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The ejector is a crucial component of the hydrogen circulation system of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), which is widely used because of its simple structure, reliable operation, and no additional power consumption. However, the current research on pulsed ejectors is still lacking and in-depth. In this study, CFD modeling is conducted on the ejector, and the pulsed gas flow is simulated by user define function (UDF), and the influence of the pulsed gas flow on the entrainment performance of the ejector is analyzed. The results show that, compared with the steady-state condition, the entrainment performance of the ejector using pulsed gas flow under different primary flow pressures is improved, and the maximum entrainment ratio is 3.195 under steady-state conditions and 3.507 under transient conditions, which is increased by 9.8%. The effect is especially pronounced at low pressure, where the entrainment ratio increases by 16.6%. And by comparing the gas flow of different pulse frequencies, it is found that when the pulse frequency is 1Hz, the ejector has the best entrainment performance. • The ejector with pulsed gas flow has significantly better entrainment performance. • At the low primary inlet pressure, the pulsed gas flow has a good effect on the entrain ment performance. • Pulsed gas flow can form a lower low-pressure area at the nozzle exit. • When the frequency of the pulsed gas flow is 1Hz, the entrainment ratio is maximum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to cultivate children's computational thinking, researchers have developed many excellent programming systems. Among them, the tangible programming systems combined with graphic output have been widely accepted because of the intuitive input method and diversified visual feedback. However, few of them support collaborative learning or programming. Little is known about children's experiences, emotional states and behaviours on collaborative programming. Motivated by this gap, we present a novel tangible and collaborative enabled programming system named Lighters, which designed for children aged 7–10 and had two types of collaboration modes (block-based and role-based). We conducted an user experiment with 24 children, and collected physiological (EDA), questionnaire, video recording and interview data for analysis. Based on our experiment results, Lighters are effective in helping children learn to program collaboratively. In addition, Lighters can mobilize children's positive emotions and enthusiasm to learn programming. Compared with block-based collaboration, role-based collaboration is more likely to stimulate children's emotional states and has a better effect on learning programming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorescent imaging and biosensing in the near‐infrared‐II (NIR‐II) window holds great promise for non‐invasive, radiation‐free, and rapid‐response clinical diagnosis. However, it's still challenging to develop bright NIR‐II fluorophores. In this study, we report a new strategy to enhance the brightness of NIR‐II aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) fluorophores through intramolecular electrostatic locking. By introducing sulfur atoms into the side chains of the thiophene bridge in TSEH molecule, the molecular motion of the conjugated backbone can be locked through intramolecular interactions between the sulfur and nitrogen atoms. This leads to enhanced NIR‐II fluorescent emission of TSEH in both solution and aggregation states. Notably, the encapsulated nanoparticles (NPs) of TSEH show enhanced brightness, which is 2.6‐fold higher than TEH NPs with alkyl side chains. The in vivo experiments reveal the feasibility of TSEH NPs in vascular and tumor imaging with a high signal‐to‐background ratio and precise resection for tiny tumors. In addition, polystyrene nanospheres encapsulated with TSEH are utilized for antigen detection in lateral flow assays, showing a signal‐to‐noise ratio 1.9‐fold higher than the TEH counterpart in detecting low‐concentration antigens. This work highlights the potential for developing bright NIR‐II fluorophores through intramolecular electrostatic locking and their potential applications in clinical diagnosis and biomedical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary pulmonary hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma (HCCC) is a very rare lung tumor that accounts for less than 0.09% of all primary lung tumors and has no specific epidemiology. The correct diagnosis requires imaging, laboratory, pathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular examination. The most typical feature of pulmonary HCCC is the clear cell component with clear stroma. In addition, the fusion gene EWSR1::ATF1 due to t(12;22)(q13;q12) is essential for the pathological diagnosis of pulmonary HCCC. The main treatment for pulmonary HCCC is surgery. This review focus on the pathological features, immunohistochemical examination, mutation analysis and treatment of pulmonary HCCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effect of Schizandrin B on lung injury in rats with acute pancreatitis (AP) via Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) /nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Methods: SD rats were taken and induced the establishment of AP lung injury model by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate into the bile duct. According to random number table method, they were divided into model group, schisandrin B group, TLR4 overexpression vector group, TLR4 empty group, schisandrin B+ TLR4 overexpression vector group, 12 rats per group. Twelve SD rats only flipped the intestines without injecting 5% sodium taurocholate, as the sham operation group. After intervening rats in groups with drugs, pulmonary function of rats in each group, the amount of ascites and lung tissue wet weight/dry weight (W/D) of rats in each group were measured; HE staining was used to detect pathological morphology of lung tissue and score; levels of arterial blood gas indexes of rats in each group were detected by fully automatic biochemical analyser; levels of serum amylase and inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-18 were measured by ELISA; Western blotting was used to detect protein expression of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in lung tissue; expression of TLR4 protein in lung tissue of rat in each group was detected by immunohistochemical staining. Results: Compared with sham operation group, lung tissue of rats in model group showed pathological changes, MV, PEF, PaO2 and OI of model group were significantly reduced (P<0.05), while Ri, ascites volume, W/D, PaCO2, Holfbauer score, serum amylase, IL-6 and IL-18 levels, lung tissue proportion of TLR4 positive cells, expressions of TLR4 and MYD88 protein, p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 level were significantly increased (P<0.05) . Compared with model group and schisandrin B+TLR4 overexpression vector group, respectively, pathological changes of lung tissue of rats in schisandrin B group were reduced, MV, PEF, PaO2 and OI were all increased (P<0.05), while Ri, ascites volume, W/D, PaCO2, Holfbauer score, serum amylase, IL-6 and IL-18 levels, lung tissue proportion of TLR4 positive cells, expressions of TLR4 and MYD88 protein, p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 levels were decreased (P<0.05); in TLR4 overexpression vector group, degree of pathological damage in lung tissue of rats was aggravated, MV, PEF, PaO2 and OI were all decreased (P<0.05), while Ri, ascites volume, W/D, PaCO2, Holfbauer score, serum amylase, IL-6 and IL-18 levels, lung tissue proportion of TLR4 positive cells, expressions of TLR4 and MYD88 protein, p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 level were increased (P<0.05) . Compared with model group, rats in TLR4 empty group showed no significant difference (P>0.05). Conclusion: Schizandrin B can down-regulate TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway to inhibit inflammation, reduce lung injury in AP rats, and repair lung function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, the application of GIS and RS in archaeological and cultural heritage (ACH) has witnessed a notable surge both in terms of quantity and scope. During the initial implementation period (2016–2021) of the Digital Belt and Road Heritage (DBAR-Heritage) working group, several instances of GIS-RS-based applications in support of cultural heritage conservation have merged. In this paper, in order to discuss the great potential of GIS and RS on the Silk Road, an overview of GIS- and RS-based applications in ACH is first presented. In a substantial portion of the published scientific literature, the identification and comprehension of archaeological sites, the monitoring and risk assessment of cultural heritage, and the management and visualization of cultural heritage data are highlighted. Following this, five illustrative case studies from the DBAR-Heritage working group are presented to exemplify how the integration of GIS and RS serves as key approaches in recognizing and appreciating cultural heritage. These selected case studies showcase the utilization of multi-source data for the identification of linear sites; detailed, refined monitoring and assessment of the Angkor Wat heritage; and the reconstruction of the Silk Road routes. These