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This study aims to explore the changes in the vitreous proteomics of form deprivation myopia (FDM) in guinea pigs, in order to reveal the molecular mechanisms involved in the onset and development of myopia. The myopia model in guinea pigs was successfully established by covering one eye of the guinea pigs with a latex bead sac for 4 weeks. This study used 4D data-independent acquisition proteomics technology to analyze vitreous body samples from both the FDM group and the control group. The goal of the proteomics analysis was to identify differences in protein expression within the vitreous body of FDM guinea pigs. Myopia was successfully induced in the FDM group after 4 weeks of modeling. A total of 6298 proteins were identified, among which 348 were differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), with 81 upregulated and 267 downregulated. These DEPs were subjected to in-depth bioinformatics analyses, including Gene Ontology, the Eukaryotic Orthologous Groups, and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. These analyses revealed significant involvement in cellular processes, metabolic pathways, biological regulation, cytoskeletal organization, and cell movement. Our results indicate that calcium signaling plays a critical role in mediating eye changes associated with form deprivation, which may bear similarities to mechanisms observed in neurodegenerative diseases. A total of 348 DEPs related to the development and progression of myopia were identified. These changes involve key biological processes, including protein degradation, cell adhesion, and transport, especially alterations in calcium signaling pathways. Stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) is an important biological marker of FDM, which was confirmed by Western blot, immunohistochemistry and ELISA. Our study found clear differences in the expression of proteins in the vitreous during the development of myopic guinea pigs, especially those related to calcium signaling pathway. Our study offers new insights into the pathogenesis of myopia, particularly changes related to protein metabolism pathways.

Abstract The annual increase in myopia prevalence poses a significant economic and health challenge. Our study investigated the effect of calcitriol role in myopia by inducing the condition in guinea pigs through form deprivation for four weeks. Untargeted metabolomics methods were used to analyze the differences in metabolites in the vitreous body, and the expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR) in the retina was detected. Following form deprivation, the guinea pigs received intraperitoneal injections of calcitriol at different concentrations. We assessed myopia progression using diopter measurements and biometric analysis after four weeks. Results indicated that form deprivation led to a pronounced shift towards myopia, characterized by reduced choroidal and scleral thickness, disorganized collagen fibers, and decreased scleral collagen fiber diameter. Notably, a reduction in calcitriol expression in vitreous body, diminished vitamin D and calcitriol levels in the blood, and decreased VDR protein expression in retinal tissues were observed in myopic guinea pigs. Calcitriol administration effectively slowed myopia progression, preserved choroidal and scleral thickness, and prevented the reduction of scleral collagen fiber diameter. Our findings highlight a significant decrease in calcitriol and VDR expressions in myopic guinea pigs and demonstrate that exogenous calcitriol supplementation can halt myopia development, enhancing choroidal and scleral thickness and scleral collagen fiber diameter.

Fiber quality improvement is a primary goal in cotton breeding. Identification of fiber quality-related genes and understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms are essential prerequisites. Previously, studies determined that silencing the gene GhWRKY40 resulted in longer cotton fibers; however, both the underlying mechanisms and whether this transcription factor is additionally involved in the regulation of cotton fiber strength/fineness are unknown. In the current study, we verified that GhWRKY40 influences the fiber strength, fiber fineness, and fiber surface structure by using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS). Potential proteins that may interact with the nucleus-localized GhWRKY40 were screened in a yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) nuclear-system cDNA library constructed from fibers at 0, 10, and 25 days post-anthesis (DPA) in two near-isogenic lines differing in fiber length and strength. An aspartyl protease/asparaginase-related protein, GhAPD6, was identified and confirmed by Y2H and split-luciferase complementation assays. The expression of GhAPD6 was approximately 30-fold higher in the GhWRKY40-VIGS lines at 10 DPA and aspartyl protease activity was significantly upregulated in the GhWRKY40-VIGS lines at 10–20 DPA. This study suggested that GhWRKY40 may interact with GhAPD6 to regulate fiber development in cotton. The results provide a theoretical reference for the selection and breeding of high-quality cotton fibers assisted by molecular technology.

Abstract Background The innovative closed management of universities may have influenced the physical and mental health of students during the fourth stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in China. The study aimed to assess the gastrointestinal and mental health status of students in this stage and to explore the possible risk factors and mechanisms to provide a reference for future school responses to similar stressful events. Method A multicenter, cross-sectional survey was administered to 598 college students from 10 Chinese universities. The study used the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19 S), and the Diagnostic Tendency of Functional Bowel Disease Scale (DT-FBD) to evaluate anxiety, depression, fear of COVID-19 and likelihood of being diagnose diagnosed with functional bowel disease (FBD), respectively. Results A total of 516 college students completed the questionnaire. The proportions of students with more severe anxiety, more severe depression, greater fear of COVID-19, and a greater likelihood of being diagnosed with FBD were 49.8%, 57.0%, 49%, and 49%, respectively. These symptoms were significantly and positively correlated with the frequency of irregular sleep and eating (p

A tunable LED panel with multiple types of LEDs on a panel can provide various spectra for optimal plant growth. However, it is difficult for a lighting panel with multiple types of high-power LEDs to achieve uniform lighting. We demonstrated that by using optical reflectors at the sides of an LED panel to trap photons of LED arrays or using both the above-mentioned reflectors and optical lenses on each LED, high lighting uniformity can be achieved at a short distance to plants. The ray tracing simulation results show that the LED panel equipped with reflectors and optical lenses can achieve a high uniformity of >0.80 when the LED-plant distance is at half of the LED array’s pitch. We further verified that an LED panel (at a size of 88 cm × 54 cm) installed with reflectors can achieve light uniformities around 0.90 at a 15 cm LED-plant distance for the 6 types of LEDs (4 color LEDs and 2 white LEDs) on the panel. Compared with a branded tunable LED panel, our LED panel saves >25 cm vertical distance for each tier of plants and has 92.5% higher photon efficacy for 660 nm LEDs that exist on both panels.

Electrochemical (EC) detection is a powerful tool supporting simple, low-cost, and rapid analysis. Although screen printing is commonly used to mass fabricate disposable EC chips, its mask is relatively expensive. In this research, we demonstrated a method for fabricating three-electrode EC chips using 3D printing of relatively high-viscosity paste. The electrodes consisted of two layers, with carbon paste printed over silver/silver chloride paste, and the printed EC chips were baked at 70 °C for 1 h. Engineering challenges such as bulging of the tubing, clogging of the nozzle, dripping, and local accumulation of paste were solved by material selection for the tube and nozzle, and process optimization in 3D printing. The EC chips demonstrated good reversibility in redox reactions through cyclic voltammetry tests, and reliably detected heavy metal ions Pb(II) and Cd(II) in solutions using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry measurements. The results indicate that by optimizing the 3D printing of paste, EC chips can be obtained by maskless and flexible 3D printing techniques in lieu of screen printing.

