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In-situ catalytic generation of SiC coating on coal hydrogenation semi coke (SC, a new type of solid waste) was fabricated via the sol-gel coating, in-situ catalytic and subsequent high-temperature solid-phase reaction methods. The specific composition, microstructure, catalytic formation mechanism of SiC/C composite had been systematically investigated. The analysis results had proven that the loading Ni nanoparticles as catalyst favored the in-situ formation of SiC layer on SC, and significantly decreased the initial and complete reaction temperature of SiC. In particularly, the introduction of SiC had effectively improved the microwave absorption (MA) performances of composites. For the sample SiO 2 /SiC/C, its optimal reflection loss peak value (RL min = −20.4 dB) and effective absorption bandwidth (EAB max = 3.92 GHz) were achieved at the matched thickness of 2.0 mm. Whereas the RL min peak of −30.5 dB at the frequency of 4.06 GHz, and the EAB max of 3.68 GHz within the coating thickness of 2.0 mm had obtained for SiC/C samples. All results confirmed that the in-situ formation of SiC was beneficial for the regulation of impedance matching for the single carbon material, realizing the superior MA properties of SiC/C absorber. Furthermore, the successful fabrication of SiO 2 /SiC/C and SiC/C absorbers, in-situ ceramic phase loading low-cost carbon, provide the possibility for the large-scale application in the field of MA for SC, and expect to implement the environmental protection strategy of "waste in waste". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The single atom catalysts (SACs) show unique catalytic performance in heterogeneous reactions owing to unsaturated coordination sites and high metal atom dispersion. Herein, a simple wet impregnation method was utilized to synthetize of Fe−Al2O3 catalysts. The Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed that abundant OH group attached to the support (Al2O3) surface facilitating formation of isolated Fe single atom. High resolution transmission electron microscope (HR‐TEM) and extended X‐ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) confirmed the Fe single atom architecture. Fe−Al2O3 (4.5 wt %) performed enhanced stability and activity on ethane dehydrogenation reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: The objective of this study was to determine whether arterial spin labeling (ASL), amide proton transfer (APT), or their combination could distinguish between patients with a low and high modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and forecast the effectiveness of the therapy; (2) Methods: Fifty-eight patients with subacute phase ischemic stroke were included in this study. Based on cerebral blood flow (CBF) and asymmetry magnetic transfer ratio (MTRasym) images, histogram analysis was performed on the ischemic area to acquire imaging biomarkers, and the contralateral area was used as a control. Imaging biomarkers were compared between the low (mRS 0–2) and high (mRS 3–6) mRS score groups using the Mann–Whitney U test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the performance of the potential biomarkers in differentiating between the two groups; (3) Results: The rAPT 50th had an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.728, with a sensitivity of 91.67% and a specificity of 61.76% for differentiating between patients with low and high mRS scores. Moreover, the AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of the rASL max were 0.926, 100%, and 82.4%, respectively. Combining the parameters with logistic regression could further improve the performance in predicting prognosis, leading to an AUC of 0.968, a sensitivity of 100%, and a specificity of 91.2%; (4) Conclusions: The combination of APT and ASL may be a potential imaging biomarker to reflect the effectiveness of thrombolytic therapy for stroke patients, assisting in guiding treatment approaches and identifying high-risk patients such as those with severe disability, paralysis, and cognitive impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the background of carbon peak and neutrality, the composite microwave absorbents are prepared using coal‐based solid waste fly ash (FA) as raw material, supporting the implementation of comprehensive utilization for FA and the low‐cost preparation for microwave absorbents. CoNi‐loaded FA composites (CoNi@FA) are prepared via a simple rotary evaporation and sintering process, involving the introduction of Co2+–Ni2+ into FA as well as the subsequent reduction process during which the CoNi alloy transforms from the metallic oxide. As expected, the CoNi@FA800 manifests excellent microwave absorption performance, and the minimum reflection loss (RLmin) value is −39.8 dB. The effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) is extended to 3.4 GHz when the coating thickness is 2.0 mm. These are attributed to the introduction of CoNi alloy, endowing CoNi@FA composites with proper impedance matching and attenuation characteristics. Thus, the CoNi@FA will be a potential candidate in the field of microwave absorbent, which not only realizes the resource utilization of FA efficiently, but also makes a compromise between economic and environmental benefit simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapidly increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide lead to a threat of global climate change. As one of the major sources of carbon emissions in the Antarctic region, shipborne tourism in the Antarctic is expanding rapidly. Consequently, the carbon emissions of shipborne tourism in Antarctica are rapidly increasing. However, there is not enough attention being paid to this issue. In this paper, a calculation model was established to calculate the carbon emissions of cruise ships from the 2003/04 season to the 2016/17 season. The evolution of the carbon emissions from Antarctic cruise ships was described. An aggregate energy efficiency index was developed to evaluate the energy efficiency performance of Antarctic vessels. The key drivers were analyzed to find the paths of carbon reduction. The results show that: (1) The emissions per passenger-trip did not show a downward trend. The total carbon emissions increased continuously with the increasing number of tourists. The total carbon emissions in the 2016/17 season was double that in the 2003/04 season. (2) The aggregate energy efficiency index of Antarctic tour vessels has not reached an advanced level yet. It is the main reason for the high value of emissions per passenger-trip. (3) Due to the oversupply of Antarctica tour ships, there is a low rate of occupancy, which accounts for the decline in aggregate energy efficiency from the 2014/15 season to the 2016/17 season. This study suggests that the administrators of Antarctica should strengthen supervision of the tourism market, control the rapid growth in the number of cruise ships, improve the aggregate energy efficiency of cruise ships and form an efficient and green Antarctic tourism management system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To investigate the clinical application of bone filling mesh container vertebroplasty in osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). Methods. Patients with OVCF from October 2018 to April 2020 were selected. Patients in the control and study groups underwent percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) and bone filling mesh container vertebroplasty, respectively. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA), visual analog scale (VAS) scores before and after surgery, and the incidence of complications were compared between the two groups. Results. The operation time and fluoroscopy time of the study group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the injection volume of bone cement between the study group and the control group (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in Cobb angle between the two groups. Three months after the operation, the height of the anterior edge increased and the Cobb angle decreased in the two groups (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the height of the anterior edge and the Cobb angle between the two groups (P > 0.05). The JOA scores increased, while the ODI and VAS scores decreased in both groups after surgery (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the total effective rate between the study group (96.15%) and the control group (92.31%) (P > 0.05). The incidence of complications in the study group (3.85%) was significantly lower than that in the control group (15.38%) (P < 0.05). Conclusions. For the treatment of OVCFs, bone filling mesh container vertebroplasty is comparable to PKP in terms of functional recovery, but it can safely reduce operative time, fluoroscopy time, and complication rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sedimentary sequences of the Yangtze River delta comprise important Quaternary records of tectonics, sea-level oscillation, and climatic change; however, analysis is hampered by a lack of a reliable chronological framework. In this paper, we present an integrated chronology for two sedimentary sequences (core ZKW2 and ZKW4) on the southern side of the Yangtze River delta, based on magnetostratigraphy and absolute methods (OSL, 14C, and ESR dating). The basal ages of the core ZKW2 and ZKW4 are ca. 2.25 Ma and 2.96 Ma, respectively. The integrated chronology indicates significant increases in the sedimentary accumulation rate at ∼0.15 Ma, rather than the Matuyama-Brunhes boundary as indicated by magnetostratigraphy alone. The observed sedimentary transition is possibly controlled by regional subsidence of the Zhe-Min Uplift, and climate evolution during the last interglacial period. • High-quality magnetostratigraphy is obtained for the Quaternary sediments in the YRD. • The SARs of the YRD sediments significantly enhanced since ∼0.15 Ma. • Tectonics and climate factors jointly control the sedimentary evolution in the YRD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The gangue is recycled to prepare ceramic-based composite microwave absorbents. • The novel method realizes the recycling of gangue and cut the cost of absorbents. • The CoG composites are lightweight and possess excellent performance. • Impedance matching and interfacial polarization play a key role to performance. Coal gangue was recycled to synthesize ceramic-based microwave absorbents decorated with Co particles via a facile synthesis route. Co particles were uniformly loaded onto the ceramic matrix by pelletizing the gangue with concurrent spraying of a Co2+-containing solution, followed by in situ carbothermal reduction using the fixed carbon in the gangue as the reducing agent. The Co contents of the ceramic composites were precisely controlled by adjusting the concentration of Co2+ solution. The fixed carbon in the gangue was partially consumed, and the residual carbon in the composites resulted in more defects, and acted as a dielectric. Compared to gangue, the optimized composite exhibited excellent microwave absorbing properties with a minimum reflection loss of −48.2 dB and an effective absorption band of 4.3 GHz under a coating thickness of 1.5 mm. The excellent performance was mainly attributed to the enhanced impedance matching and multiple interface polarizations in the composite. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adult developmental dysplasia of the hip is an untreated congenital hip dysplasia that results in adult hip pain. One of the usual and effective methods for the treatment of this condition is periacetabular osteotomy. However, which approach is better between the modified S-P and the I-I approaches is still unclear and controversial. Method and materials: We retrospectively assessed our experience with the modified S-P and the I-I approaches by inquiring and evaluating intraoperative blood loss, postoperative radiographic material, postoperative function of the hip, and related complications from July 2014 to January 2019. Results: A total of 61 patients with adult developmental dysplasia of the hip were enrolled, and 33 patients were divided into a modified S-P group and 28 patients were divided into I-I group. The operation time and blood loss of group I-I were higher than that of group modified S-P. Other clinical and radiographic indexes showed no statistical significance between group the modified S-P and I-I groups. Conclusion: There is no significant difference in the improvement of the function of the hip at the post-operation stage, but group I-I may require more operation time and blood loss at the intra-operation stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative dehydrogenation of light alkanes in the presence of carbon dioxide (CO2) via heterogeneous catalysis is a sustainable approach. Compared with the strong O2 oxidant, CO2 is soft and controllable for the transformation of light alkanes, affording an attractive and environmentally friendly route. Using this catalytic process, light alkanes can be converted to corresponding olefins and CO2 is transformed into value-added chemicals. Herein, we provide a critical review on the current development of the CO2-assisted transformation of light alkanes. Also, different types of catalysts are discussed in this critical review: (i) metal oxide catalysts based on Cr, Ga, In, Fe and other metals oxides; (ii) metallic and bimetallic precious and non-precious catalysts; and (iii) carbide and nitride catalysts. A detailed review of the literatures consists of the nature of active sites and the role of modifiers and supports for each type of catalytic material. The catalytic performance of these different types of catalysts for the dehydrogenation of light alkanes is discussed in the absence and presence of CO2. Finally, we present perspectives for future progress in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: RNA-Seq was employed to compare the transcriptome differences between the triticale lines and to identify the key gene responsible for the blue aleurone trait. The accumulation of anthocyanins in the aleurone of triticale results in the formation of the blue-grained trait, but the identity of the genes associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis in the aleurone has not yet been reported. In this manuscript, RNA-Seq was employed to compare the transcriptome differences between the triticale lines HM13 (blue aleurone) and HM5 (white aleurone), and to identify the key genes responsible for the blue aleurone trait. There were 32,406 differentially expressed genes between HM13 and HM5. Seventy-three unigenes were homologous to the structural genes related to anthocyanin biosynthesis, and the average transcript level of the structural genes was higher in HM13 than in HM5, so that quantitative differences between the two lines in transcription rates could be the cause of the blue aleurone. The MYB and bHLH transcription factors had two homologous unigenes, but contained only one differentially expressed unigene each. The relative transcript level of bHLH Unigene5672_All (TsMYC2) in HM13 was 42.71 times that in HM5, while the relative transcript level of the MYB transcription factor Unigene12228_All in HM13 was 2.20 times that in HM5. qPCR experiments determined the relative transcript level of TsMYC2 in developing grain, with the expression of TsMYC2 in grain being the highest compared with that in root, stem or leaf tissue. TsMYC2 was homologous to the bHLH transcription factor regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis and contained three entire functional domains: bHLH-MYC_N, HLH and ACT-like, which were important for exercising regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis as a bHLH transcription factor. Transient expression of ZmC1 and TsMYC2 could induce anthocyanin biosynthesis in white wheat coleoptile cells, demonstrating that TsMYC2 was a functional bHLH transcription factor. These results indicated that TsMYC2 was associated with the blue aleurone trait and could prove to be a valuable gene with which to breed new triticale cultivars with the blue aleurone trait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The composite photocatalysts consisting of cadmium sulfide (CdS) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) with a different mass ratio of CdS were successfully prepared. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were exploited to characterize the structure, micro-topography and composition of g-C 3 N 4 /CdS (CNCS) composite photocatalyst. The optical properties of the as-prepared samples were characterized by ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS). The photocatalytic performance of the CNCS composite photocatalysts was confirmed by estimating the photocatalytic activity for the degradation of organic pollutants under the irradiation of simulated solar. The photocatalytic activity of the as-synthesized CNCS composite for the degradation of erythromycin (Ery) and tetracycline (TC) was remarkably enhanced relative to that of pure g-C 3 N 4 and CdS. The CNCS composite with a g-C 3 N 4 /CdS mass ratio of 3:1 exhibited the best photocatalytic activity and the photodegradation rate was 2.55 times and 2.14 times higher than that of pure g-C 3 N 4 for Ery and TC, respectively, which was 2.15 times and 4.43 times higher than that of pure CdS for Ery and TC, respectively. The main active species in the photocatalytic reaction process were accurately identified by adding a series of free radical scavenger under the same experimental condition. No apparent deactivation of the CNCS = 3:1 composite photocatalyst was observed in the experiment after degrading Ery and TC three consecutive runs, indicating that the addition of the g-C 3 N 4 substantially improved the photocatalytic stability of CdS nanorods. The concentration of Cd2+ ions dissolved in the supernatant of CNCS-3:1 photocatalysts was lower than that of pure CdS, suggesting that the photocorrosion of CdS could be effectively inhibited via forming heterostructure with g-C 3 N 4. The synergistic effect between CdS and g-C 3 N 4 increases the separation efficiency of the photogenerated carriers, enhancing the photocatalytic activity of CNCS composite samples. Furthermore, a possible photocatalytic mechanism for the enhanced photocatalytic activity of the CNCS composite photocatalyst was proposed based on the band alignments of g-C 3 N 4 and CdS. Highlights • Z-scheme g-C3N4/CdS (CNCS) composites have been fabricated by a facile method. • The CNCS composites exhibit the enhanced photocatalytic performance. • The Z-scheme CNCS heterojunction displays good photocatalytic degradation efficiency of erythromycin and tetracycline. • O2- was the primary active species and played a crucial role in the photocatalytic degradation process. • The possible mechanism for enhanced photocatalytic activity is proposed by analysis of the reactive oxygen species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, metal‐free, heteroatom‐doped carbon nanomaterials have emerged as promising electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), but their synthesis is a tedious process involving energy‐wasting calcination. Molecular electrocatalysts offer attractive catalysts for the OER. Here, phytic acid (PA) was selected to investigate the OER activity of carbons in organic molecules by DFT calculations and experiments. Positively charged carbons on PA were very active towards the OER. The PA molecules were fixed into a porous, conductive hydrogel with a superhydrophilic surface. This outperformed most metal‐free electrocatalysts. Besides the active sites on PA, the high OER activity was also related to the porous and conductive networks on the hydrogel, which allowed fast charge and mass transport during the OER. Therefore, this work provides a metal‐free, organic‐molecule‐based electrocatalyst to replace carbon nanomaterials for efficient OER. Positively charged carbons on organic molecules (i.e. phytic acid, denoted PA) can participate in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), as shown by DFT calculations and experiments. Moreover, doping of PA into a porous and conductive hydrogel is a robust strategy for stabilizing PA, as well as boosting the charge and mass transport of PA during the OER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, metal‐free, heteroatom‐doped carbon nanomaterials have emerged as promising electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), but their synthesis is a tedious process involving energy‐wasting calcination. Molecular electrocatalysts offer attractive catalysts for the OER. Here, phytic acid (PA) was selected to investigate the OER activity of carbons in organic molecules by DFT calculations and experiments. Positively charged carbons on PA were very active towards the OER. The PA molecules were fixed into a porous, conductive hydrogel with a superhydrophilic surface. This outperformed most metal‐free electrocatalysts. Besides the active sites on PA, the high OER activity was also related to the porous and conductive networks on the hydrogel, which allowed fast charge and mass transport during the OER. Therefore, this work provides a metal‐free, organic‐molecule‐based electrocatalyst to replace carbon nanomaterials for efficient OER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Device-to-device (D2D) multicast communication is a useful way to improve the communication efficiency of local services. This study considers a scenario of D2D multicast communication in software defined cellular network and investigates the frequency resource allocation problem. Firstly, we build the system model and formulate the optimization problem. Secondly, a hierarchical scheme to achieve a suboptimal solution is proposed. To select appropriate user equipments (UEs) as potential D2D transmitters (PDTs), a social aware PDT selection method is proposed. Then, a resource allocation algorithm considering users' priorities is proposed. Furthermore, to study the resource allocation for general system that UEs without priorities, a non-priority considered allocation algorithm is proposed also. Numerical simulation results show that the proposed schemes are effective in improving the system utility and reducing the resource consuming for D2D communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To degrade the residual penicillin G in penicillin mycelial dreg (PMD), thermal treatment was used as a pretreatment for practical disposal. Given that the characteristics of treated-PMD aren't adequately clear, a lab-scale experiment was conducted to verify its safety assessment for land application under the following points: (i) variation of penicillin G residue (ii) maturity of organic matter (OM) (iii) phytotoxicity (iv) abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). A high-throughput quantitative polymerase chain reaction (HT-qPCR) method was used to perform an overall investigation of soil ARGs. The results show that heat treatment effectively degrades 98% of penicillin in PMD within 120 min. After thermal treatment, the treated-PMD was applied to soil. The original penicillin level was considerably lower and completely degraded within 4 days. Variation of germination index (GI) implied that the created phytotoxicity was significantly reduced. Furthermore, compared with PMD, the addition of treated-PMD didn't cause enrichment of soil ARGs in diversity and abundance. Therefore, heat treatment can be considered as an effective pretreatment for PMD practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yb3+/Er3+/GZO ceramics have been synthesized with high temperature solid-state method. The phase and structure of the Yb3+/Er3+/GZO ceramics were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD pattern that following ions Yb3+, Er3+ and Ga3+ were well doped into the ZnO lattice. Effi cient visible up-conversion (UC) red and green emission were observed under 980 nm excitation. The mechanism of the UC luminescence is investigated on the basis of the UC luminescence emission spectra, the power curve and energy level diagram. The infl uence of doping ions to the intensity ratio of red to green is analyzed and high purity of red light (red/green = 29.9) is fi nally obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute brain dysfunction is a frequent complication in sepsis patients and is associated with long‑term neurocognitive consequences and increased mortality, yet the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Emerging evidence has suggested that β2‑microglobulin [a component of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules] is involved in cognitive dysfunction in various neurological diseases. Therefore, the present study tested the hypothesis that β2‑microglobulin in the brain also mediates sepsis‑induced cognitive impairment. In the present study, wild‑type and antigen processing 1 (Tap1)‑deficient mice (Tap1‑/‑) were subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Survival rate, cognitive function, and biochemical analysis were performed at the indicated time points. The data revealed that CLP induced anxiety‑like behavior and impaired hippocampal‑dependent contextual memory in wild‑type mice, which was accompanied by hippocampal microglial activation, increased level of interleukin‑1β, and decreased concentrations of brain derived neurotrophic factor and postsynaptic density protein 95. Notably, it was demonstrated that Tap1‑/‑ mice with reduced cell surface expression of MHC I protected mice from anxiety‑like behavior and impaired hippocampal‑dependent contextual memory and reversed most of these biochemical parameters following sepsis development. In summary, the results of the present study suggest that β2‑microglobulin negatively regulates cognitive impairment in an animal model of sepsis induced by CLP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic disorder characterized by the development through angiogenesis, which is dependent on endothelial cell activation, migration and proliferation and CCL21 plays an important role in this pathology. Currently, CCL21 gene polymorphism studies on rheumatoid arthritis are scarce and the results are diverse. This meta-analysis was performed to determine if CCL21 gene polymorphisms correlate with the risk of developing RA. Association reports for the relationship between CCL21 polymorphisms and RA were identified from PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, SCIELO, CNKI and Wanfang databases on March 22, 2017. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were applied to assess the relationship strength. Publication bias was conducted with Begg's funnel plot and Egger's regression test to measure the robustness of our findings. Sensitivity and cumulative analyses were used to assess the overall robustness of the study's results. Four relevant case-control cohort studies and three GWAS studies with CCL21rs2812378G>A gene polymorphisms and rheumatoid arthritis involving 9963 RA cases and 7976 controls were identified. Significant associations between the CCL21 rs2812378G>A polymorphism and RA risk were observed in the co-dominant model, dominant model and heterozygous model (A vs G: OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.03-1.14, p < 0.01, I = 0.0%; AA + AG vs GG: OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.05-1.28, p < 0.01, I = 0.0%; AG vs GG: OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.08-1.30, p < 0.01, I = 3.8%) in the total population, as well as in subgroup Caucasian population. The combined analysis revealed a significantly increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis in the co-dominant model, dominant model and heterozygous model in overall population and subgroup Caucasian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An egg shell-yolk NiO/C porous composite has been prepared as lithium-ion battery anode material by two-pot hydrothermal method. Thermogravimetry(TG), X-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), transmission electron microscopy(TEM), Raman spectroscopy, and nitrogen isothermal adsorption-desorption have been used to study the microstructure of the material. LANHE cell tester and electrochemical workstations are used to investigate electrochemical performance. Results show that amorphous carbons exist in porous NiO/C, which possesses an internal loose spherical structure. The discharge capacity for the 100th cycle is maintained at 625.3mAh/g, and the capacity retention ratio is 94.1% relative to the 2nd discharge capacity. The composite has a unique egg shell-yolk porous structure, which buffers the volume change and prevents the aggregation of active NiO material during cycling to enhance material performance. When the current density is increased to 800 mA/g, the capacity stabilizes at 400.1mAh/g, reflecting an outstanding rate performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A hybrid prediction system is proposed to provide technical support for achieving energy sustainable development goals. • Extract original complex time series features using CEEMDAN. • Optimize Extreme Learning Machine using particle swarm optimization algorithm. • Experiments are conducted for four seasons of wind speed to verify that the model can effectively predict year-round data. • Experiments demonstrate that CEEMDAN-PSO-ELM can predict complex energy data efficiently and accurately. As environmental concerns and the energy crisis intensify, advancing the use of new energy sources such as wind and photovoltaic is an important means to achieve sustainable energy development. However, the random fluctuation characteristics and seasonality of wind and light make them difficult to predict, which brings many operational risks to grid security and power dispatch. Therefore, this paper uses the Complete Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition with Adaptive Noise (CEEMDAN) as the decomposition algorithm, which can effectively avoid the problems of modal confusion and noise residuals and better identify the trend, seasonality and nonlinear characteristics of the series. The Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm is also utilized to improve the prediction accuracy and stability of the Extreme Learning Machine (ELM). Combining CEEMDAN and PSO-ELM models, a high-precision hybrid forecasting system that can effectively reduce the effects of stochastic fluctuations is proposed. In this paper, wind speed data from four different seasons at Changma wind farm in China are selected to verify the effectiveness and generalization ability of this hybrid prediction system. The results show that the improvement of ELM by PSO and CEEMDAN significantly improves the prediction accuracy of the model, and the hybrid prediction system can be applied to time series with different data characteristics and variation patterns in each season, and its prediction accuracy and model performance are significantly better than other comparative models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: l-Leucine is a high-value amino acid with promising applications in the medicine and feed industries. However, the complex metabolic network and intracellular redox imbalance in fermentative microbes limit their efficient biosynthesis of l-leucine. Results: In this study, we applied rational metabolic engineering and a dynamic regulation strategy to construct a plasmid-free, non-auxotrophic Escherichia coli strain that overproduces l-leucine. First, the l-leucine biosynthesis pathway was strengthened through multi-step rational metabolic engineering. Then, a cooperative cofactor utilization strategy was designed to ensure redox balance for l-leucine production. Finally, to further improve the l-leucine yield, a toggle switch for dynamically controlling sucAB expression was applied to accurately regulate the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the carbon flux toward l-leucine biosynthesis. Strain LEU27 produced up to 55 g/L of l-leucine, with a yield of 0.23 g/g glucose. Conclusions: The combination of strategies can be applied to the development of microbial platforms that produce l-leucine and its derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesoporous Fe/C and core–shell Fe–Fe 3 C@C composites were successfully prepared through the in-situ polymerization of Fe 3+ /phenolic resin coupled with F127 and the subsequent high-temperature carbonization. The experiments involved the preparation of an iron-containing carbon precursor and the heat-treatment process. Two composites with different morphology and structure could be obtained by changing the content of Fe(NO 3 ) 3 ·9H 2 O in the precursor. The crystalline phase, structure and microwave absorption of the two composites were investigated. Fe particles were uniformly embedded into the mesoporous networks to form mesoporous Fe/C composite with high surface area of 467.3 m 2 /g and low density of 1.92 g/cm 3 . The Fe–Fe 3 C particles encapsulated by graphitized carbon layers formed the core–shell structure with surface area and density of 259.5 m 2 /g and 2.67 g/cm 3 . Fe/C and Fe–Fe 3 C@C composites exhibited excellent electromagnetic absorbing ability, the effective absorption bandwidth reached 3.36 and 5.04 GHz with the matching thicknesses of 2 and 1.5 mm correspondingly. This originated mainly from the effective impedance match and multiple interfacial polarizations. Furthermore, the increase of Fe 3+ not only promoted the graphitization degree of carbon shell, but also increased the complex permittivity and permeability of core–shell structure, thus improved the impedance matching. Owing to high surface area, low density and excellent microwave absorbability, the mesoporous Fe/C and core–shell Fe–Fe 3 C@C composites are promising candidates as lightweight and high-efficiency microwave absorbents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Blau syndrome is a rare autoinflammatory disease caused by autosomal dominant mutations in the CARD15/NOD2 gene. Vascular involvement is a rare phenotype in Blau syndrome patients. In this study, we aimed to describe a 20-year- old Chinese girl with Blau syndrome complicated by renal arteritis. In addition, we summarized a literature review of published cases of vascular involvement in patients with Blau syndrome. Case presentation: We describe a 20-year-old girl who was initially misdiagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) almost 15 years prior. In October 2019, she developed renal arteritis at the age of 17 years and was eventually diagnosed with Blau syndrome. A de-novo M513T mutation was found in her gene testing. A review of the literature on patients with Blau syndrome and vasculitis showed that a total of 18 cases were reported in the past 40 years. The vast majority of them were predominantly involved medium and large vessel arteritis. Of the 18 patients included in our literature review, 14 patients had aorto-arteritis, and 4 of them had renal artery involvement. Two patients presented with renal artery stenosis, 1with a sinus of Valsalva aneurysm, and 1 with retinal vasculitis. Conclusion: A detailed medical history inquiry and a careful physical examination are helpful for the early identification of Blau syndrome, especially for infant onset refractory JIA. Medium-and large-vessel arteritis is a rare clinical manifestation in Blau syndrome patients. Careful examination of the peripheral pulse and measurement of blood pressure at every regular visit may be helpful in the early identification of Blau syndrome-arteritis. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment may prevent or delay the occurrence of severe symptoms in patients to improve the patient's quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beach slope is an important factor influencing the tide-induced water-table fluctuation in coastal unconfined aquifers. However, research about the effect of beach slope on water-table fluctuation is limited, especially for gentle slopes. To understand the effect of beach slope on beach groundwater dynamics, a numerical model, calibrated with field monitoring data from Donghai Island (China), was built to simulate the observed water-table fluctuation. Sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the sensitivity of water-table fluctuation to the parameters and conceptualization of the model. The analysis indicated that the water-table fluctuation was especially sensitive to the hydraulic conductivity and specific yield, and the horizontal length of the model domain could affect the amplitude of the water-table fluctuation. Moreover, it is found that the variation of the amplitude is more evident when the beach-slope angle changes in the range from 1.5 to 45°, especially in the range from 1.5 to 5°. Understanding the effect of beach slope on tide-induced water-table dynamics could help modelers deal with the slope better in their beach groundwater flow models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebrovascular dysfunction is an early pathogenic event in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and plays a key role in the disease process. Cerebral hypoperfusion, brain glucose hypometabolism and disrupted blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity contributed to the onset and progression of AD. However, the relationships between the age-related cognitive impairment and cerebral blood flow (CBF), energy metabolism and BBB have not been clearly explained. In this study, we investigated the cognitive function, CBF, BBB damage and expression level of glucose transporter (GLUT) 1 and 3 of senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8), and the correlations between each of them were analyzed. When compared with SAMR1 (senescence-accelerated mouse resistant 1), the cognitive abilities of SAMP8 were damaged apparently even at 4 months of age, showing up a slower and more capricious acquisition in Morris water maze tasks. In both SAMP8 and SAMR1, reduced CBF and increased BBB leakage were observed with increasing age, but an earlier and more severe impairment was detected in SAMP8. In addition, alterations of GLUT1 and GLUT3 protein expression in cortex and hippocampus were more prominent in SAMP8. Correlation analysis demonstrated that the increased escape latency was correlated negatively with CBF and expression of glucose transporters; and positively with BBB permeability in the hippocampus. These results suggested that CBF, BBB integrity, the expression of GLUT1 and GLUT3 were significantly affected by age and strain, which were also closely associated with cognitive ability. The alteration in CBF and energy failure induced by aging and vascular insults resulted in cognitive decline in SAMP8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebrovascular dysfunction is an early pathogenic event in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and plays a key role in the disease process. Cerebral hypoperfusion, brain glucose hypometabolism and disrupted blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity contributed to the onset and progression of AD. However, the relationships between the age-related cognitive impairment and cerebral blood flow (CBF), energy metabolism and BBB have not been clearly explained. In this study, we investigated the cognitive function, CBF, BBB damage and expression level of glucose transporter (GLUT) 1 and 3 of senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8), and the correlations between each of them were analyzed. When compared with SAMR1 (senescence-accelerated mouse resistant 1), the cognitive abilities of SAMP8 were damaged apparently even at 4 months of age, showing up a slower and more capricious acquisition in Morris water maze tasks. In both SAMP8 and SAMR1, reduced CBF and increased BBB leakage were observed with increasing age, but an earlier and more severe impairment was detected in SAMP8. In addition, alterations of GLUT1 and GLUT3 protein expression in cortex and hippocampus were more prominent in SAMP8. Correlation analysis demonstrated that the increased escape latency was correlated negatively with CBF and expression of glucose transporters; and positively with BBB permeability in the hippocampus. These results suggested that CBF, BBB integrity, the expression of GLUT1 and GLUT3 were significantly affected by age and strain, which were also closely associated with cognitive ability. The alteration in CBF and energy failure induced by aging and vascular insults resulted in cognitive decline in SAMP8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to examine whether neuron loss occurs in SAMP8 and whether neuron loss is correlated with cognitive deficits of these mice. Neuronal loss is considered as one of the most important pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer disease (AD). In addition to the early-onset, irreversible, severe deficits of learning and memory, SAMP8 mice show spontaneous age-related neurodegenerative changes and other characteristics seen in AD patients, such as amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. However, it is still unknown whether neuron loss occurs in SAMP8 and whether neuron loss is correlated with cognitive deficits of these mice. We employed 8-month-old SAMP8 and SAMR1 mice to investigate the cognitive function and neuron numbers. The behaviors were examined by the grading score of senescence and Morris water maze (MWM) test, the neuron number in hippocampus was estimated by the optical fractionator technique. The grading score of senescence and MWM test demonstrated that SAMP8 exhibited notable age-related changes in appearance and cognitive function. Moreover, severe hippocampal neuron loss was found in SAMP8 as determined by the optical fractionator stereological method. Compared to SAMR1, the neuron number of CA1, CA3 and DG in SAMP8 was reduced by 15.6, 19.8 and 20.2 %, respectively, and the neuron loss in hippocampus was associated with cognitive deficits. Collectively, these results suggest that hippocampal neuronal loss is well correlated with learning and memory deficits in SAMP8 and SAMP8 represents an important mouse model for AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stochastic modeling is a rapidly evolving, popular approach to the study of the uncertainty and heterogeneity of groundwater systems. However, the use of Monte Carlo-type simulations to solve practical groundwater problems often encounters computational bottlenecks that hinder the acquisition of meaningful results. To improve the computational efficiency, a system that combines stochastic model generation with MODFLOW-related programs and distributed parallel processing is investigated. The distributed computing framework, called the Java Parallel Processing Framework, is integrated into the system to allow the batch processing of stochastic models in distributed and parallel systems. As an example, the system is applied to the stochastic delineation of well capture zones in the Pinggu Basin in Beijing. Through the use of 50 processing threads on a cluster with 10 multicore nodes, the execution times of 500 realizations are reduced to 3% compared with those of a serial execution. Through this application, the system demonstrates its potential in solving difficult