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Space-based gravitational wave detection is extremely sensitive to disturbances. The Keplerian configuration cannot accurately reflect the variations in spacecraft configuration. Planetary gravitational disturbances are one of the main sources. Numerical simulation is an effective method to investigate the impact of perturbation on spacecraft orbits. This study shows that, in the context of the Taiji project, Earth's gravity is an essential factor in the change in heliocentric formation configuration, contributing to the relative acceleration between spacecrafts in the order of O (10 − 6) m · s − 2 . Considering 00:00:00 on 27 October 2032 as the initial orbiting moment, under the influence of Earth's gravitational perturbation, the maximum relative change in armlengths and variation rates of armlengths for Taiji is 1.6 × 10 5 km , 32 m · s − 1 , respectively, compared with the unperturbed Keplerian orbit. Additionally, by considering the gravitational perturbations of Venus and Jupiter, the armlength and relative velocity for Taiji are reduced by 16.01 % and 17.45 % , respectively, compared with when only considering that of Earth. The maximum amplitude of the formation motion indicator changes with the orbit entry time. Results show that the relative velocity increase between the spacecrafts is minimal when the initial orbital moment occurs in July. Moreover, the numerical simulation results are inconsistent when using different ephemerides. The differences between ephemerides DE440 and DE430 are smaller than those between DE440 and DE421. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bipolar membranes (BPMs) have emerged as a promising solution for mitigating CO2 losses, salt precipitation and high maintenance costs associated with the commonly used anion‐exchange membrane electrode assembly for CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). However, the industrial implementation of BPM‐based zero‐gap electrolyzer is hampered by the poor CO2RR performance, largely attributed to the local acidic environment. Here, we report a backbone engineering strategy to improve the CO2RR performance of molecular catalysts in BPM‐based zero‐gap electrolyzers by covalently grafting cobalt tetraaminophthalocyanine onto a positively charged polyfluorene backbone (PF‐CoTAPc). PF‐CoTAPc shows a high acid tolerance in BPM electrode assembly (BPMEA), achieving a high FE of 82.6 % for CO at 100 mA/cm2 and a high CO2 utilization efficiency of 87.8 %. Notably, the CO2RR selectivity, carbon utilization efficiency and long‐term stability of PF‐CoTAPc in BPMEA outperform reported BPM systems. We attribute the enhancement to the stable cationic shield in the double layer and suppression of proton migration, ultimately inhibiting the undesired hydrogen evolution and improving the CO2RR selectivity. Techno‐economic analysis shows the least energy consumption (957 kJ/mol) for the PF‐CoTAPc catalyst in BPMEA. Our findings provide a viable strategy for designing efficient CO2RR catalysts in acidic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bipolar membranes (BPMs) have emerged as a promising solution for mitigating CO2 losses, salt precipitation and high maintenance costs associated with the commonly used anion‐exchange membrane electrode assembly for CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). However, the industrial implementation of BPM‐based zero‐gap electrolyzer is hampered by the poor CO2RR performance, largely attributed to the local acidic environment. Here, we report a backbone engineering strategy to improve the CO2RR performance of molecular catalysts in BPM‐based zero‐gap electrolyzers by covalently grafting cobalt tetraaminophthalocyanine onto a positively charged polyfluorene backbone (PF‐CoTAPc). PF‐CoTAPc shows a high acid tolerance in BPM electrode assembly (BPMEA), achieving a high FE of 82.6 % for CO at 100 mA/cm2 and a high CO2 utilization efficiency of 87.8 %. Notably, the CO2RR selectivity, carbon utilization efficiency and long‐term stability of PF‐CoTAPc in BPMEA outperform reported BPM systems. We attribute the enhancement to the stable cationic shield in the double layer and suppression of proton migration, ultimately inhibiting the undesired hydrogen evolution and improving the CO2RR selectivity. Techno‐economic analysis shows the least energy consumption (957 kJ/mol) for the PF‐CoTAPc catalyst in BPMEA. Our findings provide a viable strategy for designing efficient CO2RR catalysts in acidic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to synthesize results from studies that assessed symptom relief after repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment for post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and investigate the long‐term effectiveness of rTMS for treating PTSD. We searched multiple databases for relevant randomized controlled trials of rTMS for PTSD treatment up to 1 January 2023. Two researchers evaluated the studies and focused on the CAPS and PCL as outcome indicators. We used STATA17 SE software for the data analysis. Eight articles involving 309 PTSD patients were analysed in a meta‐analysis, which found that rTMS had a significant and large effect on reducing core post‐traumatic symptoms [Hedges'g = 1.75, 95% CI (1.18, 2.33)]. Both low and high‐frequency rTMS also significantly reduced symptoms, with the latter having a greater effect. rTMS was shown to have a long‐term effect on PTSD, with all three subgroup analyses demonstrating significant results. Interestingly, no significant difference in symptom relief was found between the follow‐up and completion of treatments [Hedges'g = 0.01, 95% CI (−0.30, 0.33)], suggesting that the treatment effect of rTMS is stable. The meta‐analysis provides strong evidence that rTMS is effective in reducing the severity and symptoms of PTSD in patients, and follow‐up studies confirm its long‐term stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Majorana excitations are the quasiparticle analog of Majorana fermions in solid materials. Typical examples are the Majorana zero modes (MZMs) and the dispersing Majorana modes. When probed by scanning tunneling spectroscopy, the former manifest as a pronounced conductance peak locating precisely at zero-energy, while the latter behaves as constant or slowly varying density of states. The MZMs obey non-abelian statistics and are believed to be building blocks for topological quantum computing, which is highly immune to the environmental noise. Existing MZM platforms include hybrid structures such as topological insulator, semiconducting nanowire or 1D atomic chains on top of a conventional superconductor, and single materials such as the iron-based superconductors (IBSs) and 4Hb–TaS2. Very recently, ordered and tunable MZM lattice has also been realized in IBS LiFeAs, providing a scalable and applicable platform for future topological quantum computation. In this review, we present an overview of the recent local probe studies on MZMs. Classified by the material platforms, we start with the MZMs in the iron-chalcogenide superconductors where FeTe0.55Se0.45 and (Li0.84Fe0.16)OHFeSe will be discussed. We then review the Majorana research in the iron-pnictide superconductors as well as other platforms beyond the IBSs. We further review recent works on ordered and tunable MZM lattice, showing that strain is a feasible tool to tune the topological superconductivity. Finally, we give our summary and perspective on future Majorana research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flavor-changing neutral current (FCNC) decays of charmed hadrons with missing energy (Ɇ) can serve as potentially promising hunting grounds for hints of new physics, as the standard-model backgrounds are very suppressed. A few of such processes have been searched for in recent experiments, specifically D0→ Ɇ by Belle and D0→ π0Ɇ and Λ c + → pɆ by BESIII, resulting in upper bounds on their branching fractions. We consider them to illuminate the possible contributions of the quark transition c → uɆ with a couple of invisible spinless bosons carrying away the missing energy, assuming that they are not charge conjugates of each other and hence can have unequal masses. We find that these data are complementary in that they constrain different sets of the underlying operators and do not cover the same ranges of the bosons' masses, but there are regions not yet accessible. From the allowed parameter space, we show that other D-meson decays, such as D → ρɆ, and the charmed-baryon ones Ξc → (Σ, Λ)Ɇ can have sizable branching fractions and therefore may offer further probes of the new-physics interactions. We point out the importance of D0 → γɆ which are not yet searched for but could access parts of the parameter space beyond the reach of the other modes. In addition, we look at a scenario where the invisibles are instead fermionic, namely sterile neutrinos, and a scalar leptoquark mediates c → uɆ. We discuss the implications of the aforesaid bounds for this model. The predictions we make for the various charmed-hadron decays in the different scenarios may be testable in the near future by BESIII and Belle II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Home Beyond the House: Transformation of Life, Place, and Tradition in Rural China" by Wei Zhao is a book that explores the impact of urbanization and development on traditional rural homes in China. The author, an architect and cultural preservationist, is concerned about the destruction of old houses and the loss of cultural traditions and rural lifestyles. The book focuses on a village called Yanxia in Zhejiang and examines the villagers' conceptions of home, which go beyond the physical boundaries of their dwellings and encompass their connection to the land and local traditions. The author also discusses the challenges faced by rural residents when their homes are destroyed and offers recommendations for preserving traditional settlements while modernizing them. The book provides valuable insights into the factors that shape the sense of home and serves as a useful reference for understanding the renovation, modernization, relocation, and urbanization of rural architectural environments. [Extracted from the article]