Abstract Artificial spin ice (ASI) consisting patterned array of nano-magnets with frustrated dipolar interactions offers an excellent platform to study frustrated physics using direct imaging methods. Moreover, ASI often hosts a large number of nearly degenerated and non-volatile spin states that can be used for multi-bit data storage and neuromorphic computing. The realization of the device potential of ASI, however, critically relies on the capability of transport characterization of ASI, which has not been demonstrated so far. Using a tri-axial ASI system as the model system, we demonstrate that transport measurements can be used to distinguish the different spin states of the ASI system. Specifically, by fabricating a tri-layer structure consisting a permalloy base layer, a Cu spacer layer and the tri-axial ASI layer, we clearly resolve different spin states in the tri-axial ASI system using lateral transport measurements. We have further demonstrated that the tri-axial ASI system has all necessary required properties for reservoir computing, including rich spin configurations to store input signals, nonlinear response to input signals, and fading memory effect. The successful transport characterization of ASI opens up the prospect for novel device applications of ASI in multi-bit data storage and neuromorphic computing.

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of programmed spatial anatomy of myopectineal orifice technique in laparoscopic total extraperitoneal hernioplasty (TEP) surgery. A total of 121 adult male patients with unilateral inguinal hernias who underwent TEP in the Department of General Surgery, Wujin Hospital, affiliated with Jiangsu University, from January 2019 to December 2020 were selected. Patients were divided into the procedural (63 cases) and traditional groups (58 cases) according to the surgical methods adopted. The procedural group underwent programmed spatial anatomy of the myopectineal orifice combined with TEP, and the traditional group underwent traditional TEP. The perioperative evaluation indicators and postoperative complications were observed and compared between the two groups. Compared with the traditional group, the time of handling hernia, the intraoperative operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative ambulation time, and postoperative hospital stay in the procedural group were significantly reduced (P 0.05). The programmed spatial anatomy of the myopectineal orifice can significantly improve the treatment outcome of TEP, significantly improve the patients' intraoperative and postoperative indicators, and reduce the incidence of postoperative complications. It is worthy of being promoted among young physicians and basic hospitals.

Abstract Objective To investigate the manifestation of dry eye and its relationship with CXCR3 and CCR5 expression in patients with ocular acid burns. Methods This is a case–control study. A total of 27 eyes of 22 cases ocular with acid burns of I-V degrees from Jan.2020 to Feb.2021 in Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University were selected as observation group, and 8 eyes of 8 cases of normal people were selected as control group. The follow-up period was 3 months. The visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), corneal fluorescein staining scores (CFS), breakup time of tear film (BUT), Schirmer I test, corneal thickness and tear meniscus height (TMH) were observed at 1 day, 1 and 3 months after injury. The protein expressions of CXCR3 and CCR5 were examined by ELISA and compared among groups at each time point. Results BUT and Schirmer I tests value in the observation group were lower than those in the control group 3 months after injury (BUT: Group I ~ IV p = 0.0266, p = 0.0222, p = 0.0003, p = 0.0059, respectively; Schirmer I test: Group I ~ IV p = 0.0027, p = 0.0033, p = 0.0016, p = 0.0032, respectively). CFS scores were higher than those in the control group at 1 day after injury (all p

Previous work has reported an axion insulator state in a layered topological antiferromagnet MnBi2Te4 evidenced by a zero Hall plateau. Here, in addition to the zero Hall plateau, the authors identify edge states in transport measurements at zero field which challenge the axion insulator interpretation.

The conversion of lignite into aromatic compounds by highly active catalysts is a key strategy for lignite valorization. In this study, Ni/NiO@NC nanocomposites with a high specific surface area and a vesicular structure were successfully prepared via a facile sol–gel method. The Ni/NiO@NC catalysts exhibited excellent catalytic activity for the catalytic hydroconversion (CHC) of benzyloxybenzene (as lignite-related modeling compounds) under mild conditions (120 °C, 1.5 MPa H2, 60 min). The possible mechanism of the catalytic reaction was investigated by analyzing the type and content of CHC reaction products at different temperatures, pressures, and times. More importantly, the magnetic catalyst could be conveniently separated by a magnet after the reaction, and it maintained high catalytic efficiency after six reuses. This study provides an efficient and recyclable catalyst for the cleavage of >CH–O bonds in lignite, thereby offering another way for improved utilization of lignite.

BackgroundMetabolic syndrome (MetS) has been associated with digestive system diseases, and recent observational studies have suggested an association between MetS and cholelithiasis. However, the causal relationship between them remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the causal effect of MetS on cholelithiasis using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.MethodsSingle nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of MetS and its components were extracted from the public genetic variation summary database. The inverse variance weighting method (IVW), weighted median method, and MR-Egger regression were used to evaluate the causal relationship. A sensitivity analysis was performed to ensure the stability of the results.ResultsIVW showed that MetS increased the risk of cholelithiasis (OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.13–1.46, P = 9.70E−05), and the weighted median method had the same result (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.22–1.83, P = 5.68E−05). In exploring the causal relationship between MetS components and cholelithiasis, waist circumference (WC) was significantly associated with cholelithiasis. IVW analysis (OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.34–1.65, P = 1.15E−13), MR-Egger regression (OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.15–2.28, P = 0.007), and weighted median (OR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.47–2.04, P = 1.62E−11) all found the same results.ConclusionOur study indicated that MetS increases the incidence of cholelithiasis, especially in MetS patients with abdominal obesity. Control and treatment of MetS can effectively reduce the risk of gallstone formation.

In strongly correlated materials multiple electronic phases can form simultaneously in real space, offering the potential of devices with multiple electronic properties, if such phase separation can be controlled. Here, Li et al study this electronic phase separation in LaMnO3/CaMnO3/PrMnO3 superlattice, and find a nano-network electronic phase separation resulting from local strain relaxation that persists through thermal cycling.

The present study aims to investigate effects of total flavonoids from Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. (FT) on fermentation quality, antioxidant status, and microbial community of Caragana korshinskii Kom. (CK) silage. CK was ensiled with no additive (CON), 1% FT, and 2% FT on a fresh weight (FW) basis for 60 days. The results showed that 1% FT and 2% FT groups displayed higher DM content than CON group, and 2% FT group had the best effect on nutrient preservation. Compared with CON and 1% FT groups, 2% FT group exhibited the best silage fermentation quality and the highest antioxidant activity, including increased lactic acid, acetic acid concentrations, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, as well as decreased pH and the ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) concentration. Moreover, the addition of 2% FT significantly affected the microbial community, such as increased abundance of Lactobacillus and decreased abundances of Pseudomonas and unidentified Cyanobacteria. The abundances of Lactobacillus parafarraginis and Lactobacillus brevis were negatively correlated to pH, while they were positively correlated with T-AOC, GSH-Px, and CAT activities. In conclusion, 2% FT may be used as additives to promote the fermentation quality and antioxidant activity of CK silage.

