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Abstract Bacterial biofilm infection is a complicated and important global problem. Non-toxic biomass-based Pickering emulsions as an essential oil delivery system are a potentially effective means in biofilm treatment. Herein, the chitosan/gelatin complex nanoparticles (CGNPs) stabilized Pickering (CGP) emulsion loaded with cinnamon essential oil (CEO) was developed to inhibit and remove bacterial biofilms. CGNPs were initially successfully prepared with a particle size of 253.7 nm. Subsequently, CGP emulsions were prepared using CGNPs as the emulsifier and CEO as the oil phase, with the aqueous phase pH value of 5.5 and ionic strength of 50 mM. Amino groups of CGNPs were crosslinked with the aldehyde group of CEO via Schiff base reaction at the oil–water interface to form a denser core–shell structure, thus improving the stability of Pickering emulsion. The CGP emulsions exhibit controlled and long-term sustained release properties in essential oil delivery, with 89.8%, 81.0%, and 62.2% CEO release within 168 h for CGP-0.1, CGP-0.2, and CGP-0.3, respectively. Moreover, CGP emulsions have stronger antioxidant activities (nearly 100%), broad-spectrum antibacterial activities (> 90%), enhanced penetration and removal capabilities against preformed biofilms than single CEO or CGNPs, as well as its better biocompatibility than conventional surfactant-stabilized emulsions. Hence, CEO-delivered CGP emulsion could serve as a potential strategy against biofilm infections and bacterial resistance. Graphical abstract

The widespread application of spray technology has significantly improved outdoor environmental thermal comfort. However, the spray system is unable to fulfill special comfort requirements. Utilizing mechanical ventilation and control systems effectively enhances the cooling performance of spray systems; however, those approaches are associated with elevated costs and maintenance complexities. The combination of ethanol and water has been demonstrated to produce a lower surface tension and a higher latent heat of evaporation, a property that contributes to the heat transfer efficiency and evaporation rate of the droplets. Considering the convenience and cost-effectiveness of adding ethanol as an additive, it emerges as the optimal choice. To evaluate the effectiveness of ethanol on the evaporative cooling performance of the spray system, a comparative study was conducted, comparing the cooling performances of different concentrations of ethanol with a spray system without ethanol addition. Five operating conditions were designed, including a no-spray case, a non-additive case, a 0.5 % ethanol concentration case, a 1.0 % ethanol concentration case, and a 1.5 % ethanol concentration case. The results demonstrated that adding ethanol effectively enhanced the cooling performance of the spray system. At 1.7m above ground level (0.4m away from the nozzle), compared to the non-additive case without ethanol, the 0.5 % ethanol concentration case, 1.0 % ethanol concentration case, and 1.5 % ethanol concentration case further reduced the temperature by 0.95 °C, 1.64 °C, and 2.27 °C. Moreover, the relative humidity grew by 3.57 %, 9.25 %, and 13.5 %, respectively. Adding ethanol significantly enhanced the evaporative cooling effect of the spray system, with the optimal concentration observed at 1.5 %. The results demonstrate that enhancing the evaporative cooling efficacy of a spray system by introducing ethanol into the spray medium represents a viable strategy and improve urban thermal environment in summer. Furthermore, this study aims to examine the impact of droplet evaporation on relative humidity, establishing a foundation for future enhancements aimed at addressing the issue of over-humidification in spray systems.

