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Lignanoids are an active ingredient exerting powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in the treatment of many diseases. In order to improve the efficiency of the resource utilization of traditional Chinese medicine waste, Magnolia officinalis Rehder & E.H.Wilson residue (MOR) waste biomass was used as raw material in this study, and a series of deep eutectic solvents (ChUre, ChAce, ChPro, ChCit, ChOxa, ChMal, ChLac, ChLev, ChGly and ChEG) were selected to evaluate the extraction efficiency of lignanoids from MORs. The results showed that the best conditions for lignanoid extraction were a liquid–solid ratio of 40.50 mL/g, an HBD-HBA ratio of 2.06, a water percentage of 29.3%, an extract temperature of 337.65 K, and a time of 107 min. Under these conditions, the maximum lignanoid amount was 39.18 mg/g. In addition, the kinetics of the extraction process were investigated by mathematic modeling. In our antioxidant activity study, high antioxidant activity of the lignanoid extract was shown in scavenging four different types of free radicals (DPPH, ·OH, ABTS, and superoxide anions). At a concentration of 3 mg/mL, the total antioxidant capacity of the lignanoid extract was 1.795 U/mL, which was equal to 0.12 mg/mL of Vc solution. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity study found that the lignanoid extract exhibited good antibacterial effects against six tested pathogens. Among them, Staphylococcus aureus exerted the strongest antibacterial activity. Eventually, the correlation of the lignanoid extract with the biological activity and physicochemical properties of DESs is described using a heatmap, along with the evaluation of the in vitro hypoglycemic, in vitro hypolipidemic, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory activity of the lignanoid extract. These findings can provide a theoretical foundation for the extraction of high-value components from waste biomass by deep eutectic solvents, as well as highlighting its specific significance in natural product development and utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we calculate the value-at-risk (VaR) for large portfolios in intensity models, where the idiosyncratic and systematic risk exposures as well as the impact of past default losses are subsumed into the intensity processes. The adopted method is based on the theory of saddlepoint approximation for continuous-time Markov processes whose transition densities and distribution functions can be approximated in closed forms. A simple example with theoretical and numerical results is presented in the end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• C–C bond cleavage and defluorination was the main direct photolysis pathway for FLU. • FLU0 is easier to defluorinate than FLU+. • ➢The main indirect photolysis pathway is OH-addition and NO3-addition reaction. • The photodegradation of FLU with ·CO3− is difficult to occur in the environment. The frequent detection of pharmaceutical compounds in the environment has led to a growing awareness, which may pose a major threat to the aquatic environment. In this study, photodegradation (direct and indirect photolysis) of two different dissociation states of fluoxetine (FLU) was investigated in water, mainly including the determination of photolytic transition states and products, and the mechanisms of indirect photodegradation with ·OH, CO 3 *− and NO 3 *. The main direct photolysis pathways are defluorination and C–C bond cleavage. In addition, the indirect photodegradation of FLU in water is mainly through the reactions with ·OH and NO 3 *, and the photodegradation reaction with CO 3 *− is relatively difficult to occur in the water environment. Our results provide a theoretical basis for understanding the phototransformation process of FLU in the water environment and assessing its potential risk. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study innovatively derives a risk prediction model for hydrogen leakage accidents based on existing case evidence by combining MORT (Management Oversight and Risk Tree) with machine learning algorithms. 30 hydrogen leakage accidents causative factors are derived by analyzing 23 accident cases through MORT, and constructed a dataset of hydrogen leakage accident causative factors through data quantification. Using feature selection to optimize the risk indicators, 14 salient feature indicators are selected from the 30 full feature indicators. Two cross-validation strategies are introduced and combined with six machine learning models to establish 24 working conditions for numerical comparison experiments. The results show that the support vector machine model based on stratified K-fold cross-validation strategy has the best prediction performance, with the model Accuracy of 0.939, Precision of 0.848, Recall of 0.848, F1-score of 0.848, and AUC score of 0.98. This will effectively solve the problem of hydrogen leakage risk prediction and accident prevention in industrial systems. • Hydrogen leakage accident causative factors were derived through MORT. • A dataset of causal factors for hydrogen leakage accidents was constructed. • 24 risk prediction models were built for numerical comparison experiments. • A well-performing hydrogen leakage accident risk prediction model was screened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new Tb(III) complex based on 3‐pyridylacetic acid, [Tb(H(3‐PAA)2)(NO3)2] (1, 3‐PAA=3‐pyridylacetic acid), has been triumphantly prepared and structurally characterized. Complex 1 is a 1D chained structure linked by carboxylate groups of the 3‐PAA ligand, and its 2D supramolecular packing is controlled mainly by hydrogen‐bonds. The compound exhibits outstanding thermal stability and excellent stability under ethanol solutions. Moreover, compound 1 shows a strong solid‐state green‐emitting emission at room temperature, which demonstrates that the ligand can effectively sensitize the emission of the Tb(III) ion, and it can serve as a responsive sensing material for detecting the Fe3+ ion in ethanol solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China leads the world in freshwater pearl production, an industry in which the triangle sail mussel (Sinohyriopsis cumingii) plays a pivotal role. In this paper, we report a high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly of S. cumingii with a size of 2.90 Gb—the largest yet reported among bivalves—and 89.92% anchorage onto 19 linkage groups. The assembled genome has 37,696 protein-coding genes and 50.86% repeat elements. A comparative genomic analysis revealed expansions of 752 gene families, mostly associated with biomineralization, and 237 genes under strong positive selection. Notably, the fibrillin gene family exhibited gene family expansion and positive selection simultaneously, and it also exhibited multiple high expressions after mantle implantation by transcriptome analysis. Furthermore, RNA silencing and an in vitro calcium carbonate crystallization assay highlighted the pivotal role played by one fibrillin gene in calcium carbonate deposition and aragonite transformation. This study provides a valuable genomic resource and offers new insights into the mechanism of pearl biomineralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Newly recruited nurses face multiple sources of stress and their coping styles need to be focused on to ensure good mental health. This study aimed to examine the relationship among mental health literacy, psychological capital and coping styles in newly recruited nurses. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in August and September 2022. A total of 315 newly recruited nurses were recruited in a tertiary hospital in Henan Province, central China, employing the convenience sampling method. The self-reported questionnaires were sent through a QR code, including the Mental Health Literacy Scale for Healthcare Students, Psychological Capital Questionnaire, and Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire. Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the relationships among the variables. Mediation analysis was performed to identify the mediating effect of psychological capital on the relationship between mental health literacy and coping styles. Results: Positive coping showed a positive relationship with psychological capital and mental health literacy, while negative coping showed a negative relationship with psychological capital and mental health literacy. For positive coping, psychological capital was a partial mediator with an effect of 0.140, accounting for 62.8%. For negative coping, a full mediating effect was shown by psychological capital between mental health literacy and negative coping, with an indirect effect of -0.048. Conclusion: Psychological capital plays a partial and complete mediating role between mental health literacy and different coping styles among newly recruited nurses. Diversified training and personalized guidance in improving mental health literacy and increasing psychological capital simultaneously can be provided to newly recruited nurses continuously to adjust their coping styles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying key causal genes is critical for unraveling the genetic basis of complex economic traits, yet it remains a formidable challenge. The advent of large-scale sequencing data and computational algorithms, such as transcriptome-wide association studies (TWASs), offers a promising avenue for identifying potential causal genes. In this study, we harnessed the power of TWAS to identify genes potentially responsible for milk production traits, including daily milk yield (MY), fat percentage (FP), and protein percentage (PP), within a cohort of 100 buffaloes. Our approach began by generating the genotype and expression profiles for these 100 buffaloes through whole-genome resequencing and RNA sequencing, respectively. Through comprehensive genome-wide association studies (GWAS), we pinpointed a total of seven and four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly associated with MY and FP traits, respectively. By using TWAS, we identified 55, 71, and 101 genes as significant signals for MY, FP, and PP traits, respectively. To delve deeper, we conducted protein–protein interaction (PPI) analysis, revealing the categorization of these genes into distinct PPI networks. Interestingly, several TWAS-identified genes within the PPI network played a vital role in milk performance. These findings open new avenues for identifying potentially causal genes underlying important traits, thereby offering invaluable insights for genomics and breeding in buffalo populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of drug development is expensive and time-consuming. In contrast, drug repurposing can be introduced to clinical practice more quickly and at a reduced cost. Over the last decade, there has been a significant expansion of large biobanks that link genomic data to electronic health record data, public availability of various databases containing biological and clinical information and rapid development of novel methodologies and algorithms in integrating different sources of data. This review aims to provide a thorough summary of different strategies that utilize genomic data to seek drug-repositioning opportunities. We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE databases to identify eligible studies up until 1 May 2023, with a total of 102 studies finally included after two-step parallel screening. We summarized commonly used strategies for drug repurposing, including Mendelian randomization, multi-omic-based and network-based studies and illustrated each strategy with examples, as well as the data sources implemented. By leveraging existing knowledge and infrastructure to expedite the drug discovery process and reduce costs, drug repurposing potentially identifies new therapeutic uses for approved drugs in a more efficient and targeted manner. However, technical challenges when integrating different types of data and biased or incomplete understanding of drug interactions are important hindrances that cannot be disregarded in the pursuit of identifying novel therapeutic applications. This review offers an overview of drug repurposing methodologies, providing valuable insights and guiding future directions for advancing drug repurposing studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spin degree of freedom in hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites (HOIPs) has become a rapidly growing research topic in both HOIPs and spintronics fields due to its fundamental scientific significance and tight relevance with optoelectronics. The flourishing achievements of HOIP spintronics call for a timely review to summarize the key progress and guide future developments. In this review, classical spintronic phenomena based on spin‐orbit coupling (SOC) are discussed, especially Rashba splitting and related applications such as spin‐charge conversion. Owing to the unique chirality‐spin coupling, spintronics in chiral HOIPs are particularly focused on, including chirality‐induced spin selectivity (CISS). Based on the complex band structure and carrier/exciton, spin dynamics is also widely investigated and constitutes an indispensable part of HOIP spintronics. Aside from the three main threads, other spintronic phenomena such as magneto‐optical coupling and device exploration are involved as promising opportunities. Despite the continuous breakthroughs in HOIP spintronics, more efforts are required to expand material systems, explore new physics, and optimize device configurations for enhanced performance and high integration. A deep understanding of spin behaviors in HOIPs will create a new platform beyond conventional optoelectronic and photovoltaic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background and Aims: We aimed to define gender‐specific, optimal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) cut‐off values for the prediction of significant liver histological changes (SLHC) in Chinese patients with grey zone (GZ) chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and normal ALT. Methods: In a retrospective study, we included 1101 consecutive patients with GZ CHB and normal ALT assigned to training or internal validation cohorts. We included an independent cohort of 842 patients for external validation. We performed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, smoothed curve fitting, and threshold effect analyses to determine optimal ALT cut‐off values. Area under the curve (AUC) values were calculated to assess their predictive performance. Results: A proportion of 79.3% of patients with GZ CHB and normal ALT (≤40 U/L) had SLHC. ROC curve analysis initially identified optimal ALT cut‐off values of 29 U/L (male) and 22 U/L (female). After smoothed curve fitting and threshold effect analyses, new optimal cut‐off values were 27 U/L for males and 24 U/L for females. AUCs for these values were 0.836 (male) and 0.833 (female) in the internal validation cohort, and 0.849 (male) and 0.844 (female) in the external validation cohort. The accuracy and discriminative ability of the newly defined ALT cut‐off values were greater than those of the current recommendations. Conclusion: This study established novel optimal ALT cut‐off values for more precise prediction of SLHC among Chinese patients with GZ CHB and normal ALT levels. This may help identify individuals who will benefit from timely antiviral therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the equivalence of connectedness for the Sierpinski-like sponge and skeleton networks, and find out the relation between the geodesic distance on the sponge and renormalized shortest path distance on the skeleton networks. Furthermore, under some assumption on the IFS, we obtain the comparability of the Manhattan distance and the geodesic distance on the sponge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Treating postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), which is characterized with a long‐lasting lancinating mechanical allodynia or hyperalgesia, is a big challenge as it is hard to achieve complete resolution. A synthetic triterpenoid, CDDO (2‐cyano‐3,12‐dioxoolean‐1,9‐dien‐28‐oic acid) can exert pleiotropic effects including anti‐inflammation and neuroprotective activities. Nevertheless, the antinociceptive effect of CDDO and its derivatives remains unknown. Resiniferatoxin (RTX) is easily feasible, and an RTX‐treated rodent model can mimic the PHN‐like symptoms. Therefore, RTX‐treated rats were used to serve as a PHN rats' model in the study to elucidate whether a synthetic triterpenoid, CDDO, can improve mechanical allodynia in RTX‐treated rats. Methods: The antinociceptive effects of CDDO were assessed by behavioral tests, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Paw withdrawal mechanical threshold was determined using calibrated forceps. Results: Administration of RTX led to mechanical allodynia, neuronal cell death, and glial cell activation in the spinal cord of RTX‐treated rats. A synthetic triterpenoid, CDDO, blocked RTX‐induced mechanical allodynia, rescued neuronal cell death, and inhibited glial cell activation in the spinal cord of RTX‐treated rats. Conclusions: Our study provides a novel