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A new two-step, one-pot synthesis of benzo[f][1,2]thiazepine 1,1-dioxides was developed, which contains a visible-light mediated aza Paternò–Büchi reaction of benzo[d]isothiazole 1,1-dioxides with alkenes and a Lewis acid catalyzed ring-expansion of azetidine. In this work, the mechanism of the aza Paternò–Büchi reaction was also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Sc(OTf)3 catalyzed intramolecular cyclization reaction of 2-alkyl-1,4-benzoquinone derived from D–A cyclopropane was discovered. This reaction involves single-electron transfer, proton-transfer, an aromatization driven spin center shift, and radical coupling processes, and offers an efficient method for the synthesis of 6-chromanols from D–A cyclopropanes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous structure is an important three-dimensional morphological feature of the peripheral nerve guidance conduit (NGC), which permits the infiltration of cells, nutrients, and molecular signals and the discharge of metabolic waste. Porous structures with precisely customized pore sizes, porosities, and connectivities are being used to construct fully permeable, semi-permeable, and asymmetric peripheral NGCs for the replacement of traditional nerve autografts in the treatment of long-segment peripheral nerve injury. In this review, the features of porous structures and the classification of NGCs based on these characteristics are discussed. Common methods for constructing 3D porous NGCs in current research are described, as well as the pore characteristics and the parameters used to tune the pores. The effects of the porous structure on the physical properties of NGCs, including biodegradation, mechanical performance, and permeability, were analyzed. Pore structure affects the biological behavior of Schwann cells, macrophages, fibroblasts, and vascular endothelial cells during peripheral nerve regeneration. The construction of ideal porous structures is a significant advancement in the regeneration of peripheral nerve tissue engineering materials. The purpose of this review is to generalize, summarize, and analyze methods for the preparation of porous NGCs and their biological functions in promoting peripheral nerve regeneration to guide the development of medical nerve repair materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing luminescent radicals with tunable emission is a challenging task due to the limitation of alternative skeletons. Herein, a series of carbene‐triphenylamine hybrids were prepared by the direct C2‐arylation of N‐heterocyclic carbenes with 4‐bromo‐N,N‐bis(4‐methoxyphenyl)aniline. These hybrids showed multiple redox‐active properties and could be converted to carbon‐centered luminescent radicals with blue‐to‐cyan emissions (λmax: 436–486 nm) or nitrogen‐centered luminescent radicals with orange emissions (λmax: 590–623 nm) through chemical reduction or oxidation, respectively. The radical species were characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffractometry analysis. Notably, the corresponding nitrogen‐centered radicals exhibited good stability in atmospheric air, and their thermal decomposition temperatures were determined to be above 200 °C. In addition, spectral and theoretical calculations indicate that all radicals exhibit anti‐Kasha emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the gradual improvement of people’s health awareness, wearable devices occupy an important position in daily health care and human physiological activity monitoring. As traditional silicon-based electronic products face problems such as interface mismatch, silk fibroin has gradually become an alternative choice for next-generation wearable electronic devices due to its excellent performance. Herein, an ultra-thin transparent and flexible multi-functional sensor based on silk hydrogel with self-patterned microstructure is proposed. The silk hydrogel exhibits superior transparency (>82%) and thin thickness (∼100 ÎĽ m). Furthermore, the self-patterned microstructure on the silk hydrogel surface is beneficial for the high sensitivity of pressure sensing response (1.6 kPaâˆ'1). This device exhibits advantageous performance on temperature (top sensitivity of 6.25% °Câˆ'1) and humidity (top sensitivity of 0.16% RHâˆ'1) sensing response. It also shows fast response (0.16 s) and durable stability (over 2000 dynamic cycles). Moreover, this device can be applied to monitor human facial expression, joint movements, temperature change, breathing and other health indicators. It is worth mentioning that this multi-functional sensor can monitor the signal of breathing and throat, so it can be applied to the clinical physiological activity monitoring of patients with upper respiratory tract infection. In addition, we also demonstrate a grasping and relaxing experiment of intelligent manipulator to verify the pressure and temperature sensing performance, providing a possibility for its application in the field of prosthetics. According to these advantages, the reported ultra-thin transparent multi-functional sensor based on silk hydrogel has broad prospects in the fields of health monitoring, intelligent prosthetics, and electronic skin, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of advanced manufacturing technologies in micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) fields has promoted the advance in wearable electronics. Among them, wearable biomechanical micro-energy harvesters have attracted much attention in recent years to meet the unique power supply demands of wearable electronics serving as sustainable power sources. In the meanwhile, they also have been successfully demonstrated to be either self-powered sensors or other functional devices for wearable electronic applications. Herein, we overview the state-of-the-art of biomechanical micro-energy harvesters for wearable electronic applications, including the summary of working principles and structural configurations of biomechanical micro-energy harvesters. In detail, three promising technologies for biomechanical micro-energy harvesting are studied, i.e. electromagnetic effect, piezoelectric effect, and electrostatic effect. As for the structural configurations, two essential factors to affect the properties of biomechanical micro-energy harvesters are emphasized, i.e. new materials, and advanced manufacturing technologies. For wearable application scenarios, fiber/fabric-based materials and biodegradable/ecofriendly materials are investigated. For advanced manufacturing technologies, micro/nano fabrication technologies for precise fabrication and large-scale fabrication technologies for mass fabrication are summarized. Moreover, we review the wearable electronic applications of biomechanical micro-energy harvesters for powering, sensing, and actuating, respectively, which reveals the feasibility of constructing the smart wearable microsystems based on the abundant function of biomechanical micro-energy harvesters. Finally, we conclude the review and discussed the future development trends of biomechanical micro-energy harvesters for wearable electronic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, two new mixed-ligand coordination polymers (CPs) {[Cd6(nbta)3(bimb)4(H2O)](H2O)3}n (1, bimb = 4,4′-bis((1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl)−1,1′-biphenyl) and [Co3(bib)2(nbta)2]n (2, bib = 1,4-bis(benzimidazol-1-yl)−2-butene) have been successfully prepared by reaction of 5-nitro-1,2,3-benzenetricarboxylic acid (H3nbta) with different N-donor ligands under the solvothermal conditions. The as-prepared two CPs have been studied via the elemental analysis along with the single crystal X-ray diffraction. The inhibitory effect of synthesized new mixed-ligand coordination polymers on K562 leukemia cells was evaluated by CCK-8 assay. And the percentage of apoptotic cells after CPs 1 and 2 treatment was assessed by Annexin V-FITC/PI assay. Finally the in vivo effect of CPs on tumor was conducted by tumor volume and mice weight measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction between geosynthetics and soil is vital for the stability and the bearing capacity of geosynthetic-reinforced soil structures. This contact behavior between geosynthetics and granular soils has been extensively studied in the literature while there is scarcity of it related to geosynthetics and cohesive soils particularly with softening