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To date, the application of additive manufacturing techniques in fabricating SiAlON ceramics with intricate geometries has been limited. This investigation demonstrates the synthesis of SiAlON ceramics by integrating silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4) powders with variable proportions of aluminum nitride (AlN) utilizing the vat photopolymerization (VPP) approach. The effects of AlN content on the properties of SiAlON ceramic slurries, green bodies, and sintered parts were systematically investigated. Notably, the slurry's viscosity decreases progressively with an increase in AlN, aligning with VPP printing prerequisites. Additionally, the curing depth of the slurry enhanced proportionally with AlN augmentation, elevating from 21 μm to 44 μm at an energy exposure of 800 mJ/cm2, with the pivotal addition being 15 vol% AlN, where optimal properties were achieved. The zeniths of flexural strength, bulk density, relative density, and thermal conductivity were recorded at 385.66 ± 22.63 MPa, 3.34 ± 0.09 g/cm3, 96.22 ± 2.55 %, and 37.4 ± 0.31 W m−1 K−1, respectively. The fabrication of SiAlON ceramics with complex configurations was successfully realized, heralding a novel methodology for future SiAlON ceramic production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Fermented vegetables are nutritionally beneficial and promote good health. China possesses abundant raw vegetable materials and has a longstanding history of fermented vegetable production. However, the traditional process of vegetable fermentation heavily relies on individual producers' experience and knowledge, resulting in inconsistent flavours, variable quality, and the potential generation of harmful substances. The utilisation of lactic acid fermentation starters can effectively inhibit pathogenic bacteria during the fermentation process, enhance product flavour, reduce nitrite production, improve functional and nutritional value, as well as extend shelf‐life. This article comprehensively reviews factors influencing vegetable fermentation; diverse functions performed by lactic acid bacteria throughout the fermentation process and assesses the current industrialisation status of vegetable fermentation in China. It serves as a valuable reference for promoting high‐quality development within the fermented vegetable industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study was designed to explore and validate the value of different machine learning models based on ultrasound image-omics features in the preoperative diagnosis of lymph node metastasis in pancreatic cancer (PC). Methods: This research involved 189 individuals diagnosed with PC confirmed by surgical pathology (training cohort: n = 151; test cohort: n = 38), including 50 cases of lymph node metastasis. Image-omics features were extracted from ultrasound images. After dimensionality reduction and screening, eight machine learning algorithms, including logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), K-nearest neighbors (KNN), random forest (RF), extra trees (ET), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM), and multilayer perceptron (MLP), were used to establish image-omics models to predict lymph node metastasis in PC. The best omics prediction model was selected through ROC curve analysis. Machine learning models were used to analyze clinical features and determine variables to establish a clinical model. A combined model was constructed by combining ultrasound image-omics and clinical features. Decision curve analysis (DCA) and a nomogram were used to evaluate the clinical application value of the model. Results: A total of 1561 image-omics features were extracted from ultrasound images. 15 valuable image-omics features were determined by regularization, dimension reduction, and algorithm selection. In the image-omics model, the LR model showed higher prediction efficiency and robustness, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.773 in the training set and an AUC of 0.850 in the test set. The clinical model constructed by the boundary of lesions in ultrasound images and the clinical feature CA199 (AUC = 0.875). The combined model had the best prediction performance, with an AUC of 0.872 in the training set and 0.918 in the test set. The combined model showed better clinical benefit according to DCA, and the nomogram score provided clinical prediction solutions. Conclusion: The combined model established with clinical features has good diagnostic ability and can be used to predict lymph node metastasis in patients with PC. It is expected to provide an effective noninvasive method for clinical decision-making, thereby improving the diagnosis and treatment of PC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this work was to assess the effect of physical therapy in patients with somatosensory tinnitus (ST) and explore the influence of physical therapy on clinical variables obtained before treatment. Methods: A total of 43 patients with ST were randomized to the immediate-start group (n = 20) and delayed-start group (n = 23). All patients received physical therapy for 1 week (seven sessions). Each session lasted 60 min. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), and numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) scores were documented at baseline and after treatment (week 1) for all patients. For subjects in the immediate-start group, the THI, VAS, and NPRS scores were measured after therapy (weeks 6, 9, and 12, respectively). Medical history characteristic functional activity scale (HCFA) scores were measured at baseline to assess the association between somatic symptoms and tinnitus. Results: At week 1, VAS, THI, and NPRS scores of patients in the immediate-start group were improved by 1.25 ± 1.59, 11.10 ± 15.10, and 0.95 ± 1.54 points, respectively, and were significantly higher than those in the delayed-start group (p < 0.05). The change in VAS, THI, and NPRS scores in the treatment group was significantly positively correlated with the scores of the HCFA before treatment (r = 0.786, p < 0.001; r = 0.680, p = 0.001; r = 0.796, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in THI, VAS, and NPRS scores among patients in the immediate-start group between weeks 1, 6, 9, and 12 after treatment (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Although more participants were necessary in the further study, the study implies that physical therapy can reduce physical pain, improve tinnitus symptoms, and quality of life in ST patients without hearing loss, and the short-term curative effect is stable, especially for tinnitus patients with clear somatic symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our work, MnTiO 3 was synthesized using the simple conventional solid-state method. We report in-situ induced Mn-defect within MnTiO 3 layered oxide through charging process. It performs good cycling stability which can obtain 115 mA h/g even at 400 mA g−1 after 450 cycles and the discharge capacity reaches up to 233.8 mAh/g at 100 mA g−1 when Mn-defect MnTiO 3 was employed as the cathode material for AZIBs. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation was used to further research the corresponding Zn2+ intercalation-deintercalation behaviors, it indicated that the presence of Mn defects enhances the conductivity of MnTiO 3. [Display omitted] Layered manganese-based cathode materials are considered as one of the promising cathodes benefit from inherent low manufacturing cost, non-toxic and high safety in aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). However, the sluggish reaction kinetics within layered cathodes is inevitable due to the poor electrical/ionic conductivity. Herein, MnTiO 3 is reported as a new cathode material for AZIBs and in-situ induced Mn-defect within MnTiO 3 during the first charging is desirable to improve the reaction kinetics to a great extent. Additionally, DFT calculations further demonstrate that MnTiO 3 with manganese defects exhibits a uniform charge distribution at the defect sites, enhancing the attraction towards H+ and Zn2+ ions. Furthermore, it performs good cycling stability which can obtain 115 mA h g−1 even at 400 mA g−1 after 450 cycles and the discharge capacity reaches up to 233.8 mAh/g at 100 mA g−1 when Mn-defect MnTiO 3 was employed as the cathode. This research could provide a new method for the development and mechanism research of cathode materials for AZIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vat photopolymerization (VPP) technology allows for the direct formation of complex structural Si 3 N 4 components, without the constraints of moulds, which is an emerging process for the preparation of Si 3 N 4 ceramics. However, the low curing depth makes it difficult to prepare Si 3 N 4 ceramics by VPP. To address this issue, the study proposes coating Si 3 N 4 particles with thermosetting resin. The UV absorption of the modified composite powder were reduced. The thermosetting resin could be removed during the debinding process without introducing impurities, which has minimal impact on the properties of the Si 3 N 4 parts. The study investigated the impact of E51 coating modification on the phopopolymerization of Si 3 N 4 slurries, and the mechanical properties after sintering. Moreover, the peak flexural strength and density of Si 3 N 4 prepared from modified Si 3 N 4 using VPP technology combined with air pressure liquid-phase sintering process were 382.67 MPa and 2.95 ± 0.02 g/cm3, respectively, at 2 wt% of E51 coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both entrainment and the direct effects of light are critically involved in the overt manifestation of circadian rhythms. The modern use of electric lights alters environmental lighting, leading to light exposure at inappropriate times to disturb circadian homeostasis