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To analyze the performance of Global Positioning System (GPS) Precise Point Positioning (PPP) Ambiguity Resolution (AR) under various ionospheric scintillation environments, we selected GPS data of ionospheric scintillation monitoring receivers (ISMR) and geodetic receivers from high-latitude and low-latitude regions during 2021–2023. We conducted GPS Kinematic PPP using Canadian Spatial Reference System (CSRS) PPP and used the maximum and average values of σ φ and S 4 as indicators to characterize the intensity of phase scintillation and amplitude scintillation for ISMRs, while the maximum and average values of Rate of Total Electron Content Index (ROTI) to characterize the intensity of ionospheric scintillation for geodetic receivers. We also used ambiguity resolved percentage (ARP) and the 3-Dimensional Root Mean Square (3D RMS) of positioning errors as performance metrics for PPP-AR and PPP. As the maximum and average values of ionospheric scintillation indices increase, the PPP-ARP for high-latitude ISMRs decreases to 90.0 %, and the 3D RMS can reach 0.204 m. During ionospheric quiet conditions, positioning accuracy of GPS PPP can reach the cm-mm level. As the geomagnetic latitude decreases, the scintillation effects on PPP-AR and PPP become more pronounced for high-latitude ISMRs. Compared with high-latitudes, ISMRs located at low-latitudes are more severely affected by scintillation, with PPP-ARP at the station HNLW in China and the station UFBA in Brazil dropping to 80.0 % and 60.0 %, respectively. The 3D RMS can reach 0.288 m and 0.341 m. The results of geodetic receives are consistent with those of ISMRs, with 3D RMS of positioning errors up to 0.240 m and 0.256 m for CYNE and MAL2, respectively, while PPP-ARP drops to 60.4 % and 79.6 %. Additionally, we observed a strong positive correlation between ionospheric scintillation duration and the maximum values of σ φ , S 4 and ROTI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of the electrochemical reduction of nitrate relies heavily on the N 2 selectivity and stability of the cathode. In this study, we present a Co/Ni bimetallic electrode that was fabricated through an electrodeposition process and explored as cathode for the electrochemical reduction of nitrate. Electrochemical test demonstrated that vertical arrays of Co-containing nanosheets significantly improved electrochemical properties of Ni foam, particularly in terms of catalytic activity for nitrate. The removal rate of nitrate by this bimetallic foam electrode was 97.2% within 60 min, which is significantly better than that of Ni foam electrode (15.0%) and Co/Ni plate electrode (70.1%). This is attributed to the comprehensive enhancement of catalytic active sites, electrochemical activity, and nitrate affinity brought by the Co/Ni foam electrodes. The electrode demonstrated high nitrogen selectivity, achieving a total nitrogen removal rate close to 100%. The influence parameters and stability of the electrode were also evaluated, and a possible mechanism of nitrate removal was proposed. Significantly, this study presented novel opportunities for the advancement of effective bimetallic electrode materials intended for the reduction of nitrate. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite numerous research showing the association between brain network abnormalities and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), contrasting findings have been reported from broad functional underconnectivity to broad overconnectivity. Thus, the significance of rich‐hub organizations in the brain functional connectome of individuals with ASD remains largely unknown. High‐quality data subset of ASD (n = 45) and healthy controls (HC; n = 47) children (7–15 years old) were retrieved from the ABIDE data set, and rich‐club organization and network‐based statistic (NBS) were assessed from resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs‐fMRI). The rich‐club organization functional network (normalized rich‐club coefficients >1) was observed in all subjects under a range of thresholds. Compared with HC, ASD patients had higher degree of feeder connections and lower degree of local connections (degree of feeder connections: ASD = 259.20 ± 32.97, HC = 244.98 ± 30.09, p = 0.041; degree of local connections: ASD = 664.02 ± 39.19, HC = 679.89 ± 34.05, p = 0.033) but had similar in rich‐club connections. Further, nonparametric NBS analysis showed the presence of abnormal connectivity in the functional network of ASD individuals. Our findings indicated that local connection might be more vulnerable, and feeder connection may compensate for its disruption in ASD, enhancing our understanding on the mechanism of functional connectome dysfunction in ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An ejector that can be adjusted without disassembly was designed. • Saturated/undersaturated regions of the ejector were found during the tuning process. • The concept of operating condition coefficient-Γ is proposed. • The control scheme for variable operating conditions of the ejector was provided. • Effects of AR and NXP on the vortices of the premixing chamber were analyzed. The ejector has a substantial impact on the performance of the solar-driven ejector refrigeration system. This work designs an adjustable ejector without disassembly and performs numerical modeling of the geometric model to enhance the ejector capacity to adapt to various operating conditions; the simulations dependability was also validated using experimental evidence. The findings indicate that within the given operating conditions, the adjustable ejector efficiency increased by an average of 82.4 %; the COP of the system increased by an average of 72.8 %. It is also found that the adjustable ejector has a saturation region, where the ejector performance rapidly declines as the nozzle exit position increases. Under the given operating conditions, the functional relationship between the optimal area ratio and nozzle exit position is obtained. By defining the operating condition coefficient (Γ), the function of the Γ and optimal area ratio is obtained, which provides the adjustable ejector control logic. From the energy perspective, the influence of structural changes on the vortex near the premixing chamber wall is analyzed, and the basic internal reasons for how structural alterations affect the ejector performance are initially revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In China, gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. This study aimed to explore the relationship of rs2297810, rs4646491 and rs2297809 polymorphisms of CYP4B1 with susceptibility to GC in the Chinese Han population. Methods: A case-control study including 707 GC cases and 707 normal controls was conducted. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped by Agena MassARRAY system. Logistic regression analysis was utilized to assess the effects of SNPs on GC risk. Furthermore, multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) approach was used to analyze the SNP-SNP interactions. Results: No significant relationships were found between rs2297810 and rs2297809 and GC risk under all genetic models. For rs4646491, people with TC genotype had a 1.40-fold higher risk of GC than those with CC genotype (OR = 1.40; 95% CI = 1.13–1.74; p = 0.002), and people with TT-TC genotype had a 1.30-fold higher risk of GC than those with CC genotype (OR = 1.30; 95% CI = 1.06–1.61; p = 0.014). Stratification results showed that GC risk in people carrying TC genotype was higher than that in people with CC genotype, males (OR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.06–1.75; p = 0.015), non-smokers (OR = 1.52; 95% CI = 1.11–2.07; p = 0.009) and non-drinkers (OR = 1.50; 95% CI = 1.10–2.04; p = 0.010). Additionally, the study also revealed that GC risk in people carrying TT-TC genotype was higher than that in people with CC genotype, males (OR = 1.29; 95% CI = 1.01–1.64; p = 0.040), non-smokers (OR = 1.40; 95% CI = 1.04–1.89; p = 0.027) and non-drinkers (OR = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.03–1.87; p = 0.030). Conclusion: This study firstly found that CYP4B1-rs4646491 was significantly correlated with GC risk, and it might be a risk factor for GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on elderly patients with Chronic heart failure (CHF) by literature search and meta-analysis. Methods: We conducted an electronic search on PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP database platforms. The search period was from the establishment of the database to November 2021 for randomized controlled studies (RCTs) related to the effects of CR on elderly patients with CHF. The RevMan 5.4 was used for meta-analysis. Results: This study included 16 articles involving a total of 1782 patients, including 892 in the CR group and 890 in the control group. Meta-analysis showed that compared with conventional interventions, CR increased left ventricular ejection fraction in elderly patients with CHF [mean difference (MD):5.73,95% confidence interval (CI):2.05 to 9.40,Z = 3.05,P = 0.002], and decreased left ventricular end-diastolic diameter in elderly patients with CHF (MD:-4.82,95%CI:-7.49 to 15,Z = 3.54,P = 0.0004), increased the 6-minute walk test distance (MD:62.66,95% CI:44.40 to 80.92,Z = 6.72,P<0.00001), decreased the rehospitalization rate (OR:0.32,95%) CI: 0.21 0.49, Z = 5.33, P < 0.000001). Conclusions: CR can improve cardiac function, prognosis and reduce rehospitalization rate of elderly patients with CHF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrophages restrict bacterial infection partly by stimulating phagocytosis and partly by stimulating release of cytokines and complement components. Here, we treat macrophages with LPS and a bacterial pathogen, and demonstrate that expression of cytokine IL-1β and bacterial phagocytosis increase to a transient peak 8 to 12 h post-treatment, while expression of complement component 3 (C3) continues to rise for 24 h post-treatment. Metabolomic analysis suggests a correlation between the cellular concentrations of succinate and IL-1β and of inosine and C3. This may involve a regulatory feedback mechanism, whereby succinate stimulates and inosine inhibits HIF-1α through their competitive interactions with prolyl hydroxylase. Furthermore, increased level of inosine in LPS-stimulated macrophages is linked to accumulation of adenosine monophosphate and that exogenous inosine improves the survival of bacterial pathogen-infected mice and tilapia. The implications of these data suggests potential therapeutic tools to prevent, manage or treat bacterial infections. Author summary: Bacterial infection is still one of the primary causes of death, especially in the context of exhausted antibiotic reservoir to the growing cases of antibiotic resistance. Novel approach to manage bacterial infection is required. Here, we report a metabolism-based approach to manage immune response to fight against bacterial infection. We find that innate immune response to bacterial infection is constituted with two phases, namely innate cellular immunity and innate humoral immunity. The two phases are interchangeably regulated by two metabolites, inosine and succinate. Succinate promotes the production of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β while inosine downregulates IL-1β expression but increases complement component 3 expression in a time-dependent manner. This is a novel phenomenon that this two-phases innate immune response is required to clear bacterial infection, and is confirmed by the in vivo challenge of mice and fish with pathogenic bacteria in combination of succinate or inosine. We also report a novel mechanism that succinate and inosine competitively regulate HIF-1α activation. Thus, our study presents a novel feedback mechanism of immune response, and inosine could be a potential metabolite in tuning immune response towards bacterial infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polypyrrole (PPy) represents an intriguing class of materials for high‐performance pseudocapacitor electrode due to their fast and reversible Faradaic redox reaction. However, these pseudocapacitors suffer from several disadvantages such as low capacitance and charge/discharge cycling instability, which can be attributed to the poor charge‐transfer capability and stability of PPy. Previously, it is found that charge hopping is more efficient in the crystalline domain of PPy, and thus higher charge‐transfer capability can be achieved from PPy with higher crystallinity. However, the polymerization of pyrrole monomers usually forms randomly entangled chains, which results in PPy with a high fraction of amorphous domains. Therefore, synthesis of PPy with higher crystallinity remains challenging. Here, air–water interface‐confined polymerization (ICP) strategy is introduced to synthesize PPy with enhanced crystallinity. Three kinds of crystalline PPy with different dopants (chlorion ion, 4‐[[4‐(dimethylamino)phenyl]diazenyl]benzenesulfonate anion, and β‐naphthalene sulfonate anion) are synthesized via ICP. The PPy synthesized from ICP is demonstrated to have an improved electrochemical performance. This work will shed light on the synthesis methods and mechanisms to form PPy with improved crystallinity and electrochemical performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have achieved a bioinspired total synthesis of (+)‐euphorikanin A, which possesses an intriguing and complex 5/6/7/3‐fused tetracyclic skeleton bearing a bridged [3.2.1]‐γ‐lactone moiety. Key transformations include stereoselective alkylation and aldol condensation to install the main stereocenters, an intramolecular nucleophile‐catalyzed aldol lactonization of carboxylic acid–ketone to assemble the five‐membered ring, a McMurry coupling to construct the seven‐membered ring, and a biomimetic benzilic acid type rearrangement to form the bridged [3.2.1]‐γ‐lactone moiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have achieved a bioinspired total synthesis of (+)‐euphorikanin A, which possesses an intriguing and complex 5/6/7/3‐fused tetracyclic skeleton bearing a bridged [3.2.1]‐γ‐lactone moiety. Key transformations include stereoselective alkylation and aldol condensation to install the main stereocenters, an intramolecular nucleophile‐catalyzed aldol lactonization of carboxylic acid–ketone to assemble the five‐membered ring, a McMurry coupling to construct the seven‐membered ring, and a biomimetic benzilic acid type rearrangement to form the bridged [3.2.1]‐γ‐lactone moiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A metal-free floating electrochemical advanced oxidation system was established. • The floating electrode can efficiently produce H 2 O 2 without aeration. • The oxygenated graphene aerogel catalyst promoted the activation H 2 O 2 to ·OH. • The primary activation sites were identified as the = O and –COOH groups. • The system exhibited wide pH application range and good practicality. Metal-free electro-Fenton (EF) are a promising technology for environmental remediation. This paper reports a novel EF modified with oxygenated graphene aerogel used as a floating electrode for efficient degradation of bisphenol A (BPA) through improved H 2 O 2 yield combined with activation of hydroxyl radical (·OH) production. Impressively, the floating configuration of the electrodes allowed oxygen from the air to diffuse naturally into the reaction interface, reducing additional aeration energy consumption. The current efficiency of the floating system for H 2 O 2 production was 40 times higher than the conventional vertical mode. The pollutant degradation trend exhibited a positive correlation with the ·OH production performance of the electrode. The modified catalyst system achieved the highest ·OH yield of 76.48 μM within 60 min, which was 2.72 times greater than that of the catalyst-free (28.10 μM) and 2.06 times higher than that of the unmodified catalyst (37.19 μM). Experiments and theoretical calculations indicated that the oxygen-containing functional groups introduced the graphene skeleton created new sites for in situ activation of electrogenerated H 2 O 2 , resulting in increased ·OH production. The primary activation sites were identified as the = O and –COOH groups, with the = O edges playing a particularly significant role. This system offers long-lasting stability and avoids secondary pollution, making it ideal for green environmental remediation compared to the traditional EF process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple PDZ Domain Crumbs Cell Polarity Complex Component (MPDZ) is involved in a few human cancers. However, the features and potential mechanisms of MPDZ in progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unknown. The prognostic role of MPDZ in CRC was determined by Kaplan-Meier and univariate regression analysis. Enrichment analysis was performed to characterize crucial pathways of MPDZ. Immune infiltration and immunotherapeutic outcome were further evaluated. CCK8, EDU, transwell, and wound healing assay were used to assess the influence of MPDZ on pernicious performance of CRC cells. CD8+ T cells and CRC cells were co-cultured to explore the effect of MPDZ on the tumor microenvironment. qRT–PCR, western blot, immunoprecipitation (IP), and methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (me-RIP) were implemented in seeking for the potential mechanisms of MPDZ in CRC. CRC patients with elevated MPDZ expression suffered from significantly worse prognosis. Enrichment analysis revealed that MPDZ involved in pathways related to metastasis and cell cycle in CRC. In addition, MPDZ expression were related to several immunoinhibitors and had the ability to predict immunotherapy response. Finally, in vitro assays demonstrated that MPDZ knockdown inhibited migration, invasion and immune evasion of CRC cells. Mechanistically, MPDZ knockdown enhanced YAP1 phosphorylation by increased LATS1 expression. Moreover, m6A- MPDZ mRNA may be recognized and degraded by m6A recognition protein YTHDF2. MPDZ was critical for CRC development and could be a promising candidate for the treatment of CRC patients. • MPDZ is an independent prognostic risk indicator in CRC patients. • MPDZ promotes CRC immune evasion. • MPDZ knockdown enhanced YAP1 phosphorylation via LATS1. • m6A- MPDZ mRNA is degraded by m6A recognition protein YTHDF2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine-grained annotations are indispensable for sequence tagging tasks like named entity recognition and aspect-based sentiment analysis, which may incur extremely high time and labor costs. Recent efforts are towards data augmentation which aims to generate synthetic labeled instances. However, most existing methods adopt the random replacement or perturbation strategy under pre-defined constraints, and thus often lead to unstable performance. More