Search

The influence of microstructure on the response of energetic structural materials (ESMs) under shock conditions remains inadequately quantified, and the energy release process is not thoroughly understood. In this work, taking the classical Ni/Al ESM as an example, the shock response was investigated by the shock compression theory with the microstructure-based chemical reaction kinetics model. This theory mainly refers to the equation of the state of multi-component materials with mixture rule, and the reaction at the particle contact interface is built to form the multiscale thermodynamics model. The physical states of material after shock, including relative volume, temperature, and extent of reaction, were analyzed. The results revealed the effect of the burn velocity, particle size and molar ratio on the shock response. Furthermore, the model facilitates a comprehensive understanding of energy release, the extent of the intermetallic reaction, and the oxidation reaction. Despite the involvement of only a small portion of materials in the oxidation reaction, the energy release proportion was comparable to that of the intermetallic reaction. Additionally, insights into the effect of the microstructure on the energy release revealed by the model matched the tests well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heimdallarchaeia is a class of the Asgardarchaeota, are the most probable candidates for the archaeal protoeukaryote ancestor that have been identified to date. However, little is known about their life habits regardless of their ubiquitous distribution in diverse habitats, which is especially true for Heimdallarchaeia from deep-sea environments. In this study, we obtained 13 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of Heimdallarchaeia from the deep-sea cold seep and hydrothermal vent. These MAGs belonged to orders o_Heimdallarchaeales and o_JABLTI01, and most of them (9 MAGs) come from the family f_Heimdallarchaeaceae according to genome taxonomy database (GTDB). These are enriched for common eukaryote-specific signatures. Our results show that these Heimdallarchaeia have the metabolic potential to reduce sulfate (assimilatory) and nitrate (dissimilatory) to sulfide and ammonia, respectively, suggesting a previously unappreciated role in biogeochemical cycling. Furthermore, we find that they could perform both TCA and rTCA pathways coupled with pyruvate metabolism for energy conservation, fix CO2 and generate organic compounds through an atypical Wood-Ljungdahl pathway. In addition, many genes closely associated with bacteriochlorophyll and carotenoid biosynthesis, and oxygen-dependent metabolic pathways are identified in these Heimdallarchaeia MAGs, suggesting a potential light-utilization by pigments and microoxic lifestyle. Taken together, our results indicate that Heimdallarchaeia possess a mixotrophic lifestyle, which may give them more flexibility to adapt to the harsh deep-sea conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION In our previous study, we successfully identified five peptides from wheat gluten: Ala‐Pro‐Ser‐Tyr (APSY), Leu‐Tyr (LY), Pro‐Tyr (PY), Arg‐Gly‐Gly‐Tyr (RGGY) and Tyr‐Gln (YQ). Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation methods were employed to investigate the interaction between these antioxidant peptides and the Kelch‐like ECH‐associated protein 1 (Keap1 protein), revealing the molecular mechanism of their non‐competitive binding. In addition, the total antioxidant capacity of the five peptides was determined using the 2,2′‐azinobis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) method.The affinities of APSY, LY, PY, RGGY and YQ were −8.9, −8.3, −8.5, −9.1 and − 7.9 kcal mol−1, respectively. The five peptides effectively bound to Keap1 protein through hydrogen, π‐σ, π‐alkyl and alkyl interactions. Significant roles were observed for the P1 pocket residue ARG‐415 and the P3 pocket residue ALA‐556 in the interactions of the Keap1–peptide complexes. Molecular dynamics simulations further elucidated the dynamic process of peptide binding to the Keap1 protein. All five peptides formed stable complexes with Keap1 protein, with van der Waals forces playing crucial roles in these complex systems, indicative of the peptides' strong binding ability to Keap1 protein. The van der Waals forces were −178.74, −123.11, −134.36, −132.59, and −121.44 kJ mol−1 for the Keap1–APSY, Keap1–LY, Keap1–PY, Keap1–RGGY and Keap1–YQ complexes, respectively. These peptides exhibited excellent antioxidant effects. Among them, the YQ peptide exhibited the highest total antioxidant capacity, with an activity value of 1.18 ± 0.06 mmol Trolox equivalent (TE) L−1 at a concentration of 0.10 mg mL−1. The RGGY, PY, LY and APSY peptides followed in descending order, with activity values of 0.91 ± 0.05, 0.72 ± 0.06, 0.62 ± 0.04 and 0.60 ± 0.05 mmol TE L−1, respectively.These results unveiled the molecular mechanism by which the five antioxidant peptides act on active pockets through the Keap1–Nrf2 signaling pathway, providing a theoretical basis for the development of antioxidants. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saline soils limit plant growth due to high salinity. Straw returning has proven effective in enhancing soil adaptability and agricultural stability on saline lands. This study evaluates the effects of different straw-returning methods—straw mulching (SM), straw incorporation (SI), and straw biochar (BC)—on soil nutrients, water dynamics, and salinity in a barley–cotton rotation system using field box experiments. SM improved soil water retention during barley's jointing and heading stages, while SI was more effective in its filling and maturation stages. BC showed lesser water storage capacity. During cotton's growth, SI enhanced early-stage water retention, and SM benefited the flowering and boll opening stages. Grey relational analysis pinpointed significant water relationships at 10 cm and 20 cm soil depths, with SM regulating water across layers. SM and BC notably reduced soil conductivity, primarily within the top 20 cm, and their effectiveness decreased with depth. SI significantly lowered soil conductivity at barley's jointing stage. SM effectively reduced salinity at 10 cm and 20 cm soil depths, whereas BC decreased soil conductivity throughout barley's jointing, filling, and heading stages. For cotton, SI lowered soil conductivity at the seedling and boll opening stages. SM consistently reduced salinity across all stages, and BC decreased conductivity in the top 30 cm of soil during all growth stages. Both SM and BC significantly enhanced the total nutrient availability for barley and cotton, especially improving soil organic carbon and available potassium, with BC showing notable improvements. At barley's heading stage, SI maximized dry matter accumulation, while SM boosted accumulation in leaves, stems, and spikes during the filling and maturation stages. Straw returning increased barley yield, particularly with SM and BC, and improved water use efficiency by 11.60% and 5.74%, respectively. For cotton, straw returning significantly boosted yield and water use efficiency, especially with SI and SM treatments, enhancing the total bolls and yield. In conclusion, straw returning effectively improves saline soils, enhances fertility, boosts crop yields, and supports sustainable agriculture. These results provide a robust scientific foundation for adopting efficient soil improvement strategies on saline lands, with significant theoretical and practical implications for increasing agricultural productivity and crop resilience to salt stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The behavior of iron (Fe) in clayey acquitards has a significant effect on the groundwater environment. However, the release processes and impact of Fe within clayey sediments during compaction remain unknown. Two groups of simulation experiments were carried out to demonstrate the migration and transformation mechanisms of Fe during clayey sediment compaction. Experiment A, which simulated a natural deposition condition, revealed that pressurization changed the reaction environment from oxidative to reductive by isolating oxygen. Oxidation of ferrous ions was followed by reduction dissolution of poorly crystalline Fe (III) and crystalline Fe (III) oxides. Under the microbial utilization of organic matter, the main transformation process of sediment Fe was the dissimilatory reduction of poorly crystalline Fe (III) oxides. The total Fe concentration in pore water was 0.09–11.61 mg/L, with ferrous ions predominating among the Fe species. The lower moisture content (< ~36%) in the later stage of compaction inhibited the dissimilatory reduction of Fe (III), and the formation of Fe (II) minerals resulted in a decrease in Fe concentration. Experiment B, which simulated an artificial compaction state, revealed that the sediment Fe was primarily released by physical dissolution because of changes in pore structure and solubility. The concentration of total Fe in pore water was 0.02–1.96 mg/L, with a significant increase in response to a rapid increase in pressure. According to the estimates in the Chen Lake wetland (eastern China), the contribution of clay pore water release accounted for 19.9–31.9% of the average Fe concentration in groundwater during natural deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: After hypovolemic shock caused by severe burns, lipid peroxidation is an important factor in tissue edema and multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Many studies have shown that valproic acid (VPA) inhibits lipid peroxidation and reduces tissue and organ injury. Objectives: This study investigated whether the VPA treatment of scalded rats reduced tissue edema by inhibiting lipid peroxidation, thereby improving organ function and survival rate. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 male Sprague-Dawley rats (weighing: 280–300 g) with a 50% total body surface area (TBSA) full-thickness dermal burn were randomly assigned to the following 3 groups (with 20 rats per group): (I) the no infusion resuscitation (NR) group; (II) the sodium lactate Ringer's solution (LR) group; and (III) the sodium valproate Ringer's solution (VR) group. After scalding, the following hemodynamic parameters were measured: Copper2+-Zinc2+-superoxide dismutase (Cu2+-Zn2+-SOD) activity, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), reduced glutathione (GSH), and antioxidant enzyme activities. Organ function parameters and water content were also measured. Another 60 male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to observe the 24-h survival rate of the rats using the same scald model and fluid resuscitation. Results: VPA significantly increased the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and cardiac output (CO), and significantly decreased the pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI) and extravascular lung water index (ELWI). VPA also increased plasma Cu2+-Zn2+-SOD activity and decreased the plasma TBARS level. VPA reduced the TBARS level and GSSG in various tissues and increased the concentration of GSH. VPA decreased glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) activity, but significantly increased glutathione reductase (GR) activity in various tissues. VPA significantly improved organ functions and decreased water content. VPA significantly improved the survival rate, and the 24-h survival rate of the VR group was double that of the LR group. Conclusion: Resuscitation with VPA reduced tissue edema, protected visceral functions, and improved the survival rate of rats with severe burn shock (BS) by alleviating lipid peroxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the impact of four exercise modes (aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, aerobic combined with resistance multimodal exercise, and stretching) on the physical performance of cancer patients. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were exclusively collected from PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library, with a search deadline of April 30, 2023. Different exercise interventions on the physical performance of cancer patients were studied, and the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool was employed to evaluate the quality of the included literature. Data analysis was conducted using STATA 15.1 software. Results: This study included ten randomized controlled trials with a combined sample size of 503 participants. Network meta-analysis results revealed that aerobic combined with resistance multimodal exercise could reduce fat mass in cancer patients (SUCRA: 92.3%). Resistance exercise could improve lean mass in cancer patients (SUCRA: 95.7%). Furthermore, resistance exercise could enhance leg extension functionality in cancer patients with sarcopenia (SUCRA: 83.0%). Conclusion: This study suggests that resistance exercise may be more beneficial for cancer-related sarcopenia.In clinical practice, exercise interventions should be tailored to the individual patients' circumstances. Registration number: This review was registered on INPLASY2023110025; DOI number is https://doi.org/10.37766/inplasy2023.11.0025 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exponential increase in global plastic usage has led to the emergence of nano- and microplastic (NMP) pollution as a pressing environmental issue due to its implications for human and other mammalian health. We have developed methodologies to extract solid materials from human tissue samples by saponification and ultracentrifugation, allowing for highly specific and quantitative analysis of plastics by pyrolysis-gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS). As a benchmark, placenta tissue samples were analyzed using fluorescence microscopy and automated particle count, which demonstrated the presence of >1-micron particles and fibers, but not nano-sized plastic particles. Analyses of the samples (n  = 10) using attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated presence of rayon, polystyrene, polyethylene, and unclassified plastic particles. By contrast, among 62 placenta samples, Py-GC-MS revealed that microplastics were present in all participants' placentae, with concentrations ranging widely from 6.5 to 685 µg NMPs per gram of placental tissue, averaging 126.8 ± 147.5 µg/g (mean±SD). Polyethylene was the most prevalent polymer, accounting for 54% of total NMPs and consistently found in nearly all samples (mean 68.8 ± 93.2 µg/g placenta). Polyvinyl chloride and nylon each represented approximately 10% of the NMPs by weight, with the remaining 26% of the composition represented by 9 other polymers. Together, these data demonstrate advancements in the unbiased quantitative resolution of Py-GC-MS applied to the identification and quantification of NMP species at the maternal-fetal interface. This method, paired with clinical metadata, will be pivotal to evaluating potential impacts of NMPs on adverse pregnancy outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transistor random threshold voltage variations due to process fluctuations seriously affects the stability of Static Random Access Memory (SRAM). In this paper, a SRAM bit transistors threshold voltage $({Vth})$ deviation monitoring scheme and system is proposed. This scheme ingeniously achieves on-chip measurement of all transistors threshold voltages without altering compact SRAM bit array layout. Control signal strategies and Transistor ${Vth}$ Determination Circuit (TVDC) for different types of Devices Under Test (DUTs) have been proposed. The system is implemented using a 65 nm CMOS process with a core area of 0.01875mm2. Through Monte Carlo analysis, the Weighted Average (WA) difference of the proposed scheme and the direct measurement method is not more than 10mV, and the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) difference is not more than 3mV. This system can also effectively detect the cell position of the transistor threshold voltage mismatch simulated by modifying the substrate voltage. For SRAM arrays of different scales, the method proposed in this paper has area efficiency and flexible reconfigurability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defects and oxygen vacancies always play an important role in the properties of ferroelectric films. Here, we prepared (1 − x)BiFeO3–xSrCoO2.5 films by the sol–gel method, and introduced SrCoO2.5 into BiFeO3 to form an unequal solid solution, thereby generating defective dipoles in the film to regulate the ferroelectric photovoltaic effect. It is shown that the appearance of defective dipoles intensifies the asymmetry of positive and negative charges in the lattice and improves the ferroelectric properties of the films, with remanent polarization of 69.2 μC/cm2 in the 0.98BiFeO3–0.02SrCoO2.5 film. Moreover, the addition of SrCoO2.5 also weakens the orbital hybridization of B–O bonds, reducing the bandgap of the film to 2.42 eV. The open circuit voltage of 10 mV and short circuit current of 0.52 μA/cm2 are obtained in the 0.98BiFeO3–0.02SrCoO2.5 film. This work provides a new strategy for regulating the ferroelectric photovoltaic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Goose, descendants of migratory ancestors, have undergone extensive selective breeding, resulting in their remarkable ability to accumulate fat in the liver and exhibit a high tolerance for significant energy intake. As a result, goose offers an excellent model for studying obesity, metabolic disorders, and liver diseases in mammals. Although the impact of the three-dimensional arrangement of chromatin within the cell nucleus on gene expression and transcriptional regulation is widely acknowledged, the precise functions of chromatin architecture reorganization during fat deposition in goose liver tissues still need to be fully comprehended. Results: In this study, geese exhibited more pronounced changes in the liver index and triglyceride (TG) content following the consumption of the high-fat diet (HFD) than mice without significant signs of inflammation. Additionally, we performed comprehensive analyses on 10 goose liver tissues (5 HFD, 5 normal), including generating high-resolution maps of chromatin architecture, conducting whole-genome gene expression profiling, and identifying H3K27ac peaks in the livers of geese and mice subjected to