Search

Scene text in natural images carries additional semantic information to aid in image classification. Existing methods lack full consideration of the deep understanding of the text and the visual text relationship, which results in the difficult to judge the semantic accuracy and the relevance of the visual text. This paper proposes image classification based on Cross modal Knowledge Learning of Scene Text (CKLST) method. CKLST consists of three stages: cross‐modal scene text recognition, text semantic enhancement, and visual‐text feature alignment. In the first stage, multi‐attention is used to extract features layer by layer, and a self‐mask‐based iterative correction strategy is utilized to improve the scene text recognition accuracy. In the second stage, knowledge features are extracted using external knowledge and are fused with text features to enhance text semantic information. In the third stage, CKLST realizes visual‐text feature alignment across attention mechanisms with a similarity matrix, thus the correlation between images and text can be captured to improve the accuracy of the image classification tasks. On Con‐Text dataset, Crowd Activity dataset, Drink Bottle dataset, and Synth Text dataset, CKLST can perform significantly better than other baselines on fine‐grained image classification, with improvements of 3.54%, 5.37%, 3.28%, and 2.81% over the best baseline in mAP, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial neural circuits can effectively reproduce the main biophysical properties of neurons when reliable electronic components with unique physical properties are introduced. Connecting memristor to neural circuits not only enhances the potential controllability under external physical stimuli but also recognizes the effects of electromagnetic induction on neural activity. In this paper, the piezoelectric ceramic and memristor are embedded in FitzHugh-Nagumo (FHN) neural circuit, then two kinds of functional neuron models with magnetic field-control and electric field-control are obtained, respectively, to estimate the effects of external sound waves and external electric fields. To investigate the energy consumption when information transfer between neurons, the Hamilton energy functions of the above neuron models are obtained by calculating the field energy of each electronic component, and their correctness is verified by Helmholtz’s theorem. In addition, two neurons can be coupled by an induction coil to equal the processing of chemical coupling and realize pumping energy between neurons. Moreover, an energy switch is added to the coupling channel to open or close the coupling channel by detecting the diversity of energy. That is, it is kept open when the coupled system is exchanging field energy until the energy diversity between neurons is controlled at a limited threshold. The two-parameter bifurcation results show that the above two neurons have different bifurcation modes under different external magnetic or electric fields. For coupled systems, it is found that two identical neurons can achieve complete synchronization (energy balance) or intermittent complete synchronization (intermittent energy balance) by adaptive coupling. However, two diverse neurons can only achieve phase lock or phase synchronization, since the diversity of the coupled system parameters can disrupt the achievement of complete synchronization. These results are helpful for designing intelligent neural networks by taming the coupling channels with gradient energy distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mazus motuoensis W.B.Ju, Bo Xu bis & X.F.Gao is a newly described species found in Xizang Autonomous Region, China. Morphologically, this species differs from all the other known Mazus species by having erect perennial herb form with a rhizome, presence of multicellular hairs, without basal leaves, opposite arrangement of stem leaves, and corolla lobes with erose-toothed margins. Molecular phylogenetic analysis using nuclear and cpDNA genes suggests that this new species occupies a basal position within Mazus. In conclusion, both morphological evidence and molecular phylogenetic analyses support that this species belongs to Mazus and represents an as-yet-unreported new species with distinct differences from other species within the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cytosolic RNA and DNA sensors initiate type I interferon signaling when binding to RNA or DNA. To effectively protect the host against virus infection and concomitantly avoid excessive interferonopathy at resting states, these sensors must be tightly regulated. However, the key molecular mechanisms regulating these sensors’ activation remain elusive. Here, we identify PRMT3, a type I protein arginine methyltransferase, as a negative regulator of cytosolic RNA and DNA sensors. PRMT3 interacts with RIG-I, MDA5, and cGAS and catalyzes asymmetric dimethylation of R730 on RIG-I, R822 on MDA5, and R111 on cGAS. These modifications reduce RNA-binding ability of RIG-I and MDA5 as well as DNA-binding ability and oligomerization of cGAS, leading to the inhibition of downstream type I interferon production. Furthermore, mice with loss of one copy of Prmt3 or in vivo treatment of the PRMT3 inhibitor, SGC707, are more resistant to RNA and DNA virus infection. Our findings reveal an essential role of PRMT3 in the regulation of antiviral innate immunity and give insights into the molecular regulation of cytosolic RNA and DNA sensors’ activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored from both cognitive and affective perspectives the mechanism involved in the internal effect of leader perfectionism on employee innovative behavior. Our goal was to disentangle the possible differential effects. A set of 254 leader–subordinate dyads completed a two-stage questionnaire, and the results revealed that leader perfectionism was negatively related to employee innovative behavior. Further, perceived control and emotional exhaustion played a chain mediating role in this association. By revealing the influence path of leader perfectionism on employee innovative behavior, this study enriches the literature and has practical significance for improving the leadership effectiveness of perfectionistic leaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reasonable estimation of the bearing capacity of bulbs is essential for the design of squeezed branch pile (SBP) foundations, and existing analytical methods cannot be applied to SBPs. This study investigated the bearing capacity of bulbs by model tests, field tests, and theoretical and numerical analysis. From the laboratory model loading test and transparent soil model test assisted by particle image velocimetry technology, the bearing features of SBPs and the displacement field around a bulb under failure state were investigated, respectively. It was found from the tests that the bulb's bearing ratio is up to approximately 50% out of the total applied load to the pile at failure. Furthermore, by referring to Meyerhof's theory of bearing capacity for deep foundations, an analytical method was proposed to calculate the bearing capacity of a bulb for an SBP considering its unique geometry. Finally, field tests with a real-size SBP and numerical study were conducted to verify the proposed method. The ultimate bearing capacity (UBC) of the bulb estimated by the proposed method has an acceptable difference of 4.21% from the model test and 17.6% from the numerical field cases. The proposed solution can be used as an effective explicit solution to evaluate the UBC of the single bulb of SBPs considering the pile's dimensions and soil parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C16H12O3, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 10.9636(14) Å, b = 12.1767(12) Å, c = 10.1557(13) Å, β = 116.588(16)°, V = 1212.4(3) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0366, wRref(F2) = 0.1019, T = 250.00(10) K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypoxia is a hallmark of solid tumors and leads to the metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells. The role of epigenetic regulation between hypoxia and aberrant cholesterol metabolism in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains elusive. Methods: Hypoxia-responsive circular RNAs (circRNAs) were identified by high throughput RNA sequencing between CRC cells cultured under normoxia or hypoxia. The protein-coding potential of circINSIG1 was identified by polysome profiling and LC–MS. The function of circINSIG1 was validated in vitro and in vivo by gain or loss of function assays. Mechanistic results were concluded by immunoprecipitation analyses. Results: A novel hypoxia-responsive circRNA named circINSIG1 was identified, which was upregulated in CRC tissues and correlated with advanced clinical stages and poor survival. Mechanistically, circINSIG1 encoded a 121 amino acid protein circINSIG1-121 to promote K48-linked ubiquitination of the critical cholesterol metabolism regulator INSIG1 at lysine 156 and 158 by recruiting CUL5-ASB6 complex, a ubiquitin E3 ligase complex, thereby inducing cholesterol biosynthesis to promote CRC proliferation and metastasis. The orthotopic xenograft tumor models and patient-derived xenograft models further identified the role of circINSIG1 in CRC progression and potential therapeutic target of CRC. Conclusions: circINSIG1 presents an epigenetic mechanism which provides insights into the crosstalk between hypoxia and cholesterol metabolism, and provides a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The compound [(Nb6O19)@Ag34(tBuCC)24(CH3COO)2] (Ag34) was synthesized using the solvothermal method combined with volatilization. This was the first case, to the best of our knowledge, of isolating a silver cluster containing a polyoxoniobate (PONb) template. The luminescence, solution behavior and solid-state stability of Ag34 were studied in detail. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry indicated that Ag34 can maintain the integrity of its skeleton in solution. Detection of temperature could be a potential application of its unique luminescent behavior. We expect this work to inspire further fabrications of PONb-templated high-nuclearity silver clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes and illustrates a new species of Primulaceae, Primula wolongensis sp. nov. from Wolong National Nature Reserve in Sichuan Province, China. It is very rare and currently only known from its type locality. The new species belongs to subsection Chartacea of the section Petiolares on account of lacking bud scales at flowering, being efarinose and having distinct petiolate leaves with more or less rounded lamina. The new species can be differentiated from other members of the subsection by leaf blade margin dentate, and leaf veins which are not raised, scape shorter than or equal to pedicels, yellow flowers and location of stamens of the corolla tube at thrum flower. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on nuclear ribosome internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) demonstrated that P. wolongensis was sister to subgen. Auriculastrum. Primula wolongensis is currently known from a single location in Wolong Town, and its conservation status is assessed as Data Deficient (DD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the therapeutic effect of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment for adenomyotic patients with primary infertility and to explore the factors that affect the pregnancy outcomes. Twenty-seven adenomyotic patients with primary infertility who underwent HIFU at HUNAN Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, China, between July 2018 and December 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. We evaluated the pregnancy outcomes and analyzed the factors that may affect pregnancy outcomes including time to conception, pregnancy approach, gestational age, delivery mode, neonatal outcomes, and complications during pregnancy and delivery. Among the 27 adenomyotic patients with primary infertility, 10 patients had a total of 11 pregnancies after HIFU treatment. Of these, eight (72%) cases were natural pregnancies and three (23%) were in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancies. The median time to conception was 10 (range 4–25) months. There were eight (72%) successful deliveries. The rate of full-term deliveries was 90%. Of the eight live births, four (50%) were born vaginally and four (50%) by cesarean section. No severe complications occurred. The mean birth weight of newborns was 3.1 (range: 2.3–3.9) kg; all newborns developed well without complications during postpartum and breastfeeding. HIFU treatment for adenomyosis could improve fertility of patients with primary infertility. HIFU is a promising therapeutic approach for patients with adenomyosis and infertility who wish to achieve pregnancy and have live birth deliveries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a novel hyperchaotic circuit system that is extremely sensitive to circuit parameters and system initial values. The typical dynamical behaviors of the hyperchaotic system such as one-parameter bifurcation diagrams, two-parameter bifurcation diagrams and Lyapunov exponent spectrum are discussed in detail. Then an image encryption algorithm is designed by using the hyperchaotic sequences. In this algorithm, Zigzag algorithm is used to scramble pixel positions, and backward diffusion and forward diffusion algorithms are used to diffuse pixel values. The results indicate that the proposed algorithm can improve the security of the image encryption algorithm. In addition, some circuit simulation experiments are performed to verify the sensitivity of the hyperchaotic circuit to parameters by Multisim. Finally, the hyperchaotic circuit is implemented by using physical elements. The simulation results are consistent with the experimental results of hardware circuit, which effectively verifies the existence of hyperchaotic attractors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fang'an quartz-vein gold deposit is located in the eastern part of the Bengbu uplift. The eastern part of the Bengbu uplift is considered to be the western extension of the Zhaoyuan gold mineralization zone in the Jiaodong area of Shandong Province and has huge mineralization potential. The Fang'an deposit was a newly discovered, small-sized gold deposit, and the research in the area is relatively weak. In this study, samples of quartz-vein type ore were collected from the ZK141, ZK1549, and ZK1665 drill holes of the Fang'an gold deposit. Based on the study of the geological characteristics, the major and trace elements of pyrite in different stages were analyzed by electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA), to explore the compositional characteristics of pyrite, the occurrence of gold, and the source of ore-forming fluid. The studies indicate that the deposit experienced four ore-forming stages: the quartz stage, the quartz-pyrite stage, the polymetallic sulfide stage, and the carbonate stage. The pyrites are grouped into three stages, corresponding to the first three ore-forming stages. The EPMA analyses showed that the major elements of pyrite were high Fe and low S, indicating that the formation was hydrothermal. The high content of Ni indicated that the metallogenic materials were derived from between the mantle and the lower crust. The general Co/Ni ratio of >1, with an average of 5.34, indicated that the ore-forming fluid was derived from the magmatic–hydrothermal fluid and wall rock. The Fang'an gold deposit mainly contains nano-gold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new hybrid perovskite of [FCH2CH2NH3][Mn(HCOO)3] has been successfully prepared by utilizing the ammonium of FCH2CH2NH3+, and it is the first example incorporating F‐substituted ammonium in the class of ammonium metal formate framework. The compound crystallizes in polar, orthorhombic space group Pna21, and the cell parameters are a=8.5901(3)–8.7158(6), b=8.4613(3)–8.5216(6), c=12.4837(4)–12.6106(9) Å and V=907.36(5)–936.6(1) Å3 from 80 K up to 410 K just before the decomposition, showing positive thermal expansions in all directions and no structural phase transition in the temperature region. The FCH2CH2NH3+ cation in the cavity of the NaCl‐like Mn‐formate framework adopts N−C−C−F gauche conformation, and its NH3+ and F ends are anchored to the anionic framework by N−H⋅⋅⋅O and C−H⋅⋅⋅F H‐bonds. The large dislocation of the NH3+ end from the anionic framework, about 1.4 Å, results in an estimated high electric polarization about 10 μCcm−2 for the polar structure. The material is also a spin‐canted antiferromagnet with the Néel temperature of 8.3 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic-rich black shales in the Sichuan Basin from the Upper Ordovician and Lower Silurian are considered excellent source rocks and unconventional reservoirs of hydrocarbons in South China. The Wufeng and Longmaxi Formations in the Micangshan – Dabashan areas of the northern margin of Sichuan Basin were taken as the research objects. The purpose of this study is to reconstruct the sedimentary tectonic pattern of the Wufeng and Longmaxi Formations in the study area. First, the stratigraphic framework correlation and sedimentary facies analysis of Wufeng and Longmaxi Formations in the study area were carried out. Then, Mo/TOC and Al-Co[EF]×Mn[EF] geochemical indicators were used to identify the degree of water restricted during the deposition period. It was found that the thickness of black shale was relatively small near the uplift area. However, far away from the uplift area, from west to east, the black shale thickened and the TOC content increased gradually, which were controlled by the upwelling of continental margin and intracontinental depression. The results show that: (1) At the front edge of Micangshan, during the deposition period of Wufeng Formation, Fucheng and Qiaoting profiles were located in the intersection area of upwelling formed by two kinds of monsoon, which led to the long-term influence of upwelling in this area. The sedimentation period of Longmaxi Formation was mainly affected by 'Xixiang Rise', which led to the uplift of Wangcang and Nanjiang areas into islands. (2) At the front edge of Dabashan and Western Hubei – Eastern Chongqing areas, the Wufeng Formation presented a tectonic pattern of alternating uplift and depression. Due to the continuous compression of the Cathaysian Block from southeast to northwest, the Shizhu – Wuxi areas continued to subside during the deposition period of Longmaxi Formation, and the black shale was quite thick. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as the major opportunistic pathogen in healthcare-associated infections with high-level antibiotic resistance and high mortality. Quorum sensing (QS) system is a cell-to-cell bacterial communication mediated by the synthesis, secretion, and binding of auto-inducer signals. It is a global regulatory system to coordinate the behavior of individual bacteria in a population. The present study focused on the QS system, aiming to investigate the regulatory role of QS in bacterial virulence and antibiotic resistance. Method: The auto-inducer synthase gene abaI was deleted using the A. baumannii ATCC 19606 strain to interrupt the QS process. The RNA-seq was performed to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and pathways in the mutant (△abaI) strain compared with the wild-type (WT) strain. Results: A total of 380 DEGs [the adjusted P value < 0.05 and the absolute value of log2(fold change) > log21.5] were identified, including 256 upregulated genes and 124 downregulated genes in the △abaI strain. The enrichment analysis indicated that the DEGs involved in arginine biosynthesis, purine metabolism, biofilm formation, and type VI secretion system (T6SS) were downregulated, while the DEGs involved in pathways related to fatty acid metabolism and amino acid metabolism were upregulated. Consistent with the expression change of the DEGs, a decrease in biofilm formation was observed in the △abaI strain compared with the WT strain. On the contrary, no obvious changes were found in antimicrobial resistance following the deletion of abaI. Conclusions: The present study demonstrated the transcriptomic profile of A. baumannii after the deletion of abaI, revealing an important regulatory role of the QS system in bacterial virulence. The deletion of abaI suppressed the biofilm formation in A. baumannii ATCC 19606, leading to decreased pathogenicity. Further studies on the role of abaR, encoding the receptor of auto-inducer in the QS circuit, are required for a better understanding of the regulation of bacterial virulence and pathogenicity in the QS network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The research aims to investigate the mechanism of action of aspirin in the treatment of Kawasaki disease. Methods. We predicted the targets of aspirin with the help of the Drugbank and PharmMapper databases, the target genes of Kawasaki disease were mined in the GeneCards and Disgenet databases, the intersection targets were processed in the Venny database, and the gene expression differences were observed in the GEO database. The Drugbank and PharmMapper databases were used to predict the target of aspirin, and the target genes of Kawasaki disease were explored in the GeneCards and Disgenet databases, and the Venny was used for intersection processing. We observed the gene expression differences in the GEO database. The disease-core gene target-drug network was established and molecular docking was used for verification. Molecular dynamics simulation verification was carried out to combine the active ingredient and the target with a stable combination. The supercomputer platform was used to measure and analyze the binding free energy, the number of hydrogen bonds, the stability of the protein target at the residue level, the radius of gyration, and the solvent accessible surface area. Results. Aspirin had 294 gene targets, Kawasaki disease had 416 gene targets, 42 intersecting targets were obtained, we screened 13 core targets by PPI; In the GO analysis, we learned that the biological process of Kawasaki disease involved the positive regulation of chemokine biosynthesis and inflammatory response; pathway enrichment involved PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, etc. After molecular docking, the data showed that CTSG, ELANE, and FGF1 had the best binding degree to aspirin. Molecular dynamics was used to prove and analyze the binding stability of active ingredients and protein targets, and Aspirin/ELANE combination has the strongest binding energy. Conclusion. In the treatment of Kawasaki disease, aspirin may regulate inflammatory response and vascular remodeling through CTSG, ELANE, and FGF1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The application of BDM as an alternative to PE film in term of sustainability was evaluated; • In-situ biodegradation of BDM greatly reduced the environmental pollution and CED; • High environmental cost of BDM occurred at the manufacturing stage; • The integrated environmental impact and crop yield of biodegradable and PE film mulching cultivations did not differ much. Considering the minimum environmental concerns associated with biodegradable mulch (BDM) films, these are widely seen as a promising alternative to traditional polyethylene (PE) films. However, lack of an in-depth evaluation of BDM plastic films has hindered its largescale applications. To fill this knowledge gap, this study was planned to comprehensively evaluate the environmental impacts of BDM films as an alternative to the traditional PE film utilizing an advanced life cycle assessment (LCA) technique coupled with multiple field experiments, including three solanaceous crops i.e. eggplant, pepper and cherry tomato. These crops were grown at three different experimental sites comprising Chengmai, Qionghai, and Ledong; all located in Hainan Province of China. The results revealed that an in-situ biodegradation of BDM during the waste disposal stage greatly reduced the environmental pollution and cumulative energy demand (CED). But such a positive effect was largely nullified by the stimulated environmental cost during its manufacturing stage. And thus, the average environmental impact and CED from cradle to grave were reduced by only 2.6% and 9%, respectively, under BDM film when compared with PE. The seven sites/years-based field trials of three solanaceous crops revealed that the average crop yield under both plastic mulching cultivations was increased by 52%, while the integrated environmental impact per ton yield was reduced by 30%, compared with conventional bare planting (CP). Overall, it can be inferred that BDM film is a sustainable alternative to traditional PE mulch film based on its reduced environmental impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, titled "[Retracted] HCV-E2 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis by stimulating mast cells to secrete exosomal shuttle microRNAs," was published in Oncology Letters in 2017. However, it has since been retracted due to concerns raised by a reader. The reader pointed out that certain data in the article's figures were strikingly similar to data that had already been published in another article by different authors. The authors were asked for an explanation but did not respond. The editor has therefore decided to retract the paper from the journal. [Extracted from the article]

Soil acidification has been widely recognized as a server environmental issue. Acid soil causes hazards to plant species’ development, growth and also the yield of crop through the world. Rhododendron species have been demonstrated to prefer to grow in acid soil. However, the molecular-response mechanism of Rhododendron seedlings and their interspecific variance to different pH conditions remains unclear. Herein, we compared the response of R. decorum and R. griersonianum to different pH treatments through physiological indicators, transcriptome analysis, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis. We found that the physiological and biochemical traits and DEG numbers indicted that the narrow-ranging species R. griersonianum was more sensitive to pH conditions than R. decorum. Photosynthesis and starch and sucrose metabolism shared significant enrichment pathways in R. griersonianum and R. decorum. However, differences in gene-expression patterns related to these pathways existed in response to pH treatments. Furthermore, several unique enriched pathways and expression patterns were identified between both species. Specifically, the genes involved in porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism, carotenoid biosynthesis, carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms, and photorespiration were highly expressed at pH 4.5 and 5.5 in R. griersonianum. Meanwhile, genes related to brassinosteroids, galactose metabolism, phenylpropanoids, and flavonoid biosynthesis were identified in R. decorum. This finding implied the different strategies of Rhododendron species during response and adaptation to soil pH conditions. The present study provided new insights to understand the molecular mechanisms of woody plant adaptation to acidic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the phenomenon of coexisting attractors in complex chaotic systems, a multistable complex chaotic system