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BackgroundAimsMethods & ProceduresOutcomes & ResultsConclusionsAgrammatic aphasia poses challenges in assessing grammatical abilities due to language comprehension difficulties. The suitability of sMMN as an indicator of syntactic processing abilities in these individuals remains uncertain.Two ERP experiments were conducted to investigate whether early syntactic mismatch negativity (sMMN) could assess the syntactic processing ability of Chinese-speaking individuals with agrammatic aphasia.Prior to the ERP experiments, the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) and the Northwestern Assessment of Verbs and Sentences-Chinese (NAVS-C) were used to screen people with agrammatism. ERP data were collected for both the agrammatic group (AG) (n = 12) and the control group (CG) (n = 12). The first experiment (Experiment 1) involved a passive tone oddball task to control for the influence of primary sound perception. The second experiment (Experiment 2: experiment 2a and experiment 2b) investigated syntactic processing through a passive speech oddball task. Experiment 2a examined the processing of correct sentences and syntactic violation sentences in context. In contrast, Experiment 2b assessed well-formed sequences and ill-formed sequences out of context.The results revealed that frontocentral distributed acoustic MMNs were recorded for the CG between 176 - 196ms in Experiment 1, but not for the AG. In Experiment 2, during the 143 - 173ms window, the left anterior sMMN was exclusively observed for the CG, while the left posterior sMMN was specific to the AG. Furthermore, the amplitudes of the left posterior sMMN (143-173ms) were found to have a negative correlation with scores on sentence comprehension tests: the more negative the sMMN, the lower the scores of people with agrammatic aphasia. Notably, this left posterior MMN was absent in Experiment 1.The early posterior sMMN, discovered for the first time in our study, appears to be more sensitive in detecting syntactic processing impairments in agrammatics compared to the early anterior sMMN. This finding has the potential to enhance the precision of aphasia assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown that various active components of licorice have anticancer effects. However, few studies have investigated the mechanism of action of licorice in gastric cancer. The effect of active compounds in licorice on the biological activity of gastric cancer cells was investigated in vitro (MKN-45 cells). Network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to predict the potential targets of licorice against gastric cancer and verify the binding stability of target proteins to compounds. In addition, the anticancer effect of licorice was assessed using a mouse model of gastric cancer. The licorice-active component (quercetin) effectively inhibited proliferation, caused cell cycle arrest, and promoted apoptosis in MKN-45 cells, accompanied by increased Cyt-C, decreased BCL-2, and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial damage. Further research showed that quercetin targeted EGFR, blocked the ERK signaling pathway, and downregulated PTGS2. In the in vivo experiment, quercetin treatment resulted in reduced tumor volume, decreased Ki67 and BCL-2 expression in tumor tissue, increased caspase 3 and BAX levels, and induced mitochondrial damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Patients' self-efficacy levels are significantly associated with the process of recovery and creating social support in the inpatient recovery setting can help prevent post-stroke depression and anxiety. OBJECTIVE: To explore the current status of factors influencing chronic disease self-efficacy in patients with ischemic stroke, to provide theoretical basis and clinical data for implementing corresponding nursing interventions. METHODS: The study included 277 patients with ischemic stroke who were hospitalized in the neurology department of a tertiary hospital in Fuyang, Anhui Province, China from January to May 2021. Participants for the study were selected by convenience sampling method. A questionnaire for general information developed by the researcher and the Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy Scale were used for collecting data. RESULTS: The patients' total self-efficacy score was (36.79 ± 10.89), which was in the middle to the upper level. Results of our multifactorial analysis showed that history of falls in the previous 12 months, presence of physical dysfunction, and cognitive impairment were all independent risk factors for chronic disease self-efficacy in patients with ischemic stroke (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Chronic disease self-efficacy in patients with ischemic stroke was at an intermediate to high level. History of falls in the previous year, physical dysfunction, and cognitive impairment were factors influencing patients' chronic disease self-efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The etiology of early neurological deterioration (END) occurring after intravenous thrombolysis is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the factors associated with END following intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke, and to construct a prediction model. METHODS: We selected a total of 321 patients with acute ischemic stroke, who were divided into two groups: the END group (n = 91) and the non-END group (n = 230). They were compared for their demographics, onset-to-needle time (ONT), door-to-needle time (DNT), related score results, and other data. The risk factors of the END group were identified using logistic regression analysis, and we constructed a nomogram model using the R software. A calibration curve was used to evaluate the calibration of the nomogram, and we assessed its clinical applicability using decision curve analysis (DCA). RESULTS: In our multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found that four indexes, namely, complication with atrial fibrillation, post-thrombolysis National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, pre-thrombolysis systolic blood pressure (SBP), and serum albumin level, were independent risk factors for END following intravenous thrombolysis in the patients (P < 0.05). We constructed an individualized nomogram prediction model using the above four predictors. The AUC value of the nomogram model was 0.785 (95% CI: 0.727–0.845) after internal validation, and the mean absolute error (MAE) in the calibration curve was 0.011, which indicated that the nomogram model had good prediction value. The decision curve analysis indicated that the nomogram model was clinically relevant. CONCLUSION: The model was found to have excellent value in clinical application and prediction of END. This will be beneficial for healthcare providers to develop individualized prevention measures for END in advance, and thus reduce the incidence of END following intravenous thrombolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zearalenone (ZEN), a non-steroidal estrogenic fungal toxin widely present in forage, food, and their ingredients, poses a serious threat to animal and human reproductive health. ZEN also threatens ovine, a major source of human food and breeding stock. However, the mechanisms underlying the impact of ZEN on the in vitro maturation (IVM) of ovine oocytes remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate these mechanisms using the Smart-seq2 technology. A total of 146 differentially expressed genes were obtained, using Smart-seq2, from sheep oocytes cultured in vitro after ZEN treatment. ZEN treatment inhibited RUNX2 and SPP1 expression in the PI3K signaling pathway, leading to the downregulation of THBS1 and ultimately the downregulation of TNFAIP6; ZEN can also decrease TNFAIP6 by reducing PTPRC and ITGAM. Both inhibit in vitro maturation of ovine oocytes and proliferation of cumulus cells by downregulating TNFAIP6. These findings provide data and a theoretical basis for elucidating ZEN's toxicity mechanisms, screening therapeutic drugs, and reducing ZEN-related losses in the ovine industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of this study was to evaluate the performance of AnnAGNPS (Annualized AGricultural NonPoint Source) pollution model, in calculating runoff, sediment loading and nutrient loadings for Funiu Mountain area. Most of the model input parameters were sourced from Luanchuan Forest Ecology Station (LFES) in Funiu Mountain area. The data on 23 storms in 2018 was used to calibrate the model and the data on 33 storms in 2019 for validation. The whole evaluation consisted of determining the coefficient of determination (R²), Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient of efficiency (E), and the percentage volume error (VE). Results showed that the runoff volumes were underpredicted by 5.0% with R² of 0.93 (P<0.05) during calibration and underpredicted by 5.3% with R² of 0.90 (P < 0.05) during validation. But sediment loading was able to produce a moderate result. The model underpredicted the daily sediment loading by 15.1% with R² of 0.63 (P < 0.05) during calibration and 13.5% with R² of 0.66 (P < 0.05) during validation. Nitrogen loading was overpredicted by 20.3% with R² = 0.68 (P < 0.05), and phosphorus loading performance was slightly poor with R2 = 0.65 ( P < 0.05) during validation. In general, the model performed well in simulating runoff compared to sediment loading and nutrient loadings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoxia inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) plays a critical role in cellular adaptation to hypoxia and it is a potential therapeutic target for anti‐cancer drugs. Applying high‐throughput screening, here it is found that HI‐101, a small molecule containing an adamantaniline moiety, effectively reduces HIF‐1α protein expression. With the compound as a hit, a probe (HI‐102) is developed for target identification by affinity‐based protein profiling. The catalytic β subunit of mitochondrial FOF1‐ATP synthase, ATP5B, is identified as the binding protein of HI‐derivatives. Mechanistically, HI‐101 promotes the binding of HIF‐1α mRNA to ATP5B, thus inhibiting HIF‐1α translation and the following transcriptional activity. Further modifications of HI‐101 lead to HI‐104, a compound with good pharmacokinetic properties, exhibiting antitumor activity in MHCC97‐L mice xenograft model, and HI‐105, the most potent compound with an IC50 of 26 nm. The findings provide a new strategy for further developing HIF‐1α inhibitors by translational inhibition through ATP5B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Composite solid electrolytes (CSEs) exhibit great potential due to their advantages of both sufficient strength and high ionic conductivity. However, their interfacial impendence and thickness hinder potential applications. Herein, a thin CSE with good interface performance is designed through the combination of immersion precipitation and in situ polymerization. By employing a nonsolvent in immersion precipitation, a porous poly(vinylidene fluoride-cohexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) membrane could be rapidly created. The pores in the membrane could accommodate sufficient well-dispersed inorganic Li 1.3 Al 0.3 Ti 1.7 (PO 4) 3 (LATP) particles. Subsequent in situ polymerized 1,3‑dioxolane (PDOL) further protects LATP from reacting with lithium metal and supplies superior interfacial performance. The CSE has a thickness of ∼ 60 μm, ionic conductivity of 1.57 × 10−4 S cm−1, and oxidation stability of 5.3 V. The Li/1.25LATP-CSE/Li symmetric cell has a long cycling performance of 780 h at 0.3 mA cm−2 for 0.3 mAh cm−2. The Li/1.25LATP-CSE/LiFePO 4 cell exhibits a discharge capacity of 144.6 mAh/g at 1C and a capacity retention of 97.72 % after 300 cycles. Continuous depletion of lithium salts due to the reconstruction of the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) may be responsible for battery failure. The combination of the fabrication method and failure mechanism gives new insight into designing CSEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, research on elite interviews has primarily focused on political or business settings in European and Anglo-American contexts. In this study, we examine the procedures involved in conducting elite interviews in academic settings, drawing on fieldwork with 53 senior scholars at 10 universities across five regions of northern China. We provide a detailed, critically reflective account of strategies to gain access, develop trust, and manage the power imbalance. Our account reveals the importance of the researcher's professional identity in gaining participants' trust and determining adequate forms of reciprocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of efficient catalyst for selective oxidation of hydrocarbon to functional compounds remains a challenge. Herein, mesoporous Co3O4 (mCo3O4‐350) showed excellent catalytic activity for selective oxidation of aromatic‐alkanes, especially for oxidation of ethylbenzene with a conversion of 42 % and selectivity of 90 % for acetophenone at 120 °C. Notably, mCo3O4 presented a unique catalytic path of direct oxidation of aromatic‐alkanes to aromatic ketones rather than the conventional stepwise oxidation to alcohols and then to ketones. Density functional theory calculations revealed that oxygen vacancies in mCo3O4 activate around Co atoms, causing electronic state change from Co3+(Oh)→Co2+(Oh). Co2+(Oh) has great attraction to ethylbenzene, and weak interaction with O2, which provide insufficient O2 for gradual oxidation of phenylethanol to acetophenone. Combined with high energy barrier for forming phenylethanol, the direct oxidation path from ethylbenzene to acetophenone is kinetically favorable on mCo3O4, sharply contrasted to non‐selective oxidation of ethylbenzene on commercial Co3O4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of efficient catalyst for selective oxidation of hydrocarbon to functional compounds remains a challenge. Herein, mesoporous Co3O4 (mCo3O4‐350) showed excellent catalytic activity for selective oxidation of aromatic‐alkanes, especially for oxidation of ethylbenzene with a conversion of 42 % and selectivity of 90 % for acetophenone at 120 °C. Notably, mCo3O4 presented a unique catalytic path of direct oxidation of aromatic‐alkanes to aromatic ketones rather than the conventional stepwise oxidation to alcohols and then to ketones. Density functional theory calculations revealed that oxygen vacancies in mCo3O4 activate around Co atoms, causing electronic state change from Co3+(Oh)→Co2+(Oh). Co2+(Oh) has great attraction to ethylbenzene, and weak interaction with O2, which provide insufficient O2 for gradual oxidation of phenylethanol to acetophenone. Combined with high energy barrier for forming phenylethanol, the direct oxidation path from ethylbenzene to acetophenone is kinetically favorable on mCo3O4, sharply contrasted to non‐selective oxidation of ethylbenzene on commercial Co3O4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aqueous ethanol extract of Periplaneta americana (PAE) dramatically stimulates wound healing by promoting the migration of keratinocytes. The aims of this study were to identify the active oligopeptides present in PAE that promote wound healing and to elucidate their underlying molecular mechanisms. For the detection of cell migration and proliferation in vitro, Transwell assays, wound healing assays, and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays were performed on the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. Western blot analysis was performed on the HaCaT cells to detect the protein levels of SMAD family member 3 (Smad3) and phosphorylated Smad3 (P-Smad3). Immunofluorescence analysis was performed on the HaCaT cells to detect the degree of Smad3 translocation into the nucleus. Three oligopeptides were purified from PAE via a series of chromatographic techniques, and their individual effects on HaCaT cell migration were evaluated using wound healing assays. The purification techniques employed were gel filtration chromatography, C8 reversed-phase column chromatography, and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The amino acid sequences of the oligopeptides (LAKF, PYAHF, and PQLSY) were identified via HPLC–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) and Edman degradation. The oligopeptide with the PYAHF sequence significantly promoted HaCaT cell migration. In addition, this oligopeptide promoted the nuclear translocation of P-Smad3 by activating the Smad3 signaling pathway. The findings of this study provide a foundation for the future development of peptide drugs for promoting wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cs2CO3-promoted [3 + 2] cyclization of chalcone and N-tosylhydrazones has been developed, a series of novel (4,5-diaryl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)(aryl)methanone derivatives were synthesized with a wide range of substrates, good tolerance of functional groups and by a one-pot three-component reaction of chalcone, aryl formaldehyde, and TsNHNH2. In addition, the gram-scale synthesis of the product and further transformations were also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The PtRh@RCC3 is prepared successfully by an organic molecular cage (OMC) confinement strategy, while the soluble RCC3 cage not only act as a homogenizer to homogenize the heterogeneous PtRh alloy in solution, but also act as an electron-acceptor to withdraw electrons from Pt, leading to the formation of high valence Pt atoms and the enhancement of catalytic reduction activity for 4-nitrophenol. [Display omitted] The creation of ultrafine alloy nanoparticles (<5 nm) that can maintain surface activity and avoid aggregation for heterogeneous catalysis has received much attention and is extremely challenging. Here, ultrafine PtRh alloy nanoparticles imprisoned by the cavities of reduced chiral covalent imine cage (PtRh@RCC3) are prepared successfully by an organic molecular cage (OMC) confinement strategy, while the soluble RCC3 can act as a homogenizer to homogenize the heterogeneous PtRh alloy in solution. Moreover, the X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) results show that the RCC3 can act as an electron-acceptor to withdraw electrons from Pt, leading to the formation of higher valence Pt atoms, which is beneficial to improving the catalytic activity for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol. Attributed to the synergistic effect of Pt/Rh atoms and the unique function of the RCC3, the reaction rate constants of Pt 1 Rh 16 @RCC3 are 49.6, 8.2, and 5.5 times than those of the Pt 1 Rh 16 bulk, Pt@RCC3 and Rh@RCC3, respectively. This work provides a feasible strategy to homogenize heterogeneous alloy nanoparticle catalysts in solution, showing huge potential for advanced catalytic application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cholestasis is a key causative factor in alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) and variable degrees of cholestasis occur in all stages of ALD. However, the