computational problems in practical stochastic modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To characterize the clinical features and outcomes of childhood-onset primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Methods: Patients less than 18 years old who were diagnosed with pSS by paediatric rheumatologists were included, and all patients were applied the 2002 American-European Consensus Group (ACEG) criteria, the 2016 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) criteria for pSS, or the 1999 proposed juvenile pSS criteria. The electronic medical records of patients with pSS from 2013 to 2020 were collected and analysed. Results: Thirty-nine patients were included. Of them, 27 (69.2%), 38 (97.4%) and 35 (89.7%) patients fulfilled the AECG criteria, ACR/EULAR criteria and proposed juvenile pSS criteria, respectively. The female:male ratio was 3.9:1. The median ages at first signs or symptoms and at diagnosis were 9.2 (4.7, 14.5) years and 10.9 (6.3, 15.0) years, respectively. The main clinical manifestations were rash or purpura (20, 51.3%), followed by fever (12, 30.8%), glandular enlargement/recurrent parotitis (10, 25.6%), and dry mouth and/or dry eyes (9, 23.1%). Twenty-eight (56.4%) patients had systemic damage, the most common of which was haematological involvement (14, 35.9%), followed by hepatic (13, 33.3%) and renal involvement (8, 20.5%). Thirty-eight (97.4%) patients underwent labial minor salivary gland biopsy, and all exhibited focal lymphocytic sialadenitis. All patients had a global ESSDAI score ≥ 1 at diagnosis, and the median total score at diagnosis was 8 (2, 31). Thirty-six (92.3%) patients were followed up for a median time of 23.6 (7.9, 79.5) months, and three patients developed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at follow-up times of 13.3, 38.8 and 63.8 months. Conclusions: The presentation of childhood-onset pSS is atypical, and extraglandular manifestations and systemic involvement are more common than in adult-onset pSS. Labial salivary gland biopsy is vital for patients with probable pSS. Some patients may develop SLE over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role and potential molecular mechanism of inflammatory cells in pediatric localized scleroderma are poorly investigated. In this study, we first investigated the profiling of inflammatory cells in skin samples from pediatric localized scleroderma. Among them, CD4+ T‐cells were up‐regulated. Co‐culture dermal fibroblasts with CD4+ T‐cells promoted fibrosis of fibroblasts. Candidate lncRNAs were further explored by lncRNAs‐seq between the normal skin tissues and pediatric localized scleroderma tissues, and the lncRNAs‐seq between fibroblasts co‐cultured with CD4+ T lymphocytes and control fibroblasts. By comparing the two datasets, we identified eight up‐regulated and three down‐regulated lncRNAs, which were the potential lncRNAs for the phenotype of pediatric localized scleroderma. Here, we identified the CD4+ T‐cells infiltration in pediatric localized scleroderma and potential lncRNAs for the treatment of pediatric localized scleroderma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characterization of the regional ground water flow system is very important to high-level radioactive waste geological disposal. The Beishan area, located in northwestern Gansu Province, China, is selected as a potential site for disposal repository. The area includes about 100000 km² and has complicated hydrogeological conditions, which greatly increase the computational effort of regional ground water flow models. In order to reduce computing time, parallel computing scheme was applied to regional ground water flow simulation. Models with over one million cells were used to simulate how the faults and different recharge conditions impact regional ground water flow, both in steady and transient state. The results of this study provide regional ground water flow information for site characterization of the potential high-level radioactive waste disposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seepage into drifts in unsaturated tuff is an important issue for the long-term performance of the proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Drifts in which waste packages will be emplaced are subject to degradation in the form of rockfall from the drift ceiling, induced by stress-relief, seismic, or thermal effects. The objective of this study is to calculate seepage rates, for various drift-degradation scenarios and for different values of percolation flux, in the Topopah Spring middle nonlithophysal (Tptpmn) and the Topopah Spring lower lithophysal (Tptpll) units at Yucca Mountain. Seepage calculations are conducted by (1) defining a heterogeneous drift-scale permeability model with field data, (2) selecting calibrated parameters associated with the Tptpmn and Tptpll units, and (3) simulating seepage, based on detailed degraded-drift profiles obtained from a separate rock mechanics engineering analysis. The simulation results indicate (1) that the seepage threshold (i.e., the percolation flux at which seepage first occurs) is not significantly changed by drift degradation and (2) the degradation-induced increase in seepage above the threshold is influenced probably more by the shape of the cavity created by rockfall than by rockfall volume. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Micronized acellular dermal matrix (mADM) can induce tissue regeneration and repair, and filling. Objectives: The efficacy and safety of (mADM) were evaluated in the treatment of atrophic acne scar. Methods: In this single‐blinded, self‐controlled, split‐face study, 16 patients (48 scar sites) were divided into treatment group (24 scar sites) and control group (24 scar sites). One side of the affected area was treated with mADM combined with platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection as the treatment group; the other side of the affected area was treated with PRP injection as the control group. The efficacy was evaluated by the Acne scar assessment scale (ASAS) and Acne Scar Weight Rating Scale (ECCA) 3 months after treatment. Results: After 3‐month treatment in 16 patients, the atrophic acne scars in both groups were all improved. The ASAS score and ECCA weight score in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (2.50 ± 0.51 vs. 3.62 ± 0.77 and 14.17 ± 10.18 vs. 31.88 ± 13.25; p < 0.001). Limitations: Short‐term 3‐month treatment period. Small sample size limits generalizability of results. Conclusion: The curative effect of mADM combined with PRP is significantly better than that of PRP alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The support is pivotal for stabilizing single metal atoms and contributes to enhance the catalytic activity of single-atom catalysts. With the merits of versatile structures, tailored electronic structure, as well as high stability, manganese oxide octahedral molecular sieve (OMS-2) can be used as an ideal support to immobilize single atoms. Herein, we report a single-atom Pd catalyst (Pd1–OMS-2) that can afford a silane conversion of above 99% with silanol selectivity of over 99% using water as oxidant under mild conditions, outperforming the original OMS-2. The as-synthesized catalyst exhibits great functional group tolerance and good catalyst stability without aggregation after reaction. And the enhanced catalytic activity is attributed to the decoration of atomic Pd and the increase in content of oxygen vacancies. Characterization of Pd1–OMS-2 indicates that the highly dispersed Pd species is trapped into the framework of OMS-2 by substituting Mn ions, which results in the formation of Pd–O bonds with the adjacent O atoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mandatory policies for waste separation may induce residents’ psychological reactance, which always manifests as multiple negative emotions. This psychological reaction changes dynamically and may continuously harm municipal waste management. However, how this psychological reactance changes over time and how we can intervene in it still lacks exploration. To bridge this gap, the development trends of psychological reactance for different residents and the intervention effects of information publicity were theoretically analyzed based on psychological reactance theory and persuasion theory. A four-times tracing questionnaire survey of 200 general residents from Shanghai was launched, and the data were statistically analyzed using latent variable mixed growth modeling. The results show that: (1) Mandatory policies for waste separation can lead to three trends of psychological reactance among residents: growth mode, decline mode, and inverted U mode. The latter two of these categories account for a greater proportion of the population and may be influenced by values and cultural background. (2) In all three modes, normative and knowledge-based information publicity have a mitigating effect on the growing trend of psychological reactance, while the effect on their initial state is not significant. (3) The changing trend of residents’ psychological reactance to waste separation is dynamic. Information publicity can effectively alleviate the trend of residents’ psychological reactance. The findings provide a dynamic perspective on the negative outcomes of mandatory waste separation policies and are helpful for the government to develop more appropriate policies and interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An Android application, HyDroid, was developed to help hydrogeologists conduct field investigations. By employing the powerful hardware and operation systems in the Android smartphone, HyDroid not only facilitates geospatial data collection and management, but also helps to conduct some essential hydrogeologic field tests, and to visualize field data instantly. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: As a widely used groundwater flow model, MODFLOW offers a set of packages to simulate hydrologic stresses, inflows and outflows, to a groundwater system. Specifically, MODFLOW lacks a general method to process areally distributed recharge and discharge to groundwater. One solution would be to create a new package for MODFLOW. Alternatively, it is also possible to make the best use of existing code to the same effect. In this note, a simple, yet effective method to simulate areal recharge and discharge is proposed based on the recharge (RCH) package of MODFLOW, allowing multiple instances of the RCH package to be used in one model. The method has been implemented in MODFLOW2000/2005 and has been successfully applied to a regional groundwater flow model to simulate areally distributed precipitation recharge, agricultural discharge and irrigation infiltration recharge in a simple approach. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Photocatalytic mechanism scheme of as-prepared SCN-0.025 samples. • Rare earth agent Sm-doped g-C 3 N 4 is successfully synthesized by calcination method. • Sm doped g-C 3 N 4 enhances visible response range and photocatalytic degradation rate of g-C 3 N 4 for TYL. • The effects of initial pH, concentration, aeration and anions for degradation rate of TYL are investigated in detail. • Sm/g-C 3 N 4 exhibits good durability and stability. • The leaching toxicity of CN and SCN-x is evaluated by seed germination experiment and Escherichia coli test. Tylosin (TYL), as a difficult degradable antibiotic, has a high risk in inducing drug-resistant bacteria. Photocatalysis technology is identified as an effective method to removal TYL from water. Here, the Sm-doped g-C 3 N 4 (SCN) was synthesized to serve as a novel photocatalyst for degradation of TYL. The characterization results showed that the SCN was embedded with unique mesoporous structure and excellent capacity of charge transportation. In addition, the tests of leaching toxicity, carried out with seed germination and E. coli , demonstrated that the SCN-x were safe in water treatment process. The Sm doping greatly enhanced the photocatalytic performance of g-C 3 N 4 for degradation of TYL and Rhodamine B. It could realize a 3.55 (2.01) times higher than that of CN when the Sm doping amount was 0.025%. The environmental conditions on photocatalytic performance of SCN were systematically investigated, including initial pH, concentration of TYL solution, aeration rate and anion species. All experimental results indicated that the SCN-x catalyst might act as a promising candidate catalyst in photocatalyzation of antibiotic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Flow control with detached splitter plates is studied using direct numerical simulation. • VIV is suppressed by a rear plate but galloping is excited at high reduced velocities. • The onset of galloping is associated with the amplitude jump and frequency fall. • Galloping is eliminated by placing plates upstream and downstream simultaneously. Flow-induced vibration (FIV) of a circular cylinder with splitter plates placed upstream and downstream individually and simultaneously at a low Reynolds number of 120 is numerically investigated using the direct numerical simulation (DNS). The effects of the downstream plate length and the arrangement of plates on the hydrodynamic forces, vibration response and flow wake are examined. The numerical results reveal that a downstream plate alleviates the vortex-induced vibration (VIV) at U r ≤9 (U r is the reduced velocity) while exciting the galloping at U r >9. The reattachment of shear layers on the plate surface generates an extra lift force, contributing to the galloping. The longer the plate, the larger the onset reduced velocity of galloping, which is associated with the jump of vibration amplitude and lift fluctuation as well as the fall of frequencies of vibration and vortex shedding. With the introduction of an upstream plate, the boundary layers develop along the plate before attaching on the cylinder surface, while the vortex shedding is delayed and flow wake is narrowed as compared to the bare cylinder, contributing to the VIV suppression. The galloping excited by the rear plate is eliminated by simultaneously placing an upstream plate, and the best suppression of VIV is achieved by the bilateral plates due to the more streamlined profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) undergoes large overpotentials for achieving preferable efficiency due to its sluggish dynamics. As such, highly active electrocatalysts are often needed for its acceleration. Despite the significant progress achieved on the synthesis of transition‐metal (TM)‐based HER electrocatalysts, their activity is still far from their Pt‐based counterparts. In their Minireview article on page 3930 ff., C. He et al. describe current methods used for doping nonmetals into transition‐metal (TM)‐based nanomaterials and their performances in the HER. Doping nonmetals can efficiently tune the electronic structures of the TM and, therefore, optimize the Gibbs free energy of the TM for adsorption of H* intermediates, in turn boosting the HER of the TM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights from the article: Keywords: electronic structures engineering; heterointerfaces; metal borates; nanomeshes; water splitting In article number 1901130, Chuanxin He and co-workers propose a general, one-step strategy for crafting a series of ultrathin metal borate nanomeshes with abundant nanopores by capitalizing on 3D bark-like N-doped carbon as nanoreactors. Electronic structures engineering, heterointerfaces, metal borates, nanomeshes, water splitting.

Ultrathin nanomeshes perfectly inherit the integrated advantages of ultrathin 2D materials and porous nanostructures, which have shown their great application potential in catalysis and electronic devices. Here, the general synthesis of ultrathin metal borate (i.e., Co‐Bi, Ni‐Bi, and Fe‐Bi) nanomeshes is reported by capitalizing on 3D bark‐like N‐doped carbon (denoted BNC) as nanoreactors. Indeed, this strategy is straightforward, only comprising a one‐step reaction between metal cations and sodium borohydride without using templates. As nanoreactors, the BNC derived from biomass waste of lychee exocarp possesses distinctive advantages of low cost, fractured textures, porous nanostructures (surface area: 1915.5 m2 g−1), electronegative surface (zeta potential: −43.4 mV), and superhydrophilicity for greatly facilitating the adsorption of metal cations with strong strength to effectively control the growth of 2D nanomeshes. The as‐synthesized Co‐Bi and Ru‐doped Co‐Bi (Ru‐Co‐Bi) nanomeshes exhibit excellent performance for the oxygen evolution reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction, respectively. Impressively, the water splitting device based on the Co‐Bi and Ru‐Co‐Bi nanomeshes can enable a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at a small cell voltage of 1.53 V. Therefore, this work paves new avenues for the facile synthesis of ultrathin metal nanomeshes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In article number 1803867 by Chuanxin He and co‐workers an easy yet robust route is developed to craft N, O‐codoped graphene‐integrated boxes by employing hybrids containing polymers and Prussian blue analogue cubes as precursors. Benefiting from the hierarchically porous nanostructures and highly active N, O‐codoped