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The pomegranate fruit is valued for its nutritional and medicinal properties, and the composition and content of primary and secondary metabolites are the main factors impacting its nutritional and medicinal properties. However, a deep understanding of metabolites in different parts of fruit is still lacking. Here, the peel, aril, and seed of mature pomegranate fruits were analyzed separately to compare metabolic component differences using UPLC/MS–MS. A total of 858 metabolites belonging to 11 classes were identified, of which flavonoids, such as delphinidin‐3‐O‐glucoside and cyanidin‐3‐O‐glucoside; tannins, such as ellagic acid and punicalin; and terpenoids, such as corosolic acid and madasiatic acid, were upregulated in the peel. Lipids, such as punicic acid, methyl linolenate, and linoleic acid; alkaloids, such as indole and choline; nucleotides and derivatives mainly including 2‐deoxyribose‐1‐phosphate and 9‐(arabinosyl)‐hypoxanthine, were upregulated in seeds. Phenolic acids, such as 1‐O‐galloyl‐4,6‐(S)‐HHDP‐β‐D‐glucose and 1,7‐di‐O‐galloyl‐D‐sedoheptulose, and flavonoids, such as cyanidin‐3‐O‐glucoside, cyanidin‐3‐O‐(2″‐O‐xylosyl) galactoside, and delphinidin‐3‐O‐glucoside, were upregulated in aril. The flavone and flavonol biosynthesis (ko00944) pathways were significantly enriched between the peel and seed, as were the anthocyanin biosynthesis (ko00944) pathways between the aril and seed and the flavonoid biosynthesis (ko00941) pathways between the peel and aril. Additionally, functional antioxidants, such as 10,16‐dihydroxypalmitic acid, 3‐O‐methylellagic acid, and 3,3’‐O‐dimethylellagic acid, were first identified in pomegranate fruits. Our results revealed the composition and abundance of primary and secondary metabolites in pomegranate fruit, which can lay the foundation for further elucidation of its nutritional and medicinal properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Milnor Problem (modified) in the theory of group growth asks whether any finite presented group of vanishing algebraic entropy has at most polynomial growth. We show that a positive answer to the Milnor Problem (modified) is equivalent to the Nilpotency conjecture in Riemannian geometry: given n , d > 0 , there exists a constant (n , d) > 0 such that if a compact Riemannian n -manifold M satisfies that Ricci curvature Ric M ≥ − (n − 1) , diameter d ≥ diam (M) and volume entropy h (M) < (n , d) , then the fundamental group π 1 (M) is virtually nilpotent. We will verify the Nilpotency conjecture in some cases, and we will verify the vanishing gap phenomena for more cases i.e. if h (M) < (n , d) , then h (M) = 0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study spin-transfer-torque-driven magnetization dynamics of a perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction nanopillar. Through the combined investigations on spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance and microwave spectroscopy, it is found that the free layer (FL) and the weak pinned reference layer (RL) exhibit distinct dynamic behaviors. First, frequency vs field dispersion for the FL and RL shows an opposite trend as the field varies. Second, the FL can support a single spin-wave (SW) mode for both parallel and antiparallel configurations, while the RL exhibits spin-wave excitation only for the antiparallel state. Those two SW modes coexist at the antiparallel state, and their oscillation frequency exhibits a crossover phenomenon with increasing the external magnetic field, which could be helpful in the mutual synchronization of auto-oscillations for SW-based neuromorphic computing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied the size-dependent optical scattering of aqueous suspensions containing Mg2Al-LDH platelets, which exhibit high total- and side-scatterings. By incorporating 3 wt% Mg2Al-LDH platelets (280 nm) in a commercial sunscreen formulation, we achieved a twofold Sun Protection Factor boost, providing a promising, high-efficient and non-toxic strategy to enhance sunscreen effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uterine contraction during labor, a process with repetitive hypoxia and high energy consumption, is essential for successful delivery. However, the molecular mechanism of myometrial contraction regulation is unknown. Serpin family E member 1 (SERPINE1), one of the most upregulated genes in laboring myometrium in both transcriptome and proteome, was highlighted in our previous study. Here, we confirmed SERPINE1 is upregulated in myometrium during labor. Blockade of SERPINE1 using small interfering RNA (siRNA) or inhibitor (Tiplaxtinin) under hypoxic conditions in myocytes or myometrium in vitro showed a decrease contractility, which was achieved by regulating ATP production. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP‐seq), Co‐immunoprecipitation (Co‐IP), and glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) pull down explored that the promoter of SERPINE1 is directly activated by hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) and SERPINE1 interacts with ATP Synthase Peripheral Stalk Subunit F6 (ATP5PF). Together they enhance hypoxia driven myometrial contraction by maintaining ATP production in the key oxidative phosphorylation pathway. The results provide new insight for uterine contraction regulation, and potential novel therapeutic targets for labor management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over 15 million colonoscopies were performed yearly in North America, during which biopsies were taken for pathological examination to identify abnormalities. Distinguishing between true- and pseudo-invasion in colon polyps is critical in treatment planning. Surgical resection of the colon is often the treatment option for true invasion, whereas observation is recommended for pseudo-invasion. The task of identifying true- vs pseudo-invasion, however, could be highly challenging. There is no specialized software tool for this task, and no well-annotated dataset is available. In our work, we obtained (only) 150 whole-slide images (WSIs) from the London Health Science Centre. We built three deep neural networks representing different magnifications in WSIs, mimicking the workflow of pathologists. We also built an online tool for pathologists to annotate WSIs to train our deep neural networks. Results showed that our novel system classifies tissue types with 95.3% accuracy and differentiates true- and pseudo-invasions with 83.9% accuracy. The system's efficiency is comparable to an expert pathologist. Our system can also be easily adjusted to serve as a confirmatory or screening tool. Our system (available at http://ai4path.ca) will lead to better, faster patient care and reduced healthcare costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second cause of the neurodegenerative disorder, affecting over 6 million people worldwide. The World Health Organization estimated that population aging will cause global PD prevalence to double in the coming 30 years. Optimal management of PD shall start at diagnosis and requires both a timely and accurate method. Conventional PD diagnosis needs observations and clinical signs assessment, which are time‐consuming and low‐throughput. A lack of body fluid diagnostic biomarkers for PD has been a significant challenge, although substantial progress has been made in genetic and imaging marker development. Herein, a platform that noninvasively collects saliva metabolic fingerprinting (SMF) by nanoparticle‐enhanced laser desorption–ionization mass spectrometry with high‐reproducibility and high‐throughput, using ultra‐small sample volume (down to 10 nL), is developed. Further, excellent diagnostic performance is achieved with an area‐under‐the‐curve of 0.8496 (95% CI: 0.7393–0.8625) by constructing deep learning model from 312 participants. In conclusion, an alternative solution is provided for the molecular diagnostics of PD with SMF and metabolic biomarker screening for therapeutic intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism of maintaining myometrial contractions during labor remains unclear. Autophagy has been reported to be activated in laboring myometrium, along with the high expression of Golgi reassembly stacking protein 2 (GORASP2), a