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Milk consumption in China has experienced a rapid growth over the past few decades. This study explored milk consumption habits of older Chinese adult regular milk consumers, by investigating what, where, when, with whom, why, and how milk was consumed. This study (n = 1,000) was conducted in 5 cities in China (first tier: Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou; second tier: Chengdu and Shenyang) with participants balanced by sex and age groups (45–55 and 65–75 yr old). Given different economies, general dietary habits, and lifestyles, differences in milk consumption habits between cities were hypothesized. The results showed that almost all participants consumed cow milk, at home and by direct drinking. Most participants consumed milk during breakfast, with their family and for nutrition and health purposes. However, variations by city were found in what type of, what fat level of, what brand of, when and how milk was consumed. Multiple factor analysis showed that "what" variable differentiated cities between tiers and among the first-tier cities, and that "when" and "how" variables also separated the 2 second-tier cities and from the first-tier cities. Although variation in how milk was consumed was also observed between sexes and age groups, hierarchical cluster analysis revealed that the 4 clusters of milk consumption habits derived were mainly differentiated by city: Beijing and Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Shenyang. This study provides comprehensive insights into the milk consumption habits of older Chinese adults and highlights the significant heterogeneity in milk consumption habits in China by city. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important crop that provides essential proteins and oils for human and animal consumption. 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) have been found can play a vital role in abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis and may be a response to drought stress. Until now, in Arachis hypogaea, no information about the NCED gene family has been reported and the importance of NCED-related drought tolerance is unclear. In this study, eight NCED genes in Arachis hypogaea, referred to as AhNCEDs, are distributed across eight chromosomes, with duplication events in AhNCED1 and AhNCED2, AhNCED3 and AhNCED4, and AhNCED6 and AhNCED7. Comparative analysis revealed that NCED genes are highly conserved among plant species, including Pisum sativum, Phaseolus vulgaris, Glycine max, Arabidopsis thaliana, Gossypium hirsutum, and Oryza sativa. Further promoter analysis showed AhNCEDs have ABA-related and drought-inducible elements. The phenotyping of Arachis hypogaea cultivars NH5 and FH18 demonstrated that NH5 is drought-tolerant and FH18 is drought-sensitive. Transcriptome expression analysis revealed the differential regulation of AhNCEDs expression in both NH5 and FH18 cultivars under drought stress. Furthermore, compared to the Arachis hypogaea cultivar FH18, the NH5 exhibited a significant upregulation of AhNCED1/2 expression under drought. To sum up, this study provides an insight into the drought-related AhNCED genes, screened out the potential candidates to regulate drought tolerance and ABA biosynthesis in Arachis hypogaea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study aimed to identify genetic variants related to differences in milk production in Chinese Holstein cows. By analyzing specific genes involved in lipid metabolism, researchers identified variants linked to the milk, fat, and protein yield cows produce over time. They also found patterns in these genetic variations that could affect how the genes work together. The results of this study suggest that these genetic markers could be useful for selecting cows with better milk-production traits. Additionally, the findings could help scientists better understand how these genes influence milk production, potentially leading to improved strategies for breeding dairy cattle. Overall, this research provides valuable insights into enhancing milk production in dairy farming, which could ultimately benefit both farmers and consumers. Our preliminary research proposed the cytochrome P450 family 7 subfamily A member 1 (CYP7A1) and hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase trifunctional multienzyme complex beta subunit (HADHB) genes as candidates for association with milk-production traits in dairy cattle because of their differential expression across different lactation stages in the liver tissues of Chinese Holstein cows and their potential roles in lipid metabolism. Hence, we identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the CYP7A1 and HADHB genes and validated their genetic effects on milk-production traits in a Chinese Holstein population with the goal of providing valuable genetic markers for genomic selection (GS) in dairy cattle, This study identified five SNPs, 14:g.24676921A>G, 14:g.24676224G>A, 14:g.24675708G>T, 14:g.24665961C>T, and 14:g.24664026A>G, in the CYP7A1 gene and three SNPs, 11:g.73256269T>C, 11:g.73256227A>C, and 11:g.73242290C>T, in HADHB. The single-SNP association analysis revealed significant associations (p value ≤ 0.0461) between the eight SNPs of CYP7A1 and HADHB genes and 305-day milk, fat and protein yields. Additionally, using Haploview 4.2, we found that the five SNPs of CYP7A1 formed two haplotype blocks and that the two SNPs of HADHB formed one haplotype block; notably, all three haplotype blocks were also significantly associated with milk, fat and protein yields (p value ≤ 0.0315). Further prediction of transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) based on Jaspar software (version 2023) showed that the 14:g.24676921A>G, 14:g.24675708G>T, 11:g.73256269T>C, and 11:g.73256227A>C SNPs could alter the 5′ terminal TFBS of the CYP7A1 and HADHB genes. The 14:g.24665961C>T SNP caused changes in the structural stability of the mRNA for the CYP7A1 gene. These alterations have the potential to influence gene expression and, consequently, the phenotype associated with milk-production traits. In summary, we have confirmed the genetic effects of CYP7A1 and HADHB genes on milk-production traits in dairy cattle and identified potential functional mutations that we suggest could be used for GS of dairy cattle and in-depth mechanistic studies of animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-k oxide dielectric films are indispensable for low-power-consumption oxide thin-film transistors (TFTs) applied in advanced and portable electronics. However, high-quality oxide dielectric films prepared by solution process typically require sophisticated processes and long thermal annealing time, severely limiting both the throughput manufacturing and cost-effectiveness. In this study, the influence of different heating-up methods on the surface morphology and dielectric properties was systematically investigated. Gradient heating-up method could not only substantially improve the surface morphology and quality of high-k ZrO2 films but also efficiently shorten the annealing time. The gradient heating-up process was further designed on the basis of thermal behavior of the xerogel-like precursor, which successfully realize the preparation of high-quality ZrO2 films with an annealing time of 5 min (i.e. the efficiency of thermal treatment increased by about 89%). The ZrO2 film presented excellent dielectric properties, including a low leakage current density of ∼10−8 A cm−2 (at 2 MV cm−1), a large areal capacitance of 169 nF cm−2 and a high dielectric constant of 20.41 (1 MHz). Furthermore, InSnZnO TFT based on the ZrO2 gate dielectrics shows an acceptable device performances, such as a high carrier mobility of 2.82 cm2 V−1 s, a high on/off current ratio of ∼105 and a low subthreshold swing of 0.19 V decade −1 at a low operation voltage of 5 V. This work provide a highly promising approach to fabricate high-quality solution-processed high-k oxide dielectric films employed for large-scale and low-power-consumption electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The predominant form of aquaculture is the facility fishery, which is also subject to significant impacts from marine disasters. Conducting research on the extraction of facility fishery areas based on remote sensing technology is crucial to efficiently comprehending the configuration of coastal culture patterns and to establishing scientifically sound plans for managing and administering these areas. The extensive dispersion of facility fishery areas in coastal regions poses a challenge to the conduction of comprehensive field surveys. The utilization of satellite remote sensing images for information extraction has emerged as a significant area of research in the fields of coastal fishery and ecological environment. This study provides a systematic description of the current research status of coastal fishery area extraction methods using remote sensing technology from 2000 to 2022 reported in the literature. The methods discussed include the visual interpretation method, image element-based classification, object-based classification, supervised classification, unsupervised classification, and neural network classification. The extraction accuracy of each method in the coastal facility fishery area is evaluated, and the advantages and disadvantages of these methods, as well as their