responses. This paper presents a strain-softening model of geobelt–clay interaction based on direct shear test results under two compaction degrees. A theoretical model for evaluating the pullout behavior of a geobelt is proposed by employing the strain-softening model verified by direct shear tests and a hyperbolic model capturing the stress–strain curves of a geobelt calibrated by uniaxial tensile tests. The proposed model is numerically solved and validated by pullout tests. A kind of sensor-enabled geobelt (SEGB) was adopted in all the aforementioned tests. Both test and numerical results show an overall softening trend in terms of front pull-out force versus displacement. Generally, the model proposed can give reasonably good agreement between calculations and test data during the whole pull-out range. Also, the strain distributions measured by SEGBs demonstrate the working process during the pullout tests, which makes SEGBs a potentially new choice for the strain measurements of in-soil geobelts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bridging studies are mandatory in the EU and USA if the reference biological product used in the biosimilar comparability exercise is foreign sourced. However, it has been argued that the duplication of bridging studies may limit biosimilar development. Objective: The aim of the study was to explore whether it is necessary to conduct pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamic (PD) bridging studies for biosimilars. This study examines similarities and differences between EU- and US-licensed reference biological products, based on literature-reported PK and/or PD data. Methods: We searched PubMed, Drugs@FDA, and European Medicines Agency (EMA) databases to identify biosimilar bridging studies designed to evaluate similarities between EU- and US-licensed reference biological products. PK and/or PD parameters were retrieved; the ratio of the parameter value of the EU-licensed product to that of the US-licensed product and its corresponding 90% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Similarity was declared if the 90% CIs for the ratios of the PK or PD parameters were within the range of 80–125%. Results: Thirty-one bridging studies were identified for 11 biosimilars, including adalimumab (n = 10), bevacizumab (n = 4), epoetin alfa (n = 1), etanercept (n = 2), filgrastim (n = 1), infliximab (n = 3), insulin glargine (n = 1), insulin lispro (n = 1), PEGfilgrastim (n = 2), rituximab (n = 2), and trastuzumab (n = 4). Most studies showed PK and/or PD similarities between the EU- and US-licensed reference biological products. However, among the 31 studies, only three studies (accounting for two biologics, PEGfilgrastim and adalimumab) showed dissimilarity between the EU and US reference products. Although one bridging study on PEGfilgrastim (Sandoz) indicated dissimilar PKs (maximum observed plasma concentration [Cmax] and area under the concentration–time curve [AUC]) between the reference products, the other study (Mylan) demonstrated similar PK. Moreover, two of ten studies involving adalimumab failed to demonstrate similarities between the reference products. However, for both cases, PK similarities were later confirmed in the follow-up bridging studies with larger sample sizes. Conclusion: Our analysis reveals that, in most cases, the reference biological products originated from the EU and those from the USA are almost indistinguishable in terms of PK/PD properties. Additional in vivo bridging studies between reference products from different global regions may not be required if similar physicochemical and structural properties are evident in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Geosynthetics reinforced soil structures (GRSSs) have a tendency to be large and high, resulting in high normal pressures on the geosynthetics. As one of the effective tests for investigating the geosynthetics-soil interaction, pullout tests are traditionally conducted under low normal pressures. This paper reports pullout tests on a type of sensor-enabled geobelts (SEGB) with different normal pressures (5 kPa, 100 kPa, 200 kPa and 400 kPa) applied. The self-measurement function of SEGB allows the study of the working process of SEGB in pullout tests. Moreover, a simplified theoretical model is proposed to investigate the hardening behavior of geobelts in pullout tests. Two models are incorporated in the theoretical model: a bilinear model capturing the full stress-strain curve obtained from uniaxial tensile tests and a hyperbolic model simulating the geobelt-sand interaction from direct shear tests. By means of the finite-difference method, the numerical solutions of the theoretical model are obtained. The proposed model is validated by comparing calculated and measured front pullout force-displacement curves of SEGB under different normal pressures. Further, the computation of the strain distribution of SEGB sandwiched in the sand is compared with tested data with different front pullout force levels for the aforementioned normal pressures. The numerical solutions generally agree well with the experimental results for all tested tensile force and strain ranges; therefore, the proposed simplified model is suitable for evaluating large quasi-plastic deformations of geobelts and the associated interaction with surrounding sand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In principle, approval of a modified-release (MR) drug product is based on evidence from pharmacokinetic (PK) and/or pharmacodynamic studies and clinical efficacy/safety studies. The purpose of this survey is (i) to explore the number of new drug applications (NDAs) of MR drug products, approved by the FDA, employ the PK study as a bridge to already-approved immediate-release drug products without conducting their own clinical efficacy/safety studies; and (ii) to understand the type of PK studies are required for such NDAs. To this end, we surveyed the approved records of MR drug products from 2008 to 2017 from the Drug@FDA website, and filtered pertinent information from FDA's assessment reports. A total of five out of 79 products were found. A single dose PK study was conducted to investigate the underlying drug release mechanisms in four of these products. For these products, the applicants also performed multiple dose PK equivalence studies, but the PK parameters used to support the equivalence were different among studies. Information regarding the exposure-response relationship was available for all selected products, which is fundamental for such cases. Although the difference in PK curve shapes is recognized as being critical for the clinical effectiveness, this evaluation was not performed in all selected cases, as indicated in FDA's assessment reports. Highlights • A clinical efficacy/safety study is not always necessary for NDAs of MR drug products. • A PK study can replace a clinical study, but a well-defined exposure response relationship is an essential prerequisite. • Our work may provide useful insights for development of a MR drug product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Clarifying the interactions among iron and titanium-bearing minerals in the treatment of diasporic bauxite with Bayer liquor at elevated temperature is crucial to understanding reductive Bayer digestion, in which the inhibition of sodium titanate on diaspore digestion is eliminated by the use of non-lime additive. In this work, we carried out a thermodynamic analysis, which predicted that ilmenite (FeTiO 3), ulvite (Fe 2 TiO 4), and sodium iron titanium oxide (NaFeTiO 4) will result from the interactions among iron and titanium bearing minerals in Bayer digestion, whereas pseudobrookite (Fe 2 TiO 5) cannot be generated. In addition, the perovskite (CaTiO 3) is more stable than the produced Ti-Fe compounds, thus, the Ti-Fe compounds could be converted into this perovskite by the addition of extra lime. In order to confirm the thermodynamic analysis results, we then carried out both typical and reductive Bayer digestion experiments. Unlike the dense sodium titanate layer formed on the other minerals present in typical Bayer digestion, the fibrous porous sodium iron titanium oxide layer produced in reductive Bayer digestion allows the passage of the alkaline solution through the precipitated layer to the mineral particles beneath, and thus ensures the efficient digestion of the diaspore. The reaction of HFeO 2 − and titanium-bearing