Superhydrophobic flexible strain sensors, which combine superhydrophobic coatings with highly sensitive flexible sensors, significantly enhance sensor performance and expand applications in human motion monitoring. Superhydrophobic coatings provide water repellency, surface self-cleaning, anti-corrosion, and anti-fouling properties for the sensors. Additionally, they enhance equipment durability. At present, many studies on superhydrophobic flexible sensors are still in the early research stage; the wear resistance and stability of sensors are far from reaching the level of industrial application. This paper discusses fundamental theories such as the wetting mechanism, tunneling effect, and percolation theory of superhydrophobic flexible sensors. Additionally, it reviews commonly used construction materials and principles of these sensors. This paper discusses the common preparation methods for superhydrophobic flexible sensors and summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of each method to identify the most suitable approach. Additionally, this paper summarizes the wide-ranging applications of the superhydrophobic flexible sensor in medical health, human motion monitoring, anti-electromagnetic interference, and de-icing/anti-icing, offering insights into these fields.

Ethanolysis is an effective method to depolymerize weak bonds in lignite under mild conditions, which can result in the production of high-value-added chemicals. However, improving ethanolysis yield and regulating its resulting product distribution is a big challenge. Hence, exploiting highly active catalysts is vital. In this work, Fe2(MoO4)3 catalysts with zero-dimensional nanoparticles, one-dimensional (1D) nanorods, two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets, and three-dimensional (3D) nanoflower structures were successfully prepared and applied in the ethanolysis of Naomaohu coal. The results showed that for all samples, the yield of ethanol-soluble portions (ESP) was significantly improved. The highest yield was obtained for the Fe2(MoO4)3 nanorods, with an increase from 28.84% to 47.68%, and could be attributed to the fact that the Fe2(MoO4)3 nanorods had a higher number of exposed active (100) facets. In addition, the amounts of oxygen-containing compounds, such as ethers, esters, and phenols, increased significantly. The mechanism of ethanolysis catalyzed by the Fe2(MoO4)3 nanorods was also studied using phenylbenzyl ether (BOB) as a model compound. BOB was completely converted at 260 °C after 2 h. It is suggested that Fe2(MoO4)3 nanorods can effectively break the C-O bonds of coal macromolecules, thus promoting the conversion of coal.

IntroductionTotal anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is a rare but critical cardiac anomaly, in which pulmonary veins are connected to an abnormal location rather than the left atrium. The prognosis can be extremely poor without intervention, with a mortality of 80% during infancy. The purpose of this research is to summarize the outcomes and relevant risk factors of 80 total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) patients who underwent primary TAPVC sutureless repair and discuss the indications and benefits of primary sutureless repair.MethodsThis retrospective review included 80 patients with TAPVC who underwent primary sutureless repair at a single institution between January 2015 and December 2020. Patients were subdivided into 4 groups according to Darling's classification. Risk factors that increase the postoperative pulmonary vein flow velocity were explored by Multiple Linear regression.ResultsAnatomic TAPVC subtypes included supracardiac 35 (43.8%), cardiac 24 (30%), infracardiac 17 (21.2%), and mixed 4 (5%). Median age at repair was 16.5 days and median weight was 3.5 kg. Preoperative pulmonary venous obstruction (PVO)was presented in 20 (25%) patients. There were 2 early deaths and 1 late death. 2 patients developed postoperative PVO and none required reintervention. Prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time (CPB) (p = 0.009), preoperative pneumonia (p = 0.022) and gender (p = 0.041) were found to be associated with the increase of postoperative pulmonary vein flow velocity.DiscussionUnder the primary sutureless technique, no statistical difference was observed among the 4 subgroups in terms of postoperative pulmonary vein flow velocity (p = 0.589). The primary sutureless technique may eliminate the differences between subtypes while decrease the postoperative PVO rate, which makes it applicable in any subtypes of TAPVC. Following the favorable outcomes in preventing postoperative PVO in all subtypes in this study, we advocate the indications for primary sutureless repair may expand further to all the TAPVC patients.

BackgroundCholedocholithiasis complicated with cholecystolithiasis is a common disease. This study explores a novel strategy, called ERCP-based transcystic gallbladder-preserving cholecystolithotomy, for the simultaneous removal of common bile duct stones and gallbladder stones.MethodsFrom December 2018 to June 2021, all patients with cholecystolithiasis and common bile duct stones who met the criteria for gallbladder preservation in our hospital were included in the study and prospectively followed up.ResultsWe included 48 patients, including 20 patients with acute biliary pancreatitis. All patients successfully underwent ERCP to remove common bile duct stones. One patient had gallbladder perforation during gallbladder-preserving cholecystolithotomy. The guide wire successfully entered the gallbladder, and the transpapillary gallbladder metal-covered stent was successfully placed in 44 patients. The technical success rate was 91.67% (44/48). All stones were removed in 34 patients, for a clinical success rate of 77.27% (34/44). The total postoperative complication rate was 6.25% (3/48), with 2 cases of pancreatitis (4.17%) and 1 case of cholangitis (2.08%). Three patients were lost to follow-up. Among the 31 patients who were followed up for a mean of 27 months (6–40), 5 patients (16.13%) experienced gallstone recurrence. The recurrence rates at 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 30 months and 36 months were 0%, 3.23%, 6.45%, 12.9%, and 16.13%, respectively.ConclusionFor patients with cholecystolithiasis and common bile duct stones, ERCP-based transcystic gallbladder-preserving cholecystolithotomy without gallbladder incision can preserve gallbladder structure, and this procedure is safe and feasible for the protection of gallbladder function.Clinical trial registration: The study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, and the registry number is ChiCTR1900028006.