limitations and existing problems, are analyzed in detail, to construct a reference framework for the investigation of the high-precision extraction of facility fishery areas from satellite remote sensing images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is worth understanding the potentials of zero charge (PZCs) and structures of stepped metal/water interfaces, because for many electrocatalytic reactions, stepped surfaces are more active than atomically flat surfaces. Herein, a series of stepped Pt/water interfaces are modeled at different step densities with ab initio molecular dynamics. It is found that the structures of Pt/water interfaces are significantly influenced by the step density, particularly in regard to the distribution of chemisorbed water. The step sites of metal surfaces are more preferred for water chemisorption than terrace sites, and until the step density is very low, water will chemisorb on the terrace. In addition, it is revealed that the PZCs of stepped Pt/water interfaces are generally smaller than that of Pt(111), and the difference is mainly attributed to the difference in their work function, providing a simple way to estimate the PZCs of stepped metal surfaces. Finally, it is interesting to see that the Volta potential difference is almost the same for Pt/water interfaces with different step densities, although their interface structures and magnitude of charge transfer clearly differ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

External ventricular drainage (EVD) is the routine intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) treatment. Neurological deterioration and symptomatic hydrocephalus are often the default indications for EVD insertion. However, the outcome of preventive EVD is unclear in patients with mild IVH. This study aimed to determine whether EVD is beneficial in patients with mild IVH. This study aimed to determine whether EVD is beneficial in patients with mild IVH. Data from IVH patients treated conservatively or with EVD at two hospitals from January 2017 to December 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 12–14 and a modified Graeb score (mGS) ≥ 5 at admission were included. The primary outcome was poor functional status, defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 3–6 at 90 days. Secondary outcomes included the distribution of mRS score categories, the resolution time of intraventricular blood clots, and complications. Forty-nine patients were enrolled in the study: 21 patients in the EVD group, 28 in the non-EVD group, and 13 in the EVD group who received urokinase injections. ICH volume was an independent predictor of poor functional status. Currently, no evidence supports that preventive EVD benefits patients with mild IVH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the price structure of milk powders targeting Chinese older adults, with special emphasis on the assessment of front-of-pack (FOP) voluntary well-being messaging (VWM), using a hedonic price model. Data of 456 sets of product prices and attributes were collected from official stores at online shops, TMALL.com and JD.com, in China. Prices were recorded 10 d before, during, and 10 d after a major online promotion event (November 11, 2021). A hedonic price model was employed to decompose explicit market prices into individual product attributes implicit prices, including essential attributes, such as milk source, brand origin, package material, and nutritional composition, and nonessential attributes conveyed by FOP VWM, regarding nutrition, ingredients, health, sensory qualities, and certification. Results showed that above and beyond essential attributes, nonessential attributes conveyed by FOP VWM were significantly associated with price. Specifically, significant price premiums were associated with dietary fiber claims (+12.7%), no added sugar (+19.0%) and potential health benefits (+19.3%), as nutrition-, ingredient-, and health-related FOP VWM respectively. However, nutrition claims regarding calcium and fat were negatively associated with price (−21.2% and −8.0%, respectively, when they were presented). Additionally, nutrition claims for protein and vitamin D, introducing farm environment, referring to imported ingredients, declaring specific ingredients added, describing sensory characterizes and providing certificates on FOP were not significantly associated with price in this market. These findings provide manufacturers with information to better differentiate their products by producing and advertising attributes most valued by consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Atypical speech prosody has been commonly found among autistic children. Yet it remains unknown whether prosody impairment originates from poor pitch ability in general or whether it is the result of the difficulty in understanding and using prosody for communicative purposes. Aims: To investigate whether native Mandarin Chinese‐speaking autistic children with intellectual impairment were able to accurately produce native lexical tones, which are pitch patterns that distinguish word meaning lexically and serve little social purpose. Methods & Procedures: Using a picture‐naming task, thirteen 8–13‐year‐old Mandarin Chinese‐speaking autistic children with intellectual impairment were tested on their production of Chinese lexical tones. Chronical age‐matched typically developing (TD) children were included as the control group. Perceptual assessment and phonetic analyses were conducted with the produced lexical tones. Outcomes & Results: The majority of the lexical tones produced by the autistic children were perceived as accurate by adult judges. Phonetic analysis of the pitch contours found no significant difference between the two groups, and the autistic children and TD children used the phonetic features in comparable ways when differentiating the lexical tones. However, the lexical tone accuracy rate was lower among the autistic children than among the TDs, and the larger individual difference was observed among the autistic children than the TD children. Conclusions & Implications: These results indicate that autistic children are able to produce the global contours of the lexical tones, and pitch deficits do not seem to qualify as a core feature of autism. What this paper adds: What is already known on the subject: Atypical prosody has been considered a maker of the speech of autistic children, and meta‐analysis found a significant difference in mean pitch and pitch range between TD children and autistic children. Yet it remains unknown whether the pitch deficits are the result of impaired perceptual–motoric ability or if they reflect failure in learning sentential prosody, which requires an understanding of the interlocutors' mind. In addition, research on pitch ability of autistic children with intellectual disabilities has been scarce, and whether these children are able to produce pitch variation is largely unknown. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: We tested native Mandarin Chinese autistic children with intellectual impairment on their production of native lexical tones. The lexical tones in Chinese are pitch variations realized on individual syllables that distinguish lexical meaning, but they do not serve social pragmatic purposes. We found that although these autistic children had only developed limited spoken language, the majority of their lexical tones were perceived as accurate. They were able to use the phonetic features in comparable ways with the TD children when distinguishing the lexical tones. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: It seems unlikely that pitch processing at the lexical level is fundamentally impaired in autistic children, and pitch deficits do not seem to qualify for a core feature of their speech. Practitioners should be cautious when using pitch production as a clinical marker for autistic children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: New Zealand has a temperate climate, and dairy farming relies on ryegrass pasture-based systems, normally with a winter-calving system. Although there is adequate pasture growth in some regions during winter, dairy farmers use autumn-saved pasture to sustain cows for one to two months before and after calving. During the transition period at calving, dairy cows have major changes in both physiology and nutritional requirements. The knowledge of ryegrass cultivars would enable the most appropriate selection to benefit cows pre- and post-calving. However, studies on Winter ryegrass are scarce. In this study, we measured nine ryegrass cultivars, including perennial, hybrid, and Italian types grown in late autumn and winter and harvested after seven or nine weeks of regrowth. The crude protein concentration was similar across types, but perennial ryegrasses contained the most fibre. Italian ryegrasses had the greatest proportion of soluble nutrients. The degradation rate of insoluble (fibrous) nutrients was the highest in Italian and the lowest in perennial grasses. Ryegrasses grown during winter had lower crude protein and fibre and higher non-fibre carbohydrate concentrations than that grown in late autumn. In conclusion, this study′s insights into the characteristics of nine ryegrass cultivars, grown in different seasons, offer valuable guidance for selecting the most suitable options to support the nutritional requirements of dairy cows