Lewis acid zeolites play an important role in industrially important green reactions closely related to fine chemical and biomass conversion. Titanium-doped TS-1 zeolite is a milestone Lewis acid zeolite widely used in industrially significant green oxidation processes with hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant under mild conditions. TS-1 zeolites are normally synthesized in basic conditions under hydrothermal treatment. Up to now, there has still been no success in synthesizing active TS-1 Lewis acid zeolites by using inorganic alkali, e.g., NaOH or KOH as base, which is cheaper and more stable compared to the quaternary ammonium hydroxide or organic amines used in traditional synthesis. Here, an inorganic base of NaOH was employed in synthesizing active TS-1 zeolites for the first time. The crucial factor was the control of adverse effects of sodium cations on the incorporation of active titanium cations. Higher catalytic activity was achieved by further reducing the size of the TS-1 crystal by using the seed-added strategy, which uses the catalytic activity of a commercial catalyst, the production cost being much lower than commercial TS-1 catalysts, indicating great commercial potential and the possibility of preparing other cheap Lewis acid catalysts by using inorganic alkali. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium silicalite-1 (TS-1) is a milestone heterogeneous catalyst with single-atom tetrahedral titanium incorporated into silica framework for green oxidation reactions. Although TS-1 catalysts have been industrialized, the strategy of direct hydrothermal synthesis usually produces catalysts with low catalytic activities, which has still puzzled academic and industrial scientists. Post-treatment processes were widely chosen and were proven to be an essential process for the stable production of the high-activity zeolites with hollow structures. However, the reasons why post-treatment processes could improve catalytic activity are still not clear enough. Here, high-performance hollow TS-1 zeolites with nano-sized crystals and nano-sized cavities were synthesized via post-treatment of direct-synthesis nano-sized TS-1 zeolites. The influencing factors of the fabricating processes on their catalytic activities were investigated in detail, including the content of alkali metal ions, the state of titanium centers, hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties, and accessibility of micropores. The post-treatment processes could effectively solve these adverse effects to improve catalytic activity and to stabilize production. These findings contribute to the stable preparation of high-performance TS-1 catalysts in both factories and laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main focus of China's science and technology (S&T) investment has shifted from the lack of total investment to solve the contradiction between the need for high-quality development and the inefficiency of investment. In order to enhance the efficiency of S&T investment, the structural, institutional, and managerial problems should be solved. Based on the requirement of "enhancing the efficiency of S&T investment" raised at the 20th National Congress of the CPC, the study analyzes the main contradictions in China's S&T investment and factors that restrict the efficiency of S&T investment, and puts forward policy suggestions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The price of spinel has sharply risen in recent years, and its market acceptance is extending. Among the many sources of spinel, Man Sin in Myanmar is the most famous for its bright neon pinkish red to reddish pink color, named "Jedi" spinel commercially. In this paper, spinel samples with the bright neon pinkish red to reddish pink from Man Sin in Myanmar were studied non-destructively with X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (EDXRF), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), fluorescence spectroscopy, a UV-Vis spectrophotometer and Raman spectroscopy. The results show that the samples from Man Sin in Myanmar are the magnesia-alumina spinels. The high content of the red-chromogenic element Cr, an intermediate content of V and Zn, and a low content of the chromogenic element Fe may be responsible for the distinctive neon color of the spinel samples. The presence of Ti may also serve as a basis for the identification of its origin in Man Sin in Myanmar. The fluorescence spectrum analysis of spinels shows them to have multiple excitation peaks in the region 600–800 nm, which are caused by the jump of Cr3+ between the 2E→4A2 inter-energy band lattice. The amount of Zn affects the fluorescence spectrum intensity of spinels. The higher the Zn content, the stronger the fluorescence intensity. The spinel structure is uncomplicated and four more obvious absorption peaks appear in the IR spectrum, and the direction of the absorption peaks is shifted if a homogeneous substitution of the AB2O4 structure occurs; the Raman spectra of spinel samples have four vibrational peaks at 100–2000 cm−1, 310 cm−1, 407 cm−1, 665 cm−1 and 763 cm−1, which has spinel species-identification significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Ischemia/reperfusion (IR)-induced myocardial arrhythmias are a common clinical manifestation in patients with myocardial infarction after reperfusion therapy. Mitochondria play a critical role in cardioprotection. Here, we investigated the effects of KH176 as a new mitochondrial-acting drug on IR-induced ventricular arrhythmias, mitochondrial function, pro-inflammatory cytokines production, and the role of mitochondrial ATP-dependent K (mK-ATP) channels in rats' hearts. Methods: The hearts of Sprague Dawley rats (250 ± 30 g; 36 rats) underwent 35 min of ischemia followed by 120 min of reperfusion. Myocardial in vivo ischemia was induced by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. KH176 at concentrations of 10 and 50 μM was intraperitoneally injected to rats 10 min before reperfusion onset. Ventricular arrhythmias were quantified during reperfusion, and cardiac mitochondrial function, nitric oxide, and pro-inflammatory cytokines levels were measured by fluorometric, spectrophotometric, and ELISA techniques. Results: Administration of KH176 significantly reduced lactate-dehydrogenase release and the number, duration, incidence, and severity of ventricular arrhythmias induced by reperfusion injury. IR-induced elevation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production, and cardiac pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, as well as reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP and nitric oxide levels were significantly restored by KH176 at 50 μM. However, the blockade of mK-ATP channels by 5-hydroxydecanoate considerably inhibited the effects of KH176 on all parameters except nitric oxide. Conclusion: KH176 showed strong cardiac antiarrhythmic effects on IR-induced injury through improving mitochondrial function and reducing inflammatory and oxidative responses, and these protective effects are mediated by cardiac mK-ATP channels. Graphical Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Majorana zero modes (MZMs) are Majorana-fermion-like quasiparticles existing in crystals or hybrid platforms with topologically non-trivial electronic structures. They obey non-Abelian braiding statistics and are considered promising to realize topological quantum computing. Discovery of MZM in the vortices of the iron-based superconductors (IBSs) has recently fueled the Majorana research in a way which not only removes the material barrier requiring construction of complicated hybrid artificial structures, but also enables observation of pure MZMs under higher temperatures. So far, MZMs have been observed in iron-based superconductors including FeTe0.55Se0.45, (Li0.84Fe0.16)OHFeSe, CaKFe4As4, and LiFeAs. In this topical review, we present an overview