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Flow-accelerated corrosion (FAC) preferentially attacks the downstream heat-affected zone of the root-pass weld in steam pipe systems. A detailed characterization identifies the fusion boundary as the initiation location for the attack. Alloying elements are found depleted along the weld fusion boundary, and multiple welding thermal cycles and repetitive austenite-to-ferrite phase transformations result in an increased proportion of grains with Goss {110}<001> texture along the fusion boundary. The synergistic effects of chemical segregation and the Schmid factor may contribute to the preferential initiation of FAC cracks along the root weld fusion boundary, making it the weakest link for FAC attack in steam pipe girth welds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sluggish kinetics of anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is regarded as the main bottleneck for ineffective hydrogen production efficiency, limiting the industrial application of electrochemical water splitting. Substituting the OER by urea electrooxidation reaction (UOR) and simultaneously developing highly active and economical bifunctional electrocatalyst for UOR and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a promising method to realize energy-saving hydrogen production and urea-rich wastewater abatement. Herein, self-supporting Ni-NiO film grown on Ti mesh (Ni-NiO/TM) was successfully prepared by a facile cathodic electrodeposition method with using nickel acetate as the only raw material. Electrodeposition process was optimized by modulating the electrodeposition time and potential. x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman characterization revealed the optimized Ni-NiO/TM was comprised of crystalline Ni and amorphous NiO and its morphology exhibited nanosphere structure, assembled by nanosheets. Ni-NiO/TM sample prepared under the potential of −1.5 V and deposition time of 10 min illustrated the lowest UOR potential of 1.34 V at 50 mA cm−2 and robust stability, superior to the recently reported literatures. Furthermore, the HER potential was only −0.235 V to drive the current density of 50 mA cm−2. The cell voltage of urea-assisted electrolysis for hydrogen production in Ni-NiO/TM||Ni-NiO/TM two-electrode system only required 1.56 V to deliver 50 mA cm−2, obviously lower than that (>1.72 V) for overall water splitting. This work demonstrated the potential of Ni-based material as bifunctional electrocatalyst for energy-saving H2 production by urea-rich wastewater electrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTACTThe medicinal properties of genetic drugs are highly dependent on the design of delivery systems. Ionizable cationic lipids are considered core materials in delivery systems. However, there has not yet been a widespread consensus on the relationship between the wide diversity of lipid structure design and gene delivery efficiency. The aims of the research work were to synthesize ionizable cholesterol derivatives (iChol-lipids) and to evaluate their potential applications as gene delivery vector. A series of iChol-lipids with different head groups were synthesized with carbamate bond spacer. The chemical structures were characterized by 1H NMR, MS, melting range, and pKa. The interactions between iChol-lipids and MALAT1-siRNA were studied by molecular dynamics simulations and compared with market available DC-Chol, which revealed that hydrogen bonds, salt-bridge, and electrostatic interaction were probably involved. The self-assemble behaviors of these lipids were intensively investigated and evaluated by dynamic laser scattering in the presence of different helper lipids and PEGylated lipids. Their plasmid binding ability, transfection efficiency, hemolytic toxicity, and cytotoxicity were fully studied. IZ-Chol-LNPs was proved to be highly potential to effectively complex with DNA, and endosome escape mechanisms mediated by proton sponge effect was verified by pH-sensitive fluorescence probe BCFL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrophobicity and mechanical properties of coating materials and the nitrogen (N) release rates of 11 kinds of controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs) were determined in this study. The results show that the N release periods of the CRFs had negative correlations with the water absorption (WA) of the coating materials (y = 166.06x−1.24, r = 0.986), while they were positively correlated with the water contact angle (WCA) and elongation at break (EB) (y = 37.28x0.18, r = 0.701; y = −19.42 + 2.57x, r = 0.737). According to the fitted functional equation, CRFs that could fulfil the N release period of 30 days had a coating material WA < 2.4%, WCA > 68.8°, and EB > 57.7%. The recommended values for a CRF that can fulfil the N release period of 30 days are WA < 3.0%, WCA > 60.0°, and EB > 30.0% in the coating materials. CRFs with different nutrient release periods can be designed according to the recommended values to meet the needs of different crops. Furthermore, our experiments have illustrated that the N release period target of 30 days can be reached for modified sulfur-coated fertilizers (MSCFs) by improving their mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular mimicry is a commonly used mechanism by viruses to manipulate host cellular machinery and coordinate their life cycles. While histone mimicry is well studied, viruses also employ other mimicry strategies to affect chromatin dynamics. However, the relationship between viral molecular mimicry and host chromatin regulation is not well understood. This review summarizes recent advances in histone mimicry and explores how viral molecular mimicry influences chromatin dynamics. We also discuss how viral proteins interact with both intact and partially unfolded nucleosomes and compare the distinct mechanisms governing chromatin tethering. Finally, we address the role of viral molecular mimicry in regulating chromatin dynamics. This review provides new insights into viral molecular mimicry and its impact on host chromatin dynamics, paving the way for the development of novel antiviral strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acacetin is reported as a potential drug candidate for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. However, clinical applications are limited by poor water solubility, limited ethanol solubility, and extremely low oral bioavailability. The present study prepared and evaluated acacetin-loaded microemulsion (ME) to achieve efficient pharmacokinetics together with no or minimal invasiveness for transdermal delivery. The formulation of ME was determined by the water titration method based on solubility results. The optimized formulation was achieved by the simplex lattice experiment design. The optimized ME formulations FA, FB and FC (FA with 10% and 50% DMSO as enhancers, respectively) were evaluated by ex vivo permeation with Franz diffusion cell and excised mice skin. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies were also performed at 8 mg/kg in rats within 6 h by transdermal administration. The optimal ME (FA) was comprised of 12.2% caprylic acid decanoate monoditriglyceride (MCF-NF), 39.8% Smix (RH40: Trans = 2:1 w/w) and 48% water, respectively. Acacetin-loaded FA with particle size 36.0 ± 3.6 nm and drug solubility 803.7 ± 32.1 mg/g was prepared. FB had significantly higher cumulative amounts and higher AUC0-∞ (196.6 ± 11.0 min × μg/mL, p < 0.05) than that FA alone (121.4 ± 33.1 min × μg/mL). The formulation of ME combined with the penetration enhancer can effectively improve the solubility and percutaneous absorption efficiency of acacetin, providing a new option for the non-invasive delivery of acacetin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To prevent liquid leakage during the phase transition of a phase change material (PCM), a novel form-stable PCM (FSPCM) based on LA/CIT/CNT was fabricated using a simple and facile direct impregnation method. The iron tailings (ITs) was calcinated at first. And then lauric acid (LA) was impregnated into the calcinated iron tailings (CITs) with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as a thermal conductivity additive. Subsequently, the leakage tests and the properties of the prepared samples were investigated by diffusion-oozing testing (DOT), SEM, XRD, FTIR, DSC, TGA, and intelligent paperless recorder (IPR). DOT results showed that the impregnation ratio of LA into the CIT and CNT was up to 27.5% without leakage. SEM indicated that LA can be adsorbed into microscale pores and covered the surface of CITs and CNTs. FTIR spectra indicated that there was no chemical reaction during the preparation process. The melting and freezing temperatures of the prepared LA/CIT/CNT FSPCMs were measured as 45.24 °C and 39.61 °C, respectively. Correspondingly, the latent heat values were determined as 39.95 J/g and 35.63 J/g, respectively. The LA/CIT/CNT FSPCMs exhibited good thermal stability in the working temperature range, and its heat transfer efficiency was improved significantly by 69.23% for LA and 84.62% for LA/CIT FSPCM. In short, LA/CIT/CNT FSPCMs are a very promising material for thermal energy storage in practical low-temperature applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the ability of 68Ga‐PSMA PET/CT maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) to distinguish prostate cancer (PCa) International Society of Urological Pathology ISUP grade group (GG) 2 and GG3. Methods: The PET/CT images and data of 147 patients were analyzed retrospectively, and the SUVmax of the index lesions were measured. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to analyze the diagnostic value of PET/CT for PCa. The correlation between SUVmax and ISUP GG was analyzed. A logistic regression model was established with SUVmax and was validated to predict its value of diagnosing intermediate‐ and high‐risk PCa (ihPCa). Results: Of the 147 patients, 112 cases were PCa (76.2%), and 35 cases were benign lesions (23.8%). There was a significant difference between the benign and the malignant groups (p < 0.05). The median SUVmax of ihPCa was significantly higher than that of the benign and low‐risk groups (p < 0.05). The median SUVmax of GG3 was significantly higher than that of the GG2 group (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant SUVmax differences among GG3, GG4, and GG5 groups (p > 0.05). The specificity and the positive predictive value of 68Ga‐PSMA PET/CT in the diagnosis of PCa were 97% and 99% with cut‐off SUVmax of 6.94, while the specificity and the positive predictive value of ihPCa were 95% and 96% with cut‐off SUVmax of 10.12. Conclusion: 68Ga‐PSMA PET/CT can reliably distinguish GG2 from GG3 PCa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is highly desired to achieve controllable product selectivity in CO2 hydrogenation. Herein, we report light‐induced switching of reaction pathways of CO2 hydrogenation towards CH3OH production over actomically dispersed Co decorated Pt@UiO‐66‐NH2. CO, being the main product in the reverse water gas shift (RWGS) pathway under thermocatalysis condition, is switched to CH3OH via the formate pathway with the assistance of light irradiation. Impressively, the space‐time yield of CH3OH in photo‐assisted thermocatalysis (1916.3 μmol gcat−1 h−1) is about 7.8 times higher than that without light at 240 °C and 1.5 MPa. Mechanism investigation indicates that upon light irradiation, excited UiO‐66‐NH2 can transfer electrons to Pt nanoparticles and Co sites, which can efficiently catalyze the critical elementary steps (i.e. CO2‐to‐*HCOO conversion), thus suppressing the RWGS pathway to achieve a high CH3OH selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is highly desired to achieve controllable product selectivity in CO2 hydrogenation. Herein, we report light‐induced switching of reaction pathways of CO2 hydrogenation towards CH3OH production over actomically dispersed Co decorated Pt@UiO‐66‐NH2. CO, being the main product in the reverse water gas shift (RWGS) pathway under thermocatalysis condition, is switched to CH3OH via the formate pathway with the assistance of light irradiation. Impressively, the space‐time yield of CH3OH in photo‐assisted thermocatalysis (1916.3 μmol gcat−1 h−1) is about 7.8 times higher than that without light at 240 °C and 1.5 MPa. Mechanism investigation indicates that upon light irradiation, excited UiO‐66‐NH2 can transfer electrons to Pt nanoparticles and Co sites, which can efficiently catalyze the critical elementary steps (i.e. CO2‐to‐*HCOO conversion), thus suppressing the RWGS pathway to achieve a high CH3OH selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is difficult to detect the residual current of specific fault types in low-voltage distribution networks, which results in few labeled residual current samples. Thus, it is difficult to recognize the fault types of residual current. To solve this problem, a cooperative training classification model based on an improved squirrel search algorithm (ISSA) for a semi-supervised support vector machine (S3VM) and the k-nearest neighbor (KNN) is proposed (ISSA-S3VM–KNN). First, the residual current is decomposed into k intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) by variational mode decomposition (VMD), and the characteristic parameters of the IMFs are extracted to obtain a characteristic dataset for establishing a classification model. Second, to solve the problem where it is difficult to the select parameters (such as the penalty factors, slack variables and kernel function) of a S3VM, an ISSA parameter optimization method is proposed to self-adaptively select the optimal combination of parameters for the S3VM. Finally, the KNN is used to verify the classification results of an ISSA-S3VM through cooperative training, which further improves the classification accuracy of the S3VM for unlabeled residual current samples. Classification results of measured and simulation data show that the classification accuracy of the ISSA-S3VM–KNN is higher than that of the SVM–BPNN, WE–AE–BPNN, and PSO–SVM. The ISSA-S3VM–KNN provides a certain theoretical basis for achieving fast and accurate residual current fault type recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing evidence confirms the potential of PDE inhibitors including PDE 1, 2, 4, 7 and 10 inhibitors for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, a public health problem. There is a great need to find a way to prevent and delay the disease. Therefore, a series of novel quinolinone derivatives were synthesized and investigated for their ability to inhibit PDE2A. Most of the synthesized compounds have shown good activity against PDE2A. Among these analogues, compound 5 i exhibited most potent PDE2A inhibition with IC50 values about 0.049 μM. This compound also showed good selectivity over other PDEs. Docking simulation was performed to insert compound 5 i into the crystal structure of PDE2A at the active site to determine the binding mode. More importantly, compound 5 i exhibited excellent reversal of MPTP‐induced PD model and low acute toxicity in vivo. Based on these results, compound 5 i was evaluated as a promising candidate for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cervical cancer (CC) is a leading cause of high morbidity and mortality in women worldwide. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are considered to be essential regulators of various cancers, including CC. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role and mechanism of circ_0005576 in CC progression. The levels of circ_0005576, miR-1305, and poly(A)-binding protein-interacting protein 1 (PAIP1) were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) or western blot assay. The stability and location of circ_0005576 were determined by ribonuclease R (RNase R) assay and subcellular fractionation distribution assay, respectively. Cell proliferation was evaluated by CCK-8 assay, EDU incorporation assay, and colony formation assay. Cell migration and invasion were assessed by transwell assay. The interactions between miR-1305 and circ_0005576 or PAIP1 were validated by dual-luciferase reporter assay. The protein expression of cyclin D1, vimentin, and matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9) was tested by western blot. Moreover, mice xenograft models were constructed to analyze tumor growth in vivo. Circ_0005576 and PAIP1 were upregulated, while miR-1305 was downregulated in CC tissues and cells. Circ_0005576 was a stable circRNA that was mainly distributed in the cytoplasm of cells. Knockdown of circ_0005576 suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CC cells, while the silence of miR-1305 facilitated the development of CC cells. Meanwhile, circ_0005576 could sponge miR-1305 to promote PAIP1 expression. Furthermore, PAIP1 