during the transition period around calving. During winter and early spring, pasture supply is usually lower than the demand in New Zealand dairy farming systems and thus the 'autumn saved pastures' (stockpiling) are introduced to fill the gap. This study aimed to investigate the chemical, physical, and degradation characteristics of ryegrass pastures, the predominant forage in New Zealand, grown in autumn and winter. To serve as 'autumn saved pasture', nine ryegrass cultivars, comprising three types (three perennial, three hybrid, and three Italian), were grown in late autumn (Autumn) and early winter (Winter) and harvested after 7 and 9 weeks of regrowth, respectively. The experiment had two experimental factors: ryegrass type (or cultivar) and harvest season. These experimental factors were in a randomised block design with the forage plot as the experimental unit. The degradation characteristics were assessed in the rumen of fistulated cows using the in situ incubation technique. Perennial ryegrass had a greater neutral detergent fibre (NDF) concentration (468 g/kg dry matter (DM)) than the hybrid (435 g/kg DM) or Italian (414 g/kg DM) ryegrasses. Italian ryegrasses had the greatest soluble fraction of DM (64.2% vs. 46.7% and 40.7%) and the greatest degradation rate of an insoluble but degradable fraction of DM (0.221 vs. 0.189 and 0.145/h) than the hybrid and perennial ryegrasses. Compared with the Winter ryegrass, the Autumn ryegrass had a greater crude protein concentration (246 vs. 208 g/kg DM) and a greater NDF concentration (486 vs. 392 g/kg DM) but a lower calculated soluble carbohydrate concentration (152 vs. 263 g/kg DM). It is concluded that there are notable variations among the cultivars, highlighting distinctions in parameters, such as NDF concentration, soluble fractions, degradation rates, and nutrient content among the perennial, hybrid, and Italian ryegrasses, as well as the seasonal variations observed between autumn and winter growth. These findings will not only facilitate enhanced nutrition for dairy cows as they undergo the transition phase but also have practical implications for future research and dairy cow nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas protection is a crucial part of quality control in laser welding, especially for titanium alloy, which oxidizes easily at high temperatures. Substantial experiments concerning shielding gas characteristics in the welding process have been implemented. However, the common analysis conducted is simplistic and lacks a theoretical basis. This paper presented an investigation of the shielding gas behaviors based on numerical simulation and a titanium alloy laser welding experiment. The numerical model was established and validated by experiment. Subsequently, the temperature field and gas flow fields were calculated. By combining the two fields, the threshold temperature of gas protection was determined, and the influence of shielding gas parameters on the protection effect was examined. The results revealed that the protection of the high-temperature zone was primarily influenced by the nozzle height, nozzle inner diameter, and nozzle angle, while the plasma suppression effect was mainly correlated with the nozzle inner diameter and gas flow rate. These initial findings provide scientific guidance for the better quality production of laser beam welded components made of not only titanium alloy but also other metallic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cation effects have been shown in numerous experiments to play a significant role in electrocatalysis. To understand these effects at the molecular level, we systematically investigate the structures and capacitances of electric double layers with a variety of cations as counter charges at Pt(111)-COad/water interfaces with ab initio molecular dynamics. It is encouraging to find that the computed Helmholtz capacitances for different cations are in quantitative agreement with experiments, and that the trend of cation effects on capacitances shows clear correlation with the structures of interface cations of differing sizes and hydration energies. More importantly, we demonstrate the Helmholtz capacitance as the key descriptor for measuring the activity of CO-CO dimerization, the rate-determining step for C2+ formation in electroreduction of CO and CO2. Our work provides atomistic insights into cation effects on electric double layers and electrocatalysis that are crucial for optimizing electrode and electrolyte materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Surgical meshes are often used in retro-pectoral implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR) to improve lower pole expansion. However, using of surgical meshes is associated with increased complications and costs. To solve this problem, we have adopted a modified fascia-based IBBR technique using fasciae of pectoral major, serratus anterior, and external oblique muscles to form a sling covering the lower pole of prosthesis since 2014. Methods: Data of 788 retro-pectoral IBBR cases, including 250 fascia-based IBBR cases (fascial group) and 538 traditional IBBR cases (control group), treated between 2014 and 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The surgical outcomes of the fascial and control group were compared. The primary endpoint was the rate of post-operative complications requiring interventions. The secondary endpoint was the rate of explantation. The exploratory endpoint was the time from surgery to complication and explantation. Results: The fascial group had significantly lower rates of developing major post-operative complications (1.2 vs. 6.1%, p = 0.002) and losing prostheses (1.2 vs. 4.3%, p = 0.025), as compared with the control group. The median time from surgery to complication and explantation were 61 (range, 35–115) days and 92 (range, 77–134) days for the fascial group and 35 (range, 6–239) days and 63 (range, 23–483) days for the control group, respectively. Conclusion: Fascia-based IBBR technique had low rates of major post-operative complications and explantation. Fascia-based IBBR technique could be considered as an alternative reconstruction method in properly selected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung transplantation is an ultimate lifesaving treatment for many patients with end-stage lung disease, whereas whether it is an optional intervention for the anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (anti-MDA5)-positive dermatomyositis (DM)-associated rapid progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD) remain controversial. We report two patients diagnosed with anti-MDA5-positive DM-associated RP-ILD, who were both bridging to lung transplant with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) after failing to respond to extensive immunosuppressants. The first patient received full rehabilitation, but the second patient died of DM flare at the early-stage post-lung transplantation. Most of the clinical information was parallel in these two patients except the anti-MDA5 antibody level, which gradually decreased and became negative in the first patient but always hovering in high titers in the second patient, although both of the two patients received standard immunosuppressive regimen for prevention of rejection after lung transplantation. A total of 11 patients with anti-MDA5-positive DM-associated RP-ILD who underwent lung transplantation from the literature were identified. Most patients (10/11, 90.1%) were successfully discharged and without DM flare during the follow-up period post-lung transplantation. Nine of them were followed up more than 1 year, and anti-MDA-5 antibody was reported to be negative in four patients, whereas the others were unavailable. Combined with the case series in the literature, our limited experience suggests that lung transplantation is a promising therapeutic option for end-stage patients with anti-MDA5-positive DM-associated RP-ILD, with ECMO as a bridge to lung transplantation, if necessary. However, clearance or a downtrend of anti-MDA5 antibody may be required pre-transplant to avoid DM flare and recurrent RP-ILD post-transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction Methods Results Conclusions Total resection of cystic craniopharyngiomas is challenging, especially for some large cystic tumors, because it is often associated with high recurrence and morbidity rates. Minimally invasive cyst decompression and continuous drainage are appropriate to manage clinical symptoms. We reviewed our experience of the past 11 years to determine the long-term effects of neuroendoscopic surgery (NES) combined with Ommaya reservoir (OR) for the treatment of cystic craniopharyngiomas.We retrospectively analyzed the data of 15 adult patients with cystic craniopharyngiomas at a single institution with the primary goal to evaluate the treatment mode with initial adequate decompression of the cyst under visualization and continuous drainage. The study endpoints were functional outcome, cyst volume changes, and tumor progression.The median follow up was 77 (20–136) months. Clinical symptoms, e.g. increased intracranial pressure and visual impairment, could be rapidly improved after NES. The postoperative reduction in cyst volume (p < 0.001) and improvement in Karnofsky performance status (p < 0.001) were significant, and long-term tumor control was achieved in 10 patients (67%). Aspiration