Abstract. Background:. Bladder cancer, characterized by a high potential of tumor recurrence, has high lifelong monitoring and treatment costs. To date, tumor cells with intrinsic softness have been identified to function as cancer stem cells in several cancer types. Nonetheless, the existence of soft tumor cells in bladder tumors remains elusive. Thus, our study aimed to develop a micro-barrier microfluidic chip to efficiently isolate deformable tumor cells from distinct types of bladder cancer cells. Methods:. The stiffness of bladder cancer cells was determined by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The modified microfluidic chip was utilized to separate soft cells, and the 3D Matrigel culture system was to maintain the softness of tumor cells. Expression patterns of integrin β8 (ITGB8), protein kinase B (AKT), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) were determined by Western blotting. Double immunostaining was conducted to examine the interaction between F-actin and tripartite motif containing 59 (TRIM59). The stem-cell-like characteristics of soft cells were explored by colony formation assay and in vivo studies upon xenografted tumor models. Results:. Using our newly designed microfluidic approach, we identified a small fraction of soft tumor cells in bladder cancer cells. More importantly, the existence of soft tumor cells was confirmed in clinical human bladder cancer specimens, in which the number of soft tumor cells was associated with tumor relapse. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the biomechanical stimuli arising from 3D Matrigel activated the F-actin/ITGB8/TRIM59/AKT/mTOR/glycolysis pathways to enhance the softness and tumorigenic capacity of tumor cells. Simultaneously, we detected a remarkable up-regulation in ITGB8, TRIM59, and phospho-AKT in clinical bladder recurrent tumors compared with their non-recurrent counterparts. Conclusions:. The ITGB8/TRIM59/AKT/mTOR/glycolysis axis plays a crucial role in modulating tumor softness and stemness. Meanwhile, the soft tumor cells become more sensitive to chemotherapy after stiffening, that offers new insights for hampering tumor progression and recurrence.

Widespread adoption of air-conditioning significantly enhances indoor thermal comfort in summer, but the heat dissipation from these outdoor units contributes to an increase in ambient air temperature, exacerbating urban heat island effects. Consequently, as outdoor thermal conditions worsen, the energy consumption associated with air-conditioning is likely to escalate. The spray system becomes a suitable choice due to the obvious advantage of heat absorption through the droplet evaporation. To assess the effectiveness of the spray system in reducing heat release, a comparative study was conducted between two identical buildings with the same air-conditioning system, but only one of which incorporated the spray system. Three installed locations are considered with the spray location in inlet (Case 1), outlet (Case 2) and both inlet & outlet (Case 3) of outdoor units. The results demonstrated the average temperatures of air outlet were reduced by 4.0 °C, 6.3 °C, and 7.9 °C for Cases 1–3, respectively, accompanied by a reduction in energy consumption of the air-conditioning system by 18.8%, 13.9%, and 37.3% respectively. The most significant benefits were observed when the spray location was installed in both outdoor unit inlet and outlet (Case 3). The spray system established a virtuous cycle in heat dissipation improvement, evaporation enhancement, and air temperature reduction.

Abstract The extracellular matrix (ECM) serves as signals that regulate specific cell states in tumor tissues. Increasing evidence suggests that extracellular biomechanical force signals are critical in tumor progression. In this study, we aimed to explore the influence of ECM-derived biomechanical force on breast cancer cell status. Experiments were conducted using 3D collagen, fibrinogen, and Matrigel matrices to investigate the role of mechanical force in tumor development. Integrin-cytoskeleton-AIRE and DDR-STAT signals were examined using RNA sequencing and western blotting. Data from 1358 patients and 86 clinical specimens were used for ECM signature-prognosis analysis. Our findings revealed that ECM-derived mechanical force regulated tumor stemness and cell quiescence in breast cancer cells. A mechanical force of ~45 Pa derived from the extracellular substrate activated integrin β1/3 receptors, stimulating stem cell signaling pathways through the cytoskeleton/AIRE axis and promoting tumorigenic potential and stem-like phenotypes. However, excessive mechanical force (450 Pa) could drive stem-like cancer cells into a quiescent state, with the removal of mechanical forces leading to vigorous proliferation in quiescent cancer stem cells. Mechanical force facilitated cell cycle arrest to induce quiescence, dependent on DDR2/STAT1/P27 signaling. Therefore, ECM-derived mechanical force governs breast cancer cell status and proliferative characteristics through stiffness alterations. We further established an ECM signature based on the fibrinogen/fibronectin/vitronectin/elastin axis, which efficiently predicts patient prognosis in breast cancer. Our findings highlight the vital role of ECM-derived mechanical force in governing breast cancer cell stemness/quiescence transition and suggest the novel use of ECM signature in predicting the clinical prognosis of breast cancer.