importantly, these methods focus on producing more artificial samples yet neglect to make good use of real training samples. In this paper, we propose a novel description and demonstration guided data augmentation (D3A) approach for sequence tagging. On one hand, we collect dependency paths as descriptions to supervise the instance-level augmentation process, such that we can consistently generate high-quality synthetic data. On the other hand, we retrieve semantic or syntactic related features as demonstrations to enhance the learning capability of neural networks under limited training data. We conduct extensive experiments on four sequence tagging datasets with various sizes of training data. The results demonstrate that our proposed D3A approach can significantly improve the performance of sequence tagging, especially in low-resource scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on tetraphenylethylene as the skeleton, two novel salamo-type fluorescent probes (TPES1 = 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde O-(3-(((-2-hydroxy-5-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)benzylidene)amino)oxy)propyl) oxime and TPES2 = bis(2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde O-(3-(((2-hydroxy-5-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)benzylidene)amino)oxy)propyl) dioxime) were designed and synthesized. Through the colorimetric and fluorescence dual-channel modes, cyanide ions could be specifically recognized by the two probe molecules. Interestingly, the probes TPES1 and TPES2 exhibited completely different spectral behaviors during the recognition process. Of the two, the TPES1 molecule is a ratio-type fluorescent probe, and double fluorescence emission peaks appeared during the titration process. The reason for this phenomenon is due to the rotation of the C–C single bond in tetraphenylethylene, causing the solution system to contain molecules in two states. On the other hand, the TPES2 molecule is a fluorescence-enhanced probe that has undergone two reaction processes of deprotonation and addition reaction successively, causing the fluorescence intensity to increase continuously. Theoretical calculations indicated that the configuration of probe TPES1 is reversed after interacting with cyanide ions (CN−). By calculating the minimum detection limits of TPES1 and TPES2 to CN−, the LOD values were 8.56 × 10−8 M and 5.37 × 10−8 M, respectively. In addition, probe-based test strips have been prepared for quick and simple detection of cyanide ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed the effects and potential mechanism of romote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) on leukocytes‐endothelium cell adhesion in the flap microvessel after ischemia‐reperfusion (I/R) injury. Eight hours after reperfusion, edema and intravascular leukocyte aggregation were reduced and microvessels were more obvious in the group with superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) perforator flap (SIEA‐flap) subjected to RIPC than in the I/R group. Zinc finger protein 667 (ZNF667) was significantly increased but P‐selectin was decreased in the flaps subjected to RIPC, compared to those in the I/R group. The low expression of P‐selectin was associated with ZNF667 expression and activation in human dermal microvascular endothelial cells in response to hypoxic preconditioning. ZNF667 bound to the P‐selectin promoter region, suppressing its transcription through a special core sequence. The ablation of P‐selectin by small interfering RNA effectively prevented the leukocytes‐endothelium cell adhesion effect of ZNF667‐knockdown. ZNF667 upregulation attenuates leukocyte‐endothelial cell adhesion by negatively regulating the expression of P‐selectin in SIEA‐flap subjected to RIPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A peridynamic hydrogen embrittlement model is proposed. • The limitation of Poisson's ratio of existing peridynamic hydrogen embrittlement model is solved. • The hydrogen-assisted crack propagations of mode I and mixture mode are simulated. Hydrogen embrittlement is an important metal failure mechanism that affects the large-scale application of hydrogen energy. And developing an effective numerical model is vital for understanding and preventing hydrogen-assisted crack propagation. This paper proposes a peridynamic hydrogen embrittlement model based on the two-parameter model of bond-based peridynamics, where the limitation of Poisson's ratio is relieved. The bond damage criterion that considers the hydrogen embrittlement mechanism is applied. Both the hydrogen diffusion and the hydrogen embrittlement phenomenon are simulated. The efficiency of the proposed peridynamic hydrogen embrittlement model is validated through four numerical examples, including the mode I crack propagations and complex crack paths simulations. The numerical results of the proposed peridynamic hydrogen embrittlement model are compared to the results of other numerical models and experiments. And the influences from hydrogen diffusion time steps and grain boundary diffusion coefficients on hydrogen-assisted crack propagation are investigated. The numerical results show that more diffusion time steps and larger grain boundary diffusion coefficients lead to faster hydrogen diffusion and faster crack propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new, simple and easy-to-manufacture highly selective and sensitive dual-mode sensor A1, is used for CN− colorimetric and fluorescence detection. Interestingly, the solid powder of sensor A1 emits a strong green fluorescence, and has aggregation-induced emission properties. Single crystal diffraction analysis results prove that the generation of AIE properties is based on the J-aggregation mechanism. Simultaneously, A1 showed high selectivity and sensitivity to CN− in many interfering anions. The sensing mechanism of cyanide is carried out by deprotonation of the –OH group by the cyanide ion, and has been confirmed by spectroscopic studies, 1H NMR spectroscopy, Job's plot analyses and DFT calculation. The practicality of the sensor has been well proven by filter paper strips and small molecule smart fluorescent display materials. In addition, the sensor is used to detect cyanide in food materials (such as germinated potatoes, cassava and bitter almonds) with satisfactory results. The most important thing is considering the colorimetric and fluorescent dual modes, the ultra-fast response, excellent selectivity and recyclability that demonstrate its excellent value in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Different from adult clinical stage I (CS1) testicular cancer, surveillance has been recommended for CS1 pediatric testicular cancer. However, among high-risk children, more than 50% suffer a relapse and progression during surveillance, and adjuvant chemotherapy needs to be administered. Risk-adapted treatment might reduce chemotherapy exposure among these children.Methods: A decision model was designed and calculated using TreeAge Pro 2011 software. Clinical utilities such as the relapse rates of different groups during surveillance or after chemotherapy were collected from the literature. A survey of urologists was conducted to evaluate the toxicity of first-line and second-line chemotherapy. Using the decision analysis model, chemotherapy exposure of the risk-adapted treatment and surveillance strategies were compared based on this series of clinical utilities. One-way and two-way tests were applied to check the feasibility.Results: In the base case decision analysis of CS1 pediatric testicular cancer, risk-adapted treatment resulted in a lower exposure to chemotherapy than surveillance (average: 0.7965 cycles verse 1.3419 cycles). The sensitivity analysis demonstrated that when the relapse rate after primary chemotherapy was ≤ 0.10 and the relapse rate of the high-risk group was ≥ 0.40, risk-adapted treatment would result in a lower exposure to chemotherapy, without any association with the proportion of low-risk patients, the relapse rate of the low-risk group, the relapse rate after salvage chemotherapy or the toxicity utility of second-line chemotherapy compared to first-line chemotherapy.Conclusions: Based on the decision analysis, risk-adapted treatment might decrease chemotherapy exposure for these high-risk patients, and an evaluation after orchiectomy was critical to this process. Additional clinical studies are needed to validate this statement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two heteropolynuclear complexes, namely [Cu2(L)Ce(NO3)3] and [{Cu2(L)Y(NO3)2(μ-AcO)}{Cu2(L)Y(NO3)2(μ-NO3)(CH3OH)}]·4CH3OH, were synthesized through the reaction of a newly synthesized bis(salamo)-based ligand (H4L), Cu(OAc)2·H2O and Ln(NO3)3·6H2O (Ln = Ce and Y), respectively. Single crystal structure analyses showed that the [CuII2CeIII] and [CuII4YIII2] complexes contained similar trinuclear [CuII2LnIII] structures. The difference was that the [CuII4YIII2] complex consisted of two crystallographically independent and chemically different trinuclear complexes with coordination and free solvent molecules. Among the two heteropolynuclear metal complexes, only the [CuII2CeIII] complex showed catecholase activity and benzoxazinone synthase activity under normal temperature and aerobic conditions. For catecholase activity, the calculated Kcat of the [CuII2CeIII] complex was 346.5 h−1, and the Kcat of p-benzoxazinone synthase activity was 9.73 h−1. Compared