the HFD. Our results unveiled a multiscale restructuring of chromatin architecture, encompassing Compartment A/B, topologically associated domains, and interactions between promoters and enhancers. The dynamism of the three-dimensional genome architecture, prompted by the HFD, assumed a pivotal role in the transcriptional regulation of crucial genes. Furthermore, we identified genes that regulate chromatin conformation changes, contributing to the metabolic adaptation process of lipid deposition and hepatic fat changes in geese in response to excessive energy intake. Moreover, we conducted a cross-species analysis comparing geese and mice exposed to the HFD, revealing unique characteristics specific to the goose liver compared to a mouse. These chromatin conformation changes help elucidate the observed characteristics of fat deposition and hepatic fat regulation in geese under conditions of excessive energy intake. Conclusions: We examined the dynamic modifications in three-dimensional chromatin architecture and gene expression induced by an HFD in goose liver tissues. We conducted a cross-species analysis comparing that of mice. Our results contribute significant insights into the chromatin architecture of goose liver tissues, offering a novel perspective for investigating mammal liver diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Chimeric antigen receptor T‐cell (CAR‐T) therapy targeting B‐cell maturation antigen (BCMA) has shown profound efficacy and manageable toxicity in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). However, determining the best course of treatment for post‐CAR‐T therapy relapse remains a significant challenge. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients from the phase I LEGEND‐2 study (NCT03090659) enrolled at the Xi'an site, analysing the first salvage line of therapy and outcomes in patients with RRMM who progressed after receiving LCAR‐B38M CAR‐T therapy. Of 45 eligible patients, 34 (76%) had progressive disease (PD). Overall response rate (ORR) to salvage treatment was 50.0%. Median progression‐free survival (PFS) after starting salvage treatment was 16.3 months. Median PFS of patients receiving proteasome inhibitor (PI)‐based combination therapy was longer (28.2 months) than that of patients receiving a second BCMA CAR‐T (including LCAR‐B38M; 3.9 months, p = 0.0022) or chemotherapy (1.67 months, p = 0.0001). All patients with extramedullary disease at baseline (n = 11) progressed after CAR‐T therapy; ORR to salvage therapy was 25.0% and median PFS was 9.7 months. In conclusion, salvage therapy in patients with PD after receiving LCAR‐B38M CAR‐T cells produced moderate efficacy, with better outcomes for PI‐based salvage regimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imaging through scattering media is widely studied in various applications including industrial inspection and autonomous driving. Most existing image sensors always suffer from the aliasing effect that generates a diffused image, leading to an extremely challenging problem in recovering targets of high quality, especially for 3D imaging. In this study, a scanning‐driven photon‐counting 3D imaging system through scattering media is proposed via asynchronous polarization modulation. To eliminate the aliasing effect, we utilize a point‐to‐point scanning strategy is used to illuminate the target and a photon‐counting detector to perceive weak echo signals passing through scattering media. Then, an asynchronous polarization‐modulated ranging method is proposed innovatively based on the Gamma pulse model to calculate the relative depth of the target for 3D imaging with the consideration of scattering media's difference. Therefore, the accuracy of the calculated depth and the generalization capability of the proposed method in real applications can be significantly improved. In addition, a time reshaping method is proposed to cope with the depth ambiguity caused by asynchronous measurements. In the experiment, a variety of strong scattering media is used to verify the excellent imaging capability of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum (Al)-based reactive materials have recently attracted much attention due to their excellent chemical energy release characteristics. However, there still exists a great challenge to improve the mechanical properties and energy density of Al-based reactive materials. In this work, we reported that core–shell nano-aluminum@fluororubber (nAl@F2311) composites with good mechanical properties and high energy release characteristics were designed and fabricated by the electrical exploding wires method. The results showed that Al nanospheres were coated by F2311 uniformly to form the nAl@F2311 core–shell microstructure with high Al contents. Quasi-static/Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar dynamic compression test results showed axial splitting failure mode of nAl@F2311 composites. nAl@F2311-10 composites with 90 wt. % Al contents had higher compressive strength, with quasi-static and dynamic compressive strength of 117.6 and 304.6 MPa, respectively. nAl@F2311-15 composites with 85 wt. % Al contents had a lower ignition threshold. Furthermore, the impact-induced energy release test showed higher fluorine contents will accelerate energy release, reduce impact ignition threshold, and improve the reaction efficiency of nAl@F2311 composites. The high reaction efficiency (97.79%) of the nAl@F2311-15 composites was obtained at an impact velocity of 1090 m/s. This offered a concept-of-proof work to design and fabrication of nanostructured reaction materials, which had high strength and energy release performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common joint disease, is linked with chondrocyte apoptosis and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. Charged multivesicular body protein 5 (CHMP5), a member of the multivesicular body, has been reported to serve as an anti-apoptotic protein to participate in leukemia development. However, the effects of CHMP5 on apoptosis and ECM degradation in OA remain unclear. Methods: In this study, quantitative proteomics was performed to analyze differential proteins between normal and OA patient articular cartilages. The OA mouse model was constructed by the destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM). In vitro, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) was used to induce OA in human chondrocytes. CHMP5 overexpression and silencing vectors were created using an adenovirus system. The effects of CHMP5 on IL-1β-induced chondrocyte apoptosis were investigated by CCK-8, flow cytometry, and western blot. The effects on ECM degradation were examined by western blot and immunofluorescence. The potential mechanism was explored by western blot and Co-IP assays. Results: Downregulated CHMP5 was identified by proteomics in OA patient cartilages, which was verified in human and mouse articular cartilages. CHMP5 overexpression repressed cell apoptosis and ECM degradation in OA chondrocytes. However, silencing CHMP5 exacerbated OA chondrocyte apoptosis and ECM degradation. Furthermore, we found that the protective effect of CHMP5 against OA was involved in nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that CHMP5 repressed IL-1β-induced chondrocyte apoptosis and ECM degradation and blocked NF-κB activation. It was shown that CHMP5 might be a novel potential therapeutic target for OA in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary Key Scientists Organic fluorine compounds are ubiquitous and pivotally important organic molecules, yet their activation and transformation have long been a formidable challenge due to the high energy and low reactivity of C—F bonds. Organic electrosynthesis, an environmentally benign synthetic method in organic chemistry, enables a myriad of chemical transformations without the need for external redox reagents. In recent years, organic electrochemistry has emerged as a powerful tool for achieving the activation and transformation of C—F bonds in fluorine‐containing compounds. This review aims to succinctly recapitulate the latest advancements in the electrochemical defluorinative transformations of C—F bonds and to delve into the reaction design, mechanistic insights, and developmental prospects of these methods.In 1959, Lund was the first to pioneer the electroreduction of CF3 to CH3 group. Electrochemistry has lately provided new opportunities for efficient conversion of organic fluorides. In 2020, Zhou and coworkers discovered the electrochemical defluorinative carboxylation of α‐CF3 alkenes. Lambert and colleagues reported electrophotocatalytic defluorinative amination of aryl fluorides. Electrochemical hydrodefluorination of trifluoromethylketones was developed by Lennox and coworkers in 2021. In the same year, Wang and Guo disclosed electrochemical radical defluorinative alkylation of α‐CF3 alkenes with Katritzky salts as the alkyl radical precursors. Subsequently, Wu and Liao described a transition‐metal‐free, site‐selective C—F arylation of polyfluoroarenes with (het)arenes using paired electrophotocatalysis. In 2023, numerous efforts were made to achieve electrochemical C—F bond activation. Xia