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This study featured the synthesis and characterization of a highly effective AlN/g-C 3 N 4 composite photocatalyst using a combination of physical grinding and calcination methods. The composite material exhibited a unique two-dimensional/two-dimensional (2D/2D) structure, with flocculent g-C 3 N 4 uniformly coated on the surface of AlN. A series of characterization techniques including FE-SEM, TEM, XRD, FT-IR and XPS committed the successful formation of the AlN/g-C 3 N 4 heterostructure. The AlN/g-C 3 N 4 composite demonstrates the improved catalytic efficiency compared to pure AlN, which can be evidenced by its exceptional photocatalytic degradation performance under visible-light irradiation. The AlN/g-C 3 N 4 composite materials exhibited significant degradation of (RhB) and tetracycline (TC). Especially, the 20 % AlN/g-C 3 N 4 component showed particularly remarkable adsorption and catalytic activity, with 98.4 % degradation of RhB solution in 25 min and 83.0 % degradation of TC solution in 60 min, with efficiencies about 3.9 and 6.8 times higher than that of pure g-C₃N 4 , attributed to its larger specific surface area and a smaller pore structure compared to pure g-C 3 N 4. Moreover, the AlN/g-C 3 N 4 heterojunction exhibited outstanding stability and reusability throughout four consecutive experimental cycles, highlighting its long-lasting and reliable performance. FT-IR analysis confirmed the structural stability of the composite material, and the free radical experiments revealed the dominant role of the holes (h+) free radical in the photocatalytic reaction. Additionally, UV–vis diffuse reflectance and Mott-Schottky tests supported the Z-type charge carrier transport route as the photocatalytic mechanism. Overall, the AlN/g-C 3 N 4 heterostructure have shown great potential as a highly efficient photocatalyst for pollutant degradation, due to its unique structure, high specific surface area, and effective charge carrier separation, making it a promising material for diverse environmental applications. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioinspired computation systems can achieve artificial intelligence, bypassing fundamental bottlenecks and cost constraints. Computational frameworks suited for temporal/sequential data processing such as recurrent neural networks (RNNs) suffer from problems of high complexity and low efficiency. Physical systems assembled with nanoscale materials and devices represent as an alternative route to serve as the core component for physically implanted reservoir computing. In this review, an overview of the development of the paradigm of physical reservoir computing (PRC) is provided and the typical physical reservoirs constructed with nanomaterials and nanodevices are described. The physical reservoirs based on multiple nanomaterials overcome the problems of RNN, show strong robustness, and effectively deal with tasks with improved reliability and availability. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of nanomaterial and nanodevice‐based PRC as a component of next‐generation machine learning systems are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous mullite ceramics were fabricated from an industrial grade mullite powder by gelcasting process using fly ash cenospheres ( FAC) as a pore-forming agent. The influence of content of FAC and sintering temperature on the density and strength was evaluated. The microstructure showed that FAC can act as a sintering aid and a pore-forming agent. When the sintering temperature at 1200°C, porous mullite ceramics with a relatively high porosity (48.1-72.2%), low density (0.84-1.64 g/cm3), low thermal conductivity (0.16-0.22 W/m · K), and high compressive strength (6.21-14.70 MPa) have been obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Ternary CdMoO 4 @CdS/MoS 2 hybrid was prepared via a precise in-situ stepwise hydrothermal method. • The CdMoO 4 @CdS/MoS 2 nanocomposites showed excellent photocatalysis ability of Rhodamine B and tetracycline. • The catalysis mechanism was preliminarily explored. In the present work, ternary CdMoO 4 @CdS/MoS 2 composites were precisely fabricated via a two-step hydrothermal process through the complexant and morphology control agent of glycine. The results indicated that many CdMoO 4 @CdS nanospheres with a diameter of 400–500 nm were evenly embedded on the surface of MoS 2 microspheres in the CdMoO 4 @CdS/MoS 2. Compared to the single MoS 2 , the hybrid exhibited enhanced visible-photocatalytic activities for Rhodamine B (RhB) and tetracycline (TC) to 92.88% and 99.69% within a certain time, respectively. Active radical capture and NBT transformation experiments confirmed that the primary reactive species were h+ and O 2 − in the photocatalytic process. A possible catalytic mechanism was preliminary explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer and the third leading cancer killer in the world. Adriamycin (ADM) is a widely used anti-cancer drug. However, the efficacy is low since high dose of ADM causes toxicity to normal tissues. Curcumin, derived from turmeric (Curcumin longa), has shown its therapeutic potential against HCC. Here, we aim to investigate the effects of curcumin combined with ADM on human liver-derived Hepatoma G2 (HepG2) cell death. We found that combination treatment of curcumin with ADM significantly decreased the number of viable cells as compared to single agent treatment. Hoechst staining demonstrated that apoptotic cell death occurred upon curcumin and ADM treatment. The decreased Bcl-2/Bax protein ratio and the activation of caspase-3 were also detected. In addition, curcumin plus ADM led to mitochondrial fragmentation, the reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential, as well as the activation of autophagy. These findings suggest the combined treatment of curcumin with ADM might be an optional chemotherapeutic method for HCC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: To explore the auxiliary value of combining CT features with existing response evaluation criteria in the prediction of progressive disease (PD) in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) patients treated with sunitinib. Material and methods: Eighty-one patients with GISTs who received sunitinib were included in this retrospective multicenter study and divided into training and external validation cohorts. Progression at six months was determined as a reference standard. The predictive performance of the RECIST 1.1 and Choi criteria was compared. CT features at baseline and the first follow-up were analyzed. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the most significant predictors and develop modified criteria. Results: A total of 216 lesions showed a good response and 107 showed a poor response in 81 patients. The RECIST 1.1 criteria performed better than the Choi criteria in predicting progression (AUC, 0.75 vs. 0.69, p = 0.04). The expanded/intensified high-enhancement area, blurred tumor-tissue interface, and progressive enlarged vessels feeding or draining the mass (EVFDM) differed significantly between lesions with good and poor responses in the training cohort (p = 0.001, 0.003, and 0.000, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that the expanded/intensified high-enhancement area (p = 0.001), progressive EVFDM (p = 0.000), and RECIST PD (p = 0.000) were independent predictive factors. Modified RECIST (mRECIST) criteria were developed and showed significantly higher AUCs in the training and external validation cohorts than the RECIST 1.1 criteria (training: 0.81 vs. 0.73, p = 0.002; validation: 0.82 vs. 0.77, p = 0.04). Conclusion: The mRECIST criteria, combining CT features with the RECIST 1.1 criteria, demonstrated superior performance in the prediction of early progression in GIST patients receiving sunitinib. Clinical relevance statement: The mRECIST criteria, which combine CT features with the RECIST 1.1 criteria, may facilitate the early detection of progressive disease in GIST patients treated with sunitinib, thereby potentially guiding the timely switch to late-line medications or combination with surgical excision. Key Points: • The RECIST 1.1 criteria outperformed the Choi criteria in identifying progression of GISTs in patients treated with sunitinib. • GISTs displayed different morphologic features on CT depending on how they responded to sunitinib. • Combining CT morphologic features with the RECIST 1.1 criteria allowed for the prompt and accurate identification of progressing GIST lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dense cordierite ceramic was fabricated through reducing Al2O3 mole ratio from 2.0 to 1.4. The effect of the content of Al2O3 on crystalline phases, sintering characteristics and microstructures were studied. The green bodies, made of kaolin, attapulgite and basic magnesium carbonate, were sintered at 1200°C. The result suggests that reducing the Al2O3 mole ratio can fabricate dense cordierite ceramic. At 1200°C, cordierite became the main crystallization phase with a little of sapphirine. With the Al2O3 mole ratio decreasing, the shrinkage and bulk density increased but porosity reduced. When the mole ratio of Al2O3 reduced to 1.4 and sintered at 1200°C, the bulk density tends to the maximum value of 2.50kg/m3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a "solo-solvent de novo liquid-phase" method of synthesizing a highly-favored sulfide electrolyte (Li6PS5Cl) for developing all-solid-state lithium batteries. The key chemistry for such a successful method is that tetrahydropyrrole enables in situ synthesis of the critical precursor Li2S from cheap and air-stable precursors of lithium chloride and sodium sulfide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the cushion lift dynamics of a polar hovercraft. The motion of the flexible skirt on the ice surface is simplified and a mathematical model is established to study the dynamic response characteristics of the hovercraft in the process of lifting and moving over ice. This model considers the pressure/flow characteristics, skirt pressure, air cushion pressure, and flow rate of the fan of the hovercraft, and establishes a simulation using a C++program. When the hovercraft is pushed by the propeller, a thrust of 10 kN will cause a pressure difference of about 450 Pa between the front and rear chambers, 0.06 m in the height of the upstream and downstream discharge flows, and a decrease of about 0.4° in the longitudinal inclination angle. Changing the pitch angle to 0.5° creates a pressure difference of about 500 Pa between the chambers and a height difference of 0.07 m between the discharge. When the hovercraft speed is low, the wind speed has a small impact on the air cushion pressure of the lift system. The results of this research provide important technical and experimental foundations for further studies on the ice surface kinematics and safety control strategy of polar hovercraft. • A cushion lift dynamics system of a polar hovercraft by flow balance equation. • The model studies air cushion pressure changes through the discharge height. • Air cushion pressure in the air chamber is affected by external influence. • The hovercraft tests on the ice proves the effectiveness of the simulation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Classifying many-body quantum states with distinct properties and phases of matter is one of the most fundamental tasks in quantum many-body physics. However, due to the exponential complexity that emerges