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The topology of a polymer profoundly influences its behavior. However, its effect on imbibition dynamics remains poorly understood. In the present work, capillary filling (during imbibition and following full imbibition) of star polymer melts was investigated by molecular dynamics simulations with a coarse-grained model. The reversal of imbibition dynamics observed for linear-chain systems was also present for star polymers. Star polymers with short arms penetrate slower than the prediction of the Lucas–Washburn equation, while systems with long arms penetrate faster. The radius of gyration increases during confined flow, indicating the orientation and disentanglement of arms. In addition, the higher the functionality of the star polymer, the more entanglement points are retained. Besides, a stiff region near the core segments of the stars is observed, which increases in size with functionality. The proportion of different configurations of the arms (e.g., loops, trains, tails) changes dramatically with the arm length and degree of confinement but is only influenced by the functionality when the arms are short. Following full imbibition, the different decay rates of the self-correlation function of the core-to-end vector illustrate that arms take a longer time to reach the equilibrium state as the functionality, arm length, and degree of confinement increase, in agreement with recent experimental findings. Furthermore, the star topology induces a stronger effect of adsorption and friction, which becomes more pronounced with increasing functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is limited by its complex molecular characteristics and changeable tumor microenvironment (TME). Here we focused on elucidating the functional consequences of Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) in the tumorigenesis, progression and metastasis of HCC, and exploring the effect of MELK on immune cell regulation in the TME, meanwhile clarifying the corresponding signaling networks. Methods: Bioinformatic analysis was used to validate the prognostic value of MELK for HCC. Murine xenograft assays and HCC lung metastasis mouse model confirmed the role of MELK in tumorigenesis and metastasis in HCC. Luciferase assays, RNA sequencing, immunopurification–mass spectrometry (IP-MS) and coimmunoprecipitation (CoIP) were applied to explore the upstream regulators, downstream essential molecules and corresponding mechanisms of MELK in HCC. Results: We confirmed MELK to be a reliable prognostic factor of HCC and identified MELK as an effective candidate in facilitating the tumorigenesis, progression, and metastasis of HCC; the effects of MELK depended on the targeted regulation of the upstream factor miR-505-3p and interaction with STAT3, which induced STAT3 phosphorylation and increased the expression of its target gene CCL2 in HCC. In addition, we confirmed that tumor cell-intrinsic MELK inhibition is beneficial in stimulating M1 macrophage polarization, hindering M2 macrophage polarization and inducing CD8 + T-cell recruitment, which are dependent on the alteration of CCL2 expression. Importantly, MELK inhibition amplified RT-related immune effects, thereby synergizing with RT to exert substantial antitumor effects. OTS167, an inhibitor of MELK, was also proven to effectively impair the growth and progression of HCC and exert a superior antitumor effect in combination with radiotherapy (RT). Conclusions: Altogether, our findings highlight the functional role of MELK as a promising target in molecular therapy and in the combination of RT therapy to improve antitumor effect for HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Short-term personalized vestibular rehabilitation (ST-PVR) can establish stable vestibular compensation. However, there is a lack of a clear definition for clinical indicators that can dynamically reflect the progress of vestibular rehabilitation (VR). Objective: To explore the clinical indicators suitable for evaluating the effectiveness of ST-PVR in treating benign recurrent vertigo (BRV). Methods: In total, 50 patients diagnosed with BRV were enrolled. All patients received the ST-PVR treatment program. At 2 and 4 weeks after rehabilitation, subjective scales, including the visual analogue scale (VAS), dizziness handicap inventory scale (DHI), activities‐specific balance confidence scale (ABC) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7) were assessed. Objective vestibular function tests were performed. VR grading was determined. Results: At 2 weeks after rehabilitation, significant enhancements were observed in VAS, DHI, ABC, GAD-7, UW, vHIT results, and VR grading scores (p < 0.05). The sensory organization test (SOT) results demonstrated statistically significant improvements at 2 weeks and 4 weeks after rehabilitation (p < 0.05). Conclusion and significance: Both subjective scales and partial examination results in objective assessment can serve as indicators to dynamically monitor the compensatory process of vestibular function in patients with BRV. The VR efficacy grading score, which incorporates the above indicators, allows for quantification of the changes that occur during the vestibular rehabilitation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The underlying mechanism of broadband dispersive‐wave emission within a resonance band of gas‐filled anti‐resonant hollow‐core fiber is studied. Both numerical and experimental results unveiled that the pump pulse with a soliton order of ≈3, launched into the hollow‐core fiber, experienced two stages of pulse compression, resulting in a multi‐peak structure of the emitted dispersive‐wave spectrum. Over the first‐stage pulse compression, a sharp increase of the pulse peak power triggers the first time of dispersive‐wave emission, and simultaneously causes the soliton frequency blue‐shift due to soliton‐plasma interactions. As the central frequency of the blue‐shifting soliton approaches to a resonance band of the hollow‐core fiber, it experiences a fast‐decreasing dispersion value in the fiber waveguide, resulting in the second stage of pulse compression. The second‐stage pulse compression triggers the second time of dispersive‐wave emission with a phase‐matched frequency slightly lower than that at the first stage. Multi‐peak spectra of the output dispersive‐waves and their formation dynamics can be understood using a delicate and unique coupling mechanism among three nonlinear effects including multi‐stage soliton compression, soliton‐plasma interaction, and phase‐matched dispersive‐wave emission. The output broadband dispersive‐wave, exhibiting good coherence and stability, can be potentially compressed to sub‐30 fs duration using a precise chirp‐compensation technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing demand for wearable, portable, and implantable optoelectronic devices, flexible photodetectors have become the hotspots of scientific pursuit. In this work, a flexible heterostructure photodetector was fabricated through a combination of perovskite CsCu2I3 nanorods and ZnO quantum dots by a facile solution method. The heterostructure combines the good bending resistance, low dark current, and excellent photoelectric conversion efficiency of CsCu2I3 nanorods with the high electron mobility of ZnO quantum dots; CsCu2I3 NRs act as the light compensating material and hole collector, while ZnO serves as an electron transport channel. This combination results in stronger UV absorption and reduced influence of visible light, achieving ultraviolet-to-visible rejection ratios of as high as 8 × 102. The photodetector exhibits superior performance in the visible-blind ultraviolet region, boasting an on–off ratio of 102, a tenfold increase compared to single-component CsCu2I3 NR photodetectors. Its responsivity and specific detectivity, at 1.62 A/W and 4.13 × 1011 Jones, respectively, outperform the single-component CsCu2I3 NRs by 40 and 23 times and surpass the single-component ZnO photodetectors by 102 times. The response time is about 50% shorter than that of the single-component CsCu2I3 and ZnO photodetectors. This photodetector also shows excellent flexibility and environmental and mechanical stability after a series of sharp bends. The results indicate that the CsCu2I3/ZnO heterostructure provides a promising alternative for high-performance flexible UV optoelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employing functional building units with microscopic second‐order NLO response has been proposed to explore high performance NLO materials. Herein, structural, electronic and optical properties of non‐centrosymmetric molybdenyl carbonate Cs3MoO4(HCO3) with NLO active functional units have been examined based on density functional theory. Theoretical results are consistent with experimentally mentioned data, confirming the reliable method. Detailed geometric structure, electronic attributes, linear optical properties, and nonlinear optical properties