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Powdery mildew is a serious fungal disease in protected melon cultivation that affects the growth, development and production of melon plants. Previous studies have shown that red light can improve oriental melon seedlings resistance to powdery mildew. Here, after inoculation with Podosphaera xanthii, an obligate fungal pathogen eliciting powdery mildew, we found that red light pretreatment increased ethylene production and this improved the resistance of melon seedlings to powdery mildew, and the ethylene biosynthesis gene CmACS10 played an important role in this process. By analysing the CmACS10 promoter, screening yeast one‐hybrid library, it was found that CmERF27 positively regulated the expression of CmACS10, increased powdery mildew resistance and interacted with PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR8 (CmPIF8) at the protein level to participate in the regulation of ethylene biosynthesis to respond to the red light‐induced resistance to P. xanthii, Furthermore, CmPIF8 also directly targeted the promoter of CmACS10, negatively participated in this process. In summary, this study revealed the specific mechanism by which the CmPIF8‐CmERF27‐CmACS10 module regulates red light‐induced ethylene biosynthesis to resist P. xanthii infection, elucidate the interaction between light and plant hormones under biological stress, provide a reference and genetic resources for breeding of disease‐resistant melon plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjectiveMethodsResultsConclusionTo investigate the clinical utility of small airway function indices for early identification of GOLD stage 0 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).This retrospective study enrolled 137 participants at our institution between January 2017 and December 2018, comprising 40 healthy controls, 46 individuals with GOLD stage 0 COPD, and 51 patients with established COPD. Pulmonary function was assessed using the PowerCube spirometry system (GANSHORN, Germany). Parameters evaluated included forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio, and small airway function indicators.The COPD cohort exhibited significantly lower values across all lung function measures compared to the other two groups, particularly for dynamic lung volume parameters such as FEV1%predicted and FEV1/FVC%. Small airway function indices, including FEV3%predicted, FEF75%predicted, FEF50%predicted, FEF25%predicted, and MMEF%predicted, were markedly decreased in the COPD group (all p-values <0.001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated that MMEF/FVC% and FEV3/FVC% had high diagnostic accuracy for COPD, with MMEF/FVC% exhibiting the optimal sensitivity and specificity.Small airway function indices, especially MMEF/FVC%, can serve as effective tools for early identification of GOLD stage 0 COPD. Incorporation of these findings into clinical practice may facilitate early diagnosis and intervention, thereby improving treatment outcomes and patient quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The schizotypy-creativity link has been studied from different perspectives over the past few decades, yet the results of this relationship are inconsistent in the literature. Previous studies have suggested that two basic motivational systems—Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS, avoidance motivation) and Behavioral Activation System (BAS, approach motivation)—underlie the relationship between schizotypy and creativity. Few empirical studies, however, have examined how the relationship interacts with other variables. This study fills these gaps and explores the role of the approach and avoidance motivation assessed by trait behavioral activation and inhibition in the link between schizotypy as a dimensional personality trait and creative ideational behavior as a measure of creativity. Method: Undergraduate students (N = 388) completed questionnaires including the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) measuring 3 dimensions of schizotypy, Runco Ideational Behavior Scale (RIBS) measuring creative ideational behavior, and BIS/BAS Scales measuring trait behavioral motivation. Bivariate Pearson correlation was computed, and hierarchical linear regression was performed to explore the effects of schizotypy, BIS/BAS, and their interaction on creative ideational behavior. The conditional effect of schizotypy based on different levels of the moderator was further tested. Results: The total score, positive dimension and disorganized dimension of SPQ were all positively correlated with RIBS, BAS, and BIS. Negative dimension of SPQ was not significantly correlated with the RIBS score but was positively correlated with BIS. Additionally, after controlling gender and age, BAS significantly moderated the relationship between the positive and disorganized dimensions of schizotypy and creative ideational behavior measured by RIBS. However, BIS was not a significant moderator. Discussion: The findings of this study regarding the relationships between different dimensions of schizotypy, two motivational systems, and creative ideational behavior were mostly consistent with previous findings. The significant moderated effect of BAS on the relationship between two dimensions of schizotypy and creative ideational behavior made significant contributions to the understanding of the relationship between schizotypy and creativity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A vacancy-rich Co/MnO@NC was synthesized using hydrothermal and high-temperature pyrolysis strategies for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The abundant vacancies and synergistic coupling of metallic Co with MnO precisely tuned the electronic configuration, resulting in enhanced electron transport within Co/MnO@NC. Research indicates that the effective Co/MnO@NC ORR catalyst demonstrated elevated peak power densities, reaching 217.7 in liquid-state and 63.3 mW cm−2 in solid-state zinc-air batteries. [Display omitted] • Spherical Co/MnO@NC is synthesized by a hydrothermal-pyrolysis strategy. • The catalyst displays notable ORR activity (J L = 5.1 mAcm−2) comparable to Pt/C. • Aqueous/solid-state ZABs exhibit high power density (217.7/63.3 mW cm−2). • Vacancies, conductivity and hydrophilicity dominate the delightful performance. The pursuit of efficient and economically viable catalysts for liquid/solid-state zinc-air batteries (ZABs) is of paramount importance yet presents formidable challenge. Herein, we synthesized a vacancy-rich cobalt/manganese oxide catalyst (Co/MnO@NC) stabilized on a nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon (NC) nanosphere matrix by leveraging hydrothermal and high-temperature pyrolysis strategy. The optimized Co/MnO@NC demonstrates fast reaction kinetics and large limiting current densities comparable to commercial Pt/C in alkaline electrolyte for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Moreover, the Co/MnO@NC serves as an incredible cathode material for both liquid and flexible solid-state ZABs, delivering impressive peak power densities of 217.7 and 63.3 mW cm−2 and robust long-term stability (459 h), outperforming the state-of-the-art Pt/C and majority of the currently reported catalysts. Research indicates that the superior performance of the Co/MnO@NC catalyst primarily stems from the synergy between the heightened electrical conductivity of metallic Co and the regulatory capacity of MnO on adsorbed oxygen intermediates. In addition, the abundance of vacancies regulates the electronic configuration, and superhydrophilicity facilitates efficient electrolyte diffusion, thereby effectively ensuring optimal contact between the active site and reactants. Besides, the coexisting NC layer avoids the shedding of active sites, resulting in high stability. This work provides a viable approach for designing and advancing high-performance liquid/solid-state ZABs, highlighting the great potential of energy storage technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Three North Shelterbelt Forest (TNSF) region in northern China is the largest artificial afforestation area in the world. Vegetation quality in the TNSF region has been improved greatly in recent years. This article presents a new approach to characterize vegetation quality by coupling vegetation productivity and coverage, examining the trend of vegetation quality from 2000 to 2021 at 1 km × 1 km spatial resolution by the linear regression trend method, and analyzing the driving forces of that trend. The results revealed a significant spatial difference of vegetation quality. Higher vegetation quality was found in the east and southeast of the TNSF region. Improvement of vegetation quality was found in approximately 80% area of the TNSF region, at a rate of 0 ∼ 52 g C m−2yr−1 with α = 0.05 significance between 2000 and 2021. Vegetation quality deteriorated in a few areas. The increase in CO2 concentrations and annual precipitation facilitated the improvement of vegetation quality, but also human efforts in ecological protection and restoration accelerated the improvement of vegetation quality under the current climate change background. The results might contribute to designing future ecological projects and the scientific adjustment of vegetation restoration strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nanoflower-like FeCo-hydro(oxy)oxide catalyst is successfully fabricated using a simple one-step electrodeposition technique. The optimized Fe 9 -Co 1 catalyst exhibits good performance for OER (η 50 = 222 mV) and overall water splitting (1.73 V@100 mA cm−2). The reconstructed FeOOH/CoOOH serves as the real active sites, and a small amount of Co species can optimize the