BackgroundExisting guidelines recommend endoscopic treatment within 12 h or 12–24 h for patients with esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EGVB) in cirrhosis. In addition, research findings on the optimal time for endoscopy are inconsistent.AimThe aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the timing of endoscopy and clinical outcomes in cirrhotic patients with EGVB and to analyze the risk factors for the composite outcomes after endoscopic treatment.MethodsFrom January 2019 to June 2020, 456 patients with cirrhotic EGVB who underwent endoscopy were matched by a 1:1 propensity score. Finally, 266 patients were divided into two groups, including 133 patients within 12 h (urgent endoscopy group) of admission and after 12 h (non-urgent endoscopy group). Baseline data and clinical outcomes were compared. Logistic regression model analysis was used to determine risk factors for 30 days rebleeding and mortality.ResultsIn 266 patients, the overall 30 days rebleeding rate and mortality were 10.9% (n = 29) and 3.4% (n = 9), respectively. Patients who underwent endoscopic treatment within 12 h had significantly higher 30 days rebleeding outcomes than those who underwent treatment beyond 12 h (15 vs. 6.8%, p = 0.003). However, 30 days mortality did not differ significantly between the two groups (3 vs. 3.8%, p = 0.736). Logistic regression analysis showed that age and shock on admission were independent risk factors for the composite outcome of 30 days rebleeding and mortality in patients with EGVB.ConclusionThe 30 days rebleeding rate in patients with cirrhotic EGVB treated with urgent endoscopy was significantly higher than that in patients treated with non-urgent endoscopy, but there was no significant difference in 30 days mortality.

Abstract In this study, the influence of air‐frying temperature on the physical properties of sturgeon steaks was explored. Meanwhile, the comparison of traditional deep fat frying (TF) and air fryer frying (AFF) methods on the quality, flavor, and digestibility of sturgeon steaks were investigated. The results indicated that along with the increase of temperature (130, 160, and 190℃) for 15 min, the moisture content of AFF sturgeon steak surface decreased dramatically while that of interior was well preserved. The applied texture property analysis exhibited that AFF sturgeon steak showed the enhanced elasticity, low hardness, and soft texture. The results indicated that AFF sturgeon steak contained higher essential amino acid content than TF sturgeon steak. More flavor compounds (aldehydes, alcohols, and esters) were produced after AFF than TF. Although the digestibility of fried sturgeon steaks decreased after frying, AFF sturgeon steaks were digested rapidly in the stomach and intestine. Conclusively, AFF sturgeon steaks exhibited a crispy texture, appealing flavor, and low oil content. This work provides a certain reference for the suitable frying methods in the processing industry of sturgeon products.

Purpose: As the mechanism of interaction between circular RNAs (circRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) in regulating the development of prostate cancer (PCa) is not clear, this study focuses on investigating these effects. Materials and Methods: Sample tissues were collected from the PCa of patients, and microarray analysis of human circRNAs was conducted. The expression of circ_0001686, hsa_miR-411-5p (miR-411-5p) were also detected by qRT-PCR. Circ_0001686 and miR-411-5p mimics were transfected into the PCa cell lines (CWR22RV1and LNCaP) and MTT, colony formation, Transwell, and scratch wound assays were used to analyze the biological behaviors of PCa cells. Si-circ_0001686 and ASO-miR-411-5p were used as negative controls, and dual-luciferase reporter assays were performed to verify the interactions among circ_0001686, miR-411-5p, and SMAD3/TGFBR2. The levels of SMAD3 and TGFBR2 in different treated PCa cells were measured by western blot, and in vivo experiments in a nude mouse model were carried out to strengthen the in vitro findings of miR-411-5p. Results: The expression of circ_0001686 was up-regulated, while the expression of miR-411-5p was down-regulated in PCa cells. Moreover, circ_0001686 promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Molecular mechanism exploration revealed that circ_0001686 could reduce miR-411-5p, affecting the downstream target genes of SMAD3 and TGFBR2. In vitro and in vivo studies verified that miR-411-5p inhibits PCa progression. Conclusions: Circ_0001686 can reduce miR-411-5p to increase the expression of SMAD3/TGFBR2, which consequently promotes the proliferation, invasion, and migration of PCa cells.

The closure timing of the Paleo-Asian Ocean and the terminal stage of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt have been widely debated in the geological community. It’s known that the gradual scissor-like closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean occurred from west to east during the Paleozoic period. However, it was not until the Triassic period that the complete closure of the ocean occurred at the northeastern margin of the North China Craton. Nevertheless, there is still much uncertainty regarding the Late Triassic tectonic setting in Northeast China. In this study, we focused on the Upper Triassic Dajianggang Formation, located in the Shuangyang area of central Jilin Province, which is situated on the northeastern margin of the North China Plate. Our aim was to determine the formation age of the Dajianggang Formation by analyzing the detrital particle composition, petrogeochemistry, detrital zircon U-Pb isotope dating, and apatite fission track thermochronology. Our results indicated that the primary sandstone provenance area of the Dajianggang Formation in the Shuangyang area is the island arc orogenic belt. The tectonic background of the sandstone provenance area is mainly a continental island arc environment. The provenance area is mostly composed of felsic rocks with sedimentary tendencies, and some of its material may have originated from the northern margin of the North China Craton or the eroded recycle orogenic belt. LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of detrital zircons shows that the Dajianggang Formation formed after 226.8 ± 5 Ma. Moreover, analysis of the thermal evolution history modelling shows that the Dajianggang Formation in the Shuangyang area continued to be deposited and heated in the early stage, and then experienced rapid exhumation around 30 Ma. This suggests that the study area underwent an orogenic process during the early stage of formation, but then transitioned into a post-orogenic extension period, which constrained the final closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean prior to the Late Triassic period. In addition, our study indicates that the remote effect of the Pacific subduction did not reach the study area until 30 Ma. The central age of the detrital apatite fission track of sample 19DJ-1 is 94.2 ± 8.3 Ma, which is younger than its corresponding stratigraphic age. The two peak ages of the fission track analysis are 62.9 ± 5.4 Ma and 126 ± 11 Ma. These findings provide new evidence for the tectonic evolution of Northeast China and shed light on the Late Triassic tectonic setting, as well as the influence time of subsequent tectonic domains in the southern part of Northeast China.

Abstract Manipulating valley-dependent Berry phase effects provides remarkable opportunities for both fundamental research and practical applications. Here, by referring to effective model analysis, we propose a general scheme for realizing topological magneto-valley phase transitions. More importantly, by using valley-half-semiconducting VSi2N4 as an outstanding example, we investigate sign change of valley-dependent Berry phase effects which drive the change-in-sign valley anomalous transport characteristics via external means such as biaxial strain, electric field, and correlation effects. As a result, this gives rise to quantized versions of valley anomalous transport phenomena. Our findings not only uncover a general framework to control valley degree of freedom, but also motivate further research in the direction of multifunctional quantum devices in valleytronics and spintronics.

