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Focusing on The Farming of Bones, Brother, I'm Dying, and the short story "Night Talkers" collected in The Dew Breaker, this article explores how Edwidge Danticat engages with the biopolitics of race in her writing. The biopolitics of race traumatizes people through racial discrimination, exclusion, and purification; in Danticat's works, this is manifested in atrocities inflicted on Haitian workers, the exclusion of asylum seekers, and the deportation of Haitian descendants. Those racially excluded people resist the destructive effects of state racism by creating testimonial narratives to record crimes and atrocities, or by establishing communities for mutual support. Through the dynamics of biopolitical oppression and resistance, Danticat empowers those precarious people and achieves her purpose of political writing: while dissolving the negative influence of biopolitics, she reconstructs individual subjectivities through testimony, and rebuilds fragmented identities through the solidarity of Haitian communities, in order to reaffirm the national identity of the Haitian people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work discusses the effectiveness of the previously developed comprehensive calculation model to optimize linear MALDI-TOF mass spectrometers. The model couples space- and velocity-focusing to precisely analyze the flight-time distribution of ions and predict optimal experimental parameters for the highest mass resolving power. Experimental validation was conducted using a laboratory-made instrument to analyze CsI3 and angiotensin I ions in low to medium m/z range. The results indicate that the predicted optimal extraction voltage and delay were reasonably accurate and effective. In the low m/z range, the peak width obtained using optimal parameters reached the sub nanosecond range, corresponding to a mass resolving power of 10 000–17 000, or 20 000–34 000 if shot-to-shot random fluctuations were minimized by the dynamic data correction method. The observed optimal mass resolving power in the current experiment is 4.8–7.8 times that of commercial instruments. Practical limitations resulting in the gap between the observed and theoretical ultimate mass resolving power are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edwidge Danticat in her novel Claire of the Sea Light (2013) delineates a group of determined women who actively challenge the patriarchal norms prevalent in Haiti. This article conducts a thorough textual analysis focusing on the imagery of the “rose” and its intricate connections with women in the narrative. Through the elaborate naming of Ville Rose, the incarnation of rose as female figures in the novel, as well as the resistance and resilience that rose represents in the female genealogy, Danticat places women at the center of the stage, reclaiming the often neglected, silenced, and marginalized roles of women in Haitian history. This article argues that by foregrounding the unique perspective and experience of Haitian women, Danticat questions the patriarchal hegemonic discourse, reformulates the female discursive system, and reshapes the male‐dominated Haitian literary tradition. This exploration of her poetics of resistance not only contributes to the understanding of Haitian (women's) literature and Caribbean diasporic studies but also provides a new perspective for plant studies within the realm of literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children and poses a significant threat to their health. This study aims to assess the relationship between various plasma proteins and childhood asthma, thereby identifying potential therapeutic targets. Methods: Based on publicly available genome‐wide association study summary statistics, we employed a two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to elucidate the causal relationship between plasma proteins and asthma. Mediation analysis was then conducted to evaluate the indirect influence of plasma proteins on childhood asthma mediated through risk factors. Comprehensive analysis was also conducted to explore the association between plasma proteins and various phenotypes using the UK Biobank dataset. Results: MR analysis uncovered a causal relationship between 10 plasma proteins and childhood asthma. Elevated levels of seven proteins (TLR4, UBP25, CBR1, Rac GTPase‐activating protein 1 [RGAP1], IL‐21, MICB, and PDE4D) and decreased levels of three proteins (GSTO1, LIRB4 and PIGF) were associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma. Our findings further validated the connections between reported risk factors (body mass index, mood swings, hay fever or allergic rhinitis, and eczema or dermatitis) and childhood asthma. Mediation analysis revealed the influence of proteins on childhood asthma outcomes through risk factors. Furthermore, the MR analysis identified 73 plasma proteins that exhibited causal associations with at least one risk factor for childhood asthma. Among them, RGAP1 mediates a significant proportion (25.10%) of the risk of childhood asthma through eczema or dermatitis. Finally, a phenotype‐wide association study based on these 10 proteins and 1403 diseases provided novel associations between these biomarkers and multiple phenotypes. Conclusion: Our study comprehensively investigated the causal relationship between plasma proteins and childhood asthma, providing novel insights into potential therapeutic targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alginate is derived from brown algae, which can be cultivated in large quantities. It can be broken down by alginate lyase into alginate oligosaccharides (AOSs), which exhibit a higher added value and better bioactivity than alginate. In this study, metagenomic technology was used to screen for genes that code for high-efficiency alginate lyases. The candidate alginate lyase gene alg169 was detected from Psychromonas sp. SP041, the most abundant species among alginate lyase bacteria on selected rotten kelps. The alginate lyase Alg169 was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3), Ni-IDA-purified, and characterized. The optimum temperature and pH of Alg169 were 25 °C and 7.0, respectively. Metal ions including Mn2+, Co2+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Ni2+, and Ba2+ led to significantly increased enzyme activity. Alg169 exhibited a pronounced dependence on Na+, and upon treatment with Mn2+, its activity surged by 687.57%, resulting in the highest observed enzyme activity of 117,081 U/mg. Bioinformatic analysis predicted that Alg169 would be a double-domain lyase with a molecular weight of 65.58 kDa. It is a bifunctional enzyme with substrate specificity to polyguluronic acid (polyG) and polymannuronic acid (polyM). These results suggest that Alg169 is a promising candidate for the efficient manufacturing of AOSs from brown seaweed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Centering on the precarious bodies that are diseased or faced with health problems in Danticat’s oeuvre, this article from a biopolitical perspective examines how the malfunction of power exacerbates the health condition of individuals, and how those precarious bodies both expose the existing problems in Haiti’s health management and provide enlightenment to its improvement. This article argues that external causes of the diseased or health-threatened bodies in Danticat’s writing can be attributed to the abuse, misuse, or absence of authoritative power in health management, including the state’s inefficiency in managing people’s health and security, the neglect in environmental protection, and the authorities’ abuse of medical power, which demonstrate Danticat’s denunciation of the Haitian authoritative power’s inaction in health management and her appeals for urgent measures to be taken to improve people’s health. This article contributes to the discussions surrounding the disease narrative and health issues in Danticat’s writing, enhances people’s understanding of Haitian health issues from a non-Euro-American-centric lens, and enriches the research on biopolitical theories of health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) initially shows satisfactory response to therapies targeting the androgen receptor (AR). However, progression to a castration‐resistant stage indicates poor prognosis in PCa patients. AR signalling still plays a central role in most castration‐resistant prostate cancers (CRPC). Therefore, unveiling the mechanisms of AR reactivation under androgen‐deprived conditions is imperative to discover novel therapeutic targets for CRPC. Methods: Using an integrative analysis of the transcriptomics of three independent PCa cohorts and a published landscape of AR‐regulated long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA), lncRNA LINC01126 was selected as a candidate gene that could drive CRPC progression for further study. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, in situ hybridisation (ISH) and fluorescent ISH were performed to detect LINC01126 in PCa tissues and cells. The functional role and mechanism of LINC01126 were further investigated using in vitro and in vivo gain and loss of function assays. Results: LINC01126, identified as an AR‐repressed lncRNA, was significantly upregulated after AR‐targeted therapies. In addition, we found that LINC01126 was upregulated in CRPC and was associated with poor prognosis. We also proved that LINC01126 stabilised AR protein and enhanced AR nuclear translocation and transactivation by promoting the transition from O‐GlcNAcylation at threonine 80 to phosphorylation at serine 81 (S81) within the AR protein. Mechanism analysis revealed that LINC01126 facilitates the interaction of CDK9 with AR and impedes the binding of O‐linked N‐acetylglucosamine (O‐GlcNAc) transferase to AR. Consequently, LINC01126 expression was sufficient to activate AR signalling without androgen. LINC01126 overexpression increased, whereas LINC01126 knockdown decreased castration resistance traits in PCa cells in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, our data showed that LINC01126‐targeting antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) substantially inhibited CRPC cells in vitro. Conclusions: Our research expands the functions of AR‐regulated lncRNA in sustaining androgen‐independent AR activity and promoting CRPC progression and reveals that LINC01126 may be a new therapeutic target for PCa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the NANOGrav, PPTA, EPTA, and CPTA Collaborations independently reported their evidence of the Stochastic Gravitational Waves Background (SGWB). While the inferred gravitational-wave background amplitude and spectrum are consistent with astrophysical expectations for a signal from the population of supermassive black-hole binaries (SMBHBs), the search for new physics remains plausible in this observational window. In this work, we explore the possibility of explaining such a signal by the scalar-induced gravitational waves (IGWs) in the very early universe. We use a parameterized broken power-law function as a general description of the energy spectrum of the SGWB and fit it to the new results of NANOGrav, PPTA and EPTA. We find that this approach can put constraints on the parameters of IGW energy spectrum and further yield restrictions on various inflation models that may produce primordial black holes (PBHs) in the early universe, which is also expected to be examined by the forthcoming space-based GW experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, highlighting an unmet clinical need for more effective therapies. This study aims to evaluate the causal relationship between 4,489 plasma proteins and CRC to identify potential therapeutic targets for CRC. Methods: We conducted two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to examine the causal effects of plasma proteins on CRC. Mediation analysis was performed to assess the indirect effects of plasma proteins on CRC through associated risk factors. In addition, we conducted a phenome-wide association study using the UK Biobank dataset to examine associations between these plasma proteins and other phenotypes. Results: Out of 4,489 plasma proteins, MR analysis revealed causal associations with CRC for 23 proteins, including VIMP, MICB, TNFRSF11B, C5orf38 and SLC5A8. Our findings also confirm the associations between reported risk factors and CRC. Mediation analysis identified mediating effects of proteins on CRC outcomes through risk factors. Furthermore, MR analysis identified 154 plasma proteins are causally linked to at least one CRC risk factor. Conclusions: Our study evaluated the causal relationships between plasma proteins and CRC, providing a more complete understanding of potential therapeutic targets for CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A library of 24 congeners of the natural product sulfuretin were evaluated against nine panels representing nine cancer diseases. While sulfuretin elicited very weak activities at 10 µM concentration, congener 1t was identified as a potential compound triggering growth inhibition of diverse cell lines. Mechanistic studies in HCT116 colon cancer cells revealed that congener 1t dose-dependently increased levels of cleaved-caspases 8 and 9 and cleaved-PARP, while it concentration-dependently decreased levels of CDK4, CDK6, Cdc25A, and Cyclin D and E resulting in induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in colon cancer HCT116 cells. Mechanistic study also presented MET receptor tyrosine kinase as the molecular target mediating the anticancer activity of compound 1t in HCT116 cells. In silico study predicted folded p-loop conformation as the form of MET receptor tyrosine kinase responsible for binding of compound 1t. Together, the current study presents compound 1t as an interesting anticancer lead for further development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism of light emission from metallic nanoparticles has been a subject of debate in recent years. Photoluminescence and electronic Raman scattering mechanisms have both been proposed to explain the observed emission from plasmonic nanostructures. Recent results from Stokes and anti-Stokes emission spectroscopy of single gold nanorods using continuous wave laser excitation carried out in our laboratory are summarized here. We show that varying excitation wavelength and power change the energy distribution of hot carriers and impact the emission spectral lineshape. We then examine the role of interband and intraband transitions in the emission lineshape by varying the particle size. We establish a relationship between the single particle emission quantum yield and its corresponding plasmonic resonance quality factor, which we also tune through nanorod crystallinity. Finally, based on anti-Stokes emission, we extract electron temperatures that further suggest a hot carrier based mechanism. The central role of hot carriers in our systematic study on gold nanorods as a model system supports a Purcell effect enhanced hot carrier photoluminescence mechanism. We end with a discussion on the impact of understanding the light emission mechanism on fields utilizing hot carrier distributions, such as photocatalysis and nanothermometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we study a hypothetical possibility of tracking the evolution of our Universe by introducing a series of the so-called standard timers. Any unstable primordial relics generated in the very early Universe may serve as the standard timers, as they can evolve through the whole cosmological background until their end while their certain time-varying properties could be a possible timer by recording the amount of physical time elapsed since the very early moments. Accordingly, if one could observe these quantities at different redshifts, then a redshift-time relation of the cosmic history can be attained. To illustrate such a hypothetical possibility, we consider the primordial black hole bubbles as a concrete example and analyze the mass function inside a redshifted bubble by investigating the inverse problem of Hawking radiation. To complete the analyses theoretically, the mass distribution can serve as a calibration of the standard timers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims This study aimed to screen a bacterial strain with high detoxifying capability for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), verify its biotransformation efficiency, and detoxification process. Methods and results A total of 350 samples collected from different environmental niche were screened using coumarin as the sole carbon source. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used to detect residues of AFB1, and 16S rRNA sequencing was performed on the isolated strain with the highest AFB1 removal ratio for identification. The detoxified products of this strain were tested for toxicity in Escherichia coli as well as LO2, Caco-2, and HaCaT human cell lines. HPLC-MS was applied to further confirm the AFB1 removal and detoxification process. Conclusions We identified a strain from plant leaf designated as DT with high AFB1-detoxifying ability that is highly homologous to Bacillus aryabhattai. The optimum detoxification conditions of this strain were 37°C and pH 8.0, resulting in 82.92% removal ratio of 2 μg mL−1 AFB1 in 72 h. The detoxified products were nontoxic for E. coli and significantly less toxic for the LO2, Caco-2, and HaCaT human cell lines. HPLC-MS analysis also confirmed the significant drop of the AFB1 characteristic peak. Two possible metabolic products, C19H15O8 (m/z 371) and C19H19O8 (m/z 375), were observed by mass spectrometry. Potential biotransformation pathway was based on the cleavage of double bond in the terminal furan of AFB1. These generated components had different chemical structures with AFB1, manifesting that the attenuation of AFB1 toxicity would be attributed to the destruction of lactone structure of AFB1 during the conversion process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Removing moving objects from 3D LiDAR data plays a crucial role in advancing real-time odometry, life-long SLAM, and motion planning for robust autonomous navigation. In this paper, we present a novel method aimed at addressing the challenges faced by existing approaches when dealing with scenarios involving significant registration errors. The proposed approach offers a unique solution for removing moving objects without the need for registration, leveraging range flow estimation combined with IMU measurements. To this end, our method performs global range flow estimation by utilizing geometric constraints based on the spatio-temporal gradient information derived from the range image, and we introduce IMU measurements to further enhance the accuracy of range flow estimation. Through extensive quantitative evaluations, our approach showcases an improved performance, with an average mIoU of 45.8%, surpassing baseline methods such as Removert (43.2%) and Peopleremover (32.2%). Specifically, it exhibits a substantial improvement in scenarios characterized by a deterioration in registration performance. Moreover, our method does not rely on costly annotations, which make it suitable for SLAM systems with different sensor setups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) is currently the largest commercial biodegradable plastics with good toughness and film forming properties, whereas, the inferior barrier and mechanical properties hinder its applications. Biodegradable poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) with excellent barrier properties and high strength is a natural choice to address above issue. However, it is challenging to improve the compatibility of these two polymers. Herein, we prepared a reactive compatibilizer with double bond side group through terpolymerization of CO2/propylene oxide/glycidyl methacrylate to enhance the properties of PBAT/PPC blends. Upon addition of 1 wt% compatibilizer, the PBAT/PPC blends (75/25, W/W) showed an increased water vapor barrier property changed from 424 g·m−2·d−1 to 204 g·m−2·d−1 compared to the control sample. Moreover, the tensile strength and elongation at break increased from 24.7 MPa to 30.3 MPa and from 858% to 1142%, respectively. The PBAT/PPC composite also displayed excellent biodegradability under composting conditions, as confirmed by the significantly decreased molecular weight. The present work provides an efficient way to barrier biodegradable film from PBAT of practical utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine learning provides solutions to a diverse range of problems in high-dimensional datasets in geosciences. However, machine learning is generally criticized for being an enigmatic black box as it focusses on results but ignores the processes. To address this issue, we used supervised decision boundary maps (SDBM) to visually illustrate and interpret the machine learning process. We constructed a SDBM to classify the ore genetics from 1551 trace element data of apatite in various types of deposits. Attribute-based visual explanation of multidimensional projections (A-MPs) was introduced to SDBM to further demonstrate the correlation between features and machine learning process. Our results show that SDBM explores the interpretability of machine learning process and the A-MPs approach reveals the role of trace elements in machine learning classification. Combining SDBM and A-MPs methods, we propose intuitive and accurate discrimination diagrams and the most indicative elements for ore genetic types. Our work provides novel insights for the visualization application of geo-machine learning, which is expected to be a powerful tool for high-dimensional geochemical data analysis and mineral deposit exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc indium sulfide (ZnIn2S4), as a significant visible-light-responsive photocatalyst, has become a research hotspot to tackle energy demand and environmental issues owing to its excellent properties of high stability, easy fabrication, and remarkable catalytic activity. However, its drawbacks, including low utilization of solar light and fast photoinduced charge carriers, limit its applications. Promoting the response for near-infrared (NIR) light (~52% solar light) of ZnIn2S4-based photocatalysts is the primary challenge to overcome. In this review, various modulation strategies of ZnIn2S4 have been described, which include hybrid with narrow optical gap materials, bandgap engineering, up-conversion materials, and surface plasmon materials for enhanced NIR photocatalytic performance in the applications of hydrogen evolution, pollutants purification, and CO2 reduction. In addition, the synthesis methods and mechanisms of NIR light-driven ZnIn2S4-based photocatalysts are summarized. Finally, this review presents perspectives for future development of efficient NIR photon conversion of ZnIn2S4-based photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Long intergenic nonprotein coding RNA 1503 (LINC01503) was reportedly oncogenic in several malignancies, whereas whether it contributed to pancreatic cancer tumorigenesis and progression requires to be verified. Methods. The expression pattern of LINC01503 was monitored via qRT-PCR assay in normal cells and cancerous pancreatic cancer cells. The introduction of silencing LINC01503 was to verify the relation between LINC01503 expression and cell growth. Then, the targeting relationship of LINC01503 to miR-1321 was confirmed by bioinformatics predication and luciferase reporter assay. In addition, luciferase reporter assays evaluated the binding of miR-1321 to the 3 ′ -untranslated region of KLK4. Overexpressing KLK4 and inhibiting LINC01503 was introduced in tumor cells to investigate the corresponding impacts on pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and migration. Results. LINC01503 and KLK4 were highly abundant in pancreatic cancer cells. Mechanistically, miR-1321 bound to LINC01503 and KLK4. Downregulating LINC01503 promoted the availability of miR-1321 in pancreatic cancer cells and thus repressed KLK4 expression. KLK4 overexpression abolished the impediment of LINC01503 depletion on cell proliferation and migration. Conclusion. Oncogenic function of LINC01503 was dependent on KLK4 upregulation by sponging miR-1321. Revealing the tumor-promoting property of LINC01503 in pancreatic cancer may confer new biomarkers for this malignancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a rotating functionally graded (FG) polymer nanocomposite shaft-disk assembly reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets (GPLs) resting on elastic supports is modelled and its vibration behaviours are analysed. The effective material properties of the shaft and disk are assumed to vary along their radius directions and determined via the Halpin–Tsai model together with the rule of mixture. Different non-uniform and uniform distributions of GPLs in the rotating assembly are taken into account. In accordance with the finite element (FE) method, the modelling and free vibration analysis of the nanocomposite shaft-disk rotor system is conducted. To verify the present analysis, both the theoretical and experimental methods are employed. A comprehensive parametric study on the effects of the graphene nanoplatelets (GPL) weight fraction, GPL distribution pattern, length-to-thickness ratio and length-to-width ratio of GPLs, shaft length, elastic support stiffness and rotating speed on the free vibration results are investigated, which gives effective ways to achieve improved mechanical performance of a rotating nanocomposite disk-shaft assembly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent years, bio-functionalized noble metal doped advanced magnetics nanocomposite materials has been materialized as potential featured catalysts in diverse applications. In this connection, we report herein a novel biogenic lignin driven Au nanoparticle supported Fe 3 O 4 composite material. The procedure is free from any harsh reducing or stabilizing agent. Morphology and structural features were assessed following different physicochemical methodologies like FT-IR, FE-SEM, TEM, EDS, XRD, VSM and ICP-OES techniques. Thereafter, the [Fe 3 O 4 /Lignin/Au] material was successfully employed in the efficient reduction of different nitroarenes in aqueous medium. The process was monitored over UV–Vis spectroscopic study. Excellent yields were achieved with a range of diverse functionalized nitroarenes within 10–45 min of reaction. The nanocatalyst was recycled 10 times without any significant loss of catalytic activity. Distinctiveness of the material's activity was validated by comparing the results in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol. Furthermore, the prepared [Fe 3 O 4 /Lignin/Au] nanocomposite system exhibited outstanding antioxidant and anticancer effects against five lung cancer cell lines, such as, BICR 3, BICR 78, CALU 1, ChaGo-K-1, and A549. Cytotoxicity assay was determined in terms of % cell viability following MTT protocol. The corresponding IC 50 values were obtained as 47, 31, 19, 25, and 31 μg/mL respectively. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A miniature matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization linear time-of-flight mass spectrometer suitable for the high mass-to-charge (m/z) region is described. The instrument size is roughly 1/50th that of regular instruments, and detailed dimensions and experimental parameters were optimized based on the comprehensive calculation method to provide satisfactory mass resolving power. Observations showed that the performance is limited in the low m/z range and becomes comparable with that of regular instruments in the mid m/z range. In the high m/z range, the miniature instrument provides better mass resolving power and sensitivity than regular instruments, showing superior performance for microbial, protein conjugate, and polymer analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active carbon fibers (ACFs) with a large specific surface area (SSA) have received widespread attention in various fields, such as environmental treatment and energy storage. Herein, ultrafine viscose‐based active carbon fibers (UVACFs) with large SSAs and micropores are successfully prepared via stabilization, carbonization, and CO2 activation using ultrafine viscose fibers (UVFs) as precursors. The microporous structure and SSA of UVACFs are adjusted by the activation temperature and the morphology and structure are characterized by a scanning electron microscope, X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and N2 adsorption/desorption. As a result, the SSA of UVACFs can reach 591.58 m2 g−1 with the main pore size of 0.52 nm under activation temperature of 900 °C. The adsorption capacity of UVACFs‐900 for iodide ions is as high as 830.3 mg g−1, which is the highest one among reported ACFs. It is attributed to the fact that the pore size of as‐prepared UVACFs is close to the hydration radius of iodide ions (0.335 nm). Moreover, NiCo2O4 is grown uniformly on UVACFs by the hydrothermal method, which shows high capacitance of 2693.3 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 and excellent cycling stability with 94.5% capacity retention after 3000 cycles (10 A g−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The P(St-DVB-TMPTA)/PEI 20 porous material with underliquid dual superlyophobicity prepared by high internal phase emulsion polymerization one-pot method which can efficiently separate surfactant stabilized oil–water emulsion and adsorb Cu2+ in water. This study would provide a new approach to prepare an underliquid dual superlyophobicity porous material with multifunctional for the treatment of complex oily wastewater. [Display omitted] • 3D material with underliquid dual superlyophobic is constructed via one-pot method. • The underliquid dual superlyophobicity is designed by hydrophilic-hydrophobic chain. • The porous material can efficiently separate various stable O/W and W/O emulsions. • The material can also adsorb Cu2+ in water through metal ion chelation coordination. Multifunctional materials for the simultaneous separation of oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsions and adsorption of heavy metal ions are urgently needed for treating industrial wastewater with complex composition; however, at present these materials are strictly limited to a single function. To meet the above demand, a 3D polystyrene–divinylbenzene–trimethylolpropane triacrylate/polyethyleneimine (P(St-D-T)/PEI 20) porous material with underliquid dual superlyophobicity was designed and prepared by the high internal phase emulsion polymerization one-pot method. Based on a structural design strategy involving the combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments, hydrophilic and cationic PEI components were chemically grafted onto the surface of the hydrophobic P(St-D-T) porous material through a 1,4-conjugate addition reaction, endowing the material with underliquid dual superlyophobicity and metal ion-chelating coordination groups. The as-prepared material could continuously separate surfactant-stabilized oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions, with corresponding separation efficiencies of 99.4 % and 97.4 %, along with separation fluxes of 2543 and 8363 L m-2h−1 bar−1, respectively. The material also possessed excellent mechanical stability and outstanding chemical corrosion resistance. Furthermore, the P(St-D-T)/PEI 20 porous material could adsorb Cu2+ in water through metal ion chelation, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 190.2 mg/g. This study provides a new approach to prepare a porous material with underliquid dual superlyophobicity for the treatment of complex oily wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of microplasma excitation sources in miniature systems offers reliable tools for the portable detection of heavy metal contamination. Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD)-based optical emission spectrometry has emerged as a significant technique for the detection of metal ions recently. Here, a sensitive miniature DBD-OES system for cadmium enrichment and detection is developed. A piece of ceramic tube with abundant hydroxyl (-OH) and alumina (Al O) functional groups is used for cadmium pre-concentration and serve as a part of the internal electrode of the DBD. When microplasma generates, the cadmium on the surface of the internal electrodes is desorbed and in-situ excited, and the characteristic emission line of cadmium appears. The mechanism of cadmium excitation on ceramic tube, the characteristics of the microplasma excitation and the enrichment on the internal electrode are discussed. Under the working conditions, the emission intensity of cadmium shows linear relationship within the range of 0.5–8 μg L−1, and the limit of detection (LOD) is 0.3 μg L−1. Finally, a series of water samples are determined to validate the applicability of the present system. [Display omitted] • A miniature DBD-OES system for Cd enrichment and detection is developed. • The cadmium on the surface of internal electrode is desorbed and in-situ excited. • The system with excellent sensitivity meets the need of detection in emergency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heparin is one of the most widely used natural drugs, and has been the preferred anticoagulant and antithrombotic agent in the clinical setting for nearly a century. Heparin also shows increasing therapeutic potential for treating inflammation, cancer, and microbial and viral diseases, including COVID-19. With advancements in synthetic biology, heparin production through microbial engineering of heparosan offers a cost-effective and scalable alternative to traditional extraction from animal tissues. Heparosan serves as the starting carbon backbone for the chemoenzymatic synthesis of bioengineered heparin, possessing a chain length that is critically important for the production of heparin-based therapeutics with specific molecular weight (MW) distributions. Recent advancements in metabolic engineering of microbial cell factories have resulted in high-yield heparosan production. This review systematically analyzes the key modules involved in microbial heparosan biosynthesis and the latest metabolic engineering strategies for enhancing production, regulating MW, and optimizing the fermentation scale-up of heparosan. It also discusses future studies, remaining challenges, and prospects in the field. • Microbial engineering of heparosan offers an alternative to heparin production. • Metabolic engineering of microbial cell factories achieved high-yield production of heparosan. • Yield of heparosan biosynthesis is significantly influenced by fermentation engineering strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) in mammals is a multifunctional protein. In this study, PCSK9 of marine fish Epinephelus coioides was characterized. The full-length cDNA of E. coioides PCSK9 was 2458 bp in length containing 185 bp 5′ UTR, 263 bp 3′ UTR and 2010 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding 669 amino acids with the predicted molecular weight of 71 kDa and the theoretical PI of 6.6. Similar to other members of PCSK9 family, E. coioides PCSK9 has three conserved domains: Inhibitor_ I9 super family, Peptidases_ S8_ PCSK9_ Proteinase K_ like, and PCSK9_ C-CRD super family. E. coioides PCSK9 mRNA could be detected in all the tissues examined by real-time quantitative