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Graphene oxide (GO) sheets are widely used as building blocks in flexible electronic devices, structural materials, and energy storage technology owing to physicochemical flexibility and remarkable mechanical properties. GO exists as lamellar structures in these applications and, thus, it urges to enhance interface interaction to prevent interfacial failure. This study explores the adhesion of GO with and without intercalated water utilizing steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations. We find the interfacial adhesion energy (γ) depends on the synergistic effect of the types of functional groups, the degree of oxidation (c), and water content (wt). The intercalated monolayer water confined within GO flakes can improve the γ by more than 50% whereas the interlayer spacing is enlarged. The enhancement of adhesion is from the cooperative hydrogen bonding bridges between confined water and functional group on GO. Furthermore, the optimal water content wt = 20% and oxidation degree c = 20% are obtained. Our findings provide an experimentally available way to improve interlayer adhesion through molecular intercalation, which opens the possibility of high-performance laminate nanomaterial-based films for versatile applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3)-mediated pyroptosis was positively correlated with the allergic rhinitis progression and was reported to be regulated by SMAD family member 7 (Smad7). Bioinformatics analysis revealed that Smad7 might be targeted by miR-96-5p, and miR-96-5p might be targeted by long noncoding RNA zinc finger antisense 1 (ZFAS1). However, the effects and regulatory mechanisms of the ZFAS1/miR-96-5p/Smad7 functional axis in allergic rhinitis have not been investigated. Methods: Human nasal mucosa epithelial cell line RPMI 2650 and C57BL/6 mice were obtained for in vitro and in vivo studies. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation were implemented for detecting molecular interactions. Cell counting kit-8 and flow cytometry were used for measuring cell viability and pyroptosis. ELISA was obtained for monitoring cytokine secretion. RT-qPCR and Western blot were examined for determining RNA and protein expression. Results: In vitro studies revealed that ZFAS1 was downregulated in interleukin (IL)-13-treated RPMI 2650 cells, while overexpression of ZFAS1 enhanced cell viability and inhibited NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis and inflammatory response. ZFAS1 directly inhibited miR-96-5p to suppress NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis in IL-13-treated RPMI 2650 cells. MiR-96-5p bound to the 3′-untranslated region of Smad7 and knockdown of Smad7 significantly reversed the effects of miR-96-5p depletion. Moreover, in vivo experiments further confirmed the findings of in vitro studies and showed ZFAS1 overexpression or miR-96-5p inhibition alleviated allergic rhinitis in vivo. Conclusion: ZFAS1 downregulated the expression of miR-96-5p to upregulate Smad7 level, which subsequently inhibited NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis and inflammatory response to ameliorate allergic rhinitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Understanding the mechanism behind sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) remains a formidable task. This study endeavors to shed light on the complex cellular and molecular alterations that occur in the brains of a mouse model with SAE, ultimately unraveling the underlying mechanisms of this condition. Methods: We established a murine model using intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in wild type and Anxa1−/− mice and collected brain tissues for analysis at 0-hour, 12-hour, 24-hour, and 72-hour post-injection. Utilizing advanced techniques such as single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) and Stereo-seq, we conducted a comprehensive characterization of the cellular responses and molecular patterns within the brain. Results: Our study uncovered notable temporal differences in the response to LPS challenge between Anxa1−/− (annexin A1 knockout) and wild type mice, specifically at the 12-hour and 24-hour time points following injection. We observed a significant increase in the proportion of Astro-2 and Micro-2 cells in these mice. These cells exhibited a colocalization pattern with the vascular subtype Vas-1, forming a distinct region known as V1A2M2, where Astro-2 and Micro-2 cells surrounded Vas-1. Moreover, through further analysis, we discovered significant upregulation of ligands and receptors such as Timp1-Cd63, Timp1-Itgb1, Timp1-Lrp1, as well as Ccl2-Ackr1 and Cxcl2-Ackr1 within this region. In addition, we observed a notable increase in the expression of Cd14-Itgb1, Cd14-Tlr2, and Cd14-C3ar1 in regions enriched with Micro-2 cells. Additionally, Cxcl10-Sdc4 showed broad upregulation in brain regions containing both Micro-2 and Astro-2 cells. Notably, upon LPS challenge, there was an observed increase in Anxa1 expression in the mouse brain. Furthermore, our study revealed a noteworthy increase in mortality rates following Anxa1 knockdown. However, we did not observe substantial differences in the types, numbers, or distribution of other brain cells between Anxa1−/− and wildtype mice over time. Nevertheless, when comparing the 24-hour post LPS injection time point, we observed a significant decrease in the proportion and distribution of Micro-2 and Astro-2 cells in the vicinity of blood vessels in Anxa1−/− mice. Additionally, we noted reduced expression levels of several ligand-receptor pairs including Cd14-Tlr2, Cd14-C3ar1, Cd14-Itgb1, Cxcl10-Sdc4, Ccl2-Ackr1, and Cxcl2-Ackr1. Conclusions: By combining snRNA-seq and Stereo-seq techniques, our study successfully identified a distinctive cellular colocalization, referred to as a special pathological niche, comprising Astro-2, Micro-2, and Vas-1 cells. Furthermore, we observed an upregulation of ligand-receptor pairs within this niche. These findings suggest a potential association between this cellular arrangement and the underlying mechanisms contributing to SAE or the increased mortality observed in Anxa1 knockdown mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) necessitates a thorough understanding of intricate cellular interactions within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) play a pivotal role in cancer generation, progression, and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Within the TME, MSCs encompass both resident and circulating counterparts that dynamically communicate and actively participate in TME immunosurveillance and response to ICB. This review aims to reevaluate various facets of MSCs, including their potential self-transformation to function as cancer-initiating cells and contributions to the creation of a conducive environment for tumor proliferation and metastasis. Additionally, we explore the immune regulatory functions of tumor-associated MSCs (TA-MSCs) and MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) with analysis of potential connections between circulating and tissue-resident MSCs. A comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of MSC-immune cell communication and the heterogeneous cargo of tumor-educated versus naïve MSCs may unveil a new MSC-mediated immunosuppressive pathway that can be targeted to enhance cancer control by ICB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hg2+ is one of the most toxic heavy metals, posing a serious threat to the human body and the environmental ecosystem. In order to detect Hg2+ rapidly, accurately, and sensitively, a kind of boron, nitrogen, and sulfur co‐doped carbon dots (B,N,S‐CDs) were synthesized by a simple, economical, and direct hydrothermal method. The average size of the prepared B,N,S‐CDs is 2.7 ± 0.7 nm, and the high photoluminescence quantum yield is 67.6%. Furthermore, due to the efficient quenching effect of Hg2+, such B,N,S‐CDs are considered to serve as an efficient fluorescence sensing platform for label‐free and sensitive detection of Hg2+ with a detection limit of 72 nM. The selectivity experiments reveal that the B,N,S‐CDs are selective and specific for Hg2+ even in the presence of other interfering substances. Most importantly, the Hg2+ sensing platform based on B,N,S‐CDs can be successfully applied to the determination of Hg2+ in tap water and real lake water samples. This stable and inexpensive carbon material exhibits excellent sensitivity and selectivity, potentially suitable for Hg2+ monitoring in environmental applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce the numerical strategy for mixed uncertainty propagation based on probability and Dempster–Shafer theories, and apply it to the computational model of peristalsis in a heart-pumping system. Specifically, the stochastic uncertainty in the system is represented with random variables while epistemic uncertainty is represented using non-probabilistic uncertain variables with belief functions. The mixed uncertainty is propagated through the system, resulting in the uncertainty in the chosen quantities of interest (QoI, such as flow volume, cost of transport and work). With the introduced numerical method, the uncertainty in the statistics of QoIs will be represented using belief functions. With three representative probability distributions consistent with the belief structure, global sensitivity analysis has also been implemented to identify important