for both human and wildlife. The light "pollution" and voluntary activities such as night shift work and transmeridian travelling have adverse consequences such as mood and metabolic disorders in humans. On the other hand, insufficient light exposure decreases neurotransmission from the locus ceruleus and dorsal raphe, leading to seasonal and nonseasonal affective disorders, while properly timed bright light is beneficial to mood and cognition. Given the critical and complex roles of light in mammalian physiology and behavior, it is essential to understand the underlying mechanisms. In this review, we discuss the neural mechanisms through which light regulates and dysregulates circadian rhythms in mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a prevalent complication in cardiac surgery patients, particularly the elderly, with neuroinflammation posited as a crucial contributing factor. We investigated the prophylactic effects of liraglutide, a GLP-1 analog, on delirium-like behaviors in aged mice undergoing cardiac surgery and explored the underlying mechanisms focusing on neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and synaptic plasticity. Methods: Using a cardiac ischemia-reperfusion animal model to mimic cardiac surgery, we assessed delirium-like behaviors, microglial activation, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, mitophagy, synaptic engulfment, and synaptic plasticity. Results: Cardiac surgery triggered delirium-like behaviors, concomitant with heightened microglial and NLRP3 inflammasome activation and impaired mitochondrial function and synaptic plasticity. Pretreatment with liraglutide ameliorated these adverse outcomes. Mechanistically, liraglutide enhanced mitophagy, thereby inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation and subsequent microglial activation. Furthermore, liraglutide counteracted surgery-induced synaptic loss and impairment of synaptic plasticity. Conclusion: Liraglutide exerts protective effects against delirium-like behaviors in aged mice post-cardiac surgery, potentially through bolstering microglia mitophagy, curtailing neuroinflammation, and preserving synaptic integrity. This highlights the potential of liraglutide as a promising perioperative strategy for delirium prevention in cardiac surgery patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delirium is the most common neurological complication after cardiac surgery with adverse impacts on surgical outcomes. Advanced age is an independent risk factor for delirium occurrence but its underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Although increased A1 astrocytes and abnormal hippocampal networks are involved in neurodegenerative diseases, whether A1 astrocytes and hippocampal network changes are involved in the delirium‐like behavior of aged mice remains unknown. In the present study, a mice model of myocardial ischemia–reperfusion mimicking cardiac surgery and various assessments were used to investigate the different susceptibility of the occurrence of delirium‐like behavior between young and aged mice and the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that surgery significantly increased hippocampal A1 astrocyte activation in aged compared to young mice. The high neuroinflammatory state induced by surgery resulted in glutamate accumulation in the extrasynaptic space, which subsequently decreased the excitability of pyramidal neurons and increased the PV interneurons inhibition through enhancing N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptors' tonic currents in the hippocampus. These further induced the abnormal activities of the hippocampal neural networks and consequently contributed to delirium‐like behavior in aged mice. Notably, the intraperitoneal administration of exendin‐4, a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist, downregulated A1 astrocyte activation and alleviated delirium‐like behavior in aged mice, while IL‐1α, TNF‐α, and C1q in combination administered intracerebroventricularly upregulated A1 astrocyte activation and induced delirium‐like behavior in young mice. Therefore, our study suggested that cardiac surgery increased A1 astrocyte activation which subsequently impaired the hippocampal neural networks and triggered delirium development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To summarize the key elements and shortcomings of relevant policies in the field of mental health in China, so as to provide reference for the formulation and improvement of follow-up policies in the field of mental health in China. Methods Using NVivollPlus software and content analysis method, a two-dimensional analysis framework of "policy tool-policy object" was constructed to quantitatively analyze 141 relevant policy texts in the field of mental health at the national level from 1999 to 2023 in China. Results China has paid growing attention to mental health, and the National Health Commission, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Civil Affairs were the core departments of policy formulation. The internal structure of supply-oriented policy tools was out of balance, and the application of environmental policy tools was insufficient. Demand-based policy tools were the least used, accounting for 49.96%, 28.36%, and 21.68%, respectively. The policy object was concentrated in the whole system, health system, and education system, accounting for 32.81%, 24.59%, and 21.94%, respectively. Conclusion It is suggested that the policy design balance the structure of policy tools, increase the supply of resources, apply strategies and measures, strengthen mental health education and promotion, strengthen community grass-roots mental health services, and standardize the development of social mental health service institutions so as to improve mental health and mental hygiene policy system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years anatomical pathology has been revolutionised by the incorporation of molecular findings into routine diagnostic practice, and in some diseases the presence of specific molecular alterations are now essential for diagnosis. Spatial transcriptomics describes a group of technologies that provide up to transcriptome‐wide expression profiling while preserving the spatial origin of the data, with many of these technologies able to provide these data using a single tissue section. Spatial transcriptomics allows expression profiling of highly specific areas within a tissue section potentially to subcellular resolution, and allows correlation of expression data with morphology, tissue type and location relative to other structures. While largely still research laboratory‐based, several spatial transcriptomics methods have now achieved compatibility with formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded tissue (FFPE), allowing their use in diagnostic tissue samples, and with further development potentially leading to their incorporation in routine anatomical pathology practice. This mini review provides an overview of spatial transcriptomics methods, with an emphasis on platforms compatible with FFPE tissue, approaches to assess the data and potential applications in anatomical pathology practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accurate measurement of thermal conductivity of diamond below 10 K has always been a challenge, mainly due to significant error in temperature sensing using the thermocouple method. Diamond is generally considered to have high thermal conductivity, so little attention has been paid to the laser heating effects. Here, we observed the dynamic redshift and broadening of zero phonon line of silicon-vacancy (SiV−) centers at 4 K. Utilizing the intrinsic temperature response of the fine structure spectra of SiV− as a probe, we confirmed that laser heating effect appears and the temperature rising results from high defect concentration. By simulating the thermal diffusion process, we have estimated the thermal conductivity of around 1 W/(m K), which is a two-order magnitude lower than that of single-crystal diamond. Our results provide a feasible scheme for all-optical non-contact temperature sensing and help to solve the problem of accurate measurement of thermal conductivity at cryogenic temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ethical concerns surrounding the use of animals in cosmetics testing have spurred the demand for alternative test models. Digital manufacturing, often denoted as 3D printing, presents a compelling and cost-effective avenue for fabricating such testing models. The current manuscript proposes a digitally manufactured alternative testing platform that comprises three main components: bioprinted skin model, platform fabrication and electronic printing. For the first time, we assessed bioprinted skin models for the intention for use in cosmetic testing. We employed OECD guidelines to test on the skin model's responsiveness to anti-ageing products and irritant compounds. Our studies showed the efficacy of our bioprinted skin model capable of evaluating cosmetic compounds. An evaluation matrix was used to select the appropriate digital manufacturing technology to fabricate the setup for alternative testing model. Multi-material jetting was selected as the most appropriate additive manufacturing technology to introduce modularity and water-tight designs for the test platform. We have also introduced an electronic component in the test platform fabricated using electronic printing to provide localised heating on the skin model. Overall, this study highlights the potential of digital manufacturing and biomanufacturing to promote ethical and sustainable practices in cosmetic testing. Moreover, the decision matrix showcase in this study will be beneficial for scientists and researchers in application-driven selection on 3D printing technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive emission of CO2 into the atmosphere has severely impacted the global ecological environment. Converting CO2 into valuable chemicals and fuels is of great significance for sustainable development. However, low activity and undesirable selectivity often result from the inherent inertness of CO2. Herein, K- or/and Zn-modified Fe-based catalysts were prepared by an incipient-wetness impregnation method for CO2 hydrogenation via a cascade reaction. The results indicate that K species exist as K2O while Zn species exist as ZnFe2O4. In the CO2 hydrogenation pathway, K2O facilitates the adsorption of CO2 and restrains the adsorption of H2, accelerating the transformation of CO2 into C2–C4 olefins rather than paraffins while Zn species promote the dispersion of Fe species, leading to improved activity. Synergistically, a K- and Zn-modified Fe-based catalyst (2Zn–10K–Fe/Al) shows excellent catalytic CO2 hydrogenation activity, achieving a CO2 conversion of 77% which is 1.8 times that (42%) of the unmodified Fe-based catalyst (Fe/Al). Our catalyst also shows a significantly promoted selectivity to C2–C4 olefins of 17% in comparison with the Fe/Al catalyst (0%). It is envisioned that such a binary effect of elements might contribute to the low-cost and industrial production of Fe-based catalysts for selective CO2 conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Poor management of type 2 diabetes mellitus may affect individuals' physical and emotional health. Access to ongoing psychosocial interventions through technological platforms may potentially minimise diabetes complications and improve health-related outcomes. However, little is known about the effectiveness of such interventions on diabetes distress and health-related outcomes. Objective: To synthesise the best available evidence concerning the effectiveness of technology-based psychosocial interventions on diabetes distress, self-efficacy, health-related quality of life, and HbA1c level in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: A search of eleven databases was conducted to identify randomised controlled trials that examined the effects of technology-based psychosocial interventions on the outcomes. Randomised controlled trials reported in English from 2010 to 2020 were included. Selection of studies, quality appraisal, and data extraction were conducted by two reviewers independently. Meta-analyses, subgroup analyses and sensitivity analysis were performed using Review Manager. Intervention effects was measured using standardise mean difference. Results: Twenty randomised controlled trials fulfilled the eligibility criteria and 18 randomised controlled trials were included in meta-analysis. technology-based psychosocial interventions improved diabetes distress, self-efficacy and HbA1c levels with significant and small effect sizes. Subgroup analyses revealed greater improvement in health-related quality of life for participants with comorbid depression and lower HbA1c levels for studies with lesser than 100 participants. Conclusion: The findings of this review increase knowledge on the effectiveness of technology-based psychosocial interventions on diabetes distress and self-efficacy. However, evidence to support the effects of technology-based psychosocial interventions on HbA1c and health-related quality of life was not strong. More research is needed to examine the effectiveness of the psychosocial interventions delivered through mobile applications or virtual reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to explore risk factors for lupus nephritis (LN) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and establish a Nomogram prediction model based on LASSO-logistic regression. Methods: The clinical and laboratory data of SLE patients in Meishan People's Hospital from July 2012 to December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. All SLE patients were divided into two groups with or without LN. Risk factors were screened based on LASSO-logistic regression analysis, and a Nomogram prediction model was established. The receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis were adopted to evaluate the performance of the Nomogram model. Results: A total of 555 SLE patients were enrolled, including 303 SLE patients with LN and 252 SLE patients without LN. LASSO regression and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that ESR, mucosal ulcer, proteinuria, and hematuria were independent risk factors for LN in SLE patients. The four clinical features were incorporated into the Nomogram prediction model. Results showed that calibration curve was basically close to the diagonal dotted line with slope 1 (ideal prediction case), which proved that the prediction ability of the model was acceptable. In addition, the decision curve analysis showed that the Nomogram prediction model could bring net clinical benefits to patients when the threshold probability was 0.12–0.54. Conclusion: Four clinical indicators of ESR, mucosal ulcer, proteinuria, and hematuria were independent risk factors for LN in SLE patients. The predictive power of the Nomogram model based on LASSO-logistic regression was acceptable and could be used to guide clinical work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Corynespora leaf spot is a common leaf disease occurring in sesame, and the disease causes leaf yellowing and even shedding, which affects the growth quality of sesame. At present, the mechanism of sesame resistance to this disease is still unclear. Understanding the resistance mechanism of sesame to Corynespora leaf spot is highly important for the control of infection. In this study, the leaves of the sesame resistant variety (R) and the sesame susceptible variety (S) were collected at 0–48 hpi for transcriptome sequencing, and used a combined third-generation long-read and next-generation short-read technology approach to identify some key genes and main pathways related to resistance. Results: The gene expression levels of the two sesame varieties were significantly different at 0, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 hpi, indicating that the up-regulation of differentially expressed genes in the R might enhanced the resistance. Moreover, combined with the phenotypic observations of sesame leaves inoculated at different time points, we found that 12 hpi was the key time point leading to the resistance difference between the two sesame varieties at the molecular level. The WGCNA identified two modules significantly associated with disease resistance, and screened out 10 key genes that were highly expressed in R but low expressed in S, which belonged to transcription factors (WRKY, AP2/ERF-ERF, and NAC types) and protein kinases (RLK-Pelle_DLSV, RLK-Pelle_SD-2b, and RLK-Pelle_WAK types). These genes could be the key response factors in the response of sesame to infection by Corynespora cassiicola. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that specific modules could be enriched, which manifested as enrichment in biologically important pathways, such as plant signalling hormone transduction, plant-pathogen interaction, carbon metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, glutathione metabolism, MAPK and other stress-related pathways. Conclusions: This study provides an important resource of genes contributing to disease resistance and will deepen our understanding of the regulation of disease resistance, paving the way for further molecular breeding of sesame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] BPA aptamers functionalized cerium oxide nanoparticles encapsulated in zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (CeO 2 @ZIF-8/Apt) were developed to fabricate an all-in-one portable platform for on-site quantitative detection of BPA. By combining biocomposites with a 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB)-based sodium alginate (SA) hydrogel and smartphone-based RGB analysis, highly sensitive and convenient monitoring of BPA was achieved. CeO 2 @ZIF-8 composites were constructed using a novel surfactant-modified concentration-controlled synthesis strategy. After being functionalized with BPA aptamers, CeO 2 @ZIF-8/Apt biocomposites were used as target-response colorimetric probes for target recognition and signal transduction. The oxidase-like activity of CeO 2 @ZIF-8 was effectively sealed by BPA aptamers and controllably released in a concentration-dependent manner through aptamer-BPA reactions. Utilizing SA hydrogels containing TMB in the caps, a one-step sample addition and one-pot detection can be conveniently achieved and reliably quantified by smartphone-based RGB analysis in an instrument-free way. The detection range of this portable detection platform is 50 pg/mL to 500 ng/mL with limit of detection calculated as 34.88 pg/mL, comparable to that of conventional detection in the solution system (4.57 pg/mL). The recoveries in tap water, apple juice, and milk ranged from 91.02 % and 106.75 %. This work contributes new insights into the design of all-in-one detection platforms for contaminants monitoring in resource-constrained regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antiviral Oral Liquid (AOL) is an adult medicine in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia used to treat upper respiratory infections such as influenza. It has shown promising clinical efficacy in relieving flu-like symptoms such as fever, inflammation, and pharyngalgia both in adults and children. However, the instruction manual does not specify the exact usage and dosage of AOL for children. In this article, we set 6 dosage ranges: 0.2, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9, 1.1, 1.4 mL/kg/d, according to its dosage for adults and the conversion method between adult and children dosage. And six animal models were used to evaluate the effectiveness of AOL in different doses. The results indicated that AOL could reduce the lung index, virus load, and expression of proinflammatory cytokines in the lung. AOL could improve pathological changes and prolong the survival time of mice infected by the Influenza A virus (H1N1) A/PR/8/34 strains at 0.5–0.9 mL/kg/d concentrations in different degrees. The four dose groups of 0.7–1.4 mL/kg/d could significantly inhibit the ear shell swelling caused by xylene and reduce the rabbit body temperature induced by lipopolysaccharide (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). All the five dosage groups of 0.2–1.1 mL/kg/d could inhibit the increase of peritoneal capillary permeability induced by glacial acetic acid (P < 0.01). AOL at 0.7 and 0.9 mL/kg/d reduced the painful writhing times in young mice induced by glacial acetic (P < 0.01). These results indicated that the optimal dose of AOL in antiviral, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects is 0.7 mL/kg/d. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Excessive white adipose tissue accumulation in farm animal results in a lower meat percentage of the carcass, which may attenuate economic benefits. Moreover, consumers prefer to purchase lean meat without excessive subcutaneous fat. Thus, developing strategies to enhance skeletal muscle growth and maintain or decrease adiposity in farm animals is desirable. Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) has been officially registered as an animal feed additive to promote the performance of animals. Currently, little is known about its effects on sheep adipose tissue accumulation. We found that dietary GAA supplementation could attenuate adipose tissue growth in sheep. Moreover, GAA inhibited proliferation and differentiation of sheep stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells in vitro. Thus, these data could potentiate the application of GAA to sheep meat production. Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) is an amino acid derivative, previously described in the skeletal muscle of vertebrates, that serves as an important regulator of cellular bioenergetics and has been widely used as a feed additive. Nevertheless, the effect of GAA on adipose tissue growth remains unclear. Here, we hypothesized that dietary GAA negatively affected adipose tissue development in lambs. Lambs were individually fed diets with (0.09%) or without GAA for 70 d ad libitum, and the subcutaneous adipose tissues were sampled for analysis. The results showed that dietary GAA supplementation decreased the girth rib (GR) value (p < 0.01) of lamb carcasses. Both real-time PCR and Western blot analysis suggested that dietary GAA inhibited the expression of adipogenic markers, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ, p < 0.05), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα, p < 0.01) and sterol-regulatory-element-binding protein 1c (SREBP1C, p < 0.01) in subcutaneous adipose tissue. In vitro, GAA inhibited sheep stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cell proliferation, which was associated with downregulation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA, p < 0.05), cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK 4, p < 0.05) and cyclin D1 (p < 0.01). GAA suppressed adipogenesis of SVF cells. Furthermore, miRNA sequencing revealed that GAA affected the miRNA expression profile, and real-time PCR analysis confirmed that miR-133a expression in both subcutaneous adipose tissue and SVF cell was downregulated by GAA. Meanwhile, miR-133a promoted adipogenic differentiation of SVF cells by targeting Sirt1. miR-133a mimics alleviated the inhibitory effect of GAA on SVF cells' adipogenic differentiation. In summary, GAA attenuated adipogenesis of sheep SVF cells, which might occur through miR-133a-modulated Sirt1 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The silica-based ceramic core is an important mold for manufacturing hollow blades. The preparation of silica-based ceramic cores by combining selective laser sintering (SLS) and vacuum infiltration (VI) technologies is a promising approach. To enhance infiltration effect, pre-sintering was introduced to obtain the bodies with high porosity and hydrophilicity. The infiltrated silica content increased from 29.58 wt% for samples infiltrated once to 68.91 wt% for samples infiltrated three times. The increase of silica content in the matrix reduced the porosity of final ceramics, thus improving the room-temperature flexural strength. The infiltrated silica gradually transformed into cristobalite during the high-temperature test, which improved the high-temperature flexural strength and creep resistance. When the final-sintering temperature was 1225 °C, room-temperature and high-temperature flexural strength reached 21.17 MPa and 21.21 MPa, respectively, due to the enhanced sintering necks and low porosity. These results indicate that our work provides a promising route to fabricate silica-based ceramic cores by SLS technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the functionality of NbOx-based selector devices on a flexible substrate. It was observed that the failure mechanism of cyclic tensile strain is from the disruption of atom arrangements, which essentially led to the crack formation of the film. When under cyclic compressive strain, buckling delamination of the film occurs as the compressed films have debonded from their neighboring layers. By implementing an annealing process after the strain-induced degradation, recovery of the device is observed with reduced threshold and hold voltages. The physical mechanism of the device is investigated through Poole–Frenkel mechanism fitting, which provides insights into the switching behavior after mechanical strain and annealing process. The result demonstrates the potential of the NbOx device in flexible electronics applications with a high endurance of up to 105 cycles of cyclic bending strain and the recovery of the device after degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Perioperative neurocognitive disorder (PND) is a key complication affecting older individuals after anesthesia and surgery. Failure to translate multiple pharmacological therapies for PND from preclinical studies to clinical settings has necessitated the exploration of novel therapeutic strategies. Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) treatment has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for treating neurodegenerative diseases and has the potential to translate basic science into clinical practice. In this study, we investigated the effects and underlying mechanism of hUC-MSCs on PND in aged mice. Methods: hUC-MSCs were isolated from an infant umbilical cord and identified using flow cytometry and differentiation assays. We established PND model by undergoing aseptic laparotomy under isoflurane anesthesia maintaining spontaneous ventilation in eighteen-month-old male C57BL/6 mice. hUC-MSCs were slowly injected into mice by coccygeal vein before anesthesia. Cognitive function, systemic and neuroinflammatory responses, neuroplasticity, endogenous neurogenesis, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were assessed. To determine the brain mechanisms underlying by which hUC-MSCs mediate their neuroprotective effects in PND, K252a, an antagonist of BDNF receptor, was administered intraperitoneally before surgery. Hippocampal BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling pathway and metabolomic signatures were evaluated. Results: hUC-MSC treatment ameliorated the learning and memory impairment in aged mice with PND. The downstream effects were the suppression of systemic and hippocampal inflammation and restoration of neurogenesis and neuroplasticity dysregulation. Interestingly, the level of mature BDNF, but not that of proBDNF, was increased in the hippocampus after hUC-MSC treatment. Further analysis revealed that the improved cognitive recovery and the restoration of neurogenesis and neuroplasticity dysregulation elicited by exposure to hUC-MSCs were, at least partially, mediated by the activation of the BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling pathway. Untargeted metabolomic further identified lipid metabolism dysfunction as potential downstream of the BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling pathway in hUC-MSC-mediated neuroprotection for PND. Conclusions: Our study highlights the beneficial effects of hUC-MSC treatment on PND and provides a justification to consider the potential use of hUC-MSCs in the perioperative period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous Si 3 N 4 ceramics with high strength and high transmittance have been widely used in the field of defense and military. Additive manufacturing (AM) technology is one of the effective means to fabricate porous Si 3 N 4 ceramics. Nevertheless, it is difficult to prepare porous Si 3 N 4 ceramics by using digital light processing (DLP) because of the large refractive index difference between Si 3 N 4 powders and photosensitive resin. In this study, the effects of the amount of polystyrene (PS) powders on the properties of Si 3 N 4 ceramic slurries and sintered ceramics were systematically discussed. The addition of PS reduced the overall refractive index of powders and increased the average particle size of powders, thus improving the cure depth of Si 3 N 4 ceramic slurries from 11.0 ± 2.0 μm to 55.7 ± 1.8 μm. With the increase of PS content, the shrinkage and porosity of Si 3 N 4 ceramics gradually increased, and the bulk density and flexural strength showed the opposite trend. The slurry with low viscosity (2.38 Pa٠s at a shear rate of 30 s−1) and high cure depth (51.2 ± 4.6 μm) was obtained when the content of PS was 15 wt%, which met the thickness requirements for printing. The total porosity of Si 3 N 4 ceramics reached the maximum values at 28.21 ± 2.58%. The addition of PS solved the problem of