protein capable of regulating autophagy activation. This study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of GORASP2 in uterine contractions during labor. Western blot confirmed the increased expression of GORASP2 in laboring myometrium. Furthermore, the knockdown of GORASP2 in primary human myometrial smooth muscle cells (hMSMCs) using siRNA resulted in reduced cell contractility. This phenomenon was independent of the contraction-associated protein and autophagy. Differential mRNAs were analyzed using RNA sequencing. Subsequently, KEGG pathway analysis identified that GORASP2 knockdown suppressed several energy metabolism pathways. Furthermore, reduced ATP levels and aerobic respiration impairment were observed in measuring the oxygen consumption rate (OCR). These findings suggest that GORASP2 is up-regulated in the myometrium during labor and modulates myometrial contractility mainly by maintaining ATP production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The transition of the myometrium from a quiescent to a contractile state during labour is known to involve inflammation, which is characterized by the infiltration of immune cells and the secretion of cytokines. However, the specific cellular mechanisms underlying inflammation in the myometrium during human parturition are not yet fully understood. Methods: Through the analysis of transcriptomics, proteomics, and cytokine arrays, the inflammation in the human myometrium during labour was revealed. By performing single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) and spatiotemporal transcriptomic (ST) analyses on human myometrium in term in labour (TIL) and term in non‐labour (TNL), we established a comprehensive landscape of immune cells, their transcriptional characteristics, distribution, function and intercellular communications during labour. Histological staining, flow cytometry, and western blotting were applied to validate some results from scRNA‐seq and ST. Results: Our analysis identified immune cell types, including monocytes, neutrophils, T cells, natural killer (NK) cells and B cells, present in the myometrium. TIL myometrium had a higher proportion of monocytes and neutrophils than TNL myometrium. Furthermore, the scRNA‐seq analysis showed an increase in M1 macrophages in TIL myometrium. CXCL8 expression was mainly observed in neutrophils and increased in TIL myometrium. CCL3 and CCL4 were principally expressed in M2 macrophages and neutrophils‐6, and decreased during labour; XCL1 and XCL2 were specifically expressed in NK cells, and decreased during labour. Analysis of cytokine receptor expression revealed an increase in IL1R2, which primarily expressed in neutrophils. Finally, we visualized the spatial proximity of representative cytokines, contraction‐associated genes, and corresponding receptors in ST to demonstrate their location within the myometrium. Conclusions: Our analysis comprehensively revealed changes in immune cells, cytokines, and cytokine receptors during labour. It provided a valuable resource to detect and characterize inflammatory changes, yielding insights into the immune mechanisms underlying labour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) is a volatile substance derived from jasmonic acid (JA), and it responds to biotic and abiotic stresses by participating in interplant communication. Because MeJA is hydrophobic and it can easily move between plant cells, it is considered a propagable form of JA, which can utilize this method to induce plant defenses. Pests are able to 'eavesdrop' on plant signal molecules as cues for activating the detoxification system to protect themselves from plant defenses, and insects have evolved a variety of mechanisms to metabolize, sequester, or detoxify plant toxins. Spodoptera litura is an omnivorous insect that damages a variety of crops worldwide. We analyzed the growth of S. litura and its detoxification ability against xanthotoxin after exposure to different concentrations of MeJA fumigation, and the effective role of MeJA in inducing insects' defense response to the toxin was studied. We demonstrated that MeJA is effective at inducing S. litura defense response by increasing its detoxifying enzyme activities, but the enhanced detoxifying ability could not overcome the strong toxins. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) is a volatile substance derived from jasmonic acid (JA), and it responds to interbiotic and abiotic stresses by participating in interplant communication. Despite its function in interplant communication, the specific role of MeJA in insect defense responses is poorly understood. In this study, we found that carboxylesterase (CarE) activities, glutathione-S-transferase (GSTs) activities, and cytochrome mono-oxygenases (P450s) content increased more after the feeding of diets containing xanthotoxin, while larvae exposed to MeJA fumigation also showed higher enzyme activity in a dose-dependent manner: lower and medium concentrations of MeJA induced higher detoxification enzyme activities than higher concentrations of MeJA. Moreover, MeJA improved the growth of larvae fed on the control diet without toxins and diets with lower concentrations of xanthotoxin (0.05%); however, MeJA could not protect the larvae against higher concentrations of xanthotoxin (0.1%, 0.2%). In summary, we demonstrated that MeJA is effective at inducing S. litura defense response, but the enhanced detoxifying ability could not overcome the strong toxins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We systematically investigated the Ni and Co thickness-dependent perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) coefficient, magnetic domain structures, and magnetization dynamics of Pt(5 nm)/[Co(t Co)/Ni(t Ni)]5/Pt(1 nm) multilayers by combining the four standard magnetic characterization techniques. The magnetic-related hysteresis loops obtained from the field-dependent magnetization M and anomalous Hall resistivity (AHR) ρxy showed that the two serial multilayers with t Co = 0.2 nm and 0.3 nm have the optimum PMA coefficient K U as well as the highest coercivity H C at the Ni thickness t Ni = 0.6 nm. Additionally, the magnetic domain structures obtained by magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE) microscopy also significantly depend on the thickness and K U of the films. Furthermore, the thickness-dependent linewidth of ferromagnetic resonance is inversely proportional to K U and H C, indicating that inhomogeneous magnetic properties dominate the linewidth. However, the intrinsic Gilbert damping constant determined by a linear fitting of the frequency-dependent linewidth does not depend on the Ni thickness and K U. Our results could help promote the PMA [Co/Ni] multilayer applications in various spintronic and spin-orbitronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynein axonemal heavy chain 5 (DNAH5) is the most mutated gene in primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), leading to abnormal cilia ultrastructure and function. Few studies have revealed the genetic characteristics and pathogenetic mechanisms of PCD caused by DNAH5 mutation. Here, we established a child PCD airway organoid directly from the bronchoscopic biopsy of a patient with the DNAH5 mutation. The motile cilia in the organoid were observed and could be stably maintained for an extended time. We further found abnormal ciliary function and a decreased immune response caused by the DNAH5 mutation through single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) and proteomic analyses. Additionally, the directed induction of the ciliated cells, regulated by TGF-β/BMP and the Notch pathway, also increased the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Taken together, these results demonstrated that the combination of multiomics analysis and organoid modelling could reveal the close connection between the immune response and the DNAH5 gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Li2O–Al2O3–SiO2‐based glass–ceramics containing nanocrystals have attracted much attention due to their low expansion coefficient, good mechanical properties, for different applications, such as fire‐safe glass, dental materials, and electronic devices protectors. In current research, ultrahigh hardness Li2O–MgO–Al2O3–SiO2 