uncertain factors and the results have been compared between different peristalsis models. To reduce the computational cost, physics constrained generalized polynomial chaos method is adopted to construct cheaper surrogates as approximations for the full simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An urgent challenge to the development of rechargeable Zn–air batteries (RZABs) is the highly active, durable, and low‐cost catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction (ORR and OER). Herein, a carbon‐based monolithic catalyst is designed via anchoring P‐modified MnCo2O4 inverse spinel nanoparticles on biomass‐derived carbon (P‐MnCo2O4@PWC). The introduction of surface P atoms regulates the electronic structures and valences of metal atoms by adjusting the coordination fields by (P‐O)δ– and Metal‐P. The optimization of the adsorption behavior of key intermediates facilitates the activation and conversion of reaction species. The monolithic structure is beneficial to the construction of a three‐phase interface for efficient mass transfer and high electrical conductivity. The P‐MnCo2O4@PWC catalyst displays outstanding bifunctional catalytic properties with a thin ΔE (the difference between the OER potential at 10 mA cm–2 and the ORR halfwave potential) of 0.66 V. The RZAB with P‐MnCo2O4@PWC as cathode delivers an exceptional peak power density (160 mW cm–2) and remarkable cycle life (over 1200 cycles), overcoming those with noble metal counterparts. This research provides a promising general surface‐phosphorization way to the design of carbon electrocatalysts and the high‐value utilization of biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceftazidime/avibactam (CAZ/AVI) is a combination of a well‐known third‐generation, broad‐spectrum cephalosporin with a new beta‐lactamase inhibitor that has been approved for the treatment of various infectious diseases (especially multidrug‐resistant Gram‐negative bacterial infections) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The current study extensively assessed CAZ/AVI‐related adverse events (AEs) in the real world through data mining of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database to better understand toxicities. The signals of CAZ/AVI‐related AEs were quantified using disproportionality analyses, including the reporting odds ratio, the proportional reporting ratio, the Bayesian confidence propagation neural network, and the multi‐item gamma Poisson shrinker algorithms. Out of 10,114,815 records retrieved from the FAERS database, 628 cases were identified, where CAZ/AVI was implicated as the primary suspect drug. A total of 61 preferred terms with significant disproportionality that simultaneously met the criteria of all four algorithms were retained. Several unexpected safety signals may also occur, including melena, hypernatremia, depressed level of consciousness, brain edema, petechiae, delirium, and shock hemorrhagic. The median onset time for AEs associated with CAZ/AVI was 4 days, with most cases occurring within 3 days after CAZ/AVI initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate how postgraduate engagement is affected by the sense of belonging, academic self‐efficacy and academic hardiness. The validated self‐reported scales were used to survey 308 postgraduate students in Mainland China who had taken distance learning courses. The proposed research model exhibited high predictive performance, confirming the established 10 hypotheses. The results indicated that sense of belonging positively and significantly influenced academic self‐efficacy, academic hardiness and postgraduates' emotional engagement. Academic self‐efficacy and academic hardiness had a positive and statistically significant impact on postgraduates' cognitive, emotional and behavioural engagement. Therefore, sense of belonging directly impacted postgraduates' emotional engagement and indirectly impacted postgraduates' cognitive and behavioural engagement. We also found a significant mediation effect of academic self‐efficacy and academic hardiness in distance learning courses. Overall, our proposed research model revealed the influence mechanism of sense of belonging, academic self‐efficacy and academic hardiness in postgraduate engagement in distance learning courses. These factors need to be considered when designing and implementing distance learning courses, teachers and researchers need to be aware of these interdependencies in order to maximize learning effects in the distance learning environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine whether a 7-day or 24-h recall period of Perioperative Symptom Assessment for Patients Undergoing Lung Surgery (PSA-Lung) was appropriate for symptom assessment after discharge. Methods: A total of 377 patients were recruited in a cohort study of patients who underwent lung surgery. We measured patient symptoms daily and weekly using the two recall period versions of the PSA-Lung scale, respectively. The psychometric properties of both versions were calculated. Spearman rank correlation coefficients and kappa (k) coefficients were used to measure the association between items score measured by the two version scales each week. Cohen's d effect size and mixed linear model were used to measure responsiveness to change over time. Results: Spearman rank correlation coefficients between the symptom scores generated by the 7-day and 24-h versions (range 0.48–0.77; all P < 0.05). The correlations increased in patients in stable condition (weekly symptom change < 2). Cronbach's α coefficients for both ratings were > 0.87 and both had good test–retest reliability. The longitudinal analysis and Cohen's d effect sizes showed that both ratings had good ability to detect changes in all items. Conclusion: The 7-day retrospective scale was as effective as the 24-h retrospective scale in terms of psychometric performance. In the stage where the patient's symptoms change rapidly, it is recommended to use the 24-h retrospective scale for symptom monitoring. On the contrary, in a stable state, it can be considered to use the 7-day retrospective scale for monitoring to reduce the patient's burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence from observational studies indicates that lung cancer screening (LCS) guidelines with high rates of lung cancer (LC) underdiagnosis, and although current screening guidelines have been updated and eligibility criteria for screening have been expanded, there are no studies comparing the efficiency of LCS guidelines in Chinese population. Methods: Between 2005 and 2022, 31,394 asymptomatic individuals were screened using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) at our institution. Demographic data and relevant LC risk factors were collected. The efficiency of the LCS for each guideline criteria was expressed as the efficiency ratio (ER). The inclusion rates, eligibility rates, LC detection rates, and ER based on the different eligibility criteria of the four guidelines were comparatively analyzed. The four guidelines were as follows: China guideline for the screening and early detection of lung cancer (CGSL), the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), and International Early Lung Cancer Action Program (I-ELCAP). Results: Of 31,394 participants, 298 (155 women, 143 men) were diagnosed with LC. For CGSL, NCCN, USPSTF, and I-ELCAP guidelines, the eligibility rates for guidelines were 13.92%, 6.97%, 6.81%, and 53.46%; ERe for eligibility criteria were 1.46%, 1.64%, 1.51%, and 1.13%, respectively; and for the inclusion rates, they were 19.0%, 9.5%, 9.3%, and 73.0%, respectively. LCs which met the screening criteria of CGSL, NCCN, USPSTF, and I-ELCAP guidelines were 29.2%, 16.4%, 14.8%, and 86.6%, respectively. The age and smoking criteria for CGSL were stricter, hence resulting in lower rates of LC meeting the screening criteria. The CGSL, NCCN, and USPSTF guidelines showed the highest underdiagnosis in the 45–49 age group (17.4%), while the I-ELCAP guideline displayed the highest missed diagnosis rate (3.0%) in the 35–39 age group. Males and females significantly differed in eligibility based on the criteria of the four guidelines (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The I-ELCAP guideline has the highest eligibility rate for both males and females. But its actual efficiency ratio for those deemed eligible by the guideline was the lowest. Whereas the NCCN guideline has the highest ERe value for those deemed eligible by the guideline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To examine the regulation of malignant progression of colorectal cancer by LINC00626 via the JAK1/STAT3/KHSRP signaling axis and its molecular mechanism. Methods 96 individuals diagnosed with colorectal cancer at our hospital during June 11, 2021 and June 11, 2023 were chosen as research subjects, and their cancerous tissue and nearby normal tissue were collected. Cultivate colorectal cancer cell lines (SW620, HCT116, HT29, DLD-1, LOVO, Caco-2) and normal colorectal cells (NCM460) in vitro, and detect the expression of LINC00626 and KHSRP in colorectal cancer tissue and cell lines using qRT-PCR. Screening out cell lines infected with lentivirus, SW620 and HCT116 cell lines were transfected with knockdown lentivirus and its control, while HT29 and DLD-1 cell lines were transfected with overexpressing lentivirus and its control, respectively. Select stable transfected cell lines for cell function experiments