pathogenetic mechanisms and biomarkers associated with cholestasis are not well characterized. Cholestatic disease is marked by the disruption of bile acids (BA) transport and homeostasis. Consequently, in both human and experimental ALD, the disease shows a direct correlation with an imbalance in BA equilibrium, which in turn may also affect the severity of the disease. Modulation of BA metabolism or signaling pathways is increasingly considered as a potential therapeutic strategy for ALD in humans. In this paper, we highlight the key advances made in the past two decades in characterizing the molecular regulatory mechanisms of BA synthesis, enterohepatic circulation, and BA homeostasis. We summarize recent insights into the nature of the linkage between BA dysregulation and ALD, including the abnormal expression of genes involved in BA metabolism, abnormal changes in receptors that regulate BA metabolism, and disturbance in the gut flora engaged in BA metabolism caused by alcohol consumption. Additionally, we provide novel perspectives on the changes in BAs in various stages of ALD. Finally, we propose potential pharmacological therapies for ALD targeting BA metabolism and signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The choice of language for publishing is a topic of particular significance for scholars of languages other than English (LOTE) due to the importance of publishing in the professional language for maintaining expertise in the written academic register of the respective language. While the multilingual ability of such scholars means they can potentially publish in multiple languages (i.e. their first language, the professional language and English), the limited market for publications in LOTE greatly diminishes such opportunities and restricts career development. Informed by Bourdieu’s theory of practice and Brofenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, we explore factors that influence the choice of language for publishing among 53 Chinese academics (scholars of Russian, Japanese or Korean), and how these academics navigate the challenges of publishing in their professional language. With fieldwork conducted at 10 universities across five regions, we identify regional specificities that contribute to greater inclusiveness with regard to the status of LOTEs in academic careers. Further, we identify the productive disruptive role of returned graduates (with doctorates completed abroad) in improving the institutional ranking of journals which publish in LOTEs. Finally, we underscore the importance of protecting the investment in sophisticated linguistic proficiency attained by scholars of foreign languages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuing permafrost degradation is increasing the risk of mercury (Hg) exposure in the permafrost regions on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP), but related studies are still limited, especially the ones on the detailed Hg migration processes in permafrost. The vertical distribution characteristics of soil Hg were investigated in three ecosystems in the Beiluhe area on the QTP, and its influencing factors and formation mechanism were investigated. The results indicate that the total soil mercury (THg) concentration in the Beiluhe area remains at an extremely low level (6.33 ± 2.45 ng/g). In the vertical profile, the THg concentration of the shallow soil layer (0–50 cm) (5.96 ± 2.22 ng/g) is significantly lower than that of the deep layer (50–400 cm) (7.44 ± 2.71 ng/g) (p < 0.05). Within the upper 50 cm, the THg concentration decreases with soil depth, and the peak THg concentration occurs at 100–300 cm on the entire profile. Although the THg concentration is slightly affected by the organic matter in the shallow soil layer, in general, the soil parent material is the dominant factor affecting the THg concentration. Intense weathering results in a low THg concentration in the shallow soil layer because the soil Hg is carried downward with the soil moisture. To a certain depth, the impermeable frozen soil layer intercepts the flow of the soil Hg, and it forms a Hg enrichment layer. This paper presents the distinctive pattern of the soil Hg distribution in the permafrost regions of the QTP. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents an optimization approach for scheduling the operation room for emergency surgeries, considering the priority of surgeries. This optimization model aims to minimize the costs associated with elective and emergency surgeries and maximize the number of scheduled surgeries. In this study, surgeon assistants to perform each surgery are considered in order to achieve the goals. Since the time of each surgery varies according to the conditions of the patient, this parameter is considered as an uncertain one, and a robust optimization method is applied to deal with uncertainty. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, a case study in one of the East Asian hospitals is presented and analyzed using GAMS software. Moreover, hybrid simulation and gray wolf optimization algorithm (GWO) have been implemented to solve the optimization model in different scenarios. The results show that increasing the risk parameters in the robust optimization model will increase the system costs. Moreover, in case of uncertainty, the solutions obtained from the GWO simulation method are on average 73.75% better than the solutions obtained from the GWO algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citri Reticulata Pericarpium Viride (also known Qing-Pi or QP) is a plant in the Rutaceae family, QP is a traditional Qi-regulating medicine in Chinese medicine that is compatible with other Chinese medicine components and has extensive clinical practice in treating anxiety and depression. Reports on the pharmacological effects of QP have demonstrated its neuroprotective effects and antioxidant capacities. Numerous pharmacological benefits of QP are attributed to its antioxidant abilities. Anxiety disorders are a broadly defined category of mental illnesses. Oxidative stress and an imbalance in the antioxidant defense system are typical pathological features of these disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of QP essential oil on anxiety using animal models and investigate the underlying neurobiological mechanisms. This study aimed to develop an animal model of anxiety using chronic restraint stress and investigate the effects of inhalation of Citri Reticulata Pericarpium Viride essential oil on anxiety-like behavior, olfactory function, and olfactory bulb neurogenesis in mice with anxiety. The results showed that long-term chronic restraint stimulation caused a decrease in olfactory function, significant anxiety-like behavior, and a notable reduction in the number of neurons in the olfactory bulb. However, inhalation of Citri Reticulata Pericarpium Viride essential oil reversed these effects, improving the olfactory function, neuro-stimulating effect, alleviating anxiety-like behavior, and regulating theta (4–12Hz) oscillation in the hippocampus DG area. These effects were associated with changes in the expression levels of glutamate receptor NMDAR and NeuN in olfactory bulb. The study revealed that mice with anxiety induced by chronic restraint stress exhibited significant olfactory dysfunction, providing strong evidence for the causal relationship between anxiety disorders and olfactory dysfunction. Moreover, QP essential oil has the potential to be developed as a therapeutic drug for anxiety disorders, in addition to its role as a complementary anxiolytic. [Display omitted] • Long-term chronic restraint stimulation leads to a decrease in olfactory function. • Inhalation of essential oils is a powerful pathway to improve olfactory function and have a neuro-stimulating effect. • Inhalation administration of QP essential oil can stimulate θ waves vibrate with alleviation of anxiety-like behavior. • The mechanism is related to regulation glutamate/NMDAR and NeuN changes in olfactory bulb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic aerosol (OA) is the largest and most complicated component of aerosols that has significant impacts on human health and global climate. However, current models cannot accurately predict the concentrations and sources of primary and secondary OA due to the oversimplification of traditional organic emission inventories. Traditional emission inventories do not consider important precursors of secondary organic aerosols (SOA), such as semi-volatile and intermediate-volatility organic compounds (SVOCs and IVOCs). To improve the accuracy of OA prediction and source identification, it is essential to refine precursor emissions. In this study, a full-volatility organic compounds emission inventory was established for the Central China, with Henan Province as a representative in 2020. The anthropogenic emissions of ultralow volatility organic compounds (xLVOCs), SVOCs, IVOCs, and VOCs were 53.9 kt, 55.3 kt, 182.1 kt, and 586.3 kt, respectively, effectively filling the gap of 181.3 kt in traditional organic compound emission inventory. Residential biomass burning was identified as the primary contribution source for xLVOCs and SVOCs, accounting for 70.1% and 42.2%, respectively. Industrial process was the main contributor for IVOCs and VOCs, accounting for 31.7% and 44.0% of their emissions, respectively. Meanwhile, the emission of volatile organic compound from different sources showed an increasing trend as volatility increased. The gas-phase emission was 212.1 kt, primarily from industrial process (33.9% contribution), while