glass–ceramics were prepared by conventional melt‐quenching and subsequent heat‐treatment method. MgO was introduced via Li2O substitution to change glass crystallization and mechanical properties. The differential scanning calorimetry analysis indicated the glass transition and crystallization temperatures increased with MgO/Li2O ratio increase, for better glass network connectivity from Raman spectra analysis. In addition, the main crystal phase changed from Li2SiO5 and LiAlSi4O10, to the combination of LiAlSi2O6 and MgAl2Si4O12, and finally to MgAl2Si4O12. The Vickers hardness of glass–ceramics was highly dependent on MgO/Li2O ratios in glass components and heat‐treatment temperatures, corresponding with the crystal phases in glass–ceramics. The highest hardness could reach 9.34 GPa, which was much higher than traditional silicate glass–ceramics. The scanning electron microscope images confirmed the crystal diameters that varied from 30 to 100 nm and were determined by MgO content. Transmission electron microscope images and energy‐dispersive spectroscopy mapping also confirmed the precipitation of multiphase nanocrystals in glass matrix. The changes of glass structure, and corresponding crystal combinations in glass–ceramics resulting from MgO introduction, were responsible for the ultrahigh hardness glass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaculture wastewaters have been used in rice irrigation directly or indirectly. Antibiotics in aquaculture wastewater entering the rice fields with irrigation will affect the soil physicochemical properties, microbial properties, and nitrogen conversion. A pot experiment irrigated with simulated aquaculture wastewater was performed to study the effects of sulfamethazine in aquaculture wastewater on nitrogen concentration and conversion-related microorganisms in rice fields with different irrigation modes. Sulfamethazine (500 ng/L, 1500 ng/L, and 3000 ng/L) decreased the NH4+ concentration at the late tillering stage and NO3− concentration at the late tillering and jointing–booting stages (p < 0.05) but increased the NH4+ concentration at the late tillering stage (p < 0.05). Sulfamethazine (3000 ng/L) promoted the lowest nitrogen conversion gene (amoA, nirS, and nirK) abundances and the most special community structure of nitrogen conversion microorganism under mild alternate wetting and drying (AWD). Furthermore, Nitrosospira_sp._KAN8, belonging to ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), was sensitive to sulfamethazine. Flora with the same nitrogen conversion genes exhibited different variations under the same treatment. The results show that antibiotic and mild AWD caused more serious adverse effects to soil nitrogen conversion and nitrogen conversion microorganisms, which will increase the environmental risks of sulfamethazine. It can provide a basis for the scientific and rational use of aquaculture water to irrigate rice fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalytic processes are the dominant driving force in the chemical industry, proper design and fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) catalysts monoliths helps to keep the active species from scattering in the reaction flow, improve high mass loading, expose abundant active catalytic sites and even realize turbulent gas flow, greatly improving the catalytic performance. Three-dimensional printing technology, also known as additive manufacturing, provides free design and accurate fabrication of complex 3D structures in an efficient and economic way. This disruptive technology brings light to optimizing and promoting the development of existing catalysts. In this mini review, we firstly introduce various printing techniques which are applicable for fabricating catalysts. Then, the recent developments in 3D printing catalysts are scrutinized. Finally, challenges and possible research directions in this field are proposed, with the expectation of providing guidance for the promotion of 3D printed catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An NDT method for detecting multi-kind defects simultaneously presenting in adhesively bonded CFRP/steel structures is proposed based on inductive thermography. • Numerical simulations reveal the detection mechanism of the proposed method. • The experiments performed on specimens with prefabricated defects verified the numerical simulation results. • Numerical and experimental results verified the effectiveness of the proposed method. Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) has been widely employed for the reinforcement of steel structures, necessitating the testing of resulting adhesively bonded CFRP/steel structures (ABCSS) to ensure structural integrity and safety. However, the simultaneous detection of multiple types of defects within ABCSS poses significant challenges due to variations in defect characteristics and the intricate effects of these defects on the ABCSS. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of inductive thermography (IT) as a comprehensive inspection method for detecting cracks in steel substrates, debonding, and delaminations in ABCSS. To assess the applicability of IT, we conducted numerical simulations and experimental validation to inspect adjacent and overlapped cracks/interfacial defects in ABCSS. Specifically, we analyzed the electromagnetic and thermal responses of ABCSS during IT inspections, investigated temperature indications associated with various defect types, and examined the underlying causes of these indications. Our results demonstrate that IT can simultaneously reveal distinct temperature indications corresponding to different defect types within the inspected ABCSS. This study establishes the effectiveness of IT in simultaneously detecting multi-kind defects present in ABCSS. The findings contribute to advancing non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques for ABCSS and offer valuable insights into the structural health monitoring of such a special hybrid engineering structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We will show the Cheeger–Colding segment inequality for manifolds with integral Ricci curvature bound. By using this segment inequality, the almost rigidity structure results for integral Ricci curvature will be derived by a similar method as in [ 1 ]. And the sharp Hölder continuity result of [ 7 ] holds in the limit space of manifolds with integral Ricci curvature bound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is an urgent need to develop multifunctional agents with integrated accurate diagnostics and treatment for conquering intrinsic limitations of traditional cancer therapies. Herein, a small-size nanocomposite consisting of chlorine e6-integrated gold nanoclusters, hyaluronic acid, doxorubicin and folic acid was synthesized by a simple and mild method. The chlorine e6-integrated gold nanoclusters (Au:Ce6 NCs) were synthesized in an one-step for biological fluorescence imaging and photodynamic therapy. The hyaluronic acid-modified Au:Ce6 (Au:Ce6@HA) can not only act as drug carrier to delivery doxorubicin but increase the cellular selectively target. The folic acid-conjugated Au:Ce6@HA:DOX (Au:Ce6@HA:DOX@FA) was fabricated as a double targeted and pH-responsive drug delivery system for controlling the release of doxorubicin for tumor chemotherapy. The prepared Au:Ce6@HA:DOX@FA nanocomposite possessed small size and high drug encapsulation and loading efficiency. The nanocomposite exhibited good biocompatibility, colloidal stability and potostability, and high cumulative release rate in the acidic microenvironments. The fluorescence microscopy of in vitro confirmed the enhanced cellular uptake of Au:Ce6@HA:DOX@FA for fluorescence imaging. Importantly, the nanocomposite exhibited remarkable mortality of cancer cells under laser irradiation by synergistic chemotherapy and PDT. Together, this study demonstrates the designed small-sized nanocomposite could be used as a promising theranostic agent with dual-responsive tumor targeting capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We will show that the quantitative maximal volume entropy rigidity holds on Alexandrov spaces. More precisely, given N, D, there exists \epsilon (N, D)>0, such that for \epsilon <\epsilon (N, D), if X is an