is designed by using a cosine function and a control parameter to control the Sprott B system in this paper. The basic features of the complex chaotic system are analyzed from the perspectives of symmetry, dissipation, equilibrium points and stability. The analysis results indicate that the complex chaotic system is a symmetrical and dissipative system. It is particularly interesting to note that the system has infinitely many unstable equilibrium points, which generate infinitely many attractors. The dynamical characteristics of the complex chaotic system are evaluated through bifurcation diagrams, spectral entropy complexity and Lyapunov exponents spectrum. The dynamical evaluations illustrate that the system has complex dynamical performances, such as chaotic states, periodic states, especially infinitely many coexisting attractors. Then a chaotic circuit based on the complex chaotic system is designed and simulated by Multisim software. And the hardware circuit is implemented by using digital signal processor (DSP) platform. The hardware experimental results are consistent with the Multisim simulation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the construction and dielectric properties investigation of atomic-layer-deposition Al2O3/TiO2/HfO2 dielectric-film-based metal–insulator–metal (MIM) capacitors. The influence of the dielectric layer material and thickness on the performance of MIM capacitors are also systematically investigated. The morphology and surface roughness of dielectric films for different materials and thicknesses are analyzed via atomic force microscopy (AFM). Among them, the 25 nm Al2O3-based dielectric capacitor exhibits superior comprehensive electrical performance, including a high capacitance density of 7.89 fF·µm−2, desirable breakdown voltage and leakage current of about 12 V and 1.4 × 10−10 A·cm−2, and quadratic voltage coefficient of 303.6 ppm·V−2. Simultaneously, the fabricated capacitor indicates desirable stability in terms of frequency and bias voltage (at 1 MHz), with the corresponding slight capacitance density variation of about 0.52 fF·µm−2 and 0.25 fF·µm−2. Furthermore, the mechanism of the variation in capacitance density and leakage current might be attributed to the Poole–Frenkel emission and charge-trapping effect of the high-k materials. All these results indicate potential applications in integrated passive devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ construction of ball-in-ball structured porous V 2 O 5 wrapped by intertwined carbon fibers is implemented through a simple combined hydrothermal and calcination method. Benefitting from the synergistic effect of the porous ball-in-ball structure with void space and the wrapped carbon fibers, the material exhibits boosted specific capacity, cyclic stability, rate ability and energy density when used for aqueous zinc-ion batteries. [Display omitted] Using V 2 O 5 as an aqueous zinc-ion battery (ZIB) cathode has major drawbacks, including inferior electrode/electrolyte contact interfaces, morphological and structural deterioration, and unsatisfactory conductivity. Purposeful construction of ball-in-ball structured V 2 O 5 with porous and void architectures wrapped with carbon fibers is expected to overcome the drawbacks, thus bringing the electrochemical performance of V 2 O 5 into full play. In situ construction of ball-in-ball structured porous V 2 O 5 wrapped by intertwined carbon fibers (V 2 O 5 @void@V 2 O 5 @CFs) is implemented through a simple combined hydrothermal and calcination route. A combination of in/ex situ analytical methods and density functional theoretical calculations are performed to clarify the energy storage mechanism of the material for aqueous ZIBs. The reversible reaction to generate Zn x V 2 O 5 ·nH 2 O executes during the zinc ion insertion/extraction procedure in V 2 O 5 @void@V 2 O 5 @CFs. Benefitting from the synergistic effect of the porous ball-in-ball structure with void space and the wrapped CFs, the material exhibits boosted specific capacity (455 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles and 149 mAh g−1 after 2000 cycles at 4 and 25 A g−1, respectively), cyclic stability, rate ability and energy density (355 Wh kg−1 at 739 W kg−1) when used for aqueous ZIBs due to improved capacitive contribution, fast zinc ion transport dynamics, and enhanced conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A metal-/catalyst-free protocol for the direct thioamination of 1,4-naphthoquinone with thiophenols and amines using air as an oxidant in a green solvent has been developed. This environmentally friendly strategy was realized using commercially available reagents with simple operation under mild conditions affording 2-amino-3-thio-1,4-naphthoquinones as products in moderate to good yields. Importantly, the use of cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME) as a solvent could eliminate the need for traditional amide solvents with tedious post-treatment. Additionally, the potential utility of this protocol was further demonstrated by a gram-scale experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

User interest reflects user preference which plays an important role in commercial decision-making. Learning and predicting user interest has attracted significant attention in recent years, however, user interest will change under uncertain environments as time passes, called user interest drift. This may adversely impact the accuracy of machine learning model prediction and lead to a delay in decision-making. How to detect and adapt to user interest drift in streaming data is an important problem which needs to be addressed. In this paper, we propose a novel method to detect user interest drift, called the topic-based user interest drift detection method (T-IDDM), which can recognize the severity of user interest drift. Then, a self-adaptive ensemble (SA-Ensemble) method with an adaptive weighted voting strategy is proposed to deal with user interest drift and reduce the time decay of the voting process. Next, a dynamic voting strategies selection process is proposed and applied to improve model robustness. Finally, an application study of user interest drift learning is presented to verify the proposed method. Twelve sequential online reviews datasets are collected and tested for the experiment. A comparison of our method with state-of-the-art benchmark methods shows its efficiency. • A topic-based user interest drift detection method (T-IDDM) is introduced for changing identification. • A self-adaptive ensemble (SA-Ensemble) method is proposed to enhance learning performance. • A dynamic voting strategies selection mechanism is given to maintain robustness. • An application of the proposed method for user interest drift learning is adopted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the crop production systems have strived for improving crop productivity by increasing various resource inputs; especially water and synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizer, without considering their environmental consequences. Yet, only few studies have evaluated the sustainability of cropping systems simultaneously using life cycle assessment (LCA) and emergy accounting (EMA) techniques. The former highlights pollutant emissions and environmental impacts, while the latter emphasizes resource consumption and system efficiency. In this three-year field study, the environmental impacts and sustainability of farming systems were estimated under rainfed and irrigated patterns at four N application rates in the Northwest China. Our result indicated that the irrigated pattern enhanced grain yield by 9%, while simultaneously increasing 8% of environmental impact and 12% of emergy input based on per hectare of wheat production. Almost similar results of environmental impact per kg basis of grain production and emergy sustainability index revealed that irrigation practice did not decrease the overall sustainability of a cropping system. Conversely, the higher N levels of 240 and 360 kg N ha−1 did not provide a proportionate yield return and were accompanied by increased environmental impacts of 20% and 69%, respectively on per kg grain production basis, when compared to an N dose of 120 kg N ha−1. Meanwhile, the gross unit emergy value revealed that the production efficiency under 120 kg N ha−1 was enhanced, in comparison with other N levels. Therefore, a moderate N dose of 120 kg N ha−1 under both irrigated and rainfed patterns is highly recommended for adoption due to its overall advantage in terms of yield returns, environmental impact and production efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Many studies identified that the preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (PNLR) was associated with patient prognosis in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). We hypothesized that PNLR could be prognostic in patients with histological variants of NMIBC (VH-NMIBC). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included patients with VH-NMIBC admitted at our center between January 2009 and May 2019. The best cut-off value of NLR was measured by the receiver operating characteristic curve and Youden index. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard regression models were employed to evaluate the association between PNLR and disease prognosis, including recurrence-free survival (RFS), progression-free survival (PFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS). Results: A total of 243 patients with VH-NMIBC were enrolled in our study. According to the Kaplan-Meier method results, patients with PNLR =2.2 were associated with poor RFS (p<0.001), PFS (p<0.001), CSS (p<0.001), and OS (p<0.001). Multivariable analyses indicated that PNLR = 2.2 was an independent prognostic factor of RFS (hazard ratio [HR], 2.11; 95% confidence interval [CI, 1.57-1.83; p<0.001), PFS (HR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.70-3.21; p<0.001), CCS (HR, 2.87; 95% CI, 1.96-4.18; p< 0.001), and OS (HR, 2.83; 95% CI, 1.96-4.07; p<0.001). Conclusions: This study identified that PNLR =2.2 was usually associated with a poor prognosis for patients with VH-NMIBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terraces are striking artificial landforms on slopes and are widely distributed in the world. Terraces are vital to soil and water conservation and agricultural production. However, the automatic extraction of terraces entails certain drawbacks, such as low accuracy and poor generalization ability. This study proposes a novel approach to automatically extract terraces from remote sensing images and digital elevation models (DEMs) with high precision. First, terrace samples with annotated images are collected to train the model. Then, three sample areas with varying field conditions in the Loess Plateau are selected as the experimental data to extract the terraces. DEMs are used to eliminate the noise. Subsequently, the visual interpretation results are used to evaluate the accuracy of the extraction results. Furthermore, the proposed approach is compared with the spectral angle mapper approach. Results indicate the advantages of adopting the proposed approach, which is flexible and applicable to complex terrace conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is devoted to introduce a simplest Lorenz-like chaotic circuit and the calculation of Hamiltonian energy function for the corresponding dimensionless Lorenz-like chaotic system, as well as its applications in weak signal detection and chaotic secure communication. First, a simplest Lorenz-like chaotic circuit composed of three operational amplifiers and two analog multipliers is constructed through simplified circuit design based on a Lorenz chaotic circuit composed of six operational amplifiers and two analog multipliers. Then, the weak signal detection problem of the corresponding Lorenz-like chaotic system is studied by utilizing the extreme sensitivity of chaotic system to initial value in consideration of the inaccuracy of traditional detection methods. Furthermore, the Hamiltonian energy function of the Lorenz-like chaotic system is calculated based on the Helmholtz theorem. In addition, the simplest Lorenz-like chaotic circuit is applied to construct a chaotic secure communication system using the active control synchronization method. Accordingly, the hardware circuits are implemented to prove the effectiveness and feasibility of the simplest Lorenz-like chaotic circuit and the chaotic secure communication circuit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A turn-on/off ratiometric fluorescence detection platform based on multifunctional lanthanide metal-organic framework (Ln-MOF) and an enzymatic cascade reaction is proposed for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay. L-phosphotyrosine is hydrolyzed to levodopa (L-dopa) by two steps of enzymatic reaction. L-dopa further reacts with naphthoresorcinol to produce carboxyazamonardine with strong emission at 490 nm. In this process, multifunctional Ln-MOF (Cu@Eu-BTC, BTC is the 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid) acts not only as a nanozyme to catalyze the fluorogenic reaction between L-dopa and naphthoresorcinol but also as a fluorescence internal standard. The emission of Cu@Eu-BTC at 620 nm is quenched by phosphate anions, and the dual-response ratiometric fluorescence (F490/F620) can be achieved. A good linear relationship was obtained between Δ(F490/F620) and ALP activity in the range 0.3–24 U L−1 with the detection limit of 0.02 U L−1. In addition, a portable assay tube was designed for visual and point-of-care testing of ALP activity by color variation (ratiometric chromaticity). Both the ratiometric fluorescence detection and the visual detection methods were successfully applied to monitor ALP activity in human serum samples with recovery between 95.5%–109.0% and 94.0%–110.1%, and relative standard deviation less than 8.1% and 9.5%, respectively. As far as we know, this is the first report of ALP activity assay assisted by multifunctional Ln-MOF. Graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing slope safety monitoring studies mainly focus on long-term monitoring of slowly evolving horizontal deformations. However, during the practical applications, sudden deformations may also lead to landslides due to the natural and man-made trigger factors. This article first proposes a reusable and distributed fiber Bragg grating (FBG) inclinometer for simultaneous measurement of horizontal deformation and vibration induced by sudden deformation, providing more extensive monitoring for slopes. The proposed inclinometer utilizes ten FBG tilt sensors in series as measuring elements, which are characterized by easy installation and removal, thus making them reusable and eliminating excessive waste. A signal decomposition method is presented for splitting the coupled signal of the tilt sensor into two parts: the inclination angle signal and the vibration signal. The inclination angle signals can be converted to distributed horizontal deformation through a cumulative algorithm. And the vibration intensity can be inferred from the vibration signal. The measuring principle, structure design, and calibration experiment of the inclinometer were present in detail. A distributed horizontal deformation generating device with high precision was specially developed to simulate the internal deformation of slope. Verification experiments further validated the feasibility of the proposed inclinometer for simultaneous measurement of horizontal deformation and vibration induced by sudden deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their excellent carrier mobility, high absorption coefficient and narrow bandgap, most 2D IVA metal chalcogenide semiconductors (GIVMCs, metal = Ge, Sn, Pb; chalcogen = S, Se) are regarded as promising candidates for realizing high-performance photodetectors. We synthesized high-quality two-dimensional (2D) tin sulfide (SnS) nanosheets using the physical vapor deposition (PVD) method and fabricated a 2D SnS visible-light photodetector. The photodetector exhibits a high photoresponsivity of 161 A⋅W−1 and possesses an external quantum efficiency of 4.45 × 104%, as well as a detectivity of 1.15 × 109 Jones under 450 nm blue light illumination. Moreover, under poor illumination at optical densities down to 2 mW⋅cm−2, the responsivity of the device is higher than that at stronger optical densities. We suggest that a photogating effect in the 2D SnS photodetector is mainly responsible for its low-light responsivity. Defects and impurities in 2D SnS can trap carriers and form localized electric fields, which can delay the recombination process of electron-hole pairs, prolong carrier lifetimes, and thus improve the low-light responsivity. This work provides design strategies for detecting low levels of light using photodetectors made of 2D materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we present a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) based 6-D force/torque (F/T) sensor that can be mounted on robot joints for the detection of comprehensive F/T information. The sensor is designed based on a new concept of multilayer measurement in which the elastic structure is divided into four layers. A single optical fiber inscribed with 12 FBGs is symmetrically attached to the elastic structure to sense F/T-induced strains by means of differential measurements. Because of the mechanical decoupling function of the structure and the reasonable arrangement of the FBG sensing elements, the designed sensor possesses a great advantage of low cross coupling compared with the existing 6-D F/T sensors, which simplifies the calibration and maintenance of the sensor. Calibration experiments demonstrate high resolutions of 7.8 N·mm, 7.2 N·mm, 15.8 N·mm, 0.0067 N, 0.0066 N, and 0.0825 N within the range of ±1.56 N·m, ±1.56 N·m, ±1.56 N·m, ±10 N, ±10 N, and ±25 N for the detection of Mx, My, Mz, Fx, Fy, and Fz, respectively. Dynamic performances of the designed sensor have been evaluated in comparison with a commercial F/T sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasonic transit time (TT)-based local pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurement is defined as the distance between two beam positions on a segment of common