of the recent STM studies on the MZMs in IBSs. We start with the observation of MZMs in the vortices in FeTe0.55Se0.45 and discuss the pros and cons of FeTe0.55Se0.45 compared with other platforms. We then review the following up discovery of MZMs in vortices of CaKFe4As4, impurity-assisted vortices of LiFeAs, and quantum anomalous vortices in FeTe0.55Se0.45, illustrating the pathway of the developments of MZM research in IBSs. Finally, we give perspective on future experimental works in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study characterizes the spatial patterns of the overall and monthly trends in sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) of the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) to investigate the seasonal variations in oceanic climate trends. We also investigate the trends in mesoscale eddies using three parameters to identify ocean-eddy-related energetic features in their area, strength, and intensity. Multidecadal remote-sensing-based observations of monthly SST, Chl-a, and sea surface height are used to detect trends at both basin and grid scales. Prominent warming trends are found in most regions of the GoM in all months, with the largest trends in the northern GoM. Winter cooling trends are also detected along the Texas and Florida coast. The overall summer warming trend (~0.22 °C/decade) is larger than the winter trend (~0.05 °C/decade), suggesting seasonal variations of increase in SST with warming. Chl-a trends and variations are confined on the continental shelf and slope in the northern GoM. The largest increase trends are found near the Mississippi River Delta. No obvious Chl-a trend is detected in the deepwater of the GoM, consistent with previous studies. Small but significant changes are found in eddy characteristics, indicating the eddy activities might be slowly affected by climate change in the GoM. The detailed monthly trends at per-grid scale are valuable for regional resource management, environmental protection, and policy making in the GoM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual-species single-atom array in optical tweezers has several advantages over the single-species atom array as a platform for quantum computing and quantum simulation. Thus, creating the defect-free dual-species single-atom array with atom numbers over hundreds is essential. As recent experiments demonstrated, one of the main difficulties lies in designing an efficient algorithm to rearrange the stochastically loaded dual-species atoms arrays into arbitrary demanded configurations. We propose a heuristic connectivity optimization algorithm to provide the near-fewest number of atom moves. Our algorithm introduces the concept of using articulation points in an undirected graph to optimize connectivity as a critical consideration for arranging the atom moving paths. Tested in array size of hundreds atoms and various configurations, our algorithm shows a high success rate (>97%), low extra atom moves ratio, good scalability, and flexibility. Furthermore, we propose a complementary step to solve the problem of atom loss during the rearrangement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin-interbedded coal measure reservoirs are important unconventional gas reservoirs. The lithology of these reservoirs is complicated, with rapid vertical changes, making accurate description difficult. Based on the thin-interbedded coal-bearing strata in the Wujiu Depression in eastern Inner Mongolia, China, this study constructs changes in lithofacies based on a Markov mathematical and statistical model. The Shengli subdepression mainly features a lithofacies sequence of uniform coal-mud-sand cycles and other small-scale symmetrical sedimentary cycles. In the Moguai–Shiwalu subdepression, lake hydrodynamics primarily affect coal–mudstone and mudstone–sandstone double-cycle lithofacies sequences and small-scale asymmetric sedimentary cycles. The Markov model and the Ward minimum variance method were used to quantitatively couple a reservoir lithologic sequence and bed thickness configuration, and five basic configurations of the composite reservoir of the Damoguaihe Formation in the study area were obtained: (1) multiseam interbedded configuration, (2) multiseam interbedded configuration with an intermediate number of seams, (3) interbedded configuration with an intermediate number or few seams (with thick mudstone or sandstone layers), (4) interbedded configuration with few seams (large spacings between adjacent coal seams) and (5) thickly interbedded configuration. The sedimentary facies mechanism controlling the spatial distribution pattern of composite reservoirs is discussed. It is concluded that the sedimentary system domain and lake size have a significant effect on the configuration of composite reservoirs. For small terrestrial lakes, the stability of sedimentary environment and the rapid and frequent rise and fall of the lake surface results in significant differences in coal accumulation in a short distance from the edge to the center. • The coal accumulation are analyzed using the Markov model. • A reservoir evaluation method is constructed based on statistical research. • The reservoir configuration of thin-interbedded coal measures is quantified. • The sedimentary systems tract and lake scale significantly affect the reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unsmooth boundary has a great influence on the solitary wave form of a nonlinear wave equation. It this work, we for the first time ever propose the fractal regularized long-wave equation which can describe the shallow water waves under the unsmooth boundary (such as the fractal seabed). The fractal variational principle is established and is proved to have a strong minimum condition by the He–Weierstrass theorem. Then, the solitary wave solution is obtained by the fractal variational method which can reduce the order of differential equation and obtain the optimal solution by the stationary condition. Finally, the impact of the unsmooth boundary on the solitary wave is presented. It shows that the fractal order can affect the wave morphology, but cannot affect its peak value. The finding in this paper is important for the coast protection and expected to bring a light to the study of the fractal theoretical basis in the geosciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Jurassic‒Cretaceous coal seams in northern China are rich in fusains, and the pore size of the residual plant tissue in fusains is much larger than the limit value of seepage pores and even larger than that of some microfractures in coal. Therefore, understanding the 3D pore structure and permeability of fusains is helpful for determining the physical characteristics of inertinite-rich coal reservoirs. The porosity of the fusain varies widely, the pore structure has obvious directivity, and this study summarizes three pore types. Based on the visual distribution module of fluid migration, three types of seepage models of fusains were established, including the tubular cell structure seepage model, the broken cell wall pore seepage model, and the complete cell structure surface barrier seepage model. The results of the physical simulation verify the rationality of the three seepage models and show that the degree of fusification and cell pore fragmentation strongly affect the permeability of the fusain. For a low-rank coal reservoir with a rich fusain, the overall pore permeability is high, which is conducive to the seepage production of coalbed methane and is an important reference value for high-permeability layer selection. • The 3D pore structure of fusain was characterized for the first time. • The tree-ring structure of plants in fusain was reported for the first time. • The seepage model of fusain was established for the first time. • Carbonized wood was used to simulate fusain, and its permeability was tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Quantify groundwater storage (GWS) heterogeneity of Ordos Basin, China by GRACE.. • Get the time–frequency relation between GWS and human activity by wavelet analysis. • Humans affect GWS in saturated zone more extensively than in unsaturated zone. • Regional GWS decline rates consist with the energy productions in Ordos Basin. Groundwater is the primary source for drinking, agriculture, irrigation, industrial, and municipal uses in Ordos Basin, a regional energy and heavy chemical industrial base in China. In recent decades, groundwater levels in the basin have declined due to climate change and anthropogenic activity. Analyses of the spatiotemporal variation of groundwater storage are crucial to regional sustainability. This study conducts the analysis utilizing GRACE gravity satellite data and GLDAS model data, employing methods that include the generalized three-cornered hat, Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test, and wavelet analysis to investigate the spatiotemporal variation of groundwater storage in the basin. The analysis results indicate that (1) before 2008, the climate had a significant influence on groundwater