instances serve as the cornerstone for highlighting current trends in GIS and RS applications in ACH along the Silk Road. These methodologies efficiently integrate multi-source geospatial data and employ multidisciplinary approaches, ultimately furnishing sophisticated and intelligent tools for the exploration and management of archaeological and cultural heritage in the era of Big Earth Data. Subsequently, a comprehensive discussion on the merits and challenges of GIS and RS applications in ACH is presented, followed by an exploration of the current application trends. Finally, the prospects for the widespread application of GIS and RS in ACH along the Silk Road are outlined in accordance with the operational plan of DBAR-Heritage during its second implementation phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diesel fuel/natural gas compression ignition engine is an essential approach to achieving low-carbon goals. The injection parameters of the diesel assume a critical role in the combustion process of mixture formation and ignition of methane. The micro-orifice diesel fuel nozzle was developed based on the spray mixture theory of diesel injection in a modified engine. The combustion and emissions of injection strategy of rail pressure, multiple injections and injection timing, and different rate of substitution (Rs) under two loads are discussed and compared with the original nozzle in the compression ignition engine. The results show that the combustion center of the micro-orifice nozzle moves forward with increasing Rs. In contrast, the original nozzle presents an opposite trend. The combustion and emissions of the two nozzles are almost identical at high Rs. The atomization improvement of reduced orifice size does not significantly affect the performance and emissions with a single injection strategy. The thermal efficiency of the micro-orifice nozzle reached 43.2% at high Rs, and the total hydrocarbons (THC) was reduced by 85% compared to the original nozzle, which is a main reason for the increased efficiency at high load. The effect of improved atomization by higher pressure in multiple injections is weaker than the effect of the insufficient wet wall caused by excessive penetration. The micro-orifice nozzle with early injection and low pressure of 70 MPa can improve the atomization and shorten the diesel spray penetration, reducing unburned THC emissions and achieving higher thermal efficiency. The closer the pre-injection timing is to top dead center (TDC), the earlier the combustion starts and the higher the maximum heat release rate (HRR). The definition of the combustion delay in a traditional diesel engine is not easy to clearly describe the fuel and oxygen mixing process in the cylinder during diesel pre-injection and natural gas (NG) premixing. The shape of the HRR of the micro-orifice nozzle at different main injection timing has always maintained a similar shape of single-peak HRR, which only shifts back and forth with changes of the main injection timing. The micro-orifice nozzle with pre-injection strategy forms a homogeneous mixture in the cylinder. At the same time, the main injection of diesel is only used to stabilize the ignition. The THC emissions and thermal efficiency are not sensitive to the main injection timing. They are maintained at an ideal level, freeing the diesel engine efficiency from the limitation of the diesel injection timing. Hence, the micro-orifice nozzle combined with the two-injection strategies achieves ideal premixed combustion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of agricultural products' regional public brands, owned by relevant organizations and jointly used by several agricultural production and operation entities, is increasing in contemporary marketing research. Based on a survey of 544 consumers, this study investigates the influence of brand trust, attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control on their purchase intention and behavior toward agricultural products' regional public brand. Through SEM, we find that brand trust toward agricultural products' regional public brand positively influences consumer attitude, purchase intention, and purchase behavior. In addition, attitude and purchase intention mediate the relationship between brand trust and purchase behavior. While attitude and perceived behavioral control positively affect purchase intention, no similar effect is found for subjective norms. Moreover, multigroup invariance tests demonstrate that consumer behavior can be influenced by factors such as gender, age, monthly income, marital status, previous visits to the region, and purchase purpose. We therefore recommend that to bolster competitiveness, regional public brand stakeholders maintain agricultural product quality, ensure reliable purchasing and transportation channels, and enhance brand trust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulp treatment is extremely common in endodontics, with the main purpose of eliminating clinical symptoms and preserving tooth physiological function. However, the effect of dental pulp treatment is closely related to the methods and materials used in the process of treatment. Plenty of studies about calcium silicate-based bioceramics which are widely applied in various endodontic operations have been reported because of their significant biocompatibility and bioactivity. Although most of these materials have superior physical and chemical properties, the differences between them can also have an impact on the success rate of different clinical practices. Therefore, this review is focused on the applications of several common calcium silicate-based bioceramics, including Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), Biodentine, Bioaggregate, iRoot BP Plus in usual endodontic treatment, such as dental pulp capping, root perforation repair, regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs), apexification, root-end filling and root canal treatment (RCT). Besides, the efficacy of these bioceramics mentioned above in human trials is also compared, which aims to provide clinical guidance for their clinical application in endodontics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, Zn and its alloys have become some of the most promising degradable metals as in vivo implants due to their acceptable biocompatibility and more suitable degradation rate compared with Mg-based and Fe-based alloys. However, the degradation rate of Zn-based materials after implantation in the body for orthopedic applications is relatively slow, leading to long-term retention of the implants after fulfilling their missions. Moreover, the excessive release of Zn2+ during the degradation process of Zn-based implants usually leads to high cytotoxicity and delayed osseointegration. To provide a feasible solution to the problem faced by Zn-based implants, a Zn-Ca composite was fabricated by an air pressure infiltration method in this work. The XRD pattern of the composite suggests that the composite is fully composed of Zn-Ca intermetallic compounds. The degradation tests in vitro show that the composite has a much higher degradation rate than pure Zn, and the high Ca content regions in the composite can preferentially degrade as sacrificial anodes. In addition, the composite can efficiently induce Ca-P deposition during immersion tests in Hank's solution. Cytotoxicity tests indicate that L-929 cells exhibit around 82% cell viability (Grade 1) even after being cultured in the 100% extract prepared from the Zn-Ca composite for 1 day and show excellent cell viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microporous layer (MPL) as a part of diffusion medium has an important impact on mass transfer of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). In this study, MPLs of gas diffusion layers (GDLs) are prepared with different carbon blacks, and the properties of carbon blacks and their effects as MPLs on cell performance are systematically investigated. The results show that the GDL prepared by Acetylene Black (ACET) exhibits the best performance with a maximum power density up to 2.05 W cm−2. Moreover, it still maintains extremely high performance with increasing current density even at humidity condition of 100% relative humidity, which means its excellent water/gas transportation capacity. This study contributes to deeply understanding the correlations between the properties of MPL material itself and their corresponding performance exhibited in cell. It also provides an important reference for enhancing cell performance and further advancing the practical applications of MPLs in PEMFC field. [Display omitted] • This paper focus on the selection and optimization of MPL materials. • The physical characteristics of different GDLs are systematically compared. • Pore size distribution and surface wettability of GDLs are two key characteristics. • Properties of carbon blacks and their effects on cell performance are studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zero‐dimensional nitrogen‐doped carbon dots (N‐CDs) have been proved effective when introduced into the polymerization system of aniline as the hard template to synthesis small‐sized, monodisperse and highly conductive N‐CDs/PANI (N‐CDs/PANI) nanocomposites, which were then added into acrylic (AC) resin to produce coatings with excellent corrosion resistance and antifouling performances in this paper. Compared with the PANI, the N‐CDs/PANI did show remarkably improved anticorrosion and antifouling properties. The protection efficiency of the AC resin coating was increased by 5 times and to 57.3% with the addition of the N‐CDs/PANI, which is higher than that of the AC resin coating, about 37.0%, with the addition of the PANI. In addition, the AC resin coating containing N‐CDs/PANI exhibited additional antifouling properties with an algae inhibition rate of about 24.6%, since the redox property of the carbon dots could destroy the photosynthesis of microorganisms such as Chlorella. Furthermore, because that the N‐CDs/PANI had better dispersibility than PANI and could be more uniformly dispersed in the AC resin, the adhesion of the N‐CDs/PANI‐AC coating was better than that of the PANI‐AC coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malocclusion is one of the three major diseases, the incidence of which could reach 56% of the imperiled oral and systemic health in the world today. Orthodontics is still the primary method to solve the problem. However, it is clear that many orthodontic complications are associated with courses of long-term therapy. Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy could be used as a popular way to shorten the course of orthodontic treatment by nearly 26% to 40%. In this review, the efficacy in cells and animals, mechanisms, relevant cytokines and signaling, clinical trials and applications, and the future developments of PBM therapy in orthodontics were evaluated to demonstrate its validity. Simultaneously, based on orthodontic mechanisms and present findings, the mechanisms of acceleration of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) caused by PBM therapy were explored in relation to four aspects, including blood vessels, inflammatory response, collagen and fibers, and mineralized tissues. Also, the cooperative effects and clinical translation of PBM therapy in orthodontics have been explored in a growing numbers of studies. Up to now, PBM therapy has been gaining popularity for its non-invasive nature, easy operation, and painless procedures. However, the validity and exact mechanism of PBM therapy as an adjuvant treatment in orthodontics have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, this review summarizes the efficacy of PBM therapy on the acceleration of OTM comprehensively from various aspects and was designed to provide an evidence-based platform for the research and development of light-related orthodontic tooth movement acceleration devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by reduced social interactions, impaired communication, and stereotyped behavior. The aim of this research is to investigate the changes in serotonin (5-HT) in the medial prefrontal cortex (PFC) of autism-like offspring induced by maternal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were intraperitoneally injected with LPS to establish an autism-like model in their offspring. Offspring prenatally exposed to LPS showed autism-like behavior. The serotonin level in the mPFC of 2-week-old offspring was noticeably increased after maternal LPS exposure. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched in pathways related to tryptophan metabolism and the serotonin system, as shown in RNA-seq findings. Consistently, tryptophan and serotonin metabolisms were altered in 2-week-old LPS-exposed offspring. The mRNA expression levels of 5-HT catabolic enzymes were remarkably reduced or tended to decrease. Moreover, maternal LPS exposure resulted in a higher serotonin 1B receptor (5-HT1BR) expression level in the mPFC but no difference in tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) or serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT). The concentrations of 5-HT in serum and colon were increased in LPS-exposed offspring. Meanwhile, the expression level of tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1) in the colon was increased after maternal LPS treatment, whereas SERT was reduced. Furthermore, Golgi-Cox staining showed that neuronal dendritic length and spine density were significantly reduced in the mPFC of LPS-exposed offspring. The current study reveals that maternal LPS treatment resulted in an exaltation of the 5-HT of mPFC in ASD-like young rats, which may partly be caused by the abnormal elevation of 5-HT metabolism in its colon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robotic materials, with coupled sensing, actuation, computation, and communication, have attracted increasing attention because they are able to not only tune their conventional passive mechanical property via geometrical transformation or material phase change but also become adaptive and even intelligent to suit varying environments. However, the mechanical behavior of most robotic materials is either reversible (elastic) or irreversible (plastic), but not transformable between them. Here, a robotic material whose behavior is transformable between elastic and plastic is developed, based upon an extended neutrally stable tensegrity structure. The transformation does not depend on conventional phase transition and is fast. By integrating with sensors, the elasticity‐plasticity transformable (EPT) material is able to self‐sense deformation and decides whether to undergo transformation or not. This work expands the capability of the mechanical property modulation of robotic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The immunoproteasome is a specialized type of proteasome involved in MHC class I antigen presentation, antiviral adaptive immunity, autoimmunity, and is also part of a broader response to stress. Whether the immunoproteasome is regulated by DNA stress, however, is not known. We here demonstrate that mitochondrial DNA stress upregulates the immunoproteasome and MHC class I antigen presentation pathway via cGAS/STING/type I interferon signaling resulting in cell autonomous activation of CD8+ T cells. The cGAS/STING‐induced adaptive immune response is also observed in response to genomic DNA and is conserved in epithelial and mesenchymal cells of mice and men. In patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, chronic activation of the cGAS/STING‐induced adaptive immune response in aberrant lung epithelial cells concurs with CD8+ T‐cell activation in diseased lungs. Genetic depletion of the immunoproteasome and specific immunoproteasome inhibitors counteract DNA stress induced cytotoxic CD8+ T‐cell activation. Our data thus unravel cytoplasmic DNA sensing via the cGAS/STING pathway as an activator of the immunoproteasome and CD8+ T cells. This represents a novel potential pathomechanism for pulmonary fibrosis that opens new therapeutic perspectives. Synopsis: Immunoproteasomes are activated by interferons and involved in MHC class I‐mediated CD8+ T‐cell activation as part of antiviral immune responses. This study demonstrates that cytoplasmic DNA sensing by the cGAS/STING pathway induces immunoproteasome‐mediated activation of CD8+ T cells that may be involved in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Sensing of intracellular mitochondrial and genomic DNA via the cGAS/STING pathway activates the immunoproteasome and MHC class I antigen presentation in human and murine epithelial cells and fibroblasts.cGAS/STING activation induces CD8+ T cell adaptive immune responses in a cell‐autonomous manner.Immunoproteasomes and CD8+ T cells are activated in lungs of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subways are the backbone of many urban transportation systems in large cities around the world. However, disruptions of subway services, such as power-supply failure or signal failures, can cause severe travel delays due to the large carrying capacities of subway trains. Accurate predictions of the disruption durations of subway services are essential for emergency response. To predict the disruption durations of subway services, previous studies primarily used parametric models (e.g., the accelerated failure time (AFT) model), and less attention has been given to machine-learning models with high potential prediction ability and fewer parameter restrictions. This paper proposes a model to predict and explore factors that affect the disruption durations of subway services in Shanghai using machine-learning models. The longitudinal data released by the subway operator from 2012 to 2021 were collected and analyzed in this study. A random survival forest (RSF) was used to describe the disruption durations of the subway service, and influential factors, such as incident reason, incident occurrence time, and line-related variables were considered in the model. Results show that the RSF model (C-Index = 0.672) achieved better prediction accuracy than the traditional AFT model (the best C-Index = 0.609) based on the collected data in Shanghai. In addition, results indicate that incident reason, disruption location, and the time of disruption factors can significantly affect subway service disruption durations. The proposed model can be used as a tool to predict the disruption durations of subway service for better disruption management of the subway system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Hip preservation therapy of early ONFH (Osteonecrosis of the femoral head) has emerged as one of the hot areas of research. We have optimized the procedure of traditional MFCVBG (medial femoral circumflex vascularized bone grafting) by using specialized surgical tools