N-dimensional Alexandrov space with curvature \geq -1, \operatorname {diam}(X)\leq D, h(X)\geq N-1-\epsilon, then X is Gromov-Hausdorff close to a hyperbolic manifold. This result extends the quantitive maximal volume entropy rigidity provided by Chen, Rong, and Xu [J. Differential Geom. 113 (2019), pp. 227–272] to Alexandrov spaces. And we will also give a quantitative maximal volume entropy rigidity for \operatorname {RCD}^*-spaces in the non-collapsing case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manganese oxides have been regarded as one of the most promising electrode materials for energy storage systems. Especially, they can be used as battery-type electrodes in hybrid supercapacitors to achieve high energy density and power density at the same time. In such an application, the redox reaction on the battery-type electrodes needs to speed up to match the fast charging-discharging process of the counter capacitive electrodes. Herein, we intercalated K+ ions into MnO 2 to enlarge the interlayer space as channels for ion diffusion, and coated the particles with carbon layer to achieve fast charging/discharging ability. The obtained K x MnO@C particles delivered a high specific capacitance of 1039 F g−1 in 5 M LiTFSI aqueous electrolyte. Coupled with activated carbon anode, the hybrid supercapacitor showed outstanding energy and power density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • CRTS (4-ketolase/3-hydroxylase) was in dicyclic pathway of astaxanthin biosynthesis. • CRTYB (lycopene beta-cyclase) played a role in dicyclic and monocyclic pathway. • CRTS and CRTYB were possible rate-limiting enzymes of carotenoids biosynthesis. Phaffia rhodozyma is a potential industrial source of natural astaxanthin. Dicyclic and monocyclic pathways of carotenoid synthesis are important nodes in Phaffia rhodozyma , but the relationship between the two pathways and astaxanthin production remains unclear. Eight genes related to dicyclic and monocyclic pathways in three different strains of P. rhodozyma were analysed, and the relationship between expression and astaxanthin biosynthesis was explored. Among these genes, CRTS genes (R = 0.69, P < 0.05) and CRTYB (R = 0.75, P < 0.05) showed the closest correlations with carotenoid and astaxanthin biosynthesis, respectively. To further study these relationships in detail, the CRTYB and CRTS genes were knocked out by homologous recombination. After CRTYB knockout, astaxanthin was decreased to an undetectable level. This result suggested that CRTYB plays a role in dicyclic and monocyclic pathways. Meanwhile, the CRTS gene was in the dicyclic pathway of astaxanthin biosynthesis, and its knockout promoted the monocyclic pathway and resulted in a 25 % increase in astaxanthin production at 120 h. The possible rate-limiting enzymes were the enzymes encoding CRTS and CRTYB by regression analysis. Knockout of the CRTS and CRTYB genes was helpful in understanding the synthetic pathway of astaxanthin and significant to the industrial application of astaxanthin production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The volume entropy of a compact metric measure space is known to be the exponential growth rate of the measure lifted to its universal cover at infinity. For a compact Riemannian n -manifold with a negative lower Ricci curvature bound and a upper diameter bound, it was known that it admits an almost maximal volume entropy if and only if it is diffeomorphic and Gromov-Hausdorff close to a hyperbolic space form. We prove the quantitative rigidity of almost maximal volume entropy for RCD ⁎ -spaces with a negative lower Ricci curvature bound and Riemannian manifolds with a negative L p -integral Ricci curvature lower bound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel poly(ionic liquid)-modified silica nanoparticle was prepared. • The silica nanoparticles were used as supports for an Au-containing catalyst. • The catalyst has a catalytic activity comparable with that of TiO 2 nanoparticles. In this paper, a novel silica nanoparticle modified with a poly(ionic liquid) is synthesized by an ion exchange reaction and graft polymerization on the surface of the nanoparticle. By utilizing FT-IR, TGA, and TEM, the diverse products prepared are characterized. The modified silica nanoparticles are subsequently used as supporters to generate a catalyst containing Au. To evaluate the catalytic activity of the catalyst, methyl orange is degraded in the presence of H 2 O 2. The results of the experiments indicate the catalyst possesses a level of catalytic activity comparable with that of TiO 2 nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prosthetic joint infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TBPJI) is uncommon but can be encountered in immunocompromised patients or those from tuberculosis-endemic regions. A lack of clinical suspicion and experience with TBPJI often leads to a delay in diagnosis. We report 2 cases of TBPJI in a Hungarian-Canadian and Iranian-Canadian immigrant, respectively. Both were treated with concurrent surgical and medical therapy. We also performed a literature review on TBPJI case reports, outlining their diagnosis and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface‐modified Zr alloy claddings with advanced ceramic coatings are promising materials for accident‐tolerant fuel (ATF) systems to meet stringent safety regulations concerning light water reactors. The applications of ceramic coatings are, however, limited as a result of inferior thermal stability when used in conjunction with Zircaloy‐4 (Zry‐4) substrates. Herein, the thermal stability of sub‐stoichiometric zirconium carbide barrier layers as a function of composition was studied. Integrated ceramic coatings comprising ZrC0.55 diffusion barriers and a Cr2AlC top layer were synthesized via a magnetron sputtering method. After rapid thermal annealing, the ZrC0.55 barrier layer having a thickness of 0.5 μm effectively prevented the inter‐diffusion between Cr2AlC and the Zry‐4 substrate, thereby ensuring retention of the structural integrity of the integrated ceramic coating system for ATF applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: IgG4-related disease involvement of the digestive tract is very rare. In few reported cases of isolated gastric/duodenal IgG4-related disease, none of which resulted in luminal obstruction.Case Presentation: A 59 years old female presented with longstanding gastrointestinal symptoms. CT showed mural thickening of the proximal duodenum. Gastroscopy showed antral ulcer extending into the duodenum with outlet obstruction and biopsy showed acute on chronic duodenitis. Whipple's procedure was performed and IgG4-related disease was diagnosed on final pathology. Symptoms were revolved on mycophenolate mofetil and prednisone with no recurrence.Conclusions: Our case is the only reported case with gastric outlet obstruction secondary to gastroduodenal IgG4-related disease. The diagnosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained duodenal stricture, gastric outlet obstruction or gastrointestinal ulceration. IgG4-related disease usually responds to steroids but long-term response rates to steroid-sparing agents, especially in the subset of patients with luminal IgG4-related disease remains to be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to use different dose verification methods Treatment Planning System (TPS), thimble ionization chamber and two-dimensional matrix ionization chamber (MatriXX) to explore the compensating effects of several materials on high-energy electron beam irradiation. In this study, we positioned plexiglass panels, wet medical gauze, colloidal compensatory material and Vaseline compensator, all of the same thickness, flat on the surface of a MatriXX. The above four materials were placed on the surface of a thimble ionization chamber and irradiated with a linear accelerator. Under the same irradiation parameters, the compensation dose of of the tested materials was worked out by a dosimeter, which was connected at the thimble ionization chamber. Under vertical irradiation from the linear accelerator, the accelerator used the same irradiation conditions for the four materials, which were flat on the surface of the MatriXX, then determined the distribution of compensation