and Guo developed an organoboron‐controlled method for the chemoselective electrochemical sequential (deutero)hydrodefluorination of trifluoroacetamides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plexiform lesions are a hallmark of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in humans and are proposed to stem from dysfunctional angioblasts. Broiler chickens (Gallus gallus) are highly susceptible to PAH, with plexiform-like lesions observed in newly hatched individuals. Here, we reported the emergence of plexiform-like lesions in the embryonic lungs of broiler chickens. Lung samples were collected from broiler chickens at embryonic day 20 (E20), hatch, and one-day-old, with PAH-resistant layer chickens as controls. Plexiform lesions consisting of CD133+/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor type-2 (VEGFR-2)+ angioblasts were exclusively observed in broiler embryos and sporadically in layer embryos. Distinct gene profiles of angiogenic factors were observed between the two strains, with impaired VEGF-A/VEGFR-2 signaling correlating with lesion development and reduced arteriogenesis. Pharmaceutical inhibition of VEGFR-2 resulted in enhanced lesion development in layer embryos. Moreover, broiler embryonic lungs displayed increased activation of HIF-1α and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), indicating a hypoxic state. Remarkably, we found a negative correlation between lung Nrf2 activation and VEGF-A and VEGFR-2 expression. In vitro studies indicated that Nrf2 overactivation restricted VEGF signaling in endothelial progenitor cells. The findings from broiler embryos suggest an association between plexiform lesion development and impaired VEGF system due to aberrant activation of Nrf2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rwanda has aimed to rebuild its health care system since the Rwandan genocide against the Tutsis in 1994, though one of the challenges has been a scarcity of radiologic resources. Objective: To assess the location and accessibility of radiologic facilities in Rwanda using geospatial mapping and population-based data. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2023 using location and radiologic modality data provided by the Department of Radiology at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali and the WorldPop database, a publicly available database providing open-access geospatial population data. Radiologic equipment included magnetic resonance (MR), computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), radiotherapy, X-ray, mammography, and fluoroscopy machines. Geospatial analysis was performed using ArcGIS Pro 2.8.6 software. Results: Fifty-six radiologic facilities were identified, including 5 MR, 7 CT, 1 radiotherapy, 52 X-ray, 5 mammography, 5 fluoroscopy, and 0 PET machines. There were 0.4 MR, 0.5 CT, 0 PET, 0.1 radiotherapy, 3.9 X-ray, 0.4 mammography, and 0.4 fluoroscopy units per 1 million people. Conclusion: Rwanda is one of the countries with the lowest radiologic access in East Africa; however, there is evidence of progress, particularly in more advanced diagnostic imaging techniques such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Critical relevance statement: This study provides a 10-year update on current radiologic resources and access in Rwanda, identifying areas of progress and ongoing scarcity, serving as a guide for future direction of growth. Key points: • As Rwanda works on rebuilding its health care system, this study provides an assessment of the current radiologic resources within the country. • There is less than one radiologic unit for every million of the Rwandan population for every imaging modality other than X-ray. • While radiologic access in Rwanda lags behind that of its neighbors, there has been growth focused on advanced imaging modalities and the training of human resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous progress of science and technology, electric power equipment detection systems are developing in the direction of artificial intelligence. To achieve good automatic detection results, a high-quality and speedy algorithm is designed to intelligently detect indoor switchgear components in substations. This proposed method can detect the status of components based on image processing technology, which belongs to the field of condition monitoring. In this paper, the targets to be detected include multi-colour buttons or lights and the ammeters or voltmeters of the electrical switchgear. Two hybrid improved algorithms are used to optimise the you only look once v5s (YOLOv5s) network framework for increasing the detection speed and performance. Firstly, deeper feature map extraction is achieved using HorNet recursive gated convolution to replace the original C3 module for more efficient results. Then, a bidirectional feature pyramid network (BiFPN) algorithm is used to achieve the bidirectional propagation of feature information in the feature pyramid. This method can promote better fusion of feature information at different levels and help to convey feature and location information in the image. Finally, the improved YOLOv5s-BH model is used to detect the targets in substations. The experimental results show that the proposed method provides encouraging detection results for indoor switchgear components in substations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteofibrous dysplasia (OFD) is a rare, benign, self-limited bone disorder with a relatively low incidence, accounting for approximately 0.2% of all primary bone tumors. It was frequently found intra-cortical of the mid-shaft of the tibia. OFD can also occur in other skeletal regions, including the fibula, ulna, radius, femur, humerus, ischium, rib, tarsus, metatarsals, vertebral, and capitate. OFD can present with asymptomatic, mass, pain, swelling, deformity, and even pathological fracture. OFD might be misdiagnosed as adamantinoma (AD) and because they are three subtypes origin from the same family of bone tumors and have similar imaging features. Moreover, pathology could provide evidence for an accurate diagnosis of OFD, but misdiagnosis may occur due to small sampling materials. To date, few studies have comprehensively introduced the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, radiological features, pathology, and treatment for OFD. We herein discuss clinical signs, diagnosis methods, and treatment options of OFD to improve the understanding of OFD, which is helpful for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomedical patches offer significant potential for keratitis treatment. Building on advances in multifunctionality and biomimicry, an innovative, multifunctional hydrogel patch with high therapeutic efficacy, inspired by the native architecture and functions of the cornea, is introduced. By engineering a composite patch comprising recombinant human collagen (RHC) hydrogel, near‐field electrospinning (NFES) microfibers, and gold‐nanoparticle‐decorated tetragonal barium titanates (BTO@Au), structural mimicry, mechanical reinforcement, tissue‐specific adhesion, and bacterial inhibition are achieved. The RHC hydrogel recreates a three‐dimensional (3D) microenvironment that emulates the natural structure of the corneal tissue, demonstrating excellent tissue adhesion. Integrated within this hydrogel, the NFES microfibers, designed to emulate the orthogonal arrangement of native corneal stroma, not only reinforce the mechanical strength of the RHC hydrogel but also act as scaffolds to guide the aligned growth of human keratocytes. A unique aspect of this advanced patch is the incorporation of BTO@Au nanoparticles, which generate reactive oxygen species for effective bacterial eradication when subjected to ultrasound stimulation. Through in vivo studies on rat models with infected corneal wounds, this hydrogel patch exhibits superior therapeutic efficacy compared to the current treatment. It is posited that these cornea‐inspired ultrasound‐responsive adhesive hydrogel patches represent a significant scientific advancement with high potential for clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marbofloxacin (MB) is a newly developed fluoroquinolone antibiotic used especially as a veterinary drug. It may be regarded as the improved version of enrofloxacin owing to its antibacterial activity, enhanced bioavailability, and pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic (PK–PD) properties. In this study, nine heavy rare-earth ions (Y, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu) were selected in light of their potential antibacterial activity and satisfactory biosafety to afford the corresponding rare-earth metal complexes of MB: the MB–Ln series. Their chemical structures and coordination patterns were characterized using IR spectroscopy, HRMS, TGA, and X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis. Our results confirmed that all the MB–Ln complexes yielded the coincident coordination modes with four MB ligands coordinating to the Ln(III) center. In vitro antibacterial screening on five typical bacteria strains revealed that the MB–Ln complexes exhibited antibacterial activities comparable with MB, as indicated