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To test the hypotheses that multigenerational predation risk favors clones with longer postero-lateral spines and a larger body, and that fitness consequences of selection depend on both tested fitness variables and selection intensity, we expose replicate Brachionus dorcas populations in low (LK) and high (HK) concentrations of Asplanchna kairomones. Over 60 days (23 asexual generations) of selection, LK-selected populations showed the highest equilibrium population densities, and median mictic ratios and postero-lateral spine lengths, and HK-selected populations showed the lowest equilibrium population densities, the highest mictic ratios, and the longest postero-lateral spines, among all the control and treatment populations. In the absence of Asplanchna kairomones, and compared with populations with the control selection history, populations with an LK selection history showed increased growth rates/intrinsic rates of population increase and net reproductive rates, but decreased mictic ratios, indicating three fitness gains and a fitness cost; and those with an HK selection history showed increased life expectancy at hatching and mictic ratios, but decreased growth rates, indicating two fitness gains and a fitness cost. Asplanchna kairomones might increase the heritability of higher equilibrium densities or mictic ratios, and longer postero-lateral spines, and thus enable the prey to survive predation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ultrasonic vibration-assisted polishing (UVAP) method, a recently developed advanced processing technology, is widely used in the processing of brittle materials. This study uses molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the polishing behavior of diamond grits on SiC workpieces during the UVAP process. The frequency (fz), amplitude (Az), and dimensions of the vibration are varied to investigate various aspects of the material removal process. In the low-frequency region, the UVAP processing method exacerbates taper slips and dislocations in the workpiece. In the high-frequency region, fz and Az can improve the MRR by more than 32% and reach 2–4 times higher than that of traditional scratching, respectively. The surface morphology obtained using MD simulation is consistent with the experimental results. In the ultrasonic elliptical vibration assisted polishing (UEVAP) method, fy not only causes a periodic and stable increase in temperature, which helps to transform atoms into an amorphous structure, but it also increases material removal rate (MRR) while decreasing friction factor and surface roughness. Appropriate increase of fz reduces forces and improves stress distribution. Az significantly increases MRR but results in a rough surface. In comparison to the UVAP process, the UEVAP method further improves MRR and produces smoother machined surfaces. This study uses molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the polishing behavior of diamond grits on SiC workpieces during the UVAP process. The frequency (fz), amplitude (Az), and dimensions of the vibration are varied to investigate various aspects of the material removal process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction and infiltration behavior between typical calcium–ferrum–alumina–silicate (CFAS) and Yb4Hf3O12 ceramics at 1300, 1400, and 1500°C for different duration times were investigated. At 1300°C, the CFAS melt first crystallized and then generated massive anorthite with high‐melting point, reducing the wettability of CFAS melt and physically blocking CFAS penetration paths. As the temperature increased to 1400°C and 1500°C, the wettability of the molten CFAS correspondingly increases. A continuous reaction layer, composed of apatite, fluorite, and garnet, was formed over Yb4Hf3O12 ceramic due to the penetration of CFAS melt. Furthermore, the infiltration rate of CFAS decreases with increasing corrosion time because of the barrier effect primarily derived from the as‐mentioned continuous reaction layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) exert certain functions in the development of several cancers and can be a potential hallmark for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. MiR-191-5p has been proven to have high expression in breast cancer (BC), while its biological role and potential regulatory mechanisms in BC remain an open issue. OBJECTIVE: Bioinformatics was utilized to assay miR-191-5p level in BC tissues and predict its downstream target gene as well as the enriched signaling pathways of the target gene. METHODS: qRT-PCR was carried out to assay miR-191-5p and KLF6 levels in BC cells as well as miR-191-5p level in blood-derived exosomes from BC patients. Western blot was to examine the expression of proteins linked with cell adhesion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and exosome markers. A dual luciferase reporter assay was utilized to verify the interaction between miR-191-5p and KLF6. Abilities of cell phenotypes of BC cells were detected by CCK8, Transwell, and cell adhesion assay, separately. RESULTS: Upregulated miR-191-5p expression and downregulated KLF6 expression were observed in BC cells. There was a targeting relationship between miR-191-5p and KLF6. MiR-191-5p negatively regulated KLF6 to promote EMT and malignant progression of BC cells. Additionally, we described a dramatically high level of miR-191-5p in the blood exosomes of BC patients. CONCLUSION: MiR-191-5p advances the EMT of BC by targeting KLF6, indicating that miR-191-5p and KLF6 may be new biomarkers for BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To test the hypothesis that non-consumptive predation pressures favor genotypes that have higher equilibrium densities or mictic ratios, we expose replicate populations of the rotifer Brachionus angularis to low (LK) and high (HK) concentrations of predator Asplanchna kairomones. Over 75 days (25 asexual generations) of selection, LK-treated populations have higher equilibrium densities and lower mictic ratios than the control populations. The opposite occurs for HK-treated populations. These results suggest that compared with the control, LK and HK select for genotypes with higher equilibrium densities and mictic ratios, respectively. Common garden bioassays reveal that in the absence of Asplanchna kairomones, populations with an LK selection history have a higher average intrinsic rate of population increase, and those with an HK selection history have a higher average mictic ratio than those with the control selection history, which suggest that adaptations to LK and HK increase average intrinsic rate of population increase and mictic ratio of prey populations, respectively. Increased intrinsic rate of population increase and mictic ratio can serve as strategies of offsetting mortality from predation and escaping the predator, and thus enable prey to survive low and high predation pressures, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The optimal repair method for bursal‐side partial‐thickness rotator cuff tears (PTRCTs) involving >50% of the thickness remains a controversial topic. The study was aimed to compare the functional and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcomes after in situ repair or tear completion before repair of bursal‐side PTRCTs. Methods: A retrospective clinical study was conducted involving 58 patients who underwent in situ repair or tear completion before repair of bursal‐side PTRCTs between January 2019 and December 2020. These patients were divided into two groups: the in situ repair group and the tear completion before repair group. Functional assessment consisted of active range of motion (ROM), visual analog scale (VAS), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and Constant–Murley score. The percentages of patients in each group achieving the minimal clinical important difference (MCID) of the functional scores were determined. The healing status of the rotator cuff was assessed by postoperative MRI. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of demographic data. The mean follow‐up period was 14.53 ± 2.64 months in the in situ repair group and 15.40 ± 2.66 months in the tear completion before repair group. At the final follow‐up, the forward elevation, external rotation, and internal rotation improved significantly in both groups. The VAS, ASES score, and Constant–Murley score improved significantly in the in situ repair group (5.17 ± 2.00 points to 0.11 ± 0.41 points, p = 0.001; 44.04 ± 17.40 points to 95.47 ± 4.32 points, p = 0.001; 49.50 ± 14.38 points to 93.50 ± 3.49 points, p = 0.001) and in the tear completion before repair group (5.43 ± 3.32 points to 0.03 ± 0.18 points, p = 0.001; 41.50 ± 19.59 points to 95.94 ± 2.68 points, p = 0.001; 47.54 ± 17.13 points to 93.97 ± 2.61 points, p = 0.001). Postoperative MRI revealed that the re‐tear rate was 7.1% (2/28) in the in situ repair group and 3.3% (1/30) in the tear completion before repair group. No significant differences were observed in terms of the functional scores, the percentages of patients achieving the MCID of the functional scores, and the re‐tear rate between the two groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Both in situ repair and tear completion before repair yielded satisfactory clinical outcomes for patients with bursal‐side PTRCTs. No significant differences were observed in the functional and MRI outcomes between the two groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In current work, the interaction between representative CFAS deposit (33CaO-10FeO 1.5 -13AlO 1.5 -44SiO 2) and Yb 4 Hf 3 O 12 ceramics at 1400 °C was investigated. Results indicated that the Yb 4 Hf 3 O 12 ceramics are of high resistance to infiltration of CFAS melt. Microstructure characterization revealed that Yb 4 Hf 3 O 12 reacted with CFAS to form a continuous reaction layer mainly composed of Yb-Ca-Si apatite, which inhibits CFAS further infiltration. Before the formation of the reaction layer, CFAS melts underwent a crystallization process at high temperatures, precipitating CaYbFeAlSi-garnet, which raised the viscosity of CFAS and thus inhibited the fluidity of CFAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinization is a growing issue that limits agriculture globally. Understanding the mechanism underlying salt tolerance in halophytic grasses can provide new insights into engineering plant salinity tolerance in glycophytic plants. Seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Sw.) is a halophytic turfgrass and genomic model system for salt tolerance research in cereals and other grasses. However, the salt tolerance mechanism of this grass largely unknown. To explore the correlation between Na+ accumulation and salt tolerance in different tissues, we utilized two P. vaginatum accessions that exhibit contrasting tolerance to salinity. To accomplish this, we employed various analytical techniques including ICP-MS-based ion analysis, lipidomic profiling analysis, enzyme assays, and integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis. Under high salinity, salt-tolerant P. vaginatum plants exhibited better growth and Na+ uptake compared to salt-sensitive plants. Salt-tolerant plants accumulated heightened Na+ accumulation in their roots, leading to increased production of root-sourced H2O2, which in turn activated the antioxidant systems. In salt-tolerant plants, metabolome profiling revealed tissue-specific metabolic changes, with increased amino acids, phenolic acids, and polyols in roots, and increased amino acids, flavonoids, and alkaloids in leaves. High salinity induced lipidome adaptation in roots, enhancing lipid metabolism in salt-tolerant plants. Moreover, through integrated analysis, the importance of amino acid metabolism in conferring salt tolerance was highlighted. This study significantly enhances our current understanding of salt-tolerant mechanisms in halophyte grass, thereby offering valuable insights for breeding and genetically engineering salt tolerance in glycophytic plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroelectric materials with internal spontaneous polarization are conducive to enhancing photocatalytic performance by promoting photogenerated carriers separation. However, the traditional perovskite-type ferroelectric photocatalysts possess a typical 3D structure that is constrained by few exposed catalytic active sites and low specific surface area when compared to a 2D structure. In our study, the electronic properties of the 2D ferroelectric heterostructure for carbon and oxygen co-doping g-C3N4 (COCN)/In2Se3 with different out-of-plane ferroelectric polarization directions are investigated by first-principle calculations, namely, COCN/DOWN and COCN/UP heterostructures. The results show that when the ferroelectric polarization of the 2D In2Se3 layer in heterostructures is reversed, the heterostructure switches from traditional type-II (COCN/DOWN heterostructure) with an indirect bandgap of 1.58 eV to S-scheme (COCN/UP heterostructure) with a direct bandgap of 1.43 eV, in which the band edge positions of the S-scheme COCN/UP heterostructure satisfy the redox potential of the efficient photocatalytic selective oxidation of toluene to benzaldehyde. Further investigations revealed that the application of an electric field 0 ∼ +0.3 V/Å can reduce the bandgap and enhance the out-of-plane polarization of the COCN/UP heterostructure, which improve the photocatalytic activity of the S-scheme COCN/UP heterostructure. This work highlights the significance of ferroelectric polarization for charge transfer in heterostructures and provides theoretical guidance for the design of high-performance S-scheme photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of C. butyricum on the growth performance, microbiota, immunity response, and disease resistance in hybrid grouper fed with cottonseed protein concentrate (CPC) replacement of fishmeal. Six groups of isonitrogenous and isolipid diets were formulated including a positive control group (50% fishmeal, PC), a negative control group (CPC replaced 50% of fishmeal protein, NC), and Clostridium butyricum supplemented with 0.05% (C1, 5 × 10 8 CFU/kg), 0.2% (C2, 2 × 10 9 CFU/kg), 0.8% (C3, 8 × 10 9 CFU/kg), and 3.2% (C4, 3.2 × 10 10 CFU/kg), respectively, to the NC group. The results showed that weight gain rate and specific growth rate were significantly higher in the C4 group than that in the NC group (P < 0.05). After supplementation with C. butyricum, the amylase, lipase, and trypsin activities were significantly higher than the NC group (P < 0.05 ; except group C1), and the same results were obtained for intestinal morphometry. The intestinal proinflammatory factors were significantly downregulated, and the anti-inflammatory factors were significantly upregulated in the C3 and C4 groups compared with the NC group after supplementation with 0.8%-3.2% C. butyricum (P < 0.05). At the phylum level, the PC, NC, and C4 groups were dominated by the Firmicutes and the Proteobacteria. At the genus level, the relative abundance of Bacillus in the NC group was lower than that in the PC and C4 groups. After supplementation with C. butyricum, grouper in the C4 group showed significantly higher resistance to V. harveyi than the NC group (P < 0.05). Above all, taking into account the effects of immunity and disease resistance, it was recommended to supplement 3.2% C. butyricum in the diet of grouper fed the replacement of 50% fishmeal protein by CPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanoclusters (Ag NCs) are nanoscale aggregates that possess molecular-like discrete energy levels, resulting in electronic configuration-dependent tunable luminescence spanning the entire visible range. Benefiting from the efficient ion exchange capacity, nanometer dimensional cages, and high thermal and chemical stabilities, zeolites have been employed as desirable inorganic matrices to disperse and stabilize Ag NCs. This paper reviewed the recent research progresses on the luminescence properties, spectral manipulation, as well as the theoretical modelling of electronic structure and optical transition of Ag NCs confined inside various zeolites with different topology structures. Furthermore, potential applications of the zeolite-encaged luminescent Ag NCs in lighting, gas monitoring and sensing were presented. This review concludes with a brief comment on the possible future directions in the study of zeolite-encaged luminescent Ag NCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mullite and ytterbium disilicate (β‐Yb2Si2O7) powders as starting materials for the Yb2Si2O7/mullite/SiC tri‐layer coating are synthesized by a sol–gel method. The effect of SiC whiskers on the anti‐oxidation properties of Yb2Si2O7/mullite/SiC tri‐layer coating for C/SiC composites in the air environment is deeply studied. Results show that the formation temperature and complete transition temperature of mullite were 800–1000 and 1300°C, respectively. Yb2SiO5, α‐Yb2Si2O7, and β‐Yb2Si2O7 were gradually formed between 800 and 1000°C, and Yb2SiO5 and α‐Yb2Si2O7 were completely transformed into β‐Yb2Si2O7 at a temperature above 1200°C. The weight loss of Yb2Si2O7/(SiCw–mullite)/SiC tri‐layer coating coated specimens was 0.15 × 10−3 g cm−2 after 200 h oxidation at 1400°C, which is lower than that of Yb2Si2O7/mullite/SiC tri‐layer coating (2.84 × 10−3 g cm−2). The SiC whiskers in mullite middle coating can not only alleviate the coefficient of thermal expansion difference between mullite middle coating and β‐Yb2Si2O7 outer coating, but also improve the self‐healing performance of the mullite middle coating owing to the self‐healing aluminosilicate glass phase formed by the reaction between SiO2 (oxidation of SiC whiskers) and mullite particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the important indicators of the pavement performance of asphalt, the adhesion performance of asphalt-aggregate has an important impact on the durability of the road. The adhesion mechanism of an asphalt-aggregate interface is studied by molecular dynamics simulation. A shear system model for asphalt is constructed, confined to two aggregates, and the shear simulation is performed at different pressures, temperatures, and shear velocities. The relationship between stress and displacement is investigated. According to the changes in the asphalt model for the shear process, the form of the failure and the failure mechanism of the interface can be analyzed