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Green, multifunctional protective fabrics have evoked enormous research enthusiasm because of the progress in public safety. Herein, inspired by the self-protection ability of natural creature, multifunctional protective cotton fabric (TP-Cotton) was prepared through layer-by-layer self-assembly of tannic acid (TA) and phytic acid (PA) from biomass. Due to the synergistic effect of TA as an antioxidant and PA as a fire retardant, the modified cotton fabric displays excellent fireproofing, antimicrobial activity, and UV-resistance. The limiting oxygen index of TP-Cotton reaches 39.4%, and the peak value of heat release rate (pHRR) reduces by 80.04% compared with Cotton. Moreover, the antibacterial rates of TP-Cotton against S. aureus and E. coli reaches 99.98 and 100.00%, respectively. Meanwhile, the ultraviolet protection factor value is over 40 due to the integration of TA, which is rich in phenolic hydroxyl groups. Therefore, benefiting from this unique composition and the simple preparation strategy, the as-prepared cotton fabrics showed highly multiple protection capabilities, having promising applications as protective clothing, military uniform, and overalls for emergency services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical image registration is a pivotal application within the field of medical imaging. It entails the fusion of commonalities among data of disparate modalities into a unified coordinate system, thereby achieving complementary imaging information. This process plays a crucial role in scenarios such as accurate disease diagnosis, surgical guidance, patient monitoring, and radiological therapy. Due to the distinct characteristics exhibited by changes in the same region over time or across different modalities, swiftly and accurately identifying corresponding relationships between pre-registered images remains a formidable challenge. This paper proposes the incorporation of an enhanced Artificial Rabbits Optimization (ARO) algorithm as an agent within the framework of reinforcement learning. The method, referred to as RL-mARO, is employed for medical image registration. By utilizing Normalized Mutual Information (NMI) as a reward and penalty feedback for the similarity metric, the agent continuously adjusts and alters the learning strategies within the population, thereby progressively converging towards the correct registration direction. The contribution of reinforcement learning to ARO was validated on the IEEE CEC2020 benchmark dataset. Simultaneously, registration experiments were conducted on the multi-modal brain dataset, Retrospective Image Registration Evaluation Project (RIRE), as well as the single-modal fundus dataset, Fundus Image Registration Dataset (FIRE). The results of both registration experiments demonstrate that the RL-mARO model exhibits elevated robustness and registration accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Mechanical robust moth-eye glass were prepared through inductively coupled plasma (ICP) etching using thermal dewetted copper (Cu) nanoparticles masks. The excellent omnidirectional and broadband antireflection ability greatly enhances the performance of photovoltaic (PV) modules especially at higher incidence angels. The additional superhydrophilic self-cleaning and anti-fogging properties can help solving the dust accumulation and fogging condensation problems of PV modules outdoor. Highlights • Biomimetic moth-eye glass was realized via dry etching using nanoparticles masks. • Chemically strengthening ensured the mechanical durability of moth-eye glass. • The moth-eye glass shows omnidirectional and broadband antireflection ability. • The relative PCE improved from 4.6% to 9.9% at incident angle of 0° and 60°. • The moth-eye glass shows superhydrophilic self-cleaning and anti-fogging abilities. Abstract Omnidirectional and broadband antireflection (AR) self-cleaning coatings are crucial for the performance enhancement of photovoltaic (PV) modules. Herein, we demonstrate biomimetic moth-eye structures on glass through inductively coupled plasma (ICP) etching process using thermal dewetted copper nanoparticles as the masks. Moreover, the etched glasses are chemically treated to strengthen the nanostructures. The moth-eye glass exhibits excellent AR effects with a reflectance below 3% over the wavelength range from 570 to 950 nm. As the incident angles of the light increasing from 0o to 60o, the relative improvement of the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PV module with moth-eye glass produces a dramatically increases from 4.6% to 9.9%, compared with that of PV modules with flat glass. Additionally, the moth-eye glass also possesses superhydrophilic self-cleaning and antifogging abilities, which are attractive for outdoor applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multimodal medical image registration involves multiple pieces of medical equipment collecting complementary information on the same content, resulting in information fusion. Beyond its theoretical significance, it has practical applications in areas such as disease diagnosis, patient follow-up, surgical navigation, and radiology. Determining the optimal geometric-space transformation parameters is a major challenge in this field. To address this, we propose the opposition-based Hunger Games Search (OHGS) algorithm, an improved version of the Hunger Games Search (HGS) algorithm. The OHGS algorithm aims to find the optimal translation, scaling, and shearing parameters