doses by the soft system matching with the MatriXX. The results showed that the compensation dose of moist medical gauze was lower than the other three materials, the compensation dose of Plexiglass plate, colloidal compensatory material and vaseline compensation were approximate. The dose compensation effect of the vaseline compensation material made by our research group was close to the plexiglass plate and colloidal compensatory material used in radiotherapy in real life. Its physical and chemical properties are stable, easy to manufacture and store, and economical and practical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social changes that may influence parents' rearing styles have impacted Chinese family structures in recent decades. In this study we examined changes in parents' rearing styles perceived by Chinese adolescents according to birth cohort. We performed a cross-temporal meta-analysis of 176 studies involving 181 data points (participant N = 86,960). The results showed that Chinese adolescents' scores on the Egna Minnen Beträffande Uppfostran Scale changed significantly from 1994 to 2017. The d values of the 11 scale dimensions of parental rearing style varied from −1.58 to 1.01, implying that the coefficient of determination varied from 1% to 38%. Chinese adolescents' perceptions of fathers' excessive interference and mothers' overprotection and excessive interference decreased over the period of the studies, and the adolescents' perceptions of mothers' emotional warmth increased. In addition, boys perceived more severe punishment and rejection from their fathers than girls did. Theoretical and practical implications of the changes of parental rearing styles over time are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Types 1 and 2 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) can mimic pancreatic neoplasia. Due to the small quantity of tissue in mass‐targeted pancreas biopsies, inflammatory features may raise the differential of AIP. However, the frequency of AIP‐like histology in neoplastic pancreas is not well characterised. Therefore, the specificity of inflammatory lesions on biopsy with respect to the diagnosis of AIP is uncertain. Methods and results: Neoplastic pancreas resections performed at our institution between 2008 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Features of AIP types 1 and 2 were assessed in the non‐neoplastic areas. If features of immunoglobulin (Ig)G4‐associated AIP were seen, IgG4 immunohistochemistry was performed. We identified 163 neoplastic pancreas resections. Of these, 34 had one or more types of inflammatory lesions in non‐neoplastic pancreatic tissue. Dense lymphoplasmacytic inflammation mimicking type 1 AIP was found in six cases with mild to moderately increased IgG4‐positive plasma cells. Neutrophilic infiltrates in small intralobular ducts were found in 20 cases. Mild extralobular ductitis or duct microabscess was found in 10 specimens. Marked neutrophilic duct destruction that resembled granulocytic epithelial lesions was found in 12 cases. Some cases showed multiple features. Conclusion: Approximately 20% of neoplastic pancreas resections showed focal areas that could raise the differential of AIP. More cases showed neutrophilic predominant inflammation as seen in type 2 autoimmune pancreatitis, compared to dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates seen in type 1 AIP. Pathologists must be cautious when making a diagnosis of AIP on biopsy tissue based on histological findings alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the Flory–Huggins theory is utilized to formulate two essential equations for determining the compositions of the different phases resulting from the phase separation behavior of polymer blends. The equations use a graphical approach to determine the numerical outcomes of the compositions of the different phases, serving as a universally applicable illustration. The results show that when the Flory–Huggins interaction parameter is less than the critical value, the graphs of the equations have no intersection point, indicating the absence of phase separation. Conversely, when the Flory–Huggins interaction parameter equals the critical value, the graphs of the equations display a single intersection point. Furthermore, if the parameter value exceeds the critical value, the graphs of the equations show two symmetrical intersection points, indicating that phase separation can occur. The present study also includes a discussion on the correlations between the compositions of the different phases and the Flory–Huggins interaction parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Up-regulation of BCL2 in cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) can confer treatment resistance. Quantitative immunofluorescence (QIF) histology allows objective quantification of protein-based biomarkers. We investigated the utility of QIF for evaluating BCL2 as a biomarker in DLBCL by quantifying BCL2 selectively in CD20-expressing lymphoma cells in biopsy samples from 116 cases of DLBCL in two cohorts one of which consisted of relapsed/refractory cases from a clinical trial. BCL2 protein by QIF correlated with BCL2 mRNA abundance and was associated with both translocation and copy number gain of the BCL2 gene. Elevated BCL2 protein expression by QIF, but not immunohistochemistry or mRNA quantification, was associated with inferior overall and relapse-free survival in the relapsed/refractory cohort. QIF is an effective means of quantifying BCL2 protein objectively in routine cancer biopsy specimens and shows promise for identifying relapsed/refractory DLBCL patients at risk of inferior outcomes after salvage therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the main cause of bronchiolitis in infants and interferon (IFN) α is a commercial antiviral drug. The nebulization of IFN α1b could be a viable treatment method. In this study, the therapeutic effects and safety of IFN α1b delivery via nebulization in infant bronchiolitis were investigated in this multi-center prospective study. Methods and findings: Bronchiolitis patients admitted to 22 hospitals who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled and randomly allocated to four groups: control, IFN Intramuscular Injection, IFN Nebulization 1 (1 μg/kg), and IFN Nebulization 2 (2 μg/kg) groups. All patients were observed for 7 days. The therapeutic effects and safety of different IFN delivery doses and delivery modes were evaluated. Coughing severity change, as scored by the researchers and parents, between days 1 and 3 was significantly different between the IFN Nebulization 2 and control groups. Lowell wheezing score change between days 3 and 5 was significantly different between IFN Nebulization 1 and control groups. There were no significant differences among the four groups regarding the number of consecutive days with fever, three-concave sign, fatigue and sleepiness, and loss of appetite. There were no cases of severe complications, no recurrence of fever, and no regression of mental status. Conclusions: IFN-α1b could more effectively alleviate coughing and wheezing in bronchiolitis. IFN-α1b nebulization had significant advantages in shortening the duration of wheezing and alleviating coughing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Some patients who participate in early phase cancer trials enroll to more than one trial. Whether these patients have different characteristics or outcomes than patients who enroll to a single phase I trial is unknown.Methods: The study included all patients who participated in the solid tumor drug development program of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, a specialized academic cancer center, from July 2014 to January 2017. Patients sequentially enrolled to multiple phase I trials were compared to those enrolled in a single trial according to demographics, clinical characteristics, reported toxicities and prognosis.Results: The study cohort included 328 patients, including 61 (19%) enrolled to multiple phase I trials and 267 (81%) enrolled to a single phase I trial. Demographics, comorbidities, performance status, cancer site and time between initial diagnosis and initial enrollment to the phase I program were comparable between both groups. Patients