and used the finite element analysis to guide the implantation position of the bone flap during surgery and validate the biological mechanical stability of the modified MFCVBG. Methods: This study was based on the data of a male patient with left hip (ARCO stage IIB, JIC type C) hormonal ONFH. Harris score (HHS), anteroposterior and lateral hip radiographs, frog position hip radiographs and SPECT/CT of femoral head flow imaging were performed postoperatively to evaluate clinical efficacy. The patient's CT data were used to establish upper femur finite element model of the normal group, osteonecrosis group and postoperative group, respectively. The force on the femoral structure of each group was analyzed under four different loads in the gait cycle of 0.5 times the body weight (0.5 G, standing on two feet), 2.75 G (standing on one foot), 4 G (walking with the middle foot on the ground) and 7 G (walking with the toe off the ground) to validate the biological mechanical stability of the modified MFCVBG, predict femoral head collapse risk, simulate of the different healing conditions of postoperative bone flap, and analyze the postoperative effect of non-ideal surgical model. Results: According to the follow-up results, the bone flap and the inner wall of decompression channel healed well, no osteonecrosis progression, no local collapse or micro-fracture occurred in the femoral head, and the articular surface was intact and the necrosis was well repaired. According to the result of the finite element analysis, compared with the osteonecrosis group, the overall stress and displacement peak of the upper femur and the cortical bone stress peak of the femoral head in the postoperative group and normal group were significantly reducing; modified MFCVBG can significantly improve the biomechanical stability of necrotic femoral head and reduce the risk of femoral head collapse; there was no obvious abnormal stress distribution in the greater trochanter and intertrochanter region after the flap was removed; the bone flap of the complete removal of necrotic focus + long bone flap group was directly placed at the bottom of the decompression passage, and the bone flap cortical bone can provide substantial mechanical support; in theory, patients can try to reduce the load with crutches or walking aids and carry out appropriate flat activities to effectively promote the early postoperative recovery. Conclusions: The modified MFCVBG resulted in good efficacy, safety and feasibility. The necrotic focus should be completely removed during the operation, and the long bone flap should be placed directly under the subchondral bone. For patients with better bone healing ability, a more positive attitude can be taken to promote early postoperative weight-bearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extensive utilization of fluorine industrial products has brought abundant fluorine pollution. The fluorine removal is important. In this study, CaO, as a novel coprecipitator, was conducted to synthesize Ca‐Fe‐SO4 layered double hydroxide (CF) via co‐precipitation of FeSO4. Ca‐Fe mixed metal oxide adsorbent (CCF) was fabricated by calcinating CF for efficient fluoride adsorption. The results showed that CCF adsorbent had an excellent adsorption performance for fluoride. It was attributed to two reasons as follows: On one hand, Ca had a strong affinity for fluoride, improving the adsorption capacity of adsorbent for fluoride. On the other hand, Fe had a strong magnetism, which could promote the recovery of the adsorbed material. The adsorption capacity of CCF for fluorine was analyzed by batch adsorption experiments, the adsorption capacity was 160.66 mg/g at temperature of 298 K and pH of 7. Moreover, the adsorption process of fluorine and the actual adsorption process were in accordance with Langmuir model and the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model, respectively. According to the analysis of pHzpc, FITR and XPS, the main adsorption mechanisms of CCF for fluoride in water were complexation and electrostatic interactions. Therefore, this study suggested that CaO can be a novel coprecipitator to prepare a new efficient fluorine adsorbent for the treatment of industrial wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing highly efficient pharmaceuticals to eradicate pathogens and facilitate wound healing is of great concern. Despite some cationic carbon dots (CDs) have been used for sterilization, hardly any anionic CDs with antimicrobial activity have appeared. In the present work, we engineered a string of anionic CDs (especially CD31) as valid broad-spectrum bactericides to kill bacteria. Furthermore, CD31 conjugated with ɛ-polylysine (Plys) to construct injectable, and self-healing hydrogel (CD-Plys) that possess the advantages of remarkable broad spectrum antibacterial activity, excellent wound healing ability and satisfied biocompatibility. CD-Plys could dramatically accelerate wound healing with epithelization and enhanced angiogenesis. Taken together, this work provides a two-pronged strategy to explore CDs-based antimicrobial agents for disease therapy and tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-cleaning coatings need to have a certain degree of breathability to avoid peeling due to interfacial stress. In this study, a multifunctional superhydrophobic breathable DDA-PDA@BNNS/silicon resin coating is successfully designed by modifying sucrose-assisted exfoliation of boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS) with dodecylamine (DDA) and polydopamine (PDA). The coating shows a contact angle as high as 153.6° and a rolling angle as low as 4.8°, which can effectively avoid the adhesion of solid and liquid contaminants and extend the freezing time of ice up to six times. Meanwhile, the porous network structure of boron nitride nanosheets hardly changes the water vapor transmission rate of the substrate material. The DDA-PDA@BNNS/silicon resin breathable superhydrophobic coating is expected to achieve practical applications in long-lasting self-cleaning and antifouling. [Display omitted] • A multifunctional superhydrophobic breathable coating is designed by modifying BNNS. • The porous structure hardly changes water vapor transmission rate of the substrate. • The coating can avoid the adhesion of contaminants and extend the freezing time. • The breathability and universality of coating promise the practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote Sensing Archaeology (RSA) is an innovative sub-discipline within archaeology that utilizes general Remote Sensing (RS) techniques to analyze data from ancient human-made structures. This analysis significantly contributes to understanding various facets of human history, such as cultures, practices, diversity, and evolution. Our study anticipates the forthcoming changes in the roles of RS archaeologists and the research framework of RSA. Emphasizing the necessity for archaeologists to comprehend remote, proximal, in-situ, and instrumental sensing technologies, as well as rapidly evolving digital advancements, such as Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML), Big Data (BD), Cloud or Cyber Infrastructure (CI), and Digitalization Technology (DT). Drawing upon successful techniques and practices, we argue the efficacy of RSA in addressing historical, contemporary, and future challenges. This effectiveness becomes particularly pronounced as RSA transitions from archaeological prospecting to knowledge discovery using space technologies, represented by RS. Space Archaeology (SA), which we propose as an evolved stage of RSA for archaeological prospecting, builds upon the experiences and lessons gleaned from RSA's century-long journey. It not only extends the legacy of RSA but also signifies a shift in both the implication and methodology of sensing-based archaeological prospecting. SA, while advancing RSA, also aligns with the current trend of spatial thinking in archaeology amidst substantial transformations in RSA research. The perspectives outlined in this review aspire to positively shape the ongoing shift in archaeological spatial thinking. • The recent advance in remote sensing archaeology is reviewed. • The new paradigm of space archaeology is first described. • Specific focus is given to the understanding of past human–environment interactions. • Emerging trends and future perspectives are highlighted in four key areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • FeNC-RM, with excellent physicochemical properties was prepared by two-step pyrolysis. • Performance of AD for treating actual landfill leachate was amplified by FeNC-RM. • Secretion of HS was promoted for constructing an endogenous electronic bridge. • "Endogenous + exogenous" electron transfer mode from a new perspective was established. The presence of recalcitrant compounds and toxic substances in landfill leachate results in low anaerobic digestion (AD) efficiency and poor methane production performance. Strengthening the extracellular electron transfer of microorganisms represents an effective approach to promote the AD of landfill leachate. In this study, a novel redox mediator (FeNC-RM) was synthesized through the combination of metal and non-metal doping, intensifying the stable operation of the landfill leachate AD system. Through characterization techniques including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, it was observed that FeNC-RM possesses a larger