Coloration is a crucial trait that allows species to adapt and survive in different environments. Wild boars exhibit alternating black (dark) and yellow (light) longitudinal stripes on their back during their infancy (juvenile stripes), and as adults, they transform into uniform wild-type coat color. Aiming to record the procedure of juvenile stripes disappearing, piglets (WD) with juvenile stripes were produced by crossing a wild boar with Duroc sows, and photos of their coat color were taken from 20 d to 220 d. The pigments in the hairs from the black and yellow stripes were determined. Furthermore, the differentially expressed genes between the black and yellow stripes were investigated in 5 WD with the age of 30 d using whole-transcriptome sequencing to explore the genetic mechanism of the juvenile stripes. The juvenile stripes started to disappear at about 70 d, and stripes were not distinguished with the naked eye at about 160 d; that is, the juvenile stripe completely disappeared. A hotspot of a differentially expressing (DE) region was found on chromosome 13, containing/covering 2 of 13 DE genes and 8 of 10 DE lncRNAs in this region. A network among ZIC4, ssc-miR-532-3p, and ENSSSCG00000056225 might regulate the formation of juvenile stripes. Altogether, this study provides new insights into spatiotemporal coat color pattern.

Pedestrians will experience different heat stress stages from sunlight to semi-open spray space as they shuttle through stations with spray systems. There are few studies on the influence of thermal experience and thermal history of this specific environment on pedestrian thermal comfort. This study explored the dynamic physiological thermal response and thermal perception of humans in the sunlight to semi-open spray space in Qingdao, China. Meteorological and physiological parameters were measured and questionnaires were conducted. The results showed that from outdoor sunlight to semi-open spray space, thermal sensation and thermal comfort were improved, the mean skin temperature of the whole body decreased by 0.5 °C, the neutral standard effective temperature (NSET*) enhanced by 8.8 °C, and the NSET* range (NSET*R) increased by 7.3–10.2 °C. However, after 10 min in the semi-open spray space, the thermal comfort gradually deteriorated. In addition, the main meteorological factors affecting the thermal sensation in sunlight and semi-open spray space were air temperature and mean radiant temperature, and the main physiological factor was the skin temperature of the right upper arm. This study is helpful for the operation design of spray systems and the evaluation of the thermal environment in semi-open spray in cities.

With rapid global development, outward foreign direct investment (FDI) has become a controversial issue, mainly focused on whether it is helpful to domestic green innovation, especially in developing countries. How does outward FDI reverse spillover technology to China, and does China’s innate endowment restrict it? The relevant mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the heterogeneous effect of absorptive capacity on the impact path of reverse technology spillovers of outward FDI on green innovation in China. A fixed-effects panel model and stepwise regression analyze the direct relationship between outward FDI and green innovation and the mediating relationship of absorptive capacity. Threshold analysis reveals the mutation point of the mediating effect of absorptive capacity among China’s 31 provinces. Domestic green innovation is directly stimulated by more significant reverse technology spillovers of outward FDI. Absorptive capacity has an indirect impact as an intervening variable. The mediating effect will only make sense on one side of the threshold because the transformation effectiveness of green innovation is improved only by greater absorptive capacity, including adequate green financial support, more outstanding human capital, and a smaller technology gap. Moreover, it revealed significant regional heterogeneity in China. First published online 01 December 2022