that result in the highest similarity value between the images being registered. By incorporating opposition-based learning (OBL) and dynamically adjusting mutation criteria, the OHGS algorithm has improved exploration capabilities and the ability to escape local optima. In this study, OHGS was compared with 9 other algorithms developed in recent years on 23 well-known benchmark functions and 10 single-objective optimization functions from IEEE CEC2020. Furthermore, to achieve better registration accuracy and optimal alignment of the geometric space in multimodal medical images, OHGS and 8 other algorithms were tested using RIRE and BraTS datasets, optimizing the two similarity measures of Normalized Mutual Information (NMI) and Structural Similarity Index Measure (SSIM). The results showed that OHGS significantly improved performance on benchmark functions and multimodal medical image registration problems, thereby expanding the application range of the HGS algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors (CIS) are being widely used in digital video cameras, web cameras, digital single lens reflex camera (DSLR), smart phones and so on, owing to their high level of integration, random accessibility, and low-power operation. It needs to be installed with the cover glass in practical applications to protect the sensor from damage, mechanical issues, and environmental conditions, which, however, limits the accuracy and usability of the sensor due to the reflection in the optical path from air-to-cover glass-to-air. In this work, the flexible 3D nanocone anti-reflection (AR) film with controlled aspect ratio was firstly employed to reduce the light reflection at air/cover glass/air interfaces by directly attaching onto the front and rear sides of the CIS cover glass. As both the front and rear sides of cover glass were coated by the AR film, the output image quality was found to be improved with external quantum efficiency increased by 7%, compared with that without AR film. The mean digital data value, root-mean-square contrast, and dynamic range are increased by 45.14%, 38.61% and 57, respectively, for the output image with AR films. These results provide a novel and facile pathway to improve the CIS performance and also could be extended to rational design of other image sensors and optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Durable and restored fireproof cotton fabrics were prepared via a facile strategy. • Prominent fire resistance and durability to 50 LCs with LOI of 32.7% was achieved. • The reduction in washing durability can be recovered by feasible acetic acid soaking. • Improved fire resistance was due to graphitized carbon layers and C/N heterocycles. Novel, durably flame-retardant cotton fabrics with fascinatingly restorable fire resistance were prepared by simple grafting of phosphate and melamine, which contributed to a phosphorous-nitrogen (P/N) synergism. During the preparation process, phosphate was grafted with the hydroxyl groups of cellulose to form P-O-C bonds; subsequently, melamine reacted with the aldehyde groups of cellulose generated from phosphorylation to form P/N modified fabrics (P/N-Cotton). The P/N synergistic effect endowed cotton fabric with prominent fire resistance and durability. The Limit oxygen index (LOI) was as high as 51.1 ± 0.3% and was maintained at 32.7 ± 0.8% after 50 laundering cycles (LCs). The total heat release (THR) and peak values of heat release rate (pHRR) of P/N-Cotton were significantly reduced by 70.11% and 64.19%, respectively. Amazingly, the modified cotton fabrics exhibited restorable fire resistance once immersed into the acetic acid solution due to the ion exchange between Na+ from detergent and H+ from acetic acid. The LOI of P-Cotton and P/N-Cotton after 50 LCs can be restored to 32.4 ± 0.7% and 35.7 ± 0.7% from 20.8 ± 0.7% and 32.7 ± 0.8%, respectively. The analysis of gas-phase products and residual char demonstrated that the incorporation of phosphate and melamine facilitated cellulose fibers to convert to dense and stable graphitized carbon layers and carbon-nitrogen heterocycles, effectively protecting the fabric from decomposing to flammable gases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose-based hierarchical porous beads exhibit significant application potential in adsorption and separation systems due to their degradation and biocompatibility. However, the current fabrications of cellulose beads show poor mechanical properties and a difficult-to-regulate hierarchical porous structure, reducing their lifespan of use and limiting their application in fine separation. Here, we reported the facile creep–drop method to prepare cellulose beads that enabled systemic regulation of the macro-size, micropore structures, and mechanical properties by optimizing injection nozzle diameter, the composition of the coagulation bath, the temperature of the coagulation bath, and cellulose concentration. Notably, during the molding process, the H2SO4-Na2SO4 composite solidification bath endowed cellulose beads with a dense shell layer and a loose core layer, which achieved the integration of mechanical properties and high porosity. The cellulose beads exhibited high porosity (93.38–96.18%) and high sphericity (86.78–94.44%) by modulating the shell thickness of the cellulose beads. In particular, the cellulose beads exhibited excellent mechanical properties with a high compressive strength of 544.24 kPa at a 5% cellulose concentration. It is expected that these cellulose beads with tunable microstructures