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In this study, Fe/Mn/Mg2-LDH was utilized for the first time as a catalyst for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation to facilitate the removal of Orange II. This composite was characterized using various techniques, such as XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDS, BET, and XPS. The results revealed a well-defined lamellar structure of Fe/Mn/Mg2-LDH with a metal molar ratio of Fe/Mn/Mg at 1:1:2. Moreover, the structural stability of Fe/Mn/Mg2-LDH was confirmed through the XRD, FTIR, and SEM. Fe/Mn/Mg2-LDH exhibited a good adsorption capacity towards Orange II and highly efficient PMS activation. The optimal removal efficiency of Orange II (98%) was achieved under the conditions of pH 7.0, [PMS] = 1.0 mmol L−1, [Fe/Mn/Mg₂-LDH] = 1.6 g L−1, and [Orange II] = 50 μM. Additionally, this system demonstrated good adaptability across a wide pH range. The presence of Cl− and humic acids (HA) did not significantly inhibit Orange II removal, whereas inhibitory effects were observed in the presence of CO32− and PO43−. The removal mechanism of Orange II was attributed to a synergy of adsorption and oxidation processes, wherein the generated surface radicals (SO4•−ads and HO•ads) on the surface of the Fe/Mn/Mg2-LDH played a predominant role. Furthermore, the Fe/Mn/Mg2-LDH exhibited good reusability, maintaining a removal rate of 90% over five cycles of recycling. The Fe/Mn/Mg2-LDH/PMS system shows promising potential for the treatment of wastewater contaminated with refractory organic pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fast scenario transfer for portrait styles has been a universal concern in the area of image processing. Conventionally, it was realized mostly by manual manipulation based on expertise experience, which costs a large amount of human labor. To fit the growing business volume in the era of Internet 4.0, it is supposed to investigate reliable autonomous workflow that generates portrait-style results via intelligent algorithms. Therefore, this paper proposes a fast scenario transfer method for portrait styles through collaborative awareness of convolutional neural network (CNN) and generative learning (GAL). On the one hand, a CNN structure is designed to make feature extraction towards the initial images, which can be used for following image generation. On the other hand, the GAL is utilized to generate new images with post-transferred scenario styles, so that the expected scenario style transfer results can be output by generating new images through long-term iterations. Especially, the loss function is designed by simultaneously considering local and global characteristics. Finally, the analysis and experimental results show that the correction process can be completed by injecting the extracted input face features into the feature maps of corresponding sizes in the generation process using a pre-trained feature extractor. Thus, the face conversion efficiency can be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excellent spinel microwave dielectric ceramics (1- x)Zn 2 TiO 4 - x Li 2 MgTi 3 O 8 (ZTLMT x , x = 1/3 and 2/3) were prepared at relatively low densification temperatures of 1100 °C and 1080 °C, respectively. A disordered cubic phase with space group Fd -3 m was formed at x = 1/3, whereas an ordered cubic phase with space group P 4 3 32 was formed at x = 2/3. The ceramics at x = 1/3 and 2/3 exhibited promising microwave dielectric properties of ɛ r = 18.27 and 22.96, Q × f = 91,877 GHz and 75,186 GHz, and τ f = −42.3 ppm/°C and −21.05 ppm/°C, respectively. The large deviation between the experimental ԑ r and theoretical ε th of 1/3 and 2/3 ceramics were 18.3 % and 57 %, respectively, due to the underestimation of the ionic polarizability of Ti4+. The difference in their ɛ r , Q × f , and τ f were discussed by the structure, FWHM of A 1g , lattice energy and bond energy in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the serious problems with energy efficiency, carbon emissions, and thermal comfort of rural residences in northern China, an optimization of active and passive heating technologies for rural residences is necessary. In this paper, an optimization for rural residences in northern China is conducted with four objectives: the whole life cycle carbon emission; the annual energy consumption through heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems; the annual cost; and thermal comfort. In addition, the optimization model with active–passive heating technology synergy is resolved by NSGA-II genetic algorithm. The active and passive design variables, including the type of air source heat pump, orientation, the type and thickness of envelope insulation, the layer of window glass, the window-to-wall area ratio, as well as sunspace parameters are preferred to obtain the optimal solution. The results indicate that the optimal solution obtained by the ideal point method gives the most outstanding performance. Compared with the prototype, the optimized carbon emissions in severe cold and cold regions decreased by 56.1% and 54.6%, respectively. The annual energy consumption decreased by 59.7% and 62.2%. Finally, the roof insulation thickness is the most sensitive design variable in Pareto-optimal solution sets. This paper offers significant guidance in the application of the optimization method of active–passive technology synergy to the energy-saving design of buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytochrome P450s represent one of the largest protein families across all domains of life. In plants, biotic stress can regulate the expression of some P450 genes. However, the CYPome (cytochrome P450 complement) in Solanum tuberosum and its response to Phytophthora infestans infection remains unrevealed. In this study, 488 P450 genes were identified from potato genome, which can be divided into 41 families and 57 subfamilies. Responding to the infection of P. infestans , 375 potato P450 genes were expressed in late blight resistant or susceptible cultivars. A total of 14 P450 genes were identified as resistant related candidates, and 81 P450 genes were identified as late blight responsive candidates. Several phytohormone biosynthesis, brassinosteroid biosynthesis, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis involved P450 genes were differentially expressed during the potato-pathogen interactions. This study firstly reported the CYPome in S. tuberosum , and characterized the expression patterns of these P450 genes during the infection of P. infestans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Differences in cortical morphology have been reported in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the pathophysiological mechanism of transcriptomic vulnerability in local brain regions remains unclear. Objective: This study aimed to characterize the morphometric changes of brain regions in early drug‐naive PD patients and uncover the brain‐wide gene expression correlates. Methods: The morphometric similarity (MS) network analysis was used to quantify the interregional structural similarity from multiple magnetic resonance imaging anatomical indices measured in each brain region of 170 early drug‐naive PD patients and 123 controls. Then, we applied partial least squares regression to determine the relationship between regional changes in MS and spatial transcriptional signatures from the Allen Human Brain Atlas dataset, and identified the specific genes related to MS differences in PD. We further investigated the biological processes by which the PD‐related genes were enriched and the cellular characterization of these genes. Results: Our results showed that MS was mainly decreased in cingulate, frontal, and temporal cortical areas and increased in parietal and occipital cortical areas in early drug‐naive PD patients. In addition, genes whose expression patterns were associated with regional MS changes in PD were involved in astrocytes, excitatory, and inhibitory neurons and were functionally enriched in neuron‐specific biological processes related to trans‐synaptic signaling and nervous system development. Conclusions: These findings advance our understanding of the microscale genetic and cellular mechanisms driving macroscale morphological abnormalities in early drug‐naive PD patients and provide potential targets for future therapeutic trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) serve as the heart of anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWE) for green energy conversion electrochemical devices, directly determining the ultimate performance of the electrochemical devices. Conductivity in trade-off with stability (chemical and dimensional stability) is a major target in the development of alkaline membranes. We prepared chemically stable polyisatin-aromatics