low cure depth of slurries, and PS as a pore-forming agent could help Si 3 N 4 ceramics form porous structure. This research provides valuable insights into the fabrication of non-oxide ceramics with high refractive index using DLP technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To synthesise the evidence regarding older adults' perception of advance care planning in preparation for end‐of‐life care. Background: Advance care planning involves continuous communication of end‐of‐life care goals involving an individual's medical treatment preferences. However, its uptake among older adults remains low. Design: The meta‐synthesis was conducted according to the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative research (ENTREQ) guidelines and thematic synthesis was employed to synthesise the qualitative findings in an inductive manner. Data Source: A search was completed on six electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus), for publications from 1 January 2000 to 4 December 2021. Review Method: The certainty of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation and Confidence (GRADE‐CERQual) in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research. Two independent reviewers conducted this process, and disagreements were resolved through discussions. Results: Fourteen studies were analysed. Four major themes and eleven subthemes emerged from the thematic synthesis: (1) psychosocial preparedness, (2) medical preparedness, (3) psychological barriers towards advance care planning and (4) extrinsic barriers towards advance care planning. Discussion These themes consolidated older adults' views of advance care planning and how engagement in this planning affected their end‐of‐life preparedness. Conclusion: This review suggested psychological and extrinsic factors were barriers to the uptake of advance care planning and provided directions for future research to achieve a holistic understanding of the impact of advance care planning on end‐of‐life preparedness. Relevance to Clinical Practice: Healthcare professionals could maintain close communication with older adults and families periodically to evaluate their readiness to discuss advance care planning to improve their preparedness. Healthcare professionals could also provide psychological support during the discussion of clinical decision‐making to enhance readiness and confidence among older adults and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Omnivorous insects make foraging decisions between plant and prey resources depending on their accessibility, availability, and nutritional value. This shapes the stability and complexity of food webs, but also pest control services in agroecosystems. The mirid bug Lygus pratensis is a common cotton pest in China, but it also feeds on a variety of prey species. However, little is known about how different types of available resources affect its fitness and foraging behaviour. In laboratory experiments, we measured the fitness (survival, longevity and fecundity) of L. pratensis fed with bean pod only, bean and Aphis gossypii nymphs, or bean and Helicoverpa armigera eggs, and we also conducted focal observations of its foraging behaviour when provided the latter two. Adding H. armigera to its diet increased its fitness (both survival and fecundity), while adding A. gossypii was marginally detrimental. The different diets did not affect the time spent walking (searching for food resources) or preying, but significantly affected the time spent sapping bean tissue depending on L. pratensis life stage. Nymphs spent more time sapping plant when provided with H. armigera than A. gossypii (possibly through higher efficiency of handling prey). In addition, adults spent less time sapping plant than did nymphs (possibly through good efficiency of handling A. gossypii mobile prey and due to higher protein requirements). This special case of life-history omnivory highlights the complexity of natural food webs, where a major crop pest at the juvenile stage may become a biological control agent at the adult stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N-terminal methionine excision from newly synthesized proteins, catalyzed cotranslationally by methionine aminopeptidases (METAPs), is an essential and universally conserved process that plays a key role in cell homeostasis and protein biogenesis. However, how METAPs interact with ribosomes and how their cleavage specificity is ensured is unknown. We discovered that in eukaryotes the nascent polypeptide-associated complex (NAC) controls ribosome binding of METAP1. NAC recruits METAP1 using a long, flexible tail and provides a platform for the formation of an active methionine excision complex at the ribosomal tunnel exit. This mode of interaction ensures the efficient excision of methionine from cytosolic proteins, whereas proteins targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum are spared. Our results suggest a broader mechanism for how access of protein biogenesis factors to translating ribosomes is controlled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Non‐utilization of dental care during adolescence can result in poorer oral health and subsequently higher expenditures on dental services. This study examined the geospatial and epidemiological factors associated with utilization of the publicly funded Adolescent Oral Health Services (AOHS) in Canterbury, Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). Methods: A secondary analysis of prospectively collected routine data from AOHS visits of adolescents in school Year 9 (13–14 years) for the financial year 2019–2020. Geographic information systems examined distance from home to dental practices. Multilevel mixed‐effects Poisson regression models investigated associations between geospatial, demographic and clinical factors and non‐utilization of dental services. Models were adjusted for sex, ethnicity, area‐level deprivation, rural/urban classification, previous caries experience and the distance from home address to dental practice referred. Results: Dental practices were concentrated in large urban areas and in the least deprived neighbourhoods, with several service area gaps identified. Rural areas and the most deprived areas of Christchurch City had the highest non‐utilization rates. After adjustment, adolescents residing in the most deprived areas had a higher risk of non‐utilization (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] = 1.38; 95% CI 1.26–1.51) compared to adolescents in the least deprived areas. Adolescents in remote areas also had an increased risk of non‐utilization (aRR = 1.36; 95% CI 1.20–1.54) compared to adolescents in urban core areas. Finally, Māori (aRR = 1.37; 95% CI 1.29–1.46) and Pasifika (aRR = 1.46; 95% CI 1.35–1.59) adolescents had significantly higher risks of non‐utilization compared to their NZ European counterparts. Conclusion: Inequitable utilization of dental services exists among adolescents in Canterbury, NZ, and is associated with Māori, Pasifika and those living in rural and most deprived areas. Adolescents at the greatest oral health risk are geographically underserved by current oral health services. The current health system should also explore the possibility of partnering with Māori and Pasifika communities to provide services within culturally appropriate settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we used C80 Micro-calorimeter and STA-FTIR-MS instrument to analyze decomposition mechanism of DBAD and evaluated the thermal hazard by the key index on self-accelerating decomposition temperature (SADT). Based on C80 data, the heat release per unit mass of DBAD is 699.85 ± 52.88 kJ kg−1, and the activation energy calculated by Friedman method ranges from 28.58 to 52.03 kJ mol−1. Besides, the thermal decomposition reaction of DBAD can be described by Zhuralev-Lesokin-Tempelman equation. In summary, the decomposition mechanism of DBAD is as follows: the C–O bond cracks firstly, separating ·C(CH3)3 out, then the C–C bond cracks, separating ·CH3 out; the N=N double bond, C–N bond and C–O bond crack subsequently, separating: N–CO, ·O–CO–N:, HO–CO–N: and ·N=N–CO out, and these radical groups gradually decompose or oxidize into ·CH=CHCH3, ·O–CO/CO2, ·COOH, etc.; finally, all these radical groups dissociate and oxidize into H2O, CO2 and N2. The SADT calculated by Semenov model of DBAD under 25 kg standard package is 63.95 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work demonstrates oscillation frequency modulation in a NbO2-based relaxation oscillator device, in which the oscillation frequency increases with operating temperature and source voltage, and decreases with load resistance. An annealing-induced oxygen diffusion at 373 K was carried out to optimize the stoichiometry of the bulk NbO2 to achieve consistent oscillation frequency shift with device temperature. The device exhibits stable self-sustained oscillation in which the frequency can be modulated between 2 and 33 MHz, and a wider operating voltage range can be obtained. An additional surface treatment step was employed during fabrication to reduce the surface roughness of the bottom electrode and to remove surface contaminants that affect the interfacial properties of the device. The device frequency tunability coupled with high oscillating frequency and high endurance capability of more than 1.5 × 108 cycles indicates that the Pt/NbO2/Pt device is particularly suitable for applications in an oscillatory neural network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silica-based ceramic cores are commonly employed to fabricate hollow aero-engine blades during investment casting. However, achieving excellent performance and high precision remains an extremely challenging problem. In this study, silica-based ceramic cores with boron carbide (B 4 C) addition were prepared by selective laser