by the MIC/MBC values, in which Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi were the most sensitive ones to MB–Ln. Furthermore, the MB–Ln complexes were found to be much less toxic in vivo than MB, as suggested by the evaluated LD50 (50% lethal dose) values. All the MB–Ln series complexes fell in the LD50 range of 5000–15 000 mg kg−1, while the LD50 value of MB was only 1294 mg kg−1. Furthermore, MB–Lu, as the selected representative of MB–Ln, could effectively inhibit the activity of DNA gyrase, the same as MB, suggesting the primary antibacterial mechanism of the MB–Ln series. The results demonstrated the good prospects and potential of metal-based veterinary drugs with better drug performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid-state micro/nanopores play an important role in the sensing field because of their high stability and controllable size. Aiming at problems of complex processes and high costs in pore manufacturing, we propose a convenient and low-cost micro/nanopore fabrication technique based on the needle punching method. The thin film is pierced by controlling the feed of a microscale tungsten needle, and the size variations of the micropore are monitored by the current feedback system. Based on the positive correlation between the micropore size and the current threshold, the size-controllable preparation of micropores is achieved. The preparation of nanopores is realized by the combination of needle punching and chemical etching. First, a conical defect is prepared on the film with the tungsten needle. Then, nanopores are obtained by unilateral chemical etching of the film. Using the prepared conical micropores, resistive-pulse detection of nanoparticles is performed. Significant ionic current rectification is also obtained with our conical nanopores. It is proved that the properties of micro/nanopores prepared by our method are comparable to those prepared by the track-etching method. The simple and controllable fabrication process proposed here will advance the development of low-cost micro/nanopore sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrolytes are considered the lifeblood of lithium batteries, facilitating ion transfer between the cathode and anode. However, the flammability, volatility and corrosiveness of organic electrolytes impede the sustainable development of lithium batteries. Deep eutectic electrolytes (DEEs) have emerged as a promising alternative, exhibiting high stability, non-flammability and wide electrochemical window. Herein, a series of DEEs with varying molar ratios of azoles and LiTFSI were facilely prepared through the interaction of Li⋯N. These DEEs demonstrate unique advantages, including non-flammability, high conductivity and a favourable Li+ transference number. In particular, the DEEs ImL-4:1 and PyL-4:1 (Imidazole:LiTFSI = 4:1 and Pyrazole:LiTFSI = 4:1, respectively) achieve high ionic conductivities of 4.5 × 10−3 and 5.8 × 10−3 S cm−1 at 80 °C, respectively. Notably, the electrochemical window of PyL-4:1 is stable, making it a suitable electrolyte for the lithium metal-free Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 /LiFePO 4 full battery. This system exhibits an initial specific capacity of 147 mAh g−1 and maintains stable cycling performance over 200 cycles. This study offers valuable insights into the design of electrolytes, addressing the challenges posed by traditional organic electrolytes and paving the way for sustainable lithium battery development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The sociohistorical experiences of Asian American older adults (AAOA) vary, but limited research has examined how immigration status operates as social determinants. This study builds on an existing framework to examine the relationship among social determinants and the differential effects of immigration status on cognitive difficulties among AAOA. Methods Using 5-year estimate data from the 2019 American Community Survey, the study sample consisted of AAOA aged 65 years and older identifying as Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Japanese, Korean, or Vietnamese (N  = 100,584). AAOA were categorized as noncitizens, naturalized, or U.S. born for their immigration status. Participants who indicated having difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions were categorized as having cognitive difficulties. Results Chinese were the most prevalent ethnic group (30%). Over 70% were naturalized citizens. About 8% endorsed having cognitive difficulties. According to bivariate analyses, there were considerable differences in AAOA's characteristics (e.g. age, gender, marital status, medical insurance, employment status) by their immigration status. The results from the logistic regressions showed that immigration status was independently associated with poor cognitive difficulties. By AAOA's immigration status, unique protective and risk factors were presented for cognitive difficulties. Discussion The differential pattern of cognitive difficulties among AAOA reveals a fuller picture of variations within AAOA by immigration status. The results imply that more research is needed to develop culturally sensitive practices that account for the racialized differences by AAOA's immigration status. Further research into the interplay between structural determinants is necessary to formulate practice and policy interventions to address better successful aging for AAOA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aversion to cold is a fundamental motivated behavior that contributes to the body temperature homeostasis. However, the involvement of the lateral habenula (LHb) as a regulatory hub for negative emotions in this physiological process remains uninvestigated. In this study, we demonstrate an elevation in the population activity of LHb neurons following exposure to cold stimuli. Additionally, we establish the necessity of Vglut2-expressing neurons within the LHb for the encoding of cold aversion behaviors. Furthermore, we have elucidated a neural circuit from excitatory neurons of the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) to LHb that plays a crucial role in this progress. Manipulation of the DMH-LHb circuit has a significant impact on cold aversion behavior in mice. It is worth noting that this circuit does not exhibit any noticeable effects on autonomic thermoregulation or depression-like behavior. The identification of these neural mechanisms involved in behavioral thermoregulation provides a promising avenue for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) is a well-known biomarker of endothelial activation. This study aimed to determine whether changes in peripheral VCAM-1 levels occurred in major depressive disorder (MDD) patients and explored immune-brain interactions based on neuroimaging. This study included 165 subjects (80 healthy controls [HCs] and 85 MDD patients). Of them, 133 underwent magnetic resonance imaging. VCAM-1 was measured using a commercially available Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay kit following the manufacturer's instructions. The gray matter volume (GMV) and surface-based functional connectivity (FC) were calculated based on Schaefer parcellation 400 parcels. Compared with the HCs, MDD patients exhibited significantly higher level of VCAM-1. The correlation analysis showed that VCAM-1 had a significant negative correlation with GMV of the right medial frontal cortex (MFC) and postcentral (PostCG). The mediation analyses showed that VCAM-1 mediated the association between group and GMV of PostCG and the FC of left ventral prefrontal cortex (vPFC) with right inferior parietal lobe (IPL). This study showed that a high level of VCAM-1 was associated to the decreased GMV in the right MFC and PostCG, and mediated the FC of the left vPFC with right IPL. These findings suggested that VCAM-1 might contribute to the etiology of MDD by influencing brain structure and function. The cross-sectional design makes it difficult to determine the causal relationship and dynamic effect among VCAM-1, brain structure/function features, and depressive symptoms. • The MDD exhibited decreased GMV in the right medial prefrontal cortex and postcentral, which were negatively correlated with VCAM-1. • The MDD showed increased FC between the left ventral prefrontal cortex and right inferior parietal lobe. • The VCAM-1 mediated the association between group and GMV/FC. • The vascular inflammatory factors are related to the brain regions with GMV/FC changes in patients with MDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, massive Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images acquired from numerous SAR satellites have been widely utilized in various fields, and image mosaicking technology provides important support and assistance for these applications. The traditional mosaic method selects specific SAR images that can cover the region of interest (ROI) from redundant data to produce "One Map". However, an SAR image suffers from severe geometric distortion, especially in mountainous areas, which inevitably reduces the utilization of mosaic image. Therefore, a multi-view data-based layover information compensation (MDLIC) method for SAR image mosaic is proposed, aiming to take full advantage of multi-view data to compensate for the missing information in the layover area of the SAR image. This is performed to improve the information content of the mosaic image and realize efficient thematic information extraction and analysis. First, the calculation of the object-space extent of all images and the division of object-space grid are completed on the basis of geometric and radiometric preprocessing. Then, according to the transformation relationship between the object-space and the image-space, the sampling rate image of each image corresponding to the object-space grid is generated, which determines the layover area and the layover degree in each image. Finally, the information compensation strategy is implemented in accordance with the sampling rate image to realize the compensation of the layover information. The feasibility and effectiveness of the MDLIC method are verified by using multiple SAR images from the Chinese Gaofen-3 01 satellite as datasets for experiments. The experimental results indicate that the MDLIC method can obtain mosaic images with richer information compared with the traditional method, while still providing satisfactory results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Lima bean protein isolate (LPI) is an underutilized plant protein. Similar to other plant proteins, it may display poor emulsification properties. In order to improve its emulsifying properties, one effective approach is using protein and polysaccharide mixtures. This work investigated the structural and emulsifying properties of LPI as well as the development of an LPI/xanthan gum (XG)‐stabilized oil‐in‐water emulsion. RESULTS: The highest protein solubility (84.14%) of LPI was observed and the molecular weights (Mw) of most LPI subunits were less than 35 kDa. The enhanced emulsifying activity index (15.97 m2 g−1) of LPI might be associated with its relatively high protein solubility and more low‐Mw subunits (Mw < 35 kDa). The effects of oil volume fraction (ϕ) on droplet size, microstructure, rheological behavior and stability of emulsions were investigated. As ϕ increased from 0.2 to 0.8, the emulsion was arranged from spherical and dispersed oil droplets to polyhedral packing of oil droplets adjacent to each other, while the LPI/XG mixtures changed from particles (in the uncrowded interfacial layer) to lamellae (in the crowded interfacial layer). When ϕ was 0.6, the emulsion was in a transitional state with the coexistence of particles and lamellar structures on the oil droplet surface. The LPI/XG‐stabilized emulsions with ϕ values of 0.6–0.8 showed the highest stability during a 14‐day storage period. CONCLUSION: This study developed a promising plant‐based protein resource, LPI, and demonstrates potential application of LPI/XG as an emulsifying stabilizer in foods. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactions of o-carborane-fused bis-silylene 1 with isocyanate/isothiocyanate molecules furnished a series of SiN/SiS-heterocycles, which show distinct styles of cyclization and were theoretically studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Making the go/no-go decision is critical in Phase II (or Ib) clinical trials. The conventional decision-making framework based on a binary hypothesis testing has been gradually replaced by the TODeM (Triple Outcome Decision-Making) which has three zones of outcomes: go, no-go, and consider. The TODeM provides more flexibility in decision-making with considering both of statistical significance and clinical relevance. However, Bayesian methods (e.g. EXNEX, MUCE, etc.) for the information borrowing are still based on the binary decision-making framework. We propose a new decision-making process G-TODeM (Generalized Triple Outcome Decision-Making) to apply those Bayesian methods with information borrowing across different cohorts to the TODeM framework. Essentially, the information borrowed from other cohorts can shrink the consider zone of the inference cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Submergence is a major constraint on rice production in South and Southeast Asia. In this study, we determined that a gene of the Sub1A-binding protein family, SAB23 , encodes a plant homeodomain (PHD)-type transcription factor that has a novel function of negatively regulating submergence tolerance in rice. The T-DNA insertion mutant sab23 displayed reduced plant height, delayed seed maturation, and lower percentage seed set. Importantly, this mutant also exhibited enhanced submergence tolerance. In addition, CRISPR/Cas9 knock out of SAB23 resulted in a significant reduction in the content of the gibberellin GA4 and a dramatic increase in the content of GA1 in the plants. SAB23 binds to the promoter of CYTOCHROME P450 714B2 (CYP714B2), which encodes a GA13-oxidase that catalyses the conversion of GA53 to GA19. Disruption of SAB23 function led to increased CYP714B2 transcription, and overexpression of CYP714B2 produced phenotypes similar to those of the SAB23 -knockout plants. Taken together, our results reveal that SAB23 negatively regulates rice submergence tolerance by modulating CYP714B2 expression, which has significant potential for use in future breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The incidence of lacrimal gland adenocarcinoma is low. This study was designed to analyze the clinical and prognostic characteristics of lacrimal gland adenocarcinoma. Methods: This was a clinical study and literature review; 25 patients diagnosed with lacrimal gland adenocarcinoma by histopathology were enrolled and their medical history data were collected. Results: The incidence of bone destruction and surrounding tissue invasion was 52% and 44%, respectively. The incidence of distant metastasis of lacrimal gland adenocarcinoma was about 50%. The 5-year overall survival rate of death or metastasis was 33.5%. Age, sex, laterality, tumor size, pathology type, bone destruction, nerve or perineural invasion, invasion of peripheral tissue, T stage, AR, Her-2 and treatment had no significant correlation with lacrimal adenocarcinoma’s prognosis (P > 0.05), while the higher expression of Ki-67 may have higher risk of death or metastasis (P = 0.020). Conclusion: The incidence of bone destruction and distant metastasis of lacrimal adenocarcinoma is high and the imaging examination is necessary to assess the risk of distant metastasis. The 5-year survival rate of death or metastasis is 33.5% and the high expression of Ki-67 predicts poor prognosis of lacrimal adenocarcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let λ2, λ3, λ4, λ5 be nonzero real numbers, not all negative. Let V be a well-spaced sequence. Assume that λ2/λ3 is irrational and algebraic, and δ > 0. Let E V , N , δ be the number of υ ∈ V with υ ≤ N such that the Diophantine inequality λ 2 p 2 2 + λ 3 p 3 3 + λ 4 p 4 4 + λ 5 p 5 5 - υ < υ - δ has no solution in primes p2, p3, p4, p5. In this paper, we prove that for any ε > 0 , E V , N , δ ≪ N 1 - 19 / 378 + 2 δ + ε , which refines the previous result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low‐voltage‐gated calcium channels (LVGCCs; Cav3.1‐3.3) represent promising drug targets for epilepsy, pain, and essential tremor. At present, modulators with heightened selectivity for a subtype of LVGCCs are still highly desired. In this study we explored three classes of Buxus alkaloids and identified 9(10/19)abeo‐artanes Buxusemine H and Buxusemine L (BXSL) as an unprecedented type of Cav3.2 inhibitors. Particularly, BXSL exhibited Cav3.2 inhibition comparable to Z944, a non‐subtype‐selective LVGCCs inhibitor under clinical trial. While lacking specificity for Cav3.3, BXSL showed a 30‐fold selectivity of Cav3.2 over Cav3.1. As compared to several well‐known inhibitors, the experimental and computational studies suggested BXSL exhibits a distinct binding mode to Cav3.2, notably through the essential interaction with serine‐1543 in domain III. Furthermore, BXSL showed minimal impact on various recombinant and native nociceptive ion channels, while significantly reducing the excitability of isolated mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons. Animal studies in wild‐type and Cav3.2 knock‐out mice revealed that BXSL (5 mg/kg), by inhibiting Cav3.2, exhibits an analgesic effect equivalent to Z944 (10 mg/kg) or mibefradil (10 mg/kg). Moreover, we proposed a structural rationale for the high selectivity of 9(10/19)abeo‐artane‐type alkaloids towards Cav3.2 over Cav3.1. This study introduces a novel analgesic agent and valuable molecular insight for structure‐based innovative Cav3.2 drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low‐voltage‐gated calcium channels (LVGCCs; Cav3.1‐3.3) represent promising drug targets for epilepsy, pain, and essential tremor. At present, modulators with heightened selectivity for a subtype of LVGCCs are still highly desired. In this study we explored three classes of Buxus alkaloids and identified 9(10/19)abeo‐artanes Buxusemine H and Buxusemine L (BXSL) as an unprecedented type of Cav3.2 inhibitors. Particularly, BXSL exhibited Cav3.2 inhibition comparable to Z944, a non‐subtype‐selective