of Cs3MoO4(HCO3) are provided. Analysis of structures, compositions of bands and plots of charge density suggest that asymmetric functional building units [MoO4] and [HCO3] exhibit varying degrees of second‐order Jahn‐Teller distortions, and therefore have a significant impact on the electronic structure and optical properties of Cs3MoO4(HCO3). Maximum absolute value of SHG coefficients at 1064 nm is 0.671 pm/V for d15, which is nearly twice as much as that of KDP. Further researches are needed in future to validate and enhance optical anisotropy characteristic of Cs3MoO4(HCO3) for satisfying the phase matching conditions. Analysis results indicate that microscopic origins of SHG response in Cs3MoO4(HCO3) are complicated, such as geometric environment, induced polar asymmetric functional building units, and electronic properties. Continuous research on structure‐property relationship of NLO materials is needed for exploring more competitive NLO materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of photoresponsive systems with non‐invasive orthogonal control by distinct wavelengths of light is still in its infancy. In particular, the design of photochemically triggered‐orthogonal systems integrated into solid materials that enable multiple dynamic control over their properties remains a longstanding challenge. Here, we report the orthogonal and reversible control of two types of photoswitches in an integrated solid porous framework, that is, visible‐light responsive o‐fluoroazobenzene and nitro‐spiropyran motifs. The properties of the constructed material can be selectively controlled by different wavelengths of light thus generating four distinct states providing a basis for dynamic multifunctional materials. Solid‐state NMR spectroscopy demonstrated the selective transformation of the azobenzene switch in the bulk, which in turn modulates N2 and CO2 adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Type 2 diabetes is associated with a variety of complications, including micro- and macrovascular complications, neurological manifestations and poor wound healing. Adhering to a Mediterranean Diet (MED) is generally considered an effective intervention in individuals at risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, little is known about its effect with respect to the different specific manifestations of T2DM. This prompted us to explore the effect of MED on the three most significant microvascular complications of T2DM: diabetic retinopathy (DR), diabetic kidney disease (DKD), and vascular diabetic neuropathies (DN). Methods: We examined the association between the MED and the incidence of these microvascular complications in a prospective cohort of 33,441 participants with hyperglycemia free of microvascular complications at baseline, identified in the UK Biobank. For each individual, we calculated the Alternate Mediterranean Diet (AMED) score, which yields a semi-continuous measure of the extent to which an individual’s diet can be considered as MED. We used Cox proportional hazard models to analyze hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for demographics, lifestyle factors, medical histories and cardiovascular risk factors. Results: Over a median of 12.3 years of follow-up, 3,392 cases of microvascular complications occurred, including 1,084 cases of diabetic retinopathy (DR), 2,184 cases of diabetic kidney disease (DKD), and 632 cases of diabetic neuropathies (DN), with some patients having 2 or 3 microvascular complications simultaneously. After adjusting for confounders, we observed that higher AMED scores offer protection against DKD among participants with hyperglycemia (comparing the highest AMED scores to the lowest yielded an HR of 0.79 [95% CIs: 0.67, 0.94]). Additionally, the protective effect of AMED against DKD was more evident in the hyperglycemic participants with T2DM (HR, 0.64; 95% CI: 0.50, 0.83). No such effect, however, was seen for DR or DN. Conclusions: In this prospective cohort study, we have demonstrated that higher adherence to a MED is associated with a reduced risk of DKD among individuals with hyperglycemia. Our study emphasizes the necessity for continued research focusing on the benefits of the MED. Such efforts including the ongoing clinical trial will offer further insights into the role of MED in the clinical management of DKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of photoresponsive systems with non‐invasive orthogonal control by distinct wavelengths of light is still in its infancy. In particular, the design of photochemically triggered‐orthogonal systems integrated into solid materials that enable multiple dynamic control over their properties remains a longstanding challenge. Here, we report the orthogonal and reversible control of two types of photoswitches in an integrated solid porous framework, that is, visible‐light responsive o‐fluoroazobenzene and nitro‐spiropyran motifs. The properties of the constructed material can be selectively controlled by different wavelengths of light thus generating four distinct states providing a basis for dynamic multifunctional materials. Solid‐state NMR spectroscopy demonstrated the selective transformation of the azobenzene switch in the bulk, which in turn modulates N2 and CO2 adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the diagnostic values of different musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) signs, serum uric acid (SUA), and their combined detection for gouty arthritis (GA). Patients and methods: In this retrospective study, 70 patients (62 males, 8 females; mean age: 46.1±14.1 years; range, 25 to 86 years) diagnosed with GA (the GA group) between August 2022 and March 2023 and 70 patients (54 females, 16 males; mean age: 49.0±14.1 years; range, 21 to 75 years) diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis during the same period (the non-GA group) were included. The positive rate of MSUS signs and SUA in both groups was recorded to compare the differences. The correlations of MSUS signs and SUA with GA were analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation analysis. The diagnostic values of different MSUS signs, SUA, and their combined detection for GA were analyzed using a receiver operating characteristic, the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and the Youden index. Results: The positive rate of the double contour (DC) sign (chi-squared [Χ²]=102.935, p<0.001), hyperechoic spots (Χ²=56.395, p<0.001), bone erosions (Χ²=10.080, p<0.001), and SUA (Χ²=41.117, p<0.001) were higher in the GA group than in the non-GA group. The positive rate of the DC sign (rs=0.829, p=0.001), hyperechoic spots (rs=0.631, p<0.001), bone erosion (rs=0.268, p=0.001), and SUA (rs=0.542, p<0.001) were positively correlated with GA. Among the single-indicator measures, the DC sign exhibited the highest diagnostic value (AUC=0.907, sensitivity=81.4%, specificity=100%, p<0.001). Among the combined-indicator measures, the DC sign combined with SUA exhibited the highest diagnostic value (AUC=0.929, sensitivity=91.4%, specificity=94.3%, p<0.001), higher than DC sign detection alone. Conclusion: The DC sign combined with SUA yielded a high diagnostic value and can thus provide a reliable basis for effectively and efficiently diagnosing GA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To overcome the structural failure of Manganese-based Prussian blue analogue (Mn-HCF) as a cathode material of sodium ion batteries caused by Mn ion dissolution induced by Jahn–Teller effect, we coated Mn-HCF with iron-based Prussian blue (Fe-HCF) to prepare the core–shell Mn-HCF@Fe-HCF cathode material for sodium ion batteries through co-precipitation method. The research results indicate that this structure effectively blocks the direct contact between Mn-HCF and electrolyte, thereby minimizing the dissolution of Mn 3 + in the electrolyte and significantly improving the cycling stability and rate performance. The discharge capacity of this material at a current density of 0.1 C (14 mA g − 1) is 129.7 mAh g − 1 . It still has a capacity of 87.4 mAh g − 1 at a current density of 2 C (280 mA g − 1) , and still has a capacity retention rate of 84.3% (91 mAh g − 1) after 100 cycles at a current density of 0.5 C (70 mA g − 1). Compared with the capacity retention rate of 51.5% of Mn-HCF 100 cycles before coating, the cycle stability of Mn-HCF@Fe-HCF is greatly improved. The Mn-HCF@Fe-HCF material was successfully prepared through a simple coprecipitation method. When applied in sodium-ion batteries, the Mn-HCF@Fe-HCF exhibited a remarkable cycle stability of 129.7 mAh g–1 at 0.1 C, along with an impressive rate performance of 104.2 mAh g–1 at 1 C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light intensity significantly influences plant growth in hydroponic green fodder systems, yet research exploring the growth dynamics and nutrient accumulation in hydroponically grown barley under various light conditions has been limited. This study investigated the