PCR, with the highest expression in the brain, followed by skin, trunk kidney, head kidney, intestine, blood, liver, spleen, gill, muscle and heart. E. coioides PCSK9 was distributed in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. The expression of E. coioides PCSK9 was significantly upregulated during Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV) infection. Upregulated PCSK9 could significantly affect the activities of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) promoter, SGIV-induced apoptosis, and the expressions of the key SGIV genes (ICP18, LITAT, MCP, and VP19) and the E. coioides proinflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-1β, IL-8, and TNF-α). The results illustrated that E. coioides PCSK9 might be involved in the pathogen infection by regulating the innate immune response. • Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) was characterized from Epinephelus coioides. • E. coioides PCSK9 mRNA were detected in all tissues examined, and significantly up-regulated during SGIV infection. • E. coioides PCSK9 can promote SGIV replication, and negatively regulates innate immune response. • E. coioides PCSK9 could affect the SGIV-induced cells apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regularly issued low frequency data, such as the change of fund position (weekly), and Producer Price Index (monthly), can affect the subsequent trend of stock returns. However, the forecasting effect of low frequency data on high frequency has not been discussed amply. This paper proposes a new mixed frequency neural network that helps to fill this research gap. The original time series is decomposed into several components through ensemble empirical mode decomposition, then the frequency alignment method is applied to integrate the high frequency component with low frequency variable as inputs, and the CNN-BiLSTM-Attention network completes the remaining forecasting work. The empirical results show that compared with other benchmark models, the proposed procedures perform better when predicting the high frequency components and obtain a smaller statistical error in the final ensemble results. The proposed model has great potential for the forecasting of reverse mixed time series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we report a novel Ag NPs fabricated chitosan-agarose composite functionalized core-shell type Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticle (Ag/CS-Agar@Fe 3 O 4). The biogenic material was analyzed over a number of physicochemical methods like, FT-IR, FE-SEM, TEM, EDX, XRD, VSM and ICP-OES. In catalytic exploration we aimed the synthesis of diverse 2 H -indazolo0- b ]phthalazine-trione derivatives via one-pot three component coupling of phathalalhydrazide, dimedone and different aldehydes. It afforded good to excellent yields under solvent-less conditions. Robustness of the catalyst was justified by catalyst recyclability for consecutive 10 times, hot filtration and leaching tests. Again, biological activity of the material was evaluated by studying the antioxidant and cytotoxicity properties over lung and liver cancer cell lines. Antioxidant potential of Ag/CS-Agar@Fe 3 O 4 was assessed by DPPH radical scavenging studies and the corresponding IC50 was found to be 96.57 μg/mL. Liver and lung cancer studies over Ag/CS-Agar@Fe 3 O 4 was carried out by MTT assay against HepG2 and A549 cell lines. The corresponding IC50 values were found as 192.35 and 365.28 μg/mL respectively. % Cell viability of the nanomaterial decreased dose dependently over both the cell lines without any cytotoxicity on normal cell line. The results demonstrates Ag/CS-Agar@Fe 3 O 4 nanocomposite to be an efficient chemotherapeutic drug against the lung and hepatocellular carcinoma cells. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We put forward a novel class of exotic celestial objects that can be produced through phase transitions occurring in the primordial Universe. These objects appear as bubbles of stellar size and can be dominated by primordial black holes (PBHs). We report that, due to the processes of Hawking radiation and binary evolution of PBHs inside these stellar bubbles, both electromagnetic and gravitational radiations can be emitted that are featured on the gamma-ray spectra and stochastic gravitational waves (GWs). Our results reveal that, depending on the mass distribution, the exotic stellar bubbles consisting of PBHs not only provide a decent fit for the ultrahigh-energy gamma-ray spectrum reported by the recent LHAASO experiment, but also predict GW signals that are expected to be tested by the forthcoming GW surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organic-rich shale of the Qingshankou Formation (K2qn) is the most important target in the Songliao Basin. The relationship between lithofacies and source rock quality, however, is still controversial. Core observation, thin section identification, X-ray diffraction, organic geochemistry, and other analytical methods were adopted to investigate the petrology and its effects on hydrocarbon potential of the Qingshankou shale. Based on the differences in minerals, bioclastic, and fabric of laminae, four main lithofacies were defined as: (i) felsic shale (FS), (ii) clay shale (CS), (iii) bio-bearing shale (BS), and (iv) mixed shale (MS). The clay minerals content in the CS (average: 46.72 wt%) and MS (average: 41.11 wt%) was higher than that in FS (average: 39.97 wt%) and BS (average: 35.48 wt%). This classification allows the following comparative quantification of total organic carbon (TOC) content to be differentiated: CS > BS > MS > FS. Geochemical analysis indicated that the oil generation potential of the CS was the best, and the hydrocarbons generated from CS might migrate and accumulate in other lithofacies. All this knowledge could shed light on the lithofacies classification in shale systems with high clay mineral content, and may provide references for sweet spotting of the Qingshankou Formation in the Songliao Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Employed a parallel spatial-temporal convolution architecture for network-level prediction. • Implemented a multi-graph convolution module integrated with domain knowledge. • Conducted an exploration of various graph convolution structures. • Validated the approach using two real-world, large-scale datasets. Metro passenger flow prediction is a critical problem in metro transport systems. However, recent studies have either overlooked spatial information on the metro network or primarily focused on modeling spatial dependencies using only the physical topology. To achieve accurate metro passenger flow (inflow and outflow at each station of a network) prediction, this study proposes a joint prediction model that combines the multi-graph convolution network and the gated recurrent unit (GRU). In addition to exploring location topology relationships, the proposed model selects two non-Euclidean spatial dependencies in metro passenger flow prediction to design essential graph elements as part of the stacked spatial block. Three spatial relationships (adjacency, similarity, and correlation) are integrated in parallel with the GRU network. The metro passenger flow prediction framework ASC-GRU (adjacency, similarity, correlation, and gated recurrent unit) is designed to mitigate the distortion of results during the capturing of passenger flow spatial–temporal features. Finally, ASC-GRU is tested using two datasets from the Hangzhou and Shanghai metro networks in China, and the error metrics of different models are compared and analyzed to verify the effectiveness and feasibility of ASC-GRU. The test results demonstrate that the proposed model outperforms other baseline models in passenger flow prediction over long time intervals and large networks. In particular, compared with the best performance of the baselines, the average reduction is around 3%, 12% and 13% in metrics of MAPE, MAE and RMSE, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Stilbenoid-flavanone hybrids 4 , 17 , and 20 are potential agents against colorectal cancers. • Compounds 17 and 20 possess broad anticancer properties against diverse solid tumors. • Compounds 17 and 20 are more potent than reference drugs against colon, brain, skin, renal, prostate and breast tumors. • Compound 17 inhibits Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway. • Compound 17 induces G 2 /M cell cycle arrest as well as intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic death of colon cancer cells. A series of designed stilbenoid-flavanone hybrids featuring sp3-hybridized C 2 and C3 atoms of C-ring was evaluated against colorectal cancers presented compounds 4 , 17 , and 20 as the most potential compounds among explored compounds. Evaluation of the anticancer activity spectrum of compounds 4 , 17 , and 20 against diverse solid tumors presented compounds 17 and 20 with interesting anticancer spectrum. The potencies of compounds 17 and 20 were assessed in comparison with FDA-approved anticancer drugs. Compound 17 was the, in general, the most potent showing low micromolar GI 50 values that were more potent than the standard FDA-approved drugs against several solid tumors including colon, brain, skin, renal, prostate and breast tumors. Compound 17 was subjected for evaluation against normal cell lines and was subjected to a mechanism study in HCT116 colon cancer cells which presented it as an inhibitor of Wnt signaling pathway triggering G 2 /M cell cycle arrest though activation of p53-p21 pathway as well as intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic death of colon cancer cells. Compound 17 might be a candidate for further development against diverse solid tumors including colon cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathogenicity of infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) in litopenaeus vannamei (L. vannamei) is closely related to the age and size of the host, with juveniles being more susceptible to IHHNV infection and exhibiting higher pathogenicity. In our previous research, transcriptome sequencing results revealed a significant downregulation of the Caspase-3 (LvCAP-3) gene in juveniles compared to adults. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that the LvCAP-3 gene plays an immunological role in the defense against IHHNV in L. vannamei. To validate this hypothesis, we analyzed the differential expression of the LvCAP-3 gene in various tissues (pleopods, muscles, gills, intestine, hepatopancreas) of L. vannamei using Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR), and investigated the impact of LvCAP-3 gene interference using RNA interference (RNAi) technology on IHHNV viral load. The research findings indicated that the LvCAP-3 gene was expressed in all 5 tissues mentioned above, with the highest expression in hepatopancreas and the lowest expression in pleopods. L. vannamei injected with IHHNV showed an increasing viral load from 24 to 120 h, accompanied by an upregulation of LvCAP-3 gene expression. Furthermore, the interference of the LvCAP-3 gene resulted in a higher IHHNV viral load in L. vannamei injected with IHHNV compared to the control group. In conclusion, interference with the LvCAP-3 gene makes L. vannamei more susceptible to IHHNV infection. It can be deduced that the higher susceptibility of juvenile shrimp to IHHNV associated with lower expression levels of the LvCAP-3 gene. • The expression of LvCAP-3 in various tissues of L. vannamei was analyzed. • IHHNV infection leads to upregulation of LvCAP-3 expression in L. vannamei. • The interference of LvCAP-3 makes L. vannamei more susceptible to IHHNV infection. • The higher susceptibility of juvenile shrimp to IHHNV associated with lower expression levels of LvCAP-3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dual-specificity phosphatase (DUSP) family plays key roles in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and apoptosis etc. In this study, the DUSP member DUSP1 of Epinephelus coioides was characterized: the length was 2371 bp including 281 bp 5′ UTR, 911 bp 3′ UTR, and a 1125 bp open reading frame encoding 374 amino acids. E. coioides DUSP1 has two conserved domains, a ROHD and DSPc along with a p38 MAPK phosphorylation site, localized at Ser308. E. coioides DUSP1 mRNA can be detected in all of the tissues examined, and the subcellular localization showed that DUSP1 was mainly distributed in the nucleus. Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV) infection could induce the differential expression of E. coioides DUSP1. Overexpression of DUSP1 could inhibit SGIV-induced cytopathic effect (CPE), the expressions of SGIV key genes, and the viral titers. Overexpression of DUSP1 could also regulate SGIV-induced apoptosis, and the expression of apoptosis-related factor caspase 3. The results would be helpful to further study the role of DUSP1 in viral infection. • The character Epinephelus coioides DUSP1 was analyzed. • E. coioides DUSP5 regulated the infection and replication of SGIV. • E. coioides DUSP5 regulated the SGIV-induced cell apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are important for maintaining protein homeostasis and cell survival. In this study, Hsp27 of Epinephelus coioides , an economically important marine fish in China and Southeast Asian countries, was characterized. E. coioides Hsp27 contains the consered ACD_HspB1_like domain and three p38 MAPK phosphorylation sites, located at Thr-13, Thr-60 and Ser-167. E. coioides Hsp27 was distributed in both the cytoplasm and nucleus, its mRNA was detected in all 14 tissues examined, and its expression was up-regulated after challenge with Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV), an important E. coioides pathogen. Over-expression of E. coioides Hsp27 significantly upregulated the expressions of the key SGIV genes (VP19, LITAF, MCP, and ICP18), downgraded the expressions of the E. coioides immune factors (IRF3, IRF7, ISG15, and TRAF6) and proinflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-8), downgraded the activation of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and activator protein-1 (AP-1), and substantially inhibited the cell apoptosis induced by SGIV infection. These data illustrated that E. coioides Hsp27 might be involved in SGIV infection by negatively regulating the innate immune response. • Heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) was characterized from Epinephelus coioides. • E. coioides Hsp27 mRNA were detected in all tissues examined, and significantly up-regulated during SGIV infection. • E. coioides Hsp27 can promote SGIV replication, and negatively regulates innate immune response. • E. coioides Hsp27 could inhibit the SGIV-induced cells apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of finite element models has gained popularity in the field of foot and footwear biomechanics to predict the stress–strain distribution and the treatment effectiveness of therapeutic insoles for pathological foot conditions. However, a comprehensive evaluation of mesh quality is often ignored, meanwhile no golden standard exists for the mesh density and selection of element size at an acceptable accuracy. Here, we make a convergence test and established anatomically-realistic foot models at different mesh densities. The study compared the discrepancy in output variables to the changes of element type and mesh density under barefoot and footwear conditions with compressive and shear loads, which are commonly encountered in foot and footwear biomechanics simulations. For a range of loading conditions simulated in 125 finite element models, the peak plantar pressure consistently converged with optimal mesh size determined at 2.5 mm. The convergence variable of principal strains and stress tensors, however, varies significantly. The max von-Mises stress showed strong sensitive behavior to the changes of the mesh density. The pattern for contact pressure distribution became less accurate when the element sizes increase to 6.0 mm; in particular, the locations of the pressure peak do not show remarkable changes, but the size of the area of contact still changes. The current study could offer a general guideline when generating a reasonable accurate finite element models for the analysis of plantar pressure distributions and stress/strain states employed for foot and footwear biomechanics evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper nanomaterials based on DNA scaffold (DNA-Cu NMs) are becoming a novel fluorescent material, but it is still challenging to obtain highly fluorescent DNA-Cu NMs with excellent stability. In this work, we report a kind of copper nano-assemblies (Cu NASs) with aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) property using DNA dendrimers with sticky end as template. The sticky end of the DNA dendrimers induced the formation of much bigger Cu NASs with average size ranging from 131 to 264 nm, depending on the length of the DNA dendrimer sticky end from 6 bases to 27 bases. Compared with complete complementary DNA dendrimer, nearly 6-fold fluorescence enhancement was achieved using DNA dendrimer with 27 bases sticky end. Moreover, the DNA dendrimer-Cu NASs demonstrated excellent stability in serum and could be rapidly quenched by Pb2+ ions. Based on the above property, highly sensitive and selective fluorescent detection of Pb2+ ions was possible with a linear range of 2.0–100 nM and a detection limit of 0.75 nM. Due to the sensitive and rapid response to Pb2+ as well as excellent stability in complex matrix, the proposed fluorescent Cu NASs demonstrated high potential as an excellent fluorescent probe for Pb2+ in complex matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple, effective and interesting method for gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) synthesis with nonthermal microplasma is developed in this study. The device of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) microplasma generator with a spray portion is designed and fabricated for uniform AuNPs synthesis. The AuNPs can be synthesized effectively in situ by the DBD microplasma generated on the nozzle of the pneumatic micro-nebulizer. The mechanism of the AuNPs formation under microplasma, the effect of nebulization for uniform AuNPs synthesis and other significant parameters are investigated in the experiment. The morphology and optical properties of the synthesized gold nanoparticles are also characterized. The minimum particle size in average obtained by the proposed method is 4.9 ± 1.1 nm. The particle size of AuNPs can be controlled in the range of 4.9–16.8 nm by the various aqueous solution conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at the efficacy of sequential treatment of bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cell secretion for busulfan‐treated azoospermia in mice. The conditioned media (CM) was obtained from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) or 293 cells. Chemically induced azoospermia mice received 200 μl MSC‐CM or 293‐CM twice a week intravenously for three consecutive weeks. The histological assessment of spermatogenic recovery quantifying the expression of meiosis‐associated genes, and Sertoli cell barrier functional factors were assessed. The characteristics of TM4 cells (Sertoli cell line) after pre‐incubation of MSC‐CM in vitro were also obtained. The MSC‐CM group had the most spermatogenic colonies among the three groups (p <.05), but no spermatids were seen. Expressions of the meiosis‐associated genes Dazl, Vasa, Miwi, Stra8, CyclinA1, Pgk2 and Scp3 in MSC‐CM testis were remarkably higher compared with 293‐CM and busulfan groups respectively (p <.05). The levels of Sertoli cell barrier functional factors, for example ICAM‐1 and N‐cadherin, were significantly increased during MSC‐CM treatment (p <.05). Moreover, pre‐incubation of MSC‐CM particularly accelerated the CD54 (ICAM‐1) and CD44 expressions of TM4 cells and promoted cell inherent adhesion. MSC‐CM treatment can significantly improve the short‐term restoration of spermatogonial structures of chemically induced azoospermia related to facilitating Sertoli cell adhesion integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professor Henry Tye (戴自海) is a world-renowned expert in theoretical particle physics, string theory and cosmology. He was recently the IAS Professor at the Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), and is the Horace White Professor of Physics (Emeritus) at Cornell University. He has a lot of experience in research status in both China and the United States. Recently, NSR invited Professor Yi-Fu Cai (蔡一夫) from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) to interview Prof. Tye on his personal views on the future of theoretical physics, his own experience, and his advice to young researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheel‐rail contact is a link between the vehicle system and the rail system, and the contact processing approach affects accuracy of vehicle dynamic simulation. Contact detection is usually the start of wheel‐rail contact calculation, and detecting precision of contact patch center affect accuracy of contact force calculating results, therefore it is significant to improve detecting precision of contact patch center. An alternate search method (ASM) and an extended trace line method are proposed to improve precision and efficiency of contact patch centers detection. The proposed alternate search method applies Golden Ratio Search Method and variable intervals between grids to detect contact patch centers. To make the detected contact patch centers match rail tangential directions better, an extended trace line method is constructed based on geometrical constraints between contact points and rail tangential directions. Dynamic simulations of a bogie vehicle formed by two wheelsets and a bogie frame negotiating a rail curve are conducted to evaluate effects of the proposed methods. Calculating times of the proposed methods for finishing the simulations are compared to explain computational efficiencies of the different methods. The proposed approaches are real‐time capable and can be used for vehicle dynamics simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report the synthesis of two new families of borondifluoride complexes derived from aroylhydrazines and the investigation of their mesomorphic and AIE properties. The crystallographic structure of the mesogenic complex 1a-BF2 (n = 8) was determined by X-ray analysis; it crystallizes in the P1¯ triclinic space group and the geometry of boron atoms is tetrahedral. The crystal is considered to be linear-shaped with a length of L ∼ 33.92 Å. A relatively small dihedral angle of ca. 3.30°–5.75° was observed between both neighboring phenyl groups and tetrahedral BF2 moiety. Mesomorphic properties were crucially impacted by the structure of the terminal group. Ligands 1a–b were not mesogenic; however, both the series of 1a-BF2 and 1b-BF2 complexes formed SmC or/and N phases. The H-bonding interactions are attributed to the occurrence of mesomorphism in compounds 1-BF2, which was supported by FT-IR spectroscopy. The optical property of the boron complexes is related to their molecular structures, and they emitted blue-to-green emissions at λmax = 445–466 nm in CH2Cl2. Compounds 1a-BF2 aggregated in higher water fractions (fw), which turned on their light emission process, whereas weak PL signals were recorded at fw < 50% because the luminogen was fully dissolved and quenched in these solvent compositions. The PL intensity was enhanced at fw > 60% until it reached the maximum intensity at fw ∼ 90%. Thus, compound 1a-BF2 is AIE active. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to sustain a persistent infection, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) must adapt to a changing environment that is shaped by the developing immune response. This necessity to adapt is evident in the flexibility of many aspects of Mtb metabolism, including a respiratory chain that consists of two distinct terminal cytochrome oxidase complexes. Under the conditions tested thus far, the bc1/aa3 complex appears to play a dominant role, while the alternative bd oxidase is largely redundant. However, presence of two terminal oxidases in this obligate pathogen implies that respiratory requirements might change during infection. We report that the cytochrome bd oxidase is specifically required for resisting the adaptive immune response. While the bd oxidase was dispensable for growth in resting macrophages and the establishment of infection in mice, this complex was necessary for optimal fitness after the initiation of adaptive immunity. This requirement was dependent on lymphocyte-derived interferon gamma (IFNγ), but did not involve nitrogen and oxygen radicals that are known to inhibit respiration in other contexts. Instead, we found that ΔcydA mutants were hypersusceptible to the low pH encountered in IFNγ-activated macrophages. Unlike wild type Mtb, cytochrome bd-deficient bacteria were unable to sustain a maximal oxygen consumption rate (OCR) at low pH, indicating that the remaining cytochrome bc1/aa3 complex is preferentially inhibited under acidic conditions. Consistent with this model, the potency of the cytochrome bc1/aa3 inhibitor, Q203, is dramatically enhanced at low pH. This work identifies a critical interaction between host immunity and pathogen respiration that influences both the progression of the infection and the efficacy of potential new TB drugs. Author summary: Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is a serious global health problem that is responsible for over one million deaths annually, more than any other single infectious agent. In the host, Mtb can adapt to a wide variety of immunological and environmental pressures which is integral to its success as a pathogen. Accordingly, the respiratory capacity of Mtb is flexible. The electron transport chain of Mtb has two terminal oxidases, the cytochrome bc1/aa3 super complex and cytochrome bd, that contribute to the proton motive force and subsequent production of energy in the form of ATP. The bc1/aa3 super complex is required for optimal growth during infection but the role of cytochrome bd is unclear. Here we report that the cytochrome bd oxidase is required for resisting the adaptive immune response, in particular, acidification of the phagosome induced by lymphocyte-derived IFNγ. We found that the cytochrome bd oxidase is specifically required under acidic conditions, where the bc1/aa3 complex is preferentially inhibited. Additionally, we show that acidic conditions increased the potency of Q203, a cytochrome