without ether linkages along the backbone by superacid-catalyzed alkylation. The alkali-stable dimethylpiperidinium cations were covalently linked to the polymer backbone through the aliphatic chain to give comb-type polyelectrolytes. Incorporating the fluorene structural units along the polymer skeleton is expected to improve conductivity and stability. The effect of polymer backbone structure and conformation on AEM properties is systematically elucidated. The results indicate the PipPFTI-25 AEM with 25 mol% dimethylfluorene fragments in the backbone has lower IEC (∼1.36 mmol g−1) but achieves high ionic conductivity (84.6 mS cm−1 at 80 °C). PipPFTI-25 exhibited superior dimensional and alkali stability, mainly reflected in the swelling ratio of less than 10 % while the OH− conductivity remained at 70 % after immersion in 2 M NaOH solution at 80 °C for 1680 h. The AEMWE with PipPFTI-25 operating at 60 °C in 1 M KOH achieves a current of 838 mA cm−2 at 2.5 V. This work demonstrated the feasibility of poly(fluorenyl-indolinedione) AEMs for electrolyzer applications. [Display omitted] • PFTI was synthesized by acid catalyzed Friedel-Crafts alkylation. • The effect of polymeric backbone structure on AEM properties was elucidated. • The prepared PipPFTI-25 AEM has a lower IEC but achieves high ionic conductivity. • PipPFTI AEMs have a strong potential for use in water electrolyzers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Apela has a wide range of biological effects on the cardiovascular system, but the changes and significance of endogenous Apela in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and acute deterioration of cardiac and renal function are unclear. Methods: A total of 69 patients with stable CHF combined with well-preserved renal function were enrolled and followed for 12 months. The effects of Apela on human renal glomerular endothelial cells (hRGEC), human glomerular mesangial cells (hMC), and human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) were observed. Results: Serum Apela concentration was positively correlated with NYHA class (r = 0.711) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentration (r = 0.303) but negatively correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (r = −0.374) and 6-min walk distance (r = −0.860) in patients with stable CHF. Twenty-one patients experiencing deterioration of renal and cardiac function were diagnosed with cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) during the follow-up period. In addition, the serum Apela, as well as the difference in Apela between stable and worsening phases (ΔApela), was correlated with the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and ΔeGFR in patients with CRS. Apela significantly inhibited the upregulated expression of MCP-1 and TNF-α induced by angiotensin II (AngII) in hRGEC, hMC, and HK-2 cells. Apela inhibited the adhesion of THP-1 cells to hRGEC and promoted the tubular formation of hRGEC. Moreover, Apela enhanced the expression of MMP-9 in hMC but inhibited the upregulated expression of α-SMA and vimentin in HK-2 cells by AngII. Conclusion: This study suggests that the level of Apela can be used to diagnose heart failure and assess the severity of cardiac dysfunction in patients with stable CHF, and its dynamic changes can be used to evaluate the damage to renal function in patients with CRS. Apela plays multiple protective effects on renal cells, highlighting its clinical application prospect in the prevention and treatment of CRS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, based on the experimental analysis of heat generation in deep groove ball bearings, the thermal nodes about the deep groove ball bearings is established by using heat network method. The temperature field of the bearing is simulated with finite element software, and the result obtained from the simulation is in good agreement with the comparison of the theoretical calculation results. The bearing test bench was used to analyze the bearing, and the experimental results again proved the effectiveness of the thermal network method. It was found that the bearing speed played a significant role in the working temperature of a bearing, which was consistent to the analysis of the thermal network method, verifying the feasibility of the thermal network method to solve bearing temperature, laying the foundation for the subsequent research on the heat transfer law of motor and rolling bearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel ultra-high Q ceramic ZnMgTiO 4 was prepared using solid-state synthesis. For the first time, the crystal structure, sintering behaviour and microwave dielectric properties of ZnMgTiO 4 ceramic were investigated. ZnMgTiO 4 ceramics formed a cubic spinel (space group Fd 3 ‾ m) single-phase for sintering within 1340 °C-1400 °C, with Zn2+ occupying the tetrahedral site, Mg2+ and Ti4+ distributing randomly in the octahedral site, whereas a trace of MgTiO 3 appeared at 1420 °C. At 1400 °C: ϵ r = 16.8, Q × f = 202,021 GHz, and τ f = −38 ppm/°C, excellent microwave dielectric properties were obtained, and CaTiO 3 compensated the negative τ f to near-zero. A substantial 29% deviation between the measured ϵ r and the theoretical ϵ th could be attributed to the potential underestimation of ionic polarizability of Ti4+. Phillips–Van Vechten–Levine theory suggested that dielectric polarization and intrinsic loss were primarily influenced by the Ti–O bonds. As a conclusion, ZnMgTiO 4 ceramic emerges as a promising candidate for 5G/6G wireless communication devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2‐positive (HER2+) metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is a subtype of breast cancer with a worse prognosis. Little is known about the relationship between histology and prognosis among different distant metastasis sites (DMS). Our aims were to explore the prognostic value of histologic subtypes in different DMS and screen out specific subtypes with particular DMS that need more attention in HER2+ MBC. Methods: HER2+ MBC patient data were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2010 and 2014. Chi‐squared tests were utilized to compare histologic subtypes in four DMS. The logistic regression analyses were used to control confounding factors. The log‐rank tests were used to analyze the correlation of histologic subtype with disease‐specific survival and overall survival. The survival data was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier methods. Results: A total of 1174 HER2+ MBC patients were involved. First, the distribution of histological subtypes varied across metastatic sites, and the proportions of metastatic sites in different histological subtypes were also different. Furthermore, different histological subtypes within specific DMS showed divergent prognoses, and the different outcomes were shown by distinct DMS for specific histological subtypes. Among them, lobular carcinoma (ILC) subtypes showed the worst prognosis in bone metastasis, and lung metastasis predicted the worst prognosis in infiltration duct and lobular carcinoma (IDC‐ILC) subtypes. After further consideration of hormone receptor (HR) status, the IDC‐ILC subtype with liver metastasis in HR+/HER2+ MBC patients and the ILC subtype with bone metastasis in HR−/HER2+ MBC patients proved to be noteworthy. Conclusions: Histological subtypes are involved in determining the heterogeneity of HER2+ MBC patient prognosis, which is helpful to guide the prognosis prediction and monitoring of HER2+ breast cancer patients in clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The robust and stable expression of CD38 in T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T‐ALL) blasts makes CD38 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)‐T/natural killer (NK) a potential therapy for T‐ALL. However, CD38 expression in normal T/NK cells causes fratricide of CD38 CAR‐T/NK cells. Here a "2‐in‐1" gene editing strategy is developed to generate fratricide‐resistant locus‐specific CAR‐T/NK cells. CD38‐specific CAR is integrated into the disrupted CD38 locus by CRISPR/Cas9, and CAR is placed under the control of either endogenous CD38 promoter (CD38KO/KI) or exogenous EF1α promoter (CD38KO/KIEF1α). CD38 knockout reduces fratricide and allows the expansion of CAR‐T cells. Meanwhile, CD38KO/KIEF1α results in higher CAR expression than CD38KO/KI in both CAR‐T and CAR‐NK cells. In a mouse T‐ALL model, CD38KO/KIEF1α CAR‐T cells eradicate tumors better than CD38KO/KI CAR‐T cells. Surprisingly, CD38KO/KI CAR‐NK cells show superior tumor control than CD38KO/KIEF1α CAR‐NK cells. Further investigation reveals that endogenous regulatory elements in NK cells lead to higher expression of CD38 CAR than in T cells, and the expression levels of CAR affect the therapeutic outcome of CAR‐T and CAR‐NK