LVGCCs inhibitor under clinical trial. While lacking specificity for Cav3.3, BXSL showed a 30‐fold selectivity of Cav3.2 over Cav3.1. As compared to several well‐known inhibitors, the experimental and computational studies suggested BXSL exhibits a distinct binding mode to Cav3.2, notably through the essential interaction with serine‐1543 in domain III. Furthermore, BXSL showed minimal impact on various recombinant and native nociceptive ion channels, while significantly reducing the excitability of isolated mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons. Animal studies in wild‐type and Cav3.2 knock‐out mice revealed that BXSL (5 mg/kg), by inhibiting Cav3.2, exhibits an analgesic effect equivalent to Z944 (10 mg/kg) or mibefradil (10 mg/kg). Moreover, we proposed a structural rationale for the high selectivity of 9(10/19)abeo‐artane‐type alkaloids towards Cav3.2 over Cav3.1. This study introduces a novel analgesic agent and valuable molecular insight for structure‐based innovative Cav3.2 drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the comprehensive effects of the Al and Zr element contents on the microstructure evolution of the AlNbTiVZr series light-weight refractory high entropy alloys (HEAs), five samples were studied. Samples with different compositions were designated Al1.5NbTiVZr, Al1.5NbTiVZr0.5, AlNbTiVZr, AlNbTiVZr0.5, and Al0.5NbTiVZr0.5. The results demonstrated that the actual density of the studied HEA samples ranged from 5.291 to 5.826 g·cm−3. The microstructure of these HEAs contains a solid solution phase with a BCC structure and a Laves phase. The Laves phase was further identified as the ZrAlV intermetallic compound by TEM observations. The microstructure of the AlNbTiVZr series HEAs was affected by both the Al and Zr element contents, whereas the Zr element showed a more dominant effect due to Zr atoms occupying the core position of the ZrAlV Laves phase (C14 structure). Therefore, the as-cast Al0.5NbTiVZr0.5 sample exhibits the best room temperature compression property with a compression strength (σp) of 1783 MPa and an engineering strain of 28.8% due to having the lowest ZrAlV intermetallic compound area fraction (0.7%), as characterized by the EBSD technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon-based nanomaterials possess numerous distinctive properties, such as their small size and interface effects. However, the practical utility of these materials is somewhat constrained under harsh environmental conditions like high salinity and elevated temperatures. To expand the potential applications of these promising nanomaterials, we present the synthesis of amphiphilic graphene oxide (GOA) from graphene oxide through the utilization of a silane coupling agent (KH550) and polyethylene glycol. We investigate the enhanced oil recovery efficiency and structural attributes of the synthesized GOA materials through a comprehensive approach involving experimental characterization, physical simulations, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The resulting GOA demonstrates excellent dispersion in brine (20 × 104 mg L−1) and exhibits remarkable stability even under high-temperature conditions (90 °C). The experiments have demonstrated that GOA can significantly reduce surface tension and oil–water interfacial tension, even at a low critical concentration of 40 mg L−1. The amphiphilic nature of GOA allows it to adsorb onto solid surfaces, altering the contact angle from 110.9° to 93.7°. This exceptional interfacial behavior enables GOA to modify the oil–water interface, resulting in the creation of a Pickering emulsion with 3.2 times higher viscosity compared to that of crude oil, even at 80% water content. This highly viscous emulsion can increase the resistance to seepage to modulate formation inhomogeneity. Online NMR replacement experiments reveal that injecting 0.6 pore volumes of GOA can enhance recovery rates by 19.7% compared to conventional brine displacement methods, facilitating the extraction of previously unrecovered crude oil from confined pore spaces. We anticipate that this high-performance material will find diverse applications within the petroleum industry in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GNSS spoofing interference utilizes falsified navigation signals to launch attacks on GNSS systems, posing a significant threat to applications that rely on GNSS signals for positioning, navigation, and time services. Therefore, achieving effective localization of the sources causing spoofing interference is crucial in ensuring the secure operation of GNSS. This article proposes a method for locating GNSS spoofing interference sources using a moving array antenna. Firstly, the proposed method utilizes the inherent characteristics of the double-differenced carrier phase from the deception signals received by the array antenna to effectively extract the spoofing signals. Subsequently, by moving the antenna array, the original carrier phase single-difference data of multiple observation points for deception signals are fused to provide a cost function for direct localization of spoofing interference, and a solution method for the cost function is designed. The proposed method addresses the challenge of extracting and localizing GNSS spoofing interference weak signals, effectively avoiding the data correlation of traditional two-step methods for DOA estimation parameters and ensuring the location accuracy of spoofing interference and the robustness of the method. The effectiveness of the proposed method has been validated through simulation experiments, and its adaptability to factors such as errors in carrier phase measurements has been examined. The method exhibits strong applicability and is well-suited for the hardware platform of the GNSS nulling antenna, thereby enabling it to possess simultaneous capabilities in both anti-interference and spoofing interference localization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An active system consisting of many self-spinning dimers is simulated, and a distinct local rotational jamming transition is observed as the density increases. In the low density regime, the system stays in an absorbing state, in which each dimer rotates independently subject to the applied torque; while in the high density regime, a fraction of the dimers become rotationally jammed into local clusters, and the system exhibits microphase-separation like two-phase morphologies. For high enough densities, the system becomes completely jammed in both rotational and translational degrees of freedom. Such a simple system is found to exhibit rich and multiscale disordered hyperuniformities among the above phases: the absorbing state shows a critical hyperuniformity of the strongest class and subcritically preserves the vanishing density fluctuation scaling up to some length scale; the locally jammed state shows a two-phase hyperuniformity conversely beyond some length scale with respect to the phase cluster sizes; the totally jammed state appears to be a monomer crystal, but intrinsically loses large-scale hyperuniformity. These results are inspiring for designing novel phase-separation and disordered hyperuniform systems through dynamical organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhinoplasty is one of the most performed elective surgeries, and given the opioid crisis, increasing research and studies are focused on successful pain control with multimodality opioid-sparing techniques, such as acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and gabapentin. Although limiting overuse of opioids is critical, this cannot be at the expense of inadequate pain control, particularly as insufficient pain control can be correlated with patient dissatisfaction and the postoperative experience in elective surgery. There is likely significant opioid overprescription, as patients often report taking less than 50% of their prescribed opioids. Furthermore, excess opioids provide opportunities for misuse and opioid diversion if not disposed of properly. To optimize postoperative pain control and minimize opioid requirements, interventions must occur at the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative time points. Preoperative counseling is imperative to set expectations for pain and to screen for predisposing factors for opioid misuse. Intraoperatively, use of local nerve blocks and long-acting analgesia in conjunction with modified surgical techniques can lead to prolonged pain control. Postoperatively, pain should be managed with a multimodal approach, incorporating acetaminophen, NSAIDs, and potentially gabapentin with opioids reserved for rescue analgesia. Rhinoplasty represents a category of short-stay, low/medium pain, and elective procedures highly susceptible to overprescription and consequently, are readily amenable to opioid minimization through standardized perioperative interventions. Recent literature on regimens and interventions to help limit opioids after rhinoplasty are reviewed and discussed here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) often fail to achieve permanent complete remission (CR) and frequently relapse, indicating an urgent need to explore effective