carotid artery (CCA) divided by the TT in the pulse wave propagation. However, the arterial wall motions (AWMs) estimated from ultrasonic radio frequency (RF) signals with a limited number of frames using the motion tracking are typically discrete. In this work, we develop a method involving motion tracking combined with reconstructive interpolation (MTRI) to reduce the quantification errors in the estimated PWs, and thereby improve the accuracy of the TT-based local PWV measurement for CCA. For each beam position, normalized cross-correlation functions (NCCFs) between the reference (the first frame) and comparison (the remaining frames) RF signals are calculated. Thereafter, the reconstructive interpolation is performed in the neighborhood of the NCCFs' peak to identify the interpolation-deduced peak locations, which are more exact than the original ones. According to which, the improved AWMs are obtained to calculate their TT along a segment of the CCA. Finally, the local PWV is measured by applying a linear regression fit to the time-distance result. In ultrasound simulations based on the pulse wave propagation models of young, middle-aged, and elderly groups, the MTRI method with different numbers of interpolated samples was used to estimate AWMs and local PWVs. Normalized root mean squared errors (NRMSEs) between the estimated and preset values of the AWMs and local PWVs were calculated and compared with ones without interpolation. The means of the NRMSEs for the AWMs and local PWVs based on the MTRI method with one interpolated sample decrease from 1.14% to 0.60% and 7.48% to 4.61%, respectively. Moreover, Bland-Altman analysis and coefficient of variation were used to validate the performance of the MTRI method based on the measured local PWVs of 30 healthy subjects. In conclusion, the reconstructive interpolation for the pulse wave estimation improves the accuracy and repeatability of the carotid local PWV measurement. Ultrasonic transit time-based local pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurement is defined as the distance between two beam positions on a segment of common carotid artery (CCA) divided by the transit time of the pulse wave (PW). However, PWs estimated from ultrasonic radio frequency (RF) signals with a limited number of frames using the motion tracking are typically discontinuous. In this work, a method that involves motion tracking combined with reconstructive interpolation (MTRI) is proposed for PW estimation to improve local PWV measurement. For each beam position, normalized cross-correlation functions (NCCFs) between the reference (the first frame) and comparison (the remaining frames) RF signals are calculated. Thereafter, the reconstructive interpolation is performed in the neighborhood of the NCCFs' peak to identify the interpolation-deduced peak locations, which are more exact than the original ones. According to which, the improved PWs are obtained to calculate their transit time along a segment of the CCA. Finally, the local PWV is measured by applying a linear regression fit to the time-distance result. In ultrasound simulations based on the PW propagation models of young, middle-aged, and elderly groups, the MTRI method with different numbers of interpolated samples was used to estimate PWs and local PWVs. Normalized root mean squared errors (NRMSEs) between the estimated and preset values of the PWs and local PWVs were calculated and compared with ones without interpolation. The means of the NRMSEs for the PWs and local PWVs based on the MTRI method with one interpolated sample decrease from 1.14% to 0.60% and 7.48% to 4.61%, respectively. Moreover, Bland-Altman analysis and coefficient of variation were used to validate the performance of the MTRI method based on the measured local PWVs of 30 healthy subjects. In conclusion, the MTRI method can improve the PW estimation and thus afford more accurate local PWV measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Wolfram syndrome (WS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy and deafness. Mutations in Wolfram syndrome 1 (WFS1) gene may cause dysregulated endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress and cell apoptosis, contributing to WS symptoms. The aim of this study was to identify the molecular etiology of a case of WS and to explore the functional consequence of the mutant WFS1 gene in vitro. Methods: A 27 years-old Chinese man was diagnosed as wolfram syndrome type 1 based on clinical data and laboratory data. DNA sequencing of WFS1 gene and mitochondrial m.3337G > A, m.3243A > G mutations were performed in the patient and his 4 family members. Functional analysis was performed to assessed the in vitro effect of the newly identified mutant. ER stress were evaluated by ER stress response element (ERSE)-luciferase assay. Cell apoptosis were performed by CCK-8, TUNEL staining and flow cytometric analysis. Results: A novel heterozygous 10-base deletion (c. 2067_2076 del10, p.W690fsX706) was identified in the patient. In vitro studies showed that mutant p.W690fsX706 increased ERSE reporter activity in the presence or absence of thapsigargin instead of wild type WFS1. Knockdown of WFS1 activated the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway and increased the cell apoptosis, which could not be restored by transfection with WFS1 mutant (p.W690fsX706) comparable to the wild type WFS1. Conclusions: A novel heterozygous mutation of WFS1 detected in the patient resulted in loss-of-function of wolframin, thereby inducing dysregulated ER stress signaling and cell apoptosis. These findings increase the spectrum of WFS1 gene mutations and broaden our insights into the roles of mutant WFS1 in the pathogenesis of WS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis‐associated interstitial lung disease (RA‐ILD) is an irreversible pathologic condition of unknown cause, commonly involving the joint and the lung with variable amounts of fibrotic change. In contrast to rheumatoid arthritis or other chronic interstitial lung diseases such as interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, there is so far no extensively accepted or implemented animal model for this disease. Aims: To provide guidance for those who are investigating the pathogenesis of RA‐ILD with animal models. Materials and Methods: An analysis of papers from PubMed during 1978‐2020. Results: We outline the present status quo for animal models of RA‐ILD about their modeling methods and pathogenesis, compare their pros and cons with respect to their ability to mimic the clinical and histological features of human disease and discuss their applicability for future research. Discussion: There is no doubt that these animal models do provide valuable information relating to the pathogenesis of RA‐ILD and the development of effective therapeutic drugs. Nevertheless, these animal models can not entirely recapitulate clinical pathology and have some limitations in experimental research application. Therefore, it should be emphasized that we should improve and explore animal models in more accordance with the pathogenesis and clinical characteristics of human RA‐ILD. Conclusion: These established animal models of the disease can significantly progress our understanding of the etiology of RA‐ILD, the fundamental mechanisms of its pathogenesis and the identification of new bio‐markers, and can contribute to the development and implementation of novel treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one factor resulting in health emergency, climate change has received high attention in recent years. Real-time identifying and tracking the potential climate-related risk becomes more challenging due to the changeable and evolving data under uncertainty. To enhance risk early warning and decision-making, this paper proposes a self-adaptive machine learning framework based on real-time data stream learning, called C-SA-Stacking, for risk prediction. First, a stacking-based ensemble model for data stream learning is built with a meta-model embedded, which can self-update selectively and dynamically. Second, an online learning scheme is added to this framework for real-time adaptation. Finally, a mapping of correlations between data streams is constructed to further enhance the learning performance. By testing the framework on six synthetic datasets and six real-world datasets with different risk change scenarios and conducting comparative experimental analysis, the experimental results show that the prediction error is reduced as respected, indicating the effectiveness and real-time of the proposed framework for risk prediction under uncertainty. The results discussion reflects the framework can be applied to real-world scenarios to help identify and track the risk of climate change-caused health emergencies for decision-making. • A stacking-based ensemble learning model with a self-adaptive meta-model for data stream learning is constructed. • A real-time updating process of meta model is proposed to improve the prediction accuracy of the learning model. • A correlation mapping process to help correct and enhance the prediction results is embedded to maintain accuracy. • The proposed algorithm is tested under both synthetic and real-world scenarios with detailed discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) is an important economic species of freshwater fish, widely distributed in China. Recently, viral diseases of yellow catfish have been identified in Chian (Hubei province), arising more attention to the viral immunity in P. fulvidraco. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factor NF-κB activator (TANK)-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) plays an essential role in IFN production and innate antiviral immunity. In the present study, we characterized the P. fulvidraco TBK1 (PfTBK1) and reported its function in interferon response. The full-length open reading frame (ORF) is 2184 bp encoding a protein with 727 amino acids, which is composed of four conserved domains, including KD, ULD, CCD1, and CCD2, similar to TBK1 in other species. Pftbk1 was widely expressed in all detected tissues by qPCR and was not inducible by the spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV), a single-strand RNA virus. In addition, the cellular distribution indicated that PfTBK1 was only located in the cytoplasm. Moreover, PfTBK1 induced strong IFN promoter activities through the Jak-stat pathway, and PfTBK1 interacted with and significantly phosphorylated IFN regulatory factor 3/7 (IRF3/7) in P. fulvidraco , promoting the nuclear translocation of pfIRF3 and PfIRF7, and PfTBK1 upregulated IFN response by PfTBK1-PfIRF3/7 axis. Above all, PfTBK1 triggered IFN response and strongly inhibited the replication of SVCV in EPC cells through induction of IFN downstream IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). Summarily, this work reveals that PfTBK1 plays a positive regulatory role in IFN induction through the TBK1-IRF3/7 axis, laying a foundation for further exploring the molecular mechanism of the antiviral process in P. fulvidraco. • Pftbk1 was widely expressed in all detected tissues by qPCR and was not inducible by the spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV), a single-strand RNA virus, indicating that Pftbk1 was a constitutively expressed gene. • PfTBK1 is only located in the cytoplasm and induced strong IFN promoter activities through the Jak-stat pathway. • PfTBK1 interacts with and significantly phosphorylates P. fulvidraco IFN regulatory factor 3/7 (IRF3/7), promoting the nuclear translocation of pfIRF3 and PfIRF7, suggesting that PfTBK1 upregulated IFN response by the PfTBK1-PfIRF3/7 axis signaling pathway. • PfTBK1 triggers IFN response and strongly inhibits the replication of SVCV in EPC cells through induction of IFN downstream IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• miR-182-5p downregulated the expression of TNFAIP8. • Overexpression of miR-182-5p improved cell viability and wound healing ability. • miR-182-5p targeted TNFAIP8 and regulated chondrocyte apoptosis and autophagy pathways. • ATG3 blocked the autophagy and apoptosis pathways induced through upregulation of TNFAIP8. • Exosome-derived miR-182-5p alleviated osteoarthritis by downregulating TNFAIP8. To investigate the role of exosomal miRNAs from synovial fluid (SF) in osteoarthritis (OA) patients and investigate the underlying molecular mechanism. Degenerated knee tissues were collected from male and female OA patients. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the differences in the expression of inflammatory indicators, including TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10, between the degenerative and injury groups. Exosomes were isolated from SF using the Exoquick kit, and a microarray was used to identify differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs), which were analyzed using bioinformatics. The predicted relationship between DEmiRNAs and target genes was verified using a luciferase reporter gene assay. CCK-8 and transwell assays were used to assess cell viability and migration. Immunofluorescence and TUNEL assay were used to detect cell autophagy and apoptosis. The interaction between proteins was detected by immunoprecipitation and verified by Mab rescue assay. The relative expression of TNF-α/IL6 was significantly higher in the degeneration group than in the injury group. The OA degeneration group released significantly more and smaller exosomes than the injury group. The expression of miR-182-5p was markedly reduced in OA patients and had a higher correlation with inflammatory indicators. Tumor necrosis factor α-induced protein 8 (TNFAIP8) was a target of miR-182-5p, and its overexpression promoted chondrocyte proliferation, migration, and invasion and enhanced the wound healing efficiency. We also found a direct interaction of TNFAIP8 with autophagy-related gene 3 (ATG3). TNFAIP8 triggered ATG3 LC3-mediated autophagy. The downregulation of exosomal miR-182-5p inhibits OA degeneration by targeting TNFAIP8 via the ATG/LC3 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• MnV 12 O 31 ·10H 2 O intertwined with CNFs as a cathode for zinc storage is synthesized. • Zinc storage mechanism of MVOH is clarified by a combined in- and ex-situ tests. • Vanadium dissolution can be restrained in MVOH to meliorate its performance. • Structure stability can be maintained in MVOH for reversible zinc storage. • MVOH-CNFs exhibits excellent performance in aqueous zinc-ion batteries. Hydrated vanadates have gained significant attentions as cathode ingredients for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) on account of their broad open channels in the structural framework together with the existence of crystal water for stabilizing the structure. Yet, the ambiguous zinc storage mechanism and sluggish electrochemical reaction dynamics are always challenging questions for the development of hydrated vanadate cathodes. Herein, a novel hydrated manganese vanadate MnV 12 O 31 ·10H 2 O (MVOH) nanobelt assembled microparticle materials is synthesized and combined with carbon nanofibers (CNFs) to generate MVOH-CNFs composite through electrostatic attraction in the condition of hydrothermal environment. The zinc storage mechanism of the formed MVOH substance as a cathode for AZIBs is clarified by a combined in- and ex-situ characterizations. The advantages of the crystal structure of MVOH to restrain vanadium dissolution and the assistance of CNFs to meliorate reaction kinetics are clarified based on the density functional theory calculations. The MVOH-CNFs cathode with a CNF content of 10.1% exhibits a reversible capacity of 302 mAh g−1 at 2 A g−1 after 100 cycles and 105 mAh g−1 at 8 A g−1 after 5000 cycles with robust structural stability. It also delivers excellent areal and volumetric capacity especially at high current density. A quasi-solid MVOH-CNFs//Zn pouch battery based on a gel electrolyte exhibits stable electrochemical performance and could be curled into a circular shape on the wrist to power a smart watch. This work paves a way for the furtherance of hydrated manganese vanadate cathodes in the application of high performance AZIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Microbial C accumulation studied in paddy soil with a 40-year fertilization trial. • Physical protection controlled the microbial C accumulation in paddy soil. • Fertilization regimes altered fungal and bacterial role in microbial C accumulation. • Microbial C accumulation varied in various SOC fractions with fertilization regimes. To investigate the stabilization mechanism of microbial necromass carbon (C) in rice paddy soil, the accumulation of microbial necromass and its contribution to SOC in bulk soil and in various fractions were addressed under a 40-year fertilization trial. The fertilization regimes included no fertilizer (Control), nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium inorganic fertilizer (NPK), and inorganic fertilizer plus manure (NPKM). Coarse particulate organic matter (cPOM), fine inter-microaggregate POM (fPOM), intra-microaggregate POM (iPOM), non-occluded silt plus clay fraction (s + c_f), and silt plus clay occluded within microaggregates (s + c_m) fractions were isolated. The results indicated that fungal necromass were the main component of microbial necromass across the fractions; however, the bacterial role was enhanced in mineral fractions (s + c_f and s + c_m) compared to POM fractions (cPOM, fPOM, and iPOM). The iPOM and mineral fractions stored more than 90 % of microbial necromass C due to the physical protection (organo-mineral associations and occlusion within microaggregates). Compared to Control, the significantly increased content of microbial necromass C and its contribution to SOC in bulk soil were attributed to the enhanced content of fungal necromass in iPOM fraction under NPK treatment. The highest content of microbial necromass C was found under NPKM treatment; moreover, the increased content of microbial necromass C in iPOM and s + c_m fractions made up to 82.80 % of that in bulk soil compared to Control, while a saturation behavior was found in s + c_f fraction. The contribution of microbial necromass to SOC was not altered under NPKM treatment compared to Control. However, a reduced fungal/bacterial necromass C ratio