enrolled to multiple phase I trials received more previous non-trial treatment lines (median 3 versus 2, p < 0.001) and had a higher average response rate on phase I trials (18% versus 10%, p = 0.03). Toxicity data, including number of any adverse events (AEs), grade 3/4 AEs, serious AEs and dose-limiting toxicities were comparable between both groups. Time to disease progression and time to last documented follow-up were also comparable between both groups.Conclusions: Patients enrolled to multiple phase I trials and those enrolled to a single trial had similar toxicity and prognostic profiles. These patients do not introduce bias into early-phase cancer trials results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spintronic nanodevices have ultrafast nonlinear dynamic and recurrence behaviors on a nanosecond scale that promises to enable a high-performance spintronic reservoir computing (RC) system. Here, two physical RC systems based on one single magnetic skyrmion memristor (MSM) and 24 spin-torque nano-oscillators (STNOs) are numerically modeled to process image classification task and nonlinear dynamic system prediction, respectively. Based on the nonlinear responses of the MSM and STNO with current pulse stimulation, our results demonstrate that the MSM-based RC system exhibits excellent performance on image classification, while the STNO-based RC system does well in solving the complex unknown nonlinear dynamic problems, e.g., a second-order nonlinear dynamic system and NARMA10. Our result and analysis of the current-dependent nonlinear dynamic properties of the MSM and STNO provide the strategy to optimize the experimental parameters in building the better spintronic-based brainlike devices for machine learning based computing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accident tolerant fuels are proposed for light water reactors to improve the safety margin in the event of severe accidents, especially under a LOCA scenario. In this work, Zr-Al-C coatings were synthesized by magnetron sputtering, with different aluminum concentrations incorporating binary carbide ZrC 0.55. Based on the combined results of XRD, TEM, and XPS, 7.6 at.% Al coating resulted in a solid solution phase, while a further increase in the Al concentration to 17.7 at.% and 26.3 at.% led to the formation of nanocomposites. The average grain size of the Zr-Al-C coatings was in the range of 8–11 nm, and the hardness was on the order of 15–30 GPa. Meanwhile, the 7.6 at.% and 17.7 at.% Al coatings showed enhanced oxidation resistance against air up to 1000 °C due to formation of continuous oxide scale consisting of t-ZrO 2 and Al 2 O 3. Thus, in terms of the mechanical property and high-temperature oxidation resistance, the Zr-Al-C coatings had much better performance than the ZrC 0.55 coatings. • Systematic variations in Al concentrations in Zr-Al-C coatings are accomplished by magnetron sputtering. • Microstructure evolution and the relationship between the hardness and Al concentration are established. • Enhanced mechanical properties and oxidation resistance of binary carbide coatings are achieved via Al incorporation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-focus image fusion technique is able to help obtaining an all-focused image, which is advantage to human vision and image processing. In this paper, a novel multi-focus image fusion method is proposed based on random walk and guided filter. In the proposed method, the decomposition function and the optimizing function of random walk are used in multi-focus image fusion. And the random walk is also utilized for weight maps directly. The advantages of random walk and guided filter in image fusion are fully utilized by regulating proportional coefficients artificially. The proposed method concludes six steps: first, decomposing source images into detail layers and base layers with random walk; second, the random walk is used for weight maps directly and the guided filter is used as smoothing filters to get the streamlined weight maps of the detail layers and the base layers, respectively; third, the weight maps of the detail layers and the base layers are acquired by summing the initializing weight maps in different proportions; and then, the final weight maps of the detail layers are acquired using random walk for optimizing. After that, the fused detail layer and base layer are obtained by weighted average of detail layers and base layers, singly. Finally, the fused image is gained by summing up the fused base layer and the fused detail layer. Experiments demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms many other approaches in both subjective and objective assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic susceptibility plays a significant role in Parkinson's disease (PD) development. Carriers of the Parkin S/N167 mutation may have an increased risk of PD and altered spontaneous brain activity. This study aims to investigate the potential pathogenesis of PD through a comparative analysis of the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) in resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) of subjects with Parkin gene S/N 167 polymorphisms, and to examine the association between spontaneous brain activity and clinical scale scores of PD. A total of 69 PD patients and 84 healthy controls (HC) were included in the study. Each subject was genotyped for the Parkin gene S/N 167 polymorphism and underwent rs-fMRI scans. ALFF analysis was employed to evaluate the relationship among genotypes, interactive brain regions, and clinical symptoms in PD. PD patients exhibited decreased ALFF values in the right anterior lobe and vermis of the cerebellum compared to HC. No significant interaction was found between the gene's main effect and the "group × genotype" effect on brain ALFF values. One-factor ANOVA revealed no significant difference in ALFF values between PD subgroups; however, the ALFF values in the right anterior lobe and vermis of the cerebellum were lower in the PD-G and PD-GA groups compared to the HC-G and HC-GA groups. Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated that ALFF values in the PD-GG and PD-GA groups were negatively associated with UPDRS-III scores in the bilateral lingual gyrus (Lingual R/L). Parkin gene S/N 167 polymorphisms may influence brain functional activity in specific brain regions, and ALFF values are associated with motor symptoms in PD patients. • Parkin S/N167 mutation carriers may increase the risk of PD and affect the spontaneous brain activity. • The ALFF value in the PD group was significantly lower than that in the HC group in the right anterior cerebellar lobe and cerebellar vermis. • There was no significant difference in the brain function activity between HC carrying AA mutation and PD groups carrying AA mutation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous rechargeable Li-ion hybrid supercapacitors are attracting increasing attention owing to their intrinsic advantages compared with nonaqueous counterpart and the combination of high energy and power densities in an individual device. However, the lack of satisfactory battery-type cathode materials with fast lithium ion storage limits the overall performance. Herein, we report a composite structure by incorporating LiMn 2 O 4 nanoparticles in graphene/carbon nanotubes network (LiMn 2 O 4 @CNTs@graphene) as superior cathode for aqueous hybrid capacitors. LiMn 2 O 4 @CNTs@graphene nanocomposite shows high capacitance with ultrafast lithium diffusion, which is mainly boosted by pseudocapacitive behavior, making it a potential candidate for hybrid supercapacitors. Hybrid devices assembled with LiMn 2 O 4 @CNTs@graphene cathode and N/S co-doped activated carbon anode exhibit an optimized overall performance with a high energy density of 62.77 Wh kg−1 and high power density of 2967.96 W kg−1 as well as good cycling performance with the capacitance retention of 90.8% after 5000 cycles. • LiMn 2 O 4 and graphene/carbon nanotubes composite was prepared to design hybrid device. • LiMn 2 O 4 particles are incorporated into graphene/ carbon nanotubes network. • The composite exhibits ultra-high rate capability. • Hybrid devices were assembled with the composite and N/S co-doped activated carbon. • The hybrid devices