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[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074968.].

Herein, multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/silicon nitride (Si3N4)/polyaniline (PANI) ternary composites are prepared. The preparation method involves attaching carboxyl groups to acid‐modified MWCNT surfaces and amino groups to Si3N4 surfaces modified using a silane‐coupling agent. Then they are combined to binary composites using the solvent‐thermal method. Finally, the ternary composites are prepared by coating PANI on the surface of MWCNT/Si3N4 composites in situ polymerization. The morphology and structure of these composites are characterized through X‐ray diffraction, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Results show that the reflection loss at 8.8 GHz reaches −42.57 dB when the feeding ratio of MWCNT:Si3N4:PANI is 3:20:40 and the corresponding effective absorption bandwidth reaches 4.06 GHz when the thickness is 3.5 mm. A conductive network with effective electron leaps is formed among MWCNT, Si3N4, and PANI, which increases the conductive loss of the composites. An abundant number of interfaces have formed in the composite materials and promoted dielectric loss. Multiple loss mechanisms and good impedance matching performance endow MWCNT/Si3N4/PANI with excellent microwave absorption performance, and the incorporation of Si3N4 enables the composites to exhibit satisfactory high‐temperature resistance. Thus, these performances render the composites promising materials to address increasing electromagnetic pollution, particularly at high temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe contamination has always been one of the most critical issues in the integrated circuit (IC) industry due to its catastrophic effect on device reliability and electrical characteristics. With complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology scaling down, this issue has been attracting more attention. In this paper, the impact of Fe impurity on the reliability of gate oxide integrity (GOI) in advanced CMOS technology is investigated. Intentional contamination of polysilicon gates was conducted in both boron- and phosphorus-doped devices. Failure analysis of the gate oxide was conducted with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and the energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) technique. The experimental results disclose that the properties of PMOS are much more sensitive to Fe contamination than those of NMOS. It is suggested that the reason for the above phenomena is that Fe precipitates at the PMOS gate/oxide interface but dissolves uniformly in the NMOS poly gate due to lower formation energy of the FeB pair (0.65 eV) in PMOS than that of the P4-Fe cluster (3.2 eV) in NMOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The sequelae of pelvic inflammatory disease (SPID) are major causes of secondary infertility. Modified Hongteng Baijiang decoction (MHTBD) has produced positive results in the treatment of patients with chronic pelvic inflammatory disease; however, its role in SPID remains elusive. Therefore, this study clarified the role of MHTBD in SPID pathogenesis. Methods: The main components in MHTBD were analyzed by using liquid chromatography‒mass spectrometry (LC/MS). An SPID rat model was established, and the rats were treated with different doses of MHTBD (0.504 g of raw drug/kg, 1.008 g of raw drug/kg, and 2.016 g of raw drug/kg). Endometrial pinopodes were observed via scanning electron microscopy, endometrial thickness and inflammatory cell infiltration were assessed via HE staining, and the expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), integrin β3 (ITGB3), and CD31 in the endometrium was detected by using immunohistochemistry. Western blot analysis was used to detect the protein expression of LIF, JAK2, p‐JAK2, STAT3, and p‐STAT3 in the endometrium. Moreover, the changes in the gut microbiota were analyzed via 16S rRNA sequencing. Results: MHTBD improved endometrial receptivity, attenuated endometrial pathologic damage, reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, decreased ER and PR expression in the endometrium, and promoted the expression of LIF, p‐JAK2, and p‐STAT3 in the endometrium (p <.05) in SPID rats. Additionally, MHTBD treatment affected the composition of the gut microbiota in SPID rats. Furthermore, MHTBD attenuated endometrial receptivity and pathological damage in SPID rats by promoting the LIF/JAK2/STAT3 pathway. Conclusion: MHTBD attenuates SPID in rats by promoting the LIF/JAK2/STAT3 pathway and improving the composition of the gut microbiota. MHTBD may be a valuable drug for SPID therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe3O4/SiO2 nanocomposites (NCs) were prepared by the interaction of alkyne-functionalized ferric oxide (Fe3O4-Alk) nanoparticles (NPs) and azide-functionalized silicon dioxide (SiO2-N3) NPs via the click reaction. The morphology and structure of the Fe3O4/SiO2 NCs were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and infrared analyses, and the electromagnetic parameters were measured using a vector network analyzer. For the Fe3O4/SiO2 nanocomposites obtained via the click reaction, the minimum reflection loss reached − 37.15 dB at 16.68 GHz and a matching thickness of 5.0 mm, and the bandwidth below − 10 dB ranged from 3.2 to 6.7 GHz and 15.7 to 17.6 GHz. The Fe3O4/SiO2 composites synthesized via the click reaction exhibited better microwave absorption performance than the physically blended sample. This is mainly because Fe3O4 and SiO2 are covalently bonded through the click reaction in the composites, creating multiple heterogeneous interfaces, which enhance dielectric loss and impedance matching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides preliminary validity evidence for the shorter Mandarin version of the Vocabulary Size Test (VST) under the content aspect, technical quality, substantive and generalizability aspect of Messick's (1995) construct validity framework. The shorter version with 177 Chinese university students in three proficiency levels indicates that the test enjoys a high level of validity both from the perspective of classical test theory and item response theory. A one-way ANOVA and detailed statistics of Rasch analyses demonstrate that the test could effectively distinguish learners from different proficiency levels. The first eight levels of the VST generally display an ascending difficulty continuum except that some loan words in the seventh and the eighth level prove to be problematic in assessing Chinese learners' vocabulary size accurately. The generalizability aspect of construct validity is demonstrated in that there is no item bias for learners of the same proficiency group in terms of gender. Compared with the results of other studies either on monolingual or bilingual version, this research attempts to justify the appropriateness of the Mandarin version and calls for cautious applications of the test instrument on Chinese learners.