mineral to form Ti-Fe compounds occurs prior to the reaction of HFeO 2 − and hematite to form magnetite, meanwhile some of the insoluble Ti-Fe compounds have low iron content, therefore only a small amount of iron powder is needed to eliminate the inhibition. These results are important for the efficient digestion of diasporic bauxite through the addition of iron powder, which avoids the loss of alumina through the hydro-garnet produced by adding excess lime. Highlights • FeTiO 3 , Fe 2 TiO 4 and NaFeTiO 4 formed in the reductive Bayer digestion. • A fibrous porous structure mainly comprised of NaFeTiO 4 was observed. • The elimination of sodium titanate occurs prior to iron minerals transformation. • Achieving 98.91% relative alumina recovery by adding 1% iron powder of bauxite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current Bayer process focused on alumina extraction without considering the comprehensive utilization of other valuable components, such as iron, and the resulting red mud caused severe ecological and environmental safety risks. This work proposed a clean two-stage Bayer digestion technology to obtain iron-rich red mud with low Na 2 O content from high-iron gibbsitic bauxite processing. The effects of digestion conditions on alumina extraction rate and iron enrichment degree in red mud were studied systematically. The ICP, XRD, SEM, and TEM were used to investigate the chemical compositions, phase structures and microstructures of bauxite and red mud. Results show that approximately 83% Al 2 O 3 was extracted, and about 43% SiO 2 was separated simultaneously in gibbsitic bauxite in the first stage, whereas undigested aluminum-bearing minerals mainly originated from substituted aluminum in goethite. Hydrogen was produced by the reaction of glycerol with sodium aluminate solution in the second stage, which promoting the reaction of Al-goethite with titanium-bearing minerals to form Fe(Ⅱ) and Ti(Ⅳ)-substituted hematite. The increase in reductants amount, caustic alkali concentration, reaction temperature, and time favored Al-goethite transformation in digestion. The total Al 2 O 3 recovery and the Fe 2 O 3 in red mud could reach more than 99% and 86%, respectively. Moreover, the content of Al 2 O 3 , SiO 2 , and Na 2 O in red mud satisfied the iron ore concentrate standard of GB/T 36704-2018, which was attributed to avoiding the generation of desilication products (DSP) in red mud. The 93% silicon could be removed from the liquid phase by two separations of the digested slurry. This work will facilitate the large-scale reduction of red mud discharge through further the value-added use of novel red mud technology in collaboration with steel and aluminum, achieving the green and sustainable development of the alumina industry. [Display omitted] • Most of the SiO 2 was removed through the two times slurry separation. • Glycerol promoted the conversion of Al-goethite. • An iron-rich red mud with rather low Na 2 O/SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 content could be obtained. • A new cleaner production process of high-iron gibbsitic bauxite was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The simultaneous transformation and dissociation of minerals containing iron in reductive Bayer digestion of bauxite are important to separate iron minerals from red mud and thus reduce the waste solid disposal in alumina production. In order to better understand the reaction mechanism of iron and hematite in sodium aluminate solution, the phase composition, valence variation and micro-morphology of transformation products were studied by XRD, XPS, FT-IR and SEM respectively. The results show that the intermediate alumogoethite, α-Fe (1 − x) Al x OOH, preferentially forms by the reaction of HFeO 2 − and AlO 2 − and then converts to magnetite in Fe-Na 2 O-Al 2 O 3 -H 2 O system at digestion temperature of 533 K. Meanwhile, the transformation of hematite to magnetite in Fe-Fe 2 O 3 -Na 2 O-Al 2 O 3 -H 2 O system sequentially involves HFeO 2 − generation by dissolution of iron powder, HFeO 2 − diffusion to hematite particles, and magnetite formation on hematite particles by reaction of HFeO 2 − and hematite or dissolved FeO 2 − . Fe addition can prevent hematite particle from becoming much smaller by surface magnetization in reductive Bayer digestion compared with current industrial Bayer digestion. This work is conducive to develop a novel technology for efficiently processing high-iron diasporic bauxite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ultra-long hierarchical bud-like branched TiO 2 nanowire arrays on fluorine-doped tin oxide glass substrate have been prepared via a two-step solution route, which involves the growth of the anatase TiO 2 nanowires with the length of 48 μm on fluorine-doped tin oxide glass substrate, followed by a secondary growth of the rutile TiO 2 nanorods on the as-grown TiO 2 nanowires backbone. The dye-sensitized solar cell based on the hierarchical bud-like branched TiO 2 nanowire arrays shows a power conversion efficiency of 6.00%, which is nearly 2.88 times as high as that of bare TiO 2 nanowire arrays because of the preferable nanostructure, which not only retains the efficient charge separation and transport properties of one-dimensional TiO 2 nanostructures, but also improves the amount of dye adsorption and light-scattering ability due to the branched structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Butyl 1‑hydroxy-2-naphthoate have been obtained. • The crystal structures were characterized by single crystal X–ray diffraction. • The melting point and the emission peaks can be modulated by the substitute. • The luminescent maxima are relative to the close contacts of C···C. To explore the new luminescent materials, two compounds based on hydroxynaphthene group have been prepared. Compound 2 was synthesized through the esterification of compound 1 in the acid conditions. They have been characterized by IR, EA and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Single X-ray diffraction reveals that compounds 1 and 2 belong to the P 2 1 / n and P 2 1 / c , respectively. It is obviously observed that there exist C/O H⋯O and the packing interactions among the aromatic rings. The solid-state fluorescent spectra reveal that the maxima of compounds 1 and 2 are 448 and 415 nm, respectively. The luminescent emission maxima are in accordance with the stacking interactions of compounds. The melting points of both compounds can be found to be 190–192 °C and 78–80 °C, respectively. The Hirshfeld surface analysis further reveals that the close contacts C⋯C are responsible for the luminescent peaks, and the O⋯H/H⋯O close bonds can account for the melting points of both compounds. Two compounds based on hydroxynaphthene group have been prepared, which have been characterized by IR, EA and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The fluorescence maxima of compounds 1 and 2 are 448 and 415 nm, respectively. The melting point of both compounds 190–191 °C and 78–80 °C, respectively. The Hirshfeld surface analysis further confirm that the close contacts C⋯C are responsible for the luminescent peaks, and the O⋯H/H⋯O close bonds can account for the melting points of both compounds. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel coordination polymers, namely {[Ni 2 (dpb)(Hdpb) 2 (4,4′-bbibp) 2 (H 2 O)]·H 2 O} ∞ ( 1 ) and [Ni(dpb)(bimb)(H 2 O)] ∞ ( 2 ) (H 2 dpb = 3,5-di(4′-carboxyl-phenyl)benzene acid, 4,4′-bbibp = 4.4′-bis(benzoimidazo-1-ly)biphenyl, bimb = 1.4-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene) have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), thermogravimetric (TG) analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 shows a rare 1D meso -helical ladder chain, and the adjacent 1D irregular ladder chain forms a 3D supramolecular framework through the O H ⋯ O and C H ⋯ π interactions. Complex 2 exhibits an unprecedented 2-nodal (2,4)-connected 2D layer structure with the Schläfli point symbol (8 4 · 12 2 )(8 2 ), which are further assembled into a 3D supramolecular structure also by O H ⋯ O interactions. Furthermore, the photocatalytic properties of complexes 1 and 2 have been investigated. Interestingly, complex 2 not only shows an remarkable photocatalytic activity on RhB/MB degradation, but also has a better adsorption activity based on the bigger channel under magnetically stirred in the dark for 30 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Compared with T7451 treated sample, RRA treated one exhibits enhanced fatigue crack growth resistance. [•] EBSD analysis showed crack growth behaviors within grains or grain boundary in both samples. [•] Examination of micro fractures and surfaces were performed with SEM in both samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Futibatinib, a highly selective, irreversible potent fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitor, has been proved to be effective in clinical trials of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICCA) patients. An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method to determine the concentration of futibatinib in beagle dog plasma was developed and validated for the study of pharmacokinetics. After the plasma protein was removed by acetonitrile precipitation, futibatinib was detected and derazantinib was used as the internal standard (IS). Futibatinib and IS were separated in an UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 mm × 50 mm, 1.7 μm) with acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid as the mobile phase, and the flow rate was 0.3 mL/min. Under the positive ion condition of an electrospray spray ion (ESI+) source, multireaction detection was used, and the ion pairs for futibatinib and IS were m/z 418.99 ⟶ 295.97 and 468.96 ⟶ 382.00, respectively. Futibatinib had a good linear relationship in the linear range of 0.5∼100 ng/mL; the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 0.5 ng/mL. The RSDs of the intraday and interday precision were all less than 10.70%, and the RE value of accuracy was between −3.87% and 3.28%. The extraction recovery of futibatinib was more than 80%, and the matrix effect was around 100%, and futibatinib was found to be stable under four experimental conditions. The new optimized and validated UPLC-MS/MS method was an effective tool to determine the concentration of futibatinib in plasma and has been successfully applied to the pharmacokinetics of futibatinib in beagle dogs. This method would also be used to study drug-drug interaction (DDI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce the negative effects of the buzz flow state of supersonic air inlets, this paper proposes a process in which an online monitoring system for the supersonic inlet flow patterns is established with pressure sensors. The first step in this workflow is to build an experimental system based on the objective air inlet and a large number of pressure sensors. After that, for each pressure sensor, based on Sliding Window Short-Time Fourier Transform (SW-STFT) pre-processing and Deep residual network (ResNet) structure, a method to train a sub classifier (Classifier trained by only one sensor signal) with each pressure sensor is proposed to achieve efficient extraction of highly perturbed signal information and high classification accuracy of different flow patterns. However, the main limitation of this workflow is that too many pressure sensors can increase the complexity of aero engine control systems and make the installation difficult. Therefore, in the third step, a multi-objective optimization model is built to solve this problem and find the best subset of sensors in the experimental system. Compared with previous studies, the flow modal monitoring system established in this paper has the advantages of real-time monitoring, higher classification accuracy, and better performance robustness. At the same time, this workflow allows the construction of individualized flow monitoring systems for different inlets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates new damage detection method for bridges to ensure their safety. The idea of using displacement data of two symmetrical points for multiple damage detection is presented for the first time. After introducing the concept of Equivalent Element, a novel index termed as 'Symmetrical Displacement Difference Index (SDDI),' is proposed. The displacement under static load is used for constructing the new index. Then the relationship between the local flexural stiffness change caused by damage and SDDI value is generated. In application, SDDI values can be plotted after the measurement of displacement. The relative changes between the intact state and the damage state in the curve shapes can be used to indicate the position of damage. This new damage detection method based on SDDI is flexible enough to be applied to real-world bridges with inherent random uncertainty and actual support condition. Numerical and experimental examples have been conducted to examine the suitability of the method. This paper provides a simple, convenient, cost-effective, and nondestructive damage detection method for bridges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuroma, a pathological response to peripheral nerve injury, refers to the abnormal growth of nerve tissue characterized by disorganized axonal proliferation. Commonly occurring after nerve injuries, surgeries, or amputations, this condition leads to the formation of painful nodular structures. Traditional treatment options include surgical excision and pharmacological management, aiming to alleviate symptoms. However, these approaches often offer temporary relief without addressing the underlying regenerative challenges, necessitating the exploration of advanced strategies such as tissue-engineered materials for more comprehensive and effective solutions. In this study, we discussed the etiology, molecular mechanisms, and histological morphology of traumatic neuromas after peripheral nerve injury. Subsequently, we summarized and analyzed current nonsurgical and surgical treatment options, along with their advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, we emphasized recent advancements in treating traumatic neuromas with tissue-engineered material strategies. By integrating biomaterials, growth factors, cell-based approaches, and electrical stimulation, tissue engineering offers a comprehensive solution surpassing mere symptomatic relief, striving for the structural and functional restoration of damaged nerves. In conclusion, the utilization of tissue-engineered materials has the potential to significantly reduce the risk of neuroma recurrence after surgical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore the neuroprotective effects of ARA290 and the role of β‐common receptor (βCR) in a mouse model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Methods: This study included male C57BL/6J mice that underwent MCAO and reperfusion. The neuroprotective effect of ARA290 on MCAO‐induced brain injury was investigated using neurological function tests (Longa and modified neurological severity score). Cerebral infarction was examined by 2, 3, 5‐triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining, neuronal apoptosis was assessed by immunofluorescence staining, blood parameters were measured using a flow cytometry‐based automated hematology analyzer, liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry was used to identify the serum metabolomics signature, inflammatory cytokines and liver index were detected by commercially available kits, and the protein levels of the erythropoietin (EPO) receptor and βCR were measured by western blot. Results: ARA290 exerted a qualitatively similar neuroprotective effect after MCAO as EPO. ARA290 significantly reduced neuronal apoptosis and the level of inflammatory cytokines in the brain tissue. However, ARA290's neuroprotective effect was significantly suppressed following the injection of siRNA against βCR. Conclusion: ARA290 provided a neuroprotective effect via βCR in cerebral ischemic mice without causing erythropoiesis. This study provides novel insights into the role of ARA290 in ischemic stroke intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, nanogenerators based on several techniques such as triboelectric effects, piezoelectric effects, or other mechanisms have experienced great developments. The nanoenergy generated by nanogenerators is supposed to be used to overcome the problem of energy supply problems for portable electronics and to be applied to self-powered microsystems including sensors, actuators, integrated circuits, power sources, and so on. Researchers made many attempts to achieve a good solution and have performed many explorations. Massive efforts have been devoted to developing self-powered electronics, such as self-powered communication