impact of different light intensities—0, 100, 200, and 300 μmol/m2/s—on the nutritional composition and quality of hydroponic barley fodder. Assessments were made on biomass production, physiological responses including photosynthetic parameters, and nutritional components such as essential amino acids five days post-treatment. The findings indicated that increasing light intensity boosted photosynthetic activity, expanded leaf area, enhanced root length, and promoted biomass accumulation. However, the highest intensity tested, 300 μmol/m2/s, led to significant chlorophyll degradation, increased water loss, and induced oxidative stress, adversely affecting fodder quality and reducing essential amino acids. In contrast, an intensity of 200 μmol/m2/s was identified as optimal for promoting robust barley growth through principal component analysis. This optimal setting supported vigorous growth and ensured the production of nutrient-rich, high-quality fodder, providing a basis for scaling up production efficiently. This research offers crucial insights into optimizing light conditions to maximize both the yield and nutritional quality of hydroponically grown barley fodder, presenting a significant step forward in enhancing hydroponic farming practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The onset and progression of periodontitis involves complicated interactions between the dysbiotic oral microbiota and disrupted host immune-inflammatory response, which can be mirrored by the changes in salivary metabolites profile. This pilot study sought to examine the saliva microbiome and metabolome in the Chinese population by the combined approach of 16s rRNA sequencing and high-throughput targeted metabolomics to discover potential cues for host-microbe metabolic interactions. Unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected from eighteen Stage III and IV periodontitis patients and thirteen healthy subjects. Full-mouth periodontal parameters were recorded. The taxonomic composition of microbiota was obtained by 16s rRNA sequencing, and the metabolites were identified and measured by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry-based metabolomic analysis. The oral microbiota composition displayed marked changes where the abundance of 93 microbial taxa differed significantly between the periodontitis and healthy group. Targeted metabolomics identified 103 differential metabolites between the patients and healthy individuals. Functional enrichment analysis demonstrated the upregulation of protein digestion and absorption, histidine metabolism, and nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism pathways in the dysbiotic microbiota, while the ferroptosis, tryptophan metabolism, glutathione metabolism, and carbon metabolism pathways were upregulated in the patients. Correlation analysis confirmed positive relationships between the clinical parameters, pathogen abundances, and disease-related metabolite levels. The integral analysis of the saliva microbiome and metabolome yielded an accurate presentation of the dysbiotic oral microbiome and functional alterations in host-microbe metabolism. The microbial and metabolic profiling of the saliva could be a potential tool in the diagnosis, prognosis evaluation, and pathogenesis study of periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the major greenhouse gases, CO2 is significantly influencing global climate change. Efficient utilization of CO2 is considered an important approach to address the current environmental and energy challenges. In particular, using CO2 as a raw material for the production of hydrocarbons is an attractive strategy for reducing carbon emissions while ensuring a stable energy supply. In this study, fluorine (F) doped ZnLa layered double hydroxide (F-ZL-LDH) and F-doped ZnCe layered double hydroxide (F-ZC-LDH) were prepared using a hydrothermal synthesis method. The materials' structural composition and morphology were analyzed using X-ray diffractometry (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The research results demonstrate that both catalysts exhibit abundant active sites, high selectivity, and excellent electrocatalytic performance for CO2RR to generate CO, with Faradaic efficiencies reaching 89.29% and 89.87% for F-ZL-LDH and F-ZC-LDH, respectively. The doping of fluorine results in the presence of numerous defects and pore structures on the surfaces of F-ZC-LDH and F-ZL-LDH, increasing the surface active area and enhancing charge transfer rates. Meanwhile, F doping facilitates CO2 adsorption and mass transfer on the electrode surface. Moreover, F doping in the catalysts also restricts the adsorption and desorption of *H during the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) process. The effective management and rapid conversion of CO2 to various organic compounds and chemical fuels to facilitate carbon cycle and reduce atmospheric CO2 concentration have become a hot topic in current technological advances worldwide. Among the various electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) products, carbon monoxide (CO) is the product with the highest kinetic accessibility. In this paper, F-ZL-LDH and F-ZC-LDH composite materials were prepared using a hydrothermal synthesis method. Based on preliminary studies, a molar ratio of M2+:M3+ of 3:1 was determined to provide better catalytic performance,and ammonium fluoride content of 30% of the cation molar ratio of M2+ + M3+. The introduction of fluorine (F) improves the catalytic performance of both materials, with a greater enhancement observed for ZL-LDH. At − 1.3V vs. RHE potential, The research results demonstrate that both catalysts exhibit abundant active sites, high selectivity, and excellent electrocatalytic performance for CO2RR to generate CO, with Faradaic efficiencies reaching 89.29% and 89.87% for F-ZL-LDH and F-ZC-LDH, respectively. the fluorination treatment of ZC-LDH and ZL-LDH catalysts significantly enhances their electrocatalytic activity for the CO2 reduction reaction, particularly for the production of CO. These findings contribute to the development of efficient catalysts for CO2 electrochemical reduction and hold promise for advancing the field of CO2 utilization and renewable energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects have developed sophisticated detoxification systems to protect them from plant secondary metabolites while feeding on plants to obtain necessary nutrients. As an important enzyme in the system, glycosyltransferase 1 (GT1) conjugates toxic compounds to mitigate their harm to insects. However, the evolutionary link between GT1s and insect plant feeding remains elusive. In this study, we explored the evolution of GT1s across different insect orders and feeding niches using publicly available insect genomes. GT1 is widely present in insect species; however, its gene number differs among insect orders. Notably, plant-sap-feeding species have the highest GT1 gene numbers, whereas blood-feeding species display the lowest. GT1s appear to be associated with insect adaptations to different plant substrates in different orders, while the shift to non-plant feeding is related to several losses of GT1s. Most large gene numbers are likely the consequence of tandem duplications showing variations in collinearity among insect orders. These results reveal the potential relationships between the evolution of GT1s and insect adaptation to plant feeding, facilitating our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying insect–plant interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we study the problem of partitioning a set of graphs into different groups such that the graphs in the same group are similar while the graphs in different groups are dissimilar. This problem was rarely studied previously, although there has been a lot of work on node clustering and graph classification. The problem is challenging because it is difficult to measure the similarity or distance between graphs. One feasible approach is using graph kernels to compute a similarity matrix for the graphs and then performing spectral clustering, but the effectiveness of existing graph kernels in measuring the similarity between graphs is very limited. To solve the problem, we propose a novel method called Deep Graph-Level Clustering (DGLC). DGLC utilizes a graph isomorphism network to learn graph-level representations by maximizing the mutual information between the representations of entire graphs and sub-structures, under the regularization of a clustering module that ensures discriminative representations via pseudo-labels. DGLC achieves graph-level representation learning and graph-level clustering in an end-to-end manner. The experimental results on six benchmark datasets of graphs show that our DGLC has state-of-the-art performance in comparison to many baselines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to understand the delamination growth under mode II loading from the perspective of