from the OR after progression of the tumor’s cystic portion remains a major option, with only few patients requiring repeat NES procedures. No patient developed acute or severe clinical symptoms during follow up.NES could decompress the craniopharyngioma cyst under visualization and enable faster clinical-symptom improvement. The minimally invasive NES combined with OR allowed long-term symptom control in most patients without surgery-related injury. This palliative treatment strategy could be an alternative modality for cystic craniopharyngioma treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the development of neural discrimination of pitch changes in speech and music by English-language adults and 4-, 8- and 12-month-old infants. Speech stimuli were Mandarin Chinese rising and dipping lexical tones and the musical stimuli were three-note melodies with pitch levels based on those of the lexical tones. Mismatch responses were elicited using a non-attentive oddball paradigm. Adults showed mismatch negativity (MMN) responses in both the lexical tone and music conditions. For infants, for the lexical tones, a positive-mismatch response (p-MMR) was observed at 4, 8, and 12 months, whereas for the musical tones, a p-MMR was found for the 4-month-olds, an MMN for the 12-month-olds, and no mismatch response, either positive or negative, for the 8-month-olds. No evidence of cross-domain correlation of the mismatch responses was found. These results suggest domain-specific development of mismatch responses to pitch change in the first year of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition‐metal‐based olefin polymerization catalysts usually require activation with a cocatalyst to initiate polymerization reactions. Borane type cocatalyst is one of the most important classes of cocatalysts that can significantly influence the catalytic performances. In this contribution, we designed and prepared a series of borane cocatalysts, and subsequently investigated their properties in a titanium‐based Constrained Geometry Catalyst (CGC‐Ti) catalyzed ethylene polymerization and ethylene/1‐octene copolymerization. Among these borane cocatalysts, B(C6F5)2OtBu exhibited outstanding cocatalyst performances, achieving activity of up to 1.06×107 g mol−1 h−1 and polymer molecular weight of up to 88.2×104 g mol−1 in ethylene polymerization. In ethylene/1‐octene copolymerization, this borane enabled activity of up to 2.46×106 g mol−1 h−1, affording copolymers with comonomer incorporation of up to 12.8 % and copolymer molecular weight up to 18.3×104 g mol−1. The superior properties of B(C6F5)2OtBu originated from its unique activation mode with the oxygen atom being coordinated to the active metal center. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol consumption is regarded as one of the leading risk factors for secondary osteopenia. Angiogenesis and osteogenesis coupled by type-H vessels coordinate the biological process of bone homeostasis to prevent osteopenia. This study aimed to determine whether chronic alcohol inhibits type-H vessel-dependent bone formation. Two-month-old mice were fed with 5% (v/v) alcohol liquid diet (28% of calories) or normal liquid diet every day for 2 months. The tibias were isolated and detected with X-ray and microcomputed tomography. Paraffin-embedded or frozen tibial sections were prepared and used for immunohistochemical or immunofluorescence staining, respectively. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with different concentrations of alcohol, including 0 mM (0%), 8.7 mM (0.5%), 52 mM (3%), or 87 mM (5%) alcohol for 12 h. The conditioned medium of the above HUVEC cells was collected to culture human bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs), which were induced to differentiate into osteoblasts in vitro. The alcoholic diet retarded the bone growth and led to osteoporosis, impaired bone formation of osteoblasts, and decreased CD31hiEMCNhi type-H vessel formation through inhibiting proliferation and promoting aging of endothelial cells in mice. Alcohol treatment obviously increased the expression of p16, while significantly decreased the expression of Bmi-1, CDK6, Cyclin D, E2F1, and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)2 compared with vehicle. Alcohol inhibited the differentiation of BM-MSCs into osteoblasts through reducing the BMP2 secretion of endothelial cells in type-H vessels. Alcoholic diet impaired CD31hiEMCNhi type-H vessel formation through inhibiting proliferation and promoting aging of endothelial cells through Bmi-1/p16 signaling, and inhibited the differentiation of BM-MSCs into osteoblasts through reducing the BMP2 secretion of endothelial cells in type-H vessels. This study provides a basis for developing a new treatment strategy targeting aging endothelial cells of type-H vessel to prevent alcoholic osteopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring efficient functional materials for environmental remediation and energy storage and conversion is in the spotlight due to the overuse of traditional fossil fuels and the severe pollution of the environment. Metal-free carbon materials (MFCMs) with abundant sources, high electrical conductivity, surface functionalities and environmental compatibility represent promising candidates for environmental remediation, energy storage and conversion. Compared with conventional MFCMs, metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived MFCMs inherit the properties and advantages (tunable module, intrinsic diversity and interesting activities) of their parent materials, becoming the optimal multifunctional materials in recent years. Especially, zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8)-derived MFCMs with richer pore structures and stronger electron transfer capabilities have gained much attention. Previously, the synthesis and applications of ZIF-8-derived MFCMs were only slightly covered in some MOF-related reviews, and there is still a lack of targeted summaries and discussions for them. To this end, the present work starts with an introduction of strategies for designing ZIF-8-derived MFCMs from the perspective of different precursors followed by a discussion of significant advantages obtained from ZIF-8-derived MFCMs. Subsequently, based on density-functional theory (DFT), the structures and related reaction mechanisms of ZIF-8-derived MFCMs are discussed thoroughly in order to construct structure-activity relationships. On this basis, recent advances in their environmental and energy applications are outlined, then economic and technical feasibility analyses are conducted to lay the foundation for their commercialization. Finally, valuable insights are provided into the current challenges and future prospects of ZIF-8-derived MFCMs. [Display omitted] • Synthetic strategies and properties of ZIF-8-derived MFCMs are summarized. • ZIF-8-derived MFCMs for environmental and energy applications are summarized. • DFT method establishes structure-activity relationships for ZIF-8-derived MFCMs. • An economic and technical feasibility analysis of ZIF-8-derived MFCMs is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Returning lysed sludge to biochemical tanks to achieve in-situ sludge reduction is promising. A novel approach for regulating and initiating the sludge lysis process utilizing thermophilic strains is proposed. In this study, three strains were isolated from sludge, and sequencing of the 16 S rDNA amplicon revealed that the three thermophilic strains were the closest relatives to the genus Geobacillus , and they were designated as Geobacillus sp. DX5, Geobacillus sp. DX8 and Geobacillus sp. DX11. Sludge lysis experiments demonstrated that composite thermophilic strains (CTS) were dosed at 65°C, and the sludge VSS removal efficiency after 24 h was 37.8%, significantly surpassing individual strains. Moreover, 65.8% of proteins and 52.0% of polysaccharides in Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of sludge were degraded. Furthermore, Three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (3D-EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy results revealed a substantial release of dissolved organic matter during sludge lysis. Inoculation of CTS under optimal conditions (65°C, pH 7, 4 × 1010cfu/L) resulted in VSS removal efficiency and protease activity of 42.7% and 2584 U/L, respectively. After 20 days of inoculation with CTS to initiate sludge lysis reactor, VSS removal efficiency reached 46%. Additionally, it stimulated the growth of the thermophilic bacterial community, engaging indigenous thermophilic strains in the sludge lysis process. [Display omitted] • Three novel thermophilic bacterial strains were isolated from sludge. • Inoculated with CTS at 65 °C reduces sludge VSS by 36.8% within 24 hours. • CTS enables rapid initiation of the sludge lysis reactor. • Inoculation with CTS can rapidly adapt to the environment and colonize the sludge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although allophonic speech processing has been hypothesized to be a contributing factor in developmental dyslexia, experimental evidence is limited and inconsistent. The current study compared the categorization of native similar sounding vowels of typically developing (TD) children and children at familial risk (FR) of dyslexia. EEG response was collected in a non-attentive passive oddball paradigm from 35 TD and 35 FR Dutch 20-month-old