Resource-based cities in China face the dual pressure of environmental pollution and unemployment. Therefore, it is necessary to measure the effect of environmental regulation on employment. In this study, we first analyzed the theoretical mechanism of employment effects of environmental regulation. Second, we constructed a nonlinear panel threshold regression model with industrial structure rationalization and optimization as the threshold variables and used data from 115 resource-based prefecture-level cities to empirically examine the impact of environmental regulation on employment. The results demonstrate that 1) There is a significant threshold effect between environmental regulation and employment in resource-based cities, with the rationalization and optimization of the industrial structure gradually crossing the threshold from a low threshold to a high threshold, and the impact of environmental regulation on employment has gradually changed from an inhibitory effect to a promotion effect; 2) This conclusion still holds after the robustness test and the division of life cycles of different types of resource-based cities; 3) The coal resource cities as a representative of this kind of resource-based cities with serious environmental pollution, strengthening environmental regulation, have an obvious role in promoting employment. This study enriches the research content of environmental regulation on employment and provides useful references for rational improvement of unemployment in China.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) technology spillovers play an increasingly important role in a host country’s development. Evaluating the positive effect of FDI inflows on green innovation is essential for correct city design. Based on the panel data of 262 cities in China from 2004 to 2018, we first analyzed the impact of FDI technology spillovers on green innovation in Chinese cities and then tested the threshold effect in four absorptive capacity factors: environmental regulation, economic growth, human capital, and industry size. Finally, we compared the time and space of two types of cities crossing the threshold from the perspective of innovative and non-innovative cities. The results show that FDI can significantly promote green innovation in Chinese cities and the promoting effect of FDI on green innovation has nonlinear characteristics, namely, such effects only make sense when absorptive capacity is above the threshold points. Additionally, among the four absorptive capacity factors, the development degrees of innovative cities are ahead of non-innovative cities; in particular, there is a significant difference between them in terms of economic growth. Local governments should develop reasonable policy combination tools according to the absorptive capacity characteristics of different cities to effectively promote the technology spillover effect of FDI and achieve coordinated ecological and economic development.

This dataset provides detail information on the analytical methods of organophosphate esters (OPEs) in sludge samples, including the sample preparation, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (UPLC-MS/MS) analysis, quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC). The concentration of target OPE compounds in collected samples of four individual treatment was provided, including aerobic composting combined with pig manure (T1), aerobic composting without pig manure (T2), anaerobic digestion combined with pig manure (T3), and anaerobic digestion without pig manure (T4). To investigate the variation of bacterial community compositions, principal components analysis (PCA) was provided based on the high-throughput sequencing. These data would be useful for clarifying the removal of OPEs under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Besides, it also provides important information on the potential bacterial strains responsible for the biodegradation of OPEs in each treatment.

This article considers the turning characteristics of robotic fish with two-degree-of-freedom pectoral fins and flexible body/caudal fin. The hydrodynamics are first established for three cases propelled by both sides of pectoral fins, flexible body/caudal fin, and composite of them. Then, the turning characteristics of such three cases are analyzed by numerical simulations and experiments. The results show that if robotic fish is cooperatively propelled by pectoral fins and flexible body, it can obtain the fast turning speed and the average turning speed is up to 0.6 rad s −1 . The smallest turning speed is achieved as robotic fish is only propelled by pectoral fins; however, it can turn on the spot in this case. The presented results provide the more abundant ways of turning, the better maneuverability, and the higher turning speed for the proposed robotic fish.

Due to pronounced species differences, hepatotoxicity of new drugs often cannot be detected in animal studies. Alternatively, human hepatocytes could be used, but there are some limitations. The cells are not always available on demand or in sufficient amounts, so far there has been only limited success to allow the transport of freshly isolated hepatocytes without massive loss of function or their cultivation for a long time. Since it is well accepted that the cultivation of hepatocytes in 3D is related to an improved function, we here tested the Optimaix-3D Scaffold from Matricel for the transport and cultivation of hepatocytes. After characterization of the scaffold, we shipped cells on the scaffold and/or cultivated them over 10 days. With the evaluation of hepatocyte functions such as urea production, albumin synthesis, and CYP activity, we showed that the metabolic activity of the cells on the scaffold remained nearly constant over the culture time whereas a significant decrease in metabolic activity occurred in 2D cultures. In addition, we demonstrated that significantly fewer cells were lost during transport. In summary, the collagen-based scaffold allows the transport and cultivation of hepatocytes without loss of function over 10 days.