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Patients who suffer from sepsis typically experience acute lung injury (ALI). Extracellular vesicles (EVs) contain miRNAs, which are potentially involved in ALI. However, strategies to screen more effective EV-miRNAs as therapeutic targets are yet to be elucidated. In this study, functional EV-miRNAs were identified based on multiomics analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing of targeted organs and serum EV (sEV) miRNA profiles in patients with sepsis. The proportions of neutrophils and macrophages were increased significantly in the lungs of mice receiving sEVs from patients with sepsis compared with healthy controls. Macrophages released more EVs than neutrophils. MiR-125a-5p delivery by sEVs to lung macrophages inhibited Tnfaip3, while miR-221-3p delivery to lung neutrophils inhibited Fos. Macrophage membrane nanoparticles (MM NPs) loaded with an miR-125a-5p inhibitor or miR-221-3p mimic attenuated the response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI. Transcriptome profiling revealed that EVs derived from LPS-stimulated bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) induced oxidative stress in neutrophils. Blocking toll-like receptor, CXCR2, or TNFα signaling in neutrophils attenuated the oxidative stress induced by LPS-stimulated BMDM-EVs. This study presents a novel method to screen functional EV-miRNAs and highlights the pivotal role of macrophage-derived EVs in ALI. MM NPs, as delivery systems of key sEV-miRNA mimics or inhibitors, alleviated cellular responses observed in sepsis-induced ALI. This strategy can be used to reduce septic organ damage, particularly lung damage, by targeting EVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the optimal delivery system of quercetin, in this paper, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) extracted from rice bran were used to stabilize the Pickering emulsion and Pickering emulsion gels (PEGs) with quercetin. To compare the emulsion properties, stability, antioxidation activity, encapsulation rate, and bioaccessibility of the quercetin, four emulsions of CNC Pickering emulsion (C), CNC Pickering emulsion with quercetin (CQ), CNC Pickering gel emulsion (CG), and CNC Pickering gel emulsions with quercetin (CQG) were prepared. All four emulsions exhibited elastic gel network structure and good stability. The quercetin significantly reduced the particle size, increased the stability, and improved the antioxidant capacity of CQ and CQG. Compared to C and CG, the ABTS+ radical scavenging capacities of CQ and CQG were respectively enhanced by 46.92% and 3.59%. In addition, CQG had a higher encapsulation rate at 94.57% and higher bioaccessibility (16.17) compared to CQ. This study not only indicated that CNC from rice bran could be exploited as an excellent stabilization particle for Pickering emulsions, but also provided a highly stable and bioaccessible delivery system for water-insoluble functional active factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To obtain a magnetically separable, low-cost and highly efficient reduction catalyst, microbial carbon-loaded bimetallic palladium/iron nanoparticles (MC-FePd3 NPs) were synthesized in this study by using waste yeast residue doped with iron during the preparation process of microbial carbon-loaded monometallic palladium nanoparticles (MC-Pd NPs). The morphology, crystal structure, magnetic properties and catalytic performance of MC-FePd3 NPs for the reduction of p -nitrophenol (p-NP) were investigated by various characterization techniques, such as SEM-EDS, TEM, XRD, PPMS-9 and UV–vis spectroscopy. The catalytic experiments showed that the MC-FePd3 NPs prepared under pyrolysis conditions at 700 °C had an apparent rate constant of 1.85 × 10−1 s−1 which is better than the rate constants of MC-Pd NPs and other palladium-based nanocatalytic materials reported so far. The amount of palladium used in the synthesis of MC-FePd3 NPs was half that of MC-Pd NPs. The catalyst exhibited soft magnetic ordering behavior and still showed a catalytic efficiency of 97.4% after five consecutive reaction cycles. Furthermore, employing MC-FePd3 NPs reduces the costs of catalyst preparation and use in production. MC-FePd3 NPs with efficient catalytic properties, facile magnetic separation and recyclability, and low costs of preparation and use have considerable potential for industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recently developed hard-magnetic soft (HMS) materials manufactured by embedding high-coercivity micro-particles into soft matrices have received considerable attention from researchers in diverse fields, e.g., soft robotics, flexible electronics, and biomedicine. Theoretical investigations on large deformations of HMS structures are significant foundations of their applications. This work is devoted to developing a powerful theoretical tool for modeling and computing the complicated nonplanar deformations of flexible beams. A so-called quaternion beam model is proposed to break the singularity limitation of the existing geometrically exact (GE) beam model. The singularity-free governing equations for the three-dimensional (3D) large deformations of an HMS beam are first derived, and then solved with the Galerkin discretization method and the trust-region-dogleg iterative algorithm. The correctness of this new model and the utilized algorithms is verified by comparing the present results with the previous ones. The superiority of a quaternion beam model in calculating the complicated large deformations of a flexible beam is shown through several benchmark examples. It is found that the purpose of the HMS beam deformation is to eliminate the direction deviation between the residual magnetization and the applied magnetic field. The proposed new model and the revealed mechanism are supposed to be useful for guiding the engineering applications of flexible structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the correlation between ductile fracture toughness and a new unified constraint parameter Ad* for bi‐material interfaces with different mechanical mismatches (strength and hardening mismatches) has been investigated based on finite element analysis and experimental data validation. The results show that with increasing crack depth (geometric constraint) and mechanical mismatch level (increasing undermatch or overmatch level), the J–R curves and fracture toughness JC of bi‐material interfaces decrease. The constraint parameter Ad* values of bi‐material interface cracks are basically independent of the strength and hardening mismatches. A general correlation equation between fracture toughness JC and constraint parameter Ad* has been obtained, which may be applied to prediction of fracture toughness of any specimens or components with different geometric constraints and material properties mismatches (including homogeneous materials). The prediction capability of the correlation equation has been validated by experimental fracture toughness data of cracks with