show excellent performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • We show through dynamical analysis that the neuron in pre-Bötzinger complexcan exhibit multiple mixed bursting patterns. • Mechanisms of the mixed bursting patterns are revealed. • Influences of certain parameters on the mixed bursting are explored. Abstract Bursting activities of certain neurons in the pre-Bötzinger complex (pre-BötC) of the mammalian brainstem have been extensively studied both experimentally and computationally due to their relationship with the inspiratory phase of respiration. Investigations shown that both the persistent sodium current (I NaP) and the intracellular Ca 2 + actived nonspecific cation (I CAN) can drive the bursting in the pre-BötC. The two mechanisms can act separately or jointly. Bursting evoked by the joint action of the two mechanisms is often called the somato-dendritic bursting. One special somato-dendritic bursting observed experimentally is the so called mixed bursting (MB) characterized by combining two or more different types of short bursts within each cycle of a periodic bursting solution. In this paper, we explore MB solutions in a single-compartment model of a pre-BötC inspiratory neuron. We show that the system can exhibit multiple patterns of MB that containing two or three different types of bursts in one periodic cycle. Using the methods of fast-slow decomposition and bifurcation analysis, we study the dynamical mechanisms underlying those MB, and investigate how the sodium conductance (g Na) and the potassium conductance (g K) affect MB patterns of the pre-BötC. Furthermore, we also elucidate the effect of parameters g K and g L on the number of somatic bursts in an MB solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Li x MnO 2 nanowires with controllable morphology and excellent electrochemical performance are synthesized by a hydrothermal method with tunable lithium contents. Both double layer capacitive process and diffusion-controlled Faradaic process play roles in the charging-discharging process. Aqueous Li-ion hybrid supercapacitors are assembled using Li x MnO 2 nanowires as the positive electrode and activated carbon as the negative electrode. The hybrid devices deliver high energy density of 88.56 Wh kg−1 and 25.2 Wh kg−1 at the high power density of 151.8 W kg−1 and 2155.8 W kg−1, respectively. The device also shows superb cycling life with capacitance retention of 95.2% after 10,000 cycles and 85.2% after 20,000 cycles. Highlights • Tunable Li x MnO 2 nanowires were synthesized for hybrid supercapacitor. • The nanowires deliver high specific capacitance and ultra-long rate ability. • Aqueous hybrid devices were assembled using the nanowires and activated carbon. • The hybrid devices show superb cycling life of 85.2% after 20,000 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several studies were conducted to investigate the association between eczema and risk of depression. This was important because the care of patients with eczema might be inadequate if their psychological problems were not also recognized and treated. However, these studies had some inherent limitations such as small sample sizes or lack of controlling for potential confounders. Further, little was known about psychological co-morbidity of eczema from a global perspective.Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search in PubMed (1966 through January 26th 2017), Cochrane Library (the Cochrane central register of controlled trials, up to January 26th 2017), Scopus (up to December 31st 2016) and Embase (1980 through January 26th 2017) supplemented by manual searches of bibliographies and conference proceedings. The relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated.Results: Ten studies with a total of 188,495 patients were included. Overall, the random effects model summarizing all comparisons suggested a positive association between eczema and risk of depression, the pooled RR was 2.02 (95% confidence interval 1.76 to 2.31, I² = 33.7%). Similar results were observed in subgroup analysis by region.Limitations: Methodological limitations such as selection biases, sample sizes, severity of other diseases, treatment strategy, age and other factors might have influenced the results.Conclusions: Our study showed that patients with eczema were associated with an increased risk of depression. These findings implicated that clinical doctors should continue to be more aware of the association between eczema and the risk of depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A flexible and free-standing graphene oxide and nylon 6 (GO@nylon 6) multilayer nanofiltration membrane was prepared by a layer-by-layer assembly process. The combination of electrospinning and electrospraying technique was employed, which can facilely prepare large-area membrane with size of 20 × 30 cm. The mechanical stability of multilayer membrane has enhanced significantly due to the tightly locked structure achieved by nylon 6 nanofibers network. The novel GO@nylon 6–13 multilayer nanofiltration membrane demonstrated a pure water flux up to 11.15 L m −2  h −1  bar −1 , while keeping high organic dye rejection rate (>95% for methylene blue, and >99% for methyl orange). The rejections rate of the Na 2 SO 4 , NaCl, CuSO 4 , and Pb(NO 3 ) 2 were 56.5%, 27.6%, 36.7%, and 18.9%, respectively. Furthermore, GO@nylon 6–13 multilayer nanofiltration membrane also demonstrated a high flux of some common organic solvents (8.4, 5.3, and 0.8 L m −2  h −1  bar −1 for methanol, ethanol, and NMP, respectively), showing excellent chemical stability for separation process in those solvents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the development of a more effective therapy approach overcoming the resistance to chemotherapy for lung cancer still faces great challenges and requires further investigation. Herein, we fabricated gemcitabine (Gem) loaded gold nanospheres mediated by bovine serum albumin (Au@BSA) for the efficient delivery of therapeutic agents into the human pulmonary carcinoma cells (A549) and simultaneous computed tomography (CT) imaging. These nanoparticles (Au@BSA) with an approximate diameter of 10 nm were single crystals and prepared through a protein-directed facile one-pot synthesis via the reduction of chloroauric acid (HAuCl 4 ) utilizing bovine serum albumin (BSA) as the stabilizer. The resulting positive charged Au@BSA nanospheres were conjugated with the negative Gem which served as the chemotherapeutic payload by electrostatic layer-by-layer assembling interactions to form Au@BSA-Gem. Our results demonstrated that the obtained biomimetic Au@BSA nanospheres were biocompatible with low cytotoxicity while the Gem-loaded ones exhibited obvious effects with efficiencies significantly greater than that of the free Gem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The PMH evaporator has light-absorbing pitted-surface and water transport microchannels. • The PMH evaporator has sig-nificant absorbance of 95% across 300 ∼ 2500 nm. • The evaporator has excellent salt resistance. • The "hot-ice" template is a facile way to prepare hydrogel with large water transport channels. • An evaporation rate (3.2 kg m−2 h−1) in seawater and photothermal conversion efficiency (90.5%) are accomplished. In recent years, solar energy interfacial evaporation technology has been extensively explored for seawater desalination and wastewater treatment. However, salt accumulation and complex fabrication of evaporator largely constrains the applications of this technology in practice. Here, one type of interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel composing of agarose (AG) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) using polypyrrole (PPy) as the light absorbent was fabricated via "hot-ice" template method, which was featured with pitted-surface and microchannels structure. The evenly arranged pits on the surface of the hydrogel can absorb the sunlight as much as possible and convert it into heat energy, improving the efficiency of photothermal absorption. The water channels generated by the formation of CaCl 2 ·6H 2 O crystals can transport water from the bottom to the evaporation interface elevating the transmission rate and accelerating the exchange of gradient salt