with the [CuII4YIII2] complex, we speculated that the main reason for the high catalytic function of the [CuII2CeIII] complex is the presence of three nitrate groups coordinated with the central CeIII atom. Evidence from mass spectrometry and cyclic voltammetry curves indicated that there may be heterometallic cooperation, in which CeIII binds to the substrate, while the metallic copper transformed between CuII and CuI through redox reactions. In addition, the catalytic mechanism was inferred through electrospray mass spectrometry and cyclic voltammetry, and fluorescence properties were studied and Hirshfeld surface analyses were also conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate simulation of the single-particle breakage plays an essential role in studying and understanding the behavior of crushable granular materials. Peridynamics has a significant advantage in the simulation of particle breakage owing to its treatment of discontinuities and fractures. This work simulates the single-particle breakage by peridynamics. The particle breakage patterns and the force-displacement curves are focused under different material point discretization schemes, viz. regular discretization scheme, modified regular discretization scheme, hexahedral element converted discretization scheme and random-packing discretization. The result shows that the material point discretization scheme has a great influence on the breakage patterns while less impact on the maximum contact force. Besides, a program for extracting the fragments from the failure bond data is provided to offer an inside vision of breakage patterns. Unlabelled Image • A modified grid discretization for the spherical particle is proposed. • A program is presented for searching the fragments after breakage. • Breakage patterns of four discretization schemes are compared. • Three possible effects on the particle breakage pattern are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the complete f-moment convergence for widely orthant dependent (WOD, for short) random variables. A general result on complete f-moment convergence for arrays of rowwise WOD random variables is obtained. As applications, we present some new results on complete f-moment convergence for WOD random variables. We also give an application to nonparametric regression models based onWOD errors by using the complete convergence that we established. Finally, the choice of the fixed design points and the weight functions for the nearest neighbor estimator are proposed, and a numerical simulation is provided to verify the validity of the theoretical result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The implementation of allergen immunotherapy (AIT) requires extensive knowledge of allergen distribution in the region to identify high-risk regions for AIT utilization. However, the geographical distribution patterns of the major Dermatophagoides allergens in China remain unclear despite the increasing prevalence of these allergens. Methods: We performed comprehensive database searches of articles demonstrating the distribution patterns of Dermatophagoides-sensitized allergic rhinitis (AR) and allergic asthma (AA) in China, published between 1990 and 2017. Results: We retrieved 163 articles encompassing 114,302 allergen-positive cases to generate the distribution maps. The rate of sensitization to Dermatophagoidespteronyssinus(D. pteronyssinus)and Dermatophagoidesfarinae (D. farinae) was similar in patients with AR (75.1 vs. 75.2%, p > 0.05) but not in those with AA (78.5 vs. 77.7%, p = 0.041). Patients with AR and AA shared similar regional distribution patterns of both D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae sensitization, which were highest in the southern and central parts of China and lowest in the northern regions, especially in the Northwest. The overall rate of sensitization to D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae was significantly higher in patients with AA (p < 0.001). Additionally, the annual mean temperature and humidity were the 2 major determinants of D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae sensitization in AR and of D. pteronyssinus sensitization in AA, whereas the annual mean temperature was the sole determinant for D. farinae sensitization in AA. Conclusion: These findings may inform clinicians of the strategies for the prevention of Dermatophagoides sensitization and may be of benefit to the future clinical management of allergic diseasesassociated with sensitization to Dermatophagoides mites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The peridynamic correspondence model provides a general formulation to incorporate the classical local model and, therefore, helps to solve mechanical problems with discontinuities easily. But it suffers from zero-energy mode instability in numerical implementation due to the approximation of deformation gradient tensor. To suppress zero-energy modes, previous stabilized methods were generally more based on adding a supplemental force state derived from bond-based peridynamic theory, which requires a bond-based peridynamic micro-modulus. In this work, we present an improved stabilized method where the stabilization force state is derived directly from the peridynamic correspondence model. Hence, the bond-based peridynamic micro-modulus is abandoned. This improved method needs no extra constant to control the magnitude of stabilization force state and it is suitable for either isotropic or anisotropic materials. Several examples are presented to demonstrate its performance in simulating crack propagation, and numerical results show its efficiency and effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the complete convergence and complete moment convergence for weighted sums of asymptotically negatively associated (ANA, for short) random variables are studied. Several sufficient conditions of the complete convergence and complete moment convergence for weighted sums of ANA random variables are presented. As an application, the complete consistency for the weighted estimator in a nonparametric regression model based on ANA random errors is established by using the complete convergence that we established. We also give a simulation to verify the validity of the theoretical result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a frequent and complicated endocrine disease that remains a major reason for infertility. Bushenhuoluo Decotion (BSHLD) has been validated to exhibit curative effects on PCOS. This study was aimed to explore the potential mechanism underlying the therapeutic action of BSHLD. Methods: PCOS rat model was induced by dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Serum hormone and cytokines levels and ovarian pathological alterations were measured to assess ovarian function. Exosomes (Exos) were identified by Transmission electron microscopy and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis. RT-qPCR, Western blotting, immunohistochemical staining, and immunofluorescence staining were performed to detect molecule expressions. Proliferation and pyroptosis of granulosa cells (GCs) were evaluated by CCK-8 and flow cytometry, respectively. The binding relationship between miR-30a-5p and suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) was verified by dual luciferase reporter and RIP assays. Results: BSHLD treatment improved serum hormone abnormality, insulin sensitivity, and ovarian morphologic changes of PCOS rats. Moreover, BSHLD treatment restrained the excessive autophagy and pyroptosis in ovarian tissues of PCOS rats. Moreover, BSHLD reduced the expression of miR-30a-5p in serum, serum-derived Exos, and ovarian tissues, thus inhibiting autophagy and NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis in GCs. Mechanistically, SOCS3 was proved as a target of miR-30a-5p and could activate mTOR/P70S6K pathway to repress autophagy. The inhibitory effect of miR-30a-5p deficiency on autophagy and pyroptosis of GCs was attenuated by rapamycin. Conclusion: Collectively, BSHLD suppressed autophagy and pyroptosis to improve POCS by regulating exosomal miR-30a-5p/SOCS3/mTOR signaling. Highlights: 1. BSHLD improved the ovarian function and repressed excessive autophagy and pyroptosis in PCOS rats. 2. BSHLD reduced miR-30a-5p expression in serum, serum exosomes and ovarian tissues of PCOS rats. 3. BSHLD relieved the autophagy and pyroptosis by decreasing exosomal miR-30a-5p. 4. miR-30a-5p inactivated mTOR/p70S6K signaling by targeting SOCS3, thus activating autophagy and pyroptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A dislocation-based model with a robust convergence is developed to investigate the contact problems. • A deterministic method is proposed to progressively evaluate the stick and slip contact conditions of crack faces. • The slip accumulation of crack faces during the loading process is accounted for the description of friction evolution. • The effects of friction coefficient, crack alignment and location on the shear behaviors of crack faces are analyzed. Mechanical transmission components are generally under the risk of contact fatigue, resulting in cracks initiated from the subsurface. When subject to compressive stress, these cracks might be forced to be closed, thus their faces are in partial slip contact. Under such conditions, the interactions of stick and slip zones cannot be directly determined, which is one of the greatest challenges of contact fatigue problems. In