cells differently. Therefore, these results support the efficacy of CD38 CAR‐T/NK against T‐ALL and demonstrate that the "2‐in‐1" strategy can resolve fratricide and enhance tumor eradication, paving the way for clinical translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, dextranase was immobilized on the surface of hydroxyapatite nanowires (HAPNWs) through covalent cross-linking method. The prepared HAPNWs-NH2-dextranase was characterized by FE-SEM, XRD, TGA and FT-IR spectroscopy. The results show that the dextranase was successfully immobilized on HAPNWs by covalent cross-linking method. The properties of HAPNWs-NH2-dextranase were studied and compared with free dextranase, such as catalytic activity, kinetic constants, thermal stability and pH stability. The loading capacity, storage stability and reusability of the immobilized enzymes were investigated. HAPNWs-NH2-dextranase demonstrated better enzyme activity at higher temperatures (92.28% vs 33.08% at 70 °C) and higher pH stability (93.17% vs 57.78% at pH 7.0) than free dextranase. The loading capacity of dextranase on HAPNWs-NH2-dextranase can reach up to 868.2 mg g−1. HAPNWs-NH2-dextranase retained 83.38% of its initial activity after 12 cycles, indicating that the HAPNWs-NH2-dextranase could have great performance in industry fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic solar cells (OSCs) have gained increasing attention. Among the various directions in OSCs, all-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs) have emerged as a highly promising and currently active research area due to their excellent film formation properties, mechanical properties, and thermal stabilities. However, most of the high-efficiency all-PSCs are processed from chloroform with an active layer thickness of ~100 nm. In order to meet the requirements for industrialization, a thicker active layer processed from low-vapor pressure solvents (preferentially a hydrocarbon solvent) is strongly desired. Herein, we employ toluene (a hydrocarbon solvent with a much higher boiling point than chloroform) and a method known as sequential processing (SqP) to mitigate the rapid decline in efficiency with increasing film thickness. We show that SqP enables a more favorable vertical phase segregation that leads to less trap-assisted recombination and enhanced charge extraction and lifetime than blend-cast devices at higher film thicknesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The high cost and scarcity of Pt metal limit the large‐scale applicability of the excellent hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalyst. Objective: The current study aims to generate high‐performance HER electrodes with low Pt content. Methods: Nitrogen‐doped carbon support has been produced via hydrothermal and calcination treatments of ZIF‐8 precursor. By applying drop coating, a CN/CC electrode support is fabricated before it is further decorated with Pt nanoparticles to afford a PtZn@CN/CC composite electrode through a cyclic voltammetry (CV) method. Results: In 0.5 M H2SO4 at room temperature, the electrode achieves an HER overpotential of 74 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm–2. When the electrolyte is 1 M KOH, the electrode functions even more favorably with an overpotential of 55 mV under the same experimental conditions. The HER performance increases with a gain in temperature. At 80°C, alkaline overpotential of the electrode becomes 29 mV, much superior to the 20% Pt/C/CC electrode. Conclusion: The study paves the method of feasibly constructing a high‐performance HER electrode with low Pt content. This composite electrode imparts synergistic effects between PtZn nanoparticles and CN support that enhance the electrochemically active surface area while reducing the reaction impedance to provide outstanding hydrogen evolution performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Syphilis testing uptake is low among men who have sex with men (MSM) around the world. Syphilis self-testing (SST) may complement facility-based testing; the distribution model is yet to be explored. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of peer distribution of syphilis self-testing on promoting syphilis testing. We conducted a three-arm, unblinded, parallel individually randomized controlled trial among MSM in three cities in Guangdong, China. Inclusion criteria were: men who were born biologically male, aged 18 or above, have ever had sex with a man, will refer the interventions to peers, and will take the three-month follow-up survey. Enrolled indexes were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio into standard-of-care arm (SOC arm), standard SST delivery arm (S-SST arm), and a web-based referral link SST delivery arm (RL-SST arm). The primary outcome was the number of returned photograph-verified syphilis testing results per index. A total number of 300 indexes were enrolled, with 100 indexes in each arm. The number of verified syphilis tests per index conducted by alters was 0.05 in the control arm, 0.51 in the S-SST arm, and 0.31 in the RL-SST arm. The cost per alter tested was $760.60 for SOC, $83.78 for S-SST, and $93.10 for RL-SST. Minimal adverse event was reported among both indexes and alters during the study. This study showed that peer distribution of SST could improve syphilis testing uptake among MSM in China compared to facility-based testing. This approach warrants further consideration as part of expanding syphilis self-testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Some cervical artery dissection (CAD) can't be easily confirmed by commonly used angiography techniques in clinical practice. We aimed to compare the abilities of the vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques including simultaneous noncontrast angiography and intraplaque hemorrhage (SNAP) sequence and T1-weighted volumetric isotropic turbo spin echo acquisition (T1-w VISTA) sequence alone for evaluating CAD. Materials and Methods: From July 2017 to October 2020, 59 patients underwent MRI examinations including SNAP and T1-w VISTA sequences for cervical artery pathologies. SNAP and T1-w VISTA images were retrospectively and independently reviewed to evaluate their diagnostic performances of CAD by using the final diagnosis as the reference standard which was established by clinical history, physical examination, and all available images. The agreement between T1-w VISTA and SNAP in the identification of the imaging features of CAD, including intramural hematoma (IMH), intimal flap, and double lumen, were compared. The IMH-wall contrasts by T1-w VISTA and SNAP were also compared. Results: CAD was confirmed in 43 of the 59 patients. T1-w VISTA and SNAP showed the same diagnostic performance, and their consistencies with the final diagnosis were good (κ = 0.776, p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity in CAD diagnosis were 0.978 and 0.750 for T1-w VISTA and SNAP. The IMH, intimal flap, and double lumen observed on SNAP were also determined by T1-w VISTA (κ = 1.000, p < 0.001 for all). The SNAP sequence showed higher IMH-wall contrast than T1-w VISTA (7.34 ± 4.56 vs. 3.12 ± 1.17, p < 0.001). Conclusions: SNAP and T1-w VISTA sequences had the same performance in CAD diagnosis, thus they were both recommended. In addition, SNAP showed better IMH-wall contrast than T1-w VISTA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The treatment efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) varies widely between individuals. The aim of this study was to identify subtype landscapes and responser related to TACE, and further clarify the regulatory effect and corresponding mechanism of NDRG1 on HCC tumorgenesis and metastasis. Methods: The principal component analysis (PCA) algorithm was used to construct a TACE response scoring (TRscore) system. The random forest algorithm was applied to identify the TACE response-related core gene NDRG1 of HCC, and its role in the prognosis of HCC was explored. The role of NDRG1 in the progression and metastasis of HCC and functional mechanism were confirmed using several experimental methods. Results: Based on the GSE14520 and GSE104580 cohorts, we identified 2 TACE response-related molecular subtypes for HCC with significant differences in clinical features, and the TACE prognosis of Cluster A was significantly better than that of Cluster B (p < 0.0001). We then established the TRscore system and found that the low TRscore group showed a higher probability of survival and a lower rate of recurrence than the high TRscore group (p < 0.05) in both the HCC and TACE-treated HCC cohorts within the GSE14520 cohort. NDRG1 was determined to be the the hub gene associated with the TACE response of HCC and its high expression suggested a poor prognosis. Furthermore, The suppression of NDRG1 konckdown in tumorgenesis