activation energies between the active sites and oxygen-containing intermediates, thereby improving the performance of water splitting. [Display omitted] • A nanoflower-like FeCo hybrids is synthesized by a facile electrodeposition method. • The Fe 9 -Co 1 catalyst delivers a good OER activity (η 50 = 222 mV) and stability. • The reconstructed FeOOH/CoOOH serves as the real active sites during OER process. • The synergy between Co and Fe species reduces the activation energies with intermediates and improves OER activity. Iron hydroxide (FeOOH) is a potential active component in iron-based electrocatalysts for water electrolysis. However, its catalytic performance is constrained by its slow oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetics. Herein, we synthesized a nanoflower-like FeCo-hydro(oxy)oxides composite with tunable Fe/Co ratios (Fe x -Co y) on nickel foam (NF) via a one-step electrodeposition technique. This method allows for precise control over the morphology and composition of the hybrid nanoflowers. The optimized Fe 9 -Co 1 discloses favorable OER performance with a low overpotential of 222 mV at 50 mA cm−2 and demonstrates good stability exceeding 60 h at 10 mA cm−2. Further, an assembled Fe 9 -Co 1 (+)||Pt/C(−) dual-electrode configuration achieves a low cell voltage of 1.73 V at the current density of 100 mA cm−2 for water splitting, with long-term stability for 70 h and minimal degradation. Studies indicate that the distinctive nanoflower morphology of Fe 9 -Co 1 enhances active site exposure, while both FeOOH and reconstructed CoOOH serve as catalytic centers, contributing to the observed OER performance. This work introduces a facile approach for synthesizing OER electrocatalysts, underscoring the role of the high-valence state of Fe/Co as active sites in the OER process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deliberate engineering of built-in electric fields (BEFs) can facilitate electron transfer and promote asymmetrical charge distribution, thereby regulating the adsorption/desorption of reaction intermediates. Herein, an oxygen-deficiency-rich MnO-CeO2 is synthetized supported on a carbon sphere (MnO-CeO2@Cs), adeptly crafted with a prominent work function difference (ΔΦ) and robust BEF, targeting the electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Empirical and theoretical results substantiate that the BEF triggers interfacial charge redistribution, fine-tuning the adsorption energy of oxygen intermediates and hastening reaction kinetics. Consequently, the MnO-CeO2@Cs showcases commendable performance (E1/2 = 0.80 V and jL = 5.5 mA cm−2), outshining its single-component counterparts. Impressively, the MnO-CeO2@Cs-based zinc–air batteries (ZABs) boast an exemplary power density of 202.7 mW cm−2 and enduring stability of 297 h. Additionally, the solid-state ZAB commands a peak power density of 67.4 mW cm−2, underscoring its potential in flexible ZAB applications. This work delineates a strategic avenue to harness interfacial charge redistribution, aiming to enhance the catalytic performance and longevity of energy conversion/storage apparatuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a cytoprotective peptide that plays a crucial role in gut growth and health. The study mainly explored the effects of EGF on the intestinal antioxidant capacity, inflammatory response, immune status in weaning piglets. Forty-two 21-day-old weaned piglets were randomly assigned to three treatments consisting of a same basic diet containing 0 (control), 200, or 400 µg/kg EGF, respectively. There were 14 replicates per treatment, and 7 piglets per treatment were sampled on days 7 and 14 of the experiment. Dietary supplementation of 200 µg/kg EGF increased the activity of super-oxide dismutase (SOD) during the entire experimental period. This supplementation decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content whereas it increased serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) content on day 7 post-weaning. Animals receiving the diet supplemented with 400 µg/kg EGF decreased concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and tended to increase the level of secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) in the overall experimental period. In addition, the phosphorylation level of nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) p65 was higher for piglets fed EGF diet. In summary, EGF can enhance intestinal antioxidant capacity, decrease inflammatory response, and increase immune status in weaned piglets, suggesting that EGF has a positive role in piglet gut health. Key words: epidermal growth factor (EGF); antioxidant capacity; immunity; inflammation; weaning piglets [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the following planar Schrödinger equation - Δ u + λ u = f (u) , x ∈ R 2 , ∫ R 2 u 2 d x = c , λ ∈ R +. where f ∈ C (R , R) is of critical exponential growth. We obtain the existence of ground state normalized solutions (u , λ) under general assumptions, and here λ stands for a Lagrange multiplier. Our theorems extend the results of Alves, Ji and Miyagaki (Calc Var 61:18, 2022) and Chang, Liu and Yan (J Geom Anal 33:83, 2023), where f satisfies a strong global assumption. In particular, some new estimates and approaches are introduced to overcome the lack of compactness resulting from the critical growth of f(u). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel multi-channel mesoporous Bi-Fe 2 O 3 microsphere (Bi-Fe 2 O 3 @NC) with abundant oxygen vacancies was successfully constructed by hydrothermal and high-temperature pyrolysis strategy. Bi-Fe 2 O 3 @NC exhibits higher half-wave potential and limiting current density than commercial Pt/C for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The unique multichannel mesoporous architecture of Bi-Fe 2 O 3 @NC combined with abundant oxygen vacancies increases the exposure of active sites, tunes the electronic structure and facilitates efficient electron/mass transport. [Display omitted] • A unique multichannel Bi-Fe 2 O 3 @NC mesoporous catalyst was synthesized for ORR. • Bi-Fe 2 O 3 @NC exhibits a higher half-wave potential and large limiting current density. • Bi-Fe 2 O 3 @NC based aqueous/flexible Zn-air batteries deliver high peak power densities. • Abundant oxygen vacancies regulate the electronic structure and provide new active sites on the catalyst surface. Designing multi-channel mesoporous structure and introducing oxygen vacancies to synergistically enhance oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity is crucial for the practical application of zinc-air batteries (ZABs) in the field of energy storage and conversion. Herein, a novel multi-channel mesoporous Bi-Fe 2 O 3 microsphere with abundant oxygen vacancies supported on nitrogen-doped carbon (denoted as Bi-Fe 2 O 3 @NC) is constructed and the designated catalyst demonstrates a higher half-wave potential (0.88 V), large limiting current density (5.8 mA cm−2@0.4 V), and superior stability. Besides, the aqueous ZAB utilizing Bi-Fe 2 O 3 @NC cathode achieves a high power density of 198.6 mW cm−2 and maintains exceptional stability for 459 h at 5 mA cm−2, superior to most previously reported catalysts. Furthermore, a solid-state ZAB assembled with Bi-Fe 2 O 3 @NC shows a power density of 55.9 mW cm−2, highlighting its potential for flexible ZAB applications. The prominent ORR performance of Bi-Fe 2 O 3 @NC can be ascribed to its unique multi-channel mesoporous structure and abundant oxygen vacancies, which increase the exposure of active sites and facilitate efficient electron/mass transport. This work provides valuable insights for the rational design of advanced ORR catalysts for the practical requirements of aqueous/flexible ZABs in energy storage and conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Victimization could cause cognitive dysfunction like negative cognitive bias. While there are studies of contemporaneous consequences, there is insufficient research on whether and how early victimization will affect adult negative cognitive bias. This study examined the dual role of resilience (i.e., whether resilience would moderate the relationship between early victimization and negative cognitive bias, and/or whether resilience would mediate the same relationship). A total of 972 college students (40% were males, Mage = 19.25, SD = 1.17, range = 16-25) from three universities in Central China completed a series of anonymous questionnaires on early victimization, resilience, and negative cognitive bias. After controlling for demographic variables, the results indicated that early victimization was positively correlated with negative cognitive bias of college students. Moderation analysis indicated that resilience moderated the relationship between early victimization and negative cognitive bias. Mediation analysis revealed that resilience partially mediated the same relationship. Specifically, the effect of early victimization on negative cognitive bias was stronger for college students with high level of resilience than those with low level of resilience. Meanwhile, early victimization affected negative cognitive bias partially through resilience. The findings elucidate the dual role of resilience in the relationship between early victimization and negative cognitive bias. On the one hand, negative cognitive bias can be reduced by enhancing resilience among victims, on the other hand, the protective role of resilience may be weakened with the increase of victimization, reminding us to pay more attention to victims with high level of resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genome-wide clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based knockout screening is revolting the genetic analysis