this study, the distributed dislocation technique is adopted to investigate the stick–slip friction along the alignment of shear cracks in arbitrary orientations in a half-plane under contact loading. The unknown dislocation density describing the crack face displacement is iteratively calculated based on the stress conditions and then introduced to update the surface gap between contacting bodies. The complex expressions of the influence coefficients used to determine the stress and displacement induced by the dislocations are derived and the FORTRAN codes are provided in the Supplementary Materials. A step-by-step loading method is proposed to progressively capture the slip history of crack faces. The model is also capable of simulating rolling contact problems. The results are comparable to those predicted using the finite element method with more robust convergence properties. The effects of friction coefficient, crack alignment, and locations of crack faces are discussed in detail. The model paves the foundation for further studies on competing mechanisms of crack propagation and crack face wear, and provides insights into the frictional fracture of materials under contact loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the high dependence on the pH of influent water and the level of ferrous species, the applicability of the electro-Fenton (EF) system is poor. A highly applicable dual-cathode (DC) EF system with self-adjusting pH and ferrous species is proposed: gas diffusion electrode (GDE) for generation H 2 O 2 and Fe/S doped multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Fe/S-MWCNT) modification active cathode (AC) for adjusting pH and iron species. The strong synergistic enhancement effect between two cathodes (synergy factor up to 90.3%) improves the catalytic activity of this composite system about 12.4 times higher than that of cathode alone. Impressively, AC has the ability of self-regulate to shift towards the optimal Fenton pH (around 3.0) without adding reagents. Even pH can be adjusted from 9.0 to 3.4 within 60 min. This characteristic gives the system a wide range of pH applications, while avoiding the disadvantage of the high cost of traditional EF in pre-acidification. Furthermore, DC has a high and stable ferrous species supply, and the iron leaching amount is about twice less than that of heterogeneous EF system. Long-term stability of the DC system and its easy activity regeneration exhibit the potential of environmental remediation in industrial application. • A dual-cathode electro-Fenton system with high availability was proposed. • The system was capable of self supplying Fe2+ and automatically optimizing pH. • Strong synergetic mechanism of two cathodes ensured the full production of.•OH. • Rapid activation of H 2 O 2 along with lower iron leaching was obtained. • The system exhibited wide pH application range and long-term stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family Bombycidae (sensu Minet, 1994) is a diverse group of species belonging to the superfamily Bombycoidea. It is an economically important group of moth species, containing well‐known silk‐producing insects, as well as many pests of agriculture and forestry. The morphology‐based hypothesis of Minet (1994) on the composition of Bombycidae is in conflict with subsequent phylogenetic hypotheses for the superfamily based on nuclear genes. In this paper, the complete mitochondrial genomes of nine species of Bombycidae are presented for the first time. Based on these genomes, four dataset partitions and three gblocks parameter settings, phylogenetic relationships among Bombycidae were reconstructed using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. Bombycidae was confirmed as a polyphyletic group, with the traditional subfamilies Prismostictinae and Oberthueriinae forming a single well‐supported clade that is distant to Bombycinae. The phylogenetic relationships within Bombycoidea were supported as ((((Bombycinae, Sphingidae), Saturniidae), (Prismostictinae, Oberthueriinae)), Eupterotidae). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • MnO 2 /MWCNT composites were used for the first time in the electrocatalysis system. • The self-made electrode exhibited high catalytic activity and reusability. • Electrooxidation and electroreduction simultaneously occurred in TBBPA decomposition. • Intermediates were identified and possible degradation pathway was proposed. Abstract In this study, MnO 2 /MWCNT hybrids, prepared using a solvothermal method, were coated onto Ni foam and then used as a cathode for tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) degradation. The reaction was confirmed to exhibit the pseudo first-order kinetics. Compared with the original Ni foam cathode, the fabricated electrode exhibited higher catalytic activity, attributed to its strong cross-linking and ability to produce catalytic free radicals. Radical scavenger experiments revealed that O 2 − and OH were involved in the decomposition of TBBPA. The effects of current density, pH, catalyst dosage, and initial TBBPA concentration on removal efficiency were further studied. An optimal removal rate of 98.3% was achieved while the rate constant reached values up to 0.07293 min−1 and the debromination rate was more than 75.4% within 60 min. The electrode showed high catalytic performance and low catalyst loss after 10 cycles, indicating its excellent stability and reusability. The probable mechanism and pathway of TBBPA degradation were suggested based on the analysis of intermediate products. It could be inferred that the decomposition of TBBPA involved C C bond breaks (oxidation) and debromination (reduction). The MnO 2 /MWCNT-Ni foam could be a promising cathode material for electrochemical degradation of halogenated organic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we first present a novel cathode material of α-Ag2S for rechargeable Mg batteries. Due to the unique cation displacement reaction mechanism and the in situ generated uniformly distributed silver matrix, α-Ag2S nanostructures deliver remarkably improved magnesiation kinetics compared to conventional transition metal sulfides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Two schemes of Cosserat peridynamics are presented. • The relation between peridynamic horizon and internal length scale is explored. • A new failure criterion of peridynamics is developed including the rotation effect. • The effect of internal length scale on crack propagation is discussed. • Intersection of two cracks is presented in numerical results. This work presents two schemes of Cosserat peridynamics based on Timoshenko beam element in Finite Element Method (FEM) and contact particle model in Discrete Element Method (DEM) respectively. In difference with the traditional bond-based peridynamics, the bond in the Cosserat peridynamics can transmit not only the pairwise force but also the pairwise moment. In order to modelling crack propagation in Cosserat peridynamics, a new failure criterion for bond broken is developed including the effects of rotation. In addition, the relation between internal length scale and the peridynamic horizon is discussed. It is found that the horizon in Cosserat peridynamics has a lower limit related to the internal length scale. Compared with the existing model, corresponding numerical results indicate the validation and effectiveness of Cosserat peridynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interleukin (IL)‐37 has been described as a negative regulator of immune responses and is critical for asthma pathogenesis, but the mechanisms behind the protective role of IL‐37 against allergic asthma are less well understood. We show here that IL‐37 administered intranasally inhibited house dust mite (HDM)‐induced chronic airway eosinophilic inflammation, goblet cell hyperplasia, peribronchial collagen deposition and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to methacholine. In contrast to a weakened Th2 response in the lung that was characterized by the downregulation of Th2‐associated cytokines and chemokines in IL‐37‐treated mice, IL‐37 has no effect on relevant markers of systemic Th2 immune including serum immunoglobulins expression and in vitro production of Th2‐associated cytokines by splenocytes on HDM recall. We demonstrated that the production of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in the lung tissue was associated with IL‐37. Importantly, compared with IL‐37 alone, TSLP coadministration with IL‐37 restored HDM‐induced airway inflammation and structural alterations, increased AHR to methacholine and promoted Th2‐associated cytokine production. We further found that IL‐37 inhibited the induction of TSLP expression by the main antigen of house dust mite, Der p1, by suppressing NF‐κB and extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) activation in human bronchial epithelial (16‐HBE) cells in vitro. These data highlight the importance of TSLP in IL‐37‐mediated protective role in asthma. IL‐37 might represent a useful innovative and alternative therapy to control TSLP production in the airway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covering: 2000 to 2018 Natural products containing the 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran (2,3-DHB) skeleton have been the focus of a substantial number of synthetic studies since 2000. Herein, we review the total syntheses of decursivine, serotobenine, lithospermic acid, linderol