overexpression relieved the influence of circ_0005576 silence on the growth of CC cells. Additionally, circ_0005576 silence hindered CC tumor growth in vivo. Circ_0005576 depletion suppressed tumor development in CC by regulating the miR-1305/PAIP1 axis, suggesting that circ_0005576 might be a potential biomarker for CC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A crashworthiness design of foam-filled local nanocrystallized thin-walled tubes (FLNTs) is proposed by using foam-filled structures and ultrasonic impact surface treatment. The crashworthiness and deformation modes of FLNTs are studied using an experiment and numerical analysis. A finite element numerical model of FLNTs is established, and the processing and test platform of FLNTs is set up to verify the numerical predication and analytical design. The results show that local nanocrystallization is an effective method to enhance crashworthiness for hexagonal FLNTs. The FLNTs with four circumferential continuous stripes of surface nanocrystallization exhibit a level of 47.12% higher specific energy absorption than the untreated tubes in numerical simulations for tubes with a 50% ratio of nanocrystallized area. Inspired by the strength mechanism, a novel nested foam-filled local surface nanocrystallization tube is further designed and studied in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy is predicted to play a crucial role in the energy sector as transitioning from fossil fuels to biofuels is key to achieving carbon neutrality. The comprehensive utilization of livestock manure and crop residues as a viable source of biofuels can play a significant role in Ghana's future energy system. This current study aims to examine and predict the biofuel potential in Ghana from animal manure and crop residues. The biogas-biomethane potential of animal manure is determined using anaerobic digestion technology, whereas crop residues' bioethanol potential is assessed using computational and analytical approaches. The findings demonstrate that animal manure biogas potential is 237.72 normal million cubic meters (NMm3). The highest manure-biogas potential per animal is from cattle (27.15 Nm3) and pigs (18.15 Nm3), while the least contribution is from chickens (1.80 Nm3). In addition, the annual bioethanol production is 3.74 gigaliters (GL), and residues from maize (0.88 GL), yams (0.82 GL), and plantains (0.47 GL) had the largest share per annum. By 2100, Ghana has the potential to produce 1288.56 NMm3 of manure-based biogas which can offset 13.88% of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) consumption. The biogas potential positively correlates with the biomethane potential of 901.99 NMm3. Furthermore, 91.85% of the 14.76 GL of bioethanol will be from food crop residues. This study provides critical information to lawmakers and energy planners with strategies to achieve energy security and minimize the ecological footprint in an optimistic scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the low accuracy of power quality disturbance (PQD) detection, a PQD detection method based on the wavelet packet transform (WPT) and improved complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (ICEEMDAN) is proposed in this paper. First, the wavelet packet transform is used to preprocess the signal to suppress noise interference. Then, ICEEMDAN technology is adopted to calculate the local mean value by adding adaptive noise. In addition, different intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) are obtained through residual subtraction. Furthermore, the effective IMFs are calculated by the permutation entropy method to reduce false modal components and to suppress residual noise. Finally, a Hilbert transform (HT) is performed to extract the detection signal parameters. The obtained results demonstrate that this method can improve the detection accuracy and PQD speed, which results in a strong anti-noise capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Once-through steam generator external piping has experienced unexpected severe degradation at welds near a bend. Failure analysis has been conducted to identify the metallurgical root cause for the degradation so that mitigating measures could be implemented. In addition to the metallographic analysis, chemical, phase analysis and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of the flow patterns have been conducted. The CFD flow patterns have been linked with the erosion factor toward erosion–corrosion. The root cause for weld failure is found to be erosion–corrosion, most severe at the 6 o'clock location Weld-1 and 12 o'clock location Weld-2, where the condensed water had the maximum velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the top-down modification method is used to densify wood cell walls. The cell wall was simply compressed. The external force is applied to the delignified wood template by using a press to make the radial thickness of the wood template smaller, and finally, a more compact and uniform wood template with cell wall skeleton is obtained. Then, the resin with similar refractive index to cell wall is vacuum impregnated into the dense wood template, and the transparent compressed wood with high transparency is successfully obtained. The transmittance is increased by 34.1%, the haze decreased by 28.1%, and the transparent effect is more excellent through the cell wall densification of the delignification template. Moreover, the transparent compressed wood has better mechanical properties (maximum tensile strength was 113.75 MPa, Young's modulus was 2.276 GPa) and thermal stability. The method has successfully improved the function and structure of transparent wood, and the highly transparent compressed wood is a new functional material with application potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, nanoliposomes with tuneable structure elasticity were prepared by reverse-phase evaporation. Both Fluorescence Polarization and Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer was employed to characterize the structural elasticity of resultant nanoliposomes. Temozolomide, a kind of hydrophilic drug as the first-line treatment choice for glioblastoma, was encapsulated into nanoliposomes. The results showed that the flexibility of nanoliposomes gradually increased with sodium cholate, while decreasing with cholesterol, Labrafac CC and Labrafac PG adding. Furthermore, the structural flexibility of nanoliposomes was positively correlated with the encapsulation efficiency and release rate and cellular uptake. Our research reveals the structural flexibility of nanoliposomes could affect in vitro characteristics and thereafter in vivo behaviors of nanoliposomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of wireless communication and artificial intelligence has provided great convenience to the people's production and life and has also created many favorable conditions for the development of scientific research. Constructing a multidimensional monitoring system through technical means will help make community public spaces more friendly to preschool children, create a community public space that is friendly to preschool children, and better implement the concept of preschool children's friendliness. The thesis aims to explore the friendliness of preschool children in the public space of the community and focus on the needs of preschool children and their caregivers as the starting point. Based on wireless communication and artificial intelligence technology, it is evaluated from the three dimensions of space, service, and culture. Starting from this, we obtained relevant data on the impact of impact factors on the friendliness of preschool children in community public spaces and quantified the community public spaces based on these scores to provide theoretical support for realizing preschool children's friendliness in community public spaces. Research has proven that safety, inclusion, and diversity are the top concerns for community residents. Therefore, we should prioritize these factors when building community-friendly spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, magnetic DTPA-modified chitosan composite microspheres (MDCM) were prepared by reverse emulsion-double crosslinking method (carbodiimide followed by glutaraldehyde) for removal of Pb(II) from aqueous solution. The obtained magnetic adsorbents were characterized by FTIR, SEM, XRD, VSM, BET, and 13C