devices, self-powered human–machine interfaces, and self-powered sensors. To take full advantage of nanoenergy, we need to review the existing applications, look for similarities and differences, and then explore the ways of achieving various self-powered systems with better performance. In this review, the methods of applying nanogenerators in specific circumstances are studied. The applications of nanogenerators are classified into two categories, direct utilization and indirect utilization, according to whether a treatment process is needed. We expect to offer a line of thought for future research on self-powered electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atomically flat thin films of topological insulator Bi2Se3 have been grown on double-layer graphene formed on 6H-SiC(0001) substrate by molecular beam epitaxy. By a combined study of reflection high energy electron diffraction and scanning tunneling microscopy, we identified the Se-rich condition and temperature criterion for layer-by-layer growth of epitaxial Bi2Se3 films. The as-grown films without doping exhibit a low defect density of 1.0±0.2×1011/cm2, and become a bulk insulator at a thickness of ten quintuple layers, as revealed by in situ angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the factors that influence the willingness of highway construction enterprises in China to adopt intelligent construction technology. Based on the existing literature, a TOSE framework was proposed, and four dimensions and 15 hypothesized influencing factors were identified through expert interviews. By using a combination of PLS-SEM and ANN, 513 survey data were analyzed to determine the linear and non-linear relationships of the influencing factors on the willingness to adopt. The results showed that all 14 hypothesized factors had varying degrees of positive or negative effects on the willingness to adopt, except for organizational culture, which was found to have no significant impact. Specifically, technology cost was found to be the most influential negative factor, while market demand and organizational structure were the most influential positive factors. The findings of this study have important reference value for decision makers and participants in highway construction enterprises, as well as other construction companies when considering the adoption of smart construction technologies. The originality of this research lies in the novel application of the TOSE framework to investigate smart construction technology adoption, and the combined use of PLS-SEM and ANN to examine both linear and nonlinear relationships between variables for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apart from cancer, metabolic reprogramming is also prevalent in other diseases, such as bacterial infections. Bacterial infections can affect a variety of cells, tissues, organs, and bodies, leading to a series of clinical diseases. Common Pathogenic bacteria include Helicobacter pylori, Salmonella enterica, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Staphylococcus aureus, and so on. Amino acids are important and essential nutrients in bacterial physiology and support not only their proliferation but also their evasion of host immune defenses. Many pathogenic bacteria or opportunistic pathogens infect the host and lead to significant changes in metabolites, especially the proteinogenic amino acids, to inhibit the host's immune mechanism to achieve its immune evasion and pathogenicity. Here, we review the regulation of host metabolism, while host cells are infected by some common pathogenic bacteria, and discuss how amino acids of metabolic reprogramming affect bacterial infections, revealing the potential adjunctive application of amino acids alongside antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel one-step preparation method for core-shell CdS/SiO2 nanoparticles was proposed using 3-mercaptopropyl-trimethoxysilane (MPS) as stabilizing agent in MeOH, in which CdCl2·2.5H2O and Na2S·9H2O were used as the source of Cd and S, respectively. And the photostability of the nanoparticles was further investigated. The morphology and structure of products was characterized by scanning probe microscope and FT-IR spectra, respectively. Furthermore, the influences of Zn and Cu doped in the products, individually, on the fluorescence property were discussed. The results showed that the products were ball-shaped and silica-coated with a uniform size, the spectra of Zn-doped was blue shifted, however, the spectra of Cu-doped was red shifted, the core-shell CdS/SiO2 nanoparticles was more steady compared with thioglycolic acid-capped CdS nanoparticles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) and vapor-liquid-liquid equilibrium (VLLE) data were measured for the binary and ternary systems of propylene glycol methyl ether (PGME) + propylene glycol methyl ether propionate (PGMEP), water + PGMEP and water + PGME + PGMEP using a static-type apparatus equipped with a visual cell under isothermal condition over a temperature range of 318.15 K–363.15 K. The phase equilibrium data of the binary systems are correlated well with the NRTL-HOC and the UNIQUAC-HOC models by using linearly temperature-dependent parameters. However, the ternary VLLE properties are unable to be estimated accurately only by using the parameters determined from the phase equilibrium data of the constituent binaries. The representation of the ternary VLLE properties can be substantially improved as the six model parameters are determined simultaneously from the ternary VLLE data. • Isothermal VLE and VLLE data were measured. • The investigated systems contain water, PGME, and PGMEP. • The NRTL-HOC and the UNIQUAC-HOC were used to correlate the VLE and VLLE data. • Using parameters determined from phase equilibrium data of constituent binaries fail to predict the VLLE properties.. • The UNIFAC-HOC models are also unable to accurately predict the VLLE properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the high-temperature Bayer process, the inhibitory effect of titanium-containing minerals on diaspore digestion is believed to be resulted from the formation of a dense sodium titanate layer covering the diaspore particles, however, there is a lack of direct observational evidence to date. This work adopted X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), cross-section SEM and in-situ analysis to clarify the inhibitory mechanism by investigating the interactions between Al-/Ti-/Si-bearing minerals in the simulated high-temperature Bayer digestion process. The observation of a sodium titanate layer provided direct evidence for the solid layer theory. XPS result further indicates that the Ti-O-Al bond is a significant factor in promoting the covering of sodium titanate on alumina-bearing mineral particles. Cross-section SEM and in-situ analyses illustrate that the dissolution of diaspore is carried out not only on the surface of diaspore particles but also on the inner surface such as pores and gaps of particles. Meanwhile, as similar to Ti-bearing minerals, the Si-bearing minerals also inhibit the diaspore digestion by forming a sodium aluminate silicate hydrate layer at an elevated temperature. • Direct observation of a sodium titanate layer on Al-bearing minerals. • Ti-O-Al bond promotes the covering of sodium titanate on disapore. • Sodium aluminate silicate hydrate layer also inhibits the diaspore digestion. • A better method to observe the changes at mineral-solution interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Converting hematite to magnetite in Bayer liquor at elevated temperature plays a key role in the exploration of a cleaner technology for alumina production with high iron content bauxite. In this work, the effects of Si-bearing minerals on hematite conversion during reductive Bayer digestion were investigated by studying the reaction kinetics and mineralogy. The experimental rate data of the hematite conversion in the presence of zero-valent iron during high temperature Bayer digestion agree well with the unreacted shrinking-core model under internal diffusion control, and the activation energy for the conversion is determined to be 45.4 ± 1.8 kJ·mol−1. The interaction between the dissolved Si or the granular sodium aluminate silicate hydrate and iron powder inhibits the transformation of metallic iron into HFeO 2 − or magnetite. Further, the dissolved Si co-precipitates with iron-containing species