different strength and hardening mismatches in dissimilar metal welded joints. Highlights: Correlation between fracture toughness and constraint of bi‐material interfaces is studied.The constraint parameter Ad* of bi‐material interface is independent of the mismatches.A general correlation equation between fracture toughness and parameter Ad* is obtained.Prediction capability of the equation for fracture toughness is validated by experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce a new approach to determining the structure of topological cyclic homology by means of a descent spectral sequence. We carry out the computation for a p-adic local field with F p -coefficients, including the case p = 2 which was only covered by motivic methods except in the totally unramified case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An 808 nm laser diode (LD) end-pumped passively Q-switched Nd: YAG ceramic yellow green laser at 561 nm with high stability and low noise has been demonstrated, for the first time to our knowledge based on passively Q-switching with a Ti 3 C 2 T x -polyvinyl alcohol (Ti 3 C 2 T x -PVA) film, frequency selection and filtering with a Brewster polarizer (BP) and a birefringent crystal (BC), and intracavity frequency doubling with a LiB 3 O 5 (LBO) crystal. The 1112 nm and 1116 nm wavelengths from the Nd: YAG ceramic and the number of longitudinal modes of 1123 nm fundamental frequency light were effectively suppressed by adopting BP and BC. At 5.1 W of the 808 nm LD pump power, the 561 nm-PQYG laser with a maximum average power of 75.5 mW, a maximum repetition rate of 610 kHz, and a narrowest pulse width of 41 ns were obtained, corresponding to an average power instability of ±0.29%, a repetition rate instability ±7.08%, a pulse width instability of ±4.67%, and a laser noise of 0.49% over a period of 4 h. • Ti 3 C 2 T x -PVA film as SA employed in a passively Q-switched 561 nm yellow-green laser firstly. • Frequency selection and filtering with BP + BC effectively improved stability and reduced noise of 561 nm laser. • A 561 nm laser with a maximum average power of 75.5 mW, a maximum repetition rate of 610 kHz, and a narrowest pulse width of 41 ns were obtained. • Instabilities of average power, repetition rate, and pulse width were only ±0.29%, ±7.08%, and ±4.67%, respectively. Laser noise was only 0.49%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the CCG life assessment for defective structures based on the two-parameter method with considering constraints, the establishment of a correlation equation between the constraint parameter and the CCG rate for a material at a temperature is very important, but it is difficult and costly. For engineering applications, it is desirable to have a unified correlation equation for different materials. In this work, based on a large amount of experimental CCG rate data of different specimens from the literature, combining with the finite element (FE) calculations of a new unified creep constraint parameter Ac ,, a unified correlation equation has been obtained. In the CCG life evaluation for cracked structures based on the C*-Ac two-parameter method, this correlation equation may be used to estimate the constraint-dependent CCG rates for any materials at different temperatures. The correlation equations of eleven materials are also summarised in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to accurately assess creep crack initiation (CCI) and growth (CCG) life for elevated temperature cracked structures, both out‐of‐plane and in‐plane constraints need to be considered, and the unified creep constraint parameter solutions should be investigated. In this work, the new unified creep constraint parameter Ac values for plate structures with various surface crack sizes subjected to tensile and bending loads have been investigated and obtained using three‐dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) analysis. The effects of material creep properties, crack sizes, loading modes, and plate thickness on the parameter Ac have also been analyzed. The estimation equation of Ac for materials with different creep exponent n has been fitted. The parameter Ac solutions can be used in CCI and CCG life evaluation of the C*‐Ac two‐parameter approach for cracked plates subjected to tensile and bending loads. Highlights: The Ac solutions for cracked plates under tensile and bending loads are investigated.The equations for estimating Ac for materials with different creep exponent n are given.The effects of the crack size, loading mode and plate geometry on Ac are analyzed.The constraint‐dependent CCG rate and CCI time of cracked plates are investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • PEI modification increased adsorption capacity of Pd(Ⅱ) and catalytic activity. • Synthesis of Pd/MMR from modified microbial residue was optimal at 25 °C. • DFT simulation revealed ROS generation mechanism from O 2 on Pd (1 1 1) surface. • Pd/MMR platform could sensitively and reliably detect nitrite. Nanozymes have emerged as the forefront of research in analytical sensing due to their promising applications. In this study, we utilized polyethyleneimine (PEI)-modified Pichia pastoris residue to synthesize microbial-based palladium nanocomposites (Pd/MMR) through simple in-situ reduction methods. The dispersed active sites of Pd nanoparticles with a size of 2.12 ± 0.49 nm that were supported by microbial biomass provided excellent oxidative enzyme-mimicking activity to Pd/MMR. The catalytic mechanism of Pd/MMR involved the combined action of 1O 2 , ·OH, and · O 2 –, and possible reaction pathways and corresponding energy barriers were also revealed using DFT calculations. We also established a quantitative detection platform for nitrite using Pd/MMR. The platform could detect nitrite at concentrations of 10–300 μM with a detection limit of 0.27 μM, and was successfully applied to detect nitrite in real samples. These findings serve as a reference for the synthesis and application of metal nanocomposites using microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to predict and assess creep life for plate structures with semi‐elliptic surface cracks under high temperature condition, the accurate calculation of the creep fracture mechanics parameter C* is a critical step. In this paper, the effects of crack sizes, plate geometries, and material creep properties on the parameter C* have been investigated under tensile and bending loads by extensive finite element analyses. Based on the results, the creep influence functions Hc for calculating C* values were obtained and fitted into equations for surface cracks in plates under both loads. The equations have been verified by finite element calculations. The C* solutions were obtained through these equations which are suitable for wide ranges of crack sizes, plate geometries, and materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploiting of abundant natural polymers as potential absorbents for heavy metal ions is attracting. Cellulose is the most abundant natural