specific surface area, abundant functional groups, and exceptional electrochemical performance. By adding FeNC-RM, the stability and efficiency of the medium-temperature AD system in the treatment of landfill leachate were improved: Obtained a high removal of chemical oxygen demand which was increased by 30 % compared to the control group and enhanced the specific methanogenic activity by 57.5 % compared to the control group. The electron transport system (ETS) activities of the experimental groups with the addition of RMs were all significantly higher than those of the control group, and the ETS activity of the sludge from the FeNC-RM group was 79.6 % higher than that of the control group. Through a comprehensive analysis of the underlying mechanism, it was determined that three aspects synergistically facilitated electron transfer: FeNC-RM, endowed with electrochemical capabilities, assumed a pivotal role in establishing a conduit for electron transport, thus promoting the synthesis of extracellular humic substances and augmenting electron transport activity. Furthermore, the microbial community was optimized by FeNC-RM, thereby fostering a co-nutritional mechanism between hydrolytic acidification bacteria and methanogens, establishing a direct interspecific electron transport pathway. In this study, an "endogenous + exogenous" electron transport model based on the enhanced extracellular electron transport pathway facilitated by FeNC-RM was proposed. This study offered valuable contributions to the advancement of anaerobic treatment technology for landfill leachate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the nonlinear behaviors of offset-halves journal bearings (OHJBs), particularly under dynamic loading and journal misalignment. A new tribo-dynamic model is given to perform transient thermoelastohydrodynamic analysis in the crucial yet understudied domain of this novel structure. Bearing characteristics are compared among bi-directional misalignment, single-direction misalignment as well as alignment. The results demonstrate that the influence of bi-directional misalignment exerts dominance. Moreover, the evolution mechanisms of bi-directional misalignment and step loading on the time-varying stiffness and damping are evaluated. In addition, parametric analyses are done to emphasize key factors in the bearing design, including the horizontal offset and radial clearance, for better transient lubrication performance. This study enriches the structural optimum for dynamically loaded journal bearings. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Our previous study using transposon mutagenesis indicated that disruption of the putative response regulator gene orrA impacted antibiotic production in Streptomyces coelicolor. In this study, the role of OrrA was further characterized by comparing the phenotypes and transcriptomic profiles of the wild‐type S. coelicolor strain M145 and ΔorrA, a strain with an inactivated orrA gene. Chromatin immunoprecipitation using a strain expressing OrrA fused with FLAG showed that OrrA binds the promoter of wblA, whose expression was downregulated in ΔorrA. The interaction of OrrA with the wblA promoter was further validated by a pull‐down assay. Similar to ΔorrA, the deletion mutant of wblA (ΔwblA) was defective in development, and developmental genes were expressed at similar levels in ΔorrA and ΔwblA. Although both OrrA and WblA downregulated actinorhodin and undecylprodigiosin, their roles in regulation of the calcium‐dependent antibiotic and yellow‐pigmented type I polyketide differed. sco1375, a gene of unknown function, was identified as another OrrA target, and overexpression of either sco1375 or wblA in ΔorrA partially restored the wild‐type phenotype, indicating that these genes mediate some of the effects of OrrA. This study revealed targets of OrrA and provided more insights into the role of the orphan response regulator OrrA in Streptomyces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Yellow River is very important for human health and social development in China to require good water quality. This study selected the Ningxia section of the Yellow River as the study area to investigate the water quality variation in 2016–2020. A total of 9 water quality parameters were monitored, and 8 parameters including pH, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total phosphate, fluoride, ammonia-nitrogen, and permanganate index were in the range of Class II standard requirement. Dissolved oxygen concentrations ranged from 7.5 to 9.4 mg/L. However, total nitrogen concentrations in 2018–2020 ranged from 1.87 to 2.8 mg/L to cause the pollution. Both the Nemerow index method and the contamination degree method showed that total nitrogen with high concentration exerted the water pollution. Principal component analysis also proved this. Stricter environmental management strategies for controlling total nitrogen should be taken in the future. The findings provided some useful information for water pollution of the Ningxia section of the Yellow River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is no doubt that the primary reason that firms encourage knowledge sharing is to drive innovation. As nutrients for innovation, what role do the different elements of intellectual capital play in this relationship? When we consider the ambidexterity of enterprise innovation—exploratory and exploitative—how do the different elements of intellectual capital affect the relationship between them? This study adopts a triadic perspective to divide intellectual capital into human, structural and relational capital. We analyzed 349 questionnaires from high-tech enterprises and found that knowledge sharing had a significantly positive effect on all three elements of intellectual capital, and human capital and structural capital had a positive effect on ambidextrous innovation. Relational capital had a positive effect on exploitative innovation but no significant effect on exploratory innovation. Unexpectedly, there was no direct effect of knowledge sharing on ambidextrous innovation, and the elements of intellectual capital play full mediations among them. This may suggest that firms should pay more attention to the role of relational capital when they adopt exploitative innovation. At the same time, we remind managers that innovation may be promoted only when knowledge sharing increases intellectual capital. Therefore, the misuse of management tools should be avoided, and ineffective management practices should be reduced. In addition, we explored the relationship between knowledge sharing and the open innovation paradigm and made some suggestions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To develop and validate a prediction model based on targeted sequencing for glucocorticoid (GC)-associated osteonecrosis of the femoral head (GA-ONFH) in GC-treated adults. Methods This two-centre retrospective study was conducted between July 2015 and April 2019 at Zhongshan Hospital (training set) and the Sixth People's Hospital (test set) in Shanghai, China. All patients had a history of GC therapy, with a dose exceeding 2000 mg equivalent prednisone within 6 weeks. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they were diagnosed with GA-ONFH within 2 years after GC initiation. Blood or saliva samples were collected for targeted sequencing of 358 single nucleotide polymorphisms and genetic risk score (GRS) calculating for developing GA-ONFH prediction model. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and decision curve analysis (DCA) were performed to evaluate and validate the model. Results. The training set comprised 117 patients, while the test set comprised 30 patients for external validation. Logistic regression analysis showed that GRS was significantly associated with GA-ONFH (OR 1.87, 95% CI: 1.48, 2.37). The ROC and DCA curves showed that the multivariate model considering GRS, age at GC initial, sex and underlying diseases had a discrimination with area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.98 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.00). This model was further externally validated using the test set with an AUC of 0.91 (95% CI: 0.81, 1.00). Conclusion Our prediction model comprising GRS, age, sex and underlying diseases yields valid predictions of GA-ONFH incidence. It may facilitate effective screening and prevention strategies of GA-ONFH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we anchored Cu atoms with four N atoms into waste adsorbent-based biochar (SACu 30 @NC) containing both Cu(I) and Cu(II) to explore the role of different Cu valences for PDS activation mechanism. The atomic Cu was identified as the active site, and Cu(III) and electron shuttle process dominated organics degradation in SACu 30 @NC/PDS system. Therein, Cu(I) preferred to activate the adsorbed PDS to produce Cu(III) (Cu(I)N 4 -PDS→Cu(II)N 4 -SO 4 •-→Cu(III)N 4 -SO 4 2-), whereas PDS adsorbed on Cu(II) surface was more likely to extract electrons from organic pollutants directly. Benefiting from non-radical process, SACu 30 @NC exhibited selective and anti-interference performance for organic pollutants in complex matrixes. The promising catalytic activity of SACu 30 @NC (BPA=50 mg/L, 100% within 180 min) with low Cu leaching (<0.1 mg/L) in continuous-flow experiments further revealed the potential of SACu 30 @NC for practical applications. This work provides new insights