the particle-phase emission was 79.2 kt, mainly from domestic biomass combustion (65.0% contribution). xLVOCs and SVOCs emissions were mainly concentrated in cities with agricultural activities, such as Zhoukou, while IVOCs and VOCs were concentrated in highly industrialized and urbanized areas, such as Zhengzhou. It is hoped that the incompleteness of emission factors (EFs) for full-volatility organic compounds, which mainly contributes to the uncertainty of this study's results, can be further improved to better understand source contributions. [Display omitted] • The full-volatility framework fills a gap of 181.3 kt xL/S/IVOCs compared with the traditional framework. • Major xLVOCs and SVOCs emissions were from residential biomass burning, while industrial process contributed more IVOCs. • Emission characteristics for 9 different volatile organic compounds (log C* bins ranging from ≤ − 2 to 6) were discussed. • xLVOCs and SVOCs emissions were concentrated in agricultural areas, while IVOCs and VOCs were in urbanized areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wedelolactone (WEL) is a small molecule compound isolated from Eclipta prostrate L., which has been reported to possess various biological activities such as anti-hepatotoxicity, anti-hypertension, anti-tumour, anti-phospholipase A2 and detoxification activity against snake venom. In the present study, we investigated the interaction of WEL with human serum albumin (HSA) using simultaneous fluorescence, UV–visible spectroscopy, 3D fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), molecular docking technique and molecular dynamics simulation. We found that the interaction between HSA and WEL can exhibit a static fluorescence burst mechanism, and the binding process is essentially spontaneous, with the main forces manifested as hydrogen bonding, van der Waals force and electrostatic interactions. Competitive binding and molecular docking studies showed that WEL preferentially bound to HSA in substructural region IIA (site I); molecular dynamics simulations showed that HSA interacted with WEL to form a stable complex, which also induced conformational changes in HSA. The study of the interaction between WEL and HSA can provide a reference for a more in-depth study of the pharmacodynamic mechanism of WEL and its further development and utilisation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A shape-stable glycine water-based phase-change material (GPCM) was fabricated herein via natural adsorption using modified expanded graphite (MEG) as a porous carrier. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was introduced as a modifier on the surface of expanded graphite (EG) to synthesise MEG, which improved compatibility between EG and GPCM. Furthermore, the adsorption capacities of EG and MEG on GPCM were compared and analysed. The thermophysical properties of the as-prepared MEG/GPCM composite were evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry. Results revealed that MEG modified with 0.1 g of CTAB (MEG-0.1) had the best compatibility with GPCM and its adsorption capacity increased from 73.96% to 84.05% compared with that of unmodified EG. When the MEG content was 14%, the MEG/GPCM composite had a suitable melting temperature of −5.06 °C and high latent heat of 243.80 J/g. Moreover, the thermal conductivity was 1.836 W/(m⋅K), 216.33% higher than that of GPCM. After 100 thermal cycles, and the melting temperature and latent heat of the MEG/GPCM composite only decreased by 1.38% and 6.15% to −5.13 °C and 228.79 J/g, respectively. Thus, the prepared composites exhibited excellent thermal properties and showed great potential in the application of low-temperature cold energy storage and cold-chain transportation. • The adsorption capacity of MEG increased from 73.96 % to 84.05 % compared with EG. • The compatibility of EG and GPCM was effectively improved by CTAB modifier. • The melting temperature and latent heat were −5.06 °C and 243.80 J/g, respectively. • The thermal conductivity of MEG/GPCM increased by 216.33 % than that of GPCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer electrolytes hold significant potential in solid-state battery applications due to their high flexibility and scalable manufacturing capabilities. However, it is still necessary to address the safety problems and poor rate performance. Herein, the synergistic effect of trimethyl phosphate (TMP) and lithium difluoro(oxalate)borate (LiDFOB) in the in-situ fabricated poly-butyl acrylate (PBA) quasi-solid electrolyte (QSE) is investigated. The non-flammable additive, TMP, has proven to combine with LiDFOB in the electrolytes as TMP-DFOB− pair. The TMP-DFOB− pair can promote the formation of a B–O, B–F, LiF, and Li 3 P containing solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on the lithium anode, enabling stable lithium striping-plating processes. Besides, it enhances the formation of a LiF-rich cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) and promotes intimate contact between the cathode active materials and PBA-QSE, thereby enhancing the rate performance. Therefore, the Li/PBA-LiDFOB-0.1TMP/LiFePO 4 (LFP) cell delivers discharge capacity of 132 mAh g−1 with a remarkable capacity retention of 95.68 % after 500 cycles at 1 C. Even at 4 C, the discharge capacity reaches 92.1 mAh g−1. This non-flammable PBA-LiDFOB-TMP QSE exhibits potential application in high energy density systems. Furthermore, this work provides new insights into strategies for improving rate performance from lithium salts and functional additives aspects. [Display omitted] • PBA-based non-flammable QSE has been fabricated via in-situ polymerization. • TMP and LiDFOB plays synergistic effects in solid state lithium metal batteries. • A B–O, B–F, LiF and Li 3 P containing SEI was fabricated on lithium metal surface. • The PBA-LiDFOB-0.1TMP QSE exhibits a high oxidation potential of 5 V. • The Li/LFP cell delivers the highest discharge capacity of 92.1 mAh g−1 at 4 C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose-based films have attracted significant attention in the fields of flexible photoelectric products and energy equipment by virtue of their abundant sources, biodegradability, renewability, sustainability, and optical properties, of which high transmittance and high haze are important parameters. In this study, we proposed a green and efficient defibrillation and carboxylation method of KMnO4 synergized with slight homogenization to produce fine carboxylated cellulose nanofibrils (COOH-CNFs) with a high yield of 96%. The oxidation reaction was carried out under mild conditions (50 °C, 2 h). The as-prepared COOH-CNFs well-retained the crystalline structure of the pulp with coexisting crystalline and amorphous regions. This structure gave the COOH-CNF film unique optical properties, including a transmittance above 80% at a wavelength of 550 nm, a haze reaching 97.45%, and no obvious absorption in the ultraviolet-visible range. The resulting COOH-CNFs were characterized in terms of fibrillation yield, morphological features, crystal structure, surface chemistry, and mechanical behavior. This CNF preparation approach is advantageous over traditional methods owing to a reduced reactant dosage and enhanced efficiency, which represents a potential green route in industry and makes it a promising candidate for fabricating films for flexible lighting, energy, and sensing devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Non-ionic emulsifiers have been continuous research focus in skin analysis. With the aim of finding their role as penetration enhancers in dermal drug delivery systems, PEGylated emulsifiers of polyethylene glycol (PEG) ethers were targeted to be investigated ex-vivo. The effectiveness of them in the enhancement of skin penetration was examined by conventional tape stripping method and confocal Raman spectroscopy (CRS). Fluorescein sodium salt (Fluo-Na) and procaine HCl were respectively used as model drugs. The drug delivery performances were compared in the aspects of penetration amount and depth. Based on the results from both analyses, all investigated emulsifiers have the ability to enhance the amount of drug penetration. PEG-20 ethers showed higher ability than PEG-2 oleyl ether (O2) in promoting drug distribution by depth, especially PEG-20 cetyl ether (C20) showed a distinct effect. According to this study, their penetration enhancing performances seem to be linked to their interruption of intercellular lipids, which can be considered as the underlying mechanism for governing the ability of PEGylated emulsifiers as penetration enhancers. Further instrumental comparison highlighted the benefits of using CRS as an alternative in skin penetration analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development goals (SDGs) emphasize a holistic achievement instead of cherry-picking a few. However, no assessment has quantitatively considered the evenness among all 17 goals. Here, we propose a systematic method, which first integrates both the evenness and the overall status of all goals, to distinguish the ideal development pathways from the uneven ones and then revisit the development trajectory in China from 2000 to 2015. Our results suggest that, despite the remarkable progress, a bottleneck has occurred in China since 2013 due to the stagnant developments in some SDGs. However, many far-reaching policies in China have been targeting these deficiencies since then, providing a perspective on how a country approaches sustainable development by promoting evenness among all SDGs. Our results also indicate