polymer and exhibits amazing properties such as high chemical stability, hydrophilicity and biodegradability. However, some properties of pure cellulose-based materials including adsorbability are usually not enough, so it is important to improve their properties to broaden their applications. In the present work, hydroxyapitite (HAP) nanoparticles were prepared and introduced to improve the cellulose hydrogel (CG) properties. The structure and properties of the resultant cellulose/HAP nanocomposite hydrogels (CHG) were characterized and studied systematically. The results indicated that HAP nanoparticles was fixed and distributed evenly in CG. The maximum decomposition temperature increased gradually from 334.6 °C for CG to 346.7 °C for CHG, and the compressive strength increased gradually from 100 kPa for CG to 570 kPa for CHG with the increase of HAP content, respectively. Moreover, the adsorption capacity (q e) value of CHG towards Cu2+ could reach more than 300% higher than that of CG. As a potential absorbent, CHG exhibited relatively good recyclability of more than 78% after 10 cycles. Therefore, the introduction of HAP improved the properties of CG greatly, showing wide potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author introduces the notion of a minimal resolution for BP*BP-comodules, and gives an effective algorithm to produce minimal resolutions. This produces the data needed in the work [3] for studying motivic stable stems up to stem 90. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the two‐parameter J‐Ad approach was applied to predict thefracture toughness of test single‐edge‐notched‐bend (SEN(B)) specimens with different in‐plane and out‐of‐plane constraints for two materials with different mechanical properties. The results show that for most SEN(B) specimens, the predicted fracture toughness agrees with the experimental data; thus, the capability and applicability of the two‐parameter J‐Ad approach are validated. The approach correctly predicts that the fracture toughness decreases with increasing in‐plane and out‐of‐plane constraints. Compared with the prediction results of the three‐parameter J‐Q‐Tz approach in the literature, the J‐Ad approach has better prediction accuracy and wider application ranges. The calculation procedure of the J‐Ad approach is also simple and convenient for engineering application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive finite element analyses of cracked pipes with different crack sizes and orientations have been conducted to investigate effects of creep properties of materials on the unified creep constraint parameter Ac. The results show that the constraint parameter Ac is independent on Norton's coefficient A, and it is only affected by the creep exponent n of materials. For a given crack size, with increasing n, Ac decreases and constraint level increases. The Ac of lower constraint cracks is more sensitive to n. The unified correlation equations between Ac and n have been obtained for cracked pipes with a wide range of crack sizes and constraint levels. They may be used to estimate the constraint parameter Ac at different positions along the crack fronts in cracked pipes made of materials with different n values. The two-parameter C*-Ac approach for assessing creep life of cracked pipes has also been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We embed the fractional Allen-Cahn equation into a Galerkin variational framework and thus develop its corresponding finite element procedure and then prove rigorously its mathematical and physical properties for the finite element solution. Combining the merits of the conjugate gradient (CG) algorithm and the Toeplitz structure of the coefficient matrix, we design a fast CG for the linearized finite element scheme to reduce the computation cost and the storage to O(M log⁡ M ) and O(M), respectively. Numerical experiments confirm that the proposed fast CG algorithm recognizes accurately the mass and energy dissipation, the phase separation through a very clear coarse graining process, and the influences of different indices r of fractional Laplacian and different coefficients K,η on the width of the interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Tannin-supported on cellulose (TM) microfibers were successfully prepared to remove cationic dye in aqueous solution. SEM and mechanical tests were employed to characterize their structures and properties. Methylene blue (MB) as a cationic organic dye was applied to estimate the adsorption ability of TM microfibers. The network structure of TM microfibers, and electrostatic attractions between tannins and MB molecules attribute to the good adsorption. TM fibers have higher adsorption capacity at higher pH. The Q max of TM fibers is 31.7 mg/g at 333 K. Thermodynamic analysis demonstrated that the adsorption process was spontaneous and favorable. Adsorption-desorption experiments demonstrated that TM microfibers possessed excellent stability and reusable ability. The pseudo-second-order and Langmuir isotherm model could better describe the adsorption behaviors of TM microfibers. The adsorption-desorption experiments of TM microfibers were recycled 5 times with no obvious decrease of adsorption capacity. Tannins supported on TM serve as binding sites to combine MB through electrostatic attractions, making for the excellent adsorption effect of TM microfibers. This work provides a novel method to fabricate tannin-supported materials for sewage treatment. Highlights • Tannin-immobilized microfibrillated cellulose fibers were facilely fabricated. • Cellulose fibers provided porous support and tannins act as adsorbent sites. • Rapid MB adsorption rate of TM fibers (3–5 min) • Excellent adsorption capacity, stability and regeneration ability [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The Pd(II) adsorption capacity reached to 587.67 mg/g at pH 3.0. • PEI modification increases pI via formation of amino and imino groups. • PEI-PR shows a satisfying selectivity to Pd(II) in a simulated multi-metal solution. • Pd(II)-adsorbed PEI-PR could be easily separated by sedimentation. • Using PEI-PR diminished the immobilization process and reduced cost. Modifying the surface of microorganisms is a common method for increasing microbial adsorption capacity although further treatment of the microorganisms is required to facilitate the use. However, only a few studies have explored how to simultaneously achieve selective adsorption ability and convenient separation. In this paper, the maximum Pd(II) adsorption capacity on polyethyleneimine (PEI)-modified Pichia pastoris residue (PEI-PR) was achieved at a PEI:glutaraldehyde (GA) ratio of 4:1. An adsorption kinetics study showed that PEI-modified biomass (PEI-PR) reached adsorption equilibrium within 180 min, and the adsorption conformed to the pseudo-second-order model. Using the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, the maximum adsorption capacity for Pd(II) at pH 3 was found to be 587.67 mg∙g−1 of dry weight. After five adsorption–desorption cycles, PEI-PR could maintain 90.35% of its initial adsorption capacity. Moreover, PEI-PR showed satisfactory selectivity to Pd(II) in simulated multi-metal solution. The selective adsorption efficiency of PEI-PR was mainly due to the introduction of a large number of amino and imino groups onto the surface of the biomass through PEI modification, which caused the increase of the isoelectric point from 4.64 to 9.46. At a pH value lower than its isoelectric point, PEI-PR became protonated and thus was positively charged. As a result, it could only undergo electrostatic adsorption with negatively charged Pd(II) chloride complex ions, rather than with other positively charged metal ions. The adsorption complex could be separated from the solution via sedimentation. This research presents a new approach for preparation of microbial adsorbent with selective adsorption capacity and can conveniently be separated from a solid–liquid mixture. It is a green approach for efficient microbial adsorption and recovery of Pd(II). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fast-moving soft robotics usually suffer large-strain deformation with a relatively high velocity. To improve their performance, it is necessary to study the underly dynamical mechanism. However, the inherent strong material nonlinearity brings considerable difficulties in modeling and calculating the soft structure’s nonlinear dynamics. This work focuses on the large-strain vibrations of the hyperelastic rod under an axial tensile force. Several typical hyperelastic models, including the neo-Hookean, Mooney, and Yeoh models, are used to derive the equations governing the rod’s dynamics. The equations based on these models are relatively complex, and their corresponding numerical calculation diverges in some cases. Therefore, a reference stretch ratio(s) polynomial fitting (RSRPF) model is proposed to derive the concise governing equation. Such a governing equation is effectively solved by the combination of the Galerkin discretization and the fourth-order Runge–Kutta integration algorithm. The correctness of the developed model and the employed algorithm is verified by comparing with the previous data of a hyperelastic membrane. In most cases, the rod periodically vibrates under a periodic tensile force. However, when the structural damping is small and the load frequency approaches the resonant frequency, the hyperelastic rod may quasi-periodically vibrate. The revealed large-strain vibration mechanism is supposed to be useful for guiding the dynamical design of soft structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the main causes of esophageal carcinoma (ESCA), and its carcinogenic mechanisms in ESCA require further investigation. E6 and E7 are HPV oncogenes, and their genomic integration is a crucial reason for the transformation of host cells into cancer cells. In order to reveal the role of oncogenes E6 and E7 in ESCA cells, the RNA-Seq raw data for HPV18-positive and -negative esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) samples derived from the NCBI BioProject database were analyzed, and the differentially expressed genes were identified. Moreover, differentially expressed genes were enriched significantly in multiple cell death pathways, including apoptosis (cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A, plakophilin 1 and desmoglein 3), pyroptosis (gasdermin A, gasdermin C, NLR family pyrin domain containing 3, absent in melanoma 2, NLR family pyrin domain containing 1 and Toll like receptor 1) and autophagy (Unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1, adrenoceptor beta 2). Consequently, the effects of cisplatin-induced apoptosis and Hank's balanced salt solution-induced autophagy, and α-ketoglutarate-induced pyroptosis in the ESCC-expressing E6 and E7 cells were verified. Therefore, the expression of E6E7 may culminate in the inhibition of multiple cell death modes, which may also be one of the mechanisms of oncogene-induced carcinogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Correction to this paper has been published: 10.1007/s00222-022-01134-9 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effects of milling methods on the properties of rice flour and steamed rice cakes (SRCs), dry, semi-dry, and wet milling methods were compared. Damaged starch, particle size distribution, water hydration properties, gelatinization properties, gel strength, thermal properties, glass transition temperature, dynamic rheological properties of rice flour, sensory and textural properties of SRCs were evaluated. Semidry-milling rice flour (SF) had much less damaged starch and smaller particle size compared with dry-milling rice flour (DF). The pasting, hydration, and rheological properties of SF were similar to that of wet-milling rice flour (WF). Except for adhesion and appearance, the sensory and textural properties of SF SRCs were significantly better than that of DF SRCs, while comparable to WF SRCs. The results showed that semi-dry milling as an environmental, efficient, and convenient method could provide rice flour suitable to prepare SRCs. In view of sustainable and economic development, semi-dry milling could be a good alternative method in industrial production. • The steamed rice cakes must be freshly prepared using rice by the wet milling method. • Semi-dry milling can emit a little amount of waste water. • The rice flour provided by semi-dry milling could be more easily dried and stably stored. • Semi-dry milling is an environmental, efficient, and convenient method which is suitable to prepare steamed rice cakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the equivalent creep strain distributions ahead of crack tips in SEN(B), SEN(T) and M(T) specimens with different in-plane and out-of-plane constraints were calculated by extensive finite element analyses, and the creep crack growth (CCG) rates of these specimens were simulated over a wide range of C* by using stress dependent creep ductility and strain rate model in a ductility exhaustion based damage model. The capability and applicability of the constraint parameter A c based on crack-tip equivalent creep strain for characterizing both in-plane and out-of-plane creep crack-tip constraints and establishing a unified correlation with CCG rate of a steel were investigated. The results show that with increasing constraints, the CCG rate increases, and the effect of out-of-plane constraint on CCG rate is more obvious than that of in-plane constraint. The CCG rate of high constraint specimen geometry (such as SEN(B)) is more sensitive to the out-of-plane and in-plane constraints than that of low constraint specimen geometry (such as M(T)). The parameter A c is a unified characterization parameter of in-plane and out-of-plane creep constraints for the different specimen geometries. Base on the parameter A c , the unified correlation formulas of in-plane and out-of-plane constraints with CCG rate of the steel have been obtained, and they are independent on the choices of the standard specimen. The unified