storage, with minimal impact from human activities, while after 2008, human activities have caused a noticeable decline in groundwater storage, particularly in the eastern region. (2) The eastern region of the basin experienced a decline in groundwater storage with a rate of −1.86 cm/yr, the middle region with a rate of −1.24 cm/yr, and the western region with a rate of −0.63 cm/yr. The extensive extraction of petroleum, natural gas, coal, and mineral resources in the basin has contributed to this pattern. (3) Human activities have altered the hydrological processes from precipitation infiltration, groundwater propagation, and groundwater distribution, leading to an increasingly complex groundwater system. (4) Human activities affect groundwater in the saturated zone more extensively than in the unsaturated zone. The research findings highlight that human activities are the main factor driving the variation in groundwater storage in the basin and provide crucial scientific evidence for protecting groundwater resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coaxial connectors are widely used in microwave RF components in wireless communication, aerospace, and other fields. However, the poor interconnection reliability between their inner conductors and circuit boards has been a key factor restricting their development. Thermal cycling and high temperature are the most common working loads for high-frequency devices and the failure generally takes place at the solder joint interface. Therefore this study investigated the solder joints thermal-mechanical reliability of coaxial connectors through a combination of numerical simulation and reliability experiments. Three innovative initial models were used to solve the shape simulation problem of solder joint in planar-curved composite structures. The optimal solder joint shape and structural parameters were obtained through finite element simulation, and the impact mechanism of different parameters on solder joint reliability was explained. After optimization, the maximum stress of the solder joint decreased by 44 % with thermal cycling, while the average stress decreased by 55 %. The reliability tests effectively verified the accuracy of the simulation. In addition, the 150 °C aging tests clarified the kinetics of the growth and evolution of intermetallic compounds in this solder joint structure. The results contribute to the advancement of coaxial connectors solder joints reliability and support the development of more robust and durable interconnects for microwave devices and digital communication systems. • The difficult problem of the differential equation of wetting energy in the plane-curved surface composite structure was solved. • The maximum stress of the solder joint decreased by 44 %, while the average stress decreased by 55 % with the optimal structural parameters. • The dynamic model for IMCs growth and evolution at the solder joint interface had been determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The future sixth generation (6G) is going to face the significant challenges of massive connections and green communication. Recently, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) and non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) have been proposed as two key technologies to solve the above problems. Motivated by this fact, we consider a downlink RIS-aided NOMA system, where the source aims to communicate with the two NOMA users via RIS. Considering future network supporting real-time service, we investigate the system performance with the view of effective capacity (EC), which is an important evaluation metric of delay sensitive systems. Specifically, we derive the analytical expressions of the EC of the near and far users. To obtain more useful insights, we deduce the analytical approximation expressions of the EC in the low signal-to-noise-ratio approximation by utilizing Taylor expansion. Moreover, we provide the results of orthogonal multiple access (OMA) for the purpose of comparison. It is found that (1) The number of RIS components and the transmission power of the source have important effects on the performance of the considered system; (2) Compared with OMA, NOMA system has higher EC due to the short transmission time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C. Guo et al. (Hearing phenotypes of patients with hearing loss homozygous for the GJB2 c.235delc mutation) investigate the hearing phenotypes of 244 Chinese patients with hearing loss associated with the homozygous c.235delC mutation of GJB2 and report a significant variation in their binaural hearing loss phenotypes, including severity of hearing loss, and audiogram shapes. Although SNHL is induced by various factors through different approaches and mechanisms, the major cause for SNHL is irreversible loss of either inner ear hair cells (HCs) or degeneration of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). [Extracted from the article]

An equity warrant allows warrant holders to buy stocks of listed companies at a certain price on a promissory day. Classified by the time of exercise right, there are two types of equity warrant, namely European equity warrants and American equity warrants. The European equity warrants allow the buyers to exercise their rights only on the expiring date. In contrast, American warrants enable the buyers to exercise their rights before or on the expiring date. Based on the assumption that the firm's value follows an uncertain exponential Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process instead of a stochastic process, this paper mainly solves the pricing problems of European and American equity warrants. The most significant advantage of this paper is offering the corresponding formulas to calculate equity warrants, which are not complicated compared with the classical stochastic financial theory. Besides, the minimum cover estimation method is applied to estimate the parameters in an uncertain exponential Ornstein–Uhlenbeck equation, and a simulation example is provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed pricing formulae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality rate among all gynecologic malignancies. HER2+ ovarian cancer is a subtype that is aggressive and associated with metastasis to distant sites such as the lungs. Therefore, accurate biological characterization of metastatic lesions is vital as it helps physicians select the most effective treatment strategy. Functional imaging of ovarian cancer with PET/CT is routinely used in the clinic to detect metastatic disease and evaluate treatment response. However, this imaging method does not provide information regarding the presence or absence of cancer-specific cell surface biomarkers such as HER2. As a result, this method does not help physicians decide whether to choose immunotherapy to treat metastasis. To differentiate the HER2+ from HER2¯ lesions in ovarian cancer lung metastasis, AbX 50 C 4: Gd vector composed of a HER2 targeting affibody and XTEN peptide was genetically engineered. It was then labeled with gadolinium (Gd) via a stable linker. The vector was characterized physicochemically and biologically to determine its purity, molecular weight, hydrodynamic size and surface charge, stability in serum, endotoxin levels, relaxivity and ability to target the HER2 antigen. Then, SCID mice were implanted with SKOV-3 (HER2+) and OVASC-1 (HER2¯) tumors in the lungs and injected with the Gd-labeled HER2 targeted AbX 50 C 4 :Gd vector. The mice were imaged using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI), followed by R1-mapping and quantitative analysis of the images. Our data demonstrate that the developed HER2-targeted vector can differentiate HER2+ lung metastasis from HER2¯ lesions using DCE-MRI. The developed vector could potentially be used in conjunction with other imaging modalities to prescreen patients and identify candidates for immunotherapy while triaging those who may not be considered responsive. [Display omitted] • A Gd-labeled HER2-targeted vector was engineered for quantitative DCE-MRI. • The HER2-targeted vector showed high affinity toward HER2+ cancer cells. • The Gd-labeled vector showed high r1 value of 3.99 s−1 mM−1@1 T. • A MATLAB-based image analysis code was created for R1 mapping of the MRI scans. • Using DCE-MRI, the developed vector could differentiate HER2+ from HER2¯ tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein lysine acetylation (Kac) is an important post-translational modification in both animal and plant cells. Global Kac identification has been performed at the proteomic level in various species. However, the study of Kac in oil and resource plant species is relatively limited. Soybean is a globally important oil crop and resouce plant. In the present study, lysine acetylome analysis was performed in soybean leaves with proteomics techniques. Various bioinformatics analyses were performed to illustrate the structure and function of these Kac sites and proteins. Totally, 3148 acetylation sites in 1538 proteins were detected. Motif