sintering (SLS) and SiO 2 –Al 2 O 3 sol infiltration. The effects of B 4 C content and mass ratio of alumina to silica in the SiO 2 –Al 2 O 3 sol on the mechanical properties of the obtained silica-based ceramic cores were explored. The results suggested that the room temperature flexural strength was gradually improved from 3.39 MPa to 27.35 MPa at B 4 C content from 0 to 2 wt% due to the oxidation of B 4 C, and the linear shrinkage gradually increased to 4.61%. Furthermore, the high temperature flexural strength was enhanced from 4.86 MPa (non-infiltrated) to 11.84 MPa at mass ratio from 0 to 1 because of the generated mullite phase and the linear shrinkage decreased to 1.38%, which can meet the application requirements for the preparation of ceramic cores. Consequently, it shows the capability to prepare high-performance silica-based ceramic cores with B 4 C addition by combining SLS technology and SiO 2 –Al 2 O 3 sol infiltration process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring high‐safety but convenient encryption and decryption technologies to combat threats of information leakage is urgently needed but remains a great challenge. Here, a synergistically time‐ and temperature‐resolved information coding/decoding solution based on functional photonic inks is demonstrated. Encrypted messages can be stored into multiple channels with dynamic‐color patterns, and information decryption is only enabled at appointed temperature and time points. Notably, the ink can be easily processed into quick‐response codes and multipixel plates. With high transparency and responsive color variations controlled by ink compositions and ambient temperatures, advanced 3D stacking multichannel coding and Morse coding techniques can be applied for multi‐information storage, complex anticounterfeiting, and information interference. This study paves an avenue for the design and development of dynamic photonic inks and complex encryption technologies for high‐end anticounterfeiting applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Different countries have differences in social and cultural context and health system, which may affect the clinical characteristics of psychiatric inpatients. This study was the first to compare cross-cultural differences in the clinical characteristics of psychiatric inpatients in three hospitals from Western China and America. Methods: Overall, 905 and 1318 patients from three hospitals, one in America and two in Western China, respectively, were included. We used a standardised protocol and data collection procedure to record inpatients’ sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Results: Significant differences were found between hospitals from the two countries. Positive symptoms were the main reason for admission in the Chinese hospitals, while reported suicide and self-injury symptoms more frequently led to hospital admission in America. Moreover, there were more inpatients with combined substance abuse in the American hospital (97.6% vs. 1.9%, P < 0.001). The length of stay (LOS) in America was generally shorter than in China (10.5 ± 11.9 vs. 20.7 ± 13.4, P < 0.001). The dosage of antipsychotic drugs used in the American hospital was higher than in China (275.1 ± 306.9 mg vs. 238.3 ± 212.5 mg, P = 0.002). Regression analysis showed that male sex, older age, retirees, being admitted because of physical symptoms, and using higher doses of antipsychotic drugs were significantly associated with longer hospitalisation in the American hospital (P < 0.05). Comparatively, patients who were divorced, experiencing suicidal ideation, admitted involuntarily, admitted because of physical, depression, or anxiety symptoms, and using higher doses of antipsychotic drugs had longer hospitalisation in Chinese hospitals (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Significant variations in clinical characteristics of inpatients were found between hospitals from Western China and America. The LOS in Chinese hospitals was significantly longer, but patients used higher doses of antipsychotic drugs in the American hospital. Admission due to physical symptoms and the use of higher dosage drugs were related to longer LOS in both countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the 0.9Al 2 O 3 -0.1TiO 2 ceramic sample with good microwave dielectric properties and complex structures can be well fabricated by digital light processing (DLP). A relationship between dispersant content and rheological behavior of 0.9Al 2 O 3 -0.1TiO 2 slurry was explored. When dispersant content was 3.0 wt%, 0.9Al 2 O 3 -0.1TiO 2 slurry with high solid loading (50 vol%) and low viscosity (2.9 Pa s) could be obtained. 0.9Al 2 O 3 -0.1TiO 2 ceramic parts with high accuracy were fabricated successfully by adding 3.0 wt% photoinitiator under 600 mJ/cm2 exposure energy. With the increase of sintering temperature from 1400 °C to 1600 °C, relative density, dielectric constant (ε r), and quality factor (Q × f) of 0.9Al 2 O 3 -0.1TiO 2 ceramic sample increased first and then decreased, and all reached the maximum value at 1550 °C due to the uniformity and densification of microstructures. The temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τ f) value showed an almost monotonous increase, changing from negative to positive, and near-zero τ f value at 1550 °C. In addition, 0.9Al 2 O 3 -0.1TiO 2 ceramic samples sintered at 1550 °C fabricated by DLP method presented much better microwave dielectric properties: ε r = 11.30 ± 0.02, Q × f = 35,345 ± 143 GHz (@∼12 GHz), τ f = 2.16 ± 0.21 ppm/°C than that of by dry pressing method: ε r = 11.16 ± 0.11, Q × f = 30,195 ± 257 GHz (@∼12 GHz), τ f = 4.45 ± 0.13 ppm/°C, especially the Q × f value achieved a 17% increase. Accordingly, DLP technique, which has advantages of producing relatively high properties and complex geometry of microwave dielectric ceramics as well as without extra high-cost mold, greatly satisfies application requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ascorbic acid (AsA) is a crucial antioxidant in vegetables. Celery (Apium graveolens L.) is a vegetable of Apiaceae and is rich in AsA. Till now, the effects of different storage conditions on celery morphological characteristics, anatomical features, and antioxidant accumulation are unclear. Here, the celery cvs. 'Sijixiaoxiangqin' and 'Liuhehuangxinqin' were selected as experimental materials, and the two celery plants grown for 65 days were harvested from soils and stored in light at room temperature (25 °C), darkness at low temperature (4 °C), and darkness at room temperature (25 °C) for 0, 6, 24, 30, 48, and 54 h, respectively. The results showed that celery in darkness had better water retention capacity than celery in light. Morphological changes in celery mesophyll, leaf veins, and petioles were the least in darkness at low temperature (4 °C). The weight loss rate and wilting degree in darkness at low temperature (4 °C) were the lowest, and the AsA content remained at a high level. The expression patterns of GDP-d-mannose pyrophosphorylase (AgGMP) and l-galactose dehydrogenase (AgGalDH) were similar to the change of AsA content. The results indicated that low temperature and dark was the optimized storage condition for 'Sijixiaoxiangqin' and 'Liuhehuangxinqin' celery. AgGMP and AgGalDH genes may play an important role in the accumulation of AsA in celery. This paper will provide potential references for prolonging the shelf life of celery and other horticultural crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurological diseases including stroke and neurodegenerative disorders cause a hefty burden on the healthcare system. Survivors experience significant impairment in mobility and daily activities, which requires extensive rehabilitative interventions to assist them to regain lost skills and restore independence. The advent of remote rehabilitation architecture and enabling technology mandates the elaboration of sensing mechanisms tailored to individual clinical needs. This study aims to review current trends in the application of sensing mechanisms in remote monitoring and rehabilitation in neurological diseases, and to provide clinical insights to develop bespoke sensing mechanisms. A systematic search was performed using the PubMED database to identify 16 papers published for the period between 2018 to 2022. Teleceptive sensors (56%) were utilized more often than wearable proximate sensors (50%). The most commonly used modality was infrared (38%) and acceleration force (38%), followed by RGB color, EMG, light and temperature, and radio signal. The strategy adopted to improve the sensing mechanism included a multimodal sensor, the application of multiple sensors, sensor fusion, and machine learning. Most of the stroke studies utilized biofeedback control systems (78%) while the majority of studies for neurodegenerative disorders used sensors for remote monitoring (57%). Functional assessment tools that the sensing mechanism may emulate to produce clinically valid information were proposed and factors affecting user adoption were described. Lastly, the limitations and directions for further development were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bifunctional catalysts are widely applied for many important reactions as the synergetic effect of two types of active sites remarkably improves catalysis performance. However, their bifunctionality has not been fully exploited since the proximity of bifunctional catalysts is hard to control. Herein, we demonstrate a bifunctional ZSM-5@Al 2 O 3 catalyst with a core-shell structure and a nano-scale proximity by in-situ growth of γ-Al 2 O 3 nanosheets on the surface of ZSM-5 crystals for methanol conversion. The nano-scale proximity endows the catalyst with higher reaction activity and C 2 –C 3 olefins yield (53 %) in comparison to the catalysts with micro-scale proximity (20 %) and