The growing need for the multiband photodetection of a single scene has promoted the development of both multispectral coupling and broadband detection technologies. Photodetectors operating across the infrared (IR) to terahertz (THz) regions have many applications such as in optical communications, sensing imaging, material identification, and biomedical detection. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in broadband photodetectors operating in the infrared to terahertz range, highlighting their classification, operating principles, and performance characteristics. We discuss the challenges faced in achieving broadband detection and summarize various strategies employed to extend the spectral response of photodetectors. Lastly, we conclude by outlining future research directions in the field of broadband photodetection, including the utilization of novel materials, artificial microstructure, and integration schemes to overcome current limitations. These innovative methodologies have the potential to achieve high-performance, ultra-broadband photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific Reports 5: Article number: 15512; published online: 22 October 2015; updated: 13 April 2016 The Acknowledgements section in this Article is incomplete. “This study was supported by National 973 Program (2012CBA01305); National Science Fund for Outstanding Young Scholars (81322039); National Natural Science Foundation (31371524); Distinguished Young Scholars of Jiangsu Province (BK20130041); Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD); New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-13-0870) and the California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP) Grant 19XT-0070 (to B.

Thirdhand smoke (THS) is a new term for the toxins in cigarette smoke that linger in the environment long after the cigarettes are extinguished. The effects of THS exposure on male reproduction have not yet been studied. In this study, metabolic changes in male germ cell lines (GC-2 and TM-4) were analyzed after THS treatment for 24 h. THS-loaded chromatography paper samples were generated in a laboratory chamber system and extracted in DMEM. At a paper: DMEM ratio of 50 μg/ml, cell viability in both cell lines was normal, as measured by the MTT assay and markers of cytotoxicity, cell cycle, apoptosis and ROS production were normal as measured by quantitative immunofluorescence. Metabolomic analysis was performed on methanol extracts of GC-2 and TM-4 cells. Glutathione metabolism in GC-2 cells, and nucleic acid and ammonia metabolism in TM-4 cells, was changed significantly by THS treatment. RT-PCR analyses of mRNA for enzyme genes Gss and Ggt in GC-2 cells, and TK, SMS and Glna in TM-4 cells reinforced these findings, showing changes in the levels of enzymes involved in the relevant pathways. In conclusion, exposure to THS at very low concentrations caused distinct metabolic changes in two different types of male reproductive cell lines.

Silica nanoparticles (NP) is one of the most commonly used nanomaterials with potential health hazards. However, the effects of Silica NP on germ cells and the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, GC-2 and TM-4, which are two different types of male germ cells were exposed to Silica NP for 24h, and then general cytotoxicity and multi-parameter cytotoxicity were evaluated. Our results showed that Silica NP could induce apoptosis in GC-2 cells. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results showed that Silica NP was localized in the lysosomes of GC-2 cells. High content screening (HCS) showed that Silica NP exposure could increased cell permeabilization and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential in GC-2 cells. The mRNA and protein levels of apoptosis markers (Bax, Caspase-3, Caspase-9) in GC-2 cells were significantly increased, while Bcl-2 was decreased. Accordingly, the expression level of miR-98, which can regulate Caspase-3, was significantly decreased. Huwe1, the host gene of miR-98, was positively associated with miR-98 expression after Silica NP exposure. Dual luciferase reporter assay suggested that miR-98 directly targets Caspase-3. These results suggest that Silica NP induces apoptosis via loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and Caspase-3 activation, while miR-98 plays key role in modulating this effect.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of high intensity focused ultrasound (HFIU) combined with endometrial ablation in the treatment of adenomyosis (AM) patients with heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB). Method A total of 199 patients with AM combined with HMB who underwent HIFU treatment at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Center of Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of TCM from July 2020 to September 2022 were selected and divided into two groups according to the ablation range. The combined ablation group included 80 cases with lesion and endometrial ablation (endometrial ablation rate ≥ 30%), while the lesion ablation group 119 cases with simple lesion ablation. A 1:1 propensity score matching was performed on the two groups, resulting in 59 patients in each group. A 6-month follow-up was conducted. The clinical manifestations (menstrual volume, degree of dysmenorrhea, uterine and lesion volume), quality of life (MS-QOL, UFS-QOL), and postoperative adverse reactions between the two groups before and 6 months after surgery was compared. Results Menstrual volume, degree of dysmenorrhea, uterine and lesion volume, MS-QOL score, and UFS-QOL score of the both groups were improved 6 months after surgery, when compared to those before surgery (P < 0.05). Significantly reduced menstrual volume, degree of dysmenorrhea, and lower MS-QOL score were observed in the combined ablation group when compared with the lesion ablation group (P < 0.05), but there was no statistical significance in uterine and lesion volume and UFS-QOL score (P > 0.05). There was no difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P > 0.05), but the combined ablation group had longer vaginal bleeding and fluid flow time (P < 0.05). Conclusion The combined HIFU and endometrial ablation can effectively reduce menstrual flow, alleviate dysmenorrhea, and improve quality of life in patients with AM combined with HMB. Although it increases vaginal bleeding and fluid flow time, reasonable symptomatic management can effectively prevent the occurrence of adverse consequences such as infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]