can realize their potential for applications in the fields of wastewater treatment, chemical engineering, bioengineering, medicine, and pharmaceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the mainstay of healthcare, the job satisfaction of medical staff deserves attention. This study aimed to explore the correlation between the perception of the high-performance work system (P-HPWS) and job satisfaction of medical staff in public hospitals and to further investigate the mediating effect of self-efficacy. From November 2019 to January 2020, a cross-sectional survey on working doctors and nurses was conducted in five tertiary public hospitals in China. A total of 520 participants were surveyed. The P-HPWS, job satisfaction, and self-efficacy were assessed using the 25-item self-administered scale, six-item job satisfaction questionnaire, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale, respectively. Linear regression and mediation effects models were used to identify the associations between primary variables. The results showed a significant positive correlation between P-HPWS and job satisfaction (P < 0.01), while self-efficacy played a mediating role between P-HPWS and job satisfaction. This finding reveals the benefits of improving employees' P-HPWS and self-efficacy on their job satisfaction, and that hospitals can improve their management systems by implementing and refining HPWS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although TiO 2 nanotube arrays (TNTAs) have shown great promise as supercapacitor materials, their specific capacitances are still not comparable with some typical materials. Here, TiO 2 nanoparticles (NPs)/TNTAs hybrid structure has been derived from the anodized TNTAs by a facile hydrothermal solid-gas method (HSGM), which can avoid cracking or curling of the TNTAs from Ti substrate. The obtained NPs/TNTAs hybrid structure can exhibit a ∼4.90 times increase in surface area and a ∼5.49 times increase in areal specific capacitance compared to the TNTAs without HSGM treatment. Besides, the argon-atmosphere annealing can offer improved areal capacitance and cycling stability relative to the air-atmosphere annealing. The hydrothermal vapor pressure is a key factor for controlling microscopic morphologies of TNTAs, the morphology transformations of TNTAs during the HSGM treatment can be accelerated under enhanced vapor pressures. The highest areal capacitance of HSGM-treated TNTAs is up to 76.12 mF cm −2 at 0.5 mA cm −2 , well above that of any TiO 2 materials reported to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to DNA methylation, reversible epigenetic modification occurring in RNA has been discovered recently. The most abundant type of RNA methylation is N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, which is dynamically regulated by methylases ("writers"), demethylases ("erasers") and m6A-binding proteins ("readers"). As an essential posttranscriptional regulator, m6A can control mRNA splicing, processing, stability, export and translation. Recent studies have revealed that m6A modification has the strongest tissue specificity for brain tissue and plays crucial roles in central nervous system (CNS) injures by affecting its downstream target genes or non-coding RNAs. This review focuses on the expression and function of m6A regulatory proteins in CNS trauma in vitro and in vivo. We also highlight the latest insights into the molecular mechanisms of pathological damage in the CNS. Understanding m6A dynamics, functions, and machinery will yield an opportunity for designing and developing novel therapeutic agents for CNS injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solute transport in fractured rocks plays a crucial role in many subsurface processes, such as geothermal resource extraction and carbon capture and storage. This study conducted simulations of non-Fickian solute transport at varying contact ratios and voids in crossed shear fractures. Results indicated that increasing the contact ratio of the crossed fractures intensified the "tailing" phenomenon of non-Fickian solute transport, and has a negative relationship with the solute outflow concentration. Additionally, the anisotropy of intersections and the variations in their void structure both influence the redistribution and mixing of fluid and solute, therefore, we propose a method to determine the solute mixing patterns at the intersection. Ultimately, while the volume and magnitude of the separated vortex domain in the flow field can influence the non-Fickian solute transport, the "tailing" phenomenon is more significantly affected by its magnitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-throughput and bioinformatics technology have been broadly applied to demonstrate the key molecules involved in traumatic brain injury (TBI), while no study has integrated the available TBI-related datasets for analysis. In this study, four available expression datasets of fluid percussion injury (FPI) and sham samples from the hippocampus of rats were analysed. A total of 248 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 10 differentially expressed microRNAs (DEMIs) were identified. Then, functional annotation was performed using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses. Most of the DEGs were enriched for the term inflammatory immune response. The MCODE plug-in in the Cytoscape software was applied to build a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network, and 18 hub genes were demonstrated to be enriched in the cell cycle