to detect proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities. Detection of the effect of LINC00626 on the growth and migration of colorectal cancer tumors in live mouse experiments. The expression level of KHSRP protein in stable labeled cells was determined using a western blot analysis. Rescue experimental research on the regulatory relationship between LINC00626 and KHSRP. Results qRT-PCR showed low expression of LINC00626 and high expression of KHSRP in colorectal cancer tissues and cell lines. Cell function experiments showed that compared with the sh-NC group, the sh-LINC00626 group promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in SW620 and HCT116 cells, while the overexpression group showed the opposite. Cell rescue experiments showed that, LINC00626+KHSRP significantly reversed the promotion effects of knocking down LINC00626 on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In the nude mouse experiment, compared with the sh-NC group, the sh-LINC00626 group showed a significant increase in tumor volume and weight, cell proliferation rate, and the number of lung metastases from colorectal cancer in the nude mice, Overexpression results in the opposite. The signal pathway experiment revealed that relative to the sh-NC group, the expression levels of JAK1 and STAT3 mRNA in the sh-LINC00626 group were significantly increased, whereas the results in the overexpression group were the opposite. Conclusion LINC00626 suppression the malignant progression of colorectal cancer metastasis through the JAK1/STAT3/KHSRP signaling axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TaxHf1–xC are promising candidates for many applications under harsh environments due to their unique properties. Up until now, low‐temperature densification is still a big challenge for these ceramics. Moreover, the effect of Ta:Hf ratio on microstructure development and mechanical behavior of the ceramics is not clear. In this work, highly dense TaxHf1−xC–SiC ceramics (x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) were fabricated at 1700°C by a novel reactive hot‐pressing processing with 8 wt% Si as sintering aid, which present excellent mechanical properties. Fracture toughness of the ceramics is higher than 6.3 MPa·m1/2, with the highest toughness achieved in Ta0.6Hf0.4C–SiC (8.5 MPa·m1/2). With the increase of Ta content, hardness of the ceramics tends to increase, while the bending strength tends to decrease. The highest bending strength is achieved in Ta0.2Hf0.8C–SiC (637 MPa), and the highest hardness is achieved in Ta0.8Hf0.2C–SiC (17.6 GPa). This work lays the foundation for the composition design of TaxHf1−xC‐based ceramics and composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition metal selenides (TMSes) are considered promising candidates for the anodes of sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) due to their substantial theoretical capacity. However, TMSes still face with inferior cycling lifespan caused by sluggish Na+ diffusion kinetics and vigorous volume variations during dis/charge processes. Engineering heterostructure is an attractive solution for rapid Na+ transfer, and introducing carbonaceous materials also facilitates enhanced conductivity and structural stability. Herein, CoSe/MoSe2 heterostructure combined with homogeneous carbon composites are rational designed. The kinetic analysis and theoretical calculations verified that heterointerface engineering induced build‐in electric field effect can amplifies the Na+ diffusion kinetics, while carbon contributes to enhanced electrical conductivity and structural stability. Expectedly, the CoSe/MoSe2‐C exhibits high capacity and extremely ultra‐long lifespan (320.9 mAh g−1 at 2.0 A g−1 over 10,000 cycles with an average decay of only 0.01781 mAh g−1 per cycle). Furthermore, in situ X‐ray diffraction (XRD), ex situ X‐ray photoelectorn (XPS), and high‐resolution electron microscopy (HRTEM) are exploited to explore the Na+ storage mechanism. In addition, the Na3V2(PO4)3@rGO//CoSe/MoSe2‐C (NVP@rGO//CoSe/MoSe2‐C) pouch‐type full‐cells are successfully assembled and delivered satisfactory performance. This research presents a viable strategy for the targeted engineering of TMSes aimed at enhancing the efficiency of SIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of gold (I) phoshpine complexes with diverse alkynyl ligands [Au(C≡CR)(PTA)] (R=C6H11OH, 1; C5H9OH, 2; C15H11OH, 3; C19H27O2, 4; C18H23O2, 5; C9H12N, 6; CH2OCH2C6H5, 7; C6H4OCH3, 8; PTA=1,3,5‐Triaza‐7‐phosphaadamantane) have been synthesized and characterized using a range of spectroscopic techniques. Complex 1 and 3 show an infinite one–dimensional S–type and zigzag aurophilic chain, respectively, whereas complex 2 containing 1‐ethynyl‐1‐cyclohexanol gives an approximate linear two–dimensional aurophilic chain, through intra/intermolecular Au(I)⋯Au(I) interactions as well as hydrogen bonding interactions between hydroxy groups of alkynyl ligands and PTA. Solid complexes 1–8 display strongly room/low–temperature emissive of 477–613 nm with the emission lifetime of 0.40–14.0 μs. All the complexes display higher cytotoxicities against MCF‐7, with the cytotoxicity decreasing in the following order 4>8>5>3>7>6>2>1. Complex 4 and 5 stand out for the highest selectivity towards MCF–7 (IC50=0.63–0.78 μM) compared with normal human embryonic lung fibroblasts (helf) (IC50=14.85–18.13 μM), which makes those complexes attractive for breast cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nannochloropsis gaditana, a microalga known for its photosynthetic efficiency, serves as a cell factory, producing valuable biomolecules such as proteins, lipids, and pigments. These components make it an ideal candidate for biofuel production and pharmaceutical applications. In this study, we genetically engineered N. gaditana to overexpress the enzyme fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (cyFBPase) using the Hsp promoter, aiming to enhance sugar metabolism and biomass accumulation. The modified algal strain, termed NgFBP, exhibited a 1.34-fold increase in cyFBPase activity under photoautotrophic conditions. This modification led to a doubling of biomass production and an increase in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) content in fatty acids to 20.78–23.08%. Additionally, the genetic alteration activated the pathways related to glycine, protoporphyrin, thioglucosides, pantothenic acid, CoA, and glycerophospholipids. This shift in carbon allocation towards chloroplast development significantly enhanced photosynthesis and growth. The outcomes of this study not only improve our understanding of photosynthesis and carbon allocation in N. gaditana but also suggest new biotechnological methods to optimize biomass yield and compound production in microalgae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel materials with highly synchronized electrochromic (EC) and energy storage properties are needed to simultaneously visualize and quantify the real-time charge state of energy storage devices. Herein, a film was prepared by the Layer-by-Layer assembly of W 18 O 49 nanowires and a Preyssler-type polyoxometalate (POM) [P 5 W 30 O 110 ]15− (P 5 W 30). The introduction of amorphous POM decreased the band gap to 2.54 eV, which greatly facilitated the synergy between the EC and charge storage properties. Driven under a low voltage of −0.6 V, this W 18 O 49 /P 5 W 30 composite film displayed strong and reversible changes in its optical absorbance in both the visible and near-infrared regions, and it also showed the typical pseudocapacitance behavior with an area capacitance of 34.71 mF cm−2. Moreover, this film was able to simultaneously quantify and visualize its own energy storage state and photothermal conversion in real time by significant color changes (maximum chromaticity difference: 72.44) and high absorbance changes (1.11 at 650 nm and 1.11 at 1200 nm). In addition, a gel EC supercapacitor based on the W 18 O 49 /P 5 W 30 film as cathode and NiO film as anode exhibited an absorbance variation up to 0.75 and an area capacitance as high as 4.42 mF cm−2, and it successfully powered a light emitting diode using the stored electrical energy. This work not only broadens the application scope of POM-based EC materials but also provides a feasible design strategy for next-generation smart energy storage devices. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper concerns with the existence of radial solutions of the biharmonic elliptic equation ▵ 2 u = f (| x | , u , | ∇ u | , ▵ u) in an annular domain Ω = { x ∈ R N : r 1 < | x | < r 2 } ( N ≥ 2 ) with the boundary conditions u | ∂ Ω = 0 and ▵ u | ∂ Ω = 0 , where f : [ r 1 , r 2 ] × R × R + × R → R is continuous. Under certain inequality conditions on f involving the principal eigenvalue λ 1 of the Laplace operator − ▵ with boundary condition u | ∂ Ω = 0 , an existence result and a uniqueness result are obtained. The inequality conditions allow for f (r , ξ , ζ , η) to be a superlinear growth on ξ , ζ , η as | (ξ , ζ , η) | → ∞ . Our discussion is based on the Leray–Schauder fixed point theorem, spectral theory of linear operators and technique of prior estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted in the purpose of investigating the effect of Tai Chi on drug craving for women with drug disorders. One hundred and twelve women were recruited from a drug rehabilitation center in China, and 47 and 48 were finally analyzed in the control group and exercise group, respectively. The exercise group underwent a 3-month Tai Chi training, whereas the control group experienced no exercise intervention during the same time period. The drug craving was measured by the visual analog scale. In data analysis, repeated-measures were utilized to test the differences between the control and exercise group over the course of the experiment time. The mean of the craving score significantly dropped from pre-test (control: mean = 5.38, SD = 3.04; exercise: mean = 4.68, SD = 2.93) to post-test (control: mean = 4.03, SD = 2.73; exercise: mean = 1.91, SD = 1.90) in both groups (control group: t = 3.84, df = 46, p < 0.001; exercise group: t = 5.941, df = 47, p < 0.001), with more decrease witnessed in the exercise group. Repeated-measures analysis with a Huynh–Feldt correction showed the significant effect of time (F = 27.383, p < 0.001) as well as the study group by time interaction (F = 3.52, p = 0.024). Tai Chi can ameliorate the drug craving in women and it could be a supportive treatment for drug addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate and proactive lane-changing (LC) intention recognition can assist drivers in making LC decisions to improve driving safety. However, the mechanism of drivers’ LC decisions in dynamically changing environments is still not fully understood, which makes it difficult for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADASs) to make accurate LC decisions under different working conditions. To accurately capture the dynamic features before the generation of LC intention, relying on the multivehicle interaction capability of the connected environment, a LC intention recognition framework using graph theory to model the interaction relationship among multiple vehicles, i.e., the Multivehicle Interaction Dynamic Time Graph (MIDTG) framework, is proposed. First, the interaction relationship between LC vehicles and their surrounding vehicles in the connected communication range is modeled by graph theory. Second, the graph convolutional network (GCN) is used to extract spatial features of multivehicle interactions, and a long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network is used to learn the association of multivehicle interaction graphs in a time series. Finally, LC intentions are output through the Softmax function. The highD data set is used to validate the proposed model. Results show that the model can accurately extract the dynamic features of multivehicle interactions within a time window of 2.5 to 3.5 s, and the accuracy of LC intention recognition reaches 98%, which is an average improvement of 3.5% compared with other baseline models. The study provides a new way to model multivehicle interactions in the connected environment, which can be helpful for ADASs’ LC decision-making. Practical Applications: The significance of this study is to provide guidance for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADASs) to better assist drivers in making lane-changing decisions. In this study, a novel multivehicle interaction modeling method based on graph theory is proposed, combined with an advanced deep learning method to extract the spatiotemporal characteristics of multivehicle interaction, and finally applied to lane-changing intention recognition. The results show that the proposed method achieves good lane-changing intention recognition accuracy and can accurately extract key information from multivehicle interactions. This will provide a new way to predict driving behavior in a connected environment. This study will be meaningful for traffic operators and can spur a new wave of innovative applications in ADASs, such as lane-changing alerts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofibrous membranes, characterized by their flexibility, high porosity, and tunable structure, are emerging as a promising contender for advanced transparent materials with sufficient breathability and pliability. However, the considerable surface light reflection and internal light scattering of nanofibrous membranes pose a challenging task in achieving transparency. In this study, transparent nanofibrous membranes are fabricated by constructing a topological structure with optimized optical transmission channels, which provide the minimum equivalent thickness to minimize light loss in nanofibrous membranes. The resultant fabricated membrane exhibits a high light transmittance of up to 81%, along with a sufficient porosity of 84% and flexibility. Additionally, the membrane demonstrated effective PM0.3–10 removal efficiency (>91%), low air pressure drops (<110 Pa), high air permeability (≈104 mm s−1), and good waterproof performance. Therefore, the prepared transparent nanofibrous membrane may serve as a transparent air filtration window screen to enhance indoor comfort for people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a pregnancy-specific liver disease, which can lead to adverse fetal outcomes, including preterm labor and intrauterine death. The pathogenesis of ICP is still unclear. We hypothesized that pathological index leads to abnormal placenta changes in ICP. Investigation of these differences in protein expression in parallel profiling is essential to understand the comprehensive pathophysiological mechanism underlying ICP. The present study screened differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) as novel diagnostic markers for ICP. Proteomic profiles of placental tissues from 32 ICP patients and 24 healthy volunteers (controls) were analyzed. Our founding was valid by following western blotting and immunohistochemistry staining, respectively. The association of the key protein expression with clinicopathological features of ICP was further analyzed. A total of 178 DEPs were identified between the ICP and control groups. Functional enrichment analysis showed these proteins were significantly enriched in the PPAR singling pathway by KEGG and PPARα/RXRα activation by IPA. Apolipoprotein A2 (APOA2) was the only upregulated protein, which uniquely identified in ICP groups and related to both pathways. Validation of western blotting and immunohistochemical staining analysis showed significantly higher APOA2 expression in the ICP group than in the control group. Furthermore, the expression of APOA2 is associated with clinicopathological features in ICP groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses showed that the AUC of APOA2 was 0.8984 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.772–1.000). This study has identified up-regulated APOA2 associated with PPAR singling pathway and PPARα/RXRα activation in ICP. Thus, APOA2 may be involved in ICP pathogenesis, serving as a novel biomarker for its diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diffeomorphic registration is a widely used technique for finding a smooth and invertible transformation between two coordinate systems, which are measured using template and reference images. The point-wise volume-preserving constraint det ⁡ (∇ φ (x)) = 1 is effective in some cases, but may be too restrictive in others, especially when local deformations are relatively large. This can result in poor matching when enforcing large local deformations. In this paper, we propose a new bi-variant diffeomorphic image registration model that introduces a soft constraint on the Jacobian equation det ⁡ (∇ φ (x)) = f (x) > 0. This allows local deformations to shrink and grow within a flexible range 0 < κ m < det ⁡ (∇ φ (x)) < κ M. The Jacobian determinant of transformation is explicitly controlled by optimizing the relaxation function f (x). To prevent deformation folding and improve the smoothness of the transformation, a positive constraint is imposed on the optimization of the relaxation function f (x) , and a regularizer is used to ensure the smoothness of f (x). Furthermore, the positivity constraint ensures that f (x) is as close to one as possible, which helps to achieve a volume-preserving transformation on average. We also analyze the existence of the minimizer for the variational model and propose a penalty-splitting algorithm with a multilevel strategy to solve this model. Numerical experiments demonstrate the convergence of the proposed algorithm and show that the positivity constraint can effectively control the range of relative volume without compromising the accuracy of the registration. Moreover, the proposed model generates diffeomorphic maps for large local deformations and outperforms several existing registration models in terms of performance. • A novel bi-variant diffeomorphic image registration model with relaxed Jacobian determinant constraints is proposed. • The existence of the minimizer for the variational model is proved. • A penalty splitting algorithm with a multilevel strategy is designed to solve the new model. • Numerical experiments show that the proposed algorithm is convergent and the new model has good performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The template‐based automated item‐generation (TAIG) approach that involves template creation, item generation, item selection, field‐testing, and evaluation has more steps than the traditional item development method. Consequentially, there is more margin for error in this process, and any template errors can be cascaded to the generated items. Therefore, it is essential to eliminate the source of errors and ensure the quality of the template so items can be problem‐free. The article introduces a process to reduce template errors at the early stage of template development, minimize the impact of template errors on generated items, and increase the survival rates of generated items. The article also discusses a statistical method to establish confidence in the quality of the template by systematically examining the quality of the generated items. The proposed method can reduce the review process for some items generated from a template. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic wounds are prone to develop chronic wounds due to bacterial infection and persistent inflammatory response. However, traditional dressings are monofunctional, lack bioactive substances, have limited bacterial inhibition as well as difficulties in adhesion and retention. These limit the therapeutic efficacy of traditional dressings on diabetic wounds. Therefore, finding and developing efficient and safe wound dressings is currently an urgent clinical need. In this study, an antimicrobial gel loaded with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) (referred to as AgNPs@QAC-CBM) was prepared by crosslinking quaternary ammonium chitosan (QAC) with carbomer (CBM) as a gel matrix. AgNPs@QAC-CBM exhibited a reticulated structure, strong adhesion, good stability, and remarkable bactericidal properties, killing 99.9% of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa within 1 min. Furthermore, AgNPs@QAC-CBM improved the wound microenvironment and accelerated wound healing in diabetic mice by promoting tissue production and collagen deposition, inducing M2 macrophages, reducing pro-inflammatory factor secretion and increasing anti-inflammatory factor levels. Moreover, AgNPs@QAC-CBM was proven to be safe for use through skin irritation and cytotoxicity tests, as they did not cause any irritation or toxicity. To summarize, AgNPs@QAC-CBM showed promising potential in enhancing the diabetic wound healing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper obtains weak-type estimates, limiting weak-type behaviors for variation operators associated with Z λ functions. Besides, we give a new characterization of Hardy space via the boundedness of variation operators associated with Z λ functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The responses of Ulva species to diurnal temperature difference remain poorly understood. In this present study, we cultured Ulva prolifera under different diurnal temperature treatments with 22°C for photoperiod and 22, 20, 18, 16, 14, and12°C for dark period, respectively (noted as 22-22, 22-20, 22-18, 22-16, 22-14, and 22-12°C treatments). The growth, pigment contents, photosynthesis, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, soluble proteins, and sugars were measured. The main results were shown as follows: (1) The growth of U. prolifera was enhanced by the moderate diurnal temperature difference, and the highest growth rate was observed at 22-18°C. (2) Compared with 22-22°C treatment, the thalli grown under 22-18°C condition showed lower chlorophyll a (Chla) content, respiration rate (Rd), the ratio of Rd, and gross photosynthetic rate (Rd/Pg) as well as the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), while the lowest Pn was observed at 22-12°C. (3) The maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) was enhanced by diurnal temperature difference, while the effective quantum yield (Fv′/Fm′) decreased with the decreased in temperature in the nighttime. (4) With the increase of the diurnal temperature difference gradient, the SOD activity decreased and then increased, with the lowest value observed at 22-18 °C, and the soluble protein content showed similar trend. Then we cultured this species at 22-22°C and 22-16°C both under 250 and 60 μmol m−2s−1 conditions in order to study the combined effects of diurnal temperature change and light intensities. It was found that under both two light levels, 22-16°C-grown thalli showed higher growth rate, while the SOD activity was lower than that grown under 22-22°C condition. Overall, the suitable range of diurnal temperature difference for the growth of U. prolifera was about 4–6°C and also was mediated by light intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and aims: In the specialized nursing setting, nurses are susceptible to developing negative mental health issues. Such conditions among nurses can potentially result in unfavorable medical outcomes. Consequently, this study aims to explore the role of social support in regulating between sleep and mental health in nurses. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in September 2022 on 1219 nurses in Quanzhou. The study comprised general demographic information and utilized various questionnaires, namely the Social Support Rate Scale (SSRS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Questionnaire (PSQI), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). The data analysis was performed using t-tests, ANOVAs, Pearsons correlations and hierarchical regression analyses in SPSS software. Results: Results show that significant associations of sleep quality and social support with anxiety and depression. Simple slope analysis shows that under low levels of social support, sleep quality has a positive impact on anxiety(β = 0.598) and depression(β = 0.851), and the impact is significant. Under high levels of social support, sleep quality also has a positive impact on anxiety(β = 0.462) and depression(β = 0.578), but the impact is smaller. This indicates that as the level of social support increases, the positive predictive effect of sleep quality on anxiety and depression gradually diminishes. Conclusions: Social support has the potential to alter the impact of sleep quality on anxiety and depression. Therefore, healthcare policymakers need to focus on enhancing the level of social support and mitigating the impact of poor sleep on anxiety and depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Luminescent organic radicals, especially those with photoactivated circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) features, hold great significance for cutting‐edge optoelectronic applications, but their development still remains a challenge. In this study, we propose a novel strategy to achieve photoactivated CPL radicals by bonding two phosphine centers within an axial chiral system, yielding a compound of R/S‐5,5‐bis(diphenylphosphino)‐4,4′‐bibenzo[d][1,3]dioxole (R/S‐BDP). The photoactivated R/S‐BDP molecules in polymer matrix display a robust quantum yield of 19.8 % and a dissymmetry factor (glum) of 1.2×10−4, marking this work as the first example of photoactivated CPL radicals. Furthermore, the glum is improved to 1.0×10−2 by using a liquid crystal as host. Experimental and theoretical analyses reveal that R/S‐BDP molecules, endowed with double phosphine cores in axial chirality, offer a direct way for intramolecular electron transfer upon photoirradiation. This leads to the generation of radical ionic pairs, which subsequently trigger the donor‐acceptor arrangement through intermolecular electron transfer, thereby resulting in stable radical emission. The extended photoactivated BDP‐F exhibits a remarkably high quantum efficiency of 57.8%. Ultimately, the distinctive photo‐responsive CPL radical luminescence has been successfully used for information displays and anti‐counterfeiting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Luminescent organic radicals, especially those with photoactivated circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) features, hold great significance for cutting‐edge optoelectronic applications, but their development still remains a challenge. In this study, we propose a novel strategy to achieve photoactivated CPL radicals by bonding two phosphine centers within an axial chiral system, yielding a compound of R/S‐5,5‐bis(diphenylphosphino)‐4,4′‐bibenzo[d][1,3]dioxole (R/S‐BDP). The photoactivated R/S‐BDP molecules in polymer matrix display a robust quantum yield of 19.8 % and a dissymmetry factor (glum) of 1.2×10−4, marking this work as the first example of photoactivated CPL radicals. Furthermore, the glum is improved to 1.0×10−2 by using a liquid crystal as host. Experimental and theoretical analyses reveal that R/S‐BDP molecules, endowed with double phosphine cores in axial chirality, offer a direct way for intramolecular electron transfer upon photoirradiation. This leads to the generation of radical ionic pairs, which subsequently trigger the donor‐acceptor arrangement through intermolecular electron transfer, thereby resulting in stable radical emission. The extended photoactivated BDP‐F exhibits a remarkably high quantum efficiency of 57.8%. Ultimately, the distinctive photo‐responsive CPL radical luminescence has been successfully used for information displays and anti‐counterfeiting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To analyze changes in neuromuscular control during sit-to-stand (STS) in older adults with hallux valgus ( HV) through muscle synergy, and thus to explore the effect of falls in older adults with HV. Methods Four groups of subjects were included in this study, 13 young controls (YC); 12 young HV group ( HVY) ; 14 healthy elderly controls (EC ); and 15 elderly HV group ( HVE ). All subjects completed the STS maneuver in an armless chair, and EMG data were integrated using non-negative matrix factorization to compare muscle synergies in the YC, HVY, EC, and HVE groups; plantar pressures (COP), ground reaction forces (GRF), and fall scores (FES-I) were collected. Results Compared with YC group, HVY, EC, and HVE groups had lower relative activation amplitude of abductor hallucis and lateral gastrocnemius in STS preparation phase ; meanwhile, EC and HVE groups needed more muscle activation to maintain stability of trunk and foot-ankle joints in STS stabilization phase; and HVE group needed more co-contractions of thigh muscles to maintain stability of the knee joint. The COP, FES-I of HVE group was higher than that of the other groups (P < 0.05 ). Conclusion In STS, healthy older adults and older adults with HV required more muscle activation to maintain trunk and ankle stability ; older adults with HV required more co-contraction of the thigh muscles to maintain knee stability; in addition to this, older adults with HV were more prone to falls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights Multifunctional composite coatings exposed to environmental conditions are prone to aging and potential functional failure due to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This study investigates the impact of UV radiation on the structure and properties of low infrared emissivity composite coatings, comprising ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) as the matrix and antistatic carbon fiber (CF) and flaky floating aluminum powder as fillers. In addition to analyzing the photochemical degradation reactions of the composite coating under UV irradiation, the role of fillers in resisting UV aging is elucidated. The performance parameters examined include infrared (IR) emissivity, surface resistivity, mechanical properties, and dielectric properties. The results indicate that after UV aging, EPDM undergoes the most significant changes, leading to the formation of carbonyl groups. CFs experience mild UV aging and an increase in resistivity. Aluminum powder, on the other hand, remains largely unchanged after UV aging and its addition significantly reduces the UV aging rate of the composite coating, resulting in a low IR emissivity of as low as 0.2 after UV aging. Among them, Coating 4 exhibits the best overall performance after UV aging. The UV aging mechanism of EPDM and the role of fillers were revealed. The UV aging of the coating significantly reduced the infrared emissivity (Reduced from 0.5 to 0.2). Al powder effectively reduced the UV degradation rate of the coating by reflecting UV light. The properties of the double‐formulated coating perform best after UV aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface chemistry and bulk structure jointly play crucial roles in achieving high-performance supercapacitors. Here, the synergistic effect of surface chemistry properties (vacancy and phosphorization) and structure-derived properties (hollow hydrangea-like structure) on energy storage is explored by the surface treatment and architecture design of the nanostructures. The theoretical calculations and experiments prove that surface chemistry modulation is capable of improving electronic conductivity and electrolyte wettability. The structural engineering of both hollow and nanosheets produces a high specific surface area and an abundant pore structure, which is favorable in exposing more active sites and shortens the ion diffusion distance. Benefiting from its admirable physicochemical properties, the surface phosphorylated MnCo2O4.5 hollow hydrangea-like structure (P-MnCoO) delivers a high capacitance of 425 F g−1 at 1 A g−1, a superior capability rate of 63.9%, capacitance retention at 10 A g−1, and extremely long cyclic stability (91.1% after 10,000 cycles). The fabricated P-MnCoO/AC asymmetric supercapacitor achieved superior energy and power density. This work opens a new avenue to further improve the electrochemical performance of metal oxides for supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the weighted Bergman kernels and projections on a class of unbounded Hartogs domains. As applications of our main results, we can obtain the explicit formulas for the weighted Bergman kernels on a wide class of unbounded Hartogs domains with different types of weight functions, and show that the associated weighted Bergman projections are bounded on the weighted LP spaces if and only if p = 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To simulate the ground motions of 2D arbitrary sites subjected to plane SV waves, we put forward a numerical method combining the multi-transmitting formula (MTF) and spectral element method (SEM). The investigation results demonstrate a high simulation accuracy of the presented method. Most importantly, the MTF exhibits a notably superior stability performance in the SEM than in traditional finite-element method (FEM). Without any additional treatment, high-frequency instability does not occur when controlling the Courant number value C and the ratio between the MTF parameter S and C; the upper limit value of this ratio is significantly smaller than that of the SH-wave problem. In addition, a preliminary stability criterion for the MTF in SEM is given based on the homogeneous half-space model. For low-frequency stability, the occurrence time of instability is considerably lagged when no interventions are adopted. Moreover, the low-frequency instability can be readily eliminated by using smaller modification parameter in the SEM compared with the FEM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials with easy processing, high electrical conductivity, and excellent absorption loss are urgently needed in aerospace, military stealth and portable electronic devices. In this study, a polyvinylidene fluoride/multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (PVDF/MWCNTs)‐3 wt% composite film prepared by simple solution mixing and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nonwoven scraping method was used as the substrate, and the PVDF/MWCNTs/graphene oxide@multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (PVDF/MWCNTs/GO@MWCNTs) and PVDF/MWCNTs/GO@MWCNTs/silver nanowires (PVDF/MWCNTs/GO@MWCNTs/AgNWs) bilayer composite films were prepared by vacuum‐assisted filtration (VAF). When the amount of GO@MWCNTs was 20 mL, the conductivity of PVDF/MWCNTs/GO@MWCNTs film is 3.5 × 101 S m−1, the total EMI shielding effectiveness (EMI SET) was 15.5 dB and the EMI absorption efficiency (EMI SEA) was 10.7 dB, the specific EMI SE (SSE/T) was 539.5 dB/ dB/(cm−2 g). When the amount of AgNWs was 25 mL, the conductivity of PVDF/MWCNTs/GO@MWCNTs/AgNWs film with 0.47 mm thickness was 1.6 × 104 S m−1, the EMI SET was 69.1 dB, the EMI SEA was 61.1 dB, and the SSE/T was 2320.0 dB cm2 g−1. The results show that the absorption was played a dominant role in the EMI shielding mechanism of obtained films. The addition of GO@MWCNTs/AgNWs increases the electrical conductivity and EMI shielding performance of the film more than the addition of GO@MWCNTs. This is mainly because GO， MWCNTs and AgNWs formed a novel three‐dimensional conductive network structure inside the composite film due to their hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces, which increases the carrier channels and promotes the interaction between the internal microcurrents and the electromagnetic waves, achieving the purpose of attenuating the electromagnetic waves. The obtained PVDF/MWCNTs/GO@MWCNTs/AgNWs film has good potential in EMI shielding in aerospace, military and electronic intelligence applications. Well‐dispersed and highly conductive GO@MWCNTs were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis. AgNWs with good conductivity and high aspect ratio were prepared. PVDF‐based bilayer composite films with novel 3D conductive network were prepared. The synergistic EMI shielding mechanism of the film is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pea (Pisum sativum) protein, as a pulse protein second only to soy protein, has shown increasing popularity in the plant-based food market. Numerous studies have shown the desirable techno-functionalities of pea protein for emulsifying, gelling, and foaming. Nevertheless, poor digestibility and unpleasant beany flavors of pea protein lower consumer acceptance. The current state of understanding on digestibility and beany attributes of pea proteins could help pave the way for pea protein-based food formulation with improved quality. This paper covers recently reported studies to modulate the digestibility and beany notes of pea protein by many processing techniques, and highlights the influence of non-protein components and food matrix structures while formulating pea protein-based food systems. Several modification techniques could alter the digestibility and improve the flavor of pea proteins by reorienting the protein structures or forming protein-based complexes. Precise tailoring the digestibility/flavor of pea proteins is promising based on current research, though further investigation is still required to reduce adverse effects or side products. In addition, more studies on simulated pea protein-based food systems are required to mimic the actual food comprising multi-components and specific structures to narrow the gap between lab-scale research and food industry applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three Ti–O clusters and a Tb–Ti–O cluster capped by p-tert-butylcalix[8]arene (H8C8A), namely, [Ti7O8(C8A)(CH3O)4(CH3OH)4] (CIAC-262), [Ti13O15(C8A)2(CH3O)6(CH3OH)3(H2O)2] (CIAC-263), [Ti24O28(OH)8(C8A)4(DMF)2(H2O)2] (CIAC-264) and [Tb2Ti13O15(OH)4(H3C8A)(C8A)2(HCOO)3(DMF)4(H2O)] (CIAC-265), were