composite damage mechanisms, this study conducted in-depth research on the damage evolution of laminated plates using acoustic emission (AE) technology and signal analysis methods. Delamination mainly includes two stages: initiation and propagation, in which the initiation is the more important stage in the process of material delamination. Three damage modes of laminated materials during loading were identified by combining peak frequency statistics of AE signals with continuous wavelet transform (CWT). The initial time and stage of delamination can be determined by two methods. (1) The evolution process of damage mechanisms can be characterized by the fast fourier transform (FFT) of AE signals in several time periods. (2) The cumulative energy of three damage modes separated by variational mode decomposition (VMD) can be used to characterize the damage evolution process. The initial time determined by integrating several methods is much earlier than the occurrence time of the interlaminar fracture toughness value defined by ASTM standard. The strain energy release rate (SERR) determined at the initial time of delamination is taken as a design reference, which will be of guiding significance for ensuring the safety of laminates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sternorrhyncha, one of the four major suborders of Hemiptera, is a phytophagous taxon inclusive of nearly 18 000 described species. The phylogenetic relationships within the taxon and the earliest‐branching lineage of its infraorders remain incompletely understood. This study attempted to illuminate the phylogenetic relationships within Sternorrhyncha through the use of maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference and maximum parsimony analyses, employing ultraconserved element (UCE) data from 39 genomic and 62 transcriptomic datasets and thereby representing most families within the taxon. The probe set Hemiptera 2.7Kv1 was used to recover a total of 2731 UCE loci: from 547 to 1699 (with an average of 1084) across all genomic datasets and from 108 to 849 (with an average of 329) across all transcriptomic datasets. All three types of phylogenetic analyses employed in this study produced robust statistical support for Sternorrhyncha being a monophyletic group. The different methods of phylogenetic analysis produced inconsistent descriptions of topological structure at the infraorder level: while maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses produced strong statistical evidence (100%) indicating the clade Psylloidea + Aleyrodoidea to be a sister of the clade Aphidoidea (Aphidomorpha) + Coccoidea (Coccomorpha), the maximum parsimony analysis failed to recover a similar result. Our results also provide detail on the phylogenetic relationships within each infraorder. This study presents the first use of UCE data to investigate the phylogeny of Sternorrhyncha. It also shows the viability of amalgamating genomic and transcriptomic data in studies of phylogenetic relationships, potentially highlighting a resource‐efficient approach for future inquiries into diverse taxa through the integration of varied data sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introducing CeO2 into Pd‐based nanocatalysts for electrocatalytic reactions is a good way to solve the intermediate toxicity problem and improve the catalytic performance. Here we reported a simple strategy to synthesize the PdCuAg and CeO2 nanowires hybrid via a one‐pot synthesis process under strong nanoconfined effect of specific surfactant as templates. Owing to the structural (ultrathin nanowires, abundant heterojunction/interfaces between metal and metal oxide) and compositional (Pd, Cu, Ag, CeO2) advantages, the hybrid showed significantly enhanced catalytic activity (6.06 A mgPd−1) and stability, accelerated reaction rate, and reduced activation energy toward electrocatalytic ethylene glycol oxidation reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn this article, we establish the mathematical foundations for modeling the randomness of shapes and conducting statistical inference on shapes using the smooth Euler characteristic transform. Based on these foundations, we propose two Chi-squared statistic-based algorithms for testing hypotheses on random shapes. Simulation studies are presented to validate our mathematical derivations and to compare our algorithms with state-of-the-art methods to demonstrate the utility of our proposed framework. As real applications, we analyze a dataset of mandibular molars from four genera of primates and show that our algorithms have the power to detect significant shape differences that recapitulate known morphological variation across suborders. Altogether, our discussions bridge the following fields: algebraic and computational topology, probability theory and stochastic processes, Sobolev spaces and functional analysis, analysis of variance for functional data, and geometric morphometrics. Supplementary materials for this article are available online, including a standardized description of the materials available for reproducing the work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a certain failure rate in traditional glaucoma surgery because of the lack of depth information in microscope images. In this work, we present a digital microscope-integrated optical coherence tomography (MIOCT) system and several custom-made OCT-compatible instruments for glaucoma surgery. Sixteen ophthalmologists were asked to perform trabeculectomy and canaloplasty on live porcine eyes using the system and instruments. After surgery, a subjective feedback survey about the user experience was taken. The experiment results showed that our system can help surgeons easily locate important tissue structures during surgery. The custom-made instruments also solved the shadowing problem in OCT imaging. Surgeons preferred to use the system in their future practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: Metalla‐isosilabenzenes and metalla‐isogermabenzenes have been successfully synthesized by the formal [5+1]‐cycloaddition of diethynylsilane or diethynylgermane with simple metal complexes. This is the first example of a heavier Group 14 metalla‐isobenzene isomer bearing a cumulative double bond motif within a metallacycle. These novel complexes were fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. The stabilization of the cyclic metal‐vinylidene complexes has been analyzed using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. When the metalla‐isosilabenzenes bearing Si—H bond were treated with the trityl salt as a hydride scavenger, the formation of silylium cation was observed spectroscopically. Both of metalla‐isosilabenzenes and metalla‐isogermabenzenes can readily undergo migratory insertion reactions to furnish siloles or germoles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, arsenic (As) speciation was investigated in the freshwater alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii treated with 20 μg/L arsenate using fractionation as well as ICP-MS/ESI-MS analyses and was compared with the known As metabolite profile of wild-grown Saccharina latissima. While the total As accumulation in C. reinhardtii was about 85% lower than in S. latissima, the relative percentage of arsenolipids was significantly higher in C. reinhardtii (57.0% vs. 5.01%). As-containing hydrocarbons and phospholipids dominated the hydrophobic As profile in S. latissima, but no As-containing hydrocarbons were detectable in C. reinhardtii. Instead for the first time, an arsenoriboside-containing phytol (AsSugPhytol) was found to dominate the hydrophobic arsenicals of C. reinhardtii. Interestingly, this compound and its relatives had so far been only found in green marine microalgae, open sea plankton (mixed assemblage), and sediments but not in brown or red macroalgae. This compound family might therefore relate to differences in the arsenic metabolism between the algae phyla. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although bioceramic materials exhibit good biocompatibilities and bone conductivities, their high brittleness and low toughness properties limit their applications. Zirconia (ZrO2)/resin composites with idealized structures and properties were prepared by fused deposition modeling (FDM) combined with a vacuum infiltration process. The porous structure was prepared using the FDM three-dimensional printing technology, with granular zirconia as the raw material, and the relationship between the pore shape, pore size, and deformation was discussed. The results showed that square pores were more suitable than honeycomb pores for printing small pore sizes, and the resolution was high. Scanning electron microscopy observations showed that the superposition of multiple printing paths promoted the emergence of hole defects. The effects of the resin and the pore shape on the compressive strengths of the composites were studied. It was found that the compressive strengths of the honeycomb pore ZrO2/resin composites and porous ceramics were superior to those of the square pore samples. The introduction of the resin had a significant effect on the compressive strengths of the composites. The compressive strength increased in the direction perpendicular to the pores, while it decreased in the direction parallel to the pores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate and punctual precipitation data are fundamental to understanding regional hydrology and are a critical reference point for regional flood control. The aims of this study are to evaluate the performance of three widely used precipitation datasets—CRU TS, ERA5, and NCEP—as potential alternatives for hydrological applications in the Bahr el Ghazal River Basin in South Sudan, Africa. This includes examining the spatial and temporal evolution of regional precipitation using relatively accurate precipitation datasets. The findings indicate that CRU TS is the best precipitation dataset in the Bahr el Ghazal Basin. The spatial and temporal distributions of precipitation from CRU TS reveal that precipitation in the Bahr el Ghazal Basin has a clear wet season, with June–August accounting for half of the annual precipitation and peaking in July and August. The long-term annual total precipitation exhibits a gradual increasing trend from the north to the south, with the southwestern part of the Basin having the largest percentage of wet season precipitation. Notably, the Bahr el Ghazal Basin witnessed a significant precipitation shift in 1967, followed by an increasing trend. Moreover, the spatial and temporal precipitation evolutions reveal an ongoing risk of flooding in the lower part of the Basin; therefore, increased engineering counter-measures might be needed for effective flood prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tensegrity structures, which consist of tension cables and compression rods, are widely used in various fields. It is particularly important to find the tensegrity with definite geometric configuration for the following research and application. This paper presents a traversal topology-finding method for tensegrity structures based on dynamic programming algorithm and ground structure method. After the designer has given the cable topology, the dynamic programming is adopted to realize the traversal selection of the rod. In order to reduce the traversal space and realize the constraint of rod length type, the rod is classified according to length. Compared with existing topology-finding methods, the algorithm can not only output all feasible topologies but also incorporate structural constraints, such as rod length type and prestressed stability, into the calculation process. Four tensegrity numerical examples illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the topology-finding method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were active in inhibiting growth of Fusarium oxysporum. • Plants grown in NPs-amended soil showed improved growth. • NPs caused increased activity of plant defense-related enzymes. • Plants showed enhanced expression of defense-related genes after NPs application. Management of Fusarium wilt, a destructive plant disease, mainly relies on chemicals, but research on novel and eco-friendly methods is needed due to the hazardous effects of chemical pesticides. This study explored the soil application of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) to manage Fusarium wilt disease in cucumber plants. The antifungal activity of ZnONPs against in-vitro growth of Fusarium oxysporum was tested through food poisoning test on the potato dextrose agar medium. The in-vivo potential of NPs for managing Fusarium wilt was checked in pot experiment. In-vitro results confirmed the concentration-dependent in-vitro antifungal activity. The NPs application at 500 µg/ml and 600 µg/ml concentrations showed phytotoxicity and significantly inhibited seed germination and growth of cucumber plants. However, NPs at 300 µg/ml significantly suppressed the pathogenic effects of F. oxysporum on cucumber plants without any phytotoxic effect. The pathogen-inoculated cucumber plants grown in soil amended with NPs showed significantly enhanced growth, lower disease severity, and improved root physiology compared to untreated plants. The plants under NPs treatment showed higher chlorophyll and nitrogen content while decreased membrane permeability and malondialdehyde content. Along with direct antifungal activity, the application of NPs caused an increased expression of defense-related genes and higher activities of defense-related enzymes. These findings verified the efficiency of ZnONPs for suppressing Fusarium wilt disease in cucumber crops, thereby promoting a non-chemical and environmentally friendly approach to controlling Fusarium wilt disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have made tremendous progress over the last decade in the treatment of cutaneous melanoma, but their application in uveal melanoma treatment is less successful, owing in part to the immunological privilege of the eye and the liver, the most frequent site of metastasis. Nevertheless, the therapeutic outcomes reported currently are less pessimistic. Methods: In this review, we provide an overview of recent studies of immune checkpoint inhibitors in uveal melanoma and its metastasis and classify studies in this field into three groups: monotherapy of immune checkpoint inhibitors, dual-agent immune checkpoint inhibitors, and immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with other systemic or regional therapies. Results: Briefly, monotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors performed poorly. Dual-agent immune checkpoint inhibitors had slightly better outcomes than traditional treatments, especially in specific patient populations. As for the combination therapy, the combination with other systemic therapies did not show superiority over dual-agent immune checkpoint inhibitors, but combination with hepatic regional therapies was quite promising. Moreover, research on emerging checkpoints is currently limited to the stage of mechanistic studies. Conclusion: We propose that immune checkpoint inhibitors remain alternative treatments for patients with uveal melanoma, but factors such as cost-effectiveness should also be taken into account. The combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors deserves to be further explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the factors associated with stress, resilience, coping styles, and emergency competencies when nurses are faced with a public health emergency. Design: This study used a cross‐sectional design. Sample: Study data came from a survey of 646 nurses who were from a tertiary hospital in Southern China in March–June 2022. Methods: Participants responded to self‐report questionnaires through a web‐based survey. Stress, resilience, emergency competencies, and response to public emergencies were assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale, Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale, the core competencies of nurses in public health emergencies, and a simplified coping style questionnaire. Results: A total of 646 nurses participated in this study. Slightly over half of the participants were ≤30 years old, and almost all were female. Resilience, positive coping, and negative coping were positively correlated with emergency competencies. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that resilience, working years, and participation in the treatment of infectious diseases were significant predictors of emergency competencies. Conclusion: The findings suggest that nurses require additional training in emergency management and clinical practice to enhance their emergency competencies. More interventions and social support should be provided to improve nurses' resilience and positive coping strategies when they encounter public health emergencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geometric deviations and assembly deformations are inevitable in compliant assembly processes and have a significant impact on assembly quality. This paper proposes a variation propagation model based on isogeometric analysis (IGA), which unifies geometric deviations and compliant deformations in one framework by embedding exact geometry into assembly analysis. First, geometric deviations are modeled via offsets along control points using non-uniform rational basis spline (NURBS). Then, the elastic force induced by geometric deviation is calculated using Kirchhoff–Love shell elements. Further, clamping constraints, such as fixture positioning deviation and connection matching deviation, are transformed into displacement boundary conditions using the Lagrange multiplier method. Finally, several examples including the practical project cases are provided to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the developed method in obtaining assembly deviation distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Materials