pathway. Besides, time sequence (3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, and 48 h) profile analysis was performed using short time-series expression miner (STEM). The significantly expressed genes were assigned into 24 pattern clusters with four significant uptrend clusters. Four DEGs, Fcgr2a, Bcl2a1, Cxcl16, and Gbp2, were found to be differentially expressed at all time-points. Fifty-three DEGs and eight DEMIs were identified to form a miRNA-mRNA negative regulatory network using miRWalk3.0 and Cytoscape. Moreover, the mRNA levels of eight hub genes were validated by qRT-PCR. These DEGs, DEMIs, and time-dependent expression patterns facilitate our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying the process of TBI in the hippocampus of rats and have the potential to improve the diagnosis and treatment of TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let‐7f was reported to be downregulated in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). However, little is known about the role of let‐7f in CRC carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between genetic polymorphisms in the flanking region of pri‐let‐7f and CRC risk, as well as the potential role of let‐7f in CRC cell migration and invasion. The pri‐let‐7f‐1 rs10739971 and pri‐let‐7f‐2 rs17276588 were genotyped using TaqMan (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) assay. The luciferase activity was detected using Dual‐Luciferase Reporter Assay. CRC cell migration and invasion were evaluated using transwell chamber assay. The rs17276588 AG and AG/AA genotypes had a significantly increased CRC risk (AG vs. GG: adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.19–1.83, p < 0.001; AG/AA vs. GG: adjusted OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.17–1.75, p < 0.001). Stratification analyses showed that the increased risk was observed in CRC patients with well‐moderately differential status, patients with clinical Stages I–II, and patients without lymph node metastasis. The rs17276588A allele displayed a decreased transcriptional activity and low levels of let‐7f. Moreover, let‐7f inhibited migration and invasion in Caco‐2 and Lovo cells. These findings indicate that the rs17276588 AG/AA genotypes increased CRC risk by reducing the expression of tumor suppressor let‐7f. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The progression of papillary thyroid carcinoma might be linked to the long non-coding RNA TINCR. • The rs8101923 within the enhancer region of TINCR was a risk factor for the development of PTC in the Chinese population. • Our results could be helpful for papillary thyroid carcinoma risk assessment and diagnosis in future. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the enhancer region have been demonstrated to confer to altered enhancer activities, aberrant gene expression, and cancer susceptibility. In this study, we aimed to examine the association between an SNP, rs8101923, within terminal differentiation-induced non-coding RNA (TINCR) and the risk of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Blood samples from 559 patients with PTC and 445 healthy individuals were collected. The rs8101923 was genotyped by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. The impact of the rs8101923 on TINCR expression and enhancer activity was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR and dual-luciferase reporter assay. The binding of AP-2α to TINCR enhancer was determined by chromatin immunoprecipitation. The rs8101923 G allele was significantly associated with a higher risk of PTC (adjusted OR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.15–1.64). Mechanistically, the rs8101923 was related to increased transcriptional levels and enhancer activities (P < 0.05). Transcription factor AP-2α binds to the enhancer region of TINCR containing the rs8101923 locus, and promotes cell proliferation in PTC. These findings suggest the rs8101923 as a risk factor in the pathogenesis of PTC, which provides evidence for explaining the mechanism of the rs8101923 risk allele predisposing to PTC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial proteins/peptides have attracted much attention because of their potential use in the industrial setting. In the present study, a thermostable antimicrobial protein (BSAMP) was purified from the culture supernatant of Bacillus subtilis FB123 by ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel chromatography on Sephacryl S-200 High Resolution, and ion exchange chromatography on DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow column. The molecular weight of the purified BSAMP was 54 kDa, as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis both in the absence and presence of β-mercaptoethanol. Its isoelectric point was determined to be 5.24 by isoelectric focusing electrophoresis. Periodic acid-Schiff staining revealed BSAMP to be a glycoprotein. Maximum activity was obtained at pH 6.0, with over 79 % maximum activity retained at pH 3.0-5.0 and pH 7.0-9.0, respectively. BSAMP was shown to be highly thermostable, as its activity did not change obviously after treatment at 100 °C. However, it was partially sensitive to papain, trypsin, and alkali proteases. Finally, the bacterial protein exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against several pathogenic organisms. These findings suggested that BSAMP should be further developed as a natural antibacterial agent for disease prevention in aquiculture and agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]