to form Si–Fe hetero-aggregates, which impedes species diffusion, thus inhibits the hematite to magnetite conversion. The inhibitory effects of different Si-bearing minerals are significantly different. This work contributes to a better understanding of iron mineral conversion in Bayer liquor at elevated temperatures and to the optimization of the reductive Bayer digestion process. • Magnetite forms primarily through the hematite reacting with HFeO 2 −. • Fixation of DSP inhibits the direct adsorption of Fe (II) ions onto the iron mineral surface. • The contributions of Si-bearing minerals to the inhibitory effect are significantly different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A comprehensive evaluation method for operational tunnels based on full data flow is proposed. • An unsupervised clustering-based service classification method for operational tunnels is proposed. • A TPE-LightGBM classifier that utilizes the information features of tunnels to predict their service performance is developed. • Factors that contribute to the degradation of operational tunnels at different stages are investigated. The appraisal of a tunnel service condition usually takes into account the lining deformations and defects of the lining structure, with the assessment technique heavily rely on the expertise of the evaluation. In this study, based on the US National Tunnel Inventory (NTI) database, a TOPSIS-CRITIC evaluation system was established to comprehensively evaluate the service performance of tunnels during the operation period from three categories of structural, traffic & civil, and non-structural components, resulting in the Tunnel Service Performance Index (TSPI). Then, a K-means clustering method was used to unevenly divide the TSPI of tunnels into service levels I ∼ IV. After consulting with experts, 23 important features were selected from 88 basic characteristics of tunnels, and further refined this list to 19 key factors using Spearman correlation analysis. These features were grouped into five categories: traffic, geological, space & time, planning & construction, and operational. Due to the imbalance of categories, SMOTE oversampling method was employed for data augmentation. Further, a TPE Bayesian optimized LightGBM classifier was proposed to predict the service level of tunnels and compared with nine common machine learning models (LR, KNN, SVM, DT, RF, GBDT, XGB, ET and MLP). After comprehensive experiments and numerical testing, the TPE-LGBM classifier achieved the highest overall performance among the ten models. Lastly, the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) interpretability model in conjunction with GIS spatial geographic information was employed to conduct an in-depth analysis of how full life cycle features impact tunnel service performance during operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the prestressed carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) strengthening technique widely used in reinforced concrete (RC) structures, it is more and more important to study the fatigue performance of RC structures. Since the fracture of a tensile steel bar at the main cracked section is the leading reason for the failure of RC beams reinforced by prestressed CFRP, a fatigue life prediction model of RC beams reinforced by prestressed CFRP was developed based on an accumulative damage model. Moreover, gradual degradation of the performance of the concrete was considered in the fatigue life prediction model. An experimental study was also conducted to research the fatigue behavior of RC beams reinforced by prestressed or non-prestressed carbon fiber laminate (CFL). During the tests, fatigue crack patterns were captured using a digital image correlation (DIC) technique, and the fatigue lives of a total of 30 beams were recorded. The results showed that the predicted main crack propagation curves and the fatigue lives were close to the experimental data. This study also exhibited that the prestressed CFRP could reduce the stress of main steel bars in RC beams and effectively improve the fatigue performance of the RC beams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of intelligent transportation, driverless is another important means that will utterly change traditional travels in the future. In order to adapt to the large-scale and complex traffic environment of driverless, we propose a dynamic bidirectional A* algorithm for driverless navigation planning. On the basis of this, theoretical simulations under different traffic flow conditions are realized, and the feasibility of the algorithm is verified. The vehicular self-organizing network is an important development direction of driverless in the future. In order to verify the performance of the algorithm in the vehicular self-organizing network environment, we adopt the OMNeT++ and SUMO bidirectional coupling, and perform joint simulation experiments on the open source framework Veins. In the traffic states with different traffic densities, the path planned by the dynamic bidirectional A* algorithm in the Vanet environment can reduce travel time and improve travel efficiency more effectively than that of the traditional bidirectional A* algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the atomic structure and electronic properties of monolayers of copper phthalocyanines (CuPc) deposited on epitaxial graphene substrate. We focus in particular on hexadecafluorophthalocyanine (F16CuPc), using both theoretical and experimental (scanning tunneling microscopy - STM) studies. For the individual CuPc and F16CuPc molecules, we calculated the electronic and optical properties using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT and found a red-shift in the absorption peaks of F16CuPc relative to those of CuPc. In F16CuPc, the electronic wavefunctions are more polarized toward the electronegative fluorine atoms and away from the Cu atom at the center of the molecule. When adsorbed on graphene, the molecules lie flat and form closely packed patterns: F16CuPc forms a hexagonal pattern with two well-ordered alternating α and β stripes while CuPc arranges into a square lattice. The competition between molecule-substrate and intermolecular van der Waals interactions plays a crucial role in establishing the molecular patterns leading to tunable electron transfer from graphene to the molecules. This transfer is controlled by the layer thickness of, or the applied voltage on, epitaxial graphene resulting in selective F16CuPc adsorption, as observed in STM experiments. In addition, phthalocyanine adsorption modifies the electronic structure of the underlying graphene substrate introducing intensity smoothing in the range of 2-3 eV below the Dirac point (ED) and a small peak in the density of states at ∼0.4 eV above ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An alcohol dehydrogenase LkADH was successfully engineered to exhibit improved activity and substrate tolerance for the production of (S)‐2‐chloro‐1‐(3,4‐difluorophenyl)ethanol, an important precursor of ticagrelor. Five potential hotspots were identified for enzyme mutagenesis by using natural residue abundance as an indicator to evaluate their potential plasticity. A semi‐rational strategy named "aromatic residue scanning" was applied to randomly mutate these five sites simultaneously by using tyrosine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine as "exploratory residues" to introduce steric hindrance or potential π‐π interactions. The best variant Lk‐S96Y/L199W identified with 17.2‐fold improvement in catalytic efficiency could completely reduce up to 600 g/L (3.1 M) 2‐chloro‐1‐(3,4‐difluorophenyl)ethenone in 12 h with >99.5 % ee, giving the highest space‐time yield ever reported. This study, therefore, offers a strategy for mutating alcohol dehydrogenase to reduce aromatic substrates and provides an efficient variant for the efficient synthesis of (S)‐2‐chloro‐1‐(3,4‐difluorophenyl)ethanol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanomaterials with bone-mimicking characteristics and easily internalized by the cell could create suitable microenvironments in which to regulate the therapeutic effects of bone regeneration. This review provides an overview of the current state-of-the-art research in developing and using nanomaterials for better bone injury repair. First, an overview of the hierarchical architecture from the macroscale to the nanoscale of natural bone is