under different conditions. Results show that the asphalt near the asphalt-aggregate interface has obvious signs of stratification along a direction parallel to the interface during the process of applying pressure, the greater pressure applied, the greater speed variation rate between the asphalt and the aggregate. The shear strength limit has a linear relationship with pressure and temperature and a nonlinear relationship with velocity. The cohesion zone mathematical model and its series parameter values suitable for larger-scale numerical analysis are obtained by fitting the curve for the stress displacement of the shear process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcopenia is characterized by a progressive reduction in muscle mass or muscle physiological function associated with aging, but the relevant molecular mechanisms are not clear. Here, we identify the role of the myogenesis modifier CPNE1 in sarcopenia. CPNE1 is upregulated in aged skeletal muscles and young skeletal muscle satellite cells with palmitate-induced atrophy. The overexpression of CPNE1 hinders proliferation and differentiation and increases muscle atrophy characteristics in young skeletal muscle-derived satellite cells. In addition, CPNE1 overexpression disrupts the balance of mitochondrial fusion and division and causes endoplasmic reticulum stress. We found that the effects of CPNE1 on mitochondrial function are dependent on the PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 pathway. The overexpression of CPNE1 in young muscles alters membrane lipid composition, reduces skeletal muscle fibrosis regeneration, and exercise capacity in mice. These effects were reversed by PERK inhibitor GSK2606414. Moreover, immunoprecipitation indicates that CPNE1 overexpression greatly increased the acetylation of PERK. Therefore, CPNE1 is an important modifier that drives mitochondrial homeostasis to regulate myogenic cell proliferation and differentiation via the PERK-eIF2α pathway, which could be a valuable target for age-related sarcopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The immunotherapy efficacy on pancreatic cancer remains unsatisfactory. Therefore, it is still necessary to further clarify the pancreatic immune cell infiltration and search for immune-related prognostic indicators. We analyzed the 135 pancreatic cancer patients' data retrieved from the TCGA database for the immune cell infiltration, tumor microenvironment score and the correlation of the immune cells, followed by identification of prognostic immune clusters and genes clusters. The R language was used for the immune score calculation, and immune cells proportion related survival differences identification. The function of immune cells was verified through datasets in the GEO database and in vivo experiments. The results showed that M0 Macrophages had negative relations to CD8 + T cells and immune scores. There were differences in median survival in ICI clusters, gene clusters, and immune score groups (p < 0.05). M0 macrophages accounted for more than 9.8%, indicating a poor prognosis, while T cells accounted for more than 9.2%, indicating a good prognosis. In vivo results showed that M0 macrophages promote pancreatic cancer growth. Elimination of M0 macrophages may be a hopeful strategy against pancreatic cancer. Highlights: M0 macrophages accounted for more than 9.8%, indicating a poor prognosis in pancreatic cancer. M0 macrophages proportion were negatively correlated with CD8 + T cells, and immune scores. M0 macrophages promote pancreatic cancer growth in vivo. Elimination of M0 macrophages may be a promising strategy against PAAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The immunotherapy efficacy on pancreatic cancer remains unsatisfactory. Therefore, it is still necessary to further clarify the pancreatic immune cell infiltration and search for immune-related prognostic indicators. We analyzed the 135 pancreatic cancer patients' data retrieved from the TCGA database for the immune cell infiltration, tumor microenvironment score and the correlation of the immune cells, followed by identification of prognostic immune clusters and genes clusters. The R language was used for the immune score calculation, and immune cells proportion related survival differences identification. The function of immune cells was verified through datasets in the GEO database and in vivo experiments. The results showed that M0 Macrophages had negative relations to CD8 + T cells and immune scores. There were differences in median survival in ICI clusters, gene clusters, and immune score groups (p < 0.05). M0 macrophages accounted for more than 9.8%, indicating a poor prognosis, while T cells accounted for more than 9.2%, indicating a good prognosis. In vivo results showed that M0 macrophages promote pancreatic cancer growth. Elimination of M0 macrophages may be a hopeful strategy against pancreatic cancer. Highlights: M0 macrophages accounted for more than 9.8%, indicating a poor prognosis in pancreatic cancer. M0 macrophages proportion were negatively correlated with CD8 + T cells, and immune scores. M0 macrophages promote pancreatic cancer growth in vivo. Elimination of M0 macrophages may be a promising strategy against PAAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, Yb 4 Hf 3 O 12 ceramic, a typical rare-earth hafnate, was exposed to water vapor with Al(OH) 3 impurities at 1400 ℃, and microstructural evolution and corrosion mechanisms were investigated. The long-term corrosion can be divided into initial hydration and gasification of Hf4+ and steady-state corrosion after the formation of Al 5 Yb 3 O 12. In the initial stage, Hf4+ and the surrounding O2- tend to be hydrated and then volatilized in the form of Hf(OH) 4 , causing a metastable state of Yb 4 Hf 3 O 12 on the surface. Besides, the preferential corrosion of small grains, grain boundary, and specific crystal plane on the surface and sintered and densified grains result in varied corrosion behavior from the early linear law to the later parabolic law. In the steady-state corrosion stage, due to the consumption of Hf4+, more vacancies promote bonding and diffusion of Al3+ to form corrosion product (Al 5 Yb 3 O 12), and during this stage, regrowth and shedding of the corrosion layer reach a dynamic balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication after cardiac surgery. This study aims to develop and validate a risk model for predicting AKI after cardiac valve replacement surgery. Data from patients undergoing surgical valve replacement between January 2015 and December 2018 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The subjects were randomly divided into a derivation cohort and a validation cohort at a ratio of 7:3. The primary outcome was defined as AKI within 7 days after surgery. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to select risk predictors for developing the prediction model. Receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC), calibration plot and clinical decision curve analysis (DCA) will be used to evaluate the discrimination, precision and clinical benefit of the prediction model. A total of 1159 patients were involved in this study. The prevalence of AKI following surgery was 37.0% (429/1159). Logistic regression analysis showed that age, hemoglobin, fibrinogen, serum uric acid, cystatin C, bicarbonate, and cardiopulmonary bypass time were independent risk factors associated with AKI after surgical valve replacement (all P < 0.05). The areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) in the derivation cohort and the validation cohort were 0.777 (95% CI 0.744–0.810) and 0.760 (95% CI 0.706–0.813), respectively. The calibration plots indicated excellent consistency between the prediction probability and actual probability. DCA demonstrated great clinical benefit of the prediction model. We developed a prediction model for predicting AKI after cardiac valve replacement surgery that was internally validated to have good discrimination, calibration, and clinical practicability. • Few studies have focused on the prediction of AKI following surgical valve replacement. • This study aimed to develop and validate a risk model for the early prediction of AKI after cardiac valve replacement surgery. • Age, hemoglobin, fibrinogen, serum uric acid, cystatin C, bicarbonate, and cardiopulmonary bypass time are independent risk factors associated with AKI after surgical valve replacement. • We developed a prediction model for predicting AKI after cardiac valve replacement surgery based on 7 risk factors that were internally validated to have good discrimination, calibration, and clinical practicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photocatalytic oxidation of toluene (TL) to benzaldehyde (BAD) has the advantages of mild reaction conditions, green chemistry, and high selectivity of the target products. However, there is a problem on how to improve the selectivity of the product into BAD while ensuring the efficiency of TL conversion. Therefore, it is of great importance to understand the mechanism of the photocatalytic selective oxidation of TL into BAD. In this study, first-principles calculations were performed to investigate the mechanism of the photocatalytic selective oxidation of TL into BAD on a graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) catalyst under visible-light irradiation. The calculation results showed that the holes (g-C3N4˙+) and the hydroperoxyl radicals (˙OOH) were the major reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, the activation energy of the rate-determining step for the dehydration reaction of the C6H5CH2OOH molecule was 40.2 kcal mol−1, which was lower than that of the step in the free sate of about 4.8 kcal mol−1. Moreover, in order to get the maximum selectivity of BAD, the formation of hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) should be avoided. Our work provides theoretical guidance for improving the photocatalytic selective oxidation of TL into BAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tribological properties of polyaromatic organics (x P y E) as lubricating grease additives are studied by simulations and experiments. Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations are used to simulate the mechanical properties of four kinds of polyaromatic organics (2P1E, 3P2E, 4P3E, and 5P4E) with different aromatic ring numbers and a mass fraction under 300 MPa and 5 m/s relative shear velocity of the two solid walls. The friction force, positive pressure, stress, and adsorption energy are calculated quantitatively. Meantime, the friction coefficient of lubricating grease and the wear morphology of the sample are measured by Multifunctional Friction and Wear Testing Machine. The results show that the organic additives adsorbed on the wall form a protective film during the shearing process, improving the bearing capacity and reducing friction and wear. Among them, the 3P2E organic additive has an appropriate number of aromatic rings. Its single molecular adsorption energy and unit adsorption energy are higher than other organic additives and can uniformly lay on the wall to form a stable, protective film. This demonstrates the best friction performance and improves the load-bearing capacity of the lubricating film, reducing maximum wall stress by 53.4 %. • The effect of polyaromatic organics (x P y E) as grease additives is studied. • Molecular length and aromatic ring number of x P y E affect tribological properties. • Mass fraction of x P y E affects the grease friction performance. • The lubrication system containing 2.5 wt% 3P2E shows the best friction performance. • 3P2E can reduce maximum wall stress by 53.4 % and improve load-bearing capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A molecular dynamics approach is used to simulate the dynamic behaviour of SiO 2 -containing droplets impacting a solid surface. • The presence of SiO 2 particles in droplet promotes the spreading of droplets, which are more easily fragmented. • The rough surface has a stronger ability to capture droplets than the smooth surface. • The minimum value of the droplet's centre-of-mass height on the smooth solid surface is linearly related to the volume fraction of SiO 2 contained in the droplet. The dynamic behaviour of droplets impacting solid surfaces exists in nature, production, and life. In this paper, for the first time, the molecular dynamics method is used to simulate capturing the behaviour of nanodroplets containing SiO 2 on solid surfaces. The dynamic behaviour of nanodroplets impacting solid surfaces is analysed when the initial falling velocity v 0 of the droplet is 0.3–1.5 nm·ps−1 and for different particle size d s , mass fraction φ s of SiO 2 , and solid surfaces with various wettability. The contact angles of droplets containing SiO 2 nanoparticles on the solid surface were measured, and the simulated values closely matched experimental results. The results show that the droplets on the smooth solid surface are completely captured after impact when v 0 = 0.3–1.1 nm·ps−1. When v 0 = 1.2–1.5 nm·ps−1, the droplet is fragmented, and the fragmentation ratio n s increases with the mass fraction φ s. The droplet fragments when v 0 = 1.4–1.5 nm·ps−1 on the rough solid surface when the ratio of the side length of the square column to the droplet diameter is 0.07, while the pure water droplet directly bounces and does not fragment. There is a linear relationship between the minimum height of the centre of mass and the mass fraction in the process of droplet impact. The maximum droplet's spreading factor value in the spreading stage β max increases with mass fraction φ s and v 0. When the spreading factor of droplets increases to β c ≈ 3.02, the droplet fragments. The droplet spreading presents the Wenzel state on the rough solid surface. Moreover, the pinning effect affects the droplet falling into the square column gap surface, hindering droplet spreading. Therefore, the rough surface has better catching ability for the droplet than the smooth surface, while the speed range that can be caught is larger. These results provide a theoretical basis for related engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the win-win development of tourism and the Internet, word-of-mouth ranking of tourist attractions is a valuable reference factor. We try to find a correlation between tourist reviews and taste ranking of tourist attractions. We study the sentiment features of tourist online reviews from the technical perspective of natural language processing, so we propose an improved long short-term memory (LSTM) framework for sentiment feature extraction of travel reviews. We abandon traditional dictionaries and machine learning methods. A deep neural network approach was chosen to decompose multisentiment travel reviews into different morpheme levels for classification. Then, through preprocessing, text sentiment topic detection, and sentiment classification network, an accurate grasp of the sentiment features of reviews is finally achieved. To test the performance of our method, we built a web review database by crawler for experimental validation. Experimental results show that our method maintains more than 90% accuracy in comment sentiment detection, significantly outperforming dictionary methods and machine learning methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clostridium butyricum (CB) is a gram-positive bacterium that secretes short-chain fatty acids such as butyric acid and so on. An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of CB on the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immunity and resistance to Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Litopenaeus Vannamei fed with cottonseed protein concentrate (CPC) replacement of fishmeal. Six iso-nitrogenous (40%) and iso-lipidic (6%) diets were formulated including a positive control group (PC, 25% fishmeal), a negative control group (NC, CPC replaced 30% of fishmeal protein), and 0.03% (C1, 3 × 108 CFU/kg), 0.12% (C2, 1.2 × 109 CFU/kg), 0.48% (C3, 4.8 × 109 CFU/kg) and 1.92% (C4, 1.92 × 1010 CFU/kg) CB were supplemented on the negative control group (NC). After the feeding trial, the remaining shrimp in each treatment group were subjected to a challenge experiment with Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The results indicated that weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR) in C4 group were significantly lower than those in PC and C2 groups (P < 0.05); the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly higher than that of PC and C2 groups (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in survival rate (SR) among all groups (P > 0.05). Compared to the PC and NC groups, the total superoxide capacity, superoxide dismutase and lysozyme were significantly higher in the C4 group (P < 0.05); the glutathione peroxidase, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase were significantly higher in the C3 group (P < 0.05); and the malondialdehyde was significantly lower in the C4 group (P < 0.05). The relative mRNA expressions of Toll receptor (TLR), innate immune deficiency gene (IMD), penaiedin3a (Pen3) were significantly down-regulated in the NC group than those in the PC group (P < 0.05). In addition, the relative mRNA expressions of TLR, IMD and Pen3 were significantly up-regulated in all groups supplemented with CB than those in the NC group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the cumulative mortality rate in the NC group was not significantly different from the PC group (P > 0.05) and was significantly higher than those in the C3 and C4 groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the CB supplementation on the basis of CPC replacement of 30% fishmeal protein enhanced significantly the antioxidant capacity, immunity and disease resistance of shrimp and improved its growth performance. Therefore, considering the factors of the growth, immunity and disease resistance, the CB supplementation of 0.12%–0.48% (1.2 × 109 CFU/kg-4.8 × 109 CFU/kg) was recommended in the diet of L. vannamei based on the results of this experiment. • In this experiment, fish meal substitution was combined with probiotics. • CB can significantly improve the negative effects of fishmeal substitution on immunity and disease resistance in L. Vannamei. • Considering the growth, immunity and disease resistance, the recommended supplementation of CB in the diet is 0.12%–0.48%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study