infants who were matched on vocabulary. The children were presented with two nonwords "giep" [ɣip] and "gip" [ɣIp] that contrasted solely with respect to the vowel. In the multiple-speaker condition, both nonwords were produced by twelve different speakers while in the single-speaker condition, single tokens of each word were used as stimuli. For both conditions and for both groups, infant positive mismatch response (p-MMR) was elicited, and the p-MMR amplitude was comparable between the two groups, although the FR children had a later p-MMR peak than the TD children in the multiple-speaker condition. These findings indicate that FR children are able to categorize speech sounds, but that they may do so in a more effortful way than TDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The artificial neuron based on the NbO x threshold device has exhibited great potential for the hardware implementation of neural networks. Improving the margin of frequency tunability and endurance contributes to expanding its application scenarios effectively. In this work, we prepare NbO x films with different Ti doping contents by magnetron sputtering, and the low concentration of Ti-doped device demonstrates high performance with a sufficient and reliable voltage hysteresis window. Due to the small amount of Ti doping, the Nb–Nb bonding robustness is enhanced and the oxygen vacancy formation energy is reduced, as confirmed by the first principles calculations. The former facilitates broadening the voltage hysteresis window and the latter improves the endurance. Furthermore, the margin of the neuron achieved with this device is improved experimentally. This work confirms a promising approach to designing specialized neurons, advancing the development of full memristive neural networks. • The NbO x : Ti films are prepared by magnetron sputtering and characterized by XPS and TEM solidly. • The voltage hysteresis window and endurance are improved by Ti doping, confirming by first principles calculations. • The Ti-doped neuron performs a broad and reliable margin of frequency tunability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: In the past few decades, the development of high‐performance catalysts has been a key driving force and a center of research efforts in the field of olefin polymerization. However, a major discrepancy exists between industrial researches which utilize aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents, and academic researches which predominantly focus the catalytic properties in aromatic solvents. In this contribution, a novel diaryl‐methyl aniline bearing eight tert‐butyl groups was prepared and subsequently transformed to four different kinds of imine‐type ligands. The corresponding nickel complexes as well as their counterparts derived from diphenyl‐methyl aniline without the tert‐butyl groups were prepared and investigated in ethylene polymerization. The multiple tert‐butyl groups enable great solubility of the metal complexes in aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents, leading to similar polymerization properties comparing with aromatic solvents. In contrast, their counterparts without tert‐butyl groups demonstrate significant solvent effect. Moreover, the ligand electronic and steric effects induced by the tert‐butyl groups lead to nickel catalysts with great thermal stability (up to 140 oC) and capabilities of generating high molecular weight polymer and copolymer products. This tert‐butyl strategy can be potentially applied to many different polymerization catalyst systems and help to bridge academic studies with practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selectors with an excellent performance exhibit great potential to achieve a high integration density and contribute to the design of peripheral systems. However, the uniformity and stability need to be optimized. We demonstrate a high-performance ZrO2/NbOx threshold switching selector that exhibits a low-threshold voltage, ultra-high uniformity, and excellent voltage stability. The oxygen storage properties of the tunneling layer cause a thinner NbO2 region and optimize the performance, which is confirmed by thermal simulations and compositional analyses. The conduction mechanism of the OFF state is fit and verified to be Schottky emission. Compared with the reference device, the tunneling device has a smaller Schottky distance, which indicates a thinner NbO2 region. This work provides an effective method to improve the performance of the selector and understand its physical mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NbO 2 -based selectors can effectively suppress cross-talk interference between memory cells in the high-density cross-point nonvolatile memory arrays. By doping titanium into the niobium oxide, the Pt/Ti:NbO x /TiN selector device based on insulator–metal transition (IMT) effect presented typical threshold switching (TS) behavior. Compared with the undoped device (UD), the doped device (DD) performed forming-free, ultra-high on-state current and self-compliance properties. Meanwhile, its performances were stable in 1000 consecutive cycles of TS. Subsequently, the mechanism of the device was understood based on oxygen vacancies adjusted by Ti atom. This device provided an approach to drive memory for V-point structure due to the ultra-high on-state current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bi 2 S 3 , Bi 2 MoO 6 and TiO 2 composite photoanodes were fabricated using three different preparation routes to improve its photoelectrochemical (PEC) stability. The microstructure of three photoanodes are distinct significantly according to the results of XRD, SEM and TEM. The ordered TiO 2 nanorod arrays (NRAs) and thinner Bi 2 MoO 6 sheet crystals in flower-ball structure facilitate carrier transport and suppresses electron-hole recombination efficiently. The results of PEC tests indicate that the photoanode with Bi 2 MoO 6 sheet crystals in flower-ball structure and TiO 2 NRAs shows significant enhancement in PEC performance stability due to its ordered microstructure facilitating carrier transport and transfer and also good adherence of photoanode layer on FTO glass substrate. This photoanode in Bi 2 S 3 quantum dots/Bi 2 MoO 6 @TiO 2 NRAs structure exhibits satisfactory properties, achieving a PEC stability of 86.41% after 48 h. [Display omitted] • Three photoanodes were fabricated in various preparation routes. • PEC performance of three photoanodes were analyzed based on their different Microstructure. • The PEC stability of Bi 2 S 3 QDs/Bi 2 MoO 6 @TiO 2 NRAs photoanode is up to 86.41% after 48 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pediatric craniopharyngioma is typically characterized by cystic changes and calcifications. It can grow from the suprasellar area to the posterior fossa (4%). This work reports that it is very rare for craniopharyngioma to grow from the suprasellar area to or beyond the level of the foramen magnum. Twelve patients with this disease have undergone one or several microsurgeries, and the microsurgical approaches are different. Among them, two cases died, and most of the remaining patients had certain complications such as endocrine dysfunction, nerve palsy, and subdural effusion. We treated two patients whose tumors had grown to the level of the foramen magnum, one of which reached C2 levels. Both cases were treated with a neuroendoscopy. There were no deaths and no complications. Our cases are the longest follow-up of this type of craniopharyngioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main observation and conclusion: A series of dibenzhydryl‐based iminopyridine‐N‐oxide ligands bearing a range of electron‐donating or ‐withdrawing substituents (OMe, H, and NO2) and corresponding nickel pre‐catalysts are prepared and characterized. The substituents are installed at different positions on the ligand structure, including 4‐position of the pyridine‐N‐oxide moiety (position X) and 4‐position of the aniline moiety (position Y). These nickel pre‐catalysts are highly active in ethylene polymerization with the addition of very little amount of aluminum cocatalysts, leading to the formation of polyethylenes with molecular weights of well above one million. Electron‐donating substituents make the catalysts sensitive to polymerization temperature. In contrast, the catalysts bearing electron‐withdrawing NO2 substituents show relatively steady performances at different temperatures. Most importantly, we demonstrate that different substituents and different positions both play important roles in determining the properties of nickel catalysts. This provides an alternative strategy for the future design of high‐performance polymerization catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we demonstrate a high-performance Pt/NbOx/Ru selector based on metal–insulator transition (MIT), which exhibits low leakage current (5.67 × 10 −5 A/cm2), excellent endurance (>106), and ultrahigh uniformity (<2.5%) in particular and performs great potential to achieve 3-D storage integration. Furthermore, the decrease of the threshold voltage drift and the improvement of stability can be interpreted as the formation of RuO2 layer at the interface between Ru electrode and oxide layer. The application of Ru in selector provides the industry with a choice to enhance the uniformity and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significantly enhanced