result that a synthetic triterpenoid, CDDO, can interfere neuronal cell death and glial cell activation in the spinal cord of RTX‐treated rats. Hence, CDDO is an alternative therapeutic choice for PHN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Panomics refers to the integration of multiple omics technologies to comprehensively examine and interpret biomolecular data at different levels. This approach facilitates the study of sheep genetics and related functions, providing valuable insights into sheep breeding, disease prevention, and treatment strategies. By analyzing the complex interactions between genes, proteins, and metabolites, we can gain a deeper understanding of sheep biology and ultimately improve productivity and reproduction. Panomics, in particular, allows for the prediction, screening, and pinpointing of animal genetic traits, overcoming the limitations of traditional breeding methods like age constraints and issues with accuracy and reliability. This advancement holds immense importance for sheep breeding and agricultural production. Multi-omics-integrated analysis, known as panomics, represents an advanced methodology that harnesses various high-throughput technologies encompassing genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. Sheep, playing a pivotal role in agricultural sectors due to their substantial economic importance, have witnessed remarkable advancements in genetic breeding through the amalgamation of multiomics analyses, particularly with the evolution of high-throughput technologies. This integrative approach has established a robust theoretical foundation, enabling a deeper understanding of sheep genetics and fostering improvements in breeding strategies. The comprehensive insights obtained through this approach shed light on diverse facets of sheep development, including growth, reproduction, disease resistance, and the quality of livestock products. This review primarily focuses on the application of principal omics analysis technologies in sheep, emphasizing correlation studies between multiomics data and specific traits such as meat quality, wool characteristics, and reproductive features. Additionally, this paper anticipates forthcoming trends and potential developments in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an output dynamic game model of intertwined supply chains operating in two different countries is established. The Nash equilibrium point of the model and its stable region are obtained using nonlinear dynamic principles. The complex properties of the system, such as stability, period-doubling bifurcations, and chaos, are investigated using numerical simulations. Our results suggest that the level of output and the system's profits undergo bifurcation and chaos with an increase in the output adjustment speed. An interesting phenomenon occurs in that higher tariffs lead to the expansion of the stable range of the supply chain in the product-exporting country. The chaotic behavior of the system is sensitive to the value of the initial level of output. In supply chain competition, each supply chain firm should make suitable adjustments to the speed of output. To maintain the stability of domestic markets, excessive tariffs should be avoided. It is essential that each supply chain firm evaluates the potential impacts of different initial output values when making initial decisions. Using the method of delayed feedback control, the chaotic behavior of the system can effectively be controlled. These findings offer valuable and novel insight into inter-chain competition in supply chain networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first and last mile (FLM) problem is the lack of adequate connectivity between transit stations and trip origins/destinations. Consequently, this problem increases the probability of driving private cars directly to the destinations and reduces the patronage of public transit. For appealing the use of sustainable transport for accessing public transit, it is imperative to identify the factors influencing FLM travel mode choice. This review synthesizes the empirical FLM literature and identifies the key factors that influence FLM travel mode choice including conventional factors (e.g. socio-demographic characteristics and built environments); exogenous factors that can reduce the appeal of sustainable FLM transport (e.g. crime and weather); and unique factors related to emerging transport and informal public transit. From these findings, we chart a future FLM research agenda under three thematic areas: (1) theory for enhancing the understanding of FLM travel mode choice; (2) data and modeling approaches for discussing the feasibility of using emerging data sources and providing modeling avenues to progress; (3) policy and practice for encouraging the use of sustainable travel for FLM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The composite scaffold composed of n-HA, MXene and g-C 3 N 4 has excellent photothermal and photodynamic properties. • N-HA can enhance the killing effect of mild hyperthermia combined with ROS on bone tumors, and then eliminate tumor quickly. • The scaffold effectively induces osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs and facilitates the formation of new bone. After resection of bone tumour, the risk of cancer recurrence and numerous bone defects continues to threaten the health of patients. To overcome the challenge, we developed a novel multifunctional scaffold material consisting mainly of nano-hydroxyapatite particles (n -HA), MXene nanosheets and g-C 3 N 4 to prevent tumour recurrence and promote bone formation. N -HA has the potential to restrict the growth of osteosarcoma cells, and the combination of MXene and g-C 3 N 4 enables the scaffolds to produce photodynamic and photothermal effects simultaneously under near infrared (NIR) irradiation. Surprisingly, n -HA can further enhance the synergistic anti-tumour function of photodynamic and photothermal, and the scaffolds can eradicate osteosarcoma cells in only 10 min at a mild temperature of 45 ℃. Moreover, the scaffold exhibit exceptional cytocompatibility and possesses the capacity to induce osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Therefore, this multifunctional scaffold can not only inhibits the proliferation of bone tumour cells and rapidly eradicate bone tumour through NIR irradiation, but also enhances osteogenic activity. This promising measure can be used to treat tissue damage after bone tumour resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term reproducibility is defined as the dispersion of measurement results over a few days with the same operator, equipment, and samples. It is one of the important obstacles faced by the development of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technology. The Kalman filtering algorithm is proposed to improve the long-term reproducibility of LIBS quantitative analysis. Based on 32 lower-alloy steel reference samples, the internal calibration curves of six elements, including Mn, Si, Cr, Ni, Ti, and Al, were established based on the standard single-pulse LIBS equipment. The six test samples were then quantitatively verified every 24 hours for ten days using the above calibration curves. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of the predicted contents of the six elements before and after Kalman filtering were calculated based on 100 filters, and the improvement effect of Kalman filtering on the long-term reproducibility of quantitative LIBS was evaluated. The results showed that the Kalman filtering method could effectively correct the influence of the instrument drift on the long-term reproducibility of LIBS, and the RSDs of repeated measurements of Mn, Si, Cr, Ni, Ti, and Al elements were reduced from 35%, 49%, 63%, 64%, 66%, and 53% to 11%, 18%, 21%, 25%, 37%, and 27%, respectively. The method proposed in this study offers a new way to improve the long-term reproducibility of LIBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The association between newer classes of glucose‐lowering drugs (GLDs) and the risk of Parkinson's disease (PD) remains unclear. Objective: The aim was to examine the effect of newer GLDs on the risk of PD through a meta‐analysis of randomized outcome trials. Methods: The methods included randomized placebo‐controlled outcome trials that reported PD events associated with three newer classes of GLDs (ie, dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors, glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists, and sodium‐glucose co‐transporter‐2 inhibitors) in participants with or without type 2 diabetes. The pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated using Peto's method. Results: The study included 24 trials involving 33 PD cases among 185,305 participants during a median follow‐up of 2.2 years. Newer GLDs were significantly associated with a lower PD risk (OR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.25–0.98) than placebo. Conclusion: Newer GLDs may possibly be associated with a decreased risk of PD; however, larger datasets are required to confirm or refute this notion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we report the successful assembly of achiral {Ln6M} ([Ln6M(μ3-OH)8(acac)12(CH3O)x(CH3OH)y], Ln = La, M = Mn, Co, Fe) and chiral {Nd9Fe2} ([Nd9Fe2(μ4-O)(μ3-OH)14(acac)16(NO3)(CH3OH)2(H2O)3]) rare earth clusters using achiral rigid ligands and a transition metal doping strategy. {Ln6M} can be viewed as the fusion of two {Ln3M} tetrahedrons by sharing vertices. {Nd9Fe2} results from the fusion of four {Ln3M} tetrahedrons by vertice and edge sharing. The substitution of Ln with transition metal leads to changes in the coordination pattern around neighboring Ln, which triggers the switch of metal center chirality. This study demonstrates the potentiality of utilizing transition metal doping and rigid ligand to control the chirality of rare earth clusters. In addition, the photocatalytic CO2 activity of these transition metal-doped rare earth clusters has been studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aliphatic polycarbonates (APCs) have become an essential packaging material because of their renewability, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. In this study, a series of high molecular weights APCs have been successfully synthesized using dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and different lengths of aliphatic diols with even carbon (n-CH2 = 4–12) via melt polymerization. Thermal properties, isothermal crystallization behavior, crystal structure, and scale of microstructure of APCs indicated that the flexibility and crystallization of molecular chains gradually increased with the increasing number of methylene groups of repeating units. However, due to the rigidity of ester group was higher than methylene group, and crystallization could increase the rigidity of chain segments, yielding strength and Young's modulus of APCs decreased first and then gradually increased with the increasing number of methylene groups in the repeating units. Furthermore, the scale of microstructure indicated that Brill transition increased the distance between intermolecular chains. Therefore, although the trans-gauche coexistence chain conformation simultaneously decreased the rigidity and crystallization of chain segments, barrier property of poly(octamethylene carbonate) with Brill transition was similar to long-chain APCs because of the lengthened diffusion path. The analytical mechanism of structure-performance relationship from the viewpoint of molecular interactions and chain structure will provide an entirely new thought for developing new barrier materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The curriculum-designed internship in hospitality management education has diverse impacts. Adopting the Career Construction Theory, this research explores how internships affect students' career choices before, during, and after their hotel internships. The methodology of this research consists of semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and documentary investigations on international students' internship diaries. Results show that the curriculum design is critical to the success of an internship. The empirical findings indicate that internship preparation, cultural adaptation during the internship, and reflexivity after the internship are important elements in an effective internship. Research findings reveal the current status of international student internship programs in the Chinese context and provide implications for internship curriculum development in hospitality management and international students' career development. The present article recommends that it is crucial to manage students' career construction route through a proper arrangement of an effective internship program. Theoretical and practical implications are further discussed. Plain Language Summary: How do Hospitality Internships Shape Students' Career Choices? Hospitality management curriculum-designed internships have numerous implications. This Career Construction Theory research investigates students' job choices before, during, and after hotel internships. Semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and documentary research on international students' internship diaries comprised this study. We found that a good program design affects internship success. Successful internships need planning, cultural flexibility, and reflexivity. An good internship schedule is recommended for managing students' careers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: To reducing chemotherapy‐related toxicity, the chemo‐free regimens become a new trend of Ph + ALL treatment. Therefore, we conducted a phase 2 trial of dasatinib plus prednisone, as induction (Course I) and early consolidation (Courses II and III) treating newly diagnosed Ph + ALL. The trial was registered at www.chictr.org.cn, ChiCTR2000038053. Forty‐one patients were enrolled from 15 hospitals. The complete remission (CR) was 95% (39/41), including two elderly induction deaths. By the end of Course III, 25.6% (10/39) of patients achieved a complete molecular response. With a median follow‐up of 15.4 months, 2‐year disease‐free survival (DFS) were 100% and 33% for patients who receiving haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) at CR1 and receiving chemotherapy alone respectively. When censored at time of HSCT, 2‐year DFS were 51% and 45% for young and elderly patients (p = 0.987). 2‐year overall survival were 45%, 86% and 100% for patients without HSCT, receiving HSCT after relapse and receiving HSCT at CR1 respectively. A total of 12 patients had marrow recurrences and one had CNS relapse, with 38% occurred early (between Courses I and III). IKZF1 gene deletion was shown to be associated with relapse (p = 0.019). This chemo‐free induction and early consolidation regimen was efficacious and well‐tolerated in de novo Ph + ALL. Allogeneic HSCT conferred definite survival advantage after chemo‐free induction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of erythroid differentiation is orchestrated at the molecular level by a complex network of transcription factors. Erythroid Krüppel-like factor (EKLF/KLF1) is a master erythroid gene regulator that directly regulates most aspects of terminal erythroid differentiation. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms of EKLF protein stability are still largely unknown. In this study, we identified Vacuolar protein sorting 37 C (VPS37C), a core subunit of the Endosomal sorting complex required for transport-I (ESCRT-I) complex, as an essential regulator of EKLF stability. Our study showed that VPS37C interacts with EKLF and prevents K48-linked polyubiquitination of EKLF and proteasome-mediated EKLF degradation, thus enhancing EKLF protein stability and transcriptional activity. VPS37C overexpression in murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells promotes hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA)-induced erythroid differentiation manifested by up-regulating erythroid-specific EKLF target genes and increasing benzidine-positive cells. In contrast, VPS37C knockdown inhibits HMBA-induced MEL cell erythroid differentiation. Particularly, the restoration of EKLF expression in VPS37C-knockdown MEL cells reverses erythroid-specific gene expression and hemoglobin production. Collectively, our study demonstrated VPS37C is a novel regulator of EKLF ubiquitination and degradation, which plays a positive role in erythroid differentiation of MEL cells by enhancing EKLF protein stability. • VPS37C interacts with EKLF and enhances EKLF protein stability. • VPS37C prevents K48-linked polyubiquitination of EKLF and inhibits proteasome-mediated degradation of EKLF. • VPS37C promotes erythroid differentiation of MEL cells, which depends on EKLF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Expatriates are facing more stressors, such as cross-cultural adjustment, global political instability, family separation, health concern. The black swan events of the pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian war have posed significant challenges in the current international environment. Adapting to an expatriate environment as soon as possible is critical to expatriate success. This study aims to