presented, as these bone tissue microstructures and compositions are the basis for constructing bone substitutes. Next, urgent clinical issues associated with bone injury that require resolution and the potential of nanomaterials to overcome them are discussed. Finally, nanomaterials are classified as inorganic or organic based on their chemical properties. Their basic characteristics and the results of related bone engineering studies are described. This review describes theoretical and technical bases for the development of innovative methods for repairing damaged bone and should inspire therapeutic strategies with potential for clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the results of long-term reverberation mapping campaigns of the nearby active galactic nuclei (AGNs) NGC 4151, spanning from 1994 to 2022, based on archived observations of the FAST Spectrograph Publicly Archived Programs and our new observations with the 2.3 m telescope at the Wyoming Infrared Observatory. We reduce and calibrate all the spectra in a consistent way, and derive light curves of the broad H β line and 5100 Å continuum. Continuum light curves are also constructed using public archival photometric data to increase sampling cadences. We subtract the host galaxy contamination using Hubble Space Telescope imaging to correct fluxes of the calibrated light curves. Utilizing the long-term archival photometric data, we complete the absolute flux-calibration of the AGN continuum. We find that the H β time delays are correlated with the 5100 Å luminosities as |$\tau _{\rm H\beta }\propto L_{5100}^{0.46\pm 0.16}$|⁠. This is remarkably consistent with Bentz et al. (2013)'s global size–luminosity relationship of AGNs. Moreover, the data sets for five of the seasons allow us to obtain the velocity-resolved delays of the H β line, showing diverse structures (outflows, inflows, and discs). Combining our results with previous independent measurements, we find the measured dynamics of the H β broad-line region (BLR) are possibly related to the long-term trend of the luminosity. There is also a possible additional ∼1.86 yr time lag between the variation in BLR radius and luminosity. These results suggest that dynamical changes in the BLR may be driven by the effects of radiation pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are phospholipid membrane-enclosed entities containing specific proteins, RNA, miRNA, and lncRNA. EVs are released by various cells and play a vital role in cell communication by transferring their contents from the host cells to the recipient cells. The role of EVs has been characterized in a wide range of physiological and pathophysiological processes. In this context, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of the regulatory effects of EVs, with a focus on bone metabolism and the bone microenvironment. The roles of EVs in cell communication among bone-related cells, stem cells, tumor cells, and other cells under physiological or pathological conditions are also discussed. In addition, promising applications for EVs in treating bone-related diseases are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High tumor mutation load (TMB-H, or TMB ≥ 10) has been approved by the U.S. FDA as a biomarker for pembrolizumab treatment of solid tumors, including non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients with cancer who have immunotherapy-resistant gene mutations cannot achieve clinical benefits even in TMB-H. In this study, we aimed to identify gene mutations associated with immunotherapy resistance and further informed mechanisms in NSCLC. A combined cohort of 350 immune checkpoint blockade-treated patients from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) was used to identify genes whose mutations could negatively influence immunotherapy efficacy. An external NSCLC cohort for which profession-free survival (PFS) data were available was used for independent validation. CIBERSORT algorithms were used to characterize tumor immune infiltrating patterns. Immunogenomic features were analysed in the TCGA NSCLC cohort. We observed that PBRM1 mutations independently and negatively influence immunotherapy efficacy. Survival analysis showed that the overall survival (OS) and PFS of patients with PBRM1 mutations (MT) were significantly shorter than the wild type (WT). Moreover, compared with PBRM1-WT/TMB-H group, OS was worse in the PBRM1-MT/TMB-H group. Notably, in patients with TMB-H/PBRM1-MT, it was equal to that in the low-TMB group. The CIBERSORT algorithm further confirmed that the immune infiltration abundance of CD8+ T cells and activated CD4+ memory T was significantly lower in the MT group. Immunogenomic differences were observed in terms of immune signatures, T-cell receptor repertoire, and immune-related genes between WT and MT groups. Nevertheless, we noticed an inverse relationship, given that MT tumors had a higher TMB than the WT group in MSKCC and TCGA cohort. In conclusion, our study revealed that NSCLC with PBRM1 mutation might be an immunologically cold phenotype and exhibited immunotherapy resistance. NSCLC with PBRM1 mutation might be misclassified as immunoresponsive based on TMB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Sonchus oleraceus (L.) L (SO) and Juniperus sabina L (JS) are traditional medicinal plants in China. And the aqueous extracts of them have been used to treat tumor, inflammatory diseases, infection and so on in Chinese folk culture. However, the underlying mechanisms of their anti-tumor activities have not been illustrated yet. Objective This study aims to evaluate the inhibitory effects of aqueous extracts from SO and JS on tumor cells. Materials and methods The prepared aqueous extracts of SO and JS were used to treat HepG-2 and K562 tumor cells, while the human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were set as normal control. The viabilities, cell cycle and apoptosis of tumor cells after extracts treatment were assessed, in addition the expression of apoptosis-related genes (FasL, caspase 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10) were analyzed. Meanwhile, the adherence and migration of HepG-2 were tested, and the expression levels of MMPs and ICAM-1 were analyzed. On top of that, the pSTAT in the two cells were also analyzed and suggested the related signaling pathway that the extracts acted on with in these tumor cells. Results Results showed that aqueous extracts of SO and JS have inhibitory effects on HepG-2 and K562 cells by decreasing cell viability and inducing apoptosis via up-regulation of the expression of the apoptosis-related genes FasL, caspase 3 and caspase 9. The extracts had different IC 50 on tumor cells and PBMCs, which could block the tumor cell cycle at the G 0 /G 1 stage and significantly inhibit the adherence of HepG-2 cells. The extracts inhibited migration of these cells by inhibiting the expression of ICAM-1, MMP-2 and MMP-9. Further study indicated that the inhibition of pSTAT1 and 3 might be responsible for the inhibitory effects of the extracts on tumor cells. Discussion and conclusion The results of this study indicated that SO and JS extracts had the anti-tumor effects, which may be developed as novel anti-tumor drugs and used in cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a porous TiO 2 thin film was modified with a robust sol–gel process to form interconnected nanoparticle networks for facilitating charge transfer in a dye-sensitized solar cell. Compared to the conventionally prepared photoanode using only P25 TiO 2 nanoparticles, such a unique processing method could reduce the interfacial impedance by ~ 18% (from 27.6 Ω to 22.5 Ω) by forming interparticle-bindings between the P25 TiO 2 nanoparticles with the sol–gel TiO 2 . Such a processing method could improve the photocurrent density by ~ 30% (from 10.07 mA/cm 2 to 13.07 mA/cm 2 ) and consequently it results in a ~ 20% photovoltaic efficiency improvement of dye-sensitized solar cell (from 4.83% to 5.81%). In addition to the photovoltaic performance enhancement, such a facile method with reduced processing time and energy consumption provides the possibility of developing high performance and cost-effective dye-sensitized solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malnutrition is highly prevalent in critically ill patients. The modified Nutrition Risk in the Critically ill (mNUTRIC) score has been introduced to evaluate the nutritional risk of patients in an intensive care unit (ICU). The mNUTRIC score is a predictive factor of mortality for patients in a medical or mixed ICU, whereas the relationship between mNUTRIC and prognosis of patients in a cardiothoracic surgery recovery unit (CSRU) is unclear and related researches are limited. Methods: We conducted this retrospective cohort study to explore the value of mNUTRIC score in CSRU patients. We identified totally 4059 patients from the Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care III (MIMIC III) database. Results: The optimal cut‐off value of mNUTRIC score was 4 and a total of 1498 (36.9%) patients were considered to be at high nutritional risk (mNUTRIC ≥ 4). A multivariate logistic regression model indicated that patients at high nutritional risk have higher hospital mortality compared to those at low nutritional risk (odds ratio = 2.