of a cellular or molecular phenotype in question but is challenged by the large size of single-guide RNA (sgRNA) library. Here we designed a minimal genome-wide human sgRNA library, H-mLib, which is composed of 21,159 sgRNA pairs assembled based on a dedicated selection strategy from all potential SpCas9/sgRNAs in the human genome. These sgRNA pairs were cloned into a dual-gRNA vector each targeting one gene, resulting in a compact library size nearly identical to the number of human protein-coding genes. The performance of the H-mLib was benchmarked to other CRISPR libraries in a proliferation screening conducted in K562 cells. We also identified groups of core essential genes and cell-type specific essential genes by comparing the screening results from the K562 and Jurkat cells. Together, the H-mLib exemplified high specificity and sensitivity in identifying essential genes while containing minimal library complexity, emphasizing its advantages and applications in CRISPR screening with limited cell numbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has coevolved with its human host for more than 100 000 years. It can safely colonize around the epithelium of gastric glands via their specific microstructures and proteins. Unless patients receive eradication treatment, H. pylori infection is always lifelong. However, few studies have discussed the reasons. This review will focus on the adhesion of H. pylori from the oral cavity to gastric mucosa and summarize the possible binding and translocation characteristics. Adhesion is the first step for persistent colonization after the directional motility, and factors related to adhesion are necessary. Outer membrane proteins, such as the blood group antigen binding adhesin (BabA) and the sialic acid binding adhesin (SabA), play pivotal roles in binding to human mucins and cellular surfaces. And this may offer different perspectives on eradication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light signals and plant hormones are involved in regulating the growth, development and stress resistance of plants; however, it remains unclear whether light affects hormones and thus pathogen resistance in oriental melon. Here, we found that red light promoted salicylic acid (SA) accumulation and powdery mildew resistance by activating the transcription of CmICS, the key gene for SA biosynthesis, and silencing CmICS seriously weakened the induction effect of red light on powdery mildew resistance in oriental melon leaves. Further studies showed that red light induced the expression of CmWRKY42 under powdery mildew stress, and CmWRKY42 directly bound to the CmICS promoter to activate its expression and promote the accumulation of SA under red light. Furthermore, we found that PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR 8 (PIF8), as a negative regulator of SA biosynthesis, inhibits CmWRKY42 transcriptional activation by binding to the CmWRKY42 promoter, and thus inhibits transcriptional activation of CmICS by CmWRKY42. Also, CmPIF8 binds to the CmICS promoter and directly inhibits its transcription. In conclusion, our study revealed a new molecular mechanism of the relationship between red light‐SA‐powdery mildew resistance and provided a theoretical basis for resistance breeding of oriental melon. Summary statement: We found that CmPIF8, as a negative regulator of SA biosynthesis, inhibits CmWRKY42 transcriptional activation by binding to the CmWRKY42 promoter, and thus inhibits transcriptional activation of CmICS by CmWRKY42. Also, CmPIF8 binds to the CmICS promoter and directly inhibits its transcription. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, adaptive neural control is investigated for a class of stochastic nonholonomic systems disturbed by unknown covariance noise under the condition of full-state constraints. Compared with the related literatures, this paper largely generalizes the results in recent works on stochastic nonholonomic systems. The distinctive features of this paper are three folds: the full-state constrains are introduced; the restriction assumed on incremental covariance is removed; the growth assumptions imposed on drift and diffusion terms are somewhat weakened. In the control design procedure, the barrier Lyapunov function (BLF) is applied to conquer the effect of full-state constraints to system performance, unknown covariance noise is compensated with the aid of adaptive control design, the radial basis function neural networks are utilized to approximate unknown nonlinear functions and the backstepping technique is used to construct the desired controller. Then, by adopting the switching strategy to eliminate the phenomenon of uncontrollability, the proposed adaptive neural controller renders the closed-loop system to be semi-globally uniformly ultimately bounded. Moreover, the system states remain in the defined compact sets and the output tracks the reference signal well. Finally, the simulation example shows the effectiveness of the proposed scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esophageal post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave index (PSPWI) and mean nocturnal baseline impedance (MNBI), novel impedance-based markers of reflux burden, are associated with esophageal dynamics. We aim to investigate the characteristics of PSPWI and MNBI in Chinese refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (RGERD) patients with different esophageal dynamic changes. 201 RGERD and 76 functional heartburn patients, undergone off-PPI endoscopy, esophageal manometry and impedance-pH monitoring, were included. Comparisons of conventional and novel impedance-pH metrics were made among different esophageal dynamics groups. Receiver operating-characteristic analyses were utilized to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of PSPWI and MNBI in differentiating abnormal esophageal dynamics. Correlations were used to investigate their associated factors. PSPWI and MNBI of RGERD with esophagogastric junction (EGJ) injury and esophageal dysmotility were lower than EGJ injury alone or normal dynamics (p < 0.05 for both comparisons). PSPWI with esophageal peristalsis abnormality was lower than EGJ injury (p = 0.049), while MNBI showed no statistical difference. PSPWI, MNBI and their combination have auxiliary diagnostic values for esophageal peristalsis [area under the curves (AUCs): 0.683, 0.656, 0.708)] while only their combination for EGJ injury (AUC: 0.610). And they positively correlated with esophageal motility while negatively correlated with ineffective swallows and acid reflux events. PSPWI and MNBI, indicating impairment of esophageal chemical clearance and mucosa integrity, were lower in RGERD patients with multiple esophageal dynamic injuries than single injuries or normal dynamics. Moreover, they provided useful contributing information for potential dynamic injuries if manometry has already been found normal or marginal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new energy-harvesting and signal-monitoring technology, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have received increasing attention. Research into the output performance is essential to promote the application of TENGs. Based on copper meshes with an in situ-grown conical nanoneedle (IGCN) structure on the surface, a poly(β-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) membrane was hot embossed to construct a microstructure. Then, the effects of the copper mesh hot-embossing on the microstructures, hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties, and the mechanical properties of the PHB membrane were investigated. A TENG was made by a hot-embossed PHB membrane and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), and the influence of the microstructures on the triboelectric properties was explored. The results showed that the surface roughness of the PHB membrane was significantly increased by the hot embossing, and the roughness increased with the increase in the copper mesh size. Compared with the smooth copper mesh hot-embossing, the roughness of the PHB membrane hot embossed with IGCN was increased more obviously. The introduction of IGCN could significantly improve the output performance of TENG. Compared with using the original PHB membrane, the open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current density, and short-circuit transferred charge density of the TENG using the PHB membrane hot-embossed with copper mesh with a 500 mesh number with nanoneedles were increased by 86.6%, 54.8%, and 96.7%, respectively, which provides a new method to improve the output performance of TENGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Ethylene yield is enhanced by the new LAS to ZSM-5 in the n -alkane cracking via exchange with Mn/Fe. • It is attributed to the differentiated adsorption of alkene/alkane and the faster C–C cleavage of monomolecular cracking. • Compared to carbenium ion pathway, carbonium ion pathway has both higher activation energy and higher activation entropy. In this work, n -octane has been selected to represent the alkane content in the naphtha for the catalytic cracking over Mn-ZSM-5 and Fe-ZSM-5 catalysts. Various characterization techniques are applied to quantify the possible active sites. The introduction of transition metal cations does not influence the strength of BAS. Therefore, the change on kinetic behavior is the contribution from newly generated LAS. Upon the elucidation of their roles in different adsorption scenarios, it is found that the new LAS establishes new adsorption equilibrium with olefin molecule formed from the thermal cracking, making the remaining alkane molecules adsorb and react on the BAS with minimum coverage of olefin. It is therefore