Abstract Background To investigate the relationships between motor fusion and sex, age and spherical equivalent (SE). Methods This observational study enrolled 243 healthy, nonstrabismic adults, including 94 men and 149 women aged 20 to 59 years. The subjects were divided into three groups according to SE: myopic, emmetropic and hyperopic groups. The subjects were also divided into four groups according to age: 20–29, 30–39, 40–49 and 50–59 years groups. Motor fusion was measured with a synoptophore, including subjective angle (SA), divergence, convergence and fusional vergence range (FVR). Results The mean values of divergence, convergence and FVR for the whole sample group were 9.72 ± 0.26°, 19.34 ± 0.54°, and 29.06 ± 0.62°, respectively. A higher value of divergence was found in the myopic group than in the emmetropic group (p

Abstract A method to calculate the optimal reclosing time of AC/DC hybrid system based on dynamic energy is proposed. First, in the whole fault process starting from fault initiation to accelerated tripping of circuit breakers after reclosing, the dynamic energy function that characterizes the stability degree of system is built. On this basis, the variation rate of dynamic energy is defined as the energy accumulation speed, which quantitatively characterizes the accumulation or consumption of dynamic energy in the fault duration. And detailed expressions of energy accumulation speed when single‐phase fault and three‐phase fault occur in the system are derived respectively. Then, with the accumulated dynamic energy of system being the minimum as the objective, the optimal reclosing time is searched, and the pattern in which the trajectory of operating points passes new equilibrium point when the system is reclosed at the optimal reclosing time is revealed. Finally, hardware‐in‐the‐loop tests are conducted in RT‐LAB for simulation verification. Simulation results demonstrate that, as reclosing time varies, total accumulated dynamic energy of system has multiple minimum points. Selecting the reclosing time calculated according to the method can improve stability of system.

This paper presents a model to predict the shielding effectiveness (SE) and resonant modes of cylindrical enclosure with apertures or dielectric substrate. In this model, the Robinson equivalent circuit model (RECM) is introduced to deal with aperture impedance, and the extended form of the Baum–Liu–Tesche equation is deduced to calculate the induced voltage in the enclosure. The electromagnetic topology (EMT) model is established to analyze the process of energy transmission inside the enclosure. The energy propagation coefficient matrix and the scattering coefficient matrix are calculated to deal with the SE results of the observation point. To quantify the efficiency of the proposed model, the calculation results are compared with the full-wave transmission line matrix method (TLM) and RECM through the Fréchet distance. The comparison results show that the accuracy of the proposed model is better over a wide frequency range compared with RECM, and meanwhile, it consumes less run time and fewer CPU resources than traditional numerical methods. The validity of the presented model is verified by TLM.

In this study, a new method based on the random field model (RFM) of corrosion depth was developed to investigate the effect of corrosion randomness on the constitutive relationship of steel. Through Monte Carlo simulations of the main parameters of the RFM, a large number of corroded surfaces with different corrosion degrees corresponding to the general and offshore atmospheres were generated. Finite element parametric simulations were conducted to analyze the degradation laws and random characteristics of the mechanical properties of corroded steel. The results showed that the mechanical properties such as elastic modulus, yield strength and tensile strength all conformed to normal distribution. With an increase in the corrosion loss ratio, the mean values of all parameters decreased linearly (the yield plateau slope increased), and the standard deviations increased linearly. Finally, the probabilistic model of each mechanical property and a stochastic constitutive model of corroded steel were established.

Growing evidence has shown the oncogenic function of matrix metallopeptidase 7 (MMP7) in various tumors. However, no systemic pan-cancer analysis on the association between MMP7 and different cancers based on big clinical data is available. TIMER2, GEPIA2, UALCAN, cBioPortal, String, Metascape, and other web databases were searched in the present study. Generally, MMP7 expression is significantly upregulated in most The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cancer types compared to the paired normal controls, yet is downregulated in tumor tissues of invasive breast carcinoma (BRCA), kidney chromophobe (KICH), kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC), liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC), and skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM). MMP7 protein expression is notably higher in the primary tumor tissues of colon cancer, lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), and uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) than in normal tissues and is significantly lower in the primary tumor tissues of breast cancer, clear cell renal carcinoma, and ovarian cancer. Furthermore, MMP7 expression is strongly associated with pathological stages, clinical outcomes, tumor mutational burden (TMB), and microsatellite instability (TSI). Gene amplification was detected in most TCGA cancer types. In addition, the missense mutation is the primary type of MMP7 genetic alteration in tumors. Significant positive correlations between MMP7 expression and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have been demonstrated in most TCGA cancers. MMP7 expression was also found to be positively correlated with infiltration of dendritic cells and macrophages in some specific tumor types. Functional enrichment analysis by the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways and gene ontology (GO) methods revealed that RNA processing and DNA damage checkpoints might reveal the pathogenetic mechanisms of MMP7. This pan-cancer analysis provides a clear panorama for the tumorigenic roles of MMP7 across different cancer types. Moreover, MMP7 could be a potential drug therapeutic target in such cancers.

The widely used simple cubic-centered (SCC) model structure has limitations in handling diagonal loading and accurately representing Poisson’s ratio. Therefore, the objective of this study is to develop a set of modeling procedures for granular material discrete element models (DEM) with high efficiency, low cost, reliable accuracy, and wide application. The new modeling procedures use coarse aggregate templates from an aggregate database to improve simulation accuracy and use geometry information from the random generation method to create virtual specimens. The hexagonal close-packed (HCP) structure, which has advantages in simulating shear failure and Poisson’s ratio, was employed instead of the SCC structure. The corresponding mechanical calculation for contact micro-parameters was then derived and verified through simple stiffness/bond tests and complete indirect tensile (IDT) tests of a set of asphalt mixture specimens. The results showed that (1) a new set of modeling procedures using the hexagonal close-packed (HCP) structure was proposed and was proved to be effective, (2) micro-parameters of the DEM models were transit form material macro-parameters based on a set of equations that were derived based on basic configuration and mechanism of discrete element theories, and (3) that the results from IDT tests prove that the new approach to determining model micro-parameters based on mechanical calculation is reliable. This new approach may enable a wider and deeper application of the HCP structure DEM models in the research of granular material.

Abstract Background Accurate prediction of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) is very important for the management of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. We aimed to construct an effective prognostic nomogram for individualized risk estimates of MACEs for patients with ACS after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods This was a prospective study of patients with ACS after PCI from January 2013 to July 2019 (n = 2465). After removing patients with incomplete clinical information, a total of 1986 patients were randomly divided into evaluation (n = 1324) and validation (n = 662) groups. Predictors included in the nomogram were determined by a multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model based on the training set. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration curves were used to assess the discrimination and predictive accuracy of the nomogram, which were then compared with those of the classic models. The clinical utility of the nomogram was assessed by X-tile analysis and Kaplan–Meier curve analysis. Results Independent prognostic factors, including lactate level, age, left anterior descending branch stenosis, right coronary artery stenosis, brain natriuretic peptide level, and left ventricular ejection fraction, were determined and contained in the nomogram. The nomogram achieved good areas under the ROC curve of 0.712–0.762 in the training set and 0.724–0.818 in the validation set and well-fitted calibration curves. In addition, participants could be divided into two risk groups (low and high) according to this model. Conclusions A simple-to-use nomogram incorporating lactate level effectively predicted 6-month, 1-year, and 4-year MACE incidence among patients with ACS after PCI.