that regions with the slowest progress are the developed provinces, owing to the persistent uneven status of all goals. Our study demonstrates the importance of adopting evenness in assessing and guiding sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uneven progresses have been widely detected among goals or regions in global sustainable development, which are ascribed to the heterogeneous resource and environmental conditions and trade-offs among goals. In-depth understanding and efforts to reduce such uneven progresses are essential for the holistic achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). This study discusses how bBig Earth Data supports the assessment of the even development among targets and regions by pointing out its advantages in providing high-frequency and more timely data products with higher spatial resolution for the currently poorly achieved SDGs regarding essential human needs and environmental protection. Moreover, the Big Earth Data brings deeper insights into the pattern and cause of the uneven development and disentangles the core issues that restrict the holistic achievement of SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterojunction integrated by two-dimensional/three-dimensional materials has shown great potential applications in optoelectronic devices because of its fast response speed, high specific detectivity and broad spectral response. In this work, the vertical n-Si/p-GaTe heterojunction has been designed and fabricated, which shows a high responsivity up to 5.73 A W−1 and a fast response time of 20 μs at zero bias benifitting from the high efficiency of light absorption, internal photocurrent gain and strong built-in electrical field. A specific detectivity of 1012 Jones and a broad spectral response ranging from 300 to 1100 nm can also be achieved. This work provides an alternative strategy for high-performance self-powered optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most malignant cancers worldwide and its pathogenesis is not completely clear. In this study, we explored the functions and mechanisms of exosomes transferring miR‐3180‐3p in NSCLC progression. Methods: The expression levels of miR‐3180‐3p in NSCLC tissues and paracarcinoma tissues was obtained from the GEO database (GEO: GSE53882). Exosomes derived from A549 cells were identified. Proliferation, migration and invasion were measured after treatment with exosomal miR‐3180‐3p or transfection using miR‐3180‐3p mimics. The relationship between miR‐3180‐3p and forkhead box P4 (FOXP4) was predicted using a bioinformatic tool and measured using a dual‐luciferase reporter gene assay and western blotting. Finally, a mouse xenograft model of NSCLC cells was established to verify the function of exosomal miR‐3180‐3p in vivo. Results: We found that miR‐3180‐3p decreased in both NSCLC cell lines and patient tissues. Overexpression of miR‐3180‐3p or treatment with exosomal miR‐3180‐3p significantly suppressed cell proliferation and metastasis in NSCLC cell lines. Subsequently, we found miR‐3180‐3p downregulated FOXP4 protein expression levels. Furthermore, the volumes and weights of nude mouse tumors expressing exosomal miR‐3180‐3p were significantly reduced. Conclusions: Exosomal miR‐3180‐3p suppresses NSCLC progression by downregulating FOXP4 expression. Key points: Significant findings of the study: We found that exosomal miR‐3180‐3p suppressed NSCLC progression and also identified a miR‐3180‐3p target gene. These findings provide a foundation to determine innovative therapeutic strategies. What this study adds: This study contributes to research investigating exosomal containing miRNAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Porous medium adhesion oil film model for simulating the steam flows through the heavy oil reservoir. • Innovative study of the oil film's effects on steam condensation and heat transfer in porous media. • Lab experiments for long-distance steam heat transfer and oil film dynamic stripping by composite hot fluid. The CO 2 and Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) assisted steam flooding technology was an effective approach addressed the persistent issues that have hindered the stable development of high-viscosity cold oil through steam injection. However, in the process of steam flow through porous media, the synergistic influence of the oil film adsorbed in near wellbore porous media, and the CO 2 -SDS on steam heat transfer has not been investigated. Steam heat transfer is the key factors affecting heavy oil recovery. The primary objective of this study was to research the effect of CO 2 -SDS on steam heat transfer and oil film stripping by designing experiments. The study results demonstrated that in the initial stage of displacement, the heat transfer resistance between the steam and the porous medium was increased by the oil film adsorbed in near wellbore area. In additional, the condensation mode of the steam was altered from bead condensing to film condensing by the composite thermal fluid flooding, preventing the steam heat dissipation near wellbore area and transferring more thermal to the long-distance area. At the later stage of displacement, the interfacial tension between oil-water and oil-gas was reduced by CO 2 -SDS, improving the fluidity of oil and providing the seepage channel for steam, and increasing the steam thermal sweep range. Compared to the sandpack experiment of steam flooding, the temperature at the output end of the sandpack model increased from 69.8 °C to 88.7 °C, indicating an expansion of the steam heat sweep range and successful long-distance heat transfer during composite thermal fluid flooding. In the process of composite thermal fluid flooding, the maximum displacement pressure difference increased from 2.28 MPa to 3.07 MPa, and the maximum oil recovery rate increased from 2.48 g/mL to 2.81 g/mL. The peak of the high production period was raised, resulting in a 40.97% to 51.86% increase in recovery rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gut microbial metabolism is intimately coupled with host health and disease. Aromatic amino acid (AAA) catabolism by the gut microbiome yields numerous metabolites that may regulate immune, metabolic, and neuronal responses at local and distant sites. Such a chemical dialog between host cells and the gut microbiome is shaped by environmental cues, and may become dysregulated in gastrointestinal and systems diseases. Increasing knowledge of the bacterial pathway and signaling basis may shed additional light on metabolic host–microbiome crosstalk that remains untapped for drug discovery. Here, we update our understanding of microbial AAA metabolism and its impacts on host physiology and disease. We also consider open questions related to therapeutically mining these signaling metabolites and how recent concepts and tools may drive this area forward. The gut microbiome converts AAAs to a collection of signaling metabolites that impact the host as well as the microbiome. Microbial AAA metabolites regulate biological processes, such as intestinal epithelial cell homeostasis, immune cell response, and neuronal excitability, thereby mediating host–gut microbiome crosstalk at local and systems levels. The role of microbial AAA metabolites has been explored in different physiological and disease settings, and the relevance of these compounds as important integrators of environmental, immune, and neural system signals continues to emerge. Targeting AAA metabolism has shown therapeutic promise in animal models of disease, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Deciphering the key bacterial sources and signaling mechanisms of AAA metabolites could enable the rational design of microbial and metabolite-based therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, two-dimensional materials have shown great potential in the application of memories due to their atomic thickness and excellent electrical properties. Furthermore, van der Waals heterostructures consisting a variety of two-dimensional materials provide more possibilities for memory research. Here, we design a simple memory device based on the molybdenum disulfide/germanium diselenide (MoS2/GeSe2) van der Waals heterostructure, which exhibits a large memory window of about 10 V in the gate range of ±10 V. Its ratio of program/erase current reaches over 102 and remains after more than 2 × 103 s and 103 cycles, showing good stability and reliability. Compared to conventional floating gate memory, the device based on this structure provides promising advantages in the reduction of the device size and simplification of manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the popularization of rehabilitation robots, it is necessary to develop quantitative motor function assessment methods for patients with a stroke. To make the assessment equipment easier to use in clinics and combine the assessment methods with the rehabilitation training process, this paper proposes an anthropomorphic rehabilitation robot based on the basic movement patterns of the upper limb, point-to-point reaching and circle drawing movement. This paper analyzes patients' movement characteristics in aspects of movement range, movement accuracy, and movement smoothness and the output force characteristics by involving 8 patients. Besides, a quantitative assessment method is also proposed based on multivariate fitting methods. It can be concluded that the area of the real trajectory and movement accuracy during circle drawing movement as well as the ratio of force along the sagittal axis in backward point-to-point