into the PDS activation mechanism by single-atom Cu catalysts and develops an efficient approach for practical wastewater purification. [Display omitted] • High-performance and low-cost SACu@NC was prepared from waste biosorbent. • Cu-N4 sites were identified as the key sites in SACu@NC/PDS system. • Cu(I) in SACu@NC preferred to activate the adsorbed PDS to produce Cu(III) species. • Electron shuttle process was more possibly caused by Cu(II) in SACu@NC. • SACu@NC showed superior catalytic activity and stability in continuous-flow tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver cirrhosis can cause disturbances in blood circulation in the liver, resulting in impaired portal blood flow and ultimately increasing portal venous pressure. Portal hypertension induces portal-systemic collateral formation and fatal complications. Extrahepatic angiogenesis plays a crucial role in the development of portal hypertension. Curcumol is a sesquiterpenoid derived from the rhizome of Curcumae Rhizoma and has been confirmed to alleviate liver fibrosis by inhibiting angiogenesis. Therefore, our study was designed to explore the effects of curcumol on extrahepatic angiogenesis and portal hypertension. To induce cirrhosis, Sprague Dawley rats underwent bile duct ligation (BDL) surgery. Rats received oral administration with curcumol (30 mg/kg/d) or vehicle (distilled water) starting on day 15 following surgery, when BDL-induced liver fibrosis had developed. The effect of curcumol was assessed on day 28, which is the typical time of BDL-induced cirrhosis. The results showed that curcumol markedly reduced portal pressure in cirrhotic rats. Curcumol inhibited abnormal splanchnic inflow, mitigated liver injury, improved liver fibrosis, and attenuated portal-systemic collateral shunting in cirrhotic rats. These protective effects were partially attributed to the inhibition on mesenteric angiogenesis by curcumol. Mechanically, curcumol partially reversed the BDL-induced activation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in cirrhotic rats. Collectively, curcumol attenuates portal hypertension in liver cirrhosis by suppressing extrahepatic angiogenesis through inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Centre on Space Technologies for Natural and Cultural Heritage (HIST) under the auspices of UNESCO was proposed to UNESCO by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in May 2007. Since its inauguration in July 2011, HIST has played a vital role in assisting UNESCO and its Member States in the conservation of UNESCO-designated sites. World Heritage sites, Biosphere reserves and UNESCO Global Geoparks are three primary categories of UNESCO-designated sites. [Extracted from the article]

How to develop the west of China and how to balance the development between the east and the west of China is a longstanding topic. More than 80 years ago, Mr. Hu Huanyong researched population distribution and agricultural regional development based on China's traditional agriculture and the sharp contradiction between 450 million people and arable land at that time. Today, what we call the development of the west is by no means the issue of the traditional agricultural planting industry, but the issue of how to put forward new business forms and new high-quality developments that are suitable to the western region under the national conditions of the new era. This study combines Hu Huanyong Line with Mid-Spine Belt of Beautiful China (MSBBC) and expounds different themes under different times background. Hu Huanyong Line is a reflection of the characteristics of the sudden change of population density dividing line in modern China as a traditional agricultural country. MSBBC is the strategic need of the new land space planning with high-quality development in the contemporary new era, and is the strategic move to reduce the imbalance of development between the east half and the west half. The study puts forward the following suggestions: (1) Taking the MSBBC as the pioneer and demonstration belt of new infrastructure construction; (2) Taking the MSBBC as an important part of the unified and differentiated strategic planning for constructing a new developing pattern; (3) Building the MSBBC into a hub channel of internal and external circulation; (4) Building the MSBBC into an ecological security barrier belt, a national defense security belt, and a new livable living area; (5) Constructing the MSBBC into a new type of urbanization development mode; (6) Connecting the development strategy of the MSBBC with other national strategies to help realize the dream of Chinese rejuvenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It remains a challenge for existing financial models to accurately capture the shapes of implied volatility (IV) of options with all maturities simultaneously. Inspired by Chen et al.’s empirical finding, ‘the shorter the option expiry, the higher the IV is’, we propose a novel and simple approach to solve this challenge, by introducing a term-structure-based correction (i.e. an exponential increase function of the options expiry) to the volatility of volatility (vol–vol) term of the classical Heston stochastic volatility model. We derive an approximate formula for the IV under the corrected model with the perturbation method and further apply the formula to predict the IVs of options written on the Shanghai Stock Exchange 50 ETF. Numerical experiments and empirical results show that the introduction of a term-structure-based correction function surely overcomes the deficiency of the classical Heston model in capturing the short-term IVs, thus improving notably its performance of IV forecasting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive and metastatic malignancy with poor treatment outcomes. The interaction between the tumor microenvironment (TME) and breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) plays an important role in the development of TNBC. Owing to their ability of self‐renewal and multidirectional differentiation, BCSCs maintain tumor growth, drive metastatic colonization, and facilitate the development of drug resistance. TME is the main factor regulating the phenotype and metastasis of BCSCs. Immune cells, cancer‐related fibroblasts (CAFs), cytokines, mesenchymal cells, endothelial cells, and extracellular matrix within the TME form a complex communication network, exert highly selective pressure on the tumor, and provide a conducive environment for the formation of BCSC niches. Tumor growth and metastasis can be controlled by targeting the TME to eliminate BCSC niches or targeting BCSCs to modify the TME. These approaches may improve the treatment outcomes and possess great application potential in clinical settings. In this review, we summarized the relationship between BCSCs and the progression and drug resistance of TNBC, especially focusing on the interaction between BCSCs and TME. In addition, we discussed therapeutic strategies that target the TME to inhibit or eliminate BCSCs, providing valuable insights into the clinical treatment of TNBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycrystalline transparent In 2 O 3 semiconductive ceramics are successfully fabricated by oxygen atmosphere sintering for the first time. The starting rounded In 2 O 3 particles are obtained via pyrolyzing the nanoplate-like hydrated basic sulfate precursor prepared by a chemical precipitation route using hexamethylenetetramine as the precipitant. The silica additive dissolves into the In 2 O 3 lattice to form an interstitial solid solution, which promotes the diffusion rate during high-temperature densification process and thus helps to achieve good optical quality for In 2 O 3 ceramics. The created interstitial oxygen further compensates the oxygen vacancy in the ceramic body to result in a higher resistivity and lower carrier concentration / carrier mobility. The optical qualities of In 2 O 3 ceramics are also found to have slight effects on the resistivity, carrier mobility, carrier concentration, and Hall coefficient. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycrystalline transparent Tm 2 O 3 ceramics are successfully fabricated by means of chemical precipitation route plus vacuum sintering technique. Hexamethylenetetramine as the precipitant is dripped into thulium sulphate system to directly result in a hydrated basic sulphate precursor with an approximate chemical composition of Tm(OH) 1.7 (SO 4) 0.65 ∙2.1H 2 O, followed by pyrolysis to yield a sphere-like Tm 2 O 3 powder with an average particle size of ∼165 nm. During high-temperature sintering, the silica additive induces lattice distortion via the formation of interstitial solid solution and helps to achieve a uniform microstructure together with good optical quality. The best Tm 2 O 3 ceramic sample has in-line transmittances of ∼71 % at 880 nm and ∼76 % in partial middle infrared spectral region with maximal infrared cut-off at ∼11 μm. The thermal diffusion and thermal conductivity of the bulk both decrease as the temperature increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a stability preserved Arnoldi algorithm for matrix exponential in the time domain simulation of large-scale power delivery networks (PDNs), which are formulated as semi-explicit differential-algebraic equations (DAEs). The matrix exponential and vector products (MEVPs) compose the solution of DAEs in multistep integration methods and can be efficiently approximated with the rational Krylov subspace. To produce stable simulation results for the ill-conditioned system from semi-explicit DAEs, the revised Arnoldi algorithm introduces a new structured orthogonalization process to construct the Krylov subspace. We demonstrate the performance of the new algorithm with theoretical proof and experiments. In the computation of MEVPs, we utilize the exponential related φ functions to improve the numerical accuracy. We further explore the optimal ratio to confine the spectrum in the rational Krylov subspace. Finally, the transient framework is tested on a group of system-level PDNs, showing that matrix exponential-based algorithms could achieve high efficiency and accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of studies suggest an association between miRNAs and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The present study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of microRNA (miR-150) in primary gastrointestinal (PGI)-DLBCL, by assessing the association between miR-150 expression and clinicopathological characteristics in patients with PGI-DLBCL. A total of 84 patients diagnosed with PGI-DLBCL were recruited and both tumor and adjacent non-tumor tissue samples were collected. miR-150 expression was assessed via reverse transcription-quantitative (RT-q)PCR analysis. The results demonstrated that miR-150 expression was significantly lower in PGI-DLBCL tissues compared with adjacent non-tumor tissues. Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated that the optimal cut-off value of miR-150 for predicting survival was 8.965 with high sensitivity (79.8%) and specificity (77.1%). Patients were divided into two groups according to this cut-off value, as follows: High (n=18) and low expression (n=66) groups. Low miR-150 expression was significantly associated with clinical stage, International Prognostic Index (IPI), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status and use of rituximab. RT-qPCR analysis demonstrated that miR-150 expression was significantly lower in patients with high IPI scores compared with patients with low IPI scores. Downregulated miR-150 expression was significantly associated with shorter overall survival (OS) time and progression-free survival (PFS) time in patients with PGI-DLBCL. Furthermore, miR-150 level and IPI score were identified as two risk factors for OS and PFS. The diagnostic value of miR-150 was evaluated via ROC curve analysis, with an area under the curve value of 0.882. Taken together, the results of the present study suggest that miR-150 is a potential diagnostic marker of PGI-DLBCL, and may also serve as a useful prognostic factor for survival outcomes in patients with PGI-DLBCL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the current study was to estimate two protocols for HER2-negative locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer patients, bevacizumab combined with paclitaxel versus bevacizumab combined with capecitabine, from the economic view. Methods: The process of HER2-negative locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer treated with bevacizumab combined with paclitaxel or bevaciz-umab combined with capecitabine made up the decision model in our analysis. The primary objective was to show the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). The critical parameters and the robustness of the model on the results of the analysis were assessed by univariate sensitivity analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analysis. Results: In the analysis, quality-adjusted life year (QALY) increased by 0.4 with bevacizumab plus paclitaxel compared with bevacizumab plus capecitabine, and incremental cost of USD 4,340.46. Therefore, the ICER was USD 27,252.875. The ICER exceeded the commonly accepted willingness to pay on the recommendation of the World Health Organization, which is defined as 3 times of the gross domestic product per capita of China in the model (USD 25,840.88 per QALY). On univariate analysis, it is found that the most significant affecting factor is the cost of progression-free survival state in the bevacizumab plus paclitaxel group. Besides, bevacizumab plus paclitaxel had a 47.8% probability of being cost-effective versus bevacizu-mab plus capecitabine according to probabilistic sensitivity analysis. Conclusions: Based on the results of the analysis, bevacizumab plus paclitaxel is unlikely to be a cost-effective option for patients with HER2-negative locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer compared with bevacizumab plus capecitabine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compressed sensing (CS) is becoming a hot topic in recent years for its advantages such as low-power consumption, low memory requirement, and low sampling frequency. However, high-dimensional nonlinear signals will inevitably introduce notable complexity and low efficiency in signal recovery. Generalized turbo signal recovery (G-Turbo-SR) is a cutting-edge method, which efficiently reduces complexity with a partial discrete Fourier transform (DFT) sensing matrix. However, in practical applications, G-Turbo-SR still suffers from high complexity for probability computations and matrix multiplications. This article optimizes the algorithm of G-Turbo-SR in scheduling to reduce the matrix multiplications by half. High-precision numerical approximation method is proposed to replace the complex integral calculation, which efficiently reduces the hardware cost with acceptable performance degradation. Based on the data-flow graph (DFG) analysis, detailed hardware architecture is proposed with module designs. Proper quantization scheme is selected according to the mean square error (MSE) performance. Pipelining, folding, and variable precision quantization (VPQ) scheme are employed for higher hardware efficiency. FPGA implementation on Xilinx 7k325tffg900-2 shows a higher throughput and hardware efficiency compared to existing recovery methods for CS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The copper mining city of of Alto Hospicio, Chile and GoodPath town, a factory city in China both seem to be archetypal neoliberal cities. They epitomize the circulation of goods, people, and ideas through their export-based economies, large migrant populations, and high penetration of Internet and social media use. Yet, we find that in migrants' social media use, there are stark contrasts in the significance they place on their movement and the identities they form around these migrations. In China, factory workers take to the 'online world' to escape harsh realities and engage in identity formations that privilege cosmopolitan aspirations. In Chile, mining workers express the harshness of their lived reality, using social media to build identities around a sense of pride in their abrasive conditions. This comparative essay reveals how processes associated with neoliberal capitalism – including migrations of people, goods, and information, and the commodification of identities – is preconditioned by local contexts. We find that the processes of neoliberal capitalism sometimes yield starkly different consequences, even when local circumstances seem to be similar. This demonstrates that even as media (and particularly social media) connect people more closely, their effects are anything but homogenizing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homeodomains, a 60-amino acid sequence encoded by 180 nucleotides, are highly conserved DNA-binding motifs that are present in a variety of transcription factors in species ranging from yeast to humans. The NKX proteins belong to the homeodomain (HD)-containing transcription factor family. They play vital roles in the regulation of morphogenesis. NKX1-2 is one member of the NKX subfamily. At present, information about its nuclear localization signal (NLS) sequence is limited. We studied the NLS sequence of zebrafish Nkx1.2 by introducing sequence changes such as deletion, mutation, and truncation, and identified an NLS motif (QNRRTKWKKQ) that is localized at the C-terminus of the homeodomain. Moreover, the deletion of two amino acid residues (RR) in this NLS motif prevents Nkx1.2 from entering the nucleus, indicating that the two amino acids are essential for Nkx1.2 nuclear localization. However, the NLS motif alone is unable to target cytoplasmic protein glutathione S-transferase (GST) to the nucleus. An intact homeodomain is necessary for mediating the complete nuclear transport of cytoplasmic protein. Unlike most nuclear import proteins with short NLS sequences, a long NLS is present in zebrafish Nkx1.2. We also demonstrated that the sequences of homeodomain of NKX1.2 are well conserved among different species. This study is informative to verify the function of the NKX1.2 protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The color of mulberry wine is difficult to maintain since the main chromogenic substances, anthocyanins, are severely degraded during fermentation and aging. This study selected Saccharomyces cerevisiae I34 and Wickerhamomyces anomalus D6, both displaying high hydroxycinnamate decarboxylase (HCDC) activity (78.49% and 78.71%), to enhance the formation of stable vinylphenolic pyranoanthocyanins (VPAs) pigments during mulberry wine fermentation. The HCDC activity of 84 different strains from eight regions in China was primarily screened via the deep well plate micro fermentation method, after which