millimeter-scale proximity (27 %), which can be attributed to the fluent transport of the reaction intermediates between two types of active sites. This strategy for constructing bifunctional catalysts with nano-scale proximity is conducive to understanding the relationship between proximity and catalytic performance in methanol conversion. [Display omitted] • Bifunctional ZSM-5@Al 2 O 3 catalysts with core-shell structure were synthesized. • The proximity of dual-active sites was precisely controlled. • The nano-scale proximity enabled catalysts with superb performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study the effect and mechanism of the Clostridium metabolite p-Cresol sulfate (PCS) in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Methods: Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to detect differences in tyrosine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, PCS, and p-Cresyl glucuronide (PCG) between the serum of PBC patients and healthy controls. In vivo experiments, mice were divided into the normal control, PBC group, and PBC tyrosine group. GC-MS was used to detect PCS and PCG. Serum and liver inflammatory factors were compared between groups along with the polarization of liver Kupffer cells. Additionally, PCS was cultured with normal bile duct epithelial cells and Kupffer cells, respectively. PCS-stimulated Kupffer cells were co-cultured with lipopolysaccharide-injured bile duct epithelial cells to detect changes in inflammatory factors. Results: Levels of tyrosine and phenylalanine were increased, but PCS level was reduced in PBC patients, with PCG showing a lower concentration distribution in both groups. PCS in PBC mice was also lower than those in normal control mice. After oral administration of tyrosine feed to PBC mice, PCS increased, liver inflammatory factors were decreased, and anti-inflammatory factors were increased. Furthermore, Kupffer cells in the liver polarized form M1 transitioned to M2. PCS can damage normal bile duct epithelial cells and suppress the immune response of Kupffer cells. But PCS protects bile duct epithelial cells damaged by LPS through Kupffer cells. Conclusions: PCS produced by Clostridium-metabolized tyrosine reduced PBC inflammation, suggesting that intervention by food, or supplementation with PCS might represent an effective clinical strategy for treating PBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating disease, its mortality and disability rate are high. In China, hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (HICH) is responsible for 75% of all the cases of primary ICH. A lot of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating HICH have been carried out. However, these RCTs have a lot of problems, such as heterogeneous outcomes, non-uniform point of measurement. These lead to systematic review/meta-analysis only can include a small number of studies. And outcome measures did not take the wishes of patients and other stakeholders into account. The aim of this study is to establish the core outcome set (COS) for future TCM clinical trials of HICH.Methods and Analysis: First, we will develop a long list of general outcomes by making systematic literature review and semi-structured interviews. Then healthcare professionals and patients with HICH will be invited to participate in two rounds of the Delphi survey to determine the importance of the outcome. Finally, a face-to-face consensus meeting will be conducted to determine the final COS of HICH, including what outcomes should be measured and when and how to measure the outcomes.Results: We aim to develop a COS that includes TCM core syndrome for HICH to determine what outcomes should be reported and when and how to measure them.Conclusion: By doing this, we can increase the reporting consistency and reduce the reporting bias in the outcome, which leads to the reuse of research data in meta-analysis and the making of informed healthcare decisions.Ethics and Dissemination: The entire project has received approval from the Ethics Committee of Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. The final COS will be published and reported at the national and international conferences.Trial Registration: This study is registered with the Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials database as study 1475 . Registered on December 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Workplace social capital positively influences the quality but reduces the cost of healthcare services. Academic research suffers from limited and inadequate culturally sensitive nurses' workplace social capital instruments. Here we report on the design and protocol of a culturally focused instrument development study in China. The overarching objective of our dual phase study is to develop and validate a questionnaire measuring nurses' workplace social capital tailored toward Chinese cultural values and norms. In the first phase of INSTRUMENT DEVELOPMENT, the qualitative phase, we will conduct interviews with purposefully sampled nurses from five geographically diverse regions capturing 16 provinces in China to formulate the initial version of the Nurses' Workplace Social Capital Questionnaire (NWSCQ). Data collection will be stopped at the saturation point and content analysis will be performed for interview data in parallel. The initial version of the NWSCQ will be evaluated and confirmed by two-rounds of expert consultation (target N = 20) and pre-tested among 70 nurses. During the second phase of INSTRUMENT VALIDATION or the quantitative phase, we will validate the psychometric properties of the NWSCQ. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire will be examined and validated through three cross-sectional surveys among nurses (target N = 1154) randomly selected from 12 tertiary hospitals. We have reported our study protocol with the intention of sharing our experience with researchers in other countries who are striving to advance the phenomenon of culturally sensitive and social normatively appropriate nurses' workplace social capital. Findings from our study should advance the development of culturally appropriate and valid instrument of nurses' workplace social capital, another important step toward recognition and incorporation of cultural diversity in the daily operation of healthcare industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing evidence suggests a link between emotion regulation (ER) deficits and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS). A systematic review was conducted to integrate empirical research on the nature of ER difficulties associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), validated measures of ER for OCD and evidence base for psychological interventions targeting ER difficulties in OCD. Database searches were conducted on CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PUBMED, PsycINFO and Scopus with keywords related to ER and OCD. 2609 articles were found, six were identified from other sources and 21 studies were included in this review. The review was registered on PROSPERO (CDR42020184076). The non-acceptance of emotions was the most consistently related to OCS – albeit not uniformly with all OCS dimensions. There was also some evidence suggesting that difficulties in impulse-control, accessing effective ER strategies and engaging in goal-directed behaviours to be related to OCS. No OCD-specific ER measure was identified. Interventions with ER components appeared to be promising for the treatment of OCD. Recommendations on how to build on the existing literature and improve the quality of evidence were provided. • This is the first systematic review examining emotion regulation (ER) in OCD. • Some ER difficulties are more strongly related to OCD symptoms (OCS). • The non-acceptance of emotions is the ER difficulty most strongly related to OCS. • Interventions targeting ER difficulties are promising in treating OCD. • Future research should explore causal relations between ER difficulties and OCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Osteoporosis is an important health problem worldwide. Liuwei Dihuang Decoction (LDD) and its main ingredients may have a good clinical effect on osteoporosis. Meanwhile, its mechanism for treating osteoporosis needs to be further revealed in order to provide a basis for future drug development. Methods. A systematic biological methodology was utilized to construct and analyze the LDD-osteoporosis network. After that, the human transcription data of LDD intervention in patients with osteoporosis and protein arrays data of LDD intervention in osteoporosis rats were collected. The human transcription data analysis, protein arrays data analysis, and molecular docking were performed to validate the findings of the prediction network (LDD-osteoporosis PPI network). Finally, animal experiments were conducted to verify the prediction results of systematic pharmacology. Results. (1) LDD-osteoporosis PPI network shows the potential compounds, potential targets (such as ALB, IGF1, SRC, and ESR1), clusters, biological processes (such as positive regulation of calmodulin 1-monooxygenase activity, estrogen metabolism, and endothelial cell proliferation), and signaling and Reactome pathways (such as JAK-STAT signaling pathway, osteoclast differentiation, and degradation of the extracellular matrix) of LDD intervention in osteoporosis. (2) Human transcriptomics data and protein arrays data validated the findings of the LDD-osteoporosis PPI network. (3) The animal experiments showed that LDD can improve bone mineral density (BMD), increase serum estradiol (E2) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels, and upregulate Wnt3a and β-catenin mRNA expression (P < 0.05). (4) Molecular docking results showed that alisol A, dioscin, loganin, oleanolic acid, pachymic acid, and ursolic acid may stably bind to