favorable for the enhancement of ethylene yield in the primary cracking products. Furthermore, the unfavorable energy requirement of the carbonium ion pathway is compensated by the boosted activation entropy via the pathway change, as suggested by the kinetic analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) have been considered as potential oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts owning to their ultra‐thin structure, adjustable composition, high surface area, and high porosity. Here, we designed and fabricated a vanadium‐doped nickel organic framework (V1−x−NixMOF) system by using a facile two‐step solvothermal method on nickel foam (NF). The doping of vanadium remarkably elevates the OER activity of V1−x−NixMOF, thus demonstrating better performance than the corresponding single metallic Ni‐MOF, NiV‐MOF and RuO2 catalysts at high current density (>400 mA cm−2). V0.09−Ni0.91MOF/NF provides a low overpotential of 235 mV and a small Tafel slope of 30.3 mV dec−1 at a current density of 10 mA cm−2. More importantly, a water‐splitting device assembled with Pt/C/NF and V0.09−Ni0.91MOF/NF as cathode and anode yielded a cell voltage of 1.96 V@1000 mA cm−2, thereby outperforming the‐state‐of‐the‐art RuO2(+)||Pt/C(−). Our work sheds new insight on preparing stable, efficient OER electrocatalysts and a promising method for designing various MOF‐based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering that in the process of job scheduling, the cluster load should be prebalanced rather than remedied when the load is seriously unbalanced; therefore, in this paper, the task scheduling flow of the Hadoop cluster is analyzed deeply. On the Hadoop platform, a self-dividing algorithm is proposed for load balancing. An intelligent optimization algorithm is used to solve load balance. A dynamic feedback load balancing scheduling method is proposed from the point of view of task scheduling. In order to solve the shortcoming of the fair scheduling algorithm, this paper proposes two ways to improve the resource utilization and overall performance of Hadoop. When the mapping task is completed and the tasks to be reduced are assigned, the task assignment is based on the performance of the nodes to be reduced. It gives full play to the advantages of the ant colony algorithm and the hive colony algorithm so that the fusion algorithm can better deal with load balance. Then, three existing scheduling algorithms are introduced in detail: single queue scheduling, capacity scheduling, and fair scheduling. On this basis, an improved task scheduling strategy based on genetic algorithm is proposed to allocate and execute application tasks to reduce task completion time. The experiment verifies the effectiveness of the algorithm. The LBNP algorithm greatly improves the efficiency of reducing task execution and job execution. The delay capacity scheduling algorithm can ensure that most tasks can achieve localization scheduling, improve resource utilization, improve load balance, and speed up job completion time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The purpose of this study is to explore the mechanism of the Zhilong Huoxue Tongyu (ZL) capsule in the treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) via targeting ferroptosis based on network pharmacology. Methods. The active ingredients and related key targets of the ZL capsule were screened using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). The gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis were also performed. Finally, identified targets were validated in an in-vivo model of ICH. Results. A total of 30 active ingredients and 33 intersecting targets were identified through a TCMSP database search. Ingredients-Targets-Pathways network was constructed to filter out the key targets according to the degree value. TP53 was selected as the key target. The in-vivo validation studies demonstrated that TP53 was down-regulated and GPX4 was upregulated in rats following ZL capsule treatment. Conclusions. It is concluded that the ZL capsule could alleviate ICH in a muti-target and multi-pathway manner. ZL capsule could alleviate ICH by inhibiting ferroptosis, and TP53 is identified to be the potential target. Further research is needed to clarify the detailed anti-ferroptotic mechanism of the ZL capsule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the difference of kinematic skill characteristics between the Chinese and world elite female discus athletes. We used the methods of literature, three-dimensional video analysis, and mathematical statistics to compare and analyze the differences of some kinematic parameters between the three Chinese female discus athletes and four world female discus athletes. The result shows that the speed of discus release of the Chinese elite female discus athletes is lower (p < 0.05) than that of the world elite female discus athletes. Compared to the world elite female discus athletes, the height of release is higher (p < 0.05). But there was no significant difference in the angle of release (p > 0.05), rotation rhythm (p > 0.05), and discus speed increment (p > 0.05) in different stages during the throwing procedure from double support stage to delivery stage. The results may provide reference for the special technique training of the Chinese female discus throwers, so as to improve the discus throwing level of Chinese women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the continuous socio-economic progress, tourism has flourished. In addition, the improvement of people's living standards and constant changes in social awareness and concepts has also made tourism a normal part of daily life. In the past few years, there has been a boom in overseas travel, and tourism has become a rigid demand. This study proposes a new method and model that enables researchers to conduct in-depth analysis and discussion on the influencing factors of tourists' environmental protection behavior. Additionally, OSG platform can be used for simulation and modeling. This study uses OSG platform to conduct a simulation experiment on tourists' environmental protection behavior. The results of the experiment indicate that tourists' environmental protection behavior is related to six factors, including tourist characteristic factors, tourists' environmental attitude factors, tourists' emotional factors towards scenic spots, tourists' habit factors, social factors, and promotion conditions. At the same time, these factors have some validity. The experimental results involving tourists' environmental protection behavior can provide more targeted methods and guidance for the development of tourism and also enable tourism to develop more comprehensively and perfectly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last several years, deep learning has been introduced to recover a hyperspectral image (HSI) from a single RGB image and demonstrated good performance. In particular, attention mechanisms have further strengthened discriminative features, but most of them are learned by convolutions with limited receptive fields or require much computational cost, which hinders the function of attention modules. Furthermore, the performance of these deep learning methods is hampered by tackling multi-level features equally. To this end, in this paper, based on multiple lightweight densely residual modules, we propose a densely residual network with dual attention (DRN-DA), which utilizes advanced attention and adaptive fusion strategy for more efficient feature correlation learning and more powerful feature extraction. Specifically, an SE layer is applied to learn channel-wise dependencies, and dual downsampling spatial attention (DDSA) is developed to capture long-range spatial contextual information. All the intermediate-layer feature maps are adaptively fused. Experimental results on four data sets from the NTIRE 2018 and NTIRE 2020 Spectral Reconstruction Challenges demonstrate the superiority of the proposed DRN-DA over state-of-the-art methods (at least −6.19% and −1.43% on NTIRE 2018 "Clean" track and "Real World" track, −6.85% and −5.30% on NTIRE 2020 "Clean" track and "Real World" track) in terms of mean relative absolute error. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous polymers with bimodal cellular structure have excellent hydrophobicity and structure, while preparation of porous polymers with functional bimodal cellular structures is challengeable. In this work, porous ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) composites with functional bimodal cellular structures are fabricated based on the simple and environmentally friendly supercritical carbon dioxide microfoaming technology. The thermal performance, the foaming performance of UHMWPE/PEG composites, and the oil absorption performance under various extreme environments of UHMWPE/PEG porous samples are investigated. Representative sea‐island structures are observed on the fracture surface of various UHMWPE/PEG composites by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). When the PEG content exceeds 3%, the porous UHMWPE shows a distinctive bimodal cellular structure. The results of the water contact angle test in various extreme environments indicates that the porous UHMWPE has stable hydrophobicity, exhibits good absorption performance and excellent reusability for different oils. The permeation pressure tests demonstrate that the permeation pressure of water is significantly higher than that of oil. Therefore, the functional porous UHMWPE/PEG has good application prospects in oil water separation and oil absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioavailability assessment of heavy metals in compost products is crucial for evaluating associated