena cava. This case demonstrates that carefully reading radiological results is important for operation planning and avoiding anatomical complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interaction is central to any learning experience. Currently, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) rely on discussion forums as a primary means of interaction among learners and instructors. Threaded discussions of such forums help learners to hold an ongoing and recursive discussion over an extended period, but the lack of temporal and spatial contiguity makes it insufficient to deliver a smooth interaction experience. To facilitate such interaction, this study designed DanMOOC, a commenting tool that facilitates timeline-anchored discussion among MOOC learners and instructors. DanMOOC was the first to combine threaded discussions with Danmaku commenting, a video commenting feature that allows viewers of the same video to share comments at the top of the video screen. The design process followed an iterative process of user-centered design. The impact of the new design on learning was assessed empirically through a laboratory experiment comparing DanMOOC with the current MOOC system (video-based learning + forum). The results show that DanMOOC increases learners' perceptions of social, teaching, and cognitive presence, engages learners more in discussion, and improves learners' satisfaction with both the course and the platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite recent advances in understanding the biological behavior of osteosarcoma (OS), OS is still the most common primary bone sarcoma that endangers the health of children and adolescents. High-temperature requirement A (HTRA) protease family plays an important regulatory role in numerous malignancies and acts as a prognostic biomarker. However, the function and underlying mechanisms of the HTRA family in OS development remain unknown. Through analyzing the GSE126209 dataset obtained from different Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, we found that HTRA3 as a member of the HTRA family was downregulated in OS tissues compared with that in normal tissues. Functional experiments indicated that HTRA3 overexpression suppressed malignant behaviors of OS cells in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, we found that HTRA3 co-localized with the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) and decreased XIAP stability. Further investigation showed that XIAP knockdown inhibited the degradation of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and that HTRA3 caused the blockage of PTEN/phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway, characterized as the reverse of cell function caused by HTRA3 overexpression after PTEN inhibitor BpV (HOpic) treatment. Detailed investigations showed that forkhead box protein 1 (FOXP1), an oncogene in OS progression, downregulated HTRA3 expression and inhibited the transcriptional activity of HTRA3 , suggesting that HTRA3 was regulated negatively by FOXP1. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that HTRA3 is a repressor involved in OS development via the PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway under the modulation of transcription factor FOXP1, and it may provide a therapeutic direction for OS patients. [Display omitted] • High-temperature requirement A3 (HTRA3), was screened as the candidate oncogene by the bioinformatic analysis. • HTRA3 was downregulated in osteosarcoma (OS) tissues and cells. • HTRA3 overexpression induced cell apoptosis and inhibited cell migration and invasion. • HTRA3 co-localized with the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) and decreased XIAP stability. • XIAP knockdown inhibited the degradation of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN). • HTRA3 suppressed the PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway, a crucial signaling pathway contributed to the OS tumorigenesis. • Transcription factor FOXP1 was confirmed to impede the activity of HTRA3 promoter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the problem of disease prevalence in clinical studies, focusing on multiple comparisons based on stratified partially validated series in the presence of a gold standard. Five test statistics, including two Wald-type test statistics, the inverse hyperbolic tangent transformation test statistic, likelihood ratio test statistic, and score test statistic, are proposed to conduct multiple comparisons. To control the overall type I error rate, several adjustment procedures are developed, namely the Bonferroni, Single-step adjusted MaxT, Single-step adjusted MinP, Holm’s Step-down, and Hochberg’s step-up procedures, based on these test statistics. The performance of the proposed methods is evaluated through simulation studies in terms of the empirical type I error rate and empirical power. Simulation results show that the Single-step adjusted MaxT procedure and Single-step adjusted MinP procedure generally outperform the other three procedures, and these two test procedures based on all test statistics have satisfactory performance. Notably, the Single-step adjusted MinP procedure tends to exhibit higher empirical power than the Single-step adjusted MaxT procedure. Furthermore, the Step-down and Step-up procedures show greater power compared to the Bonferroni method. The study also observes that as the validated ratio increases, the empirical type I errors of all test procedures approach the nominal level while maintaining higher power. Two real examples are presented to illustrate the proposed methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary pulmonary sarcoma (PPS) is a rare and poor prognostic malignancy that results from current clinical studies are lacking. Our study aimed to investigate the prognostic factors of PPS and to construct a predictive nomogram that predict the overall survival (OS) rate. We extracted data on patients diagnosed with PPS from 2010 to 2019 in the SEER database. A total of 169 patients were included after screening by inclusion and exclusion criteria. Univariate and multivariate COX regression analyses showed that age, pathological grade, liver metastasis, surgical intervention, and chemotherapy influenced the prognosis. We constructed the prediction model nomogram based on these factors. Moreover, the results of the internal and external ROC curves, calibration curves, and DCA plots confirmed that the model has good discrimination, accuracy, and clinical practice efficacy. The present study is the first population-based study to explore the factors affecting the prognosis of PPS. We established a novel prognostic nomogram to predict the OS rate, which can help to make proper clinical decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical activity (PA) is critical to health, but PA level declines dramatically in young adulthood. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of different social gamification designs (i.e. cooperation and competition) in mobile fitness applications among occasional exercisers among young adults. A mobile fitness application featuring competitive, cooperative, or individualistic gamification was designed and their effectiveness in promoting PA behaviours and socio-cognitive factors among occasional exercisers was compared through a four-week (i.e. one week for baseline and three weeks for use) field experiment involving 49 participants. The participants used one of the gamified applications with one or more friends in daily life during the experimental period. The results showed that cooperation and competition stimulate different types of social support: cooperation improves companion support, whereas competition improves appraisal support. Both gamification significantly increased daily steps in the first week, but after three-week usage, the increase of the cooperation groups reclined, whereas that of the competition groups was maintained. The application usage in cooperation also declined significantly after three weeks, while that of the other two conditions did not change significantly. The current study provided insights into gamification design for occasional exercisers among Chinese young adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: With the advantages of high sensitivity, rapid response, label‐free, and simple operation, field effect transistor biosensors have shown promising application prospects in large‐scale pathogen screening. However, in practical biological fluids with relatively high ionic strength, such as saliva and serum, the Debye screening effect will weaken the interaction between FET biosensors and target bio‐molecules, thereby affecting the sensing sensitivity and accuracy. Herein, an interfacial polymer‐engineered field effect transistor (IPE FET) biosensor was developed for the efficient identification of SARS‐CoV‐2 N antigens in saliva samples. The inclusion of a polymer layer shortens the distance between target molecules and the electrode interface, which effectively overcomes the limitation of Debye screening. The constructed IPE FET biosensors exhibit high sensitivity and anti‐fouling capability, achieving efficient detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 N antigen in saliva within 5 min with a detection limit of 4.6 fg·mL−1. In a cohort of 35 simulated throat swab samples of SARS‐CoV‐2 N antigen, IPE FET exhibits an identification accuracy of up to 97.1%, with predictive sensitivity and specificity of 96.0% and 100.0%, respectively. The excellent performance of IPE FET not only provides a strategy to design efficient detection platforms but also suggests a pathway to realize rapid and scalable epidemic screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voice coil motor (VCM) has obvious rate-dependent hysteresis characteristics, which means that when the frequency of the input signal changes, the travel distance and the shape of the hysteresis loop will change significantly. Based on the Nonlinear Auto-Regressive with Exogenous Inputs (NARX) neural network model, a rate-dependent hysteresis model consisting of a transfer function sub-model of the VCM and a NARX neural network sub-model is proposed for VCM in this paper. Different from the commonly used rate-dependent operator model, the proposed model has a relatively simple mathematic format. By introducing the transfer function of VCM, the initial prediction of the amplitude and phase shift is realized dynamically, which ensures the nonlinear fitting effect of the NARX neural network. Comparisons of the model responses with the measured data under different frequencies of input current signals indicate that the proposed model can dynamically describe the nonlinear rate-dependent hysteresis of VCM with very high accuracy. On this basis, the inverse model is designed by adopting the method of direct inverse, and the effectiveness of the inverse model in trajectory tracking is preliminarily verified by simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demineralized dentin matrix (DDM) is an osteoconductive and osteoinductive material that has been successfully used in sinus floor augmentation and alveolar ridge augmentation in clinical applications. It releases bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and other growth factors, making DDM a suitable grafting material. However, the granular particle of DDM makes it difficult to anchor into the bone defect area. The aim of this study was to investigate the biological effects and osteoinductivity of the combination of DDM and Fibrin Glue (FG) at an optimal ratio on bone healing from a critical bone defect in an animal model. The mouse osteoblastic cell line (MC3T3-E1) was co-cultured with various ratios of DDM and FG to examine their effects on osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, as indicated by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, osteocalcin (OC) production and mineralized nodules formation. The optimal ratio was then chosen for further study with a rabbit calvarial defective model, in which they were implanted with DDM or DDM-FG1 (1 g: 0.1 ml) and DDM-FG2 (1 g: 0.5 ml) compounds, or left blank for 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks to investigate soft tissue and new bone regeneration. Micro-CT and histology analysis were used to evaluate the total grafting properties according to the different healing periods. The result from in vitro studies demonstrated that the ratio of 1:0.1 induced more ALP activity and mineralized nodules, while the ratio of 1: 0.5 (DDM-FG combined) induced more osteocalcin (OC) at specific time points. In the animal model, the 3D new bone volume in all DDM-FG treatment groups was significantly greater than that in the blank group at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Furthermore, the new bone volume was greater in DDM-FG2 when compared to the other groups during the early weeks of the healing period. In histological analysis, clusters of osteoblasts were formed adjacent to the DDM particles, and newly formed bone was observed in all groups, suggesting an osteoinductive property of DDM. Moreover, the greater new collagen synthesis observed at 4 weeks suggested that early bone healing was induced in the DDM-FG2 group. This study demonstrated that at an optimal ratio, the DDM-FG compound enhances osteogenic activities and bone regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring microbial metabolism is vital for revealing the mechanism of disease related to microbial metabolism and providing guidance for biomanufacturing processes optimization. However, it remains a grand challenge to offer real‐time insights into microbial metabolism owing to the complex and dynamic process. In this paper, the recent advances and prospects of optical biosensors including the organic, genetic coding and inorganic optical biosensors are briefly described for real‐time monitoring of dynamic microbial metabolism. This paper points out that challenges remain in microbial heterogeneity. We believe that this work will inspire the application of developing new methods for single cell real‐time analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]