concentration. As consequences, excellent salt resistance of the hydrogel can be obtained, achieving seawater evaporation rate as high as 3.2 kg m−2 h−1. In addition, the outstanding ion rejection performance, strong acid/alkali purification capability, and good treatment capacity for heavy metal ions and dye wastewater were also demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanostructured spinel LiMn 2 O 4 and super P composite with much enhanced electrochemical performance especially ultrahigh rate capability as the cathode for aqueous hybrid supercapacitors is synthesized by ball milling commercial LiMn 2 O 4 particles together with super P. The as-prepared composite delivers a high capacitance of 306 F g −1 at the current density of 1 A g −1 and superb rate ability of 228.6 F g −1 at 40 A g −1 in 1 M Li 2 SO 4 aqueous electrolyte. The capacitance of the nanostructured composite is 3.5 times higher than that of pristine LiMn 2 O 4 even being charged and discharged 80 times faster. The excellent performances are ascribed to the nanosized LiMn 2 O 4 well dispersed into the conductive carbon matrix. LiMn 2 O 4 and super P composite//active carbon hybrid supercapacitor is assembled and the energy density can reach up to 21.58 Wh kg −1 at 293.16 W kg −1 and 13 Wh kg −1 at 5200 W kg −1 . The hybrid device also shows an excellent cycling performance, which retains 85% of the initial capacitance after 4500 cycles. This work provides an effectively facile way to produce high performance LiMn 2 O 4 -based cathodes for hybrid suercapacitors in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nucleobindin 2 (NUCB2) is mainly expressed in the hypothalamic nuclei and has a proven role in energy homeostasis. It has also been recently reported to have a key role in tumor progression. However, the clinical significance of NUCB2 in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unknown. In the present study, the level of NUCB2 mRNA was quantified by reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR) in 34 paired fresh tissues from patients with CRC. RT‑qPCR was followed by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of NUCB2 protein in tissue microarrays of 251 samples to evaluate the clinical significance of NUCB2 in CRC. The RT‑qPCR indicated an upregulation of NUCB2 mRNA in CRC tissues compared with normal tissues (P=0.027). IHC staining indicated a positive association between elevated NUCB2 expression and lymph node metastasis or tumor‑node‑metastasis (TNM) stage. Patients with CRC and lymph node metastasis demonstrated a higher expression of NUCB2 (49.5%, 50/101) compared with those without lymph node metastasis (36.7%, 55/150; P=0.043). Furthermore, NUCB2 expression was also higher in patients with CRC and TNM stage III‑IV compared with those with TNM stage I‑II (50.9% vs. 35.0%; P=0.011). However, Kaplan‑Meier analysis indicated no significant association between NUCB2 expression and disease‑free survival of patients. Additionally, multivariate analysis did not identify the upregulation of NUCB2 as an independent prognostic predictor in patients with CRC (P=0.755). In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that upregulation of NUCB2 is significantly associated with CRC metastasis, indicating that NUCB2 may be a cancer‑associated oncogene associated with the aggressive progression of CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A freestanding, binder-free carbon nanofibers@polypyrrole@reduced graphene oxide (CNFs@PPy@rGO) core-double-shell supercapacitor electrode is prepared by carbonization of electrospun PAN nanofibers network follow by the electrochemical deposition of PPy and then reduced graphene oxide layer coating. The flexible all-solid-state supercapacitor based on the CNFs@PPy@rGO core-double-shell electrode with PVA/H 3 PO 4 gel electrolyte demonstrates a highest specific capacitance of 188 F/g at the scan rate of 2 mV/s and good cycling stability. Due to the synergistic effect of three materials, the newly designed composite electrode shows the highest specific capacitance of 336.2 F/g at the scan rate of 2 mV/s, which increases by 10% than that of CNFs@PPy electrode (302.7 F/g) at the same scan rate in a three-electrode system. Furthermore, it shows excellent cycling stability performance with 98% capacitance retention after 2500 cycles, which is better than that of CNFs@PPy electrode (90%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thorough understanding of how to control cell behaviors including cell adhesion, orientation, migration and differentiation on an artificial surface is critical in materials and life sciences such as advanced biomedical engineering, tissue engineering, and cell-based bioassay. In nature, extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in controlling cell behaviors. It can not only provide the cells with mechanical support but also profoundly affect cell functions such as metabolism, movement and transport process. Functional polymer surface exhibits superior advantages over many other materials for use as artificial ECM owing to its excellent mechanical properties, abundant chemical species and remarkable capability to form various topographical surfaces. In particular, surface chemistry, mechanical properties and topography of these functional polymers are found to be three major parameters for effective control of cell behaviors. This paper comprehensively reviews the fundamental understanding of functional polymer surfaces for controlling cell behaviors. Different fabrication methods to achieve functional polymer surfaces and the parameters for effective control of cell behaviors are discussed. The future prospects and challenges particularly in cell biomedical engineering are also discussed at the end of this review paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of new intravenous drug delivery carrier for water-insoluble drug is a challenging task. In this paper, novel two-vial formulation of paclitaxel (PTX)-loaded lipid nanoemulsions (TPLEs) with particle sizes of 110 nm (TPLE-1), 220 nm (TPLE-2) and 380 nm (TPLE-3), which were formed by mixing a PEG400 solution of PTX and 10% ( w/w ) blank lipid emulsions (BLEs) with different particle size prior to use, were developed and comparatively evaluated for their pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, in vitro and in vivo anticancer efficiency. Among them, TPLE-1 displayed higher PTX-loading, slower PTX-release and larger PTX-distribution in oil-phase, significantly reduced extraction by RES organs, increased tumor-uptake, showed stronger cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells and more potent anticancer efficacy on MCF-7 tumor-bearing nude mice, and had greater plasma AUC 0-∞ value, smaller plasma clearance (CL), longer mean residence time (MRT) and elimination half-life (T 1/2 ) in SD rats. It also exhibited the same in vivo efficacy as Taxol ® and even produced less hemolysis and intravenous irritation. Moreover, its LD 50 was 4.3-fold higher than that of Taxol ® . All results demonstrate that TPLE-1 is a promising candidate drug due to its high tumor-accumulation and effectiveness, low toxicity, good safety and druggability in clinical application for the cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors report on the design of a new substrate for use in surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). It is based on the use for porous carbon films decorated with silver nanoparticles. The porous carbon film was prepared through a template-driven route and made SERS-active via self-assembly with oil-soluble silver nanoparticles by hydrophobic interaction. Optimized sample was able to detect crystal violet at a low concentration of 1 × 10 M, with good reproducibility (RSD = 17.0%). More importantly, the adsorbed signal molecules can be readily removed away by washing with organic solvents, obtaining a refresh substrate for the recyclable detection. Furthermore, the novel substrate was applied to the determination of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), porcine parvovirus (PPV) and porcine pseudorabies virus (PRV). The detection limits are as low as 1 × 10 copy·mL for PCV2, PPV and PRV. SERS also enable differentiation of the viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]