containing mixed anions, particularly, oxyhalides containing asymmetric functional building units, may lead to the discovery of excellent nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. In the present work, the geometric structure, mechanical properties, electronic structure and optical properties of two d 0– d 10 electron transition-metal oxyhalides Cs2CdV2O6Cl2 and Cs3CdV4O12Br have been systematically determined based on density functional theory. The asymmetric functional building units [V2O7], [V4O13], [CdO2Cl4] and [CdO4Br2] exhibit varying degrees of second-order Jahn−Teller distortions, contributing differently to the macroscopic nonlinearity. Mechanical properties reveal that the two oxyhalides are structurally and mechanically stable. Detailed electronic and optical properties of the two oxyhalides are provided. Optical anisotropy character is exhibited along different polarization vectors, giving a large birefringence for satisfying the phase-matching condition. Maximum absolute values of static second harmonic generation (SHG) coefficients are 4.47 pm V−1 for Cs2CdV2O6Cl2 and 3.72 pm V−1 for Cs3CdV4O12Br, suggesting that Cs2CdV2O6Cl2 and Cs3CdV4O12Br are potential NLO crystals with large SHG coefficients. In particular, unique 3D framework structures give a polar structure superposition of individual moments for asymmetric functional building units. Thus, maximum magnitudes of the total microscopic dipole are achieved, having the largest influence on the SHG response. This study elucidates the relationship between the structure and properties of transition-metal oxyhalides, providing valuable insights for designing NLO materials with excellent performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of convolutional neural networks (CNNs), salient object detection methods have made great progress in performance. Most methods are designed with complex structures to aggregate the multi-level feature maps, to reach the goal of filtering noise and obtaining rich information. However, there is no differentiation when dealing with the multi-level features, and only a uniform treatment is used in general. Based on the above considerations, in this paper, we propose a multi-branch feature fusion and refinement network (MFFRNet), which is a framework for treating low-level features and high-level features differently, and effectively fuses the information of multi-level features to make the results more accurate. We propose a detail optimization module (DOM) designed for the rich detail information in low-level features and a pyramid feature extraction module (PFEM) designed for the rich semantic information in high-level features, as well as a feature optimization module (FOM) for refining the fused feature of multiple levels. Extensive experiments are conducted on six benchmark datasets, and the results show that our approach outperforms the state-of-the-art methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary This paper addresses the problem of adaptive tracking control for multi‐input and multi‐output (MIMO) non‐strict feedback systems with unmodeled dynamics and full state time‐varying constraints. To tackle the interference of unmodeled dynamics, the dynamic signal generated by the auxiliary system is used. Hyperbolic tangent function is used as a nonlinear mapping tool to transform the constrained system into an unconstrained one. Hysteresis quantizer is introduced to mitigate the chattering phenomenon and quantization error in the quantization signal. The derivative of virtual signal can be approximated more efficiently by command filter. Furthermore, an error compensation mechanism is established to mitigate the error introduced by the command filter. Unknown nonlinear functions are approximated by radial basis function neural networks (RBFNNs). Stability analysis of the proposed controller is performed through the Lyapunov stability theory and the output tracking error can be constrained within a specified range. Finally, simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accelerating the commercialization of fuel cells requires the development of Pt-based alloy cathode catalysts with high ORR operation, low price, and excellent reliability. However, it is a challenging task to fabricate uniformly dispersed, low-loaded, and small-sized Pt-based alloy catalysts to resolve the contradiction between activity and stability. Here, sub-3 nm N-doped PtNi nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesized as high-performance PEMFC cathode catalysts. PtNi/Ni-NC exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity (0.51 A mg Pt −1@0.8 V and peak power density of 328 mW cm−2) as well as stability (only 15 mV loss in E 1/2 after 5000 cycles of ADT tests) in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The experimental results show that N doping modulates the electronic structure around Pt and optimizes the lattice compressive strain, thus attenuating the adsorption of oxygen intermediates on the surface Pt and enhancing the ORR activity. Meanwhile, the encapsulation of PtNi NPs by the constructed ultrathin Ni–N–C layer accounts for the improved stability. This work offers a novel perspective f for raising the stability and catalytic performance of Pt-based catalysts. • N doping provides optimum compressive strain on the dominating surface of PtNi (111). • Constructed ultrathin Ni–N–C layers can encapsulate small PtNi NPs and strengthen their targeting. • PtNi/Ni-NC with sub-3 nm can be used as an efficient ORR catalyst for MEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjectivesMethodResultsConclusionA large gap exists in the development of culturally sensitive interventions to reduce stress related to dementia care among Chinese Americans, one of the fastest growing minority populations in the United States. We developed and pilot tested the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a peer mentoring program for Chinese American dementia caregivers.A pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted among 38 Chinese American caregivers in New York City. Four outcome variables—caregiving competence, loneliness, caregiver burden, and depressive symptoms—were measured at baseline and 3-month and 9-month follow-ups. The study protocol and preliminary results are available at clinicltrial.gov [NCT04346745].The feasibility of the intervention was high, as indicated by an acceptable retention rate, fidelity, and positive feedback from caregivers and mentors. Compared with the control group, the intervention group had greater reductions in scores for loneliness at 3-month follow-up and for caregiver burden and depressive symptoms at 9-month follow-up. We did not find significant differences in caregiving competence between the two groups.The results indicated the high feasibility and potential efficacy of empowering existing human resources of experienced caregivers in the same ethnic community to improve the mental health of Chinese caregivers. Further research is needed to test the efficacy in a larger sample of this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide. The relationship between remnant cholesterol (RC) and the prognosis of patients with breast cancer has not been clearly reported. This study investigated the prognostic value of RC in predicting mortality in patients with breast cancer. Methods: This study prospectively analysed 709 women patients with breast cancer from the Investigation on Nutrition Status and Clinical Outcome of Common Cancers (INSCOC) project. Restricted cubic splines were used to analyse the dose-response relationship between RC and breast cancer mortality. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to evaluate the overall survival of patients with breast cancer. A Cox regression analyses was performed to assess the independent association between RC and breast cancer mortality. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) using the propensity score was used to reduce confounding. Sensitivity analysis was performed after excluding patients with underlying diseases and survival times shorter than one year. Results: A linear dose-response relationship was identified between RC and the risk of all-cause mortality in patients with breast cancer (p = 0.036). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and log-rank test showed that patients with high RC levels had poorer survival than those with low RC levels (p = 0.007). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that RC was an independent risk factor for mortality in women patients with breast cancer. IPTW-adjusted analyses and sensitivity analyses showed that CR remained a prognostic factor. Conclusions: RC is an independent risk factor for the prognosis of patients with breast cancer, and patients with higher RC levels have poorer survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aging population increased the demand for the development and utilization of bone filling materials. In this study, hydroxyapatite (HAP) and graphene oxide (GO) were introduced into thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) by melt mixing and electron beam radiation to obtain the new hot melt adhesive (TPU/HAP/GO). The structures and morphologies of the TPU/HAP/GO were analyzed using FTIR, XRD, SEM, BET, DSC. The mechanical properties of the TPU/HAP/GO were evaluated using a universal testing machine. TPU/HAP/GO was demonstrated to have good bacterial inhibition by the zone of inhibition test and plate method. The good biocompatibility of the hot melt adhesive was demonstrated using the MTT method and the Hoechst 33342/PI double staining method. The osteogenic differentiation of mouse osteoblasts (MC3T3‐E1) treated with TPU/HAP/GO was detected by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining. ALP staining showed that the hot melt adhesive promoted the differentiation of MC3T3‐E1 cells into osteoblasts. This hot melt adhesive had great application potential in bone tissue engineering. Highlights: Green electron beam radiation method for synthesizing hot melt adhesives.Enhanced mechanical properties of composites by incorporation of graphene oxide.Improvement of antimicrobial and osteogenic capacities for polyurethane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐speed wide‐angle radio detection is crucial for intelligent wireless systems, autonomous vehicles, rescue operations in urgent situations, and security in various fields. This can be achieved through diverse controls of electromagnetic waves. Currently, multidimensional manipulations of electromagnetic waves are determined by dynamic antennas like phased arrays, mechanical beam‐steering radars, and programmable metasurface imagers. However, these methods face challenges in achieving rapid responses and large data collection intervals for high‐speed sensing and imaging, due to limitations in the speedy explication of analog‐to‐digital (AD) converters, electronic switches, phase shifters, and stepped motors for radiation beam reconfigurations. To address these challenges, advanced microwave‐to‐millimeter‐wave metasurfaces are introduced, designed to offer joint frequency, polarization, and spatial diversities. The metasurface with a disordered atom permutation enables wide‐angle sensing for accurate trajectory tracking of moving objects. On the other hand, a dispersion‐engineered atom arrangement allows the metasurfaces to facilitate wide‐angle through‐wall imaging, effective in detecting objects of varied shapes and positions. The experiments reveal that these metasurfaces can reconstruct objects at 100 frames per second (fps) from a single‐shot measurement, allowing 0.3x speed playback for detailed analysis. This demonstrates their potential in high‐speed sensing and imaging. Such a breakthrough is pivotal in unveiling new modalities and expanding possibilities in real‐time radio applications, including smart transportation, all‐condition surveillance, perspective radio, and integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) systems, especially relevant to technologies of 6G and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification and classification of selective sweeps are of great significance for improving the understanding of biological evolution and exploring opportunities for precision medicine and genetic improvement. Here, a domain adaptation sweep detection and classification (DASDC) method is presented to balance the alignment of two domains and the classification performance through a domain‐adversarial neural network and its adversarial learning modules. DASDC effectively addresses the issue of mismatch between training data and real genomic data in deep learning models, leading to a significant improvement in its generalization capability, prediction robustness, and accuracy. The DASDC method demonstrates improved identification performance compared to existing methods and excels in classification performance, particularly in scenarios where there is a mismatch between application data and training data. The successful implementation of DASDC in real data of three distinct species highlights its potential as a useful tool for identifying crucial functional genes and investigating adaptive evolutionary mechanisms, particularly with the increasing availability of genomic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead-free piezoelectric ceramics 0.7BiFe 1- x (Zn 0.5 Sn 0.5) x O 3 -0.3BaTiO 3 [BF(ZS) x -BT] were successfully prepared using the solid-state reaction method. The dual effects of B-site Zn/Sn co-doping and quenching on the structure and piezoelectricity of BF(ZS) x -BT were investigated. All samples showed a distinct perovskite structure, characterized by the simultaneous presence of rhombohedral (R) and pseudo-cubic (pC) phases. The insulation and electrical properties were significantly increased by appropriate Zn/Sn co-doping and quenching treatment. The long parallel strip domains and enhanced lattice distortion synergistically contribute to the outstanding piezoelectricity (d 33 = 203 pC/N) and a high Curie temperature (T c = 493 °C) in quenched BF(ZS) 0.003 -BT. Furthermore, the quenching treatment was found to further improve the piezoelectric property and enhance its high-temperature stability, as demonstrated by the in-situ electromechanical coupling coefficient (k p) and thermal depolarization test. The d 33 of the quenched BF(ZS) 0.003 -BT was maintained at 186 pC/N around 400 °C, highlighting its promising applications in medium-high temperature conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CoFeLDH@Ni 2 P electrocatalyst was fabricated via a facile hydrothermal and electrodeposition process. Benefitting from the amorphous/crystalline (a-c) interfaces and modified electronic structure, CoFeLDH@Ni 2 P exhibits remarkable saline water splitting performance, requires cell voltages of 1.56 V to deliver 10 mA cm−2. The strongly negative charge surface and formed PO 4 3− selectively rejects Cl−, endowing its high tolerance in saline electrolytes. [Display omitted] • Amorphous CoFeLDH-crystalline Ni 2 P heterostructures were constructed. • Vertically aligned structure endows CoFeLDH@Ni 2 P with abundant active sites. • Different surface reconstruction behavior for CoFeLDH@Ni 2 P during HER/OER. • PO 4 3− and more negative charge surface improves anti-corrosive properties. Developing electrocatalysts with high activity and robust performance for large-scale seawater electrolysis to produce hydrogen holds immense significance. Herein, a highly active bifunctional electrode composed of amorphous cobalt-iron layered double hydroxides (CoFeLDH) and crystalline nickel phosphide (Ni 2 P) (denoted as CoFeLDH@Ni 2 P), is employed to boost hydrogen production through seawater electrolysis. The strong interface coupling effectively modifies the electronic structure at active sites, thereby accelerating the catalytic reaction kinetics. Impressively, in situ Raman and post-stability analyses demonstrate a unique reconstruction behavior on the CoFeLDH@Ni 2 P electrode. Bimetal co-incorporated NiOOH (CoFe-NiOOH) and Ni(OH) 2 species are formed during the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), while CoFeLDH@Ni 2 P can transform into Ni(OH) 2 species during the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) process. Furthermore, the highly negatively charged surface selectively rejects Cl− ions by formed PO 4 3−, endowing CoFeLDH@Ni 2 P with excellent tolerance and promising durability in saline electrolytes. Consequently, the CoFeLDH@Ni 2 P electrode exhibits an overpotential of 106 mV for HER at 10 mA cm−2 and 308 mV for OER to achieve 100 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH solution. Additionally, the CoFeLDH@Ni 2 P (+,-) electrolyzer requires a low cell voltage of 1.56 V to deliver 10 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH + Seasalt. This work presents an appealing strategy for the rational design of advanced electrocatalysts with amorphous-crystalline interfaces, which reveals the source of the activity of transition-metal phosphating compounds in saline water electrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As demands for the quality of living environments increase, thermal comfort in furniture design is garnering attention. Studies indicate that furniture should not only meet basic functional and aesthetic requirements but also influence indoor thermal environments and interact with human thermal exchanges, which are crucial for optimizing living comfort. This research aims to explore how thermal comfort in furniture design can be integrated with the building thermal environment to enhance indoor comfort and energy efficiency. Existing studies predominantly focus on surface treatments of furniture, with a lack of comprehensive analysis on the material's contact thermal sensation, the thermal properties of furniture, and their performance under varying building thermal conditions. Addressing this gap, this