environmental risks. However, existing experimental methods are time-consuming and inefficient. The machine learning (ML) method has demonstrated excellent performance in predicting heavy metal fractions. In this study, based on the conventional physicochemical properties of 260 compost samples, including compost time, temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, organic matter (OM), total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen, and total heavy metal contents, back propagation neural network, gradient boosting regression, and random forest (RF) models were used to predict the dynamic changes in bioavailable fractions of Cu and Zn during composting. All three models could be used for effective prediction of the variation trend in bioavailable fractions of Cu and Zn; the RF model showed the best prediction performance, with the prediction level higher than that reported in related studies. Although the key factors affecting changes among fractions were different, OM, EC, and TP were important for the accurate prediction of bioavailable fractions of Cu and Zn. This study provides simple and efficient ML models for predicting bioavailable fractions of Cu and Zn during composting, and offers a rapid evaluation method for the safe application of compost products. [Display omitted] • Zn has a higher bioavailability than Cu, Exc-Zn is the main component of Zn. • Random forest model has best ability in predicting available fractions of Cu and Zn. • OM was the most important factor in predicting the available fractions of Cu. • TP and OM showed the greatest effect on the prediction of Zn available fractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to examine the impact of corona discharge plasma (CDP) treatments of different durations (1, 3, 5, and 10 min) on the drying kinetics and quality attributes of lilies, including color, enzyme activities, total phenols content (TPC), and antioxidant activity. The microstructure of lilies under different CDP conditions were also investigated. As a result, all CDP treatments enhanced the drying rate relative to untreated lilies, and the shortest drying time of 7 h was obtained at CDP-3 minute samples. CDP treatment led to a higher retention in the TPC of dried lilies. Microstructural analysis revealed the formation of irregular micropores on the surface of the lilies after CDP treatment, which was closely associated with the accelerated drying rate and improved bioactive substances of the dried product. In conclusion, CDP has emerged as a novel and beneficial pretreatment technique that accelerates the drying process and enhances the nutritional qualities of dried lilies. • Corona discharge plasma application was tested as a pretreatment to drying of lilies. • CDP pretreatment markedly enhanced the drying ratio and rehydration ratio. • The CDP treatment did not demonstrate a competitive advantage in terms of preserving color. • The use of CDP increased the preservation of TPC, TFC and antioxidant activity in dried lilies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano-porous Ta2O5 thin film electrodes are prepared by magnetron sputtering at low pressure in the presence of an oxygen atmosphere with an inert gas. The sputtered Ta2O5 thin film is subsequently annealed at 350∘C for 2 h in high pure N2 (Ta2O5-350) to introduce oxygen deficiency. The Ta2O5-350 electrode possesses highly reversible lithium ion storage and good rate capability, which has high specific capacities of about 480 mAh g − 1 at a rate of 0.1 C. Furthermore, after 2000 cycles at a rate of 5 C the Ta2O5-350 electrode shows no obvious capacity decay and retains specific capacity of about 160 mAh g − 1 . The excellent lithium storage properties of Ta2O5-350 electrode can be correlated to the nano-porous electrode architecture and oxygen deficiency. Nano-porous Ta2O5 thin film electrodes as anode of lithium ion battery have been successfully prepared via a convenient magnetron sputtering and subsequently low temperature annealing method. The Ta2O5-350 electrode possesses highly reversible lithium ion storage and good rate capability due to the nano-porous structure and oxygen defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low tidal volume ventilation (LTVV) is a well-known ventilation mode which can improve ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). However, the mechanism of LTVV ameliorating VILI has not yet been elucidated. In this study, we aimed to reveal LTVV protected against VILI by inhibiting the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from humans and lungs from mice. Twenty-eight patients scheduled for video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy were randomized to receive high-tidal-volume ventilation [Vt = 10 mL/kg without positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)] or LTVV (Vt = 5 mL/kg along with 5 cm of H2O PEEP) during one-lung ventilation. BALF was collected before and at the end of surgery. Male C57BL/6 mice received high-tidal-volume ventilation, LTVV or MCC950 (an inhibitor of NLRP3). The activation of the formation of NLRP3 inflammasome in BALF from patients and in lungs from mice were analyzed. LTTV decreased the peak airway pressure (Ppeak), plateau airway pressure (Pplat) and driving pressure (ΔP) during one-lung ventilation. Additionally, LTVV not only inhibited pulmonary infiltration and inflammation caused by mechanical ventilation, but also suppressed the NLRP3 inflammasome activation in BALF from humans. In mice, ventilator-induced inflammatory response and pulmonary edema were suppressed by LTVV with an efficacy comparable to that of MCC950 treatment. Furthermore, LTVV, similar to MCC950, clearly decreased ventilator-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Our study showed that LTVV played a protective role in ventilator-induced lung injury by suppressing the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. This study was registered in The Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1900026190 on 25 September 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructing the precious metal‐free bifunctional electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is highly desirable for overall water splitting and energy conversion devices in an alkaline medium. Here, the interface regulation strategy aims to synthesize a sheet‐like Co2P−CuP2 heterostructure supported on nickel foam (NF) through hydrothermal reaction, electrodeposition and phosphating treatment. The Co2P−CuP2/NF exhibits extraordinary electrocatalytic performance with overpotentials of 220 mV and 93 mV for OER and HER at a current density of 10 mA cm−2, respectively. Remarkably, an electrolyzer cell originated from Co2P−CuP2/NF electrodes required an ultralow cell voltage of 1.77 V@500 mA cm−2 and 2.38 V@1000 mA cm−2 for overall water splitting with prominent stability of at least 160 h. In addition, the Zn−H2O cell is assembled with Co2P−CuP2/NF as the cathode, achieving a high power density of 19.8 mW cm−2 and long‐term stability of 120 h. The electron transfer between Co and Cu species in the Co2P−CuP2/NF heterojunction can effectively improve the interaction between the active sites and the intermediates, thereby enhancing the electrocatalytic activity. This work opens up new insights into the preparation of highly active and durable bimetallic phosphide catalysts for water splitting and Zn−H2O cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Metal-free catalysts with environmental friendless, cost-competitiveness and less susceptibility to leaching and poisoning over metal-based catalysts, have revolutionized in the catalysis domain. In this respect, we herein report the first application of cheap and abundant pumpkin-derived N -doped porous carbon for the reduction of 2-methyl-4-nitrophenol assisted by NaBH 4. The obtained catalyst is cost-competitive, efficient and robust, with an attractive mass-normalized rate constant of 4.73 s−1 g−1 and good recycling performance. Systematical analyses demonstrate that the 2-methyl-4-nitrophenol reduction reaction catalyzed by the N -doped carbon proceeds through the Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetics and the performance enhancement benefits from the strong adsorption and activation of the substrates induced by the electronic modulation in the carbon framework via N -doping. This study opens up new avenues for the high-value use of pumpkin as well as the development of metal-free strategy in more catalytic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The functionalized foldable protective layer proficiently alleviates the potential detriment endured by space station solar panels due to prolonged and uninterrupted exposure to the environment. Soft actuators demonstrate significant value in foldable protective layers due to their intrinsic response characteristics and programmability. However, current soft actuators still struggle to meet the requirements of work stability and scene applicability in the space environment. A PMT (Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-Thermoplastic polyimides (TPI)) soft actuator was proposed to address this issue in this paper. The PMT soft actuators exhibit strong interlayer interfacial adhesion, stable physical and chemical performance, and excellent mechanical performance. Notably, the PMT soft actuators can sense thermal, electric fields, infrared light, and mechanical force simultaneously with only one active layer. Furthermore, analytical models were calibrated to provide predictions, and the thermal and photoelectric actuation processes of PMT soft actuators with different structures and application scenes were predicted accurately. The experimental results validated the application value of PMT