NMR. The effects of the pH, contact time, initial concentration, and competitive metal cations (Na(I), Ca(II), or Mg(II)) on Pb(II) adsorption were investigated. The results revealed that MDCM exhibited high removal performance over a wide pH range and in the presence of competitive metal cations. The maximum adsorption capacity of MDCM for Pb(II) is 214.63 mg g−1 at pH 3, which is higher than most recently reported magnetic adsorbents. Adsorption kinetics and isotherms can be described by the pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir model, respectively. In addition, MDCM is easy to regenerate and can be reused five cycles with high adsorption capacity. Finally, the adsorption mechanism was further revealed by FTIR and XPS analysis. Overall, MDCM has practical application potential in removing Pb(II) from contaminated wastewater due to its high adsorption efficiency, good reusability, and convenient magnetic separation. [Display omitted] • MDCM was prepared by reverse emulsion-double crosslinking method. • Maximum adsorption capacity of MDCM for Pb(II) was 214.63 mg g−1 at pH 3. • Na+, Ca2+ & Mg2+ had slightly affected on removal efficiency by MDCM. • MDCM exhibited good regeneration and separability. • Adsorption mechanism of MDCM for Pb(II) was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding of the environmental behaviors of microplastics is limited by a lack of knowledge about how photoaging influences biofilm formation on microplastics in soil. Here, original microplastics (OMPs) and photoaged-microplastics (AMPs) were incubated in soil to study the effect of photoaging on formation and characteristics of biofilm on the poly (butylene succinate) microplastics. Because photoaging decreased the hydrophobicity of the microplastic, the biomass of biofilm on the OMPs was nearly twice that on the AMPs in the early stage of incubation. However, the significance of the substrate on biomass in the biofilm declined as the plastisphere developed. The bacterial communities in the plastisphere were distinct from, and less diverse than, those in surrounding soil. The dominant genera in the OMPs and AMPs plastispheres were Achromobacter and Burkholderia , respectively, indicating that photoaging changed the composition of the bacterial community of biofilm at the genus level. Meantime, photoaging decreased the complexity and stability of the plastisphere bacterial community network. Results of Biolog ECO-microplate assays and functional prediction from amplicons showed that photoaging treatment enhanced the carbon metabolic capacity of the microplastic biofilm. This study provides new insights into the formation of plastispheres in soil. [Display omitted] • Aging decreased the interaction of soil microplastics with surrounding microbes. • The influence of substrates on microbial biomass declined with the development of plastisphere. • Microplastics with stronger hydrophobicity have higher affinities to microorganisms. • Aging decreased the complex and stability of network in plastisphere bacterial communities. • Aging enhanced the carbon metabolic capacity of bacterial communities in plastisphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of our research was to investigate the mechanism of the Hengqing II decoction in treating Alzheimer's disease (AD) through network pharmacology and experimental validation methods. Firstly, the major chemical compounds of Hengqing II decoction were characterized by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS), and the gene sets related to AD treatment by Hengqing II decoction were collected through the database of PubChem, Swiss TargetPrediction, and DisGeNET. Secondly, a multi-level molecular network of "Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-compound-target-disease" was constructed and visualized using the STRING platform and Cytoscape 3.9.1 software, and the enrichment analysis based on the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway databases was performed to predict the potential active compounds and targets of Hengqing II decoction for treating AD. Finally, molecular docking simulation was applied to investigate the binding interactions between potential active compounds and key targets, and the western blotting technique was employed to examine the expression levels of AKT1, TNF-α, and NOS2 proteins affected by active compounds. Totally 120 compounds in Hengqing II decoction were characterized by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. Network pharmacology results showed that potential active compounds in Hengqing II decoction in treating AD included catalpol, gastrodin, and rehmannioside D, etc. , and the main target proteins were TNF-α, NOS2, and AKT1. Further functional enrichment analysis revealed that Hengqing II decoction mainly exerted its therapeutic effects on AD by regulating lipid and atherosclerosis signaling pathways, AD signaling pathways, AKT1 signaling pathways, and PTGS2 signaling pathways. Hengqing II decoction exerted therapeutic effects on AD through multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway regulation, and its action mechanisms were related to oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, autophagy, and other pathways. Our research laid the data foundation for further exploration of action mechanism and clarification of clinical positioning and provided new ideas and clues in TCM formula research. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new type of gas sensor, MXenes material is of great significance in indoor harmful gas detection. The geometric, electronic, and magnetic properties of CH 4 adsorbed on intact, F-vacancy defected, and transition-metal (TMs: Mn, Co, Ni, Zn, Nb, Mo) doped V 2 CF 2 have been investigated based on density functional theory. Perfect V 2 CF 2 and F-vacancy defected substrates exhibited low charge transfer, long adsorption distance, and small adsorption energy for CH 4. The adsorption mechanism was physical adsorption. After introducing Co and Ni dopants, the adsorption mechanism of CH 4 changed to be chemisorption. Additionally, the asymmetric electron spin distribution between the dopant and V atom caused the substrate to change from being non-magnetic to magnetic, as shown by the electronic density of states diagrams. The hybridization between TM-3d orbitals and the p orbitals of the CH 4 molecule significantly improved the adsorption stability. It is hoped that the results could provide ideas for creating new CH 4 gas sensors based on MXenes. • The adsorption of CH 4 on intact V 2 CF 2 and F-vacancy defected V 2 CF 2 is physical adsorption. • The introduction of F-vacancy enhanced the adsorption stability of CH 4 molecule. • The doping of transition-metal atoms (Mn, Co, Ni, Nb, Mo) significantly improves the adsorption stability of CH 4 gas. • The adsorption of CH 4 on Co- and Ni-doped systems is chemical adsorption. • The F-vacancy defected V 2 CF 2 doped with Ni can be used to detect the presence of CH 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the green single-machine scheduling problem that considers the delay cost and the energy consumption of manufacturing equipment and builds its integrated optimization model. The improved ant colony scheduling algorithm based on the Pareto solution set is used to solve this problem. By setting the heuristic information, state transition rules, and other core parameters reasonably, the performance of the algorithm is improved effectively. Finally, the model and the improved algorithm are verified by the simulation experiment of 10 benchmark cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method of removing waste chips is proposed by focusing on the key factors affecting the processing quality and efficiency of high energy beams. Firstly, a mathematical model has been established to provide the theoretical basis for the separation of solid–liquid suspension under ultrasonic standing wave. Secondly, the distribution of sound field with and without droplet has been simulated. Thirdly, the deformation and movement of droplets are simulated and tested. It is found that the sound pressure around the droplet is greater than the sound pressure in the droplet, which can promote the separation of droplets and provide theoretical support for the ultrasonic suspension separation of droplet; under the interaction of acoustic radiation force, surface tension, adhesion, and static pressure, the droplet is deformed so that the gas fluid around the droplet is concentrated in the center to achieve droplet separation, and the droplet just as a flat ball with a central sag is stably suspended in the acoustic wave node. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are pluripotent stem cells derived from mesoderm during early development that are characterized by high self-renewal ability and multidirectional differentiation potential. These cells are present various tissues in the human body and can be cultured in vitro. Under specific conditions, MSCs can differentiate into osteoblasts, neuron-like cells, adipocytes and muscle cells and so on, therefore, have a great application value in cell replacement therapy and tissue repair. In recent years, the application of MSCs in rheumatic diseases has received increasing attention. On the one hand, MSCs have the ability to differentiate into bone and cartilage cells; on the other hand, these stem cells are also involved in immune regulation, resulting in the alleviation of inflammation and anti-fibrotic properties and the promotion of vascular repair, thus bringing new hope for the treatment of rheumatic diseases. This article reviews the clinical progress in MSC application for the treatment of rheumatic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing a cost-effective and efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst with simple synthesis strategy for hydrazine sensing and H evolution reaction (HER) is of utmost importance. Herein, a three-dimensional porous Cu-doped metallic Ni coating on Ti mesh (Ni(Cu) coating/TM) was successfully electrodeposited by a facile electrochemical method. Electrochemical etching of the electrodeposited Ni(Cu) coating with metallic Ni and Cu mixed phase on a Ti mesh contributed to the formation of a three-dimensional porous Cu-doped metallic Ni coating. Owing to the large specific surface area and enhanced electroconductivity caused by the porous structure and Cu doping, respectively, the developed Ni(Cu) coating/TM exhibited superior hydrazine sensing performance and electrocatalytic activity toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The Ni(Cu) coating/TM electrode presented a good sensitivity of 3909 μA mM−1 cm−2 and two relatively broad linear ranges from 0.004 mM to 2.915 mM and from 2.915 mM to 5.691 mM as well as a low detection limit of 1.90 μM. In addition, the Ni(Cu) coating/TM required a relatively low HER overpotential of 140 mV to reach −10 mA cm−2 and exhibited robust durability in alkaline solution. The excellent hydrazine electrooxidation and HER performance guarantee its promising application in hydrazine detection and energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to the demand of thin, lightweight, broadband and high-efficient characteristics, exploring microwave absorbents with superior resistance to oxidation and corrosion is urgently need for practical applications. Herein, carbon nanofibers embedded by α-Fe 2 O 3 , Fe or Fe 3 C nanocrystals are prepared through electrospinning technique followed by carbonization in different atmospheres. The one-dimensional structures can intertwine into three-dimensional conductive network, which is favored for energy dissipation. The Fe 3 C/N-doped carbon nanofibers show boosting microwave absorption properties compared to the bare carbon, α-Fe 2 O 3 /C and Fe/C nanofibers. The Fe 3 C/N-doped carbon nanofibers show an optimal reflection loss of −57.9 dB at 5.8 GHz with a thickness of 4.1 mm. Meanwhile, a reflection loss of −54.5 dB can be achieved at 17.8 GHz, when the absorber thickness is only 1.5 mm. The superior microwave absorption properties are attributed to the dipole polarization, interfacial polarization and ferromagnetic resonance, induced by the synergistic effect of Fe 3 C nanocrystals and carbon nanofibers. Moreover, acid-soaking and air-annealing treatments reveal that the Fe 3 C/N-doped carbon nanofibers show remarkable corrosion and oxidation resistance. This work suggests that encapsulating magnetic nanocrystals in dielectric carbon-based materials is an efficient strategy to construct high-efficient lightweight microwave absorbents with oxidation/corrosion resistance. [Display omitted] • Fe 3 C embedded in C nanofibers are fabricated by electrospinning-carbonization route. • Fe 3 C/N–C nanofibers show optimal RL values of −54.5 dB with a thickness of 1.5 mm. • The Fe 3 C/N–C nanofibers show superior resistance to corrosion and oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CH3NH3PbBr3@CsPbBr3 quantum dots were prepared by epitaxially growing a CsPbBr3 shell on the surface of CH3NH3PbBr3 due to their similar crystal structures. The inorganic CsPbBr3 shell provides enhanced stability for the CH3NH3PbBr3 core. Compared with that of CH3NH3PbBr3, the photoluminescence of CH3NH3PbBr3@CsPbBr3 quantum dots is not only strong, but also stable for months, in addition to having a high quantum yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing investment in educational ICT resources is a strategy adopted worldwide to improve student performance in the digital era. Nevertheless, whether the investment is effective and how to realize its positive effect remains unclear. To address these limitations, the dataset of PISA 2018 in five countries and regions with superior academic performance was used, and multilevel structural equation modelling was applied. The results indicated that, first, educational ICT resources are negatively associated with student academic performance. Second, educational ICT resources positively correlate with cognitive-motivational, curriculum-based engagement, and non-curricular engagement. School and home educational ICT resources exhibit strong associations with curriculum-based and cognitive-motivational engagement, respectively. Third, student engagement mediates the relationship between educational ICT resources and academic performance, and this mediating role is different at the school level and the student level. Last, the above relationships show heterogeneities across research countries and regions. Practical implications for governments, schools, and teachers were discussed. • Educational ICT resources are negatively associated with academic performance. • Student engagement mediates the relationship between ICT resources and academic performance. • Educational ICT resources are positively associated with non-curricular engagement. • Home ICT resources dominantly correlate to cognitive-motivational engagement. • The mechanism is heterogeneous in different countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synchronous metastatic colorectal cancer, KRAS mutation, NRAS mutation, BRAF mutation, KRAS codon 12 mutation, KRAS codon 13 mutation. [Extracted from the article]

The diversity in positions of nasal capsules has been well documented in various subgroups of placoderms or jawed stem gnathostomes. However, the condition in primitive antiarchs (i.e., the Yunnanolepidoidei) remains unclear, and the positional shift of nasal capsules in the Antiarcha has never been mentioned. Here we re-describe the headshield of Parayunnanolepis xitunensis, a yunnanolepidoid antiarch from the Lower Devonian of China, using X-ray computed tomography scanning. The study provides new anatomical details of the headshield including the sclerotic capsules, the visceral side of the rostral and pineal plates, and the dorsal profile of the endocranium. Parayunnanolepis xitunensis bears a pair of nasal capsules underlying the rostral plate between the eyes, resembling Romundina but differing from most euantiarchs, whose nasal capsules are encased in the preorbital recess in front of the eyes. A phylogenetic analysis based on a modified matrix indicates a stepwise forward migration of nasal capsules within antiarchs, accompanied by the innovation of the preorbital recess and the loss of the preorbital depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bark and the leaf of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. content similar bioactive components, but the leaf of this medically important plant is mostly abandoned. In this study, we revealed that the aqueous extract of E. ulmoides leaf (EUL) can promote the growth of the probiotic Lactobacillus bulgaricus (LB) and inhibit the formation of osteoclast in vitro. This extract was next administrated to senescence‐accelerated mice P6 to evaluate examine its influence on the composition of gut