examine the factors that affect expatriate adjustment through psychological resilience.Methods: Guided by person-environment (p-e) fit theory, an expatriate adjustment framework based on psychological resilience is proposed, and 309 valid sample data are used for structural equation model (SEM) analysis.Results: The results show that expatriate adjustment is a psychological process based on the development of resilience. Social support plays a buffering role in dealing with environmental deviations induced stressors. The person-environment transactional process is the most critical adjustment process.Discussion: The development of expatriate adjustment is divided into four stages (shock, buffer, adjustment, mastery) consistent with resilience development. Project managers can take different expatriate management strategies from multiple aspects. Finally, this study proposes the U-curve hypothesis of expatriates' psychological resilience development aligned with the U-curve process of expatriate adjustment for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The unsafe behavior of passengers frequently causes metro operation accidents. This research aims to establish a model for evaluating the risk of unsafe behavior among subway passengers and for assessing the severity of different types of accidents caused by passenger unsafe behavior.Methods: A risk assessment model that combines the Interaction Matrix (IM) model with a Monte Carlo algorithm was established to quantitatively test the risk of unsafe behavior among passengers. Based on the initial data of 234 cases, the behavioral risks in accidents were simulated, and the resulting risks follow a normal distribution. After analyzing the differences in behavioral risk distribution characteristics, the targeted risk mitigation countermeasures were obtained.Results: Results showed that there are 12 kinds of unsafe behaviors related to 4 metro operation accident types. Among them, crowded stampede caused by four kinds of passengers' unsafe behavior has the highest risk mean (μ) of 5.14, followed by escalator injury (4.72), pinched by a shielding barrier (4.42) and fall injury (4.14).Conclusion: The severity of different types of accidents caused by different unsafe behaviors of passengers was obtained, which can provide a basis for targeted risk mitigation strategies and measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore the safety and role of tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil (S1) maintenance therapy (MT) in metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients after response to first-line chemotherapy and to assess outcome-associated biomarkers. Methods: This was a multicentre, open-label, randomized controlled study involving metastatic NPC patients recruited (from May 2015 to May 2019) at five hospitals in China. The participants were randomized to S1-MT (receiving S1 MT until disease progression or intolerance) or non-MT (followed up until disease progression) groups. The primary endpoint was the progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary endpoints were the overall survival (OS), the correlation between EBV-DNA, serum amyloid A (SAA) status, and outcomes after the first-line chemotherapy, and safety. Results: The median follow-up was 24.3 months; 88 and 95 participants were evaluable in the S1-MT and non-MT groups, respectively. Compared with non-MT, S1-MT prolonged PFS (16.9 vs. 9.3 months, P < 0.001) and OS (33.6 vs. 20.6 months, P < 0.001). Regardless of their EBV-DNA status after first-line chemotherapy, participants were able to benefit from S1 MT, but EBV-DNA-positive participants benefited more significantly (PFS: HR = 0.600, 95% CI = 0.373–0.965, P = 0.035; OS: HR = 0.393, 95% CI = 0.227–0.681, P = 0.001). MT only improved PFS and OS in patients with an SAA decline after first-line chemotherapy (PFS: HR = 0.570, 95% CI = 0.350–0.919, P = 0.021; OS: HR = 0.404, 95% CI = 0.230–0.709, P = 0.002). The median S1 treatment was 23 cycles. Grade 1–2 skin pigmentation, oral mucositis, and hand and foot syndrome were the main adverse reactions. Conclusion: For metastatic NPC patients with first-line chemotherapy response, S1 MT can improve PFS and OS, with good tolerability. EBV-DNA and SAA can better help us identify patients who can benefit from MT after standard treatment. Trial registration: The study protocol was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-IOR-16007939). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PND), such as delirium and cognitive impairment, are commonly encountered complications in aged patients. The inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is aberrantly synthesized from reactive astrocytes following inflammatory stimulation and is implicated in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, the activation of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is involved in PND. Herein, we aimed to investigate whether the NLRP3–GABA signaling pathway contributes to the pathogenesis of aging mice's PND. Methods: 24-month-old C57BL/6 and astrocyte-specific NLRP3 knockout male mice were used to establish a PND model via tibial fracture surgery. The monoamine oxidase-B (MAOB) inhibitor selegiline (1 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally administered once a day for 7 days after the surgery. PND, including impulsive-like behaviors and cognitive impairment, was evaluated by open field test, elevated plus maze, and fear conditioning. Thereafter, pathological changes of neurodegeneration were explored by western blot and immunofluorescence assays. Results: Selegiline administration significantly ameliorated TF-induced impulsive-like behaviors and reduced excessive GABA production in reactive hippocampal astrocytes. Moreover, astrocyte-specific NLRP3 knockout mice reversed TF-induced impulsive-like and cognitive impairment behaviors, decreased GABA levels in reactive astrocytes, ameliorated NLRP3-associated inflammatory responses during the early stage, and restored neuronal degeneration in the hippocampus. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that anesthesia and surgical procedures trigger neuroinflammation and cognitive deficits, which may be due to NLRP3–GABA activation in the hippocampus of aged mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1 − x)Bi0.5Na0.47Li0.03Ti0.99Sn0.01O3–xSrTiO3 (BNLST–xST) lead‐free ceramics were synthesized by traditional solid phase sintering. When x = 0.4, the ceramic achieves a high energy storage density Wrec of 3.78 J/cm3 as well as a superior efficiency η of 90.3% under 360 kV/cm. The charge–discharge curves related to temperature and cycle show that the 0.6BNLST–0.4ST sample has good temperature stability (20–180°C) and cycling reliability (variation of WD < 5%). Moreover, a fast discharge rate (t0.9 = 0.219 μs) and a large discharge energy density (WD = 1.89 J/cm3) are achieved at 220 kV/cm. The results show that BNLST–xST energy storage ceramics are promising materials for devices with pulsed power capacitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce the fractal version of Zagreb eccentricity index which is a singular integral of the eccentricity squared in terms of self-similar measure. Based on the geometric characteristics of the farthest point, we calculate the fractal version of Zagreb eccentricity index on the (3,1) flower fractal to be 1 8 2 9 3 6 0 by using the technique of finite pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of space telescopes towards high-resolution and intelligent imaging, the scale and complexity of the focal plane components of large-aperture, off-axis, three-mirror anastigmatic (TMA) optical systems are increasing. Traditional focal plane focusing technology reduces the system reliability and increases the scale and complexity. This paper proposes a three-degrees-of-freedom focusing system based on a folding mirror reflector, with a piezoelectric ceramic actuator as the driver. An environment-resistant flexible support was designed for the piezoelectric ceramic actuator through an integrated optimization analysis. The fundamental frequency of the large-aspect-ratio rectangular folding mirror reflector focusing mechanism was around 121.5 Hz. After testing, it was found to meet the requirements of the space mechanics environment. This system shows promise for application to other optical systems as an open-shelf product in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ophiopogon japonicus, mainly planted in Sichuan (CMD) and Zhejiang (ZMD) province in China, has a lengthy cultivation history. During the long period of domestication, the genetic diversity of cultivated O. japonicus has substantially declined, which will affect the population continuity and evolutionary potential of this species. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify the phylogeography of cultivated O. japonicus to establish a theoretical basis for the utilization and conservation of the genetic resources of O. japonicus. Result: The genetic diversity and population structure of 266 O. japonicus individual plants from 23 sampling sites were analyzed based on 4 chloroplast DNA sequences (atpB-rbcL, rpl16, psbA-trnH and rpl20-5'rps12) to identify the effects of domestication on genetic diversity of cultivars and determine their geographic origins. The results showed that cultivated O. japonicus and wild O. japonicus had 4 and 15 haplotypes respectively. The genetic diversity of two cultivars (Hd = 0.35700, π = 0.06667) was much lower than that of the wild populations (Hd = 0.76200, π = 0.20378), and the level of genetic diversity in CMD (Hd = 0.01900, π = 0.00125) was lower than that in ZMD (Hd = 0.06900, π = 0.01096). There was significant difference in genetic differentiation between the cultivated and the wild (FST = 0.82044), especially between the two cultivars (FST = 0.98254). This species showed a pronounced phylogeographical structure (NST > GST, P < 0.05). The phylogenetic tree showed that the genetic difference between CMD and ZMD was not enough to distinguish the cultivars between the two producing areas by using O. amblyphyllus Wang et Dai as an outgroup. In addition, both CMD and ZMD have a closer relationship with wild populations in Sichuan than that in Zhejiang. The results of the TCS network and species distribution model suggested that the wild population TQ located in Sichuan province could serve as the ancestor of cultivated O. japonicus, which was supported by RASP analysis. Conclusion: These results suggest that cultivated O. japonicus has experienced dramatic loss of genetic diversity under anthropogenic influence. The genetic differentiation between CMD and ZMD is likely to be influenced by founder effect and strong artificial selection for plant traits. It appears that wild populations in Sichuan area are involved in the origin of not only CMD but also ZMD. In addition, we also raise some suggestions for planning scientific strategies for resource conservation of O. japonicus based on its genetic diversity and population structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We talk to co-first authors Donghoon Lee and Yanan Zhu and co-corresponding author Ying Lu about their paper "Molecular mechanism for activation of the 26S proteasome by ZFAND5" (this issue of Molecular Cell), the challenges of the project, their scientific pathways, and the late Dr. Alfred Goldberg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic and progressive liver disease characterized by steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. Filamin A (FLNA), an actin-binding protein, is involved in various cell functions, including the regulation of immune cells and fibroblasts. However, its role in the development of NASH through inflammation and fibrogenesis is not fully understood. In this study, we found that FLNA expression was increased in liver tissues of patients with cirrhosis and mice with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/NASH and fibrosis. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that FLNA was primarily expressed in macrophages and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Knocking down of FLNA by specific shRNA in phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-derived THP-1 macrophages reduced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated inflammatory response. The decreased mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines and suppression of the STAT3 signaling were observed in FLNA-downregulated macrophages. In addition, knockdown of FLNA in immortalized human hepatic stellate cells (LX-2 cells) resulted in decreased mRNA levels of fibrotic cytokines and enzymes involved in collagen synthesis, as well as increased levels of metalloproteinases and pro-apoptotic proteins. Overall, these results suggest that FLNA may contribute to the pathogenesis of NASH through its role in the regulation of inflammatory and fibrotic mediators. • FLNA was overexpressed in the liver of experimental NASH and cirrhotic patients. • FLNA was mainly expressed in macrophages and hepatic stellate cells in NASH liver. • FLNA-specific shRNA reduced inflammatory response in macrophages by suppressing STAT3 signaling. • FLNA-specific shRNA regulated profibrotic factors in LX-2 hepatic stellate cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective method to eliminate grain boundary resistance of crystalline vanadoborate electrolyte was developed. This method involved the addition of glycerol to result in the formation of many hydrogen bonds between crystal grains, facilitating a rapid transfer of protons across grain boundaries. Using this method, the intrinsic conduction of vanadoborate electrolyte was fully reflected in its bulk materials, valuable for advancing our understanding of vanadoborate electrolytes and for promoting the application of these electrolytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese medicine is widely employed in illness prevention and treatment. In recent years, the increased demand for Chinese medicine resources has resulted in a large quantity of waste created during industrialization. However, traditional methods for treating herbal residues, including burning, stacking, and burying, can cause significant environmental damage and resource waste. Furthermore, these application approaches have a low level of resource utilization and a low degree of utilization. Therefore, developing a classification management system is a necessary precondition for reusing Chinese herb residues for medicinal, feed, fertilizer, and energy resource reuse. This paper reviews the potential applications of Chinese herb residues in the extraction of active resources, composting, feed addition, bioethanol preparation, and pyrolysis to biochar, bio‐oil, and fuel gas. Overall, this work provides a foundation for further investigation into the high‐value usage model and resource reuse pathway of Chinese herb residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To assess safety of COVID‐19 vaccination in paediatric patients with immune‐mediated inflammatory disease (IMID). Methods: Subjects of 5–21 years of age with IMID who received at least one COVID‐19 vaccine completed electronic surveys after each vaccine to assess side effects within 1 week of vaccination, current medications and COVID‐19 testing after vaccination. Charts were reviewed for COVID‐19 polymerase chain reaction and IgG response to SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein results and for disease flare during the study period. Results: Among 190 enrolled subjects, 71% were female, with median age 17 (range 6–21) years. The most common diagnosis was juvenile idiopathic arthritis/rheumatoid arthritis (55%). 78% of subjects were taking immunosuppressive medication. At least one side effect was reported in 65% of subjects after any dose of the vaccine; with side effects in 38%, 53% and 55% of subjects after the first, second and third vaccine doses, respectively. The most common side effects were injection site pain (59%), fatigue (54%) and headache (39%). No anaphylaxis or myocarditis was reported. Three subjects (2%) experienced disease flare. Conclusion: In our cohort of paediatric patients with IMID, observed side effects were found to be mild and disease flare rates were found to be low following COVID‐19 vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale and Objectives: We aim to assess the performance of the Gail model and the fifth edition of ultrasound BI‐RADS (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System) in breast cancer for predicting axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM). Materials and Methods: We prospectively studied 958 female patients with breast cancer between 2018 and 2019 from 35 hospitals in China. Based on B‐mode, color Doppler, and elastography, radiologists classified the degree of suspicion based on the fifth edition of BI‐RADS. Individual breast cancer risk was assessed with the Gail model. The association between the US BI‐RADS category and the Gail model in terms of ALNM was analyzed. Results: We found that US BI‐RADS category was significantly and independently associated with ALNM (P < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of BI‐RADS category 5 for predicting ALNM were 63.6%, 71.6%, and 68.6%, respectively. Combining the Gail