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.32‐4.70, p = 0.005]. Furthermore, a Cox regression model was established adjusted for age, white blood cell and body mass index. The Kaplan–Meier curve indicated that patients at high nutritional risk have poorer 365‐days [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.30‐2.37, p < 0.001] and 1000‐days (HR = 2.30, 95% CI = 1.87–2.83, p < 0.001) overall survival. Conclusions: The mNUTRIC score could not only predict hospital mortality, but also be an independent prognostic factor for long‐term survival in CSRU patients. More well‐designed clinical trials are needed to verify and update our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioactive macromolecular drugs known as Growth Factors (GFs), approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have found successful application in clinical practice. They hold significant promise for addressing peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs). Peripheral nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) loaded with GFs, in the context of tissue engineering, can ensure sustained and efficient release of these bioactive compounds. This, in turn, maintains a stable, long-term, and effective GF concentration essential for treating damaged peripheral nerves. Peripheral nerve regeneration is a complex process that entails the secretion of various GFs. Following PNI, GFs play a pivotal role in promoting nerve cell growth and survival, axon and myelin sheath regeneration, cell differentiation, and angiogenesis. They also regulate the regenerative microenvironment, stimulate plasticity changes post-nerve injury, and, consequently, expedite nerve structure and function repair. Both exogenous and endogenous GFs, including NGF, BDNF, NT-3, GDNF, IGF-1, bFGF, and VEGF, have been successfully loaded onto NGCs using techniques like physical adsorption, blend doping, chemical covalent binding, and engineered transfection. These approaches have effectively promoted the repair of peripheral nerves. Numerous studies have demonstrated similar tissue functional therapeutic outcomes compared to autologous nerve transplantation. This evidence underscores the substantial clinical application potential of GFs in the domain of peripheral nerve repair. In this article, we provide an overview of GFs in the context of peripheral nerve regeneration and drug delivery systems utilizing NGCs. Looking ahead, commercial materials for peripheral nerve repair hold the potential to facilitate the effective regeneration of damaged peripheral nerves and maintain the functionality of distant target organs through the sustained release of GFs. [Display omitted] • Growth Factors are bioactive macromolecular drugs for addressing peripheral nerve injuries, which are complex to treat. • GFs play a pivotal role in promoting various aspects of nerve regeneration, including nerve cell growth and survival, axon and myelin sheath regeneration, cell differentiation, and angiogenesis. • Various tissue-engineering delivery platforms have enabled sustained release of growth factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CdS/ZIF-67 (CZ) nanocomposites combined the excellent CO 2 adsorption capacity of ZIF-67 with suitable energy gap of CdS QDs shows enhanced CO 2 photoreduction capacity. • CdS/ZIF-67 nanocomposites were prepared under mild reaction conditions for the first time. • The CdS/ZIF-67 can photocatalyze CO 2 reduction with excellent selectivity. • Mechanism for enhanced CO 2 reduction performance with CdS/ZIF-67 was proposed. Zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67) has emerged recently as a new type of photocatalyst for CO 2 reduction, mainly owing to its excellent CO 2 uptake capacity and unique crystal topological property. However, there are still limitations and challenges on the application of ZIF-67 in CO 2 reduction, such as the low selectivity and poor stability. In this work, a novel CdS/ZIF-67 nanocomposites obtained via a relatively simple route shows improved CO 2 reduction capacity than pure ZIF-67. The photocatalytic performance of CdS/ZIF-67 with different CdS loading (the n CdS / n ZIF-67 ranges from 2.0 to 3.2) was investigated, and 3.0CdS/ZIF-67 exhibited the highest yield and excellent selectivity for reducing CO 2 to CO, whose selectivity almost 4 times that of ZIF-67 and CO production rate is up to 183.964 μmol g−1 h−1. The deeper characterization study results such as XPS, UV–vis DRS confirmed the synergistic effect between CdS and ZIF-67, which is proposed to have greatly contribution on the selective reduction of CO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combretastatin-4 (CA-4) as a tubulin polymerization inhibitor draws extensive attentions. However, due to its weak stability of cis-olefin and poor metabolic stability, structure modifications on cis-configuration are being performed. In this work, we constructed a series of novel CA-4 analogues with linkers on olefin containing diphenylethanone, cis-locked dihydrofuran, α-substituted diphenylethanone, cyclobutane and cyclohexane on its cis-olefin. Cytotoxic activity of all analogues was measured by an SRB assay. Among them, compound 6b, a by-product in the preparation of diphenylethanone analogues, was found to be the most potent cytotoxic agents against HepG2 cells with IC50 values of less than 0.5 μM. The two isomers of 6b induced cellular apoptosis tested by Annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide (PI) double staining, arrested cells in the G2/M phase by PI staining analysis, and disrupted microtubule network by immunohistochemistry study in HepG2 cells. Moreover, 6b-(E) displayed a dose-dependent inhibition effect for tubulin assembly in in vitro tubulin polymerization assay. In addition, molecular docking studies showed that two isomers of 6b could bind efficiently at colchicine binding site of tubulin similar to CA-4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tannins biodegradation by a microorganism is one of the most efficient ways to produce bioproducts of high value. However, the mechanism of tannins biodegradation by yeast has been little explored. In this study, Aureobasidium melanogenum T9 isolated from red wine starter showed the ability for tannins degradation and had its highest biomass when the initial tannic acid concentration was 20 g/L. Furthermore, the genes involved in the tannin degradation process were analyzed. Genes tan A, tan B and tan C encoding three different tannases respectively were identified in the A. melanogenum T9. Among these genes, tan A and tan B can be induced by tannin acid simultaneously at both gene transcription and protein expression levels. Our assay result showed that the deletion of tanA and tanB resulted in tannase activity decline with 51.3 ± 4.1 and 64.1 ± 1.9 U/mL, respectively, which is much lower than that of A. melanogenum T9 with 91.3 ± 5.8 U/mL. In addition, another gene coding gallic acid decarboxylase (gad) was knocked out to better clarify its function. Mutant Δgad completely lost gallic acid decarboxylase activity and no pyrogallic acid was seen during the entire cultivation process, confirming that there was a sole gene encoding decarboxylase in the A. melanogenum T9. These results demonstrated that tanA, tanB and gad were crucial for tannin degradation and provided new insights for the mechanism of tannins biodegradation by yeast. This finding showed that A. melanogenum has potential in the production of tannase and metabolites, such as gall acid and pyrogallol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]