Abstract Aims This study aimed to determine prevalence, predictors, and association with ischaemic stroke risk of spontaneous echocardiographic contrast (SEC) or left ventricular thrombus (LVT) in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods and results Clinical, echocardiographic, and follow‐up data from January 2009 through February 2019 were retrospectively extracted from electronic medical records of patients with heart failure with left ventricular ejection fraction 0.05). In patients with sinus rhythm, the associations between SEC/LVT and ischaemic stroke persist with HRs of 2.57 (95% CI: 1.69–3.92) and 5.74 (95% CI: 3.38–9.75). Conclusions In patients with HFrEF, SEC was not uncommon and increased risk of ischaemic stroke as well as LVT. Anticoagulants could play a role in the reduction of stroke risk, suggesting that patients with SEC/LVT, even those in sinus rhythm, would benefit from systemic anticoagulation treatment.

Abstract Background The ankle joint complex (AJC) is of fundamental importance for balance, support, and propulsion. However, it is particularly susceptible to musculoskeletal and neurological injuries, especially neurological injuries such as drop foot following stroke. An important factor in ankle dysfunction is damage to the central nervous system (CNS). Correspondingly, the fundamental goal of rehabilitation training is to stimulate the reorganization and compensation of the CNS, and to promote the recovery of the motor system’s motor perception function. Therefore, an increasing number of ankle rehabilitation robots have been developed to provide long-term accurate and uniform rehabilitation training of the AJC, among which the parallel ankle rehabilitation robot (PARR) is the most studied. The aim of this study is to provide a systematic review of the state of the art in PARR technology, with consideration of the mechanism configurations, actuator types with different trajectory tracking control techniques, and rehabilitation training methods, thus facilitating the development of new and improved PARRs as a next step towards obtaining clinical proof of their rehabilitation benefits. Methods A literature search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, and Web of Science for articles related to the design and improvement of PARRs for ankle rehabilitation from each site’s respective inception from January 1999 to September 2020 using the keywords “ parallel”, “ ankle”, and “ robot”. Appropriate syntax using Boolean operators and wildcard symbols was utilized for each database to include a wider range of articles that may have used alternate spellings or synonyms, and the references listed in relevant publications were further screened according to the inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria. Results and discussion Ultimately, 65 articles representing 16 unique PARRs were selected for review, all of which have developed the prototypes with experiments designed to verify their usability and feasibility. From the comparison among these PARRs, we found that there are three main considerations for the mechanical design and mechanism optimization of PARRs, the choice of two actuator types including pneumatic and electrically driven control, the covering of the AJC’s motion space, and the optimization of the kinematic design, actuation design and structural design. The trajectory tracking accuracy and interactive control performance also need to be guaranteed to improve the effect of rehabilitation training and stimulate a patient’s active participation. In addition, the parameters of the reviewed 16 PARRs are summarized in detail with their differences compared by using figures and tables in the order they appeared, showing their differences in the two main actuator types, four exercise modes, fifteen control strategies, etc., which revealed the future research trends related to the improvement of the PARRs. Conclusion The selected studies showed the rapid development of PARRs in terms of their mechanical designs, control strategies, and rehabilitation training methods over the last two decades. However, the existing PARRs all have their own pros and cons, and few of the developed devices have been subjected to clinical trials. Designing a PARR with three degrees of freedom (DOFs) and whereby the mechanism’s rotation center coincides with the AJC rotation center is of vital importance in the mechanism design and optimization of PARRs. In addition, the design of actuators combining the advantages of the pneumatic-driven and electrically driven ones, as well as some new other actuators, will be a research hotspot for the development of PARRs. For the control strategy, compliance control with variable parameters should be further studied, with sEMG signal included to improve the real-time performance. Multimode rehabilitation training methods with multimodal motion intention recognition, real-time online detection and evaluation system should also be further developed to meet the needs of different ankle disability and rehabilitation stages. In addition, the clinical trials are in urgent need to help the PARRs be implementable as an intervention in clinical practice.

Integrated methods are used in the modification of trajectory, including improved perturbation impact point deviation prediction, adaptive proportional guidance and adaptive proportional differential guidance, thus improving the firing accuracy of guided mortar shell. The six degrees of freedom of both the trajectory model and the control model were established, and their guidance laws were designed based on the three guidance schemes. Firstly, the perturbation impact point deviation prediction method is improved by setting up a discrimination factor in the rising phase of trajectory based on the principle of traditional perturbation impact point deviation prediction method and in combination with the trajectory characteristics of guided mortar, which further improves the correction efficiency. The adaptive proportional guidance law is designed in the longitudinal plane, while the adaptive proportional differential guidance law is designed in the transverse plane due to the fact that the constant proportional coefficient in the proportional guidance law does not conform to the requirements of actual trajectory. In this paper, Monte Carlo simulation method and ammunition flight test are used to verify the designed guidance law, and the simulation results illustrate that the integrated guidance method is both reasonable and effective. As for the error of the guidance tool and actuator, the method is available for the reduction of impact point deviation and the improvement of accuracy. The circular error probability (CEP) not under control decreases from 126.317m to 10.1284m when control is applied. Besides, the feasibility of the designed guidance law is verified by the flight tests of guided mortar projectile in large, medium and small range respectively from the perspective of engineering application. It can be seen from the test trajectory impact point data that the guidance law is available for the effective correction of trajectory deviation in the actual hardware operation and site environment with reliable guidance. As the outcome, the CEP reaches 10.86m, and the impact point deviation of some guided missiles is within 2m.

The safe realization of on-orbit capture remains a challenging task because of uncontrolled service objects, big impact forces, post-impact control, and so on. In this study, based on the relationships between the kinematics and forces established by impedance control, a force constraint function is developed to reduce the contact force during the collision process of capture. Additionally, to realize flexible contact and improve motion performance during the capture process, a control method combining impedance and a sliding mode is designed to make the end-effector exhibit mass-spring-damping behavior after contact with the target, decreasing movement overshoot and stabilization time. Finally, numerical simulations are carried out in a scenario where a planar two-link space robot is utilized to capture a non-cooperative target, and the effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated.