graphene, the resulting electrocatalysts display excellent performance in overall water splitting and Zn–air batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the exciting achievements made in synthesis of monofunctional electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), or hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), it is challenging to develop trifunctional electrocatalysts for both ORR/OER/HER. Herein, N, O‐codoped graphene nanorings‐integrated boxes (denoted NOGB) are crafted via high‐temperature pyrolysis and following acid etching of hybrid precursors containing polymers and Prussian blue analogue cubes. The electrochemical results signified that the resulting NOGB‐800 (800 refers to pyrolysis temperature) is highly active for trifunctional electrocatalysis of ORR/OER/HER. This can be reasonably attributed to the advanced nanostructures (i.e., the hierarchically porous nanostructures on the hollow nanorings) and unique chemical compositions (i.e., N, O‐codoped graphene). More attractively, the rechargeable Zn–air battery based on NOGB‐800 displays maximum power density of 111.9 mW cm−2 with small charge–discharge potential of 0.72 V and excellent stability of 30 h, comparable with the Pt/C+Ir/C counterpart. The NOGB‐800 could also be utilized as bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting to yield current density of 10 mA cm−2 at a voltage of 1.65 V, surpassing most reported electrocatalysts. Therefore, the NOGB‐800 is a promising candidate instead of precious metal–based electrocatalysts for the efficient Zn–air battery and water splitting. An easy yet robust route, for the first time, is developed to craft N, O‐codoped graphene‐integrated boxes by employing hybrids containing polymers and Prussian blue analogue cubes as precursors. Benefiting from the hierarchically porous nanostructures and highly active N, O‐codoped graphene, the resulting electrocatalysts display excellent performance on the overall water splitting and Zn–air battery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterojunction perovskite solar cells combine the stability of 2D perovskites and the high efficiency of 3D perovskites, making them an excellent photovoltaic candidate. While heterojunctions with intermixed or gradient perovskites can reduce surface recombination, the aggregation and phase distribution of 2D perovskite induce transport losses, thereby limiting device fill factors. Accordingly, a bulk in situ reconstruction (BISR) strategy is proposed to induce the reconstruction of 3D perovskites on a minim self‐assembled 2D crystal seed, forming heterojunction perovskite that runs through the entire active layer. This facilitates charge extraction, relieves tensile stress, and avoids the decomposition of perovskite on grain boundaries. As a result, the best‐performing heterojunction perovskite solar cells show a high‐power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 24.06% with 82.9% FF for the small‐area device (0.105 cm2) and a superior PCE of 19.2% for the large‐area module (5 × 5 cm2). Importantly, the unencapsulated device shows dramatically improved operational stability, maintaining 87% of its initial efficiency after 8000 h of storage under ambient atmosphere at room temperature. This work provides an effective and simple approach to establish heterojunction perovskite to simultaneously boost the efficiency and stability of PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nuclear pleomorphism and tumor microenvironment (TME) play a critical role in cancer development and progression. Identifying most predictive nuclei and TME features of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) may provide insights into which characteristics pathologists can use to distinguish and stratify this entity. Objectives: To develop an automated workflow based on nuclei and TME features from basaloid cell tumor regions to differentiate BCC from trichoepithelioma (TE) and stratify BCC into high‐risk (HR) and low‐risk (LR) subtypes, and to identify the nuclear and TME characteristics profile of different basaloid cell tumors. Methods: The deep learning systems were trained on 161 H&E ‐stained sections which contained 51 sections of HR‐BCC, 50 sections of LR‐BCC and 60 sections of TE from one institution (D1), and externally and independently validated on D2 (46 sections) and D3 (76 sections), from 2015 to 2022. 60%, 20% and 20% of D1 data were randomly splitted for training, validation and testing, respectively. The framework comprised four stages: tumor regions identification by multi‐head self‐attention (MSA) U‐Net, nuclei segmentation by HoVer‐Net, quantitative feature by handcrafted extraction, and differentiation and risk stratification classifier construction. Pixel accuracy, precision, recall, dice score, intersection over union (IoU) and area under the curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the performance of tumor segmentation model and classifiers. Results: MSA‐U‐Net model detected tumor regions with 0.910 precision, 0.869 recall, 0.889 dice score and 0.800 IoU. The differentiation classifier achieved 0.977 ± 0.0159, 0.955 ± 0.0181, 0.885 ± 0.0237 AUC in D1, D2 and D3, respectively. The most discriminative features between BCC and TE contained Homogeneity, Elongation, T‐T_meanEdgeLength, T‐T_Nsubgraph, S‐T_HarmonicCentrality, S‐S_Degrees. The risk stratification model can well predict HR‐BCC and LR‐BCC with 0.920 ± 0.0579, 0.839 ± 0.0176, 0.825 ± 0.0153 AUC in D1, D2 and D3, respectively. The most discriminative features between HR‐BCC and LR‐BCC comprised IntensityMin, Solidity, T‐T_minEdgeLength, T‐T_Coreness, T‐T_Degrees, T‐T_Betweenness, S‐T_Degrees. Conclusions: This framework hold potential for future use as a second opinion helping inform diagnosis of BCC, and identify nuclei and TME features related with malignancy and tumor risk stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic proppants with excellent performance were successfully prepared by second grade bauxite. The phase structure and the microstructure were investigated via X‐Ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results suggested that bulk density and apparent density constantly increased, while the breakage ratio gradually decreased with the increasing in sintering temperature. When the sintering temperature reached to 1500°C, the breakage ratio obtained lowest value of 3.6% under 52 MPa closed pressure, which satisfied the requirement of Chinese Petroleum and Gas Industry standard. Furthermore, the mode of fracture for ceramic proppants was transformed from intergranular fracture into transgranular fracture and open pores had larger influence than closed pores for breakage ratio of ceramic proppants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Primary distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) is a rare genetic disease characterized by distal tubular dysfunction leading to metabolic acidosis and alkaline urine. Growth retardation is a major concern in these children. The disease is caused by defects in at least three genes (SLC4A1, ATP6V0A4, and ATP6V1B1) involved in urinary distal acidification. Several series of dRTA patients from different ethnic backgrounds have been genetically studied, but genetic studies regarding Chinese population is rare. Our aim was to investigate the clinical features and genetic basis of primary dRTA in Chinese children. Methods: Three unrelated patients with dRTA participated in our study. Next-generation sequencing was performed, and the findings were validated using the Sanger sequencing method. Results: All patients exhibited hyperchloraemic metabolic acidosis, abnormally high urine pH, hypokalemia, and nephrocalcinosis. Growth retardation was observed in all patients. During the follow-up (range 1-4 years), alkali replacement therapy corrected the systemic metabolic acidosis, and two patients demonstrated normal growth. rhGH therapy was administered to patient-3 at the age of 6 years, and his growth rate was significantly improved (growth velocity 9.6 cm/yr). In total, 5 mutations were identified in our cohort of three patients, and four mutations were novel. Conclusions: We report the clinical and molecular characteristics of dRTA patients from China. The four novel mutations detected in our study extend the spectrum of gene mutations associated with primary dRTA. Furthermore, our study confirms the effect of early treatment in improving growth for dRTA patient and provides insight into the effects of rhGH on dRTA patients who were diagnosed late and exhibiting a persistent growth delay despite appropriate therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]