JAK2, ESR1, and CTNNB1. Conclusion. LDD may have a therapeutic effect on osteoporosis through regulating the targets (such as ALB, IGF1, SRC, and ESR1), biological processes (such as positive regulation of calmodulin 1-monooxygenase activity, estrogen metabolism, and endothelial cell proliferation), and pathways (such as JAK-STAT signaling pathway, osteoclast differentiation, and degradation of the extracellular matrix) found in this research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing effective strategies to improve the hydrophilicity or aqueous solubility of hydrophobic molecular scaffolds is meaningful for both academic research and industrial applications. Herein, we demonstrate that stepwise and precise N/O heteroatoms doping on a polycyclic aromatic skeleton can gradually alter these structures from hydrophobic to hydrophilic, even resulting in excellent aqueous solubility. The Hansen solubility parameters (HSP) method shows that the three partial solubility parameters are closely related to N/O doping species, numbers and positions on the molecular panel. The hydrogen bonding solubility parameter indicates that the hydrogen bonding interactions between N/O doped molecules and water play a key role in enhancing hydrophilicity. Moreover, three optimized water-soluble molecules underwent a self-assembly process to form stable nanoparticles in water, thus facilitating better hydrogen bonding interactions disclosed by HSP calculations, NMR and single crystal X-ray analysis. These ensembles even show quasi-solid properties in water from NMR and luminescence perspectives. Enhancing the hydrophilicity of hydrophobic molecular scaffolds allows to increase their aqueous solubility and therefore their usability for a range of applications. Here, N/O heteroatom doping of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is shown to switch the skeleton from hydrophobic to hydrophilic, enhancing aqueous solubility and facilitating self-assembly in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silica-based ceramic core is an extremely critical component in the manufacture of hollow blades during investment casting. However, the traditional preparation methods rely more on the molds, and the manufacturing costs are relatively high. In this study, silica-based ceramics with silicon hexaboride (SiB 6) addition were prepared via 3D stereolithography printing. And the effects of the SiB 6 content on mechanical properties of the obtained ceramic samples were explored. As the SiB 6 content increased to 2.0 wt%, the linear shrinkage gradually decreased, while the room temperature and high temperature flexural strength were enhanced at the SiB 6 content from 0 to 1.0 wt% and reduced as the SiB 6 content further rose. As the SiB 6 content increased to 1.0 wt%, the linear shrinkage was reduced to 1.86% resulting from the oxidation reaction of SiB 6. Furthermore, with 1.0 wt% SiB 6 addition, the flexural strength of the samples at room temperature was enhanced from 6.75 MPa to 14.63 MPa due to the sintering promotion of oxidation product B 2 O 3 , and the flexural strength at 1550 °C was improved from 7.68 MPa to 13.08 MPa because of the enhanced β-cristobalite content, which is suitable for high temperature casting of ceramic cores. Therefore, it demonstrates the capability of fabricating SiB 6 reinforced silica-based ceramic cores with high performance via stereolithography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • (a) In both physiological and pathological conditions, nicotine stimulation induces cardiac fibrosis and injury. • (b) Nicotine induces cardiac fibrosis by directly binding to LDHA. • (c) Nicotine induces autophagy flux impairment in cardiac fibroblasts through LDHA-mediated AMPK/mTOR/TFEB signaling pathway and the decreased activity of CTSB. Cardiac fibrosis is a typical feature of cardiac pathological remodeling, which is associated with adverse clinical outcomes and has no effective therapy. Nicotine is an important risk factor for cardiac fibrosis, yet its underlying molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. This study aimed to identify its potential molecular mechanism in nicotine-induced cardiac fibrosis. Our results showed nicotine exposure led to the proliferation and transformation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) into myofibroblasts (MFs) by impairing autophagy flux. Through the use of drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) assay, cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology, it was discovered that nicotine directly increased the stability and protein levels of lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) by binding to it. Nicotine treatment impaired autophagy flux by regulating the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway, impeding the nuclear translocation of transcription factor EB (TFEB), and reducing the activity of cathepsin B (CTSB). In vivo, nicotine treatment exacerbated cardiac fibrosis induced in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and worsened cardiac function. Interestingly, the absence of LDHA reversed these effects both in vitro and in vivo. Our study identified LDHA as a novel nicotine-binding protein that plays a crucial role in mediating cardiac fibrosis by blocking autophagy flux. The findings suggest that LDHA could potentially serve as a promising target for the treatment of cardiac fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The small-size and efficient charge separation of MOFs catalysts are essential for improving photocatalytic performance. In this work, a series of small-size NH 2 -UiO-66 nanoparticle-modified Mo 2 C photocatalysts were successfully prepared by hydrothermal synthesis with in situ growing NH 2 -UiO-66 on the surface of Mo 2 C. The addition of Mo 2 C can not only obtain small-size NH 2 -UiO-66 nanoparticles, but also significantly increase the separation efficiency of photo-generated carriers and prolongs the carrier lifetime, thereby promoting the photoreduction of CO 2 in water vapor with excellent stability. The resulting 11-Mo 2 C/NH 2 -UiO-66 (11-MCNU) exhibits excellent catalytic activity for CO 2 reduction to CO product at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The yield of CO can reach 11 μmol g−1 in the absence of organic solvents, sacrifice agents and photosensitizers, which is much higher than that of the isolated NH 2 -UiO-66 and Mo 2 C. [Display omitted] • A series of small-size NH 2 -UiO-66 nanoparticle-modified Mo 2 C photocatalysts were successfully prepared by hydrothermal synthesis. • The resulting 11-Mo 2 C/NH 2 -UiO-66 (11-MCNU) exhibits excellent catalytic activity for CO 2 reduction to CO. • The yield of CO can reach 11 μ mol g−1 in the absence of organic solvents, sacrifice agents and photosensitizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to reveal the underlying mechanisms of the differences in viscoelasticity and digestibility between mung bean starch (MBS) and proso millet starch (PMS) from the viewpoint of starch fine molecular structure. The contents of amylopectin B2 chains (14.94–15.09 %), amylopectin B3 chains (14.48–15.07 %) and amylose long chains (183.55–198.84) in MBS were significantly higher than PMS (10.45–10.76 %, 12.48–14.07 % and 70.59–88.03, respectively). MBS with higher amylose content (AC, 28.45–31.80 %) not only exhibited a lower weight-average molar mass (91,750.65–128,120.44 kDa) and R 1047/1022 (1.1520–1.1904), but also was significantly lower than PMS in relative crystallinity (15.22–23.18 %, p < 0.05). MBS displayed a higher storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G′′) than PMS. Although only MBS-1 showed two distinct and discontinuous phases, MBS exhibited a higher resistant starch (RS) content than PMS (31.63–39.23 %), with MBS-3 having the highest RS content (56.15 %). Correlation analysis suggested that the amylopectin chain length distributions and AC played an important role in affecting the crystal structure, viscoelastic properties and in vitro starch digestibility of MBS and PMS. These results will provide a theoretical and scientific basis for the development of starch science and industrial production of low glycemic index starchy food. [Display omitted] • The crystal structure of mung bean starch (MBS) was weaker than proso millet starch (PMS). • High amounts of amylopectin short-chains weakened the viscoelastic properties of PMS. • MBS-1 with the lowest amylose content (AC) and h Am,ii reflected two digestion phases. • MBS reflected lower maximum starch digestibility and higher resistant starch content than PMS. • The amylopectin chain-length distributions and AC are the root cause of these differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A type III polyketide synthase (SfuPKS2) from the edible seaweed Sargassum fusiforme was cloned and biochemically characterized. SfuPKS2 can only accept octanoyl-CoA (C8) and neither other long-chain fatty acyl-CoAs, nor non-fatty acyl-CoAs synthesized in this study as the substrate. In addition, in incubation with octanoyl-CoA, only a single product peak was observed, giving rise to the triketide α-pyrone derivative. To understand the substrate specificity of SfuPKS2, we constructed a structural model and performed docking analysis to reveal amino acid residues critical for enzyme-substrate binding. Putative key residues were then mutated experimentally and the impact on protein function was assessed by incubating the mutant with octanoyl-CoA. We found that key amino acids governing enzyme activity and specificity included Ser171, His236, Phe254, and Ile377. Mutations on these amino acids generally resulted in altered interactions with the substrate and thus the enzyme activity. In summary, our work provided mechanistic insight on how the selectivity toward the substrate is achieved in SfuPKS2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]