movement are the unique parameters that are different remarkably between stroke patients and healthy subjects. The fitting function has a high goodness of fit with the Fugl-Meyer scores for the upper limb ( R 2 = 0.91 , p = 0.015), which demonstrates that the fitting function can be used to assess patients' upper limb movement function. The indicators are recorded during training movement, and the fitting function can calculate the scores immediately, which makes the functional assessment quantitative and timely. Combining the training process and assessment, the quantitative assessment method will farther expand the application of rehabilitation robots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microtopography affects hydrological processes and forms different microhabitats. Our previous study uncovered that riparian zone microtopography created various microhabitats with different soil environments and runoff-infiltration patterns. However, how riparian microtopography and microtopography within the water area (waterfall and tributary) affects downstream water quality remains unclear. Therefore, water samples were taken almost monthly in both the main stream and the tributary, before and after waterfalls, and near the bottom of three microtopographic types from June 2016 to March 2017. Compared with the dry season, the fact that water quality worsened in the wet season and that there were positive correlations for nitrate (NO 3 −) between water and the corresponding soil samples suggested that the riparian-soil environment affected the adjacent water quality mainly in the wet season. Nevertheless, riparian microtopography did not influence water quality downstream because of the low rainfall frequency and the weak leaching process due to plant interception. In the wet season, both the tributary and the waterfall increased the dissolved oxygen in the water body and, therefore, lowered the risk of eutrophication. The tributary has two pathways for improving the water quality, by increased disturbance and flow velocity, while the waterfall only has the former. However, such effects were not significant in the dry season. We conclude that the application of microtopographic modification is useful in maintaining urban wetland water quality in wet seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increasing ambient wind speed, eddy currents appear near condenser cells, affecting the thermal-flow performance of a direct air-cooled condenser. To examine the impact of ambient wind on the eddy-current distribution of an air-cooling island, a 2 × 600 MW direct air-cooling unit in North China was studied. To compare a series of different inlet wind speeds, the temperature and pressure distribution and the mechanism of and variation in eddy currents were studied. Moreover, the effects of ambient wind speed on the inlet flow rate of an axial-flow fan cluster were examined. Numerical results show that with increasing ambient speed, the chance of hot-air plume generation increases, resulting in a reduction in heat-transfer volume and efficiency. Additionally, more negative-pressure areas are created near the condenser cells. Vortices appear in the condenser-cell flow field, gradually becoming larger. The mass-flow rate of the axial flow fan cluster exhibits a downward trend with increasing ambient speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the importance of rod pumping system fault detection using an indicator diagram, indicator diagram identification has been a challenging task in the computer-vision field. The gradual changing fault is a special type of fault because it is not clearly indicated in the indicator diagram at the onset of its occurrence and can only be identified when an irreversible damage in the well has been caused. In this paper, we proposed a new method that combines the convolutional neural network (CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) network to perform a gradual changing fault classification. In particular, we employed CNN to extract the indicator diagram multilevel abstraction features based on its hierarchical structure. We considered the change in the time series of indicator diagrams as a sequence and employed LSTM to perform recognition. Compared with traditional mathematical model diagnosis methods, CNN-LSTM overcame the limitations of the traditional mathematical model theoretical analysis such as unclear assumption conditions and improved the diagnosis accuracy. Finally, 1.3 million sets of well production were set as a training dataset and used to evaluate CNN-LSTM. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of utilizing CNN and LSTM to recognize a gradual changing fault using the indicator diagram and characteristic parameters. The accuracy reached 98.4%, and the loss was less than 0.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The downstream signalling of Tac3rs can be activated by NKB peptides in goldfish. • NKB/ Tac3r system is involved in the negative regulation of the reproductive axis. • Two cDNAs of tac3r were cloned in goldfish. To ascertain the significance of the Neurokinin B/Tachykinin 3 receptor (NKB/NK3) system in goldfish reproduction, two cDNAs encoding tachykinin 3 receptors , namely tacr3a and tacr3b , were cloned. Subsequent studies revealed that the downstream signalling of both Tac3rs can be activated by different NKB peptides, suggesting that the cloned receptors are biologically functional in goldfish. RT-PCR analysis showed that tacr3s are widely expressed in brain regions. During the gonadal development, tacr3a and tacr3b exhibited different expression patterns in the hypothalamus and pituitary. The actions of NKB peptides on reproductive axis was further investigated in vivo. Intraperitoneal injections of NKB peptides significantly reduced the expression of kiss2 and gonadotropin releasing hormone 3 (gnrh3) in the hypothalamus, and the expression of luteinizing hormone beta subunit (lhb) and follicle stimulating hormone beta subunit (fshb) in the pituitary in sexually immature goldfish. Taken together, our findings revealed that NKB/NK3 system plays a negative role in the reproductive axis of immature goldfish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study investigated the molecular mechanisms of oviduct regression in ducks. Single-cell transcriptome sequencing of magnum tissue from egg-laying and ceased-laying ducks revealed significant heterogeneity, particularly in protein secretion cells and ECM-producing fibroblasts. Egg-laying ducks exhibited more protein secretion cells, crucial for albumen deposition, and higher proportions of THY1+ and TIMP4+ fibroblasts compared to ceased-laying ducks. These findings imply a correlation between THY1 and TIMP4 expression in fibroblasts and oviduct activity during reproduction. The study provides valuable insights into reproductive tract degeneration and potential improvements in laying duck production efficiency. Duck egg production, like that of laying hens, follows a typical low–peak–low cycle, reflecting the dynamics of the reproductive system. Post-peak, some ducks undergo a cessation of egg laying, indicative of a regression process in the oviduct. Notably, the magnum, being the longest segment of the oviduct, plays a crucial role in protein secretion. Despite its significance, few studies have investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying oviduct regression in ducks that have ceased laying eggs. In this study, we conducted single-cell transcriptome sequencing on the magnum tissue of Shaoxing ducks at 467 days of age, utilizing the 10× Genomics platform. This approach allowed us to generate a detailed magnum transcriptome map of both egg-laying and ceased-laying ducks. We collected transcriptome data from 13,708 individual cells, which were then subjected to computational analysis, resulting in the identification of 27 distinct cell clusters. Marker genes were subsequently employed to categorize these clusters into specific cell types. Our analysis revealed notable heterogeneity in magnum cells between the egg-laying and ceased-laying ducks, primarily characterized by variations in cells involved in protein secretion and extracellular matrix (ECM)-producing fibroblasts. Specifically, cells engaged in protein secretion were predominantly observed in the egg-laying ducks, indicative of their role in functional albumen deposition within the magnum, a phenomenon not observed in the ceased-laying ducks. Moreover, the proportion of THY1+ cells within the ECM-producing fibroblasts was found to be significantly higher in the egg-laying ducks (59%) compared to the ceased-laying ducks (24%). Similarly, TIMP4+ fibroblasts constituted a greater proportion of the ECM-producing fibroblasts in the egg-laying ducks (83%) compared to the ceased-laying ducks (58%). These findings suggest a potential correlation between the expression of THY1 and TIMP4 in ECM-producing fibroblasts and oviduct activity during functional reproduction. Our study provides valuable single-cell insights that warrant further investigation into the biological implications of fibroblast subsets in the degeneration of the reproductive tract. Moreover, these insights hold promise for enhancing the production efficiency of laying ducks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a wearable and flexible three-electrode electrochemical sensing system (TESS) by using a two-in-one enzyme-mimic working electrode (TIOWE) is reported. The integrated three-electrode, including working electrodes, reference electrodes, and counter electrodes are formed by transfer