actuators as foldable protective layers for space station solar panels. The preparation, testing, application, and model construction of the PMT system provide new research ideas and development opportunities for the practical application of functional polymers in intelligent sensing and actuation systems. [Display omitted] • The PMT actuators showed superior sensing and actuation capabilities under multiple stimuli. • An application test validated the value of PMT actuators as foldable protective layers for space station solar panels. • The analytical model accurately predicts the actuation of PMT soft actuators with different structures and scenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron is recognized as a physiological requirement for anammox bacteria (AnAOB), with Fe(II) considered to be the most effective form. However, Fe(III), instead of Fe(II) is the common iron form in natural and artificial ecosystems. In this study, the nitrogen removal performance and metabolic mechanisms in anammox consortia with soluble and non-soluble Fe(III) as the sole iron element were investigated. After the 150-day operation, the soluble (FeCl 3) and insoluble (Fe 2 O 3) Fe(III)-fed anammox systems reached nitrogen removal rates of 71.84 ± 0.80% and 50.20 ± 0.98%, respectively. AnAOB could survive with soluble (FeCl 3) or insoluble (Fe 2 O 3) Fe(III) as the sole iron element, reaching relative abundances of 18.49% and 13.16%, respectively. The results show that the formation of anammox core consortia can enable AnAOB's survival to adverse external conditions of Fe(II) deficiency. Metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analysis reveal that Ca. Kuenenia can only uptake Fe(II) into the cell for metabolisms either independently through the extracellular electron transfer or with the cross-feeding of symbiotic microbes. This study provides insight into the utilization and metabolic mechanisms of Fe(III) in Ca. Kuenenia-dominated consortia, and deepens the understanding of anammox core consortia in the nitrogen, carbon, and iron cycling, further promoting the practical applications of anammox processes. [Display omitted] • AnAOB can survive in environments with Fe(III) as the sole iron element. • Soluble Fe(III) is more favorable for the survival of Ca. Kuenenia. • Symbiotic bacteria could release acetate to dissolve non-soluble Fe(III). • Extracellular electron transfer in AnAOB converted Fe 2 O 3 into soluble Fe(II). • Ca. Kuenenia can only uptake Fe(II) converted by symbiotic bacteria from Fe(III). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma‐delta (γδ) T cells are the bridge between natural and adaptive immunity. In the present study, peripheral blood was collected from 13 patients with advanced schistosomiasis (schistosomiasis group) and 13 uninfected people (control group) to investigate the γδ T cells and their subtypes in human schistosomiasis. Compared with the control group, the proportion of Vδ1 cells and CD27+Vδ1+ cells in the schistosomiasis group increased significantly, while CD27− cells and CD27−Vδ1− cells decreased. Only the level of IL‐17A differed between the groups, being significantly decreased in the schistosomiasis group. In the schistosomiasis group, there were no correlations between the liver fibrosis and subsets of γδ T cells, or the level of cytokines. Additionally, the level of IL‐17A correlated positively with the proportion of CD27− Vδ1− cells. Thus, there was a higher frequency of circulating Vδ1 γδT cells in patients with advanced schistosomiasis. The decreased IL‐17A might be related to the reduction in CD27−Vδ1− cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is important for protecting the brain tissue by selectively exchanging substances between the blood and brain. The integrity of the BBB can be damaged by multiple factors, including oxidative stress and inflammation. Ramelteon is an oral hypnotic drug, and in the present study, we investigated its protective effect on BBB damage, as well as the underlying mechanism. LPS was used to induce BBB damage on mice and stimulate injury on endothelial cells. Evans blue staining assay was used to measure the brain permeability. The expressions of ZO-1 and Occludin were evaluated using immunostaining and Western blot in the brain tissue and endothelial cells, respectively. qRT-PCR and ELISA were used to detect the production of IL-1β and MCP-1 in the brain vessels. TBA assay was utilized to examine the concentration of MDA in the brain tissue and endothelial cells. The expression of Nrf2 in the nucleus and NQO1 were determined using Western blot assay. The endothelial permeability of the monolayer was examined using the FITC-dextran permeation assay. Firstly, the increased brain permeability and downregulated expression of tight junction proteins in the brain tissue induced by LPS were significantly reversed by treatment with Ramelteon, accompanied by the decrease in the production of IL-1β and MCP-1 in the vessels in mice. Also, the Nrf2 signaling was activated and oxidative stress in the brain vessels was alleviated by treatment with Ramelteon. Secondly, LPS-induced increase in endothelial monolayer permeability and decrease in tight junction protein expression in bEnd.3 brain endothelial cells were significantly reversed by Ramelteon, accompanied by activated Nrf2 signaling and alleviated oxidative stress. Lastly, the protective effects of Ramelteon against LPS-induced reduction of ZO-1 and Occludin, and the increase in endothelial monolayer permeability were dramatically abolished by silencing Nrf2. Ramelteon might ameliorate LPS-induced hyperpermeability of the BBB by activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents lineage switch from NPM1-mutant acute myeloid leukemia to acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia with KMT2D and ARID2 mutant. Topics discussed include Leukemia is a group of clonal stem cell diseases characterized by the clonal proliferation of malignant hematopoietic stem cells and impairment of normal hematopoietic function; and the incidence rate of this conversion phenomenon is 6%-9%,1 the most common switch occurred.

Background: Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbiosis is a fundamental driver in forest ecosystems. Studies of effects of fertilizer treatment on ECM fungal community structure were predominantly based on large, single additions of nitrogen. Studies involving chronic additions of nitrogen in combination with different gradients of water regime are much less common. Aim: To investigate effects of water regime and nitrogen addition on the structure and diversity of ECM community, and identify main factors leading to changes in ECM community of Picea asperata. Methods: The structure and diversity of the ECM community were assessed by Illumina high throughput sequencing analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA extracted from ECM root tips, after 5 years of different gradients of water regimes [40% (W1), 50% (W2), 60% (W3), 80% (W4) and 100% (W5) of field capacity, respectively] and nitrogen additions [0 (N0), 20 (N1), 40 (N2) g N m–2 y–1 by adding ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) solution]. Results: ECM community structure was altered by water and nitrogen treatments. Clearer separations were found under water treatment than under nitrogen treatment. ECM community species richness of N1 was significantly higher than that of N2 under W5 treatment and was significantly influenced by the interaction of water and nitrogen. However, the diversity and evenness of the ECM community were unaffected. Soil water content (SWC), nitrogen availability and their interaction, soil available phosphorus, and pH (which were induced by treatments) significantly explained the variation in ECM community structure among different treatments. Conclusion: ECM species are more sensitive to changes in SWC than changes in nitrogen addition. Nitrogen and water treatments influenced the structure of the ECM community mainly through altering the relative abundances of exploration types and specific genera. Our findings can enhance understanding of the implications of nitrogen addition and water regime on soil processes in ECM‐dominated coniferous forests under global changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumours in the world. Recent reports have revealed natural products displayed inhibition on colon cancer potential by suppressing transforming growth factor‐β/Smads induced epidermal‐mesenchymal transition (EMT). In this article, 12 kinds of natural berberine analogues were screened for their effects on the inhibition of the colon cancer cells, the results showed that demethyleneberberine (DM‐BBR) exhibited an interesting and potential effect on inducing the apoptosis of HCT‐116 cells with drug concentrations of 6, 12 and 18 μM. Particularly, DM‐BBR reversed the EMT process by inhibiting the expression of p‐Smad2 and p‐Smad3 in the transforming growth factor‐β/Smads signal pathway, up‐regulated pro‐apoptotic protein cleaved caspase‐9, and blocked cell cycle at the S phase and increasing the expression of cyclin proteins P27 and P21. Taken together, these findings suggested that DM‐BBR could promote apoptosis and suppress TGF‐β/Smads induced EMT in the colon cancer cells HCT‐116. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In actual engineering, material properties, load effects, and other factors of mechanical structures change due to long‐term use. In order to understand the operation of a mechanical structure in real time, it is crucial to obtain the dynamic trajectory of its reliability. Considering the time variability of a mechanical structure over time, uncertain random variables are introduced to express the uncertainty of various parameters of structures, and the Wiener process is used to describe the strength degradation process of structures so as to solve the calculation problem of time‐varying reliability of mechanical structures. Based on the advanced first‐order and second moment method (AFOSM), the proposed linearized Nataf change is used to complete the transformation from related nonnormal variables to independent standard normal variables in order to simplify the calculation process of reliability solution and solve the reliability calculation problem of random parameters subjected to arbitrary distribution. The deduced random variable sensitivity factor indicates the degree of influence of different random variables on the reliability of the mechanical structure, providing a theoretical basis for the optimal design and maintenance of a mechanical structure. The proposed method is analyzed using the cantilever beam and compared with the nonlinear Nataf transform and verified by the Monte Carlo simulation results. The results show that the proposed method can effectively solve the reliability sensitivity problem of structural system strength degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-linked nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (X-linked NDI) is a rare inherited disease mainly caused by lost-of-function mutations in human AVPR2 gene encoding arginine vasopressin receptor 2 (V2R). Our focus of the current study is on exploration of the functional and biochemical properties of Ile324Met (I324M) mutation identified in a pedigree showing as typical recessive X-linked NDI. We demonstrated that I324M mutation interfered with the conformation of complex glycosylation of V2R. Moreover, almost all of the I324M-V2R failed to express on the cell surface due to being captured by the endoplasmic reticulum control system. We further examined the signaling activity of DDAVP-medicated cAMP and ERK1/2 pathways and the results revealed that the mutant receptor lost the ability in response to DDAVP stimulation contributed to the failure of accumulation of cAMP and phosphorylated ERK1/2. Based on the characteristics of molecular defects of I324M mutant, we selected two reagents (SR49059 and alvespimycin) to determine whether the functions of I324M-V2R can be restored and we found that both compounds can significantly "rescue" I324M mutation. Our findings may provide further insights for understanding the pathogenic mechanism of AVPR2 gene mutations and may offer some implications on development of promising treatments for patients with X-linked NDI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionizing radiation is a conventional therapy for cancer patients, but patients often experience distant metastasis and recurrence, which lead to a poor prognosis after the implementation of this treatment. Moreover, the underlying mechanisms by which radioresistance contributes to metastatic potential is still elusive. Here, we explored the molecular mechanisms that contribute to radioresistance in bladder cancer. To achieve this, we established two irradiation-resistant (IR) cell lines, T24R and 5637R, which were derived from parental bladder cancer cell lines. Cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay, while migration and invasion abilities were examined by wound healing and Transwell chamber assays, respectively. Furthermore, the role of Cdc20 in the regulation of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in IR cells was explored by Western blotting, immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence staining. The IR cells exhibited EMT properties, and our data showed that Cdc20 expression was significantly elevated in IR cells. Remarkably, Cdc20 silencing reversed the EMT phenotype in IR cells. Mechanistically, Cdc20 governed IR-mediated EMT in part by governing forkhead box O1 (FoxO1) degradation. Taken together, our findings showed that the inactivation of Cdc20 or the activation of FoxO1 might be a potential strategy to overcome radioresistance in bladder cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Employing 2D-UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS for ANP component analysis. • A comprehensive metabolic profile of ANP was achieved. • In rats, 60 prototype components and 164 metabolites were identified. • Novel prototypes and metabolites from animal-oriented medicines were detected in vivo. Angong Niuhuang Pill (ANP) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula with significant clinical efficacy in the treatment of stroke. Due to its complex composition, little attention has been directed toward the analysis of chemical composition and absorption characteristics of ANP. In this study, a reliable two-dimensional ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (2D-UHPLC) coupled with quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (Q-Orbitrap HRMS) method was established to characterize the chemical constituents in ANP as well as the prototype components and metabolites absorbed in plasma, urine, feces, and brain tissues after oral administration. The prototype components were identified by a high mass accuracy (within 5 ppm) and MS/MS data based on online, local, and ANP self-built databases. The metabolites were predicted and identified using Compound Discoverer metabolic platform. A total of 154 compounds mainly including 37 flavonoids, 35 alkaioids, 19 organic acid, 19 bile acid, 32 terpenoids and 12 others were identified in this way. In addition, 60 prototype components mainly including flavonoids, alkaioids, organic acid, terpenoids and 164 metabolites were confirmed or preliminarily identified in rats. The metabolic pathways phase I reaction (hydration, reduction, oxidation, demethylation, and hydroxylation) and phase II reaction (acetylation, stearyl conjugation, and methylation) for the absorbed constituents were explored and summarized. This is the first systematic and comprehensive chemical characterization in ANP and its metabolism in vivo by 2D-UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS. This approach provides an effective strategy for the characterization of compounds and metabolites in traditional Chinese medicine formulas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "Optimized minimal genome-wide human sgRNA library" published in Scientific Reports. The correction addresses an error in the Data Availability section of the original article, specifically regarding the submission of raw and processed sequencing data to the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). The corrected version of the article clarifies that the data has been submitted to GEO under accession number GSE223086. The correction notice is authored by Yangfan Zhou, Lixia Wang, Zhike Lu, Zhenxing Yu, and Lijia Ma. [Extracted from the article]

Melon is one of the most important horticultural crops in Asia. Powdery mildew (PM) is frequently occurred in facility cultivation, which seriously affects its yield and fruit quality of melon. Light signal is the basis of plant growth and development, and appropriate red light (RL) plays an important role in regulating the resistance of plant pathogens. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) also have been shown to be participated in plant defence against pathogen infection. However, whether light is involved in PM resistance through ROS remains unclear. Here, we found that RL+PM treatment significantly enhanced the resistance of PM in melon seedlings, improved NADPH oxidase activity, upregulated respiratory burst oxidase homologue 1 (RBOHD) expression, and increased hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) level. Compared with the PM treatment alone, diphenylene iodonium (DPI)+PM treatment significantly enhanced the sensitivity to PM in melon seedlings and weakened the effect of RL-induced PM resistance. Further studies showed that silencing CmRBOHD significantly inhibited the RL-induced PM resistance by inhibiting H 2 O 2 synthesis. In addition, CmWRKY50 could activate CmRBOHD expression by binding to the promoter of CmRBOHD. Taken together, the results suggest that RL can increase endogenous H 2 O 2 levels and induce the initiation of defence through activation of CmWRKY50 , and therefore, when plants are subjected to pathogen stress, higher H 2 O 2 levels in the plants are beneficial for organizing the invasion of pathogens and enhancing powdery mildew resistance. • Red light pretreatment significantly improved powdery mildew resistance in melon seedlings. • Red light pretreatment significantly increased the activity of NADPH oxidase and promoted H 2 O 2. • CmWRKY50 activated the expression of CmRBOHD by binding to the CmRBOHD promoter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Composites with bimodal cell structure were prepared by a simple one-step decompression sc-CO 2 micro-foaming technology. • When the content of PEG is 7%, the UHMWPE/PEG composites exhibits stable bimodal cell structure in most process range. • Formation mechanism of bimodal cell structure is proposed. • The UHMWPE/PEG porous material exhibit excellent mechanical properties. The bimodal cell structure with both large and small cells has been reported to have more excellent thermal insulation, vibration damping and mechanical properties. In this work, UHMWPE/PEG porous materials with bimodal cell structure were prepared by a simple one-step decompression micro-foaming technology using only supercritical carbon dioxide (sc-CO 2). The effects of PEG content, molecular weight of PEG, saturation temperature, pressure and time on the evolution of cell morphology were investigated. The results show that when the content of PEG is 7%, the UHMWPE/PEG composite porous material exhibits stable bimodal