electroluminescence performance and stability of all-inorganic perovskite light-emitting devices (PeLEDs) have been achieved by adding triton X-100 into the perovskite precursors. The small perovskite grains arranged tightly and formed large grains as the triton X-100 were introduced. Thus the nonradiative defects originated from Pb atoms at the grain boundaries were highly passivated by triton X-100 and resulted in the promotion of PeLED performance, including a turn-on voltage of 3.2 V, a brightness of 63500 cd/m2, a current efficiency of 17.4 cd/A, and a prolonged lifetime of 2 h in air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pure intrasellar meningioma is an extremely rare tumor that is difficult to diagnose as it resembles a pituitary adenoma in its clinical, endocrinologic, and radiologic presentation; it can only be distinguished through histopathologic examination. All previously reported cases of this lesion were considered those of pituitary adenoma at the initial diagnosis. This poses major challenges in clinical diagnosis. We report a case of a pure intrasellar meningioma in a 27-year-old man. A boundary between the tumor and pituitary gland may be evident on magnetic resonance imaging, thus enhancing the diagnosis of pure intrasellar meningioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Microglia release pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokine CCL-2 following CH. • Microglia-derived CCL-2 recruits monocyte/macrophage infiltration in cerebellum. • Inhibition of microglia/CCL-2 alleviates CH-induced neuroinflammatory responses. • Inhibition of microglia/CCL-2 prevents apoptosis and dysfunction of Purkinje cells. • Suppression of microglia/CCL-2 ameliorates cerebellar injury and ataxia after CH. Ataxia, characterized by uncoordinated movement, is often found in patients with cerebellar hemorrhage (CH), leading to long-term disability without effective management. Microglia are among the first responders to CNS insult. Yet the role and mechanism of microglia in cerebellar injury and ataxia after CH are still unknown. Using Ki20227, an inhibitor for colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor which mediates the signaling responsible for the survival of microglia, we determined the impact of microglial depletion on cerebellar injury and ataxia in a murine model of CH. Microglial depletion reduced cerebellar lesion volume and alleviated gait abnormality, motor incoordination, and locomotor dysfunction after CH. Suppression of CH-initiated microglial activation with minocycline ameliorated cerebellum infiltration of monocytes/macrophages, as well as production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokine C–C motif ligand-2 (CCL-2) that recruits monocytes/macrophages. Furthermore, both minocycline and bindarit, a CCL-2 inhibitor, prevented apoptosis and electrophysiological dysfunction of Purkinje cells, the principal neurons and sole outputs of the cerebellar cortex, and consequently improved ataxia-like motor abnormalities. Our findings suggest a detrimental role of microglia in neuroinflammation and ataxic motor symptoms after CH, and pave a new path to understand the neuroimmune mechanism underlying CH-induced cerebellar ataxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renal stem or progenitor cells (RSCs), labeled with CD24 and CD133, play an important role during the repair of renal injury. Bmi-1 is a critical factor in regulating stemness of adult stem cells or progenitor cells. To investigate whether Bmi-1 determines the stemness of RSCs by inhibiting p16 and p53 , and/or maintaining redox balance, RSCs were isolated, cultured and analyzed for stemness characterizations. In RSCs from Bmi-1- deficient (Bmi-1 −/− ) mice and wild type (WT) littermates, self-renewal, stemness, and expressions of molecules for regulating redox balance and cell cycle progression were compared. Self-renewal of RSCs from Bmi-1 and p16 double-knockout (Bmi-1 −/− p16 −/− ), Bmi-1 and p53 double-knockout (Bmi-1 −/− p53 −/− ) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC)-treated Bmi-1 −/− mice were further analyzed for amelioration. Human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK2) were also used for signaling analysis. Our results showed that third-passage RSCs from WT mice had good stemness; Bmi-1 deficiency led to the decreased stemness, and the increased apoptosis for RSCs; NAC treatment or p16/p53 deletion ameliorated the decreased self-renewal of RSCs in Bmi-1 deficiency mice by maintaining redox balance or inhibiting cell cycle arrest respectively; Oxidative stress (OS) could negatively feedback regulate the mRNA expressions of Bmi-1 , p16 and p53. In conclusion, Bmi-1 determined the stemness of RSCs through maintaining redox balance and preventing cell cycle arrest. Thus, Bmi-1 signaling molecules would be novel therapeutic targets for maintaining RSCs and hampering the progression of kidney diseases to prevent renal failure. • Renal stem or progenitor cells (RSCs) own good stemness and multipotency. • Bmi-1 maintains self-renewal and stemness of RSCs by inhibiting ROS, p16 and p53. • Accumulated ROS or p16 or p53 decreases self-renewal and stemness of RSCs. • NAC treatment or p16 or p53 deletion ameliorates the decreased self-renewal of RSCs. • Oxidative stress negatively feedback regulates the expression of Bmi-1 , p16 or p53. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The niobium oxide insulator–metal transition selector device is considered to be a rectifying device with great potential. However, the lack of research on the experimental parameters and the complex physical mechanism of the NbO2 device seriously affected its development. In this article, a controllable intermediate functional layer of NbOx was reported in the Pt/NbOx/TiN device subjected to different forming compliance currents (FCCs) and compliance currents (CCs). The different FCCs and CCs changed the size of the Nb2O5 and NbO2 layers within the NbOx layer, which further affected the threshold voltage. The result helped to realize the control of the NbOx functional layer, which was also of great significance for the adjustment of the experimental parameters in the preparation experiment according to the required performance. Furthermore, the I-V characteristics and switching times at different ambient temperatures were carried out, showing the specific dependency of the device on temperature. Between them, the simulated switching time of 2 ns at room temperature proved that the selector had a great application prospect in high speed and high-density storage or logic switch. Generally, the whole research helped to improve the control of the interlayer structure and the performance of the device for application in 3-D crossbar arrays, and provided a valid model to study the device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Output voltage and self‐discharge rate are two important performance indices for supercapacitors, which have long been overlooked, though these play a very significant role in their practical application. Here, a zinc anode is used to construct a zinc ion hybrid capacitor. Expanded operating voltage of the hybrid capacitor is obtained with novel electrolytes. In addition, significantly improved anti‐self‐discharge ability is achieved. The phosphorene‐based zinc ion capacitor exploiting a "water in salt" electrolyte with a working potential can reach 2.2 V, delivering 214.3 F g−1 after 5000 cycles. The operating voltage is further extended to 2.5 V through the use of an organic solvent as the electrolyte; the solvent is prepared by adding 0.2 m ZnCl2 into the tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate in propylene carbonate (Et4NBF4/PC) solvent, and it exhibits 105.9 F g−1 even after 9500 cycles. More importantly, the phosphorene‐based capacitors possess excellent anti‐self‐discharge performance. The capacitors retain 76.16% of capacitance after resting for 300 h. The practical application of the zinc ion capacitor is demonstrated through a flexible paper‐based printed microcapacitor. It is believed that the developed zinc ion capacitor can effectively resolve the severe self‐discharge problem of supercapacitors. Moreover, high‐voltage zinc ion capacitors provide more opportunities for the application of supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuroinflammation is associated with the pathogenesis of all types of neurological disease, in which microglial cells play a critical role. In response to disturbances in the microenvironment, microglia (MG) become activated and differentiate into either an M1 phenotype, which has a proinflammatory damaging effect, or an M2 phenotype, which plays an anti-inflammatory and reparative role. Thus, modulating microglial polarization is a suitable strategy to treat neuroinflammatory disorders. Glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a neurotrophic mediator that exerts neuroprotective effects during neurological diseases. In this study, we predicted that adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) could produce GDNF and investigated the effects of GDNF on microglial M1/M2 polarization. Furthermore, we determined whether GDNF modulates microglial activation and polarization via the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling pathway. We found that the secretion of inflammatory cytokines in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated MG was downregulated, whereas the anti-inflammatory mediators in interleukin-4-stimulated MG were upregulated obviously, following pretreatment with ADSCs or GDNF. In addition, GDNF produced by ADSCs inhibited the MG M1 phenotype and promoted the M2 phenotype by upregulating the PI3K/ATK pathway. These results reveal that GDNF produced by ADSCs might be useful for the regulation of neuroinflammatory disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial polymers have been widely reported to exert strong biocidal effects against bacteria. In contrast with antimicrobial polymers with aliphatic ammonium groups, polymers with anilinium groups have been rarely studied and applied as biocidal materials. In this study, a representative polymer with aniline side functional groups, poly(N,N‐dimethylaminophenylene methacrylamide) (PDMAPMA), was explored as a novel antimicrobial polymer. PDMAPMA was synthesized and its physicochemical properties evaluated. The methyl iodide‐quaternized polymer was tested against the Gram‐positive Staphylococcus aureus, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 16–32 and 64–128 μg mL−1, respectively. Against the Gram‐negative Escherichia coli, the MIC and MBC were both 64–128 μg mL−1. To broaden the range of applications, PDMAPMA was coated on substrates via crosslinking to endow the surface with contact‐kill functionality. The effect of charge density of the coatings on the antimicrobial behavior was then investigated, and stronger biocidal performance was observed for films with higher charge density. This study of the biocidal behavior of PDMAPMA both in solution and as coatings is expected to broaden the application of polymers containing aniline side groups and provide more information on the antimicrobial behavior of such materials. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1908–1921 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight perennial ryegrass cultivars (representing the variations in ploidy, heading date and water‐soluble carbohydrates concentration) were investigated for morphology and nutritive value at three phenological stages: pre‐heading vegetative, reproductive and post‐flowering vegetative stages. Chemical compositions and digestibility of morphological components (lamina, pseudostem and reproductive stem) from each perennial ryegrass cultivar were analysed in a split‐plot design. At the vegetative stages, perennial ryegrass cultivars differed significantly in the proportions of lamina and pseudostem. Tetraploid cultivars, Base and Bealey, always had the greatest lamina proportion (51.8% and 53.2% at the pre‐heading and post‐flowering vegetative stages respectively). At the reproductive stage, the emergence of seed heads diminished the differences in morphology among cultivars. Perennial ryegrass cultivars also had distinct nutritive value throughout three phenological stages. The high‐sugar cultivar, AberMagic, had high WSC concentrations (276, 227 and 90 g/kg DM at the pre‐heading vegetative, reproductive and post‐flowering vegetative stages respectively); the intermediate‐heading cultivars, Kamo and Commando, generally had a lower organic matter digestibility in dry matter than the late‐heading cultivars at the pre‐heading vegetative (70.7% vs. 74.4%) and reproductive stage (63.9% vs. 68.2%). However, although the morphological components were different in nutritive value consistently, the differences in morphology did not account for the variation in nutritive value among perennial ryegrass cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The S-N curves for different reliability levels were constructed using the Weibull distribution to predict the fatigue life. • The damage behavior of CFRP and the fatigue fracture surface of welded joints were investigated using SEM. • Fatigue failure mechanism of MPW joints of Al-CFRP was revealed. In this study, the fatigue performance of magnetic pulse welding (MPW) joints of AA5052 aluminum alloy and T300 carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) with sandwich structure was systematically investigated. Mechanical property tests and microscopic observations were used to evaluate joint performance and damage to the CFRP. The results showed that satisfactory tensile strength (up to 92.24% of the tensile strength of the base material) was obtained by optimization of discharge energy. However, the samples in the fatigue test exhibited more sensitive properties to the fatigue environment. The higher fatigue cycle life was demonstrated only when the stress amplitude S a ≤ 20.41 MPa. The fatigue test data were analyzed by Weibull distribution to fit the S-N curves under different reliability levels, which can be used for reliability assessment and life prediction in practical applications. The CFRP surfaces in different states were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM). It was found that MPW would not damage the surfaces, while delamination and cracking would gradually occur during the fatigue process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elucidating the cellular organization of the cerebral cortex is critical for understanding brain structure and function. Using large-scale single-nucleus RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomic analysis of 143 macaque cortical regions, we obtained a comprehensive atlas of 264 transcriptome-defined cortical cell types and mapped their spatial distribution across the entire cortex. We characterized the cortical layer and region preferences of glutamatergic, GABAergic, and non-neuronal cell types, as well as regional differences in cell-type composition and neighborhood complexity. Notably, we discovered a relationship between the regional distribution of various cell types and the region's hierarchical level in the visual and somatosensory systems. Cross-species comparison of transcriptomic data from human, macaque, and mouse cortices further revealed primate-specific cell types that are enriched in layer 4, with their marker genes expressed in a region-dependent manner. Our data provide a cellular and molecular basis for understanding the evolution, development, aging, and pathogenesis of the primate brain. [Display omitted] • A comprehensive cell-type taxonomy is constructed for the entire macaque cortex • Stereo-seq reveals the global distribution of 264 cell types and their marker genes • Regional density and composition of cell types are coupled with cortical hierarchy • Cross-species analysis revealed primate-specific cell types enriched in layer 4 A spatially resolved single-cell transcriptome atlas of macaque cortex is generated that reveals the organization and evolution of primate cortical regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Abstract The goal of this study is to explore the mechanism of a heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) C-terminal inhibitor, Penicisulfuranol A (PEN-A), for cancer therapy. PEN-A was produced by a mangrove endophytic fungus Penicillium janthinellum and had a new structure with a rare 3H-spiro [benzofuran-2, 2′-piperazine] ring system. PEN-A caused depletion of multiple Hsp90 client proteins without induction of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70). Subsequently, it induced apoptosis and inhibited xerograph tumor growth of HCT116 cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanism studies showed that PEN-A was bound to C-terminus of Hsp90 at the binding site different from ATP binding domain. Therefore, it inhibited dimerization of Hsp90 C-terminus, depolymerization of ADH protein by C-terminus of Hsp90, and interaction of co-chaperones with Hsp90. These inhibitory effects of PEN-A were similar to those of novobiocin, an inhibitor binding to interaction site for ATP of C-terminus of Hsp90. Furthermore, our study revealed that disulfide bond was essential moiety for inhibition activity of PEN-A on Hsp90. This suggested that PEN-A may be bound to cysteine residues near amino acid region which was responsible for dimerization of Hsp90. All results indicate that PEN-A is a novel C-terminal inhibitor of Hsp90 and worthy for further study in the future not only for drug development but also for unraveling the bioactivities of Hsp90. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Pot experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of a series of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) on phytoremediation of soil co-contaminated with Cd and BDE-209 by amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.) inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) – Rhizophagus intraradices. Results showed that the combination of mycorrhizal amaranth and 0.4% β-CD (RI+β 0.4) significantly enhanced Cd concentrations and contents in shoots, total PBDEs concentration in roots, and BDE-209 dissipation in soil. Moreover, the RI+β 0.4 treatment exerted the highest removal efficiency of both Cd and BDE-209. On the contrary, the xylem area, shoot Cd and BDE-209 concentrations and contents, and removal efficiency of Cd were markedly reduced in mycorrhizal amaranth with 0.8% or 1.2% β-CD treatments (RI+β 0.8 , RI+β 1.2), compared with single inoculation treatment. The well-organized chloroplast and well-defined root anatomical structure were also observed in the treatment of RI+β 0.4. Positive correlation was found between shoot biomass and chlorophyll concentrations. Shoot Cd or BDE-209 concentrations were positively correlated with xylem areas. In conclusion, mycorrhizal amaranth added with 0.4% β-CD could be used for the decontamination of soil polluted with mixture of Cd and BDE-209 due to the higher chlorophyll concentration and the larger xylem area. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • The RI+β 0.4 treatment possessed the highest removal efficiency of Cd and BDE-209. • The RI+β 0.4 markedly enhanced Cd conc. in shoots and roots and PBDEs conc. in roots. • Well-organized chloroplast and root cross section were observed in RI or RI+β 0.4 • The shoot Cd or BDE-209 conc. were positively correlated to xylem areas. • The RI+β 0.4 was suitable to remediate co-contaminated soil with Cd and PBDEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the NbOx, which was regarded as a promising material based on its insulator–metal transition (IMT) effects, was applied as the switching layer of the device. The threshold switching characteristics were comprehensively investigated with particular emphasis on temperature dependence. The conduction mechanism for high-resistance state (HRS) was fitted and verified to be Schottky emission. With the increase in temperature, the fitting results demonstrated that the Schottky barrier decreased, leading to a reduction in the resistance of HRS. Furthermore, according to Fourier’s law of heat conduction, the fluctuation range of temperature was smaller, causing a narrow distribution of the threshold voltage as the operating temperature increased. In addition, the increasing temperature caused high energy of electrons, which would induce an IMT more easily, leading to a lower threshold voltage. This paper provided the promise for improving the thermal stability of selected devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The rechargeable lithium sulfur batteries are investigated as a promising energy storage system. Various materials as the host of sulfur have been applied to improve the performance of lithium sulfur batteries. However, the poor conductivity of sulfur and polysulfides shuttle effect result in poor cycling performance and lower specific capacity. Here, a novel chemical and physical entrapment strategy to improve the electrochemical performance is introduced by designing and synthesizing a 3D network composite which consists of intertwined TiO 2 -B nanotubes and carbon nanotubes as the sulfur hosts. In this unique structure, carbon nanotubes serve as the long-range conductive network which facilitates the transfer of electrons during redox reaction. Theoretical calculations reveal that TiO 2 -B provides a strong chemical binding for polysulfides, and each TiO 2 -B nanotube as an independent reaction chamber provides an efficient barrier to restrict the shuttling of the polysulfides. Specifically, the electrodes exhibit an ultralow capacity fading of 0.05% per cycle over 800 discharge/charge cycles, and a high specific capacity of 580 mAh g−1 at 1C rate after 300 cycles even with high areal sulfur loading of 3.2 mg cm−2. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • TiO 2 -B nanotubes as the host of sulfur exhibits excellent performance. • The cathodes with high areal sulfur loading was prepared. • The stirring condition significantly lengthens the TiO 2 -B nanotubes. • Carbon nanotubes serve as the conductive substrate for the network composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of a series of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) concentrations on bioremediation of soil co-contaminated with Cd and BDE-209 using amaranth and the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium , with BDE-209 degrading ability. Results showed that the white-rot fungus was beneficial to the growth of amaranth, Cd uptake and BDE-209 degradation. Addition of β-CD further increased biomass of both shoots and roots, shoot Cd concentrations and contents, chlorophyll concentrations and soil manganese peroxidase (MnP) activities. Furthermore, well-organized mesophyll cells were observed in β-CD treatments, implying that the combination of white-rot fungus and β-CD can alleviate the stresses of Cd and BDE-209 to mesophyll cells. The BDE-209 degradation rate was positively correlated to β-CD concentration and MnP activity in soil. Our results also revealed that RF + β 0.8 treatment possessed the greatest Cd removal efficiency due to its well-configured mesophyll cells and the highest shoot biomass, chlorophyll concentration, and shoot Cd concentration. Considering simultaneous removal of Cd and BDE-209 from soil, using 0.8% β-CD to amaranth inoculated with white-rot fungus is a promising way forward for the phytoremediation of soil co-contaminated with Cd and BDE-209. A high percentage of mono-BDE was detected in inoculated amaranth, suggesting that BDE-209 was debrominated into low brominated PBDEs by the fungus in soil, which were then absorbed and further debrominated into mono-BDE in the plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The practical use of Zn metal anodes in aqueous zinc batteries is impeded by the growth of dendrites, anode corrosion, and hydrogen evolution reaction in aqueous electrolytes. In this study, a simple, energy‐efficient, and scalable approach is reported to mitigate these detrimental issues effectively. Using 1‐hexanethiol (HT), a hydrophobic self‐assembled mercaptan layer (SAML) with a highly ordered structure is in situ created on the surface of the Zn anode. This ultrathin interfacial structure guides uniform Zn deposition and shields the Zn anode from water and oxygen‐induced corrosion, thus effectively inhibiting dendrite formation and side reactions. Consequently, the HT‐Zn electrode showcases impressive electrochemical stability and reversibility, and the as‐assembled HT‐Zn||I2 full cell delivers increased specific capacity (from 112 to 155 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1) and ultra‐stable cyclability (zero capacity decay during the extended 1500 cycles at 4 A g−1). To validate the effectiveness of this simple and scalable method, a large‐sized pouch cell is prepared, which can be stably operated for 1000 cycles with a capacity decay of merely 0.0098% per cycle and Coulombic efficiency exceeding 99.1%. The presented SAML strategy highlights the potential of molecular engineering in improving the performance of aqueous zinc batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The effect of magnetic ions Co, Fe and Ni on the adsorption of nucleobases on the TiO 2 (1 1 0) surface were studied. • Ni is conducive to the adsorption performance due to the interaction between it and O atoms, and the Ni add-on site was proved to have good adsorption performance. • The solvent effect was considered to better simulate the environment in which these materials might be used. First-principles calculations were performed to study the adsorption properties of TiO 2 /M (M=Co or Fe or Ni) used as materials for DNA detection. The absorption energy, magnetic moment, density of states and charge transfer were studied to distinguish the effect of magnetic atoms in TiO 2 used for DNA detection. Among the three doping systems, the Ni-doped TiO 2 (TiO 2 /Ni) shows the best adsorption properties. Therefore, the Ni add-on TiO 2 (TiO 2 + Ni) has been further studied as a contrast. Additionally, solvent effects were considered in order to better simulate the biological environment. The Ni element may have promising application potential for the DNA detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• First principles and Monte Carlo methods are performance to study the effects of component distribution and distortion on the surface stability of TiZrHfNb (100), (110) and (111). • The element Zr enrichment is obvious on the (100), which is beneficial to improve the surface stability of (100). • The local lattice distortions greatly affect the surface stability especially the Ti element. • The adsorption characteristics of oxygen atoms on TiZrHfNb surfaces with different atomic arrangements may be different because of the differences between d-band center values of the surfaces. First principles and Monte Carlo methods are performance to study the effects of component distribution and distortion on the surface stability of TiZrHfNb (100), (110) and (111). It is found that the (100) surface is more stable than the others. The element Zr enrichment is obvious on the (100), which is beneficial to improve the surface stability of (100). In this research, the relationships between d -band center, work function and surface stability of (100) surface model are studied. In addition, the bonding interactions of (100) surface configuration are analyzed by means of density of states and charge difference distributions. Bader charge is also used to reveal the relationship between the interaction of elements and the surface stability. The local lattice distortions greatly affect the surface stability especially the Ti element. Further, the adsorption characteristics of oxygen atoms on TiZrHfNb surfaces with different atomic arrangements may be different because of the differences between d -band center values of the surfaces. The bonding between component elements can increase the activity of d -orbital electrons, which is helpful to the interaction between metal atoms and oxygen during oxidation, thus changing the oxidation properties of alloys. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]