analysis of these Kac modified peptides extracted 17 conserved motifs. These Kac modified protein showed a wide subcellular location and functional distribution. Chloroplast is the primary subcellular location and cellular component where Kac proteins were localized. Function and pathways analyses indicated a plenty of biological processes and metabolism pathways potentially be influenced by Kac modification. Ribosome activity and protein biosynthesis, carbohydrate and energy metabolism, photosynthesis and fatty acid metabolism may be regulated by Kac modification in soybean leaves. Our study suggests Kac plays an important role in soybean physiology and biology, which is an available resource and reference of Kac function and structure characterization in oil crop and resource plant, as well as in plant kingdom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoinduced phosphonation of aryl triflates with trialkyl phosphites via a tandemsingle-electron-transfer, C-O bond cleavage and Arbuzov rearrangement process in the absence of transition-metal and external photosensitizer is reported herein. The protocol features good functional group compatibility and mild reaction conditions, providing various aryl phosphates in good to high yields. Furthermore, this strategy allows the late-stage phosphonation of complex and biologically active compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers a photo quiz related to Finger Pain and Swelling in a thirty year old man.

Dengue virus (DENV) is a mosquito-borne pathogen that causes a spectrum of diseases including life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Vascular leakage is a common clinical crisis in DHF/DSS patients and highly associated with increased endothelial permeability. The presence of vascular leakage causes hypotension, circulatory failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation as the disease progresses of DHF/DSS patients, which can lead to the death of patients. However, the mechanisms by which DENV infection caused the vascular leakage are not fully understood. This study reveals a distinct mechanism by which DENV induces endothelial permeability and vascular leakage in human endothelial cells and mice tissues. We initially show that DENV2 promotes the matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression and secretion in DHF patients' sera, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and macrophages. This study further reveals that DENV non-structural protein 1 (NS1) induces MMP-9 expression through activating the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Additionally, NS1 facilitates the MMP-9 enzymatic activity, which alters the adhesion and tight junction and vascular leakage in human endothelial cells and mouse tissues. Moreover, NS1 recruits MMP-9 to interact with β-catenin and Zona occludens protein-1/2 (ZO-1 and ZO-2) and to degrade the important adhesion and tight junction proteins, thereby inducing endothelial hyperpermeability and vascular leakage in human endothelial cells and mouse tissues. Thus, we reveal that DENV NS1 and MMP-9 cooperatively induce vascular leakage by impairing endothelial cell adhesion and tight junction, and suggest that MMP-9 may serve as a potential target for the treatment of hypovolemia in DSS/DHF patients. Author summary: DENV is the most common mosquito-transmitted viral pathogen in humans. In general, DENV-infected patients are asymptomatic or have flu-like symptoms with fever and rash. However, in severe cases of DENV infection, the diseases may progress to dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) or dengue shock syndrome (DSS), the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in school-age children in tropical and subtropical regions. DENV-induced vascular leakage is characterized by enhanced vascular permeability without morphological damage to the capillary endothelium. This study reveals a possible mechanism by which DENV NS1 and MMP-9 cooperatively induce vascular leakage. NS1 also recruits MMP-9 to degrade β-catenin, ZO-1, and ZO-2 that leads to intervene endothelial hyperpermeability in human endothelial cells and mouse vascular. Moreover, the authors further reveal that DENV activates NF-κB signaling pathway to induce MMP-9 expression in patients, mice, PBMC, and macrophages though NS1 protein. This study would provide new in signs into the pathogenesis of DENV infection, and suggest that MMP-9 may act as a drug target for the prevention and treatment of DENV-associated diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Majorana bound states (MBSs) are spatially-localized zero-energy quasiparticles following non-Abelian braiding statistics that hold a great promise for fault-tolerant topological quantum computing. Different platforms have been designed to realize the MBSs in condensed matter, including semiconducting nanowire in proximity to conventional superconductors, superconductor-topological insulator layered heterostructures, 1D atomic chains on superconducting surface. Recently, iron-based superconductors have emerged as a new platform for studying Majorana zero mode. A sharp zero-bias peak inside a vortex core that does not split when moving away from the center is observed by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) in FeTe0.55Se0.45. This zero-energy mode is assigned to the MBS. In this topic review, we present an overview of the recent experimental works of STM studies on the MBS. We start with the STM identification of MBSs in the vortices in FeTe0.55Se0.45 and discuss the advantages FeTe0.55Se0.45 compared with other platforms. We then review the topological origin of the MBS and discuss the reason why the MBS is not seen in every single vortex. We also review the recently observed nearly quantized conductance plateau feature of the MBS owing to its particle–antiparticle equivalence. Finally, we give perspective on future experimental works in this field, where the next important steps towards braiding of MBS can be expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, type 2 diabetes (T2D) is the most common chronic disease. It affects approximately 500 million people worldwide. Dysregulation of the solute carrier family 2 member 4 (SLC2A4) gene and miR-335-5p has been associated with T2D progression. However, the mechanisms underlying this dysregulation are unclear. The levels of miR-335-5p and SLC2A4 in blood samples collected from patients with T2D (T2D blood samples) and pancreatic cell lines were measured by Real Time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The relationship between miR-335-5p and SLC2A4 was investigated using a luciferase assay. The role of the miR-335-5p-SLC2A4 axis was detected by CCK8, BrdU, and caspase-3 assays in pancreatic cells treated with 25 mM glucose. Increased miR-335-5p and decreased SLC2A4 expression was observed in both T2D blood samples and pancreatic cell lines. The miR-335-5p mimic markedly suppressed proliferation and elevated apoptosis in glucose-treated pancreatic cells. SLC2A4 overexpression significantly enhanced proliferation but inhibited apoptosis in glucose-treated pancreatic cells. Moreover, miR-335-5p inhibited the expression of SLC2A4 in the pancreatic cells and suppressed the growth of these cells. The data indicated that miR-335-5p targeting of SLC2A4 could hamper the growth of T2D cell model by inhibiting their proliferation and elevating apoptosis. Collectively, our findings implicate miR-335-5p and SLC2A4 as potentially effective therapeutic targets for patients with T2D. • The PPI network of the top scored 20 genes that are related to diabetes mellitus. • MiR-335-5p inhibited cell proliferation, and enhanced cell apoptosis in T2D cell models. • MiR-335-5p targeted SLC2A4 and inhibited the expression of SLC2A4. • MiR-335-5p targeting SLC2A4 repressed the progression of T2D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Hyperlipidemia is an underlying process behind cardiovascular disease. Chinese medicine (CM) may be effective in treating hyperlipidemia, but there is a lack of studies with high methodological quality. A major reason for this is heterogeneity in outcome reporting. Therefore, this study explores the degree of outcome reporting variation in CM trials for hyperlipidemia. It then generates a list of potentially important outcomes for developing a core outcome set (COS). Methods. A systematic review of literature focusing on studies of CM for hyperlipidemia was conducted. Outcomes were listed verbatim and grouped into 8 domains. Outcome frequency and definition uniformity were analyzed. Results. 