and metastasis of HCC was clarified in both vivo and vitro, which was importantly achieved through inducing ferroptosis in HCC cells, especially contributing to RLS3-induced ferroptosis. Conclusion: The constructed TACE response-related molecular subtypes and TRscores can specifically and accurately predict TACE prognosis for HCC. In addition, the TACE response-related hub gene NDRG1 may act as a guardian against ferroptosis to drive tumorgenesis and metastasis in HCC, which laid a new foundation for the development of new potential targeted therapy strategies to improve disease prognosis in HCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, an effective design strategy for anion exchange membranes (AEMs) incorporating ether-bond free and piperidinium cationic groups promote chemical stability. A series of poly (isatin-piperidium-terphenyl) based AEMs were synthesized by superacid catalyzed polymerization reaction, followed by quaternization. The effect of functionalization on the performance of poly (isatin-N-dimethyl piperidinium triphenyl) (PIDPT-x) AEMs was investigated. Highly reactive N-propargylisatin was introduced into the backbone to achieve high molecular weight polymers (η a = 2.06–3.02 dL g−1) leading to robust mechanical properties, as well as modulating 1.78–2.00 mmol g−1 of the ion exchange capacity (IEC) of the AEMs by feeding. Apart from that, the rigid non-ionized isatin-terphenyl segment provides AEMs improved dimensional stability with a swelling ratio of less than 12% at 80 °C. Among them, PIDPT-90 exhibited a higher OH− conductivity of 105.6 mS cm−1 at 80 °C. The alkali-stabilized PIDPT-85 AEM was presented, in which OH− conductivity retention maintained 85.6% in a 2 M NaOH at 80 °C after 1632 h. Afterward, the direct borohydride fuel cells (DBFC) with PIDPT-90 membrane as a separator showed an open-circuit voltage of 1.63 V and a peak power density of 75.5 mWcm−2 at 20 °C. This work demonstrates the potential of poly (isatin- N-dimethyl piperidinium triphenyl) as AEM for fuel cells. • Poly (isatin-piperidinium-terphenyl) was synthesized via superacid catalyzed polymerization reaction. • The PIDPT-90 membrane has outstanding thermal, mechanical properties and high OH− conductivity. • The retention of OH− conductivity of the PIDPT-85 membrane was 85.6% after 1632 h of alkali treatment with 2 M NaOH at 80 °C. • A DBFC with PIDPT-90 membrane displayed a peak power density of 77.5 mW cm−2 with a current density of 138 mA cm−2 at 20 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent developments in the mobile and intelligence industry have led to an explosion in the use of multiple smart devices such as smartphones, tablets, smart bracelets, etc. To achieve lasting security after initial authentication, many studies have been conducted to apply user authentication through behavioral biometrics. However, few of them consider continuous user authentication on multiple smart devices. In this paper, we investigate user authentication from a new perspective—continuous authentication on multi-devices, that is, continuously authenticating users after both initial access to one device and transfer to other devices. In contrast to previous studies, we propose a continuous user authentication method that exploits behavioral biometric identification on multiple smart devices. In this study, we consider the sensor data captured by accelerometer and gyroscope sensors on both smartphones and tablets. Furthermore, multi-device behavioral biometric data are utilized as the input of our optimized neural network model, which combines a convolutional neural network (CNN) and a long short-term memory (LSTM) network. In particular, we construct two-dimensional domain images to characterize the underlying features of sensor signals between different devices and then input them into our network for classification. In order to strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of authentication on multiple devices, we introduce an adaptive confidence-based strategy by taking historical user authentication results into account. This paper evaluates the performance of our multi-device continuous user authentication mechanism under different scenarios, and extensive empirical results demonstrate its feasibility and efficiency. Using the mechanism, we achieved mean accuracies of 99.8% and 99.2% for smartphones and tablets, respectively, in approximately 2.3 s, which shows that it authenticates users accurately and quickly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DJ-1, a multifunctional protein encoded by the Park7 gene, is tightly related to mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, protein aggregation, and autophagy regulation. The current study was designed to investigate whether DJ-1 is expressed in auditory cells and, if so, to explore the possible correlation between DJ-1 and cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in this type of cells. The location and dynamic expression of DJ-1 in mouse cochlea hair cells (HCs) and House Ear Institute-Organ of Corti 1 (HEI-OC1 cells) were detected by immunofluorescence, real-time PCR, and western blot. The apoptosis of auditory cells was assessed by TUNEL staining and flow cytometry. The levels of ROS were evaluated by MitoSox red staining. The expression of protein cleaved caspase-9, cleaved caspase-3, and LC3B was examined by immunofluorescence and western blot. The expressions of certain key factors relevant to apoptosis (Bcl-2 and Bax) and autophagy (Beclin1, p-JNK, and p-c-Jun) were determined by western blot. The dynamic alterations of those factors in response to DJ-1 knockdown in HEI-OC1 cells (DJ-1-KD) were measured by western blot and MitoSox red staining. The expression of DJ-1 was clearly shown in both HCs and HEI-OC1 cells and cisplatin led to the reduction of DJ-1 expression in a concentration and time-dependent manner. Meanwhile, cisplatin-induced apoptotic process was implemented by promoting reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and activating the mitochondrial pathway. Furthermore, DJ-1 explicitly participated in cisplatin-trigged cell damage by regulating autophagy. Findings from this work clearly reveal, for the first time, that DJ-1 is expressed in the cochlea. Of particular importance, DJ-1 exerts its protective action against cisplatin-elicited injury on auditory cells via regulating apoptosis and autophagy, which provides a new strategy for the prevention of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. • Cisplatin induced a decrease in DJ-1 and activated apoptosis of auditory cells. • DJ-1 knockdown promoted cisplatin-induced increment of mitochondrial ROS and mitochondrial pathway relevant elements. • DJ-1 regulated autophagy in auditory cells under cisplatin exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garlic (Allium sativa L.) is a traditional plant with antimicrobial activity. This study aimed to discover new antifungal peptides from garlic, identify their structure, and explore the antimicrobial mechanism. Peptides were separated by chromatography and identified by MALDI-TOF analysis. Structure and conformation were characterized by CD spectrum and NMR analysis. Mechanism studies were conducted by SEM, membrane depolarization, and transcriptomic analysis. The cytotoxicity to mammalian cells as well as drug resistance development ability were also evaluated. A novel antifungal peptide named NpRS with nine amino acids (RSLNLLMFR) was obtained. It was a kind of cationic peptide with a α-helix as the dominant conformation. NOESY correlation revealed a cyclization in the molecule. The peptide significantly inhibited the growth of Candida albicans. The mechanism study indicated that membrane destruction and the interference of ribosome-related pathways might be the main mechanisms of antifungal effects. In addition, the resistance gene CDR1 for azole was down-regulated and the drug resistance was hardly developed in 21 days by the serial passage study. The present study identified a novel antifungal garlic peptide with low toxicity and provided new mechanism information for the peptide at the gene expression level to counter drug resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Sperm storage is a complex and highly coordinated process that is regulated by a variety of factors. The BCL 2 protein family plays a key role in regulating apoptosis, and determines sperm survival. Aims: The objective of this study was to explore the correlation between sperm storage and the BCL 2 protein family in the oviduct of Mauremys reevesii. Methods: Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) techniques were used to investigate three parts of the reproductive tract (isthmus, uterus and vagina) of mated and unmated female M. reevesii. Key results: Hematoxylin-eosin staining revealed many sperm stored