the tolerance and brewing characteristics were evaluated via simulated mulberry juice. The two selected strains and a commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae were then inoculated individually or sequentially into the fresh mulberry juice, while the anthocyanin precursors and VPAs were identified and quantified via UHPLC-ESI/MS. The results showed that the HCDC-active strains facilitated the synthesis of stable pigments, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside-4-vinylcatechol (VPC3G), and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside-4-vinylcatechol (VPC3R), highlighting its potential for enhancing color stability. [Display omitted] • Hydroxycinnamate decarboxylase (HCDC) activity of 84 yeast strains was determined. • Two HCDC-active strains were selected for mulberry wine fermentation. • HCDC-active strains enhanced vinylphenolic pyranoanthocyanins (VPAs) formation. • The VPAs in mulberry wine were identified for the first time. • VPAs were more stable than precursor anthocyanins during mulberry wine aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B Elasticity-Plasticity Transformation b The behavior of most materials is either reversible (elastic) or irreversible (plastic), but not switchable. In article number 2206637 by Xinyuan Wang, Zhiqiang Meng, and Chang Qing Chen, a robotic material that can switch between elasticity and plasticity is demonstrated. [Extracted from the article]

Monitoring ecological functioning is a significant step towards detecting changes in ecosystem attributes that could be linked to desertification processes in drylands. The remote sensing proxies of ecological functioning, attract substantial attention due to its advantage on large spatial and increasingly long temporal scales. Remote sensed Vegetation Indices (VIs) have been proposed as the approach to plant productivity to be indicators of ecosystem functioning in local drylands. However, VIs are easily affected by rainfall, a limiting source in arid and semi-arid areas. Therefore, they may not be suitable indicators of ecosystem functioning when applied at large scales, with different rainfall regimes. To overcome the influence of precipitation, the performance of the remote sensing Rain-Use Efficiency (RUE, defined as aboveground net primary production divided by rainfall) was evaluated in 78 global drylands (of which 74 are located in semi-arid areas), as an indicator of multiple ecosystem functions, quantified by ecological multifunctionality index (EMI, integrated by carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycles). The correlation analysis showed that during the growing season, the linear relationships of summed EVI (Enhanced Vegetation Index) and RUE with EMI are both significant positive. However, RUE explained more variation (about 44%) in EMI than summed EVI (about 32%) did. The results obtained by partial correlation analysis by controlling the rainfall showed that correlation coefficient between summed EVI and EMI, increased about 20%, while correlation coefficient between RUE and EMI increased very slightly (about 3%). Similar results were also found by using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). These facts indicated that both remote sensed VIs and RUE could be indicators of ecological multifunctioning. However, RUE was better due to its robustness to rainfall. Also, we must take care that the core assumptions related to the RUE should be fulfilled before using it as an indicator. The relationships between RUE and nutrient cycles showed that in comparison to phosphorus cycle, the carbon and nitrogen cycles had an apparent higher weight in determining the relationship between RUE and EMI. Our findings support the use of remote sensed RUE to monitor ecosystem functioning which could be linked with alternative dryland states and early detection of desertification in drylands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore an economic Fluoride-adsorbent with high capacity and superior selectivity as well as easy regeneration, a new synthetic strategy was constructed through a hydrothermal procedure with the aid of glucose to prepare high performance adsorbent ZrO 2 -MgO@C composite (CZMC). The adsorption capacity and the selectivity toward fluorine ions were evaluated for the synthesized adsorbents. Through characterizations of XRD, BET, SEM, HRTEM, XPS, etc., the crystal structure, the morphology and the chemical composition of the adsorbents were analyzed, illustrating that CZMC has the desirable structure with high dispersion of metal oxides in the porous carbonized microspheres. The results indicate that ZrO 2 -MgO@C composite show the F-ions adsorption capacity of 184.5 mg/g, with excellent resistance toward disturbance of other anions including NO 3 −, Cl−, SO 4 2−, CO 3 2− and PO 4 3−. DFT calculations show that the adsorption process of fluorine ions occurs spontaneously and accompanied by orbital hybridization of surface atoms. Such composite adsorbent having high adsorption capacity and superior F-selectivity as well as the feature of easy regeneration would possess promising applications in the treatment of waste water containing fluorine ions. • ZrO 2 -MgO@C was investigated for fluoride treatment. • Surface reaction is explored by DFT analysis. • Electrostatic attraction, ion exchange, and surface complexation are adsorption mechanisms. • Theoretical adsorption capacity was 184.5 mg/g. • The adsorbent has good regeneration performance and practical application value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is an effective strategy to eliminate bacteria without inducing bacterial resistance. As typical aPDT photosensitizers, most of boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) are hydrophobic, and nanometerization is imperative to render them dispersible in physiological media. Recently, carrier-free nanoparticles (NPs) are formed via the self-assembly of BODIPYs without the help of any surfactants or auxiliaries, arousing people's interest. So as to fabricate carrier-free NPs, BODIPYs usually need to be derived into dimers, trimers, or amphiphiles through complex reactions. Few unadulterated NPs were obtained from BODIPYs with precise structures. Herein, BNP1-BNP3 were synthesized by the self-assembly of BODIPY, which showed excellent anti- Staphylococcus aureus ability. Among them, BNP2 could effectively fight bacterial infections and promote wound healing in vivo. • BNP1-BNP3 were synthesized and their photophysical properties were characterized. • BNP2 had highest the singlet oxygen generation efficacy. • BNP2 could effectively kill S. aureus and possess excellent biofilm inhibition ability. • BNP2 could effectively fight bacterial infections and promote wound healing in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The main source of wine aroma and the formation mechanism are discussed. • The main influencing factors of aroma formation are analyzed. • The production and control of aroma in the winemaking process are concluded. As an important sensory indicator, aroma affects the quality of wine and consumer preference. In this review, the following aspects are comprehensively analyzed: (1) Varietal aroma, fermentation aroma and aging aroma formation mechanism include metabolic pathways etc. (2) The main factors affecting the aroma formation include environment, raw and auxiliary materials and brewing process. (3) In the process of winemaking, environmental factors can be controlled by regulating deficit irrigation, leaf removal and reflective mulch; the quality of raw and auxiliary materials can also be controlled through the varieties breeding of grape and yeast; flash evaporation, ultrasonic aging and other advanced brewing technologies can be used to synergistically control aroma formation. In the future, the wine brewing process can be controlled from the following aspects to ensure the precise regulation of aroma. This research will provide a theoretical basis for the improvement of wine production technology and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyocyanin (PCN, 1-hydroxy-5-methyl-phenazine) is one of the most essential virulence factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) to cause various cytotoxic effects in long-term lung infectious diseases, however the early effect of this bacterial toxin during PA infection and subsequent autonomous immune response in host cells have not been fully understood yet. Our results display that early onset of PCN stimulates Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 adhesion and invasion in A549 cells via ROS production. Non-histone nuclear protein HMGN2 is found to be involved in the regulation of PCN-induced oxidative stress by promoting intracellular ROS clearance. Mechanistically, HMGN2 facilitates nuclear translocation of transcription factor Nrf2 upon PCN stimulation and in turn elevates antioxidant gene expression. We also found that actin cytoskeleton dynamics is targeted by ROS, which is to be exploited by PAO1 for host cell internalization. HMGN2 regulates actin skeleton rearrangement in both PCN-dependent and independent manners and specifically attenuates PCN-mediated PAO1 infection via ROS elimination. These results uncover a novel link between nuclear protein HMGN2 and Nrf2-mediated cellular redox circumstance and suggest roles of HMGN2 in autonomous immune response to PA infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]