was found in bulk soil and iPOM fraction under NPKM treatment compared to Control, mainly due to the supply of higher quality substrates and the increased soil pH. As a whole, this study revealed the diverse responses of microbial necromass C accumulation and its contribution to SOC under different fertilization regimes in paddy soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinization in freshwater lakes is becoming a serious global environmental problem, especially in lakes of plateaus such as south-western plateau of China. However, limited information is available about the molecular response of freshwater hydrophytes to salinity under multiple stress. In the present study, a weighted gene co-expression network (WGCNA) was used to identify the modules of co-expressed genes in the physiological and biochemical indicators of Pistia stratiotes to determine its molecular response to salinity (NaCl) alone and when combined with cadmium (Cd). The physiological and biochemical indicators showed that P. stratiotes improved its salt tolerance by enhancing photosynthetic abilities, reducing oxidative stress, and inducing osmoprotectant generation. Morever, addition of NaCl reduced the Cd accumulation in P. stratiotes. Transcriptome and WGCNA analysis revealed that the pathways of alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, ribosomal, flavonoid biosynthesis, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis were significantly enriched in both treatments. Genes associated with photosynthesis-antenna proteins, nitrogen metabolism, and the acid cycle pathways were only expressed under salinity stress alone, while the proteasome pathway was only significantly enriched in the combined salinity and Cd treatment. Our findings provide novel insights into the effects of salinization on aquatic plants in freshwater ecosystems and the management of aquatic ecosystems under global change. [Display omitted] • Molecular response of Pistia stratiote to salinity and Cd stress was studied • The addition of NaCl reduced Cd toxicity of P. stratiotes • Key pathways response to salinity and Cd stress were identified • The proteasome pathway was first identified • The species has the potential for the phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated salinity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase is a marker of early tubular damage. Therefore, the current study was to investigate effects and its underling mechanisms of valsartan on gentamicin induced renal tubular injury through urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase parameter variety in rats. Animals were divided into four groups consisting of 12 rats each. The study lasted for 10 d. Rats were treated in two batches on the 6th and 11th d of the experiment, with 6 rats in each group. Control group rats were administered with distilled water (10 ml/kg) daily via an intragastric gavage; gentamicin group rats were given gentamicin 100 mg/kg/d intraperitoneally; valsartan (10 mg/kg/d, intragastric gavage) +gentamicin group; valsartan (20 mg/kg/d, intragastric gavage) +gentamicin group. Rats treated with gentamicin showed significant elevation in the activity and expression of urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase as compared with the control group; the activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase were lower while malondialdehyde was higher in kidney tissues; urinary protein content was not changed; serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were increased. Moreover, pathological damage of the renal tubules was serious in gentamicin treated rats. Valsartan significantly inhibited activity and expression of urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase in a dose dependent manner; dramatically increased superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities and markedly decreased malondialdehyde levels in kidney tissues; renal tubular structural damages were also effectively ameliorated by valsartan. These results show that changes of urinary N-acetyl-β-Dglucosaminidase levels can reflect the extent of renal tubular injury, that valsartan has protective role on gentamicin-induced renal tubular injury by down-regulation urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase, and its down-regulation urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase effect may be due to its antioxidant properties in kidney tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountaintop ecosystems preserve vast amounts of biodiversity that lives in extreme environmental conditions, provide food and water for human well-being, and are important for global carbon storage (6). Protecting fragile mountaintop ecosystems is a crucial component of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (1). Mountaintop ecosystems will receive more attention if international organizations (such as International Union for Conservation of Nature) add them to the global agenda of biodiversity conservation, monitoring, and assessment. [Extracted from the article]

Since the traditional detection methods cannot accurately detect, determine and extract weak signals, the extreme sensitivity of chaotic systems to initial values is used for weak signal detection using a memristor-based chaotic system. Then, in order to find out all kinds of static nonlinear circuits suitable for Chua's circuit with identical parameters, a comparative research platform is designed to generate five kinds of nonlinearity by taking advantage of the active short-circuit line method using the memristor-involved chaotic Chua's circuit. The comparative research platform consists of three parts: a linear circuit unit, multiple nonlinear static function circuits and a nonlinear characteristic curve measurement unit connected by an electronic switch. By pressing the space bar, the switch between the active short-circuit line and the physical short-circuit line can be realized. The diffeomorphism between them is proved by comparing the memristive nonlinearity shape and the trilinear amplitude limiting the nonlinearity in the chaotic systems. Accordingly, hardware circuit experiments are carried out to verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the comparative research platform with various nonlinearity for Chua's circuit. A good agreement is shown between the numerical simulations and the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prolyl hydroxylase domain (PHD)-containing enzyme 3 belongs to the Caenorhabditis elegans gene egl-9 family of prolyl hydroxylases, which has initially been revealed to hydroxylate hypoxia-inducible factor a (HIF-a) and mediate HIF-a degradation. In addition to modulating its target function by hydroxylation, PHD3 has been also shown to influence its binding partners' function independent of its prolyl hydroxylase activity. In this study, we report that overexpression of zebrafish phd3 suppresses cellular antiviral response. Moreover, disruption of phd3 in zebrafish increases the survival rate upon spring viremia of carp virus exposure. Further assays indicate that phd3 interacts with irf7 through the C-terminal IRF association domain of irf7 and diminishes K63-linked ubiquitination of irf7. However, the enzymatic activity of phd3 is not required for phd3 to inhibit irf7 transactivity. This study provides novel insights into phd3 function and sheds new light on the regulation of irf7 in retinoic acid-inducible gene I-like receptor signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new kind of heavy tail index estimator is proposed by using block order statistics in this paper. The weak consistency of the estimator is derived. The asymptotic expansion and asymptotic normality of the estimator are considered under second order regular variation conditions. Small sample simulations are presented in terms of average mean and average mean squared error to support our findings by comparison with two known heavy tail estimators established by block order statistics method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] This study was conducted to investigate the compounding of three herbicides: clopyralid, picloram and benazolin, so as to improve the effectiveness of herbicides. [Methods] With Lapsana apogonoides Maxim, as the target and clopyralid, picloram and benazolin as the test agents, seven gradient concentrations were set up to determine the joint toxicity of the three agents. [Results] When the compounding ratio of picloram, clopyralid and benazolin was 2-1:6, the maximum co-toxicity coefficient was 290.0. [Conclusions] The compounding of picloram, clopyralid and benazolin has a significant synergistic effect on L. apogonoides, which reduces production costs and environmental pressure, providing technical support for the effective control of broad-leaved weeds such as L. apogonoides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C39H38N2O9, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 9.9846(6) Å, b = 31.4308(13) Å, c = 11.5739(6) Å, β = 110.712(7)°, V = 3397.4(3) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0596, wRref(F2) = 0.1221, T = 293 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]