in the oviduct. IHC showed positive immunostaining for the BCL 2 and BAX proteins in epithelial ciliated and glandular cells. RT-qPCR indicated that the mRNA expressions of anti-apoptotic genes (BCL 2 , MCL 1 , BCL - W , BCL-XL) and the androgen receptor (AR) were significantly higher in mated turtles than unmated turtles. However, the expression of pro-apoptotic genes (BAX , BAD , BID and CASPASE 3) showed the opposite relationship. Conclusions: These results suggest that sperm entering the oviduct can promote the synthesis of anti-apoptotic genes to protect themselves from various degradation factors. Implications: These findings will help researchers understand the mechanisms of sperm storage. Why do so many species have the ability to store sperm in the female reproductive tract? Sperm storage increases the chance of fertilisation in species with limited breeding opportunity. This research found androgens in the female reproductive tract of Mauremys reevesii can prolong long-term sperm storage by promoting the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins. Therefore, this study contributes to the understanding of the mechanisms of sperm storage and provides scientific guidance for artificial reproduction in turtles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyse the safety and effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in anal fistula patients. Methods: Online databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched from inception to December 5, 2022, for eligible studies about evaluating the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in treating anal fistula. Literature search, screening, data extraction, and quality assessment were carried out by two independent investigators. The overall cure rate, the complete cure rate, the recurrence rate, and the adverse event rate with their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were the primary calculation indexes. Subgroup analyses were conducted primarily according to whether PRP was combined with other treatments. Softwares of MedCalc 18.2 and Review Manager 5.3 were used for meta-analysis. Results: A total of 14 studies with 514 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The overall cure rate of 14 studies was 72.11% (95% CI 0.64–0.79). The cure rate of PRP alone was 62.39% (95% CI 0.55–0.69). The combined cure rate of PRP with other treatments was 83.12% (95% CI 0.77–0.88). The cure rate of interventions involving PRP were superior to the cure rate of surgery methods without using PRP significantly in the 4 randomized controlled studies (RR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.10–1.54, p = 0.002). The complete cure rate of the 8 studies was 66.37% (95% CI 0.52–0.79). The recurrence rate of the 12 studies was 14.84% (95% CI 0.08–0.24). The adverse event rate of the 12 studies was 6.31% (95% CI 0.02–0.12). Conclusion: PRP showed favorable safety and effectiveness in the treatment of anal fistula, especially combined with other treatment procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with the low Mach number limit of the compressible Euler-Korteweg equations. It is justified rigorously that solutions of the compressible Euler-Korteweg equations converge to those of the incompressible Euler equations as the Mach number tends to zero. Furthermore, the desired convergence rates are also obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) infestation leads to withering, reduced yield, and lower quality of the host plant. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have been found to enhance their host plants' nutrient uptake, growth, and resistance to biotic stresses, including pathogen infection and insect pest infestation. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of AM fungus Rhizophagus intraradices on alfalfa defense responses to pea aphid infestation. Aphid infestation did not affect the colonization of AM fungus. The inoculation of AM fungus, on average, enhanced alfalfa catalase and the contents of salicylic acid and trypsin inhibitor by 101, 9.05, and 7.89% compared with non-mycorrhizal alfalfa, respectively. In addition, polyphenol oxidase activities significantly increased by six-fold after aphid infestation in mycorrhizal alfalfa. Moreover, the fungus significantly (p < 0.05) improved alfalfa shoot N content, net photosynthetic and transpiration rates, and shoot dry weight in aphid infected treatment. The aphid infestation changed the total volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in alfalfa, while AM fungus enhanced the contents of methyl salicylate (MeSA). The co-expression network analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed VOCs analysis showed that three DEGs, namely MS.gene23894, MS.gene003889, and MS.gene012415, positively correlated with MeSA both in aphid and AM fungus groups. In conclusion, AM fungus increased alfalfa's growth, defense enzyme activities, hormones, and VOCs content and up-regulated VOC-related genes to enhance the alfalfa's resistance following aphid infestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of novel trisulfonated phosphine oxide polymers (tsPEPO-x) with different sulfonation degrees were prepared by intermolecular polymerization of trisulfonated phosphine monomer and 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl ether. The properties of these membranes were investigated in detail. The results showed that these membranes, especially those with high sulfonation degree, exhibited excellent overall performance. For example, the conductivity of tsPEPO-120 membrane reaches 0.093 S cm−1 at 80°C, which is higher than that (0.087 S cm−1) of Nafion 117. At the same time, the swelling rate is almost equivalent to that (20%) of Nafion 117. Moreover, the membrane also has good oxidation resistance in Fenton's reagent. The obtained polymers showed good properties. The trisulfonated moieties and diphenyl ether simultaneously played important roles in improving the properties of the polymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To characterize contraceptive needs and patterns of use among Chinese FSW and investigate the effect of contraceptive choice on condom use practices with clients.Methods: Data come from a cross-sectional study conducted in eight cities (Beijing, Tianjin, Shenzhen, Kunming, Jiaozhou, Yunfu, Xiangyang and Longnan) throughout seven provinces in China between August 17 and October 17, 2019. We used logistic regression to compare odds of consistent condom use with clients between FSW who do and do not use biomedical contraceptives (defined as oral pills, injectables/implants/patches/rings, intrauterine devices, and sterilization) and assessed subgroup effects of interest.Results: Of the 1229 participants, 62.4% reported ever having an unintended pregnancy. Biomedical contraceptive use was non-significantly associated with consistent condom use with clients generally (aOR=0.95, 95% CI:0.75-1.21). This association between biomedical contraceptive use and consistent condom use was lower among FSW with at least a high school education (aOR=0.33, 95% CI: 0.18-0.62) and those who had never married (aOR=0.60, 95% CI: 0.38-0.93); it was higher among FSW employed at middle tier commercial sex venues (aOR=1.67, 95% CI: 1.13-2.45).Conclusions: Taken together these findings highlight the pressing unmet need for contraceptives in Chinese FSW and the complex interplay between reproductive and sexual health needs in this key population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrocarbon-based polymer proton exchange membranes (PEMs) free of heteroatom linkages are supposed to be an attractive alternative for the most advanced perfluorosulfonic acid PEMs, but it is challenging to synthesize them. Here we disclosed a series of aliphatic chain-containing poly(isatin diphenyl-co-terphenyl)(PIDT) copolymers, which were conveniently prepared by superacid-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts polycondensation. Subsequently, the sulfonated copolymer (SPIDT) membranes were prepared by the grafting of side-chain sulfonic acid groups. Due to the formed continuous and efficient nanoscale proton transport channel, these PEMs exhibited excellent proton conductivity showing 186 mS/cm at 80°C, higher than Nafion115 (150 mS/cm). Meanwhile, the prepared membranes exhibited good oxidative stability. The residual weight of the membranes is still greater than 98 wt % after 1 h immersion in Fenton's reagent at 80°C. Notably, the direct borohydride-hydrogen fuel cell (DBHFC) equipped with SPIDT-50 membrane as the diaphragm showed the peak power density of 71 mW•cm−2 at 25°C, which was greater than that of Nafion115 (63 mW•cm−2). Therefore, the hydrocarbon-based PEMs prepared in this study show promise for application in fuel cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Microgels-encapsulated