investigates the determinants of effective human and artificial intelligence (AI) relationship-building strategies for brands. It explores the antecedents and consequences of consumers' interactant satisfaction with communication and identifies ways to enhance consumer purchase intention via AI chatbot promotion. Design/methodology/approach: Microsoft Xiaoice served as the focal AI chatbot, and 331 valid samples were obtained. A two-stage structural equation modeling-artificial neural network approach was adopted to verify the proposed theoretical model. Findings: Regarding the IQ (intelligence quotient) and EQ (emotional quotient) of AI chatbots, the multi-dimensional social support model helps explain consumers' interactant satisfaction with communication, which facilitates affective attachment and purchase intention. The results also show that chatbots should emphasize emotional and esteem social support more than informational support. Practical implications: Brands should focus more on AI chatbots' emotional and empathetic responses than functional aspects when designing dialogue content for human–AI interactions. Well-designed AI chatbots can help marketers develop effective brand promotion strategies. Originality/value: This research enriches the human–AI interaction literature by adopting a multi-dimensional social support theoretical lens that can enhance the interactant satisfaction with communication, affective attachment and purchase intention of AI chatbot users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite its importance for crop water use and productivity, especially in drought‐affected environments, the underlying mechanisms of variation in intrinsic water‐use efficiency (iWUE = net photosynthesis/stomatal conductance for water vapour, gsw) are not well understood, especially in C4 plants. Recently, we discovered that leaf width (LW) correlated negatively with iWUE and positively with gsw across several C4 grasses. Here, we confirmed these relationships within 48 field‐grown genotypes differing in LW in Sorghum bicolor, a C4 crop adapted to dry and hot conditions. We measured leaf gas exchange and modelled leaf energy balance three times a day, alongside anatomical traits as potential predictors of iWUE. LW correlated negatively with iWUE and stomatal density, but positively with gsw, interveinal distance of longitudinal veins, and the percentage of stomatal aperture relative to maximum. Energy balance modelling showed that wider leaves needed to open their stomata more to generate a more negative leaf‐to‐air temperature difference, especially at midday when air temperatures exceeded 40°C. These results highlight the important role that LW plays in shaping iWUE through coordination of vein and stomatal traits and by affecting stomatal aperture. Therefore, LW could be used as a predictor of higher iWUE among sorghum genotypes. Summary statement: Leaf width (LW) plays an important role in shaping intrinsic water‐use efficiency (iWUE) across Sorghum bicolor genotypes through coordination of vein and stomatal traits and by regulating stomatal aperture. Wider leaves had higher gsw likely to prevent a detrimental rise in leaf temperature. Therefore, LW could be used as a predictor for higher iWUE among sorghum genotypes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effects of acupuncture on quality of life in patients with schizophrenia in remission. Methods: A total of 101 patients with schizophrenia in remission were selected in this study. The patients were randomly divided into the control group (n = 51) and the treatment group (n = 50). Patients in the control group were treated with antipsychotics, while patients in the treatment group were treated with acupuncture on the basis of antipsychotics treatment in the control group. The changes of positive and negative symptoms scale (PANSS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale, Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Scale (PSQI), Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS), and condition of adverse reactions in the two groups were observed before and after treatment. Results: After treatment, the clinical total effective rate of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Moreover, the incidence of adverse reactions in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the score of CGI scale, PSQI score and AIMS score in the treatment group after treatment decreased, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Moreover, the HAMD score, PANSS score and each factor in the treatment group decreased to some extent, but the comparison between the treatment group and the control group indicated that the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture treatment can effectively improve the quality of life in patients with schizophrenia in remission, reduce adverse reactions, and improve clinical effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foods and beverages with excessive tannins acid (TA) content taste astringent and bitter. The overconsumption of TA could result in nutritional and digestive problems. In this study, the cellulose nanocrystals (CNC)/fish swim bladder gelatin (FG) composite sponge was prepared with glutaraldehyde as a crosslinking agent. The TA adsorption performance of the sponge was discussed. The freeze-dried CNC/FG composite sponge had a porous network structure. CNC was combined into the FG matrix as a reinforcing phase. The mechanical strength, thermal stability, and swelling properties of the composite sponge were improved with the addition of an appropriate amount of CNC. Although CNC decreased the porosity of composite sponge, the increase in active adsorption sites resulted in an overall positive effect on its TA adsorption properties. Under the optimal adsorption conditions, the TA removal rate of 1.0 % CNC composites reached 80.4 %. Furthermore, the sponge retained a TA removal rate of 54 % after five cycles of adsorption and desorption using 50 % ethanol. The results demonstrated that CNC/FG composite sponge has application potential in the field of adsorption materials for TA. [Display omitted] • Porous fish gelatin sponge is capable of removing tannic acid. • Cellulose nanocrystals additives bonded with fish gelatin through hydrogen bonds. • Additives improved mechanical strength, thermal stability, and swelling property. • 1 % cellulose nanocrystals addition achieved best tannic acid removal (80.4 %). • Composite sponge's adsorption follows the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a highly lethal disease and an increasing cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide. Interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) play vital roles in immune response and tumor cellular biological processes. However, the specific functions of IRFs in PC and tumor immune response are far from systematically clarified. This study aimed to explorer the expression profile, prognostic significance, and biological function of IRFs in PC. Results: We observed that the levels of IRF2, 6, 7, 8, and 9 were elevated in tumor compared to normal tissues in PC. IRF7 expression was significantly associated with patients' pathology stage in PC. PC patients with high IRF2, low IRF3, and high IRF6 levels had significantly poorer overall survival. High mRNA expression, amplification and, deep deletion were the three most common types of genetic alterations of IRFs in PC. Low expression of IRF2, 4, 5, and 8 was resistant to most of the drugs or small molecules from Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer. Moreover, IRFs were positively correlated with the abundance of tumor infiltrating immune cells in PC, including B cells, CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, macrophages, Neutrophil, and Dendritic cells. Functional analysis indicated that IRFs were involved in T cell receptor signaling pathway, immune response, and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. Conclusions: Our results indicated that certain IRFs could serve as potential therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers for PC patients. Further basic and clinical studies are needed to validate our findings and generalize the clinical application of IRFs in PC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study develops a self-construal framework containing both individual- and social-level variables to explain bloggers' inner motivations to create contents voluntarily. With the aim of bridging the gaps in previous blogger-related studies, this research explores intrinsic and psychological benefits behind voluntary bloggers' sharing behaviour via social network sites or weblogs. The proposed structural equation model is tested with survey data from 414 bloggers, and all hypotheses are statistically supported. The findings indicate that voluntary bloggers' involvement results from self-reassurance, which is induced by a self-construction process comprising both independent and interdependent selves. This study enriches extant literature on bloggers' behaviour by incorporating self-construal theory into the sphere of creating contents. In essence, the self-construal model paves the way for future comprehensive psychological frameworks, which can help researchers and practitioners deepen their understanding of blogger enthusiasm in self-building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interparticle spacing of a heterostructure is a crucial factor affecting electron transfer (ET) process. Herein, binary nanoparticle superlattices (BNSLs) composed of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) and Au nanoclusters (NCs) are prepared. Steady‐state and time‐resolved spectra illustrate that the ET accelerates as the pressure increases because pressure effectively adjusts the interparticle spacing. The results also demonstrate that the trap state of the CdSe/ZnS QDs affects the ET process of BNSLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little data exist in the literature regarding second-look arthroscopic outcomes after pullout repair for avulsion tears of the posterior lateral meniscus root. Purpose: To (1) assess the functional, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and second-look arthroscopic outcomes after pullout repair for avulsion tears of the posterior lateral meniscus root; (2) determine which demographic and clinical factors influenced healing of the repaired posterior lateral meniscus root; and (3) compare outcomes between different meniscal healing status groups. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A total of 31 patients underwent pullout repair for avulsion tears of the posterior lateral meniscus root and had a minimum 2-year follow-up. Functional outcomes were assessed using patient-reported scores (Lysholm, Tegner, and International Knee Documentation Committee [IKDC] scores). Lateral meniscal extrusion, cartilage degeneration of the lateral compartment, and healing of the repaired posterior lateral meniscus root were assessed via MRI. The healing status was also assessed using second-look arthroscopic surgery, and the patients were divided into different healing status groups. Results: The postoperative patient-reported scores improved significantly compared with the preoperative values (P =.001). Lateral meniscal extrusion was reduced significantly from 3.37 ± 0.82 mm preoperatively to 0.63 ± 0.80 mm at final follow-up (P =.001). The grade of cartilage degeneration of the lateral compartment progressed from 0.69 ± 0.67 preoperatively to 0.95 ± 0.83 at final follow-up (P =.213). MRI scans showed complete healing in 28 patients (90.3%) and partial healing in 3 patients (9.7%). Second-look arthroscopic surgery showed stable healing in 18 of 23 patients (78.3%) and lax healing in 5 of 23 patients (21.7%). Patients with stable healing had significantly higher Lysholm and IKDC scores, more reduction of meniscal extrusion, and less progression of cartilage degeneration than did patients with lax healing (P <.05). Concomitant anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction was found to significantly positively influence healing of the repaired posterior lateral meniscus root (P =.047). Conclusion: Pullout repair for avulsion tears of the posterior lateral meniscus root yielded significantly improved patient-reported scores, reduced meniscal extrusion, and a satisfactory healing rate at final follow-up. Patients with stable healing had significantly better functional and MRI outcomes than did patients with lax healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A synthetic strategy for the synthesis of substituted thiophenes is described by the one‐pot reaction of indoles with ketene dithioacetals under mild reaction conditions. Promoted by triflic acid (TfOH), the reaction of indoles with the easily available α‐acetyl ketene dithioacetals resulted in the formation of vinylketene dithioacetals via condensation instead of the well known nucleophilic addition‐alkylthio elimination process. In thepresence of CuBr2, vinylketene dithioacetals can cyclize into the corresponding substituted thiophenes. This transformation may benefit from the acidic reaction conditions and the steric effects of the 2‐substituted indoles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an essential component of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), the design of hole transport materials (HTMs) has always been a topic of interest in the photovoltaic community. In this work, p-type tin monoxide (SnO) films are grown by electron beam evaporation to investigate the influence of substrate temperature and deposition time on their properties. The film crystallization and preferred growth orientation of (001) showed prominent enhancement with the increase in substrate temperature. The prolongation of deposition time witnessed changes in grain morphology from nanoparticles to nanosheets. Hall measurements revealed that the film deposited at 200 °C showed the lowest resistivity, the maximum carrier concentration, and the lowest carrier mobility. Using these films as HTMs, the performance of PSCs based on caesium lead iodide perovskites (CsPbI3) was analyzed theoretically and experimentally, and high open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 1.16 V is obtained. With the increase of the substrate temperature, the power conversion efficiency of PSCs is decreased due to the decreased hole concentration. The results suggest that SnO film deposited at low substrate temperature holds promise for facilitating high-performance PSCs as HTMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, upconversion nanocrystals incorporated with MOR zeolite composites were synthesized using the desilicated MOR zeolite as a host for the in situ growth of NaREF4 (RE = Y, Gd) Yb/Er nanocrystals. The structure and morphology of the composites were studied with XRD, XPS, and TEM measurements, and the spectral studies indicated that the subsequent thermal treatment can effectively improve the upconversion emission intensity of Er3+. By using the NaYF4:Yb/Er@DSi1.0MOR-HT composite that holds the strongest upconversion emission, a probe of UCNC@DSiMOR/BPEI was constructed with the modification of branched poly ethylenimine for the detection of Cu2+. It was indicated that the integrated emission intensity of Er3+ shows a linear dependence with the logarithm value of the Cu2+ concentration ranging from 0.1 to 10 μM. This study offered a feasible method for the construction of UCNC@zeolite composites with enhanced upconversion emission, which may have a potential application as fluorescent probes for the detection of various metal ions by adjusting the doping luminescent center. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a major proinflammatory cytokine that has been posited to be involved in the development of chronic pancreatitis (CP). Several studies have been carried out that explored the association between the TNF-α −308A/G polymorphism and CP; however, conflicting results have emerged. The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis to provide a more precise assessment of the relationship between the TNF-α −308A/G polymorphism and CP risk. Methods: Case–control studies were identified using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure through January 2019 from which seven were identified that met all inclusion criteria. Results: This meta-analysis included 695 CP cases and 742 controls. A positive association was found between the A allele and the risk of CP using the additive model (OR [odds ratio] = 1.83, 95% CI [confidence interval] = 1.08–3.10). We also found, after excluding the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium-violating studies, that the AA genotype was significantly associated with CP in both the additive and recessive models (OR = 2.28, 95% CI = 1.27–4.07; OR = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.26–3.81). Conclusion: This meta-analysis indicates that the A allele of the TNF-α −308A/G polymorphism increases the risk of CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Yb 2 Si 2 O 7 /SiC bilayer anti-oxidation coating was fabricated on the surface of C/SiC composites by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and the combination of sol-gel and air spraying method to enhance the oxidation resistance of C/SiC composites. Results indicated that the bilayer coating can efficiently prevent the oxidation of C/SiC composites in ambient air at 1773 K for more than 100 h with slight weight loss rate of 8.12 × 10-5 g cm-2 h-1 and retained compression strength of 96.78%. Microstructure characterization revealed that the gradual densification of Yb 2 Si 2 O 7 outer coating exposed to 1773 K reduced the oxygen diffusion pathes within the Yb 2 Si 2 O 7 /SiC bilayer coating, therefore, the weight loss rate of specimens decreased as oxidation proceeded. The oxidation activation energy of bilayer coating coated C/SiC specimen was 107.73 kJ/mol during long time oxidation within the temperature range from 1573 K to 1773 K. Based on the microstructure analysis and oxidation behavior of the specimens with different exposure time of oxidation, the oxygen diffusion rate in the bilayer coating was the controlling link during the long time oxidation course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Wood plastic composites (WPCs) have emerged as environmentally benign filaments for fused deposition modeling (FDM) printing. Using WPCs filaments to print light weight