salvage therapies. Recent advances in AML treatment have been attributed to the combination of the B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) inhibitor venetoclax (VEN) with hypomethylating agents (HMAs); however, the use of this combination in young adults with relapsed or refractory (R/R) AML has not been reported. We retrospectively examined 31 young patients with R/R AML treated with VEN plus an HMA. We evaluated the demographic data, cytogenetic characteristics, AML types, response rates, and transplantation-related data for the patients in our cohort. The combination of VEN + HMA yielded a CR rate of 48.4%. The most prominent hematologic adverse event was neutropenia, which occurred in all patients, with 90.3% of cases being grade ≥3. Non-hematologic toxicities were relatively mild and infrequent, with an incidence of 45.2%. More than half of the patients with sustained CR had received an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), of whom two died of transplant-related complications. Our results showed that the combination of VEN + HMA appeared to be a highly effective and well-tolerated salvage therapy option for young patients with R/R AML, enabling more young patients to proceed to potentially curative allo-HSCT. However, additional, well-designed studies with larger numbers of patients are required to confirm the advantages of VEN + HMA in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Straw residual retention is an emerging and promoted practice in rain-fed northwest China, but its effect on wheat photosynthetic characteristics, the utilization of water and nitrogen, and reactive nitrogen losses is poorly understood. A two-year consecutive field experiment was conducted to investigate the impacts of residual incorporation into soil and nitrogen application on wheat nitrogen and water utilization, yield and nitrogen losses during 2018–2020. The split-plot design of two tillage systems [conventional tillage (CT), and straw residue incorporated into soil (SR)] and three nitrogen rates [0 kg ha−1 (N0), 144 kg ha−1 (N144), 180 kg ha−1 (N180)] was implemented. Our results demonstrated that compared to CT, SR significantly influenced several key metrics. Compared with CT, SR increased the wheat photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), leaf area index (LAI), leaf total chlorophyll (Chl-total), glutamine synthetase (GS) and nitrate reductase (NR) by an average of 5.38%, 12.75%, 8.21%, 5.79%, 16.21% and 20.08%, respectively (p < 0.05). In addition, SR increased the wheat grain yield and nitrogen uptake accumulation (NUA), evapotranspiration (ET), precipitation storage efficiency (PSE), and mineral nitrogen residual after harvest (except for SR-N180 in 2019–2020), but decreased the apparent nitrogen recovery when compared with CT. However, there was an insignificant difference in the ammonia (NH3) volatilization and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions of SR and CT. With an increase in the N-fertilization rate, the Pn and Tr, NH3 volatilization, N2O emission, mineral nitrogen residual (except for SR-N180 in 2019–2020), LAI, Chl-total (except for SR-N180 and CT-N180 in 2018–2019), GS, NR, grain yield, WUE, and NUA increased significantly; however, the ET, PSE, apparent nitrogen recovery (ANR), and nitrogen harvest index (NHI) decreased significantly. Furthermore, the differences between N144 and N180 in terms of the photosynthetic characteristics of wheat, the utilization of water and nitrogen, and yield were not significant. Overall, straw retention with N144 could be recommended as a resource-saving and environment-friendly management practice in a rain-fed winter wheat–fallow cropping system in northwest China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing highly efficient and stable hydrogen production catalysts for electrochemical water splitting (EWS) at industrial current densities remains a great challenge. Herein, we proposed a heterostructure‐induced‐strategy to optimize the metal‐support interaction (MSI) and the EWS activity of Ru‐Ni3N/NiO. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations firstly predicted that the Ni3N/NiO‐heterostructures can improve the structural stability, electronic distributions, and orbital coupling of Ru‐Ni3N/NiO compared to Ru‐Ni3N and Ru‐NiO, which accordingly decreases energy barriers and increases the electroactivity for EWS. As a proof‐of‐concept, the Ru‐Ni3N/NiO catalyst with a 2D Ni3N/NiO‐heterostructures nanosheet array, uniformly dispersed Ru nanoparticles, and strong MSI, was successfully constructed in the experiment, which exhibited excellent HER and OER activity with overpotentials of 190 mV and 385 mV at 1000 mA cm−2, respectively. Furthermore, the Ru‐Ni3N/NiO‐based EWS device can realize an industrial current density (1000 mA cm−2) at 1.74 V and 1.80 V under alkaline pure water and seawater conditions, respectively. Additionally, it also achieves a high durability of 1000 h (@ 500 mA cm−2) in alkaline pure water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing highly efficient and stable hydrogen production catalysts for electrochemical water splitting (EWS) at industrial current densities remains a great challenge. Herein, we proposed a heterostructure‐induced‐strategy to optimize the metal‐support interaction (MSI) and the EWS activity of Ru‐Ni3N/NiO. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations firstly predicted that the Ni3N/NiO‐heterostructures can improve the structural stability, electronic distributions, and orbital coupling of Ru‐Ni3N/NiO compared to Ru‐Ni3N and Ru‐NiO, which accordingly decreases energy barriers and increases the electroactivity for EWS. As a proof‐of‐concept, the Ru‐Ni3N/NiO catalyst with a 2D Ni3N/NiO‐heterostructures nanosheet array, uniformly dispersed Ru nanoparticles, and strong MSI, was successfully constructed in the experiment, which exhibited excellent HER and OER activity with overpotentials of 190 mV and 385 mV at 1000 mA cm−2, respectively. Furthermore, the Ru‐Ni3N/NiO‐based EWS device can realize an industrial current density (1000 mA cm−2) at 1.74 V and 1.80 V under alkaline pure water and seawater conditions, respectively. Additionally, it also achieves a high durability of 1000 h (@ 500 mA cm−2) in alkaline pure water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subsurface karst features are significantly developed in Guangxi Province, China. This area mainly contains fractured subsurface rock, abundant karst channels, and widely distributed underground fissure networks. Such adverse geological conditions could potentially create hydrogeological hazards such as collapses, water inrush, and mud inrush during infrastructure construction. The Hejing limestone mine is an opencast mine in Pingnan County, Guangxi, that produces cement. Mining activities have altered the seepage fields in this area, causing large amounts of groundwater to flood into the mining pit; this has caused many ground collapses while severely reducing limestone production. More than 24 km of surface electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) profiles have been previously recorded in the region to identify potential karst positions and explore groundwater inrush paths. In this study. we employed surface and cross-borehole ERT surveys to delineate specific groundwater inrush paths on the eastern side of the mine and characterise karst distribution in the study area. Resistivity imaging results revealed some low-resistivity anomaly distributions and provided reliable geological information about the distribution of subsurface karst for future grouting work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple unmanned aerial vehicle (multi-UAV) systems have gained significant attention in applications, such as aerial surveillance and search and rescue missions. With the recent development of state-of-the-art multiagent reinforcement learning (MARL) algorithms, it is possible to train multi-UAV systems in collaborative and competitive environments. However, the inherent vulnerabilities of multiagent systems pose significant privacy and security risks when deploying general and conventional MARL algorithms. The presence of even a single Byzantine adversary within the system can severely degrade the learning performance of UAV agents. This work proposes a Byzantine-resilient MARL algorithm that leverages a combination of geometric median consensus and a robust state update model to mitigate, or even eliminate, the influence of Byzantine attacks. To validate its effectiveness and feasibility, the authors include a multi-UAV threat model, provide a guarantee of robustness, and investigate key attack parameters for multiple UAV navigation scenarios. Results from the experiments show that the average rewards during a Byzantine attack increased by up to 60% for the cooperative navigation scenario compared with conventional MARL techniques. The learning rewards generated by the baseline algorithms could not converge during training under these attacks, while the proposed method effectively converged to an optimal solution, proving its viability and correctness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]