bc1/aa3 inhibitor and candidate tuberculosis therapy. This work defines a new link between the host immune response and the respiratory requirements of Mtb that affects the potency of a potential new therapeutic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tabu genetic cat swarm optimization algorithm is proposed for optimization arrangement on mistuned blades. Furthermore, it is improved to be an innovative parallel algorithm based on Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA), whose performance is analyzed both in continuous and discrete solution space. The lumped parameter model and finite element model of the bladed-disk system are established for dynamics analysis and optimization verification. The complete mistuned parameter identification method and the improved mixed-interface prestressed substructure modal synthesis method are two other highlights. The results indicate that the algorithm in this paper has the advantages of low cost and high efficiency. The vibration localization and amplitude of the mistuned bladed-disk system are both reduced significantly. The optimization analysis method is proved to be applicable to the mistuned bladed-disk system of the aeroengine in engineering practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the functional and structural outcomes of intravitreal conbercept monotherapy using a "3 + pro re nata (PRN)" regimen in treatment-naïve subjects with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) up to 12 months. Methods: Thirty subjects (30 eyes) with PCV participated in this interventional, retrospective study. All subjects received intravitreal injections of 0.5 mg (0.05 ml) conbercept using a "3 + PRN" regimen for 12 months. The changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters, polyp lesion area, and regression rate were evaluated at baseline, month 3, and month 12. Results: At the study end-point, BCVA improved significantly from 52.80 ± 17.17 ETDRS letters at baseline to 62.20 ± 18.96 letters (P < 0.001), with a mean gain of 9.40 ± 14.97 letters. The central retinal thickness (CRT) significantly reduced from 454.93 ± 147.31 μm at baseline to 308.73 ± 106.80 μm (P < 0.001) at end-point, and the total macular volume (TMV) decreased from 9.51 ± 1.04 mm3 at baseline to 8.32 ± 0.84 mm3 at end-point (P < 0.001). The mean volume of pigment epithelial detachment (PED) decreased from 0.73 ± 0.97 mm3 at baseline to 0.48 ± 0.71 mm3 (P < 0.05) at month 3. At month 12, the mean volume of PED was 0.57 ± 0.80 mm3 (P > 0.05 compared to baseline). After the 3-monthly loading injections, 6 eyes (20.0%) showed complete polyp regression, whereas a total of 19 eyes (63.5%) showed complete regression at month 12. The average injections given per subject were 7.70 ± 1.81. Conclusion: Intravitreal conbercept using the "3 + PRN" regimen was effective in the treatment of PCV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new families of dimeric borondifluoride complexes derived from β-enaminoketones containing terminal phenyl and naphthalenyl groups were prepared, and their mesomorphic and optical properties investigated. One single crystallographic structure of mesogenic complex 1a-BF2 (n = 12) was determined by X-ray analysis; it crystallises in a monoclinic space group P21/c and the geometry on boron atoms was all tetrahedral. The crystal was considered as linear-shaped with a length of ~51.95 Å. A relatively large dihedral angle of ~38.85° between the central phenyl spacer and tetrahedral BF2 moiety was observed. Mesomorphic properties were crucially impacted by the structure of the central spacer and terminal group; all bis(borondifluoride) complexes formed SmC or SmA phase except complexes 1b-BF2 (m = 2, 3) and 1c-BF2. H–bond interactions supported by FT-IR spectra were attributed to the induction of SmA phase in compound 2 c-BF2. The optical property of the boron complexes was related with their molecular structures, and they emitted blue-to-green emissions at λmax = 420–538 nm in CH2Cl2. This is the first twin liquid crystal of bis(BF2) complexes derived from Schiff baseβ-enaminoketones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG), the major polyphenol found in green tea, exerts multiple protective effects against cardiovascular diseases, including cardiac hypertrophy. However, the molecular mechanism underlying its anti‐hypertrophic effect has not been clarified. This study revealed that EGCG could inhibit pressure overload‐induced cardiac hypertrophy by regulating the PSMB5/Nmnat2/SIRT6‐dependent signalling pathway. Methods: Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were used to determine the expression of mRNA and protein respectively. A fluorometric assay kit was used to determine the activity of SIRT6, a histone deacetylase. Luciferase reporter gene assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay were employed to measure transcriptional activity and DNA binding activity respectively. Results: EGCG could significantly increase Nmnat2 protein expression and enzyme activity in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes stimulated with angiotensin II (Ang II) and heart tissues from rats subjected to abdominal aortic constriction. Nmnat2 knockdown by RNA interference attenuated the inhibitory effect of EGCG on cardiac hypertrophy. EGCG blocked NF‐κB DNA binding activity induced by Ang II, which was dependent on Nmnat2 and the subsequent SIRT6 activation. Moreover the activation of PSMB5 (20S proteasome subunit β‐5, chymotrypsin‐like) was required for EGCG‐induced Nmnat2 protein expression. Additionally, we demonstrated that EGCG might interact with PSMB5 and inhibit the activation of the proteasome. Conclusions: These findings serve as the first evidence that the effect of EGCG against cardiac hypertrophy may be, at least partially, attributed to the modulation of the PSMB5/Nmnat2‐dependent signalling pathway, suggesting the therapeutic potential of EGCG in the prevention and treatment of cardiac hypertrophy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the plastic deformation behavior of TC4 titanium alloy under cyclic loading by the finite element method. Finite element models were established based on the realistic microstructure whose volume fraction and gain size of primary α phase are 11.86% and 10.35 μm, respectively. The effect of cyclic loading conditions and microstructure characteristics on cyclic plastic deformation behavior of the alloy was analyzed. The results showed that due to the obvious difference in mechanical properties between primary α phase and transformed β matrix, their equivalent plastic strains are obviously different after different cycles of cyclic loading. Moreover, the equivalent plastic strain gradually decreases with the increase in primary α phase volume fraction, the decrease in primary α phase grain size, the decrease in strain amplitude and the increase in strain ratio, respectively. There is a close relationship between plastic damage and fatigue strength of the metal materials. The cyclic loading conditions and microstructure characteristics have a great influence on the fatigue life of TC4 titanium alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An Autonomous Surface Manipulator System (ASMS) is a versatile system with a robotic manipulator installed onto an Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV), which can bring important technological innovations and efficiency improvements to various ocean applications. To develop a high-performance ASMS, an accurate model of the ASMS is required. However, existing models have limitations, such as neglecting the dynamic coupling between manipulators and USVs and not being suitable for stability analysis of ASMS. Hence, this paper proposed a modeling method for ASMS considering the dynamic coupling between the manipulator and the USV and performed stability analysis of the ASMS with the proposed model. Firstly, a six-degree-of-freedom ASMS model is introduced using the Newton-Euler equations. Then, an ASMS prototype is developed to validate the model, with its parameters identified through experiments. Subsequently, the motions of the USV are measured and compared with the calculated values under various motions of the manipulator. The accuracy of the proposed ASMS model is validated by the calculated errors of maximum roll angles and stable roll angles of the USV, which are less than 2deg and 1.1deg, respectively. Finally, a stability indicator is proposed, and the stability of the ASMS is analyzed. • A dynamic model for autonomous surface manipulator systems (ASMS) is proposed. • The dynamic model considered the motion coupling between the manipulator and the USV. • Experiments for model validation were conducted using a prototype of ASMS. • A stability index was proposed, and stability analysis was performed for the ASMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]