Mg2+/Emodin for reversing pathological microenvironment. • MEGH can release Emodin for hypoglycemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. • MEGH can release Mg2+ ions for promoting vascularization. • Combined with DBM, BMSCs-loaded MEGH successfully repair diabetic bone defects. • A synergetic mechanism of regulating glucose, inflammation, oxygen, osteogenesis. Diabetic bone defect repair is one of the major challenges in clinic, because the pathological microenvironments such as hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, and inflammation exist in the bone defect area of diabetes mellitus. Although the current tissue-engineered bone has achieved favorable bone regeneration and functional reconstruction, it is still unsatisfactory for diabetic bone defect repair only by correcting a single pathological factor. In this study, we develop a multifunctional nano-releasing system of GelMA/HAMA microgels-encapsulated Mg2+/Emodin (MgEm) nanorods based on MOF design principle (denoted as MEGH) for reversing the diabetic pathological microenvironment. For the slow-release system of MEGH microgels, Emodin exert the hypoglycemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory function, while Mg2+ ions could promote angiogenesis for bone regeneration. Subsequently, we combine decalcified bone matrix with the bone regenerative units based on BMSCs-loaded MEGH microgels (BMSCs@MEGH-D) for the construction of tissue-engineered bone. Finally, the pre-constructed BMSCs@MEGH-D scaffolds successfully promote the vascularized bone regeneration in diabetic rabbit skull models due to the effective correction of diabetic pathological microenvironment. The underlying mechanism indicates a synergetic efficacy of regulate glucose, inflammation, oxygen-related bioprocesses, as well as osteogenesis-related pathways. Our findings provide a promising treatment for reversing the diabetic pathological microenvironment to accelerate bone defect repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aneurysm wall permeability has recently emerged as an in vivo marker of aneurysm wall remodeling. We sought to study the spatial relationship between hemodynamic forces derived from 4D-flow MRI and aneurysm wall permeability by DCE-MRI in a region-based analysis of unruptured saccular intracranial aneurysms (IAs). We performed 4D-flow MRI and DCE-MRI on patients with unruptured IAs of ≥ 5 mm to measure hemodynamic parameters, including wall shear stress (WSS), oscillatory shear index (OSI), WSS temporal (WSSGt) and spatial (WSSGs) gradient, and aneurysm wall permeability (Ktrans) in different sectors of aneurysm wall defined by evenly distributed radial lines emitted from the aneurysm center. The spatial association between Ktrans and hemodynamic parameters measured at the sector level was evaluated. Thirty-one patients were scanned. Ktrans not only varied between aneurysms but also demonstrated spatial heterogeneity within an aneurysm. Among all 159 sectors, higher Ktrans was associated with lower WSS, which was seen in both Spearman's correlation analysis (rho = − 0.18, p = 0.025) and linear regression analysis using generalized estimating equation to account for correlations between multiple sectors of the same aneurysm (regression coefficient = − 0.33, p = 0.006). Aneurysm wall permeability by DCE-MRI was shown to be spatially heterogenous in unruptured saccular IAs and associated with local WSS by 4D-flow MRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the kinetics of arsenite (As(III)) removal in a ferrihydrite/oxalate system under irradiation was investigated, and the effects of pH, ferrihydrite dosage, As(III) initial concentration, and oxalate concentration were evaluated. Ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation significantly promoted As(III) removal in the presence of ferrihydrite and oxalate. The greatest removal efficiency of As(III) (92.5%) was observed under the following conditions: pH 3.0, 100.0 μg L−1 As(III), 0.0125 g L−1 ferrihydrite, 0.1 mmol L−1 oxalate, and after 90 min under UVA irradiation. The removal of As(III) in the ferrihydrite/oxalate system was strongly pH-dependent. Mechanistic investigations indicated that HO˙ was the primary oxidant for As(III) photo-oxidation in the ferrihydrite/oxalate system. Surface adsorbed hydroxyl radical (HOads˙) was the dominant oxidant over the entire pH range in the presence of oxalate, and the hydroxyl radical in aqueous solution (HOaq˙) made only a small contribution under acidic conditions. The sources of HO˙ were also strongly dependent on pH; HO2˙/O2˙− was the precursor of HO˙ under acidic conditions, while photo-generated holes gradually became the main source of HO˙ as the pH increased. The photo-oxidation of As(III) mainly occurred on the surface of ferrihydrite. Although some ferrihydrite transformed into goethite during the removal process, the iron oxides showed good reusability for up to five regeneration cycles. The findings indicate that As(III) can be efficiently removed by the ferrihydrite/oxalate system and provide guidance for developing effective treatment strategies for As(III)-contaminated waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myricetin and its derivatives, myricitrin and dihydromyricetin, are flavonoids widely presented in foods and phytomedicine that possess tremendous health potential. In this study, we compared the antiglycation activity of myricetin and its derivatives, then investigated the underlying mechanism using proteomic modification and fluorescence spectroscopy analysis. All three compounds exhibited thorough inhibition on nonenzymatic glycation process, with the inhibitory effects on AGEs reaching 85% at 40 μmol/L. They effectively protected bovine serum albumin (BSA) structure by inhibiting protein oxidation, preventing the conversion from α-helix to β-sheet, and reducing amyloid-like cross-β structure formation. Among the three compounds, myricetin showed a predominant antiglycation activity. Proteomic analysis identified the early glycated sites that were protected by myricetin, including lysine K235, 256, 336, 421, 420, 489, etc. Additionally, fluorescence spectroscopy revealed spontaneous interactions between BSA and myricetin. Overall, myricetin holds promise as an antiglycation agent in both the food and drug industries. [Display omitted] • Myricetin and its derivatives myricitrin, dihydromyricetin are excellent antiglycation agents • Myricetin was superior to its derivatives because of its specific flavonoids structure. • The glycation sites protected by myricetin were determined by proteomic modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cavity defects can aggravate the rail crack initiation. To study their effect on rail fatigue crack initiation behaviour, a peridynamic model of rail crack initiation considering the characteristics of the cavity defect was proposed. First, based on the low-cycle fatigue test data, the bond failure criterion of the rail material was derived and verified to characterize the fatigue damage performance. Then, mathematical expressions for circular, triangular and rectangular defect characteristics were proposed, establishing a prefabricated method for rail cavity defects. Based on the ordinary state-based peridynamic fatigue theory, a rail crack initiation model with the cavity defect was constructed. Finally, the behaviour of rail crack initiation with the cavity defect was analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Directed evolution aims to expedite the natural evolution process of biological molecules and systems in a test tube through iterative rounds of gene diversifications and library screening/selection. It has become one of the most powerful and widespread tools for engineering improved or novel functions in proteins, metabolic pathways, and even whole genomes. This review describes the commonly used gene diversification strategies, screening/selection methods, and recently developed continuous evolution strategies for directed evolution. Moreover, we highlight some representative applications of directed evolution in engineering nucleic acids, proteins, pathways, genetic circuits, viruses, and whole cells. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future perspectives in directed evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the imbalanced data problem in classification, the studies of the combination of AdaBoost, short for "Adaptive Boosting," and cost-sensitive learning have shown convincing results in the literature. The cost-sensitive AdaBoost algorithms are practical since the "boosting" property in AdaBoost can iteratively enhance the small class of the cost-sensitive learning to solve the imbalanced data issue. However, the most available cost-sensitive AdaBoost algorithms are heuristic approaches, which are improved from the standard AdaBoost algorithm by cost-sensitively adjusting the voting weight parameters of weak classifiers or the sample updating weight parameters without strict theoretic proof. The algorithms are appended the cost-sensitive factors to focus on the high-cost and small-class samples, but they have no procedures to show the best place to add the cost factors and the cost factor value set. To complete the cost-sensitive AdaBoost algorithms' framework, the present article has two main contributions. First, we summarize the popular cost-sensitive boosting algorithms in the literature and propose a generally comprehensive form. We name our specific one, the "AdaImC algorithm," which is typically appliable to solve the imbalanced data classification problem with theoretic proof. Second, a statistical approach to prove the AdaImC algorithm is proposed to verify the inner relationship between the cost parameters. We show that our proposed algorithm in the machine learning field is identical to the Product of Experts (PoE) model in the statistics field. Besides, a way to determine the cost parameter value by the statistical analysis is introduced. Several numeric studies are listed finally to support our proposed algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent malignancies in women worldwide. Early-stage breast cancer is considered a curable disease; however, once distant metastasis occurs, the 5-year overall survival rate of patients becomes significantly reduced. There are four distinct metastatic patterns in breast cancer: bone, lung, liver and brain. Among these, breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM) is the leading cause of death; it is highly associated with impaired quality of life and poor prognosis due to the limited permeability of the blood-brain barrier and consequent lack of effective treatments. Although the sequence of events in BCBM is universally accepted, the underlying mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. In this review, we outline progress surrounding the molecular mechanisms involved in BCBM as well as experimental methods and research models to better understand the process. We further discuss the challenges in the management of brain metastases, as well as providing an overview of current therapies and highlighting innovative research towards developing novel efficacious targeted therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies have examined the neural substrates of intertemporal decision‐making, but few have systematically investigated separate neural representations of the two attributes of future rewards (i.e., the amount of the reward and the delay time). More importantly, no study has used the novel analytical method of representational connectivity analysis (RCA) to map the two dimensions' functional brain networks at the level of multivariate neural representations. This study independently manipulated the amount and delay time of rewards during an intertemporal decision task. Both univariate and multivariate pattern analyses showed that brain activity in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC) and lateral frontal pole cortex (LFPC) was modulated by the amount of rewards, whereas brain activity in the DMPFC and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) was modulated by the length of delay. Moreover, representational similarity analysis (RSA) revealed that even for the regions of the DMPFC that overlapped between the two dimensions, they manifested distinct neural activity patterns. In terms of individual differences, those with large delay discounting rates (k) showed greater DMPFC and LFPC activity as the amount of rewards increased but showed lower DMPFC and DLPFC activity as the delay time increased. Lastly, RCA suggested that the topological metrics (i.e., global and local efficiency) of the functional connectome subserving the delay time dimension inversely predicted individual discounting rate. These findings provide novel insights into neural representations of the two attributes in intertemporal decisions, and offer a new approach to construct task‐based functional brain networks whose topological properties are related to impulsivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Syphilis is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) among men who have sex with men (MSM). Increasing syphilis testing is important to syphilis control. However, in low- and middle-income countries like China, syphilis testing rates remain low among MSM. We describe a randomized controlled trial protocol to examine the effectiveness of social network distribution approaches of syphilis self-testing among MSM in China.Methods: We will recruit index and alter MSM. Indexes will be eligible if they: are born biologically male; aged 18 years or above; ever had sex with another man; are willing to distribute syphilis testing packages or referral links to their alters; and willing to provide personal contact information for future follow-up. Three hundred MSM will be recruited and randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio into three arms: standard of care (control arm); standard syphilis self-testing (SST) delivery arm; and referral link SST delivery arm. Indexes will distribute SST packages or referral links to encourage alters to receive syphilis testing. All indexes will complete a baseline survey and a 3-month follow-up survey. Syphilis self-test results will be determined by photo verification via a digital platform. The primary outcome is the mean number of alters who returned verified syphilis testing results per index in each arm.Discussion: The trial findings will provide practical implications in strengthening syphilis self-testing distribution and increasing syphilis testing uptake among MSM in China. This study also empowers MSM community in expanding syphilis testing by using their own social network.Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2000036988 . Registered 26 August 2020 - Retrospectively registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Service has become an important factor that affects insurance holders' purchase behaviors, competition and even the survival of insurers. This paper introduces value-added service into the optimal investment problem between two competing insurers, one provides value-added service while the other does not. The surplus processes of the two insurers are assumed to follow classical Cramér-Lundberg (C-L) model. Both of the two insurers are allowed to invest in a risk-free asset and two different risky assets, respectively. Dynamic mean-variance criterion is considered in this paper. Each insurer wants to maximize the expectation of the difference between her terminal wealth and that of her competitor, and to minimize the variance of the difference between her terminal wealth and that of her competitor. By solving the corresponding extended Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equations, we derive the equilibrium service level, investment strategies and the corresponding equilibrium value functions. In addition, some special cases of our model are provided. Finally, the economic implications of our findings are illustrated. It is interesting to find that for the insurer with value-added service, the equilibrium value function in the case of providing value-added service is larger than that without value-added service under some given assumptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The direct and indirect competitive fluorescence-linked immunosorbent assay (FLISA and icFLISA) incorporating quantum dots (QDs) for the detection of fleroxacin (FLE) was established for the first time in this study. The monoclonal antibody specific for FLE was successfully conjugated with QDs after purification by the caprylic acid-ammonium sulphate method. The limits of detection of FLISA and icFLISA were 0.012 ng/mL and 0.006 ng/mL, respectively; IC50 were 0.32 ng/mL and 0.19 ng/mL; and the detection ranges were 0.012–24.490 ng/mL and 0.006–16.210 ng/mL. The recovery was 93.8%-112.4% and the coefficient of variation was below 11.75%. The fabricated FLISA and icFLISA are cost-effective, high sensitive and can be an alternative method in the detection of FLE residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid increase of drug resistance in conventional antibiotics promotes the discovery and development of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are important components of natural immunity. Due to the specific action modes targeting for cell membrane, AMPs have become a promising substance for bacterium inhibitions barely with no drug resistance. Here we reviewed the structure characteristics related with bactericide actions, including peptides constituents, molecular length, molecular charges and so