model with the BI‐RADS category showed a significantly higher sensitivity than using the BI‐RADS category alone (67.8% vs. 63.6%, P < 0.001). The diagnostic accuracy of the BI‐RADS category combined with the Gail model was better than that of the Gail model alone (area under the curve: 0.71 vs. 0.50, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Based on the conventional ultrasound and elastography, the fifth edition of ultrasound BI‐RADS category could be used to predict the ALNM of breast cancer. ALNM was likely to occur in patients with BI‐RADS category 5. The Gail model could improve the diagnostic sensitivity of the US BI‐RADS category for predicting ALNM in breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of entanglement propagation in the dynamics of quantum multibody systems is an important problem in non-equilibrium physics. This paper optimizes the magnetic field to maximize the entanglement entropy and studies its influence on the entanglement propagation properties of quantum states. On the quantum Ising chain with the nearest neighbor coupling, the magnetic field obtained by variational optimization is applied to maximize the entanglement entropy of the final state and improve the entanglement growth rate in the ballistic transport region. At the same time, the entanglement entropy of the short chain can reach the entanglement saturation value of the long chain under a fixed magnetic field. When the chain length is increased, the saturation value of entanglement entropy increases, but the growth rate is almost the same. Specifically, by controlling the magnetic field, the entanglement growth rate of Heisenberg antiferromagnetic chain with only the nearest neighbor interaction can be increased to the same rate as that of the system with long-range interaction. The research in this paper reveals the ability of magnetic field to control entanglement propagation in non-equilibrium process, which can be applied to quantum control and information processing in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The HIV epidemic is still expanding among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China, but HIV testing rates remain suboptimal. Network-based interventions, such as secondary distribution, have shown promise to expand HIV self-testing (HIVST) among partners of MSM living with HIV (MLWH) but have not been widely implemented. Monetary incentives could enhance the secondary distribution of HIVST in some settings. We will conduct a randomized controlled trial to examine the effectiveness of monetary incentives in expanding the secondary distribution of HIVST among MLWH in China. Methods: We will recruit 200 eligible participants at three antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinics in China. Participants are eligible if they are 18 years of age or over, assigned as male at birth, have had anal sex with men, are living with HIV, are willing to apply for the HIVST kit at ART clinics, and are willing to provide personal contact information for follow-up. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to one of two groups: standard secondary distribution group and secondary distribution group with monetary incentives. Participants (defined as "index") will distribute the HIVST kits to members of their social network (defined as "alter") and will be required to complete a baseline survey and a 3-month follow-up survey. All alters will be encouraged to report their testing results by taking photos of used kits and completing an online survey. The primary study outcomes will compare the mean number of alters and newly-tested alters motivated by each index participant in each group. Secondary study outcomes will include the mean number of alters who tested positive, the cost per person tested, and the cost per HIV diagnosed for each group. Discussion: Few studies have evaluated interventions to enhance the implementation of secondary distribution. Our study will provide information on the effectiveness of monetary incentives in expanding HIVST secondary distribution among MLWH. The findings of this trial will contribute to implementing HIVST secondary distribution services among MLWH in China and facilitating HIV case identifications. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2200064517; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=177896. Registered on 10th October 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine learning methods can establish complex nonlinear relationships between input and response variables for stadium fire risk assessment. However, the output of machine learning models is considered very difficult due to their complex "black box" structure, which hinders their application in stadium fire risk assessment. The SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method makes a local approximation to the predictions of any regression or classification model so as to be faithful and interpretable, and assigns significant values (SHAP value) to each input variable for a given prediction. In this study, we designed an indicator attribute threshold interval to classify and quantify different fire risk category data, and then used a random forest model combined with SHAP strategy in order to establish a stadium fire risk assessment model. The main objective is to analyze the impact analysis of each risk characteristic on four different risk assessment models, so as to find the complex nonlinear relationship between risk characteristics and stadium fire risk. This helps managers to be able to make appropriate fire safety management and smart decisions before an incident occurs and in a targeted manner to reduce the incidence of fires. The experimental results show that the established interpretable random forest model provides 83% accuracy, 86% precision, and 85% recall for the stadium fire risk test dataset. The study also shows that the low level of data makes it difficult to identify the range of decision boundaries for Critical mode and Hazardous mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the common malignant tumors in the head and neck, characterized by high malignancy, rapid growth and metastasis, high invasive ability, and high mortality. In recent years, surgery combined with chemotherapy or radiotherapy remains the preferred clinical treatment for OSCC, despite considerable advances in diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. Hence, new targeted therapy is urgently needed. Histone modification affects the function of massive cells through histone acetyltransferase and histone deacetylase. Accompanied by the progress of some diseases, especially tumors, these proteins often show abnormal functions, and by reversing these abnormalities with drugs or gene therapy, the cancer phenotype can even be restored to normal. As a result, they are potential drug targets. This article reviewed the role of the histone dynamic process of acetylation modifications and their associated active modifying enzymes in the pathogenesis and progress of OSCC. Moreover, we explored the value of histone acetylation modification as a potential therapeutic target and the new progress of related drugs in clinical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the relationship between the L2 Motivational Self System—namely, the ideal L2 self and the ought-to L2 self—and L2 Willingness to Communicate (L2 WTC) in the classroom (a typical place for English communication among EFL learners) and in the extramural digital setting (an emerging English communication channel increasingly used by young EFL learners). To this end, 417 Chinese EFL middle school students (ages 12 to 14) participated in the study. After controlling for demographic factors hierarchical multiple regression results showed that the ideal L2 self significantly predicted L2 WTC both in the classroom and in an extramural digital setting. Interview data (n = 4) also elaborated that students attempted to lessen the discrepancy between their current L2 self (e.g., EFL learners) and ideal L2 self-images (e.g., discussing the professional National Basketball Association in an American radio program) by becoming more willing to communicate in both communication environments. In addition to new research directions, these results offer pedagogical implications that the ideal L2 self can facilitate L2 communication orientation in in-class and out-of-class digital environments, both of which are typically venues for L2 communication among today's young EFL learners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Timely recruitment of eligible participants is essential for the success of clinical trials, with insufficient accrual being the leading cause for premature termination of both oncology and non‐oncology trials. Methods: In this paper we further elaborate on the challenges for patient participation in oncology trials from physician, patient, healthcare system, and some trial‐related perspectives. Results: We present strategies such as use of digital healthcare technologies, real‐world data and real‐world evidence, decentralized clinical trials, pragmatic trial designs, and supportive services to increase patient participation. Conclusions: Multifaceted measures are necessary to increase patient participation, especially for those who are under‐represented in cancer trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent reports have suggested that abnormal miR-29c expression in hippocampus have been implicated in the pathophysiology of some neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases. However, the underlying effect of miR-29c in regulating hippocampal neuronal function is not clear. In this study, HT22 cells were infected with lentivirus containing miR-29c or miR-29c sponge. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay kit were applied to evaluate cell viability and toxicity before and after TNF-α administration. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were measured with fluorescent probes. Hoechst 33258 staining and TUNEL assay were used to evaluate cell apoptosis. The expression of key mRNA/proteins (TNFR1, Bcl-2, Bax, TRADD, FADD, caspase-3, -8 and -9) in the apoptosis pathway was detected by PCR or WB. In addition, the protein expression of microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP-2), nerve growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43) and synapsin-1 (SYN-1) was detected by WB. As a result, we found that miR-29c overexpression could improve cell viability, attenuate LDH release, reduce ROS production and inhibit MMP depolarization in TNF-α-treated HT22 cells. Furthermore, miR-29c overexpression was found to decrease apoptotic rate, along with decreased expression of Bax, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9, and increased expression of Bcl-2 in TNF-α-treated HT22 cells. However, miR-29c sponge exhibited an opposite effects. In addition, in TNF-α-treated HT22 cells, miR-29c overexpression could decrease the expressions of TNFR1, TRADD, FADD and cleaved caspase-8. However, in HT22 cells transfected with miR-29c sponge, TNF-α-induced the expressions of TNFR1, TRADD, FADD and cleaved caspase-8 was significantly exacerbated. At last, TNF-α-induced the decreased expression of MAP-2, GAP-43 and SYN-1 was reversed by miR-29c but exacerbated by miR-29c sponge. Overall, our study demonstrated that miR-29c protects against TNF-α-induced HT22 cells injury through alleviating ROS production and reduce neuronal apoptosis. Therefore, miR-29c might be a potential therapeutic agent for TNF-α accumulation and toxicity-related brain diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a label‐free and powerful technique for monitoring dynamic molecular processes with high sensitivity and reproducibility. SERS has diverse applications in medicine, molecular science, biology, and chemical sensing. In this study, a template‐based approach to create an ultrasensitive SERS‐active substrate is proposed which involves combining nanostructured semiconductors and noble metals. A nanoporous polymer obtained from hydrolyzed gyroid‐forming polystyrene‐block‐poly(l‐lactide) (i.e., PS‐b‐PLLA) is used as a template for Ag reduction and TiO2 sol–gel reaction. After calcination to remove the polymeric template, TiO2 nanoscaffolds appear as self‐supporting 3D nanoobjects with homogeneously and closely distributed Ag nanoparticles, providing a high density of regions with intense local field enhancement (hotspots). Rhodamine 6G molecules are used as probe molecules to demonstrate the SERS performance, revealing a markedly high average enhancement factor of up to 1014. The intrinsic photocatalytic properties of TiO2 can degrade target organic chemicals for the self‐cleaning and reproduction of SERS‐active substrates. Moreover, a simple hydrazine reduction‐based approach is applied for the formation of regenerated Ag/TiO2 nanoscaffolds to reduce the use of Ag‐based SERS‐active substrates, decreasing the costs associated with relevant industrial processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper a new definition for the fuzzy inner product spaces of the type Kramosil-Michálek and the type George-Veeramani is presented. In the new setting a fuzzy inner product space can naturally become a fuzzy normed space, and a classical inner product space can be considered as a special case of fuzzy inner product spaces. Several examples are given to illustrate that, the new definition is a nontrivial generalization for classical inner product spaces, and so it has rich contents in fuzziness. By virtue of this definition, some elementary properties are described in terms of the families of semi-inner products and a fuzzy version of Pythagorean theorem is given. As applications, a fixed point theorem for nonlinear contractions is established and the existence of solution of global optimization problem is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until now, although there are many examples of studying the magnetic properties of Schiff base binuclear lanthanide complexes, the relationship between the structure and magnetic properties of the complexes still is worth further investigation in order to improve the magnetic properties of Schiff base lanthanide complexes. In this work, we successfully obtained two series of binuclear Ln complexes by in situ reaction of 4‐diethylaminosalicylaldehyde, benzoic hydrazide and different lanthanide salts at 80°C under solvothermal conditions, namely, [Ln2(L)3(NO3)3]·CH3CN·CH3OH·H2O [Ln = Dy (1), Ho (2), Gd (3) L = deprotonated 4‐diethylamino salicylaldehyde benzoylhydrazine], [Ln2(L)4(CH3COO)]CH3COO·CH3CN [Ln = Dy (4), Ho (5), Gd (6)]. The complex 1 contains three Schiff base ligands L, two Dy (III) ions, and three NO3−. The ligand H1L is formed by in situ Schiff base reaction with 4‐diethylaminosalicylaldehyde and benzoic hydrazide with the participation of Ln (NO3)3. When replacing Ln (NO3)3 with Ln (OAc)3, obtained three μ2‐OAc bridged binuclear Ln (III) complexes. The magnetic study showed that complex 4 exhibits field‐induced single‐molecule magnet (SMM) behavior while complex 1 does not show any SMMs behavior. In addition, we have studied the magnetocaloric effect of complexes 3 and 6, their maximum −ΔSm values are 21.37 J kg−1 K−1 and 15.32 J kg−1 K−1, respectively, under ΔH = 7 T and T = 2 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Areca nut is a popular and addictive food as well as a traditional herbal medicine in many countries. Areca nut contains alkaloids including arecoline, guvacine, and arecaidine, which are the major bioactive compounds in areca products. Areca alkaloids can be carcinogenic, and thus sensitive and specific analytical methods are urgently desired for the identification and quantification of these compounds. High‐performance liquid chromatography‐based methods are often preferred, but areca alkaloids do not have chromophores, and detection using a traditional UV detector can be difficult. The complexity of areca sample extracts can also lead to the co‐elution of peaks leading to poor quantitative performance. We report here high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with an ion mobility spectrometer for sensitive determination of areca alkaloids in various products including areca nut, areca nut products, and herbal oral liquid. An X‐Bridge reversed‐phase C18 column was used in the experiment and was combined with high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled to an ion mobility spectrometer system. A custom‐made adjustable post‐column splitter acted as an interface between the high‐performance liquid chromatography and the ion mobility spectrometer; it also acted as the electrospray ionization source. The mobile phase was methanol and 0.5% ammonium hydroxide. The results demonstrate that the splitter can afford a wide range of split ratios that match the ion mobility spectrometer ionization source while keeping the separation efficiency of high‐performance liquid chromatography. Three major alkaloid compounds were then accurately determined using the resulting method without dativization steps. Many coeluted high‐performance liquid chromatography peaks are effectively separated in the ion mobility spectrometer dimension, which in turn improved the quantification accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]