A, bisabosqual A, pterocarpans, conocarpan, heliannuols, and some resveratrol oligomers, with emphasis on the synthetic strategies employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A novel electro-Fenton cathode with skeleton of melamine foams was first developed. • The introduction of suitable PTFE to the electrode increased current response for ORR. • The prepared electrode exhibited excellent activation of H 2 O 2 to generate OH. • The electrode showed good sustained activity and reusability on degradation of MB. • A possible MB degradation mechanism was proposed. Abstract A facile method using melamine foam (MF) as the framework was firstly developed to construct Fe 3 O 4 coated multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)- polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as efficient electro-Fenton (EF) cathode (Fe@PTFE/MWCNT-MF). Effect of PTFE on the yield of H 2 O 2 was comparatively investigated. Using the 0.3% of PTFE modified electrode had the highest H 2 O 2 yield (130 mg L−1) within 60 min. The analysis of contact angle and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) showed that the optimum electrode exhibited superhydrophobicity (137°) and higher current response for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Compared to the traditional homogeneous EF system, the composite cathode exhibited excellent activation of H 2 O 2 to generate OH. The removal rates of methylene blue (MB) and total organic carbon (TOC) reached 100% and 78.4%, respectively. A possible degradation mechanism was also proposed. The Fe@PTFE/MWCNT-MF was an attractive candidate as EF cathode for oxidation removal of organic matters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Fibrocyte localization to the airways and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) overexpression in the lung are features of severe asthma. The aim of this study was to determine whether TSLP contributes to fibrocyte trafficking and airway remodeling in a mouse model of allergic asthma. Methods: We established a chronic asthma animal model by administering house dust mite (HDM) extracts intranasally for up to 5 consecutive weeks. Mouse anti-TSLP monoclonal antibody (mAb) was given intraperitoneally starting the 4th week. Fluorescence-labeled CD34/collagen I (Col I)-dual-positive fibrocytes were examined by confocal microscopy. The level of TGF-β1 in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was determined by ELISA. Results: We found significantly increased levels of TSLP and TGF-β1 in the lung of the mice subjected to repeated allergen exposure, which was accompanied by increased number of fibrocytes in the sub-epithelial zone and the BAL fluid. However, blocking TSLP markedly decreased the production of TGF-β1, reduced the number of fibrocytes and subsequently prevented alterations of both airway and vascular structures. Conclusions: Our data suggested that TSLP might function in airway remodeling by promoting circulating fibrocyte recruitment to the lung in the mice subjected to chronic allergen exposure. These results provide a better rationale for targeting the interaction between TSLP and fibrocytes as a therapeutic approach for chronic allergic asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Th17 and regulatory T cell (Treg) play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of asthma. However, the association between Th17/Treg homeostasis and asthma exacerbation remains unclear.Patients and Methods: To investigate the role of Th17/Treg bias in asthma exacerbation, 49 asthma patients were enrolled in the current study, of whom 31 had acute asthma exacerbation (exacerbation group) and 18 did not (non-exacerbation group). Meanwhile, 17 healthy subjects were recruited as normal controls (control group). By measuring interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-10, and IL-17A levels in plasma using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and determining the mRNA expression of T-bet, GATA-3, forkhead/winged helix transcription factor (Foxp3), and receptor-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by quantitative real-time PCR.Results: We found that IL-17A/IL-10 and RORγt/Foxp3 ratios were significantly increased in the exacerbation group compared with that in the non-exacerbation group, while IL-4/IFN-γ and GATA-3/T-bet ratios remained unchanged. Moreover, IL-17A/IL-10 and RORγt/Foxp3 ratios, but not IL-4/IFN-γ or GATA-3/T-bet ratios, negatively correlated with forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1)/FEV1pred and Asthma Control Test Questionnaire (ACT) scores in both exacerbation group and non-exacerbation group. In contrast, the IL-4/IFN-γ ratio was negatively correlated with FEV1/FEV1pred and ACT scores only in the non-exacerbation group but not in the exacerbation group, while the ratio of GATA-3/T-bet was correlated with neither FEV1/FEV1pred nor ACT scores in both groups with asthma.Conclusion: Our results suggest that the homeostasis of the Treg and Th17 cells is broken in asthma exacerbation and correlates with asthma severity and disease control status. The outcome has significant implication in understanding the progression of asthma and providing helpful information for physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of asthma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experimental model of combined allergic rhinitis and asthma syndrome (CARAS) has shown that CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODNs) are potential inhibitors of type 2 helper cell-driven inflammatory responses. Currently available CpG-ODNs modestly inhibit allergic responses in CARAS, while a combination strategy for upper airway treatment by co-administration of CpG-ODNs and glucocorticoids may show good efficacy. This study aimed to assess the therapeutic effects of CpG-ODNs combined with budesonide (BUD) on upper and lower-airway inflammation and remodeling in mice with CARAS induced by chronic exposure to ovalbumin (OVA), exploring the possible underlying molecular mechanisms. A BALB/c mouse model of chronic CARAS was established by systemic sensitization and repeated challenge with OVA. Treatment with CpG-ODNs or BUD by intranasal administration was started 1 h after OVA challenge. Then, nasal mucosa and lung tissues were fixed and stained for pathologic analysis. The resulting immunologic variables and TSLP-DC-OX40L axis parameters were evaluated. Both CpG-ODNs and BUD intranasal administration are effective on reducing Th2-type airway inflammation and tissue remodeling. Co-administration of CpG-ODNs and BUD was more effective than each monotherapy in attenuating upper and lower-airway inflammation as well as airway remodeling in chronic CARAS. Notably, combination of CpG-ODNs with BUD modulated the TSLP-DC-OX40L axis, as demonstrated by decreased TSLP production in the nose and lung, alongside decreased TSLPR and OX40L in DC. Intranasal co-administration of CpG-ODNs and BUD synergistically alleviates airway inflammation and tissue remodeling in experimental chronic CARAS, through shared cellular pathways, as a potent antagonist of the TSLP-DC-OX40L axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible or bendable energy storage devices have drawn great attention recently due to the great demand for the development of soft portable equipment. Conducting polymers (polypyrrole, polyaniline, polythiophene) are particularly interesting powder form candidates for active materials in such devices. A traditional slurry-based technology with low mass loadings (1 mg/cm2) is usually used. However, poor interparticle or particle-substrate connections influence the performance of devices during bending. Furthermore, increasing the mass loading (10 mg/cm2) of commercial-level electrode materials often has the problems of poor electrical and ionic conductivity, which will hinder their practical applications. The electrodeposition process of conducting polymers provides an alternate useful method to synthesize uniform and binder-free electrodes with high mass loadings. Here, electrochemically synthesized polypyrrole is proposed and investigated to increase the energy storage performance with high mass loadings. The electrodeposition polypyrrole electrode with a mass loading of 10 mg/cm2 demonstrates a competitive gravimetric capacitance of 265 F/g at a current density of 1 A/g. In the case of a symmetrical supercapacitor with E-PPy, the differences in the capacitance obtained with different electrode masses are insignificant (59.1 F/g for 2.4 mg/cm2 and 54.9 F/g for 10 mg/cm2). The assembled supercapacitor also possesses outstanding flexibility (as high as 96.3% capacitance retention at 2 A/g) upon bending to 140° for 10 cycles. [Display omitted] • The electrodeposition process of polypyrrole provides a useful method to synthesize uniform and binder-free electrodes. • The polypyrrole electrode obtained through electrodeposition with a high mass loading demonstrates a competitive gravimetric capacitance. • The assembled supercapacitor exhibits remarkable flexibility, with excellent capacitance after being bent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) technology capable of fully mineralizing hazardous substances is a promising strategy to address growing environmental problems. Herein, MoS 2 nanosheets grown on nitrogen doped hollow carbon spheres (MoS 2 –NHCS) composites was prepared, and then bonded on a foamed nickel matrix by electrodeposition as