on. And we also summarized the common mode of actions of AMPs raised by researchers. The structure-mechanism relationship was discussed. The commonly used methods for mechanism study were also listed. The structures of AMPs were strongly related with its efficacy, such as constituents, molecular length, charges, secondary structures. The main mechanisms of AMPs were divided into membrane targets and intracellular targets. Some advanced and new techniques were applied in the mechanism study. Most of the existed mechanisms are still suppositional, and techniques were mainly focused on membrane-associated mechanism, only few of them were related with intracellular factors. Therefore, more new methods are expected to explore the authentic mechanisms and better results as well as more intracellular targets. This review provides a reference for future AMPs chemical modification and mechanism exploration. • The structure-activity relationship of AMPs are listed in this review. • The main membrane-associated mechanisms as well as intracellular targets of AMPs are summarized. • The commonly used methods and technologies for AMPs mechanism study are presented. • This review provides a reference for AMPs chemical modification and mechanism exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil heavy metal pollution induced by coal production is a significant environmental issue, particularly in semi-arid region, where the ecosystem is vulnerable. The current comprehension of the impacts of heavy metals on soil microbial ecology in the vicinity of coal mines remains insufficient. As the first in-depth study that aimed to establish models for describing relations between the abundance of sensitive bacterial taxa and heavy metals in soils of coal mines in semi-arid region, soil samples were collected from six mines with different production scales (0.6–8.0 × 106 t/year), and analyzed for heavy metals and bacterial communities based on both quantitative PCR and high-throughput sequencing. The potential ecological risk from Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb), and Zinc (Zn) was assessed, and their relations with the bacterial community in terms of abundance, diversity and structure were quantitatively evaluated. For bacterial abundance, statistically negative correlations with the overall ecological risk from all heavy metals and individual risk from Cr, Cd, and Zn were revealed, whereas, for bacterial diversity, a negative correlation appeared to exist with Zn. Twelve bacterial taxa sensitive to the overall risk and the individual risk from Cr, Cd, and Zn were identified, and twelve linear models were established based on their absolute abundance and the potential ecological risk from heavy metals. Water content and total phosphorus were also found vital in regulating the bacterial community in the soils of coal mines in semi-arid region. The results obtained provide more in-depth and closely relevant information for better management of the environment surrounding the coal mine areas and for realizing sustainable coal production without sacrificing the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, zein/pectin/pumpkin seed oil (PSO) Pickering emulsions (ZPPEs) were fabricated loading with myricetin (MYT), and the quality control methods of oxidation stability were innovatively investigated. The microstructure and particle properties of zein-pectin particles were determined. The zein to pectin ratio of 5:3 and oil phase fraction (φ = 50 %) turned out as the most optimal conditions for the stabilization of myricetin-loaded ZPPEs. The expected oil-in-water emulsion-type structure was confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The internal 3D structure of Pickering emulsions (Lugol's solution improved the water-phase contrast) was imaged by micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) for the first time. Results showed a sponge like structure of water phase in emulsion with 42 μm as mean droplet size. Light-induced oxidation was evaluated with the PetroOxy method and malondialdehyde (MDA) assays. Encapsuling ZPPEs with MYT could prevent the light induced oxidation, especially, loading of MYT at the core of the emulsion. The analysis of Electronic nose (E-nose) was used to analyze the odor before and after UV-induced oxidation, and showed a good discrimination. This study provided a new approach to prepare ZPPEs with high oxidation stability. Micro-CT, PetroOxy and E-nose could be new methods for characterization and quality assessment of Pickering emulsions. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Research progress of covalent organic frameworks in food safety was summarized. • Almost all the technologies currently combined with covalent organic frameworks were discussed. • The principles of combining covalent organic frameworks with different technologies are explained. • The current foci and development direction of covalent organic frameworks in food safety are proposed. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have received lots of attention due to their multiple advantages such as high specific surface area, controlled pore size, and excellent stability. When detecting food contaminants, the matrix effect brought by complex food samples can significantly affect the accuracy of the results. How to attenuate matrix effect has always been a major challenge. Utilizing the advantages of COFs and applying them to detect food contaminants is currently a key research direction. The aim of this work is to provide a systematic summary of sample pretreatment techniques and detection techniques combined with COFs, which include almost all current techniques combined with COFs. In addition, the principles of combining COFs with different techniques are explained. Finally, the research foci and development direction of COFs in food contaminant detection are discussed. This is an important reference for the future development of food safety and the design of COFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Sb3+/In3+ doped Cs 2 AgBiBr 6 double perovskite thin films were prepared by spin coating method. • 70% In3+ and 100% Sb3+ can be doped into Cs 2 AgBiBr 6 thin films when annealed at 150 °C. • The band gap of Cs 2 Ag(In x Bi 1-x)Br 6 thin films increases from 2.55 eV to 2.64 eV as x increases from 0 to 0.7. • The band gap of Cs 2 Ag(Sb x Bi 1-x)Br 6 decreases from 2.55 eV to 2.25 eV as x increases from 0 to 1.0. Halide double perovskite Cs 2 AgBiBr 6 hinders its wide range of optoelectronic applications due to large band gap. This work focuses on Sb3+/In3+ doping to tune the band gap of Cs 2 AgBiBr 6 thin films. The influences of annealing temperature and doping amount of Cs 2 Ag(B x Bi 1-x)Br 6 (B = Sb3+, In3+) thin films were investigated. When annealed at the optimized temperature of 150 °C, the Cs 2 Ag(B x Bi 1-x)Br 6 (B = Sb3+, In3+) thin films accommodate up to 100% Sb3+ and 70% In3+, respectively, without showing any secondary phases. The band gap of Cs 2 Ag(B x Bi 1-x)Br 6 (B = Sb3+, In3+) thin films decreases as the increase of Sb3+ and increases as the increase of In3+ amount. Therefore, the band gap regulation of 0.39 eV is realized, with the smallest value of 2.25 eV for Cs 2 AgSbBr 6 and highest value of 2.64 eV for Cs 2 Ag 0.3 In 0.7 Br 6 , respectively. Our work confirms an approach to realize band gap adjustment of Cs 2 AgBiBr 6 thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the complete mitogenome of Clavaria fumosa, was sequenced, assembled, and compared. The complete mitogenome of C. fumosa is 256,807 bp in length and is the largest mitogenomes among all Basidiomycota mitogenomes reported. Comparative mitogenomic analysis indicated that the C. fumosa mitogenome contained the most introns and intronic ORFs among all fungal mitogenomes. Large intergenic regions, intronic regions, accumulation of repeat sequences and plasmid-derived genes together promoted the size expansion of the C. fumosa mitogenome. In addition, the rps3 gene was found subjected to positive selection between some Agaricales species. We found frequent intron gain/loss events in Agaricales mitogenomes, and four novel intron classes were detected in the C. fumosa mitogenome. Large-scale gene rearrangements were found occurred in Agaricales species and the C. fumosa mitogenome had a unique gene arrangement which differed from other Agaricales species. Phylogenetic analysis for 76 Basidiomycetes based on combined mitochondrial gene sets indicated that mitochondrial genes could be used as effective molecular markers for reconstructing evolution of Basidiomycota. The study served as the first report on the mitogenomes of the family Clavariaceae, which will promote the understanding of the genetics, evolution and taxonomy of C. fumosa and related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]