3,702 studies and 452 individual outcomes were identified. These outcomes were reported 27,328 times, of which 1.6% were reported as primary outcomes, and 13.3% were defined. The most frequent outcome was total triglyceride, represented in 86.7% of the studies, followed by total cholesterol (86.0%), total effective rate (75.1%), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (73.2%), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (60.5%). However, 43.6% of outcomes were reported only once. The largest outcome domain was "pathological or pathophysiological outcomes," which included 67.0% of outcomes. Of the "response rate related outcomes" domain, total effective rate was the most frequently reported outcome (n = 2,780), and 95.3% of the studies gave a clear definition. However, these definitions were often contradictory. Only 10 papers reported cardiovascular events, 3 of which referred to them as primary outcomes. Moreover, ten patient-reported outcomes were reported in the retrieved literature 19 times in total. The majority of the outcomes did not report measurement instruments (MIs) (269/453, 59.4%). MIs of the surrogate outcomes were reported more frequently. Conclusion. Outcome reporting in CM trials for hyperlipidemia is inconsistent and ill-defined, creating barriers to data synthesis and comparison. Thus, we propose and are developing a COS for CM trials for hyperlipidemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the FCNC decay processes of B and B c meson, in which one invisible particle is emitted. Both the spin-0 and spin-1 cases are considered. The model-independent effective Lagrangian is introduced to describe the coupling between the light invisible boson and quarks. The constraints of the coupling coefficients are extracted by experimental upper limits of the missing energy in B meson decays. The bounds are used to predict the upper limits of branching fractions of corresponding B c decays, which are of the order of 10 - 6 or 10 - 5 when final meson is pseudoscalar or vector, respectively. The maximum branch ratios are achieved when m χ ≈ 3.5 –4 GeV, where m χ is the mass of the invisible particle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysaccharide derivatives have become the most attractive polymer candidates for the preparation of chiral stationary phases (CSPs) for efficient chromatographic enantioseparation due to their regular structure and high chiral recognition ability. However, the organic contents of traditional polysaccharide-based CSPs usually accounted for 20%, indicating that a big percentage of composition of the CSPs had no contribution to their enantioseparation powers. To resolve this bottleneck problem, four hybrid bead-type CSPs with organic contents of higher than 20% have been developed using cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamates) and tetraethyl orthosilicate by a modified Stöber process in basic conditions. The hybrid beads could be formed more efficiently in basic conditions without using surfactant than in acidic conditions. The preparation conditions significantly affected the organic contents and morphology of the hybrid CSPs. Their enantioseparation properties were then evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography. The obtained hybrid CSPs with higher organic contents exhibited better enantioseparation powers than those with lower organic contents and previous analogues derived from acidic conditions. For some chiral compounds, the hybrid CSPs exhibited even higher enantioselectivity than the commercial Chiralpak IB, which is also prepared from cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) and is considered as one of the most popular immobilized-type CSPs nowadays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work is to study the effect of strain gradient, electric field gradient, and magnetic field gradient on the potential and field distributions of multiferroic fibrous composites subjected to generalized anti-plane shear deformation. A detailed energy variational formulation with strain, strain gradient, electric field, electric field gradient, magnetic field, and magnetic field gradient as independent variables is provided, and the equilibrium equations with the complete boundary conditions are simultaneously determined. Three internal characteristic lengths of the underlying microstructure are introduced in the constitutive equations. The general solutions in cylindrical polar coordinates consisting of the modified Bessel functions of first and second kind are derived. One inclusion problem's solution is also obtained. The derived solutions are applied to a CoFe 2 O 4 -PZT-4 composite to demonstrate the effect of strain gradient, electric field gradient, and magnetic field gradient. Numerical results provide insights into the role of characteristic lengths on the potential and field distributions of a multiferroic fibrous composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nineteen polyoxygenated eunicellin diterpenoids, named klyflaccilins B‐T (1–19), were isolated from the South China Sea soft coral Klyxum flaccidum. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis and for several of the isolated compounds the absolute configurations were determined by X‐ray diffraction analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corrosion protection technology plays a crucial role in preserving infrastructure, ensuring safety, reliability and promoting long-term sustainability. In this study, we combined experiments and density functional theory (DFT) to investigate the mechanism of corrosion for fluorine-doped few-layer graphene (F-FLG). We introduced a facile approach that combines environmentally friendly jet cavitation with hydrothermal processes to synthesize hydrophobic and anti-corrosive F-FLG from graphite (G). By coating F-FLG/epoxy composite film (F-FLG/EP) on the surface of cold-rolled steel (CRS), we found that the addition of F dopant enhanced the hydrophobicity of the F-FLG/EP coating from 78.89° to 106.3°. Notably, the corrosion rate of the F-FLG/EP coating is 8.279 × 10−3 μmpy, which exhibits four orders of magnitude lower than that of the CRS substrate. The DFT calculations indicate an increased band gap for F-FLG. Moreover, the energy barrier for the oxygen diffusion through F-FLG is larger than that for FLG, indicating improved oxygen resistance for F-FLG. These results indicate the high efficiency and potential of F-FLG as a highly promising agent for preventing corrosion in various commercial applications. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Thin-interbed composite reservoir has high permeability characteristics. • Cross-layer seepage effect reflects the advantage of thin-interbed permeability. • The coupling effect of fracture and pore changes the seepage mode of the fluid. • The sedimentation-tectonics control permeability prediction model is constructed. The successful development of coal measure gas (CMG) in the Surat Basin in Australia shows that the geological conditions of thin-interbed CMG development may be more favorable, but the above understanding is still in the geological law summary level. This study combines numerical simulation and physical simulation experiments to study the core geological problems of CMG in the geological control of the permeability of a multi-thin coal seam composite reservoir (MTCCR). The results show that in the initial stage of stress loading, the permeability advantage of the coal-mudstone/sandstone composite reservoir is reflected in the bedding permeability. Based on this phenomenon, the concept of "cross-layer seepage effect of fluid in MTCCR" is proposed for the first time, which is analyzed as the result of the permeation effect of adjacent rock fluids in the composite reservoir under the action of pressure difference. The numerical simulation shows that the permeability increase of the MTCCR depends on the increase in the fracture, and the coupling effect of the fracture and pore changes the fluid pressure field and seepage mode around the fracture. From the experimental perspective, the above understanding confirms the results of previous conclusions on the geological law of high permeability of MTCCR, and explains the geological phenomenon of high permeability of MTCCR from the seepage mechanism. Based on numerical and physical simulation experiment, a sedimentation-tectonics controlled permeability prediction model was constructed. The seepage mechanism and the permeability prediction model established of MTCCR in this study can provide theoretical support and quantitative basis for the selection of high permeability zones and evaluation of high permeability sections in the exploration and development process of thin interbed CMG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• MMF is added to the NPR mode-locked to realize the evolution of the soliton bunch to the DSR pulse. • The controlled experiments with SMF-PC show that soliton pairs and the automatic evolution be generated by using MMF-PC. • Multiple longitudinal mode oscillation pulses are found. • By the MMF-PC and NPR mode-locked, the dual-wavelength mode locking is realized. Passively mode locked fiber lasers (PML-FLs) can produce a variety of phenomena due to the nonlinear effects. With the introduction of the nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR) and a multimode fiber polarization controller (MMF-PC), we observed nonlinear effects in our erbium-doped mode-locked fiber laser, such as the evolution of the soliton bunch to dissipates soliton resonance (DSR) pulses. In the