from the enormous numbers of interacting particles, classifying large-scale quantum states has been extremely challenging for classical approaches. Here, we propose a new approach called quantum neuronal sensing. Utilizing a 61-qubit superconducting quantum processor, we show that our scheme can efficiently classify two different types of many-body phenomena: namely the ergodic and localized phases of matter. Our quantum neuronal sensing process allows us to extract the necessary information coming from the statistical characteristics of the eigenspectrum to distinguish these phases of matter by measuring only one qubit and offers better phase resolution than conventional methods, such as measuring the imbalance. Our work demonstrates the feasibility and scalability of quantum neuronal sensing for near-term quantum processors and opens new avenues for exploring quantum many-body phenomena in larger-scale systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of high-fidelity two-qubit quantum gates is essential for digital quantum computing. Here, we propose and realize an all-microwave parametric controlled-Z (CZ) gates by coupling strength modulation in a superconducting Transmon qubit system with tunable couplers. After optimizing the design of the tunable coupler together with the control pulse numerically, we experimentally realized a 100 ns CZ gate with high fidelity of 99.38% ± 0.34% and the control error being 0.1%. We note that our CZ gates are not affected by pulse distortion and do not need pulse correction, providing a solution for the real-time pulse generation in a dynamic quantum feedback circuit. With the expectation of utilizing our all-microwave control scheme to reduce the number of control lines through frequency multiplexing in the future, our scheme draws a blueprint for the high-integrable quantum hardware design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum walks are the quantum mechanical analog of classical random walks and an extremely powerful tool in quantum simulations, quantum search algorithms, and even for universal quantum computing. In our work, we have designed and fabricated an 8-by-8 two-dimensional square superconducting qubit array composed of 62 functional qubits. We used this device to demonstrate high-fidelity single- and two-particle quantum walks. Furthermore, with the high programmability of the quantum processor, we implemented a Mach-Zehnder interferometer where the quantum walker coherently traverses in two paths before interfering and exiting. By tuning the disorders on the evolution paths, we observed interference fringes with single and double walkers. Our work is a milestone in the field, bringing future larger-scale quantum applications closer to realization for noisy intermediate-scale quantum processors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromosome region maintenance 1 (CRM1) plays a critical role in tumorigenesis and progression through modulating nuclear export of several proteins. However, the precise effects of CRM1 inhibitor on gastric carcinoma have not yet been illustrated. Here, we investigated the potential anti-cancer activities of leptomycin B, the most potent CRM1 antagonist, on cultured gastric carcinoma cells. Our findings demonstrate that CRM1 was highly expressed in four gastric carcinoma cell lines. Leptomycin B inhibited the viability of HGC-27 and AGS cells in a dose- and time-dependent pattern. Leptomycin B at the dose of 10 nM or 100 nM suppressed the migration and invasion of HGC-27 and AGS cells. Leptomycin B elevated the expressions of autophagy-related protein LC3-II and autophagy substrate p62. Moreover, leptomycin B enhanced the LC3-positive puncta formation in cells. Our data suggest that leptomycin B may exert an anti-cancer activity possibly through interfering autophagy function in gastric carcinoma cells. CRM1 is highly expressed in gastric carcinoma cells when compared to gastric mucosal cells. CRM1 inhibitor leptomycin B exerts anti-cancer activity possibly through interfering autophagy function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expression of Programmed cell Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) is observed in many malignant tumors and is associated with poor prognosis including Gastric Cancer (GC). The relationship between PD-L1 expression and prognosis, however, is controversial in GC. This paper purports to use a meta-analysis to investigate the relationship between PD-L1 expression and prognosis in GC. For this study, the following databases were searched for articles published from June 2003 until February 2017: PubMed, EBSCO, Web of Science and Cochrane Library. The baseline information extracted were: authors, year of publication, country where the study was performed, study design, sample size, follow-up time, baseline characteristics of the study population, pathologic data, overall survival (OS). A total of 15 eligible studies covering 3291 patients were selected for a meta-analysis based on specified inclusion and exclusion criteria. The analysis showed that the expression level of PD-L1 was associated with the overall survival in GC (Hazard Ratio, HR = 1.46, 95%CI = 1.08–1.98, P = 0.01, random-effect). In addition to the above, subgroup analysis showed that GC patients with deeper tumor infiltration, positive lymph-node metastasis, positive venous invasion, Epstein-Barr virus infection positive (EBV+), Microsatellite Instability (MSI) are more likely to expression PD-L1. The results of this meta-analysis suggest that GC patients, specifically EBV+ and MSI, may be prime candidates for PD-1 directed therapy. These findings support anti-PD-L1/PD-1 antibodies as a kind of immunotherapy which is promising for GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]