and strong cellular structures could create new application potentials for WPCs and provide sustainable feedstock for cellular materials. In this research, the compression performance of FDM printed circle, square, and voronoi WPCs cellular structures were investigated using finite element simulations and compression experiments. Simulated results did not agree with experimental results due to the presence of cavities in the prints. Cavities were formed in the cellular structures with arcs and curvature. The results showed that the circle cellular structure demonstrated great fluctuations between the simulations and experimental results. The cavity porosity was also found to increase with the increase of the print line width. Further, to improve the accuracy of simulations, the cavity porosity exists in the cellular structures was considered while revising the models. After modification, square cellular models compressed the least, followed by the circle and voronoi ones, which was consistent with the experimental results. Minimizing the print line width could reduce cavity porosity. Nonetheless, thinner print line width and smaller wood fiber size in filaments will likely increase manufacturing cost and difficulty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A short multi-wavelength fiber Bragg grating (MW-FBG) fabrication method is proposed and demonstrated. The MW-FBG fabrication method includes making expanded core in the photosensitive single mode fiber (P-SMF) by the discharge-based thermal diffusion technique and writing FBGs on the pre-processed P-SMF through ultraviolet exposure technique. The effect of the arc discharge is to make the dopant in the core of the P-SMF diffuse to the cladding, which can reduce the refractive index of the core at the discharged region. As a result, a single exposure through one phase mask can produce a FBG with multiple resonant wavelengths. The strain and temperature responses of a two-wavelength FBG are experimentally investigated. Results show that the multiple wavelengths of the FBG have almost the same responses to the strain or temperature. The strain sensitivities of the two wavelengths of the FBG are 0.9025 pm/ μ ε and 0.9101 pm/ μ ε , respectively, and the temperature sensitivities are 10.55 pm/°C and 10.33 pm/°C, respectively. Such MW-FBGs have potential applications in the case of small size and high spatial resolution measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pb-210, a highly-toxic radionuclide, is widely distributed in environments and is commonly the target for monitoring. In this paper, a modified method for determining Pb-210 radioactivities in plants in China has been presented. The procedure involves digesting the plant samples by microwave directly, separating Pb-210 from Bi-210 and Po-210 with Sr resins, and measuring the beta particles using liquid scintillation counting (LSC). Compared to previously reported approaches, this method uses no hydrochloric acids which are restricted in China and involves no co-precipitation. The entire procedure could be finished within 1 day with a radiochemical yield of 70%. The lower limit of detection for Pb-210 was found to be 38.0 mBq/g for a counting time of 72,000 s. The method was tested using a standard solution and plant samples. LSC spectra indicate that Pb-210 is effectively stripped and the results are consistent with those obtained from the gamma-spectrometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel rhodium(III)‐catalyzed synthesis of 2‐(trifluoromethyl)‐dibenzopyranones from easily available 4‐(trifluoromethyl)‐p‐quinols and N‐methoxyarylamides is described. Rhodium(III)‐catalyzed formal anti‐Michael addition was proposed to be a crucial step in this [3+3] annulation with N‐methoxyarylamides as effective 1,3‐dipoles, providing a concise and efficient approach for the construction of trifluoromethyl‐containing dibenzopyranones under mild reaction conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) is a commercially important, widely distributed forage crop that is used in the production of hay and silage worldwide. Drought has been a severe environmental constraint in its production. Nevertheless, only a handful of studies have examined the impact of short-term drought stress on annual ryegrass. The aim of this study was to explore how stress-induced core metabolic processes enhance drought tolerance, or adaptation to drought, in annual ryegrass. Results: We profiled the transcriptomes, proteomes, and metabolomes of two annual ryegrass genotypes: the drought-resistant genotype "Abundant 10" and drought-susceptible genotype "Adrenalin 11." We identified differentially expressed metabolites and their corresponding proteins and transcripts that are involved in 23 core metabolic processes, in response to short-term drought stress. Protein-gene-metabolite correlation networks were built to reveal the relationships between the expression of transcripts, proteins, and metabolites in drought-resistant annual ryegrass. Furthermore, integrated metabolic pathways were used to observe changes in enzymes corresponding with levels of amino acids, lipids, carbohydrate conjugates, nucleosides, alkaloids and their derivatives, and pyridines and their derivatives. The resulting omics data underscored the significance of 23 core metabolic processes on the enhancement of drought tolerance or adaptation to drought in annual ryegrass. Conclusions: The regulatory networks were inferred using MCoA and correlation analysis to reveal the relationships among the expression of transcripts, proteins, and metabolites that highlight the corresponding elements of these core metabolic pathways. Our results provide valuable insight into the molecular mechanisms of drought resistance, and represent a promising strategy toward the improvement of drought tolerance in annual ryegrass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the coenzyme B 12 -dependent enzymes, methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (MMCM) catalyzes the carbon-skeleton rearrangement reaction between R -methylmalonyl-CoA and succinyl-CoA. Diethyl 2-bromomethyl-2-phenylmalonate, an alkyl bromide substrate having two different migrating groups (phenyl and carboxylic ester groups) on the β -carbon, was applied to the electrolysis mediated by a hydrophobic vitamin B 12 model complex, heptamethyl cobyrinate perchlorate in this study. The electrolysis of the substrate at − 1.0 V vs. Ag-AgCl by light irradiation afforded the simple reduced product (diethyl 2-methyl-2-phenylmalonate) and the phenyl migrated product (diethyl 2-benzyl-2-phenylmalonate), as well as the electrolysis of the substrate at − 1.5 V vs. Ag-AgCl in the dark. The electrolysis of the substrate at − 2.0 V vs. Ag-AgCl afforded the carboxylic ester migrated product (diethyl phenylsuccinate) as the major product. The selectivity for the migrating group was successfully tuned by controlling the electrolysis potential. We clarified that the cathodic chemistry of the Co(III) alkylated heptamethyl cobyrinate is critical for the selectivity of the migrating group through mechanistic investigations and comparisons to the simple vitamin B 12 model complex, an imine/oxime-type cobalt complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the coenzyme B 12 -dependent enzymes, methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (MMCM) catalyzes the carbon-skeleton rearrangement reaction between R -methylmalonyl-CoA and succinyl-CoA. Diethyl 2-bromomethyl-2-phenylmalonate, an alkyl bromide substrate having two different migrating groups (phenyl and carboxylic ester groups) on the β -carbon, was applied to the electrolysis mediated by a hydrophobic vitamin B 12 model complex, heptamethyl cobyrinate perchlorate in this study. The electrolysis of the substrate at − 1.0 V vs. Ag-AgCl by light irradiation afforded the simple reduced product (diethyl 2-methyl-2-phenylmalonate) and the phenyl migrated product (diethyl 2-benzyl-2-phenylmalonate), as well as the electrolysis of the substrate at − 1.5 V vs. Ag-AgCl in the dark. The electrolysis of the substrate at − 2.0 V vs. Ag-AgCl afforded the carboxylic ester migrated product (diethyl phenylsuccinate) as the major product. The selectivity for the migrating group was successfully tuned by controlling the electrolysis potential. We clarified that the cathodic chemistry of the Co(III) alkylated heptamethyl cobyrinate is critical for the selectivity of the migrating group through mechanistic investigations and comparisons to the simple vitamin B 12 model complex, an imine/oxime-type cobalt complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is a major abiotic stress that impairs growth and productivity of Italian ryegrass. Comparative analysis of drought responsive proteins will provide insight into molecular mechanism in Lolium multiflorum drought tolerance. Using the iTRAQ-based approach, proteomic changes in tolerant and susceptible lines were examined in response to drought condition. A total of 950 differentially accumulated proteins was found to be involved in carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and signal transduction pathway, such as β-D-xylosidase, β-D-glucan glucohydrolase, glycerate dehydrogenase, Cobalamin-independent methionine