photoanode for PEC degradation of Bisphenol A (BPA). Due to the integrated synergistic effect of unique composites structure and photocatalysis/electrocatalysis, the separation efficiency and survival life of photogenerated carriers were improved, and then accelerated the degradation of pollutants. The maximum reaction rate constant was 7.30 × 10−3 min−1. Photoelectrochemical characterization and key influencing parameters were discussed to clarify the relations between structure and function. The activity loss of MoS 2 –NHCS photoanode after four cycles was less than 10%, showing the long-term stability of BPA removal. The radicals quenching results revealed that this composite system was dominated by •OH together with moiety contributed by h+ and O 2 •-. Based on the detection results of intermediates, a possible decomposition pathway of BPA was proposed. The mixed pollution experiments suggested that the synergistic effect between organic matter and heavy metal greatly increased the treatment load of this composite electrode, providing a new idea for the study of practical wastewater treatment by the PEC system. • Photoelectrocatalytic system with novel MoS 2 –NHCS as photoanode was developed. • SynErgistic effect of composites structure and photoelectrocatalysis was testified. • A possible BPA degradation mechanism was proposed. • SynErgy between mixed pollution was explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen-doped graphene as a perfectly-efficient and environmentally compatible electrocatalyst won widespread attention in electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOP). However, the relationship between surface structure regulation and activity of catalysts is still lacking in systematic scientific guidance. Herein, nitrogen-doped graphene aerogel (NGA) was conveniently prepared through hydrothermal treatment, and then utilized to fabricate the gas diffusion electrode (GDE) as the cathode for tetracycline (TC) removal. High free radical yield (81.2 μM) and fast reaction rate (0.1469 min−1) were found in NGA system. The molecular dynamics simulation (MD) results showed that the interaction energy of NGA was greater than the raw graphene aerogel (GA). The adsorption activation of H 2 O 2 and the degradation of TC occurred in the first adsorption layer of catalysts, and both processes turned more orderly after nitrogen doping. Moreover, the van der Waals interaction was stronger than the electrostatic interaction. Density function theory (DFT) revealed that the adsorption energy of H 2 O 2 at graphitic N, pyridinic N, and pyrrolic N sites was −0.03 eV, −0.39 eV, and −0.30 eV, respectively. Pyridinic N sites were inferred as the main functional regions of in-situ activation •OH, there were more likely to occur ectopic reaction in pyrrolic N, and graphitic N were responsible for improving H 2 O 2 production. By revealing the microstructure and activation characteristics of NGA, an experiment-simulation complementary strategy is provided in the EAOP to discover or to optimize new catalysts. • An experiment-simulation complementary strategy was provided. • Strong affinity between catalyst and tetracycline, H 2 O 2 activation was confirmed. • Van der Waals interaction was dominant for system in the first adsorption layer. • Pyridinic N sites were inferred as the main functional regions of generation.•OH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment of effluent containing Bisphenol A (BPA) was investigated experimentally using nitrogen-doped graphene aerogel (NGAs) as particle electrodes in a three-dimensional electrode reactor for the electrochemical treatment was studied. The effects of the cell voltage, pH, the ratio of NGAs mass to solution volume and repeated times on the removal efficiency were investigated. Compared with commercial carbon particle electrodes, the NGAs exhibited stronger activity to remove BPA simulated wastewater. For 15 mg L −1 of BPA solution, the degradation rate of BPA exceeded 90% after treatment for only 30 min under the optimum conditions. The COD Cr removal rate of BPA was 85%. Moreover, in the process of reused 50 times, the degradation rate of BPA can be kept in more than 85%. The COD Cr removal rate was stable at about 73%. The intermediate products of electrochemical degradation of BPA were identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry liquid chromatography (LC–MS), and a probable BPA degradation pathway was proposed. It was considered that OH radicals by water electrolysis could constantly attack the aromatic ring to form various intermediates such as hydroxylated-BPA, isopropylphenol, hydroquinone, phenol and butantetraol, maleic acid, oxalic acid. These compounds were eventually mineralized by electrolysis into CO 2 and H 2 O. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-uniform atomic interfaces formed by highly-exposed TiO 2 photoanode enhance the peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation performance. [Display omitted] • Establishment of a highly-exposed TiO 2 photoanode activated PMS composite system. • DFT theoretical calculation verify the strengthening mechanism. • TiO 2 dual active sites endowed Ti 3 C 2 /TiO 2 with superior catalytic activity. In this system, a highly-exposed TiO 2 photoanode was prepared as an effectively photoelectrocatalyst peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activator. Especially, we realize the highly-exposed TiO 2 grown on negatively charged MXene nanosheet which could provide dual active sites for stimulating PMS. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, XPS, SEM, UV–vis, Raman, TEM, and BET. The specific surface area for highly-exposed TiO 2 (S-400) is 10 times than Bulk catalyst (B-400), which is displayed in the BET result. The experimental results show that high exposure catalyst has excellent photoelectric activation performance. The degradation efficiency of the PEC + PMS system was 2.94 times higher than the EC + PMS and 2.76 times higher than the PC + PMS process. Compare with free PMS (1.36˚A), PMS adsorbed at the photoanode interface has a high bond angle (2.85˚A) easily to decompose into strong oxidizing SO 4 −. The electrochemical characterization results demonstrated that the highly-exposed TiO 2 had a higher separation rate of photogenerated carriers. From quenching experiments, the holes (h+) contributed 80 % to BPA degradation in PEC + PMS system, the contribution order of other active radicals was O 2 −>SO 4 −> OH. It will help improving the control of the optimal free radical ratio. The probable mechanism and pathway of BPA degradation were suggested e− reacts with PMS and other substances to generate radicals. The research offers a new strategy for the effective activation about PMS to oxidation of the refractory organics. Besides, the results provide useful theoretical guidance for the development of new high-activity materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enantioselective total synthesis of the 3,4-fused indole alkaloid ht-13-A has been achieved. The synthesis features a zinc-mediated propargylation, a rhodium-catalyzed intramolecular C–H activation reaction, and a methylamine-mediated cyclization. This concise and efficient synthetic approach can be applied for the gram-scale synthesis of ht-13-A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose:Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a critical regulator of immune responses associated with Th2 cytokine-mediated inflammation. Intranasal administration of oligodeoxynucleotides with CpG motifs (CpG-ODNs) might improve lower airway outcomes of combined allergic rhinitis and asthma syndrome (CARAS), but the inherent mechanisms of CpG-ODNs are not well defined. This study investigated whether CpG-ODNs treated to upper airway could reduce lower airway TSLP expression as well as whether this reduction could contribute to the alleviation of lower allergic inflammation and airway hyper-reactivity (AHR) in CARAS mice.Materials and Methods:Ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized BALB/c mice were intranasal OVA exposure three times a week for 3 weeks. CpG-ODNs or an anti-TSLP mAb was administered to a subset of these mice 1 hour after intranasal OVA challenge, followed by 5 days of OVA aerosol challenge. The resulting immunological variables, nasal symptoms, and nasal mucosa and lung tissues pathology were evaluated. TSLP production in the lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were determined by RT-PCR, western blotting or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results:The CARAS mice exhibited overexpression of TSLP in the lung tissues and BALF, and also demonstrated significant increases in BALF and splenocyte Th2-associated cytokine production, serum OVA-specific IgE, nose and lung pathologies, and AHR. Intranasal administration of CpG-ODNs restored TSLP in the lower airway, and it significantly reduced the following parameters: Th2-type cytokine production levels; the percentage of eosinophils in the BALF; IL-4 and IL-5 concentrations in the supernatants of cultured splenic lymphocytes; serum OVA-specific IgE; peribronchial inflammation score in the lungs; and nose pathology and nasal symptoms. Similar results were obtained when the CARAS mice were treated with an anti-TSLP mAb to block intranasal TSLP activity.Conclusions:Treatment with intranasal CpG-ODNs improves lower airway immunological variable outcomes in the CARAS model via a mechanism that possibly involves in suppressing pulmonary TSLP-triggered allergic inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