microbiota (GM), short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and osteoporosis (OP). The results showed that supplementation of the EUL aqueous extract to the mouse model: (a) increased bacterial diversity and Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio in the gut, (b) increased SCFAs concentration in the feces and serum, and (c) ameliorated OP based on the results of bone mineral density (BMD), Dual‐energy X‐ray bone scan, and HE staining of distal femur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spectral graph theory plays an important role in engineering. Let G be a simple graph of order n with vertex set V = v 1 , v 2 , ... , v n . For v i ∈ V , the degree of the vertex v i , denoted by d i , is the number of the vertices adjacent to v i . The arithmetic-geometric adjacency matrix A a g G of G is defined as the n × n matrix whose i , j entry is equal to d i + d j / 2 d i d j if the vertices v i and v j are adjacent and 0 otherwise. The arithmetic-geometric spectral radius and arithmetic-geometric energy of G are the spectral radius and energy of its arithmetic-geometric adjacency matrix, respectively. In this paper, some new upper bounds on arithmetic-geometric energy are obtained. In addition, we present the Nordhaus–Gaddum-type relations for arithmetic-geometric spectral radius and arithmetic-geometric energy and characterize corresponding extremal graphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Great understanding of the genotypic difference in diurnal stomatal conductance (gs) pattern and the key determinants of the pattern is important for saving water by adopting cultivars appropriately. Fifteen wheat genotypes were studied under different soil conditions and various meteorological conditions with pot cultivation in rain shelter for two years. Genotype and air humidity were found to be key determinants of diurnal gs pattern. All genotypes under low relative humidity (LRH) and most genotypes under high relative humidity (HRH) displayed a gradual decline pattern from morning through the afternoon. Under moderate relative humidity (MRH), all genotypes present a single‐peak curve pattern, but they differed in peak time, which may lead to unreliable gs comparison between genotypes and get ostensible contrasting materials. The stomatal conductance was significantly different among genotypes under LRH and the increased gs magnitude is also significantly different when it was compared between LRH and HRH. The present results provide new thinking for selecting and adopting appropriate cultivars with specific stomata traits for the area with various meteorological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objective of this study was to describe the occurrence of neonatal procedural pain and explore the factors that influence the frequency of painful procedures. Design: A descriptive prospective epidemiologic study. Setting: NICU at a general hospital in China. Methods: A demographic and diagnosis or illness information questionnaire and an occurrence of procedural pain questionnaire specifically designed for this study were used to record the current status of neonatal procedural pain. The neonatal infant pain scale (NIPS) was used to measure pain intensity. A multiple linear regression model was used to explore the factors influencing the frequency of painful procedures. Results: One hundred and twenty neonates experienced a total of 16,840 painful procedures. Each neonate was exposed to a median (IQR) of 66.5(27,154.75) painful procedures during hospitalization and a median (IQR) of 13(11, 19) painful procedures. All 27 different procedures were considered painful, and 70.37% (19/27) of these procedures caused severe pain. Overall, the mean NIPS score of the 27 procedures was 5.04 ± 1.52 with a range from 0 to 7. Respiratory support, age, and length of hospital stay were factors influencing the frequency of painful procedures. Conclusions: NICU neonates experience pain at a high frequency and intensity during hospitalization. Respiratory support, age, and length of hospital stay were factors influencing the frequency of painful procedures. Strategies are needed to bridge the gap between practice and the evidence‐based guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Membrane lipid composition associates closely with membrane stability and fluidity under water stress. In this study, lipidomic analyses based on electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) were carried out to explore dynamic changes of membrane lipids in term of molecular species caused by PEG (Polyethylene glycol-6000)-induced water stress in wheat seedlings. Results: Among the main phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) are primary degradation targets, and PC was degraded in the largest degree. Membrane ion leakage dramatically increased later than the significant reduction of these phospholipids, indicating that the loss of membrane integrity lagged behind severe phospholipid degradation. Monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) increased firstly and decreased later, while digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG) ratcheted up with stress. DGDG/MGDG increased after stress for 3 days, and unsaturation of DGDG was promoted with stress. Variation trends of galactolipids differed among molecular species. The time when MGDG (34:3), DGDG (34:3) began to decline approached to the time when non-stomatal limitation impaired photosynthesis. While the two predominant molecular species MGDG (36:6) and DGDG (36:6) began to decline later. So we speculated that MGDG (34:3), DGDG (34:3) might be key components in photosynthesis apparatus and participate in photosynthesis directly. While the two predominant molecular species, MGDG (36:6) and DGDG (36:6) might locate in thylakoid lipid bilayer matrix and play roles in stabilizing the membrane. The research provides new insights into the dynamic response of lipid metabolism to PEG-induced water stress. Conclusion: In wheat plants under water stress, the major molecular species of PC, PE and PG were degraded, MGDG and DGDG molecular species had differing degradation time courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Gastric cancer is highly heterogeneous both clinically and pathologically and is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Genomic coverage variations, also known as copy number variations (CNVs), play a critical role in the carcinogenesis of gastric cancer. Many studies have demonstrated that DNA CNVs are important factors affecting the expression of protein-encoding genes in the gastric cancer genome. Methods: Thirty gastric cancer patients from a Chinese population were enrolled. Genomic DNA was extracted from gastric cancer tissue and matched adjacent non-cancerous tissue from each patient. A panel of 1,021 genes including 3300 exons was designed and subjected to next-generation sequencing. Copy numbers of each gene and exon were calculated for each tissue. Coverage variations between gastric cancer tissue and matched adjacent non-cancerous tissue were also calculated, and we examined the correlation between overall survival of patients and coverage variation type for each exon. Results: DNA from cancerous tissue and corresponding adjacent non-cancerous tissue were significantly different with respect to the pattern of gene copy number. Exon copy numbers were highly consistent among non-cancerous samples and confirmed that non-cancerous tissue contain diploid genomes. In contrast, the gene coverage pattern among cancerous tissue showed significant differences and confirmed that gastric cancer is a genetically heterogeneous disease. Numerous exon coverage variations were identified in gastric cancer tissue compared with matched, adjacent non-cancerous tissue. Overall survival between patients with and without coverage variations in regions of NOTCH2, NTRK3, ERBB2 and RERE exons exhibited significant differences. This is consistent with previous reports and indicates that these findings may have prognostic value. Conclusion: Our results confirm that gastric cancer is a genetically heterogeneous disease. Exon coverage variations between cancer tissue and their adjacent non-cancerous tissue were shown to be associated with prognosis in gastric cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims at designing a thermosensitive gel prepared from w1/o/w2 multiple microemulsions (MMEs) for the vaginal