paper proposes a comprehensive research framework consisting of three main components: first, analyzing the impact of the building thermal environment on furniture thermal comfort; second, designing furniture with consideration for material's contact temperature sensation; and finally, developing furniture heat release rate curves suitable for different building thermal environments. This series of studies not only enhances the scientific and practical aspects of furniture design but also provides new theories and methods for the field of architectural design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinal ganglia and peripheral nerves innervate the regenerating tail and muscles of lizards, which provide new opportunities to probe the mechanisms leading to successful functional recovery following spinal cord injury. The regenerated spinal cord and peripheral nerves were detected using immunohistochemistry in original and regenerating tails of Scincella tsinlingensis. Our results showed that positive PCNA, GFAP and SOX2 cells were observed in the ependymal ducts at 15 and 30 days after the autotomy (dpa), with a small number of immunopositive NSE neurons. GFAP and SOX2 positive cells were primarily localized along the regenerated spinal cord after 45 dpa, and the descending nerve of medulla tissue showed positive NSE. Peripheral axons distributed around the muscle and inside the connective tissue and muscle tissue at 15 dpa. The number of axons decreased after 30 dpa. The peripheral axons was mainly distributed between the connective tissue, muscle group and the muscle and epidermis, presenting a radial distribution centred on the cartilage tube at 120 dpa. MBP myelination labelling of the regenerated tail at 30 dpa revealed that the regenerated axons rapidly myelinated along the rostro‐caudal axis. The density of NMJ significantly increased at 120 dpa and 250 dpa. In the second regenerated tails, NMJ density at 250 dpa was still greater than original tails. Overall, these results indicated that neurogenesis was an early event and the ependymal cells were heterogeneous in the regenerated spinal cord of S. tsinlingensis. The regenerated peripheral axons presented a radial distribution centred on the cartilage canal, and the regenerated axons were rapidly myelinated along the rostro‐caudal axis. During the process of regeneration, there were a large number of regenerated neuromuscular joints with high density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targeted synthesis of acetic acid (CH3COOH) from CO2 photoreduction under mild conditions mainly limits by the kinetic challenge of the C−C coupling. Herein, we utilized doping engineering to build charge‐asymmetrical metal pair sites for boosted C−C coupling, enhancing the activity and selectivity of CO2 photoreduction towards CH3COOH. As a prototype, the Pd doped Co3O4 atomic layers are synthesized, where the established charge‐asymmetrical cobalt pair sites are verified by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X‐ray absorption near edge spectroscopy spectra. Theoretical calculations not only reveal the charge‐asymmetrical cobalt pair sites caused by Pd atom doping, but also manifest the promoted C−C coupling of double *COOH intermediates through shortening of the coupled C−C bond distance from 1.54 to 1.52 Å and lowering their formation energy barrier from 0.77 to 0.33 eV. Importantly, the decreased reaction energy barrier from the protonation of two*COOH into *CO intermediates for the Pd‐Co3O4 atomic layer slab is 0.49 eV, higher than that of the Co3O4 atomic layer slab (0.41 eV). Therefore, the Pd‐Co3O4 atomic layers exhibit the CH3COOH evolution rate of ca. 13.8 μmol g−1 h−1 with near 100% selectivity, both of which outperform all previously reported single photocatalysts for CO2 photoreduction towards CH3COOH under similar conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targeted synthesis of acetic acid (CH3COOH) from CO2 photoreduction under mild conditions mainly limits by the kinetic challenge of the C−C coupling. Herein, we utilized doping engineering to build charge‐asymmetrical metal pair sites for boosted C−C coupling, enhancing the activity and selectivity of CO2 photoreduction towards CH3COOH. As a prototype, the Pd doped Co3O4 atomic layers are synthesized, where the established charge‐asymmetrical cobalt pair sites are verified by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X‐ray absorption near edge spectroscopy spectra. Theoretical calculations not only reveal the charge‐asymmetrical cobalt pair sites caused by Pd atom doping, but also manifest the promoted C−C coupling of double *COOH intermediates through shortening of the coupled C−C bond distance from 1.54 to 1.52 Å and lowering their formation energy barrier from 0.77 to 0.33 eV. Importantly, the decreased reaction energy barrier from the protonation of two*COOH into *CO intermediates for the Pd‐Co3O4 atomic layer slab is 0.49 eV, higher than that of the Co3O4 atomic layer slab (0.41 eV). Therefore, the Pd‐Co3O4 atomic layers exhibit the CH3COOH evolution rate of ca. 13.8 μmol g−1 h−1 with near 100% selectivity, both of which outperform all previously reported single photocatalysts for CO2 photoreduction towards CH3COOH under similar conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first catalytic enantioselective [5+1] cycloaddition reactions of C,N-cyclic azomethine imines with isocyanides are reported herein. The method displays a broad substrate scope and atom-economy. A series of chiral tetrahydroisoquinoline containing indole skeletons were obtained in up to 90% yield with 95% ee under mild reaction conditions. A possible catalytic model was also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioinspired dry adhesives relying on van der Waals interactions have shown great potential in object manipulation and climbing robots. Although substantial progress has been made in dry adhesives for extreme environments (such as vacuum and microgravity), robust adhesion at low temperatures, i.e., typical scenes in space or polar environments, is rarely achieved. Here, an electrothermal dry adhesive (EDA) based on tunable stiffness for low‐temperature environments is proposed, which can be reversibly transformed between the soft and rigid state in low‐temperature environments due to the electrothermal effect. The former is beneficial for conformal contact, while the latter is convenient for interfacial stress homogenization in the grasping stage. According to the adhesion strategy comprising soft contact followed by rigid gripping, the EDA demonstrates the adhesion of 1063 kPa at −90 °C, i.e., 1022 times higher than conventional polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) adhesives. Moreover, the EDA requires an energy supply (6 W at −90 °C) only during pressing, subsequently changing to the rigid state with no power consumption, which requires relatively low electrical energy compared to continuous heating methods. Such adhesion strategy extends the workable temperature of dry adhesives to −90 °C, opening up a new avenue for developing dry adhesives for harsh environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have demonstrated the crucial role of Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) in the production of secondary metabolites, phytohormones and antioxidants in plants. However, their functional characterization specifically under alkaline stress remains elusive. CYP82C4 was the key gene screened from a family of wild soybean CYPs in our previous studies. The aim of this present study was to clone the Glycine soja GsCYP82C4 gene and characterize its functions in Arabidopsis and Glycine max. The results showed that the GsCYP82C4 gene displayed a high expression in different plant tissues at mature stages compared to young stages. Further, higher temporal expression of the GsCYP82C4 gene was noted at 6, 12 and 24 h time points after alkali treatment in leaves compared to roots. In addition, overexpression of GsCYP82C4 improved alkaline stress tolerance in Arabidopsis via increased root lengths and fresh biomass and strengthened the antioxidant defense system via a reduction in superoxide radicals in transgenic lines compared to wild type (WT) and atcyp82c4 mutants. Further, the expression levels of stress-related marker genes were up-regulated in GsCYP82C4 OX lines under alkali stress. The functional analysis of GsCYP82C4 overexpression in soybean displayed better hairy root growth, increased fresh weight, higher antioxidant enzyme activities and reduced lipid peroxidation rates in OX lines compared to the soybean WT (K599) line. In total, our study displayed positive roles of GsCYP82C4 overexpression in both Arabidopsis and Glycine max to alleviate alkaline stress via altering expression abundance of stress responsive genes, stronger roots, higher antioxidant enzyme activities as well as reduced rates of lipid peroxidation and superoxide radicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]