correlation formulas may be used in constraint-dependent CCG life assessments of high-temperature components (such as pressure vessels and pipes) with any in-plane and out-of-plane constraint levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Dengue fever, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, is a significant public health concern in tropical and subtropical regions. With the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and the reopening of the borders, dengue fever remains a threat to mainland China, Zhejiang province of China is facing a huge risk of importing the dengue virus. This study aims to analyze and predict the current and future potential risk regions for Aedes vectors distribution and dengue prevalence in Zhejiang province of China. Method: We collected occurrence records of DENV and DENV vectors globally from 2010 to 2022, along with historical and future climate data and human population density data. In order to predict the probability of DENV distribution in Zhejiang province of China under future conditions, the ecological niche of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus was first performed with historical climate data based on MaxEnt. Then, predicted results along with a set of bioclimatic variables, elevation and human population density were included in MaxEnt model to analyze the risk region of DENV in Zhejiang province. Finally, the established model was utilized to predict the spatial pattern of DENV risk in the current and future scenarios in Zhejiang province of China. Results: Our findings indicated that approximately 89.2% (90,805.6 KM2) of Zhejiang province of China is under risk, within about 8.0% (8,144 KM2) classified as high risk area for DENV prevalence. Ae. albopictus were identified as the primary factor influencing the distribution of DENV. Future predictions suggest that sustainable and "green" development pathways may increase the risk of DENV prevalence in Zhejiang province of China. Conversely, Fossil-fueled development pathways may reduce the risk due to the unsuitable environment for vectors. Conclusions: The implications of this research highlight the need for effective vector control measures, community engagement, health education, and environmental initiatives to mitigate the potential spread of dengue fever in high-risk regions of Zhejiang province of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber-like high-surface-area and natural nanostructure clay mineral palygorskite (or attapulgite, ATP) containing lots of hydroxyl groups is found to efficiently catalyze the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ϵ-caprolactone (ϵ-CL). The products are subsequently characterized by FTIR,1H NMR, GPC, DSC, SEM and XPS analysis. The results show that porous PCL with relatively high molecular weight is obtained. A mechanism is proposed to illustrate that ϵ-CL is initiated by the constituent water in ATP and catalyzed by three active centers relate to hydroxyl groups on the surface of ATP. The ATP acts as a proton shuttle via its acidic hydrogen atoms and basic oxygen atoms. Moreover, there exists synergetic catalytic effect between the metal centers and Si centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, we describe the experimental laser welding of ZA alloy. The formation of the weld demonstrated that pulsed laser welding for ZA alloy was more effective than continuous laser welding. The characteristics of microstructures and properties of the ZA alloy’s bond area welded by pulsed laser were investigated using an optical microscope, X-Ray Diffractometer (referred to as XRD) and other methodologies. The applicable technological parameters include welding speed of 0.9m/min, pulsed laser power of 1.8kW, impulse period of 3ms and duty cycle of 3:4. The average micro-hardness of the laser welding seam zone is higher than that of the ZA alloy substrate, which is as high as 183HV. The microstructures in the weld consist of primary η phase (the white dendritic structure), β phase (the black block distribution around η phase), and eutectic phases (β + η) (platy layer). The average strength of the joints is 119MPa, 70% of that of the base metal. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Extracellular electron transfer (EET) is essential in improving the power generation performance of electrochemically active bacteria (EAB) in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Currently, the EET mechanisms of dissimilatory metal-reducing (DMR) model bacteria Shewanella oneidensis and Geobacter sulfurreducens have been thoroughly studied. Klebsiella has also been proved to be an EAB capable of EET, but the EET mechanism has not been perfected. This study investigated the effects of biofilm transfer and electron mediators transfer on Klebsiella quasipneumoniae sp. 203 electricity generation performance in MFCs. Results: Herein, we covered the anode of MFC with a layer of microfiltration membrane to block the effect of the biofilm mechanism, and then explore the EET of the electron mediator mechanism of K. quasipneumoniae sp. 203 and electricity generation performance. In the absence of short-range electron transfer, we found that K. quasipneumoniae sp. 203 can still produce a certain power generation performance, and coated-MFC reached 40.26 mW/m2 at a current density of 770.9 mA/m2, whereas the uncoated-MFC reached 90.69 mW/m2 at a current density of 1224.49 mA/m2. The difference in the electricity generation performance between coated-MFC and uncoated-MFC was probably due to the microfiltration membrane covered in anode, which inhibited the growth of EAB on the anode. Therefore, we speculated that K. quasipneumoniae sp. 203 can also perform EET through the biofilm mechanism. The protein content, the integrity of biofilm and the biofilm activity all proved that the difference in the electricity generation performance between coated-MFC and uncoated-MFC was due to the extremely little biomass of the anode biofilm. To further verify the effect of electron mediators on electricity generation performance of MFCs, 10 µM 2,6-DTBBQ, 2,6-DTBHQ and DHNA were added to coated-MFC and uncoated-MFC. Combining the time–voltage curve and CV curve, we found that 2,6-DTBBQ and 2,6-DTBHQ had high electrocatalytic activity toward the redox reaction of K. quasipneumoniae sp. 203-inoculated MFCs. It was also speculated that K. quasipneumoniae sp. 203 produced 2,6-DTBHQ and 2,6-DTBBQ. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, the three modes of EET did not exist separately. K. quasipneumoniae sp.203 will adopt the corresponding electron transfer mode or multiple ways to realize EET according to the living environment to improve electricity generation performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this report, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) with three kinds of compatibilizers were melt blended under intensive shear flow. A self-made parallel three-screw extruder was developed to generate such flow during the process. Mechanical properties, chemical reactions among PLA, PBAT and compatibilizers, rheological behavior and morphology were investigated. The mechanical tests showed that the notched impact strength of super-tough composite with 10 wt% EGMA is about 20 times than that of pure PLA. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) results showed that the epoxy functional groups or maleic anhydride functional groups of KT-20, KT-915 and EGMA reacted with the hydroxyl groups of PLA or PBAT macromolecules, resulting in a bridge of PLA and PBAT. About rheological properties, the tan δ—angular frequency curves and the η"- η' curves confirmed the chemical reactions mentioned above and indicated better compatibility of η"- η' between PLA and PBAT, respectively. Meanwhile, the loss modulus and storage modulus—angular frequency curves demonstrated the discrepancy of different compatibilizer components. In particular, from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, it can be seen that the phase size and dispersion uniformity of PBAT adjusted by compatibilizer, corresponding to better compatibility that is described in the η"- η' curves. The approach for producing super-tough PLA/PBAT/compatibilizer by intensive shear flow provides a viable direction for further improving PLA performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intrashell oxygen isotope (δ18Os) analyses of terrestrial snails have been carried out over two decades. However, the intraspecies/interspecies differences are not yet well understood. Here, we conducted a high‐resolution intrashell δ18Os study on 43 shells from Cathaica fasciola and Bradybaena ravida, and 1449 δ18Os data were obtained. These large amounts of data demonstrate the reproducibility of intrashell δ18Os. Our results suggest that C. fasciola and B. ravida have similar growing seasons mainly from March to October in the studied region. The ecological habits of the two species could explain the distinctive variations in their δ18Os sequences. Therefore, our study may interpret the discrepancy between the studies of land snail species and the stable/clumped isotopes of their shells. Moreover, the calculated average growth rate is ∼290 μm/day (from 250 to 330 μm/day) for nonadult C. fasciola. Thus, the use of snail shells for reconstructing high‐resolution terrestrial climate changes is promising. Plain Language Summary: Land snails are sensitive to climatic and environmental changes. Therefore, the oxygen isotopic composition of snail shells (δ18Os) has often been used to study environmental changes. Researchers started to collect multiple samples from a single shell for δ18Os analyses about two decades ago. However, it is still unclear whether high‐resolution intrashell δ18Os results are repeatable and whether the influences of different individuals/species may exist. To address these issues, we collected 43 snail shells from Cathaica fasciola and Bradybaena ravida. In total, 1449 δ18Os data were obtained. The large amount of data showing similar variations in the intrashell δ18Os from different shells demonstrates the repeatability. Accordingly, our data suggest that the two species have similar growing seasons, mainly from March to October, although their ecological habits are different. In addition, the ecological habits of these two species could explain the subtle differences in their δ18Os. Taken together, our study could resolve the discrepancy between previous work on land snail species and stable/clumped isotopes. Furthermore, the estimated average growth rate is ∼290 μm/day (from 250 to 330 μm/day) for nonadult C. fasciola. Overall, snail shells are promising records for exploring high‐resolution terrestrial climate changes in the future. Key Points: The intrashell δ18Os of land snails is reproducible, which mainly records the δ18O of precipitationCathaica fasciola and Bradybaena ravida have different ecological habits but similar growing seasonEcological habits could explain the discrepancy between studies of land snail species and stable/clumped isotopes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Enhancing interfacial charge transfer is a promising approach to improve the efficiency of photocatalysts. This research effectively exploited an Ag-modified Z-scheme TiO 2 /Bi 2 MoO 6 heterojunction for photocatalytic degradation and disinfection under visible light. The catalyst was fabricated using simple hydrothermal and photo-deposition methods, and the characterization outcomes revealed that a built-in electric field (BIEF) was generated in the TiO 2 /Bi 2 MoO 6 heterojunctions, which significantly promotes the separation of photogenerated carriers and increases light absorption efficiency. Besides, the theoretical calculation demonstrated that electron migration between TiO 2 and Ag resulted in a strong coupling on the surface, which serves as the foundation for driving photoelectric charge transfer. Furthermore, the TiO 2 /Bi 2 MoO 6 /Ag-45 displayed 459% and 512% higher degradation efficiency of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) after 100 min compared to pristine TiO 2. Moreover, the complexes wholly inactivated gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) and significantly inhibited the growth of gram-positive Staphylococcus albus (S. albus) after 200 min. Additionally, we have deduced the potential degradation pathways of TC-HCl and CIP and photocatalytic mechanisms. The research results provide an idea to solve the problems of limited light absorption range and rapid carrier combination speed of traditional photocatalytic materials, which is expected to be applied in the field of actual wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We show that the Hopf elements, the Kervaire classes, and the κ ¯ -family in the stable homotopy groups of spheres are detected by the Hurewicz map from the sphere spectrum to the C 2 -fixed points of the Real bordism spectrum. A subset of these families is detected by the C 2 -fixed points of Real Johnson–Wilson theory E R (n) , depending on n. In the proof, we establish an isomorphism between the slice spectral sequence and the C 2 -equivariant May spectral sequence of B P R. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient hydrogenation of aryl and alkyl aldehydes is examined, and the protocol is applied to the reduction of glucose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological approaches for the synthesis of a hybrid explosive–nanothermite energetic composite have attracted greater scientific attention because of their advantages, including their moderate reactions and the absence of secondary pollution. In this study, a simple technique was developed to fabricate a hybrid explosive–nanothermite energetic composite based on a peptide and a mussel-inspired surface modification. Polydopamine (PDA) was easily imprinted onto the HMX, where it maintained its reactivity and was capable of reacting with a specific peptide used to introduce Al and CuO NPs to the surface of the HMX via specific recognition. The hybrid explosive–nanothermite energetic composites were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), and a fluorescence microscope. A thermal analysis was utilized to investigate the energy-release properties of the materials. The HMX@Al@CuO, which benefitted from an enhanced interfacial contact in comparison with the physically mixed sample (HMX-Al-CuO), demonstrated a 41% lower HMX activation energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sepsis‐induced acute lung injury (ALI) is a life‐threatening disorder with intricate pathogenesis. Macrophage pyroptosis reportedly plays a vital role in ALI. Although it has been established that angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) can reduce sepsis‐induced organ injury, the efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan (SV) for sepsis has been largely understudied. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of SV in sepsis‐induced ALI. Caecal ligation and puncture (CLP) were used to induce polymicrobial sepsis and related ALI. The therapeutic effects of SV in CLP mice were subsequently assessed. Gasdermin D (GSDMD)−/− mice were used to validate the signalling pathways affected by SV. In vitro, mouse bone marrow‐derived macrophages (BMDMs) and Raw264.7 cells were treated with SV following exposure to lipopolysaccharide and adenosine triphosphate. Finally, the serum obtained from 42 septic patients was used for biochemical analysis. Compared to the other ARBs, SV yielded more pronounced anti‐inflammatory effects on macrophages. In vivo, SV decreased mortality rates, significantly reduced lung damage and prevented the inflammatory response in CLP mice. In addition, SV suppressed GSDMD‐mediated macrophage pyroptosis in mice. In BMDMs and Raw264.7 cells, the anti‐inflammatory and anti‐pyroptosis properties of SV were verified. SV treatment effectively inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation and prevented macrophage pyroptosis in a GSDMD‐dependent manner. Furthermore, we found that septic individuals had considerably higher serum angiotensin II levels. Overall, we found that SV might prevent ALI in CLP mice by inhibiting GSDMD‐mediated pyroptosis of macrophages. Thus, SV might be a viable drug for sepsis‐induced ALI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating the micro-migration processes of hydrocarbons within interbedded shale reservoirs, and quantitatively characterizing the movability of shale oil, are highly important for the exploration and development of continental shale oil. However, due to complex pore-fracture structures, the characterization of the micro-migration and movability of shale oil presents significant difficulties, and the lack of suitable technology restricts the understanding of shale oil accumulation mechanisms and the evaluation of movability. This study employs nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI) technology in conjunction with oil charging and water flooding experiments, to innovatively visualize and quantitatively characterize the dynamic micro-migration features and movability of hydrocarbons within the pore-fracture structures of shale. The results indicate a significant increase in oil saturation within the interbedded shale oil reservoir during the oil charging process, with the oil phase primarily accumulating in larger pores (T 2 = 1–100 ms). The micro-migration and accumulation process of interbedded shale oil can be divided into three stages: the initial stage dominated by water phases in the pore spaces due to insufficient oil filling pressure, the intermediate stage marked by a rapid increase in hydrocarbons in the pore spaces, and the final stage where oil fills the entire pore system resulting in high oil saturation. The movability of different types of shale oil during water flooding varies significantly and is mainly influenced by pore-fracture structures. Interbedded shale oil reservoirs with larger pores exhibits a higher movable oil saturation (approximately 36.94%), while matrix-type shale oil reservoirs shows greater heterogeneity and lower fluid movability (approximately 14%). However, the shale oil movability of matrix-type shale oil reservoir with developed microfractures can reach 40%. More specifically, the fluid movability in smaller pore-microfracture structures (T 2 < 0.5 ms) is as high as 56.88%, surpassing that in larger pores (T 2 > 0.5 ms) (32.78%). Larger pores and microfractures substantially enhance the movability of hydrocarbons in the shale matrix, thus improving shale oil recoverability. In contrast, due to the higher capillary pressure (P c) and flow resistance (P v), smaller pores contribute less to the movability of shale oil. Overall, the outcomes of this study not only advance our understanding of the micro-migration and accumulation patterns of interbedded shale oil but also offer new insights for geological and engineering integration research on shale oil. • Visualization of dynamic micro-migration in interbedded shale oil using NMRI. • The influence of pore-fracture structure on shale oil movability was studied. • The development of microfractures significantly enhance matrix shale oil movability. • Wettability and other factors need to be considered to further improve shale oil movability [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrophilicity of gelatin films obviously limits their application. In this work, novel protonated chitin nanofiber was prepared with green methods, surficial deacetylation combined with acidic and mechanical treatment. Composite films with excellent water and oxygen barrier properties were successfully prepared by blending O/W Pickering emulsions stabilized by chitin nanofibers with gelatin substrates. The films were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, mechanical properties, water and oxygen permeability, moisture content, water solubility, water contact angle and optical properties. The results demonstrated that the amino groups of chitin nanofibers bound to the carboxyl groups of gelatin via electrostatic interactions, which contributing to the excellent mechanical and barrier properties of composite films. The elongation at break of composite film (the concentration of chitin nanofiber was 0.2 wt%) was 2.66 times of gelatin film. And the water vapor and oxygen permeability of composite films lowered to 65.9 % and 52.9 %, respectively. The introduction of O/W Pickering emulsion significantly enhanced the hydrophobicity of gelatin-based film and the chitin nanofibers played a positive role in stabilizing the gelatin chains to a certain extent. This study expands the application fields of gelatin-based films and provides valuable technical route for the preparation of barrier films. • The effects of fiber content in emulsion on the properties of composite films were compared. • Pickering emulsion significantly enhanced the mechanical and hydrophobic properties of gelatin films. • The amino groups of chitin nanofibers bound to the carboxyl groups in gelatin via electrostatic interactions • Chitin nanofibers play a positive role in stabilizing gelatin chains to some extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing global warming is altering hydrothermal patterns and eco-environments. However, it is unclear how they would respond under a natural warming scenario. Terrestrial mollusks in loess-paleosol sequences could serve as natural biological archives to explore this issue. In this study, terrestrial mollusk records from two loess-paleosol profiles on the southeastern Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) were analyzed. Our results show that the cold-aridiphilous species decreased and the overall biodiversity increased gradually during the last deglaciation (∼19.0–11.5 ka BP), which was accompanied with the shift from cold-dry to warm-humid climate. Moreover, the mollusk communities reacted to Heinrich event 1 (H1) cooling. In the early-middle Holocene (∼11.5–5.5 ka BP), mollusk communities were dominated by the thermo-humidiphilous species, characterized by stable community composition, increased species richness and evenness with warm-humid climate. Thereafter, there was a noticeable decrease in species diversity and increase in the cold-aridiphilous species in the mid-late Holocene (∼5.5–0 ka BP), associated with a gradual shift towards a cold-dry climate. On the whole, it is noteworthy that the count of thermo-humidiphilous species increased remarkably at ∼16 ka BP, which is synchronous with a significant increase in the Northern Hemisphere summer insolation. Interestingly, this change of terrestrial mollusks preceded the formation of the Holocene paleosol at ∼8 ka as indicated by the pronounced increase in magnetic susceptibility and decrease of mean grain size. This suggests that the substantial East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) precipitation lagged the onset of deglacial warming on the southeastern CLP. Furthermore, this delay may be attributed to the negative feedback of North Atlantic meltwater, which caused a decline in the intensity of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and inhibited the rapid enhancement of EASM precipitation during the last deglaciation. Altogether, this provides crucial geological background evidence for exploring the potential regional hydrothermal and biodiversity responses to global warming in the near future. • Paleoclimate and eco-environment on the southeastern Chinese Loess Plateau since the last deglaciation were reconstructed. • Mollusk biodiversity responded to climate fluctuations by adjusting community stability, richness, and evenness. • The substantial East Asian summer monsoon precipitation lagged the onset of deglacial warming for ∼8 ka. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, soyasaponin (Ssa), corn oil, and soybean protein isolate (SPI) were used to prepare a water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double emulsion system that can protect Lactobacillus plantarum (L.P) in the upper gastrointestinal tract for delivery to the small intestine and colon. Incorporating different amounts of L.P (0.1–0.6% (w/v)) in the W/O/W double emulsion caused the viscoelastic modulus and droplet size of the L.P-embedded emulsion system to change, and the emulsion system transformed from a non-Newtonian fluid to a "solid-like" gel. These results revealed that L.P encapsulation led to significantly improved stability of the W/O/W emulsion. In addition, different concentrations of L.P had different effects on the survival rate of L.P in simulated digestive fluids, and after in vitro digestion, L.P was naturally delivered from the stomach into the intestines. The optimal concentration of L.P for obtaining a stable emulsion was found to be 0.3%, and the survival rate of the encapsulated L.P in the small intestine was as high as 78.96% after 1 h. Thus, choosing an appropriate amount of L.P was crucial. The W/O/W emulsion system effectively maintained the viability of L.P and successfully delivered it to the small intestine and colon. • Ssa-SPI W/O/W emulsion improves the survival of LP in the gastrointestinal tract. • L.P shows better resistance to gastric acid upon encapsulation in inner phase. • Addition of 0.2–0.4% of L.P resulted higher stability in Ssa-SPI W/O/W emulsions. • The adsorption and film formation of L.P at the interface helps stabilize emulsion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological self-assembly procedures, which are generally carried out in an aqueous solution, have been found to be the most promising method for directing the fabrication of diverse nanothermites, including Al/CuO nanothermite. However, the aqueous environment in which Al nanoparticles self-assemble has an impact on their stability. We show that using a peptide to self-assemble Al or CuO nanoparticles considerably improves their durability in phosphate buffer aqueous solution, with Al and CuO nanoparticles remaining intact in aqueous solution for over 2 weeks with minimal changes in the structure. When peptide-assembled Al/CuO nanothermite was compared with a physically mixed sample in phosphate buffer for 30 min, the energy release of the former was higher by 26%. Furthermore, the energy release of peptide-assembled Al/CuO nanocomposite in phosphate buffer showed a 6% reduction by Day 7, while that of the peptide-assembled Al/CuO nanocomposite in ultrapure water was reduced by 75%. Taken together, our study provides an easy method for keeping the thermal activity of Al/CuO nanothermite assembled in aqueous solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme rainfall events cause tremendous threats to people's lives and economic well-being. Given the short time span of instrumental records, reconstructing the full range of past rainfall variability using available proxies is impossible when trying to unravel the history and underlying mechanisms of extreme precipitation events. However, this work is usually limited by the temporal resolution of current paleoclimate records. Here we demonstrate that the ultra-high resolution measurements of δ18O of terrestrial snail shells of Cathaica fasciola (Draparnaud, 1801) can be used to reconstruct the rainfall variability on weather time scales. Broadly, the modern daily time resolution snail shell's δ18O profile shows a negative trend from late March to September in 2020, which resembles the variations of monitored δ18O and amount of precipitation. Meanwhile, six abrupt negative deviations were observed in the δ18O profiles and these deviations matched well with the instrumental precipitation events for the same period. The high correlation of shell's δ18O with rainfall amount during the six precipitation events indicates that the ultra-high resolution δ18O records of gastropod shells have the potential to qualitatively record local synoptic rainfall events. Our study highlights that the terrestrial gastropod shell could provide daily to weekly geochemical proxies and has the potential to be used as an ultra-high resolution archive for characterizing terrestrial paleoweather, such as extreme precipitation events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]