prepared by controlling the amount of methanol in the reaction system under solvothermal conditions. The amount of methanol is reduced from 4 mL to 2 mL and then to 0 mL, resulting in a {Ti7} cluster with Ti7–C8A unit, a {Ti13} cluster constructed by two perpendicular tail-to-tail Ti7–C8A units with a vertex-shared mode, and a {Ti24} cluster assembled by linking two Ti10–(C8A)2 units generated by the symmetric operation with a Ti4 entity, respectively. To replace the Ti4 linker in the {Ti24} cluster, Tb ions were incorporated in the methanol-free system. Then a {Tb2Ti13} cluster constructed by linking a Ti10–(C8A)2 unit and a Ti2–C8A entity with a Tb2Ti linker was obtained. Catalytic sulfoxidation experiments were performed to evaluate the structure–property relationships in these calixarene-based clusters. Driven by Ti atoms and active Ti sites with higher steric hindrance, compound CIAC-264 efficiently catalyzes the selective oxidation of methyl phenyl sulfide to methyl phenyl sulfoxide (96.00% for conversion and 98.28% for selectivity) using 30% H2O2 under mild conditions (298 K). Calixarene molecules in CIAC-264 protect the Ti–O cluster from decomposition during the catalytic reaction, which could be directly observed from MALDI-TOF MS spectra. This work not only opens a new insight for preparing high-nuclearity Ti–calixarene clusters with interesting assemblies but also provides new stable titanium oxide candidates for selective oxidation of organic sulfides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adebrelimab, a novel anti‐PD‐L1 antibody, has been approved by the National Medical Products Administration of China as an intravenous infusion for use in combination with carboplatin and etoposide as first‐line treatment for extensive‐stage small‐cell lung cancer in 2023. A two‐compartment model with empirical time‐varying CL for adebrelimab was established based on data from 263 patients receiving body weight‐based doses from two clinical studies. Significant covariate effects of baseline body weight, albumin levels, tumor size, neutrophil counts, and presence of anti‐drug antibodies were identified on CL of debrelimab, none of which were clinically significant or warranted dose adjustment. The degree of decrease in CL was higher in patients who responded to treatment with adebrelimab than in non‐responders. Adebrelimab exposures (AUC, Ctrough, or Cmax) were not identified as a statistically significant factor related to efficacy or safety endpoint in the exposure–response analysis. Distribution of simulated exposure metrics from the flat dose regimen (1200 mg q3w) was similar to the marketed weight‐based dosing regimen (20 mg/kg q3w), supporting the alternative flat dose regimen in the clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personal thermal management textiles have garnered a lot of attention because they can efficiently preserve the body's thermal and moisture comfort while saving energy consumption. Nonetheless, conduction cooling‐based textile research is scarce and frequently encounters obstacles like overlooking through‐plane heat conduction, moisture management, and durability assurance. Here, a dual‐cooling textile (DCT) that combines high‐efficiency heat dissipation and sweat evaporation with a 3D thermal conductive network and Janus wetting structure is demonstrated. The DCT achieves notable in‐plane and through‐plane thermal conductivity (8.57 and 0.70 W m−1 K−1), along with practical mechanical qualities (tensile fracture strength of 65 MPa), under the influence of the 3D multistage thermal conduction network. Additionally, the DCT benefits from its Janus wetting structure, exhibiting unidirectional moisture‐wicking capability (transport index of 1081%) and fast water evaporation performance (0.34 g h−1). Rapid heat dissipation and sweat evaporation are advantageous features for the cooling of the human body in both static and dynamic situations. Compared to cotton fabric, DCT can lower the temperature by up to 3.7 °C. This strategy provides a fresh perspective on the development of advanced functional textiles for personalized cooling and energy savings in buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The effects of antipsychotic (AP) medications on cognitive functions in individuals at clinical high-risk (CHR) of psychosis are poorly understood. This study compared the effects of AP treatment on cognitive improvement in CHR adolescents and adults. Methods: A total of 327 CHR participants, with an age range of 13 to 45 years, who underwent baseline neuropsychological assessments and a 1-year clinical follow-up were included. Participants with CHR were categorized into four groups based on their age: adolescents (aged < 18) and adults (aged ≥ 18), as well as their antipsychotic medication status (AP+ or AP−). Therefore, the four groups were defined as Adolescent-AP−, Adolescent-AP+, Adult-AP−, and Adult-AP+. Results: During the follow-up, 231 CHR patients received AP treatment, 94 converted to psychosis, and 161 completed the 1-year follow-up. The Adolescent-AP+ group had more positive symptoms, lower general functions, and cognitive impairments than the Adolescent-AP− group at baseline, but no significant differences were observed among adults. The Adolescent-AP+ group showed a significant increase in the risk of conversion to psychosis (p < 0.001) compared to the Adolescent-AP− group. The Adult-AP+ group showed a decreasing trend in the risk of conversion (p = 0.088) compared to the Adult-AP− group. The Adolescent-AP− group had greater improvement in general functions (p < 0.001), neuropsychological assessment battery mazes (p = 0.025), and brief visuospatial memory test-revised (p = 0.020), as well as a greater decrease in positive symptoms (p < 0.001) at follow-up compared to the Adolescent-AP+ group. No significant differences were observed among adults. Conclusions: Early use of AP was not associated with a positive effect on cognitive function in CHR adolescents. Instead, the absence of AP treatment was associated with better cognitive recovery, suggesting that AP exposure might not be the preferred choice for cognitive recovery in CHR adolescents, but may be more reasonable for use in adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible electronic products, with their characteristics of flexibility and wearability, have attracted significant attention and have become an important direction in the research and development of the electronics industry. Planar micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) with flexible composite electrodes can provide reliable energy support for these products, propelling their further development. The research employed a quick, effective, and environmentally friendly method of laser scribing to create shape-controllable flexible composite electrodes on composite films of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and graphene oxide (PEDOT/GO), which were subsequently assembled into MSCs. An analysis of the composite electrode morphology, structure, and elemental distribution was conducted through the utilization of SEM, TEM, and XPS techniques. Following this, a comprehensive evaluation of the electrochemical performance of the flexible MSCs was carried out, which included cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD), and assessment of cyclic stability. The analysis of the CV results indicated that the MSCs achieved the areal capacitance of 5.78 mF/cm2 at 5 mV/s. After 5000 cycles at a current density of 0.05 mA/cm2, the capacitance retention rate was 85.4%. The high areal capacitance and strong cycle stability of MSCs highlight the potential of PEDOT/reduced graphene oxide (PEDOT/rGO) electrodes in electrode applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The main treatment method for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). With the continuous improvement of dialysis technology, the survival period of MHD patients has been effectively prolonged, but dialysis technology still cannot completely replace renal function. OBJECTIVE: To study the dietary compliance and its correlation with thirst in MHD patients and to provide guidance for clinical development of corresponding intervention countermeasures. METHODS: A total of 90 patients who received MHD treatment from March 2021 to March 2022 were selected as objects. The Renal Adherence Attitudes Questionnaire (RAAQ) and the Renal Adherence Behaviour Questionnaire (RABQ) were used to analyze the dietary compliance and thirst status of patients. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between diet compliance and thirst. RESULTS: Positive correlations were found between VAS and DTI, SXI and TDS (P < 0.05). Social restrictive attitude was positively correlated with VAS, DTI, SXI, TDS, acceptance attitude and compliance in facing difficulties (P < 0.05), and negatively correlated with self-care compliance (r = - 0.35, P < 0.05). Health attitude was positively correlated with VAS, DTI and SXI (P < 0.05). Acceptance attitude was positively correlated with DTI, SXI and TDS (P < 0.05). High RAAQ was associated with high VAS (b = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.18), DTI (b = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.17, 0.38), SXI (b = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.34) and TDS (b = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.13, 0.4). CONCLUSION: The overall performance of dietary compliance in patients with MHD is at a moderate level, and dietary compliance is negatively correlated with disease perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the curative effect of curcumin on liver fibrosis and its correlation with the gut–liver axis in animal models. Histological staining was utilized to conduct histological analysis of the liver and intestine. An automatic biochemical analyzer or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay system was utilized for analyzing the biochemical indexes in mice. Western blotting was employed to examine the level of relevant proteins. Furthermore, 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing was performed to explore the impact of curcumin on intestinal microorganisms in rats with liver fibrosis. Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry was utilized to analyze the effect of curcumin on rat feces metabolites. Our results showed that curcumin reduced the formation of collagen fibers caused by carbon tetrachloride in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, curcumin was able to restore intestinal permeability in rats with liver fibrosis. By adopting α diversity analysis (Chao 1 index, Shannon index, and Simpson index), we observed that both the diversity and the abundance of intestinal flora in rats with liver fibrosis were increased. The principal component analysis diagram demonstrated that curcumin could enhance the abundance and diversity of intestinal flora, and also restore the composition of model rat flora, which was similar to that in normal rats, thereby correcting the imbalance of flora in rats with liver fibrosis. In addition, curcumin regulated feces metabolites and their signaling pathways, including glycerophospholipid metabolism, pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis. Our findings suggest that curcumin exhibits antiliver fibrosis effects, and its antiliver fibrosis effects might correlate with gut–liver axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we are concerned with the nonlinear Schrödinger equation - Δ u + V (x) u + λ u = g (u) in R N , λ ∈ R , with prescribed L 2 -norm ∫ R N u 2 d x = ρ 2 and lim | x | → + ∞ V (x) = : V ∞ ≤ + ∞ under general assumptions on g which allows at least mass critical growth. For the case of V ∞ < ∞ , including singular potential, the sufficient conditions are given for the existence of a ground state solution by developing the minimization methods with constraints proposed in Bieganowski and Mederski (J Funct Anal 280(11):108989, 2021) and a delicate analysis of estimates on the least energy comparing with the limiting functional. While for the trapping case V ∞ = ∞ , the existence of a ground state solution as well as a second solution of mountain pass type is established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pleistocene climatic oscillations exerted significant influences on the genetic structure and demography of rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) in eastern China. However, the evolutionary history of rhesus macaques in subtropical and temperate China remained unclear and/or controversial. Herein, we analyzed the autosomes, mitochondrial genomes, and Y‐chromosomes from 84 individuals of Chinese rhesus macaque. The results revealed that (1) all individuals were clustered into pan‐west and pan‐east genetic groups, which exhibited Shaanxi Province as the northernmost region of western dispersal route of rhesus macaques in China; (2) in subtropical and temperate China, rhesus macaques were divided into four lineages (TH, DB, HS, and QL), and their divergence times corresponded to the Penultimate Glaciation (300–130 kya) and Last Glaciation (70–10 kya), respectively; (3) the individuals from Mt. Taihangshan (TH) are closely related to individuals from Mt. Dabashan (DB) in the autosomal tree, rather than individuals from Mt. Huangshan (HS) as indicated by the mitogenome tree, which supports the hypothesis that the ancestral rhesus macaques radiated into Mt. Taihangshan from Mt. Huangshan via Mt. Dabashan; and (4) the demographic scenario of the four lineages showed the ancestral rhesus macaques bottleneck and expansion corresponding to the suitable habitat reduction and expansion, which confirmed they had experienced northward recolonization and southward retreat events from Mt. Huangshan area via Northern China Plain to Northernmost China along with Pleistocene glacial cycles. This study provides a new insight into understanding how Pleistocene glaciation has influenced faunal diversity in subtropical and temperate China, especially for those exhibiting differential patterns of sex dispersal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: In this study, the electronic structure and diffusion barrier of the Ca-adsorbed WTe2 system under different torsion angles were calculated based on the first-principles method. The results show that the structure and properties of the pure WTe2 system and Ca-adsorbed WTe2 system are affected by torsional deformation. When the torsion angle is 6°, the intrinsic WTe2 changes from a direct band gap to an indirect band gap. The torsional deformation does not change the metallicity of the Ca-adsorbed WTe2 system. The Ca-d state electrons contribute to the electron density of WTe2. The calculation of the diffusion barrier shows that the torsion deformation promotes the diffusion of calcium on the surface of WTe2. This study provides a theoretical basis for the regulation of electrode materials. Methods: In this study, Materials Studio 8.0 software was used to construct the WTe2 model and Ca-adsorbed WTe2 model, and CASTEP module was used for first-principles calculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: In this study, the electronic structure and diffusion barrier of Ca adsorbed MoTe2 system under different degrees of shear deformation were calculated based on the first-principles method. The results show that both the pure MoTe2 system and Ca-adsorbed MoTe2 system are affected by shear deformation. The pure MoTe2 undergoes a transition from direct to indirect band gap under shear deformation. The adsorption of Ca makes MoTe2 changes from semiconductor to quasi-metal. The results of the density of states show that Ca insertion makes the conduction band part of the adsorption system significantly enhanced. The diffusion barrier of Ca through MoTe2 indicates that the shear deformation promotes the diffusion of Ca on the surface of MoTe2. Shear deformation can effectively modulate the electronic properties of the MoTe2 system, which provides a theoretical basis for the application of MoTe2 materials in the field of ion batteries. Methods: In this study, Materials Studio 8.0 software was used to construct the MoTe2 model and Ca adsorbed MoTe2 model, and the CASTEP module was used for first-principles calculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the lithium (Li) metal anode, constructing a strong and durable protective layer with lithium‐ion permeability is crucial, especially in high donor number (DN) solvent system. High DN solvent‐based electrolytes can support both higher capacity and lower charge overpotential in the rechargeable lithium–oxygen batteries (LOBs). However, Li anodes in high DN solvent system suffer from severe corrosion and uncontrolled dendrite growth due to the unstable solid‐electrolyte interphase (SEI). Typically, this interface is formed in situ through electrochemical processes with complicated component and spatial distribution. Here, a functional molecule is introduced to construct an ion‐wall (IW) on Li surface by prechemical sequential reactions (p‐CSRs), through which the crystalline nanoparticles as bricks and amorphous hybrid compounds as the mortar can be produced to build such a "wall." Different from the conventional SEI, this wall is not only compact and uniform, but also possess high strength, excellent passivation properties and high ionic conductivity. With these properties, the IW could suppress Li dendrites and inhabit the side reaction, supporting highly reversible Li plating/stripping behavior in high DN solvent system. As a result, the cycle stability of LOBs based on the IW protected Li anode is significantly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photodetectors (PDs) that combine inorganic semiconductors with organic lead halide perovskites to produce broader spectral responses have captured great interest from researchers; however, the imperfect perovskite crystallinity and the defects on the film surface are still the main factors inhibiting the PD's capability. Here, we proposed a simple method by introducing ionic liquid [1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide (BMII)] into ZnO/CH3NH3PbI3 to encourage the growth of perovskite grains, raise the crystallinity of perovskite, and reduce the trap states, finally enhancing the photoelectric performances. After the addition of BMII, there are 171-fold, 74-fold, and 76-fold increases, respectively, in the light–dark current ratio, the spectral responsivity, and the external quantum efficiency, meanwhile, detectivity can reach 2.58 × 1013 Jones in the UV–vis range. The impressive results can be owed to the higher carrier concentration of ZnO/CH3NH3PbI3 with BMII, which can facilitate the charge transfer and suppress the recombination of photogenerated carriers. This study may be of assistance to extend our knowledge of developing high-performance PDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]