delivery of siRNA. The w1/o/w2 MMEs were prepared by two-step emulsifications: the first step was to prepare primary emulsions (w1/o) by low energy emulsification (LEE); the second step was to obtain stable w1/o/w2 MMEs by self-emulsifying. An extensive formulation optimization process was undertaken. The final w1/o/w2 MMEs could be formed in ddH2O, phosphate buffer solution (PBS, pH 7.4) and 1640 culture media with diameter size about 166.5 ± 13.1, 271.0 ± 11.1 and 278.7 ± 12.1 nm respectively. The release rates of siRNA from solutions, MMEs and MMEs-gels were completed within 2 h, 6 h and13 h respectively. The transfection efficiency of MMEs was confirmed both in vitro and in vivo. The relative target gene expressions of MMEs were 0.07 ± 0.05% vs. 0.37 ± 0.06% in Hela cells against Lipofectamine2000® and 1.88% ± 0.00% vs. 9.65% ± 0.02% in mouse vaginal mucosa against PEI. Good biocompatibility of MMEs was verified by cytotoxicity and pathological studies. Overall, our results indicated the potential of the MMEs-gel system for the vaginal delivery of siRNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the IT sector is rapidly growing all over the world, more and more energy is consumed by data centers, which leads to the continuous increase of operating costs. Among other factors, the load management among uninterruptible power supply (UPS) nodes should be considered in the energy management model of the data center since its energy efficiency is correlated with the load ratio. In this article, an energy management scheme of the data center, which focuses on the workload scheduling among UPS nodes, is proposed to improve its operation efficiency. The flexible service requirement of batch workloads is also modeled in the proposed scheme to illustrate the cost of flexibility. In the proposed scheme, the efficiency of the UPS node is modeled as a function of the load ratio. Meanwhile, the cost of inconvenience is introduced to represent the flexible service requirements of batch workloads. A stochastic formulation is established to address the uncertainties involved in the scheduling process. Simulated case studies are provided, and the results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, NiCoP nanoparticles decorated on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) were synthesized through a two-step hydrothermal-phosphorization route as enhanced microwave absorbers. Microstructure investigations indicate that NiCoP nanoparticles are uniformly anchored on the surface of rGO. Compared with the bare NiCoP, NiCoP/rGO nanocomposites reveal clearly improved microwave absorbing performance. The strongest reflection loss (RL) values of NiCoP/rGO hybrid absorber can reach −20.61 dB at 6.43 GHz with a matching thickness of 4.4 mm, and a broad effective absorption bandwidth (RL < −10 dB) of 4.13 GHz (13.87–18 GHz) can be obtained at only 2.0 mm, while the RL values of the pure NiCoP cannot reach −10 dB in the entire measurement frequency range. This improvement of microwave absorption is ascribed to the polarization, interface interaction and synergistic effect between NiCoP and rGO nanosheets. NiCoP/rGO nanocomposites are expected to be novel microwave absorption materials with high microwave absorption properties. Benefiting from the dipoles polarization, interfacial polarization, conductivity loss and multiple reflection and scattering, the NiCoP/rGO nanocomposites have a broader qualified bandwidth (QB, RL ≤ −10 dB). Image 1 • NiCoP nanoparticles were in-situ decorated on rGO without using bridging agent. • The effective bandwidth of NiCoP/rGO (RL < −10 dB) covers 13.87–18 GHz at only 2.0 mm. • NiCoP/rGO is novel bifunctional magnetic/dielectric material for absorbing microwave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, GdFeO 3 thin films with high orientation and heavily Ce3+ doping were deposited by radio frequency magnetron sputtering with a matching substrate. The effects of substrates and Ce3+ doping on the structure, magnetic and magneto-optical properties of thin films were investigated. As a result, Ce3+ doping can not only increase the saturation magnetization but also greatly enhance the magnetic circular dichroism signals of Ce:GdFeO 3 thin films. Based on the density functional theory calculation, it can be found that the probability of electron transition between Ce3+ 4 f and Fe3+ 3 d and the difference in the absorption of right and left circularly polarized light increase, which results in the strong magneto-optical effect of Ce:GdFeO 3 /STO thin films. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water dissociation reaction (Volmer step) is the main restrictive factor that gives rise to the sluggish reaction kinetics for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline solution. In this paper, Ru doped Ni(OH) 2 deposited on Ti mesh (abbreviated as TM) was synthesized by one-pot hydrothermal method. SEM, TEM, XRD, Raman, and XPS analysis indicated that both surface morphology and electronic structure had an apparent change, but phase structure maintained unchanged after Ru doping. HER activities of Ru doped Ni(OH) 2 /TM samples in 1.0 M KOH were investigated in detail. Ru doped Ni(OH) 2 /TM prepared with 0.2 mM RuCl 3 precursor (denoted as Ru doped Ni(OH) 2 /TM-0.2) presented excellent HER performance with an overpotential of 135 mV at −10 mA/cm2 and the lowest Tafel slope of 63.7 mV/dec. This electrocatalyst also maintained long-term stability even operating for 15 h. Experimental results demonstrated that Ru doping into Ni(OH) 2 could enhance charge transfer rate, increase electrocatalytically active surface area (ECSA) and, most importantly, accelerate Volmer step and also provide appropriate Ru active sites for hydrogen adsorption, which endowed Ru doped Ni(OH) 2 /TM-0.2 with superior HER activity and durability. Unlabelled Image • Ru doped Ni(OH) 2 on Ti mesh was synthesized by one-pot hydrothermal method. • Ru doping greatly enhanced alkaline HER performance with 135 mV at −10 mA/cm2. • Synergistic effect between Ru and Ni in Ru doped Ni(OH) 2 promoted HER kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effective adsorption and treatment of toxic gases have attracted great attention amongst researchers, particularly the use of new two-dimensional materials for achieving the adsorption of toxic gases. We applied the density functional theory to investigate the stability, geometric structural, electrical, and magnetic properties of NH 3 molecules adsorbed on pristine, F-vacancy defected, and transition-metals (V, Cr, Mn, Y, Nb, and Mo) doped Zr 2 CF 2. The charge transfer and adsorption energy of the original substrate were low, indicating that the interaction between NH 3 and Zr 2 CF 2 was primarily physical adsorption. After introducing F-vacancy and TM-doping, the adsorption stability was enhanced, with the large charge transfer and high adsorption energies indicating that the adsorption of NH 3 transitioned to chemisorption. Electronic density of state diagrams suggested that the enhanced interaction was mainly caused by the hybridization of the d orbitals of dopants and p orbitals of the adsorbed NH 3 molecules. The adsorption energy of NH 3 molecules on Y-doped Zr 2 CF 2 was the highest at a value of −1.425eV, and the material was also explored as an adsorbent for NH 3 gas. After adsorbing six NH 3 molecules, the Y-doped substrate had an average adsorption energy of −1.350eV and still maintained a good thermal stability at a temperature of 300 K. These results can provide insights into the development of sensors and adsorbents based on MXenes. [Display omitted] • The adsorption of NH 3 on perfect Zr 2 CF 2 was physical adsorption. • The introduction of F-vacancy enhanced the adsorption stability of NH 3 molecule. • The doping of transition-metal (V, Cr, Mn, Y, Nb, Mo) significantly improved the sensitivity of Zr 2 CF 2 to NH 3 gas. • Y-doped Zr 2 CF 2 can be used as effective adsorbent to NH 3 gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Without timely and effective interventions or treatments, radiation-induced liver damage (RILD) can lead to serious consequences for the patients and their families. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of intermittent hypobaric hypoxia preconditioning (IHHP) in RILD. METHODS: Male adult SD rats were randomly divided into 8 groups including one control group, one only irradiation group and other experimental groups. Blood routine tests and liver function tests were all assessed with abdominal venous blood. Moreover, hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemistry assay were used to detect the histopathological changes and expressions of transforming growth factor- β 1 (TGF- β 1), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF- α) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 α (HIF-1 α) in radiated liver sections. RESULTS: Blood routing tests showed that RBC, WBC and Hb were all significantly increased while the differences of these results between different groups with same simulated altitude were approximate. However, liver function in the IHHP plus irradiation at 4000 m group was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) compared to only irradiation groups, and the manifestation of HE and lower positive expression of TNF- α showed improved histopathological changes in the liver section. Furthermore, no significant difference of HIF-1 α expression between any two groups treated with IHHP was observed. CONCLUSION: IHHP at the altitude of 4000 m group could alleviate the radioactive liver damage by downregulating TNF- α and less strong positive expression of TGF- β 1. Furthermore, patients exposed to radiation might benefit from this treatment to prevent or reduce the RILD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To further enhance the residual current detection capability of low-voltage distribution networks, an improved adaptive residual current detection method that combines variational modal decomposition (VMD) and BP neural network (BPNN) is proposed. Firstly, the method employs the envelope entropy as the adaptability function, optimizes the [k, ɑ] combination value of the VMD decomposition using the bacterial foraging-particle swarm algorithm (BFO-PSO), and utilizes the interrelation number R as the classification index with the Least Mean Square Algorithm (LMS) to classify, filter, and extract the effective signal from the decomposed signal. Then, the extracted signals are detected by BPNN, and the training data are utilized to predict the residual current signals. Simulation and experimental data demonstrate that the proposed algorithm exhibits strong robustness and high detection accuracy. With an ambient noise of 10dB, the signal-to-noise ratio is 16.3108dB, the RMSE is 0.4359, and the goodness-of-fit is 0.9627 after processing by the algorithm presented in this paper, which are superior to the Variational Modal Decomposition-Long Short-Term Memory (VMD-LSTM) and Normalized-Least Mean Square (N-LMS) detection methods. The results were also statistically analyzed in conjunction with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, which demonstrated significance at the experimental data level, indicating the high accuracy of the algorithms presented in this paper and providing a certain reference for new residual current protection devices for biological body electrocution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Firmness is one of the most important factors affecting the quality and commercial value of fresh-cut kiwifruits. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 1 mg/L of gaseous ozone treatment for 10 min on the texture of fresh-cut kiwifruit stored at 4 °C for 12 d. Ozone treatment relatively maintained the firmness of the fresh-cut fruit for 12 d compared with the untreated group. Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) showed that endogenous free Ca2+ was higher and more evenly distributed in ozone-treated fruits than in the untreated group, and correlation analysis indicated that the higher the Ca2+ concentration, the greater the formation of Ca-pectinate. Additionally, ozone treatment inhibited the activity of cell wall polysaccharide-degrading enzymes, suppressed electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide contents, and maintained protopectin and cellulose levels, thereby preventing fruit softening. Overall, these results showed that ozone treatment delayed the softening of fresh-cut kiwifruit by increasing endogenous Ca2+ concentrations and preventing polysaccharide solubilization. • We examined the effect of ozone treatment on the firmness of fresh-cut kiwifruit. • Ozone treatment delayed softening of fresh-cut kiwifruit. • Ozone treatment increased the levels and distribution of free Ca2+ in kiwifruit. • Ozone treatment inhibited the activities of cell wall degrading-enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clinical treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) faces great challenges due to lifetime medication. In this study, Gingerol oil was extracted and purified by the process easily scale-up and cost effective, with productivity 2.72 ± 0.38% (w /w, versus crude drugs). The quality control of gingerol oil was fully established by HPLC fingerprint with 4 common peaks identified as 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol, 6-shogaol and 10-gingerol. The similarities of 6 batches of gingerol oil are within 0.931–0.999. The protective effects of gingerol oil are equivalent to or even stronger than that of 6-gingerol on inflammation and oxidative stress of HT-29 cells induced by lipopolysaccharide and H 2 O 2 , as well as on UC in mice caused by dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS). Our research conclusions coincide well with the holistic view of Traditional Chinese Medicine and network pharmacology. The absorption kinetics of gingerol oil were conducted using the in situ intestinal perfusion in rats and comparable absorption were achieved in the jejunum, ileum and colon segments within 2 h. Thus, gingerol oil colon targeting pellets were prepared by extrusion-spherization technique. The cumulative dissolution behaviors and mechanisms were observed and analyzed by fitting to dissolution model. Our studies provided reliable theoretical and experimental support for the gingerol oil as reliable therapeutic choice of UC. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goethite is ubiquitous in the environment and plays key role in preserving dissolved organic matter (DOM) and deactivating potentially toxic elements (PTEs) by adsorbing DOM and PTEs. Various non-Fe metals are usually incorporated into natural goethite, substituting Fe in the goethite structure, which dramatically influence the physico-chemical properties and adsorption behavior of the goethite. In the present study, adsorption of DOM and Pb(II) on Mn-substituted goethite samples was investigated. The results displayed that the specific surface area (SSA) of mineral samples increased by 67.6% as the incorporation of Mn for Fe, from 25.71 m2 g−1 for pure goethite to 43.09 m2 g−1for Mn-goethite. Besides, the Mn substitution caused more hydroxyl groups and relatively fewer positive charges on mineral surface, and Mn in the Mn-goethite samples was predominantly present as Mn(III). The amount of DOM adsorbed to per unit mass of goethite was increased as Mn content increased, which was attributed to Mn incorporation increasing the SSA of mineral samples. However, the SSA-normalized absorption capacity for goethite to DOM was decreased by Mn because Mn substitution decreased the number of positive charges of mineral samples, which weakened the electrostatic attraction between DOM and the minerals. The amount of Pb(II) adsorbed to per unit mass of goethite was increased by Mn substitution, and the amount of Pb(II) adsorbed to per unit SSA of goethite increased as the amount of Mn substitution increased, indicating that the increased capacity for adsorbing Pb was not only caused by the SSA increasing but also by there were more surface hydroxyl groups on the Mn-goethite than pure goethite and Pb(II) preferentially adsorbed to Mn sites on the Mn-goethite. The present study results showed that Mn-goethite could be used to sequester DOM and remediate soil contaminated with PTEs because Mn-goethite has a high adsorption capacity and is environmentally benign. [Display omitted] • The enhancement of Mn-substitution for the DOM and Pb adsorption capacity of mineral. • PH plays an important role in the adsorption of DOM and Pb on mineral samples. • Ionic strength does not significantly affect Pb (II) adsorption to Mn-goethite. • Electrostatic interaction has important effect on the adsorption Mn-goethite to DOM. • Surface complexation is main mechanism involved in Pb (II) adsorption at low pH level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]