• We present a novel model for the fretting contact of layered materials with mixed-mode I and II interfacial cracks in plane-strain conditions. • The fractured material with surface layers is homogenized by using the Eshelby's equivalent inclusion method and discrete dislocation technique. • The intensive interactions in the contact system are determined by a multi-loop algorithm to achieve rapid convergence. • The model is also capable of simulating the cracks with their faces in contact by disabling the loop that determines the mode I crack. • Surface tractions and subsurface stresses are investigated for the further study of fretting fractures originating from the interfaces. Surfaces of tightly fitted joints such as splines and dovetails in aero-engines are expected in nominally static contact but experience small amplitude oscillations in practice, leading to fretting fatigue due to nucleation and propagation of micro-cracks. Modern surface coatings are designed to improve the anti-friction/wear capabilities but result in severe stress concentrations across the bonding interfaces due to property mismatch, which may generate interfacial cracks and lead to delamination damage. In this study, a numerical model is developed to investigate the fretting behavior of layered materials with mixed-mode I and II cracks at the layer/layer/substrate interfaces in plane-strain conditions. The layer-type impurities are assumed as a bunch of inclusions, whilst the crack-type ones are simulated as discrete edge dislocations. The governing equations are established based on the analysis of stress state, and the impurity-induced displacement is taken into account for an accurate description of the fretting contact. The intensive interactions in the contact system are determined by a multi-loop algorithm, and the calculation efficiency is improved by using the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) technique. The model can be easily handled without refining meshes near the crack tips, and the calculation time is far less than that of the finite element model to achieve comparable solutions. The model is also capable of simulating cracks with their faces in contact by disabling the loop that determines the mode I crack solution. Details are discussed on the surface traction and subsurface stress influenced by layer films and embedded cracks. The solutions to crack-face displacement are also presented to reveal the potential crack patterns enforced by the time-dependent contact loading. The conclusions are expected to provide insights into enhancing the damage resistance of surfaces suffering from fretting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nanospheres from phenolic resin are considered as one of the most hopeful carbon-based materials for lithium storage due to the controllable size, adjustable structure, and easy fabrications. However, the lithium-ion storage properties of as-prepared carbon spheres were suppressed by the inaccessible interior sites and low heteroatom content. Here, 3-Aminophenol-Formaldehyde resin@Polystyrene@ Polypyrrole core/interlayer/shell nanospheres were designed as precursors to prepare nitrogen-containing carbon spheres. With the appropriate amount of polystyrene interlayer, carbon spheres with a gap were formed, which shown an enhanced reversible discharge capacity of 536.9 mAh g−1 after 1600 cycles at 2 A g−1. The superior electrochemical performance can be mainly ascribed to the introduction a gap between core and shell, which have made interior sites accessible. High nitrogen content and elegant nanostructure are also the main factors to improve Lithium-ions storage performance. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A micromorphic peridynamic model is proposed. • A bond damage criterion that involves the effect of microstructure is proposed. • The relation between PD parameters and micromorphic parameters is discussed. • The effect of the micromorphic parameters on crack propagation is investigated. This paper proposes a micromorphic peridynamic model (MPD) based on the micromorphic theory and the bond-based peridynamic model (BBPD). In micromorphic theory, the material particle is assumed to be embedded with a micro-volume that consists of many micro-particles. Such assumption enables the micromorphic theory can describe the deformation of the microstructure. The proposed MPD is an extended version of BBPD, where the bond interaction considers the effect of microstructure and the bond can transmit both the peridynamic pair-wise forces and peridynamic pair-wise moments. Under special cases, the proposed MPD can degenerate into the BBPD. In this study, the proposed MPD is applied to simulate the crack propagation of the concrete plate and investigate the effect of the micromorphic parameters on crack propagation. The concrete has a size effect due to the existence of the microstructure, and its mechanical behaviors, especially the fracture behavior, are highly influenced by the microstructure. The numerical examples firstly compare the proposed MPD and the micromorphic finite element method, and the results show good agreement between these two numerical models. Then, mode I, mode II and mixed-mode crack propagations are simulated and the influences of the micromorphic parameters on the crack paths are investigated. The results indicate that the micromorphic parameters have an impact on the local damage initiation and have a weak influence on the main trajectory of crack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlF) is closely related to photosynthesis. • The physiological information in PSII photochemical yield (Φ PSII) is disturbed by illumination. • The R 2 values of the diurnal Φ PSII -PAR regression decrease under drought stress. • The linearity of the diurnal Φ PSII -PAR regression can serve as a good indicator of drought stress. The importance of detecting drought stress in crops to alleviate the pressure of the growing population and food demand is well recognized. Although chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlF) is closely related to photosynthesis, it is always disturbed by the intensity of irradiance during the measurement. To detect drought stress more effectively with ChlF, we studied the diurnal relationship of the effective quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry (Φ PSII) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). We measured the diurnal Φ PSII , leaf temperature (T leaf) and PAR of maize leaves (Zheng Dan 958) by pulse-amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometry under different drought stresses. We found that in the absence of drought stress, the linearity (indicated by R 2) between diurnal Φ PSII and PAR was strong. When drought stress was gradually aggravated, the difference between the Φ PSII values in the morning and those in the afternoon under similar PAR values gradually became significant. Therefore, the R 2 values of the linear correlation of the diurnal Φ PSII -PAR regression gradually decreased under increased drought stress. The simulation results of a photosynthesis model showed that the diurnal variation in the response of Φ PSII -PAR during drought may be the result of the fluctuation of the substrate saturated Rubisco capacity (V cmax) , which was dominated by the dynamics of T leaf. The results indicated that the linearity of diurnal Φ PSII -PAR regression can be used as an effective and convenient field indicator to monitor drought stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel bifunctional-group multi-purpose dye probe p-TNS, with a unique excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) and resonance-assisted hydrogen bonding (RAHB) coupled system, was confirmed to detect cyanide and hydrazineto by blocking the ESIPT effect. [Display omitted] • A novel salomo-like dye probe with yellow-green fluorescence was synthesized. • Dye probes show obvious solvent-dependence based on spectroscopic testing. • Quickly identify CN− and N 2 H 4 by blocking the ESIPT effect due to the existence of resonance-assisted hydrogen bonds (RAHB). A novel bifunctional-group multi-purpose dye probe p-TNS has been designed and synthesized. The probe p-TNS has unique excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) and resonance-assisted hydrogen bonding (RAHB) coupled system, was confirmed to detect cyanide and hydrazine by blocking the ESIPT effect. Cyanide can change the fluorescence of the solution from bright green to orange-red (116 nm Stokes shift), while hydrazine causes the bright green fluorescence to be quenched. The recognition mechanism of the probe p-TNS to CN− and N 2 H 4 was proposed reasonably through spectral characterizations and theoretical calculations. Combined with theoretical calculations, it was speculated that the solvent dependence may be caused by the ICT effect in the molecule. The probe p-TNS could be prepared into test strips for the detection of cyanide and hydrazine. In addition, the probe molecule can also be used to detect trace amounts of cyanide in agricultural products, and respond to gaseous hydrazine by direct contact, indicating that the probe p-TNS has good practical application prospects. Therefore, this molecular framework provides a new way of thinking about detecting multiple target substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]