evolution of the soliton bunch to DSR pulses, the soliton square bunch and the multi-longitudinal mode oscillation also appeared in our experiment with the increasing the pump power. To illustrate the importance of MMF-PC, a control experiment is conducted by replacing the MMF-PC with a single mode fiber PC (SMF-PC). The experimental results indicate that the MMF-PC are crucial for the evolution of soliton pairs to DSR pulses and the generation of soliton pairs. The NPR mode-locked structure is used to achieve dual-wavelength filtering, its strength-dependent non-uniform loss can effectively suppress the mode competition in the gain fibers. The MMF-PC in the mode-locked structure adds a polarization burned hole effect inside the resonator. We achieved dual-wavelength mode locking by adjusting the PC to control the birefringence and loss in the resonator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, advanced oxidation technologies employ peroxynitrite activation have exhibited exceptional effectiveness in eliminating various emerging contaminants. In this study, different calcination temperatures were used to derive Co 3 O 4 nanospheres with varying surface morphologies. This method effectively addresses the issue of high cost associated with high-performance catalyst synthesis or poor catalytic performance of low-cost catalysts. The active species like O 2 •−, •OH, SO 4 •−, 1O 2 played significant role in TC degradation and 1O 2 was the dominant reactive oxygen species (ROS). The study also proposed possible degradation pathways based on the 15 intermediates identified through HPLC-MS. Furthermore, the developmental toxicity of the identified intermediates was evaluated using a quantitative conformational relationship prediction method. This paper delves into the reaction mechanism of Co 3 O 4 nanospheres in the activation of PMS and examines the impact of surface morphology on their catalytic performance, providing a new approach to developing a persulfate catalyst that is cost-effective and has high catalytic performance, with a simple synthesis step. [Display omitted] • Different surface morphologies of Co 3 O 4 are synthesized at various temperatures. • Co-T produced at 300 °C has the best catalytic performance. • The mechanism of Co-T enhanced degradation of TC by PMS was discussed. • The possible TC degradation pathways are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Patient-specific FE models simulated pre- and post-surgical pelvic stresses. • The stress-shielding resistant design of implants was introduced. • The optimized porosity distribution for the lattice structure was computed. • The proposed design drastically decreased the predicted bone resorption. • Failure analysis ensured the structural integrity of the porous implant. Endoprosthetic reconstruction of the pelvic bone using 3D-printed, custom-made implants has delivered early load-bearing ability and good functional outcomes in the short term to individuals with pelvic sarcoma. However, excessive stress-shielding and subsequent resorption of peri‑prosthetic bone can imperil the long-term stability of such implants. To evaluate the stress-shielding performance of pelvic prostheses, we developed a sequential modeling scheme using subject-specific finite element models of the pelvic bone-implant complex and personalized neuromusculoskeletal models for pre- and post-surgery walking. A new topology optimization approach is introduced for the stress-shielding resistant (SSR) design of custom pelvic prostheses, which uses 3D-printable porous lattice structures. The SSR optimization was applied to a typical pelvic prosthesis to reconstruct a type II+III bone resection. The stress-shielding performance of the optimized implant based on the SSR approach was compared against the conventional optimization. The volume of the peri‑prosthetic bone predicted to undergo resorption post-surgery decreased from 44 to 18%. This improvement in stress-shielding resistance was achieved without compromising the structural integrity of the prosthesis. The SSR design approach has the potential to improve the long-term stability of custom-made pelvic prostheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epidemiological studies have shown that young women often suffer from primary dysmenorrhea (PD) which is a common cause that affects their routine work and quality of life. Chinese herbal medicine has been widely used for PD in China. A systematic review found that Xuefu Zhuyu (XFZY) has a promising effect on PD management, yet there is a dearth of high-quality evidence in support of this claim. We want to conduct a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of XFZY for PD patients.Methods: This is a protocol for a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. A total of 248 participants with PD will be recruited at 6 centers and randomized into two groups-a herbal treatment group and a placebo group. The participants will receive either XFZY or placebo, three times per day, for 3 menstrual cycles, with a 12-week follow-up. The primary outcome will be the mean change in pain intensity as measured by VAS, while the change in menstrual pain duration, the change in peak pain intensity as measured by VAS, the Cox Menstrual Symptom Scale (CMSS), quality of life EQ-5D-5L, cumulative painkiller consumption, and health economics will be included as secondary outcomes. Adverse events will also be reported.Discussion: This protocol describes a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial that investigates the efficacy and safety of XFZY for primary dysmenorrhea. Validated evaluation tools will assess dysmenorrhea severity. We believe that this research will provide important evidence regarding the use of XFZY to treat dysmenorrhea.Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1900026819 . Registered on 23 October 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new diterpene synthase from the actinomycete Catenulispora acidiphila was identified and the structures of its products were elucidated, including the absolute configurations by an enantioselective deuteration approach. The mechanism of the cationic terpene cyclisation cascade was deeply studied through the use of isotopically labelled substrates and of substrate analogues with partially blocked reactivity, resulting in derailment products that gave further insights into the intermediates along the cascade. Their chemistry was studied, leading to the biomimetic synthesis of a diterpenoid analogue of a brominated sesquiterpene known from the red seaweed Laurencia microcladia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eine neue Diterpensynthase aus dem Actinomyceten Catenulispora acidiphila wurde identifiziert und die Strukturen ihrer Produkte wurden aufgeklärt, einschließlich der absoluten Konfigurationen, die durch enantioselektive Deuterierung ermittelt wurden. Der Mechanismus der kationischen Terpencyclisierungskaskade wurde mit isotopenmarkierten Substraten und mit Substratanaloga mit partiell blockierter Reaktivität studiert. Letztere lieferten Abbruchprodukte, die detaillierte Einblicke in die Intermediate entlang der Kaskadenreaktion gaben. Untersuchungen zu ihrer Chemie erlaubten die biomimetische Synthese eines diterpenoiden Analogons eines bromierten Sesquiterpens aus der Rotalge Laurencia microcladia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covering: 2010 to 2020 The class of 2,11-cyclized cembranoids is particularly widespread in marine Octocorallia, especially Alcyonacea and Gorgonacea, and has been extensively studied. Following a previous review published in 2010, the accumulated knowledge from the past decade will be presented here. All 2,11-cyclized cembranoids share a bicyclo[8.4.0]tetradecane core that is in most of the known compounds oxidatively modified to result in the 15-oxatricyclo[6.6.1.02,7]pentadecane system. Multiple further oxidation and acylation patterns can be observed, while halogenated compounds are surprisingly rare. One new sulfur-containing and a few seco-compounds have also been reported. The biosynthetic pathways to this fascinating class of natural products have not been studied to date, but a plausible biosynthetic hypothesis is presented that allows for a structured discussion of the compounds according to their carbon skeletons and oxidation patterns. Biological activities towards 2,11-cyclized diterpenes are also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is a common gynecological disorder that usually begins in adolescence, and affects patients' daily activities and quality of life. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are considered the first-line treatment, and hormonal contraceptives are also recommended for PD, but both are prone to side-effects. The Chinese herbal formula Siwutang (SWT) and its derivative formulas are a common treatment for PD in China. This review assessed the efficacy and safety of SWT for the treatment of PD.Methods: PubMed, EmBase, Cochrane CENTRAL, CNKI, Wanfang and CBM were searched. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated SWT for PD, compared with no intervention, placebo, or conventional Western medicine. The outcome measurements included pain intensity measured by visual analogue scale (VAS) or other validated scales, the Cox Menstrual Symptom Scale (CMSS), quality of life, response rate and adverse events. The Cochrane Collaboration's tool was used to assess the risk of bias. RevMan V.5.3 was used for data synthesis and meta-analysis. Risk ratio (RR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) or mean difference (MD) with 95 % CIs was calculated for dichotomous data or continuous data, respectively. Heterogeneity among studies was evaluated using both a chi-square test and an I2 test.Results: A total of 38 RCTs involving 3982 participants were identified. The methodological quality of the included trials was generally poor. Moreover, the results for SWT compared with placebo were unclear, as there was only 1 RCT. SWT improved pain intensity measured by VAS (3 RCTs, n = 220, MD:-2.61, 95 % CI:-3.72 to -1.51) when compared with conventional medicine, and these results were statistically significant. The meta-analysis showed the superior effect of SWT (including derivative formulas) on response rate (35 RCTs, n = 3,695, RR: 1.28, 95 % CI: 1.22-1.34) with medium heterogeneity (I2 = 48 %). Both original SWT and its derivative formula XFSWT had a higher response rate than conventional medicine (23 RCTs, n = 2,493, RR: 1.28, 95 % CI: 1.23-1.33) (11 RCTs, n = 1,076, RR: 1.36, 95 % CI: 1.20-1.53). These results were statistically significant. No trial reported on quality of life or CMSS. Adverse events were reported by 5 studies, and meta-analysis showed SWT may be safer than conventional medicine in terms of the incidence of adverse events (3 RCTs, n = 236, RR: 0.17, 95 % CI: 0.07-0.38, I2 = 0%).Conclusion: In conclusion, the included trials showed favorable effects of SWT for treating primary dysmenorrhea when compared with conventional medicine. SWT may be safer than conventional medicine, but insufficient data was reported. The level of evidence is low because of the high risk of bias. Thus, further well-designed clinical trials with large sample sizes are warranted.Registration Number: CRD42019136230 in PROSPERO 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piezoelectric actuators play an important role in modern electronic devices. In this work, 0.7Bi(1−x)SmxFeO3–0.3BaTiO3 lead-free piezo-ceramics are fabricated through the rapid thermal quenching technique for enhancing the electric-field-induced strain response. All the ceramic samples own a typical perovskite structure, and the morphotropic phase boundary can be achieved after Sm substitution. Additionally, a high TC of 403 °C and excellent ferroelectricity can be obtained at room temperature for the x = 0.03 composition, together with a large peak-to-peak strain value (∆S = 0.5%). Furthermore, a larger strain value ∆S of 0.45% at 150 °C can also be realized in 0.7Bi0.95Sm0.05FeO3–0.3BaTiO3 ceramic. Our results could further stimulate the investigations on lead-free ceramics for piezoelectric actuator applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is widely used in perioperative settings for analgesia and sedation; however, little is known about its effects on the hypoxia-induced progression of tumor cells. In the present study, the effects of DEX on hypoxia-induced growth and metastasis of lung cancer cells and colorectal cancer cells was examined. A549 cells and HCT116 cells were treated with normoxia, hypoxia, co-treatment of hypoxia and DEX, and atipamezole (an α2 adrenoceptor antagonist) for 4 h. The proliferation rate of cells was determined by MTT assays. Cell metastatic potential was evaluated by Transwell assays. Survivin and hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α were detected by western blotting. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 were measured using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. It was demonstrated that hypoxia treatment promoted the proliferation and may promote the metastasis of the two cancer cell lines. DEX substantially contributed to the survival and aggressiveness of the two cancer cell lines following hypoxia. Furthermore, DEX upregulated the expression of survivin, MMP-2, MMP-9 and HIF-1α in the two cancer cell lines in response to hypoxia. Finally, the effects of DEX on the hypoxia-induced growth and metastatic potential of cancer cells were reversed by atipamezole. Collectively, DEX enhances the hypoxia-induced progression of lung cancer cells and colorectal cancer cells by regulating HIF-1α signaling, which may be associated with the α2 adrenoceptor pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of flexible energy storage devices for portable and wearable electronics has aroused increasing interest. In this work, three-dimensional hierarchical NiCo2O4@NiMn-LDH nanowire/nanosheet arrays have been successfully fabricated on carbon cloth through a facile hydrothermal and calcination synthetic method. Benefiting from the sophisticated hybrid nanoarchitectures with desirable structure and components, the optimized NiCo2O4@NiMn-LDH hybrid electrode is found to deliver a remarkable specific capacity of 278 mA h g−1 at 2 mA cm−2 and a good rate capability of 89.1% retention at 20 mA cm−2. Detailed analysis of the reaction kinetics for the hybrid electrode clearly indicates the dominant diffusion-controlled contribution to the total capacity. In addition, a flexible solid-state hybrid supercapacitor is assembled by taking NiCo2O4@NiMn-LDH and activated carbon as the cathode and anode, respectively, which manifests a maximum energy density of 47 W h kg−1 at a power density of 357 W kg−1 as well as an excellent long-term cycling stability (95.6% retention after 5000 cycles over 8 mA cm−2). Our work demonstrates the great potential of this core/shell hybrid nanostructure as an advanced battery-type electrode for high-performance flexible energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress plays an important role in aging-related neurodegeneration. This study used littermates of WT and Nox2-knockout (Nox2KO) mice plus endothelial cell-specific human Nox2 overexpression-transgenic (HuNox2Tg) mice to investigate Nox2-derived ROS in brain aging. Compared with young WT mice (3-4 months), aging WT mice (20-22 months) had obvious metabolic disorders and loss of locomotor activity. Aging WT brains had high levels of angiotensin II (Ang II) and ROS production; activation of ERK1/2, p53, and γH2AX; and losses of capillaries and neurons. However, these abnormalities were markedly reduced in aging Nox2KO brains. HuNox2Tg brains at middle age (11-12 months) already had high levels of ROS production and activation of stress signaling pathways similar to those found in aging WT brains. The mechanism of Ang II-induced endothelial Nox2 activation in capillary damage was examined using primary brain microvascular endothelial cells. The clinical significance of Nox2-derived ROS in aging-related loss of cerebral capillaries and neurons was investigated using postmortem midbrain tissues of young (25-38 years) and elderly (61-85 years) adults. In conclusion, Nox2 activation is an important mechanism in aging-related cerebral capillary rarefaction and reduced brain function, with the possibility of a key role for endothelial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to analysis high photocatalytic/PMS activation synergy ability of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) by improving the carriers transfer efficiency and reducing energy band based on controlling the morphology of materials. In this study, tubular g-C 3 N 4 (TCN) with porous structure was prepared by an acid-induced-assembly step and the photocatalysis/PMS activation effects were discussed. Compared with bulk g-C 3 N 4 (BCN), TCN could exhibit enhanced visible light absorption, effectively inhibit electrons and holes recombination in the system, which significantly improved PMS-assisted visible light catalytic efficiency. 97.15 % Rhodamine B (RhB) and 62.3 % Tetracycline (TC) degradation were achieved within 60 min. In addition, the synergistic effect of PMS activation and TCN photocatalysis has a broad pH application range, which is very beneficial for application in practical aqueous systems. Quenching experiments showed that the synergistic effect of photocatalysis/PMS activation on TCN principally the cause of formating 1O 2. Based on the intermediate products detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) technology, a possible photodegradation pathway of TC was proposed. This paper provides an original perspective to improve carriers transfer and reduce energy band due to conduct the morphology g-C 3 N 4 , which could further broaden the applications in the field of environmental governance. [Display omitted] • Tubular g-C 3 N 4 (TCN) was prepared by acid-induced-assembly step. • The synergy of photocatalysis-PMS activation on TCN was discussed. • The possible degradation pathways and degradation mechanism were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]