Introduction: Mucinous carcinoma (MC) of the breast is a special histological type of breast cancer. Clinicopathological characteristics and genomic features of MC is not fully understood. Materials and methods: 186,497 primary breast cancer patients from SEER database diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) or MC were included. 801 primary IDC or MC patients from TCGA cohort were included for transcriptomic and genomic analysis. Results: MC patients were older, had lower tumor grade and T and N stage, higher hormone receptor positive proportions and lower HER2 positive proportions than IDC patients. Kaplan-Meier plots showed that the breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) of MC patients was significantly better than IDC patients (P

Sol-Gel-based reaction mixture sols have been long used to fabricate dense and uniform bioactive coatings with superior mechanical stability over metallic implants. On account of precise control over synthesis, fabrication, formed and low temperature of processing, this technology is one of the most feasible routes to produce bio-ceramic coatings. The study aims to develop a physical barrier over metal implants in form of bioinert Zirconia coatings, phase-stabilized using Dysprosium. The metallic substrates were cut into 10 mm × 10 mm samples and diamond polished after being polished with a 1000 grade emery sheet. Novel spin-coated zirconia films were fabricated over 316L Stainless steel substrates and were sintered at 600°C to obtain firm and uniform crack-free coatings. The thickness of the coatings was determined by ELCA-D meter thermal analysis was performed using TGA-DTA. Phase determination was performed using X-Ray diffraction followed by morphological investigations using Scanning electron microscopy. The corrosion resistance was evaluated with Polarization studies and electrokinetic data was derived using Tafel extrapolation. Biocompatibility evaluation was performed against MG-63 cell lines and RBCs along with bone-forming ability in vitro in SBF. Stable crack-free 3 Layer coatings fabricated at 2000 rpm for 3 s with a thickness of around 1 μm were found to be optimal for corrosion resistance behavior of steel implants at a low I Corr value of 0.501 µA/cm 2 and adhesion strength of 40.93 MPa when untreated falling down to 39.92 MPa when immersed in SBF. The study concludes that medium rpm coatings sustain enough sol to produce crack-free coatings that form a strong physical barrier between body fluid and implant surface thereby reducing the attack of corrosive ions and protecting the implant surface without participating in any form of bioactivity but supporting native bone regeneration capabilities.

Gastric cancer is a major health burden worldwide. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel family of noncoding RNAs that are involved in multiple types of cancers, including gastric cancer. As biological functions and the underlying molecular mechanisms of the newly identified circRNA circ0007360 have not been investigated, our present study focused on the role of circ0007360 in the progression of gastric cancer. After characterizing circ0007360 as a cytoplasmic circRNA, we revealed the inhibitory effects of circ0007260 on the survival, migration, invasion, and stemness of gastric cancer cells. Subsequently, miR-762 was identified as a direct target microRNA (miRNA) of circ0007360 and was proved to act as a vital downstream transcript to fulfill the tumor-promoting effects in the absence of circ0007360. Furthermore, we demonstrated that interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7), which was validated as a target gene of miR-762, serves as an indirect target of circ0007360 to attenuate the progression of gastric cancer. Moreover, in vivo experiments confirmed the potentiation of gastric cancer cell growth and stemness upon depletion of circ0007360. In summary, our results revealed that activation of the circ0007360/miR-762/IRF7 axis is a novel mechanism for the attenuation of gastric cancer progression. Our study unveils the diagnostic and therapeutic values of circ0007360 in patients with gastric cancer.

In order to achieve the attitude maneuver performance of the noncontact close-proximity formation satellite architecture, this paper presents a compound control strategy with variable-parameter sliding mode control and disturbance observer-based feedforward compensation. Firstly, the variable-parameter sliding mode control is proposed to guarantee the attitude maneuver performance of the payload module. Secondly, the collision avoiding control with disturbance observer-based feedforward compensation is proposed to guarantee the synchronization of the two separated modules within the small air clearance constraint of the noncontact Lorentz actuator. Finally, a physical air-floating platform is established to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

The flammability of the biodegradable plastic PLA limits its application in industrial fields with high flame-retardant requirements. This paper provides a novel strategy for constructing refractory and thermostable PLA composites using layered double hydroxides (LDHs) chemically modified with ammonium polyphosphate (APP). XRD, FT-IR, SEM-EDS, and TEM confirm that the goal of LDHs has been successfully prepared. The thermal stability and combustion behavior of PLA composites were evaluated by the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and cone calorimetry tests (CCT). The crystallization behavior and tensile performances were also examined. The results showed that the incorporation of 15 wt% MgAlY-APP-LDHs practically makes the PLA composites reach the UL-94 V-0 grade. There were 43% and 20% reduction in the PHRR and THR of PLA/15APP-LDHs respectively due to the catalytic effect of Y elements and barrier effects of LDHs, which was a major performance against fire hazards. Furthermore, the increase in crystallinity and the decrease in mechanical strength of PLA composites are attributed to the nucleation of LDHs. In short, this research introduces the production of multifunctional PLA composites through APP intercalation of LDHs, which are deemed as prospective candidates for the next generation of sustainable plastics products.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) occurs in untreated diabetic patients due to the strong influence of oxidative stress. Bioflavonoids are well known for their antioxidant property. Morin, a bioflavonoid, has been demonstrated for its antioxidant as well as antidiabetic activity. Thus, this research work intended to determine the ameliorative impact of morin in DR rats using STZ-induced type 1 diabetic model. To induce type 1 diabetic in rats STZ (60 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally. Grouping of animals was done as described below (n = 6), where, group I – normal control, group II – diabetic control, group III – morin (25 mg/kg), group IV – morin (50 mg/kg), and group V – metformin (350 mg/kg) were used. All the animals underwent treatment for 60 days as given above. It was observed that supplementation of morin (25 and 50 mg/kg) showed a noteworthy decline in elevated serum glucose level. Moreover, decrease in the level of LPO and improved activity of endogenous antioxidants (GPx, CAT, and SOD) was observed in morin treated groups. It also notably drops the concentration of TNF-α, IL-1β, and VEGF in the tissue homogenate of the retina. Furthermore, it increased the retinal thickness and cell count in the ganglion cell layer of the retina in diabetic animals. Hence, we can conclude that morin encumbers the progression of DR in diabetic animals, which may be via antioxidant property and suppression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and VEGF.