cell morphologies in most process range, and a mechanism for the formation of bimodal cell is proposed. Moreover, UHMWPE/PEG porous materials with bimodal cell structure show higher mechanical properties. When the relative densities are similar, the anti-compression properties of bimodal porous materials are significantly better than those of unimodal porous materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharbitidis Semen (the seeds of Ipomoea nil (L.) Roth or Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth), a popular traditional Chinese medicine, is also known as "Heichou" or "Baichou" (Chinese: 黑丑, 白丑). It can purge the bowels, promote diuresis, remove stagnated accumulation, and kill worms. It can be used for treating anasarca with constipation and oliguria; dyspnea and cough caused by retained fluid; abdominal pain because of intestinal parasitosis; ascariasis; and taeniasis. This review discusses the botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, toxicology, and quality control of Pharbitidis Semen, to obtain a complete understanding of its effects and provide a basis for further research and the development of new drugs. The literature on Pharbitidis Semen is mainly obtained from pharmacopoeias of different countries, masterpieces of traditional Chinese medicine, Master's and Ph.D. theses, and published articles obtained from literature retrieval websites, such as CNKI, PubMed, SciFinder, WanFang data, Web of Science, Springer, ScienceDirect, Wiley, ACS Publications, Taylor & Francis, J-STAGE, and Google Scholar. Its botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, toxicology, and quality control are discussed to understand its effects and provide a basis for further research. Pharbitidis semen has been used ethnomedically in many tropical and subtropical countries as deobstruents, diuretics, and anthelmintics. About 170 chemical compounds, including terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, resin glycosides, fatty acids and other compounds, have been isolated. It has been reported to have different effects, including laxative, renal-protective, neuroprotective, insecticidal, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. Moreover, a brief introduction to processing, toxicity, and quality control is provided. The traditional efficacy of Pharbitidis Semen in diarrhea has been confirmed, but its bioactive and toxic ingredients are not entirely clear. It is necessary to strengthen the research and identification of effective parts or natural active components of Pharbitidis Semen, clarify the molecular mechanism of its toxicity and change rule of endogenous substances to make Pharbitidis Semen better used in clinical practice. Additionally, the imperfect quality standard is also a challenge that must be solved urgently. The study of modern pharmacology has broadened the application of Pharbitidis Semen and provided ideas for better utilization of this resource. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adding compost to soil is an effective strategy to promote the degradation of organic pollutants and reduce ecological risks. However, the effect of compost on the degradation of imazethapyr (IMET) in different soil types is not clear. To address this issue, a pot experiment was conducted, and high-throughput sequencing and mass spectrometry technology were used to identify the influence of cow manure compost on the degradation efficiency of IMET in black soil and saline-alkali soil and the role of key microorganisms. The results showed that adding compost to black soil increased the degradation rate of IMET by 12.58% and shortened the half-life by 53.37%, while in saline-alkali soil, the degradation rate of IMET decreased by 6.99% with no significant change in the half-life. High-throughput sequencing results showed that adding cow manure compost (mass ratio of 4%) significantly increased the abundance of bacterial families capable of degrading organic pollutants in black soil, but had an inhibitory effect on this bacterial community in saline-alkali soil. Redundancy analysis (RDA) results showed that total organic carbon (TOC), alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen (AN), ammonia nitrogen (NH 4 +-N) and nitrate nitrogen (NO 3 −-N) were the main factors driving microbial community variation. Mass spectrometry analysis indicated that IMET generated three metabolites during the degradation process. Sphingomonadaceae and Vicinamibacteraceae could accelerate the breaking of side-chain alkyl groups, while Chitinophagaceae could cause the rearrangement of the imidazole ring structure, gradually metabolizing IMET into small organic molecules. The application of appropriate cow manure compost can promote the development of IMET-degrading bacteria by adjusting the organic carbon and dissolved nitrogen content in black soil. In the future, the quantitative effects of organic fertilizer application on the IMET degradation process in different soil types should be further analyzed, and microbial isolation and purification should be used to enhance the ability of microorganisms to degrade herbicides. [Display omitted] • Cow manure compost improved IMET degradation in black soil. • TOC and dissolved nitrogen were key drivers of IMET-degrading microorganisms. • Sphingomonadaceae family played a crucial role in the degradation of IMET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexagonal Boron nitride (BN) can be used as a lubricant additive, which can dramatically reduce friction energy. However, due to the accumulation of BN in the water‐based lubricants and the difficulty of entering the friction contact area, the tribological performance of BN becomes worse. To address this issue, the atomically thin hydroxylated boron nitride nanosheets (HO‐BNNS) were successfully prepared. The thickness of HO‐BNNS is only 0.6‐0.8 nm. Meanwhile, the HO‐BNNS has excellent dispersion stability in water‐based lubricants because of the hydroxyl group on the surface of HO‐BNNS. The as‐prepared HO‐BNNS exhibits unique friction properties as a water‐based dispersible lubricant additive. Additionally, the average wear scar diameter, average friction coefficient, and mean wear volume of HO‐BNNS/water‐based (0.05 wt%) drop by about 64.7%, 60%, and 95.73%. Finally, the introduction of HO‐BNNS can well control the temperature of water‐based lubricant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: As a tick-borne zoonotic pathogen, Ehrlichia canis has already posed a threat to public health and safety. This study aimed to clarify the prevalence and molecular characteristics of E. canis in pet dogs in Xinjiang, China. Materials and Methods: A total of 297 blood samples of pet dogs and 709 skin ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato) were subjected to molecular detection using PCR for E. canis 16S rRNA gene, and then, positive samples were amplified, sequenced, and phylogenetically analyzed for E. canis gp36 gene. Results: The PCR detection showed that the positive rate of PCR was 12.12% (36/297) in blood samples and 15.23% (108/709) in tick samples, respectively. Based on the phylogenetic analysis of E. canis gp36 protein, these E. canis strains in different geographical regions of the world can be divided into Genogroup I and Genogroup II. Among them, the Xinjiang epidemic strain XJ-6 and 533, 36, 1055, Kasur1, and Jake strains were clustered into subgroup 1.1 of Genogroup I, while the XJ-2, XJ-21, and XJ-35 strains and the TWN1, TWN4, CM180, and CM196 strains were closely related and belonged to subgroup 2.2 of Genogroup II, displaying high genetic diversity. Conclusion: This is the first study focusing on the molecular epidemiology of E. canis infection in pet dogs, which revealed that E. canis infection had been occurred in Xinjiang, China. More importantly, this study confirmed that the substantial variability in immunoreactive protein gp36 from E. canis strains circulating in pet dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NLRC5, the largest member of the Nod‐like receptor (NLR) family, has been reported to play a pivotal role in regulating inflammatory responses. Recent evidence suggests that NLRC5 participates in Toll‐like receptor (TLR) signaling pathways and negatively modulates nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) activation. In this study, we investigated the interaction between NLRC5 and TLR2 in the NF‐κB inflammatory signaling pathway and the involvement of NLRC5 in TLR2‐mediated allergic airway inflammation. We knocked down TLR2 and NLRC5, respectively in the RAW264.7 macrophage cell line by small interfering RNA (siRNA) and then stimulated the knockdown cells with lipoteichoic acid (LTA). In comparison with the negative siRNA group, the level of NLRC5 expression was lower in the TLR2 siRNA group, with a reduction in the NF‐κB‐related inflammatory response. Conversely, in the NLRC5 knockdown cells, after LTA‐treated the level of TLR2 expression did not change but the expression levels of both NF‐κB pp65 and NLRP3 increased remarkably. Thus, we hypothesize that NLRC5 participates in the LTA‐induced inflammatory signaling pathway and regulates the inflammation via TLR2/NF‐κB. Similarly, in subsequent in vivo experiments, we demonstrated that the expression level of NLRC5 was significantly increased in the ovalbumin‐induced allergic airway inflammation. However, this effect disappeared in TLR2‐deficient (TLR2 −/−) mice and was accompanied by reduced levels of NF‐κB expression and airway inflammation. In conclusion, NLRC5 negatively regulates LTA‐induced inflammatory response via a TLR2/NF‐κB pathway in macrophages and also participates in TLR2‐mediated allergic airway inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]