printing of Ni 2 P-based composite electrode ink (Ni 2 P/G ink), Ag/AgCl ink, and carbon ink onto PDMS substrate, respectively. The Ni 2 P/G ink-based working electrodes have both good conductivity and enzyme-mimic catalytic activity towards glucose. Under optimized conditions, the TIOWE-TESS has a low detection limit of 0.37 μM and wide linear ranges of 0.001 mM–0.1 mM and 0.1 mM–1.4 mM. Furthermore, the TIOWE-TESS has good applicability in serum samples and reveals remarkable electrochemical performance at fluctuant working temperatures. The proposed TIOWE-TESS can be integrated on a waterproof bandage to fabricate a skin-friendly patch device for sweet glucose monitoring, which highlights its potential applications in flexible and wearable commercial devices for health-monitoring. A wearable and flexible three-electrode electrochemical sensing system by using a two-in-one enzyme-mimic working electrode is reported. Using tailor-made Ni 2 P-based composite electrode ink, it can nonenzymatically response to glucose with high specificity and sensitivity and be further utilized to fabricate a skin-friendly patch device for sweet glucose monitoring. [Display omitted] • A two-in-one enzyme-mimic working electrode prepared by novel Ni 2 P/G ink. • The electrode has good conductivity and enzyme-mimic catalytic activity. • A wearable and flexible three-electrode electrochemical sensing system. • The system can specifically response to glucose and process high sensitivity. • A portable patch device for sweat glucose monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • The alkali hydrolysis was designed for total determination of conjugate nanomedicine. • This approach was used firstly to develop for the determination of PLG-CA4. • PLG-CA4 significantly prolonged retention and accumulation of CA4 in tumor tissue. • The content of polymeric nanomedicine combined by covalently bound can be obtained. Abstract Poly (l -glutamic acid)-Combretastatin A4 conjugate (PLG-CA4) is a novel nano-anticancer drug. For macromolecule conjugate nanomedicine, its pharmacology mechanism is closely related to the pharmacokinetic profiles in vivo. It is a great significance that evaluates this polymer drug combined by covalently bound via studying the pharmacokinetics and distribution characteristics. Therefore, it is urgent to develop a simple, accurate and practical analytical method for such conjugated polymers combined by covalently bound. In this study, a simple and complete alkali hydrolysis was designed and optimized for the total CA4 concentrations obtained from PLG-CA4. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method with multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode and the internal standard (IS) were adopted to develop a sensitive and accurate method satisfied both free and total determination of PLG-CA4 in biosamples. The method was validated which showed good linearity over a wide concentration range (R2 > 0.99), and the intra- and inter-day assay variability was less than 15% for CA4. The mean extraction recoveries of CA4 from plasma were all more than 80.0%. Furthermore, the method was applied to the study of pharmacokinetics (PK) and tissue distribution of PLG-CA4 in tumor-bearing nude mice. PLG-CA4 significantly prolonged retention time and enhanced distribution of CA4 in tumor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this paper, monodisperse and uniform Na 0.39 Y 0.61 F 2.35 (denoted as NYF hereafter) and NaYF 4 nano-/micromaterials were synthesized by trisodium citrate (labeled as Cit3-) assisted one-step hydrothermal method. Various morphologies and sizes could be easily modulated by changing the ratio of reactants under the alkaline conditions, including porous nanoparticles, microrods stacked by nanospheres, turtle shell-like and hexagonal microprisms. XRD, SEM, photoluminescence (PL) and nitrogen adsorption desorption were used to characterize the prepared samples. Additionally, by co-doping the Tb3+, Eu3+ and tri-doping Dy3+, Tb3+, Eu3+ ions into the NYF host and tuning their relative concentration ratio, multicolor tunable emissions were obtained. The energy transfer process from Tb3+ to Eu3+ was studied in co-doped and tri-doped systems and demonstrated to be an exchange interaction mechanism. These results show that the NYF porous nanomaterials may have potential applications in the field of luminescence. Graphical abstract monodisperse and uniform Na 0.39 Y 0.61 F 2.35 mesoporous nanoparticles were synthesized by adjusting the alkaline conditions of the hydrothermal environment. When the ratio of fluorine to yttrium was increased, the products with various shapes were obtained,including microrods stacked by nanospheres, turtle shell-like and hexagonal microprisms. Multicolor tunable emissions were obtained by co-doping the Tb3+, Eu3+ and tri-doping Dy3+, Tb3+, Eu3+ ions into the Na 0.39 Y 0.61 F 2.35 host. In addition, the energy transfer mechanism from Tb3+ to Eu3+ proved to be the exchange interaction mechanism in both dual-doped and triple-doped systems. fx1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of green tea powder supplementation on egg production and egg quality in chickens. A total of 240 Xianju chickens (all aged 20 weeks) were randomly allotted to five treatments, control group T0, no diet supplements; test groups T1, T2 and T3 were supplemented with 1%, 2% and 3% green tea powder into basal diet, respectively; test group T4, 3% green tea powder and 1.5% peanut oil were added to the diet. After the rearing test, the eggs from each treatment were collected and later analysed for egg quality. Results suggest that 1% green tea powder supplementation had little effect on egg production and feed conversion, but high amounts of green tea powder (>2%) treatment significantly decreased the egg production performance. Green tea powder treatment had some beneficial effects on egg quality, especially in the albumen height and Haugh unit. Additionally, green tea powder treatment significantly changed the nutritional composition of eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periplaneta americana (P. americana), which is widely used for wound healing in China, produces a large amount of solid waste (P. americana remnant) after pharmaceutical production extraction. P. americana remnant chitosan (PAC) has a low molecular weight, low crystallinity, and easily modifiable structural properties. In this study, PAC and P. americana remnant polysaccharide (PAP) were used as raw materials to prepare a composite film (PAPCF). The good biocompatibility of the composite film was verified by cell proliferation assays and protein adsorption assays. The bioactivity of the composite film was assessed by antibacterial and in vivo/vitro antioxidant assays to evaluate its potential as a wound dressing. The wound healing experiment revealed that PAPCF improved wound closure and collagen deposition, decreased reactive oxygen species levels, and attenuated the inflammatory response, enabling rapid wound healing from the inflammatory phase to the proliferative phase in mice. Additionally, PAPCF was administered only once, reducing the chance of infection from multiple deliveries. In summary, this paper presents an easy-to-administer, cost-effective, and effective dressing candidate for wound treatment based on the environmental concept of resource reuse. [Display omitted] • Providing new ideas for the effective utilization of Periplaneta Americana remnants. • Polysaccharide/chitosan films (PAPCF) have a rough surface for rapid wound adhesion. • PAPCF could be administered in a single dose for its rapid biodegradation rate. • PAPCF showed remarkable antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that improved wound healing rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) has been the most widely used method to assess the integrity of the skin barrier and evaluate the irritation potential or the protective properties of topical products for many years. It detects the amount of water that diffuses across the stratum corneum (SC) to the external environment. As one of the most important functions of the skin is to keep water inside the body, an increase in TEWL is used to indicate the skin's impaired barrier function. So far, a variety of commercial instruments are available to measure the TEWL. Their applications mainly focus on the in-vivo TEWL measurements for dermatological examinations or formulation development. Recently, an in-vitro TEWL probe has also been commercially released enabling preliminary tests with excised skin samples. In our study, we first aimed to optimize the experimental procedures for detecting the in-vitro TEWL of porcine skin. Secondly, different kinds of emulsifiers were applied to the skin, including polyethylene glycol-containing emulsifiers (PEG-ylated emulsifiers), sorbitan esters, cholesterol, and lecithin. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) was used as a positive control, and water as a negative control. Based on the findings, we established a protocol for accurately measuring the in-vitro TEWL values, emphasizing that the temperature of the skin sample should be constantly maintained at 32 ℃. Subsequently, the influences of emulsifiers on the in-vitro TEWL were analyzed. They indicated a significant skin barrier impairment of PEG-20 cetyl ether, PEG-20 stearyl ether, and SLS on in-vitro skin. Furthermore, we interestingly found that there consistently was an alteration of the TEWL values, even after the application of water to the skin. Our findings are of special interest, as the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommends the use of in-vitro TEWL to determine skin barrier intactness during Franz cell experiments. Thus, this study provides a validated protocol for measuring the in-vitro TEWL and elucidates the impact of emulsifiers on the skin barrier. It also improves the understanding of tolerable variations of in-vitro TEWL and offers recommendations for its use in research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Net primary production (NPP) serves as a crucial indicator of the ecosystem's capacity to capture atmospheric CO2. Gaining insights into the dynamics of NPP and its driving mechanisms is pivotal for optimizing ecosystem carbon sink resource management. Since the implementation of the Grain-for-Green Program (GFGP) in 1999, the Yellow River Basin (YRB) has been one of the most significant areas for ecological restoration in China. However, our knowledge regarding the interannual variability (IAV) of NPP and the underlying driving forces in this region remains incomplete. In this study, we utilized a light use efficiency model to assess the spatiotemporal dynamics, IAV, and driving factors of NPP in the YRB during the period from 1999 to 2018. Our findings revealed that the average annual NPP in the YRB approximated 189.81 Tg C. Over the study duration, NPP significantly increased in 79.63% of the basin with an overall increasing rate of 6.76 g C m−2 yr−1. The most prominent increase was observed in the key GFGP implementation area, predominantly in the semi-humid region. Notably, the middle altitude region (1–1.5 km), semi-humid region, and grassland emerged as the primary contributors to the basin's total vegetation carbon sequestration. However, it is worth emphasizing that there was substantial IAV in the temporal trends of NPP, with the semi-humid region being the most influential contributor (62.66%) to the overall NPP IAV in the YRB. Further analysis of the driving mechanisms unveiled precipitation as the primary driver of NPP IAV in the YRB with a contribution of 62.9%, followed by temperature (23.07%) and radiation (14.03%). Overall, this study deepened our understanding of the IAV and driving mechanisms of NPP in the YRB under ecological restoration, and provided scientific support for optimizing the management of regional carbon sequestration resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the applicability of the schematic structure of research article (RA) discussion sections in the field of applied linguistics proposed by Yang and Allison (2003), and the organizational features of moves, and the distribution of metadiscourse markers across moves. The analysis is based on a corpus of 20 RAs from two high-profile journals in applied linguistics. Findings from the current study have shown that this schematic structure can be applied to a different dataset from the same field, without the need for additional moves. Specific patterns were noted with regard to the organizational features of moves and steps, in particular, opening and closing moves and move sequences. Marked differences were identified in the distribution of textual and interpersonal markers across moves in discussion sections. The findings from this study have both theoretical and pedagogical significance in terms of strengthening confidence in the reliability of Yang and Allison's RA discussion section schematic structure, deepening novice writers' understanding of differences in the frequency and sequencing of moves and steps, and heightening writers' awareness of the functions of metadiscourse markers and their distribution across moves in RAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper applies uncertainty theory to the asset allocation problem for a defined contribution pension fund under a multi-period mean-variance framework. Different from most studies in the literature, both the security return and the salary are considered and assumed to be uncertain variables in this paper. The optimal portfolio adjustments are determined by minimizing the risk within the constraints of controlling the expected total incremental wealth with a minimum guarantee over the investment horizon. The transaction cost is also taken into account to simulate the real capital market. Finally, some special cases are discussed, and a numerical example is presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the model we proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Objective: To compare the endocrinological profiles, cycle characteristics and pregnancy outcomes of progestin‐primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS) with or without clomiphene citrate (CC) supplementation in normal ovulatory women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Design: Prospective randomized controlled study. Patient(s): A total of 320 infertile women undergoing IVF/ICSI. Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) were simultaneously administered on menstrual cycle day 3. The women were randomized into 2 equal groups with or without CC supplementation. Measures: The primary outcome measure was the percentage of women with profound pituitary suppression (luteinizing hormone [LH] <1.0 IU/L on the trigger day). The secondary outcomes were endocrinological profiles, cycle characteristics and pregnancy outcomes. Results: The percentage of women with profound pituitary suppression was significantly lower in the study group (hMG + MPA + CC) than in the control group (hMG + MPA) (1.9% vs 33.1%, P < .001). The mean LH level during controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) was higher in the study group than in the control group (P < .001), but none of the patients in either group exhibited a premature LH surge. The doses of Gn in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (1334.06 ± 212.53 IU vs 1488.28 ± 325.08 IU, P < .001). The number of oocytes retrieved was similar between the 2 groups (10.03 ± 5.97 vs 10.34 ± 7.52, P > .05). No significant differences were observed in either the number of viable embryos or the pregnancy outcomes between the 2 groups. Conclusion(s): Clomiphene citrate is an effective adjuvant to alleviate pituitary suppression in the PPOS protocol; however, it has no impact on clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To analyze and compare the clinical registration information about acupuncture and moxibustion for intervention characteristics. Methods. Clinical trials from the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform of the World Health Organization in acupuncture and moxibustion were comprehensively collected from 2013 to 2015; data were independently screened and extracted by two retrievers, and relevant data involving either basic descriptions or intervention characteristics were analyzed. Results. 425 acupuncture and moxibustion registered clinical trials were included; 88.00% (374/425) were designed as controlled studies, among which 38.59% (164/425) had sham acupuncture as the control group. The most common diseases were pain-related at approximately 19.29% (82/425) of trials. Reports on the intervention information in these acupuncture and moxibustion clinical studies were not sufficiently presented; these reports included the reporting of names of points (39.8%), the method of needle stimulation (32.5%), needle type (29.6%), needle retention time (34.1%), the number of treatment sessions (22.4%), and the frequency and duration of treatment sessions (38.1%). Conclusion. The registration information for the clinical trials of acupuncture and moxibustion was quite low according to this investigational study. Steps should be taken to improve the quality of acupuncture and moxibustion registration information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Road infrastructure is frequently cited as a critical catalyst for regional economic growth in transport policy research. However, it remains uncertain how the road infrastructure interacts with the local economic systems. Prior studies demonstrated that associations between the road infrastructure and local development were case-specific to some extent, and even contradictory conclusions could be generated. Simple quantitative or qualitative analysis, therefore, cannot effectively reveal complex interactions. This paper first proposes a conceptual model to theorize a transport-region economic relationship and then applies structural equation modeling (SEM) to explore the relationships between the road infrastructure and local economy, as well as the mediating factors. Using statistical data from 2005 to 2012, SEM models are established for two typical regions with different development levels in China: the Jiang-Zhe-Hu region (highly developed) and the Yun-Gui-Chuan region (less developed). This econometric approach, which emphasizes the economic mechanisms, confirms the efficiency of the SEM in this study. The results show that these two regions differ greatly in mediators for the influence of the road infrastructure on the local economy. The road infrastructure influences the local economy largely by attracting overseas investments and promoting real estate development in the Jiang-Zhe-Hu region. In the Yun-Gui-Chuan region, the road infrastructure impacts the local economy primarily by stimulating market openness. Such results confirm the hypothesis that the pathway for the influence of the road infrastructure on the local economy should vary with regions with different development levels. This paper is believed to provide new insights into transport-region research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]