Abstract Sous vide can keep the nutritional properties and improve taste of food compared with other conventional methods. In addition, this method may reduce the risk of recontamination after cooking and during storage. The purpose of this paper was to study the effects of four cooking methods (steaming, microwaving, baking, and frying) on the sensory and digestibility on sturgeon steak pretreated by sous vide during the cold storage (0–25 days). The results showed that the digestibility of steaming and microwaving groups (range from 80.34% to 90.12%) significantly higher than that of the other treatment groups (p

Colorimetric biosensors can be used to detect a particular analyte through color changes easily by naked eyes or simple portable optical detectors for quantitative measurement. Thus, it is highly attractive for point-of-care detections of harmful viruses to prevent potential pandemic outbreak, as antiviral medication must be administered in a timely fashion. This review paper summaries existing and emerging techniques that can be employed to detect viruses through colorimetric assay design with detailed discussion of their sensing principles, performances as well as pros and cons, with an aim to provide guideline on the selection of suitable colorimetric biosensors for detecting different species of viruses. Among the colorimetric methods for virus detections, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method is more favourable for its faster detection, high efficiency, cheaper cost, and more reliable with high reproducible assay results. Nanoparticle-based colorimetric biosensors, on the other hand, are most suitable to be fabricated into lateral flow or lab-on-a-chip devices, and can be coupled with LAMP or portable PCR systems for highly sensitive on-site detection of viruses, which is very critical for early diagnosis of virus infections and to prevent outbreak in a swift and controlled manner.

Based on localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) enhanced quantum dot (QD) emission in a sandwich assay of “capture PCT antibody/PCT/detection PCT antibody labelled with QD” on a gold nanoarray chip, a fully automated point-of-care (POC) system for quick quantitative analysis of procalcitonin (PCT) for sepsis diagnostics was developed. The core technology of the system is to design and fabricate gold nanostructures that can generate plasmonics at resonant wavelength coincident with excitation wavelength of the fluorescent dyes. Gold nanopillar arrays at the size of 140 nm square and 320 nm pitch were found to be good candidates for the desired dye emission. Gold nanochip fabricated by e-beam lithography or nanoimprinting was integrated into a microfluidic chip, with analyte sampling and bioassay reagent flow controlled by LabVIEW program. To detect QD emission of the bioassay from the chip, a CCD camera and a laser source controlled by LabVIEW were incorporated to form a user-friendly and fully-automated POC system for on-site detection of PCT in clinics. Upon detection, the microfluidic chip is inserted into the POC system, where the processes of blood sample loading, detection antibody recognition, fluorescent dye labelling, fluorescent detection, and data analysis are conducted automatically in the device within 30 min at a test sensitivity of 0.5 ng/ml, which fulfills the clinical needs for diagnosis of sepsis through PCT biomarker.

Magneto-optical effects in magnets are commonly attributed to the interplay between exchange splitting and spin-orbit coupling. Here, Feng et al. report a topological magneto-optical effect in non-coplanar antiferromagnets due to finite scalar spin chirality, without any reference to exchange splitting or spin-orbit coupling.

Background: Ultrasound is ideal for displaying intracranial great vessels but not intracranial microvessels and terminal vessels. Even with contrast agents, the imaging effect is still unsatisfactory. In recent years, significant theoretical advances have been achieved in super-resolution imaging. The latest commonly used ultrafast plane-wave ultrasound Doppler imaging of the brain and microbubble-based super-resolution ultrasound imaging have been applied to the imaging of cerebral microvessels and blood flow in small animals such as mice but have not been applied to in vivo imaging of the cerebral microvessels in monkeys and larger animals. In China, preliminary research results have been obtained using super-resolution imaging in certain fields but rarely in fundamental and clinical experiments on large animals. In recent years, we have conducted a joint study with the Xi'an Jiaotong University to explore the application and performance of this new technique in the diagnosis of cerebrovascular diseases in large animals.Objective: To explore the characteristics and advantages of microbubble-based super-resolution ultrasound imaging of intracranial vessels in rhesus monkeys compared with conventional transcranial ultrasound.Methods: First, the effectiveness and feasibility of the super-resolution imaging technique were verified by modular simulation experiments. Then, the imaging parameters were adjusted based on in vitro experiments. Finally, two rhesus monkeys were used for in vivo experiments of intracranial microvessel imaging.Results: Compared with conventional plane-wave imaging, super-resolution imaging could measure the inner diameters of cerebral microvessels at a resolution of 1 mm or even 0.7 mm and extract blood flow information. In addition, it has a better signal-to-noise ratio (5.625 dB higher) and higher resolution (~30-fold higher). The results of the experiments with rhesus monkeys showed that microbubble-based super-resolution ultrasound imaging can achieve an optimal resolution at the micron level and an imaging depth >35 mm.Conclusion: Super-resolution imaging can realize the monitoring imaging of high-resolution and fast calculation of microbubbles in the process of tissue damage, providing an important experimental basis for the clinical application of non-invasive transcranial ultrasound.

Co-Mo/γ-Al2O3 catalysts with different pore shapes were synthesized for the ex situ upgrading of extra heavy oils by hydrodesulfurization (HDS), hydrodemetallization (HDM), and hydrodeasphaltization (HDA). The catalysts were synthesized using aluminum oxides that were prepared by various methods. It was found that using the product obtained by the thermochemical activation of gibbsite leads to the formation of slit-shaped pores in aluminum oxide, while the application of the hydroxide deposition method by the precipitation of sodium aluminate and nitric acid gives cylindrical pores in aluminum oxide. Co-Mo catalysts synthesized using these two types of pores exhibit different catalytic activities. The catalyst synthesized on a carrier with cylindrical pores exhibited a higher catalytic activity in sulfur, heavy metals, and asphaltenes removal reactions that are synthesized on a carrier with slit-like pores. This is because the presence of cylindrical pores leads to a decrease in diffusion restrictions when removing large molecules of asphaltenes and sulfur-containing and metal-containing compounds.

The development of highly selective and highly sensitive nanometer colorimetric chemical sensors is an urgent requirement in the immediate detection of heavy metal ions. In this work, silver-nanoparticle (Ag NPs)-based chemosensors were prepared by a simple and green method, in which the silver nitrate, carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMS) and Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and glucose are used as the silver source, double stabilizer and green reductant, respectively. The obtained colloidal CMS/PVP-Ag NPs showed a high dispersibility and stability, and creating a high selectivity and sensitivity to detect Hg2+ and Fe3+ with remarkable and rapid color variation. Low limits of detection (LOD) of 7.1 nM (0–20 μM) and 15.2 nM (20–100 μM) for Hg2+ and 3.6 nM for Fe3+ were achieved. More importantly, the CMS/PVP-Ag NPs has a high sensitivity even in a complex system with multiple heavy ions, the result of the practical ability to detect Hg2+ and Fe3+ in tap water and seawater reached a rational range of 98.33~104.2% (Hg2+) and 98.85~104.80% (Fe3+), indicating the great potential of the as-prepared nanocomposites colorimetric chemosensor for practical applications.