synthase, glutamine synthetase 1a, Farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase, diacylglycerol, and inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate, which might contributed to enhance drought tolerance or adaption in Lolium multiflorum. Interestingly, the two specific metabolic pathways, arachidonic acid and inositol phosphate metabolism including differentially accumulated proteins, were observed only in the tolerant lines. Cysteine protease cathepsin B, Cysteine proteinase, lipid transfer protein and Aquaporin were observed as drought-regulated proteins participating in hydrolysis and transmembrane transport. The activities of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase, peroxiredoxin, dehydroascorbate reductase, peroxisomal ascorbate peroxidase and monodehydroascorbate reductase associated with alleviating the accumulation of reactive oxygen species in stress inducing environments. Our results showed that drought-responsive proteins were closely related to metabolic processes including signal transduction, antioxidant defenses, hydrolysis, and transmembrane transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the corrosion behavior of Yb 4 Hf 3 O 12 ceramics under CFAS coupled with water vapor environment at 1400 °C for 2–50 h was investigated. Results show that the CFAS were rapidly dissolved into ceramics under test environment, and then the Yb-Ca-Si apatite and Hf-rich fluorite phases were re-precipitated. Simultaneously, the water vapor corrosion mainly induced grain surface corrosion, resulting in the formation of corrosion pits and ridge-like structures. Moreover, the pores and microcracks caused by water vapor corrosion offer additional penetration path for CFAS melt. • The corrosion behavior of Yb 4 Hf 3 O 12 in a CFAS coupled with water vapor environment was investigated for the first time. • The reaction layer containing apatite and fluorite is an important factor for Yb 4 Hf 3 O 12 to resist CFAS corrosion. • Microholes caused by water vapor corrosion accelerate the CFAS infiltration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The C−C bond formation via C−S bond activation (disclosed in 2000) has received increasing attention. However, stoichiometric amounts of exogenous thiophilic reagents are generally required as thiolate scavengers. Herein, a new model for the synthesis of 4-aminoquinolines, the copper(II)-catalyzed aerobic oxidative desulfitative 6π cyclization of the readily available N-arylimino ketene N,S-acetals is described. The reaction can proceed efficiently under mild conditions without any exogeneous thiolate scavengers (due to the formation of disulfide as the by-product) to afford diverse 4-aminoquinolines, a privileged structure motif displaying antimalarial activity, with a wide range of functional groups at the C-2 to C-8 positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sigma1 receptor acts as a chaperone at the endoplasmic reticulum, associates with multiple proteins in various cellular systems, and involves in a number of diseases, such as addiction, pain, cancer and psychiatric disorders. The sigma1 receptor is encoded by the single copy SIGMAR1 gene. The current study identifies five alternatively spliced variants of the mouse sigma1 receptor gene using a polymerase chain reaction cloning approach. All the splice variants are generated by exon skipping or alternative 3’ or 5’ splicing, producing the truncated sigma1 receptor. Similar alternative splicing has been observed in the human SIGMAR1 gene based on the molecular cloning or genome sequence prediction, suggesting conservation of alternative splicing of SIGMAR1 gene. Using quantitative polymerase chain reactions, we demonstrate differential expression of several splice variants in mouse tissues and brain regions. When expressed in HEK293 cells, all the splice variants fail to bind sigma ligands, implicating that each truncated region in these splice variants is important for ligand binding. However, co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) study in HEK293 cells co-transfected with tagged constructs reveals that all the splice variants maintain their ability to physically associate with a mu opioid receptor (mMOR-1), providing useful information to correlate the motifs/sequences necessary for their physical association. Furthermore, a competition Co-IP study showed that all the variants can disrupt in a dose-dependent manner the dimerization of the original sigma1 receptor with mMOR-1, suggesting a potential dominant negative function and providing significant insights into their function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The similarity-based retrieval of lung nodule computed tomography (CT) images is an important task in the computer-aided diagnosis of lung lesions. It can provide similar clinical cases for physicians and help them make reliable clinical diagnostic decisions. However, when handling large-scale lung images with a general-purpose computer, traditional image retrieval methods may not be efficient. In this paper, a new retrieval framework based on a hashing method for lung nodule CT images is proposed. This method can translate high-dimensional image features into a compact hash code, so the retrieval time and required memory space can be reduced greatly. Moreover, a pruning algorithm is presented to further improve the retrieval speed, and a pruning-based decision rule is presented to improve the retrieval precision. Finally, the proposed retrieval method is validated on 2,450 lung nodule CT images selected from the public Lung Image Database Consortium (LIDC) database. The experimental results show that the proposed pruning algorithm effectively reduces the retrieval time of lung nodule CT images and improves the retrieval precision. In addition, the retrieval framework is evaluated by differentiating benign and malignant nodules, and the classification accuracy can reach 86.62%, outperforming other commonly used classification methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Friction and wear reduction are widely sought to promote energy savings and reliability of moving machine components. Here, a combination of MST2 experiments and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations unveils the detailed lubrication mechanisms and presents quantitative wear descriptions of Cu and Fe nanoparticle (NP). The MD simulations results indicate that average value of friction force is reduced approximately 57.15% after the addition of Cu NP and these results is similar to the experimental results. In addition, bimetallic CuFe NP (Cu–Fe or Cu@Fe NP) shows superior performance than pure Cu NP, and the tribological properties of bimetallic CuFe NP change with structures. Bimetallic CuFe NP can be prepared and investigated by experimental methods, but the effects of different structures of bimetallic CuFe NP on lubrication are not sufficiently studied. The superior structure of bimetallic CuFe NP with higher load-carrying capacity and better tribological properties is predicted by MD simulations. Results from simulations suggest that there is an optimal NP structure and size that will minimize friction and wear for a given surface roughness. • The tribological properties of the bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) are superior to those of the pure NPs. • MD simulations reveal the synergistic lubrication mechanism of the different structures of bimetallic NPs. • The bimetallic NPs of structures and sizes together affect the performance of lubricants. The best performance in terms of tribological properties and carrying capacity is achieved when the ratio of the NP diameter to surface roughness is 1.54. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustaining crop productivity and resilience in water‐limited environments and under rising temperatures are matters of concern worldwide. We investigated the leaf anatomical traits that underpin our recently identified link between leaf width (LW) and intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE), as traits of interest in plant breeding. Ten sorghum lines with varying LW were grown under three temperatures to expand the range of variation of both LW and gas exchange rates. Leaf gas exchange, surface morphology and cross‐sectional anatomy were measured and analysed using structural equations modelling. Narrower leaves had lower stomatal conductance (gs) and higher iWUE across growth temperatures. They also had smaller intercellular airspaces, stomatal size, percentage of open stomatal aperture relative to maximum, hydraulic pathway, mesophyll thickness, and leaf mass per area. Structural modelling revealed a developmental association among leaf anatomical traits that underpinned gs variation in sorghum. Growing temperature and LW both impacted leaf gas exchange rates, but only LW directly impacted leaf anatomy. Wider leaves may be more productive under well‐watered conditions, but consume more water for growth and development, which is detrimental under water stress. Summary Statement: Coordination between leaf width and leaf anatomy underpins stomatal conductance variation in Sorghum bicolor lines grown under different temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]