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BACKGROUND: Our objective in this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of oligosaccharides extracted from black ginseng (OSBG), innovatively prepared by a low‐temperature steam‐heating process, in the improvement of learning and memory impairment in mice, as well as the mechanism(s). RESULTS: Eight carbohydrates involving isomaltose and maltotetraose were detected in black gensing; monosaccharide residues including mannose and rhamnose were also discovered. OSBG‐treated mice showed significant amelioration in recognition and spatial memory deficits compared to the scopolamine group. OSBG could decrease acetylcholinesterase activity in a tissue‐dependent fashion but not in a dose‐dependent manner. Furthermore, in contrast, OSBG administration resulted in significant upregulation superoxide dismutase, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and Kelch‐like ECH‐associated protein 1, downregulation of malondialdehyde and nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 in the tissues. Finally, at the genus level, we observed that the OSBG interventions increased the relative abundance of probiotics (e.g., Barnesiella, Staphylococcus, Clostridium_XlVb) and decreased pernicious bacteria such as Eisenbergiella and Intestinimonas, compared to the Alzheimer's disease mouse model group. Herein, our results demonstrate that OSBG restores the composition of the scopolamine‐induced intestinal microbiota in mice, providing homeostasis of gut microbiota and providing evidence for microbiota‐regulated therapeutic potential. CONCLUSION: Our results showed for the first time a clear role for OSBG in improving scopolamine‐induced memory impairment by inhibiting cholinergic dysfunction in a tissue‐dependent manner. Additionally, OSBG administration relieved oxidative stress by activating the Keap‐1/Nrf2 pathway and modulating the gut microbiota. Collectively, OSBG may be a promising target for neuroprotective antioxidants for improving memory and cognition in Alzheimer's disease patients. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Thyroid disorders have been reported in hypercortisolism patients. Endogenous Cushing's syndrome (CS) potentially complicates its metabolic sequelae. We investigated thyroid function in CS patients to determine this relationship. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we screened CS patients from 2016 to 2019 at our hospital. Patient demographic, medical history, and laboratory data were collected. Additionally, we performed a meta-analysis to demonstrate the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in patients with CS. Results: Among 129 CS patients, 48.6% had triiodothyronine (TT3), 27.9% had thyroxine (TT4), 24.6% had free T3 (FT3), 27.7% had free T4 (FT4), and 6.2% had thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels below the reference values. Those with clinical CS showed more pronounced thyroid suppression than did those with subclinical CS. Cortisol levels were markedly greater in patients with pituitary hypothyroidism (P < 0.001). Serum cortisol levels throughout the day and post low-dose dexamethasone-suppression test (LDDST) results correlated with thyroid hormone levels, particularly in ACTH-independent CS. Correlations varied by thyroid status; FT3 and TSH were linked to cortisol in euthyroid individuals but not in those with low T3 or central hypothyroidism. TSH levels notably halved from the lowest to highest cortisol tertile post-LDDST. Finally, meta-analysis showed 22.7% (95% CI 12.6%-32.9%) central hypothyroidism in 528 CS patients of nine studies. Conclusion: Thyroid hormone levels are significantly correlated with cortisol levels and are impaired in patients with CS. However, the physiological adaptation and pathological conditions need further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective : Acute pharyngitis is common worldwide. Meteorological changes contribute to respiratory infections. This study aims to explore the correlation between acute pharyngitis and meteorological parameters. Methods : We collected the monthly acute pharyngitis cases in our hospital and the meteorological data, including temperature, relative humidity, and air quality index (AQI) of Shanghai, China, from January, 2015, to December, 2017. Pearson correlation and multivariable regression analysis were used to explore the association between meteorological parameters and the monthly hospital visits. Results : A total of 8287 patients were included in this study, and the monthly number of hospital visits was 230.2 ± 39.0. The best air quality index was 46.4 and the worst was 113.2. Temperature ranged from 5.2°C to 32.0°C, and relative humidity ranged from 59.4% to 83.1%. The monthly hospital visits of acute pharyngitis were negatively correlated with temperature (r = −.558, 95% CI −.746, −.274) and relative humidity (r = −.480, 95% CI −.695, −.137). A decrease of 1°C could cause an increase in hospital visits by 1.9. No significant correlation was found were found between acute pharyngitis cases and AQI (P =.051, 95% CI −.005,.590). Multivariable linear regression analysis showed the temperature was the independent risk factor of acute pharyngitis (coefficient = −1.906, P =.022). Conclusion : Low temperature might cause an increased incidence of acute pharyngitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We previously reported that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) RPLP0P2 is involved in the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC); however, its molecular mechanisms in CRC remain unclear. In this study, we observed that RPLP0P2 was upregulated in CRC tissues and cell lines. Cell viability was measured using the MTT and colony formation assays. Migration and invasion capabilities were monitored by wound healing, transwell, and immunofluorescence assays. The results showed that RPLP0P2 downregulation inhibited cell viability, migration, and invasion capabilities of CRC cells, accompanied by decreased PCNA, N-cadherin, and Vimentin, and increased E-cadherin expression. Using the DIANA online database, miR-129-5p was identified as a downstream target of RPLP0P2. In fact, RPLP0P2 colocalized with miR-129-5p, acting as a miR-129-5p sponge. MiR-129-5p-inhibition almost abrogated the anti-tumor effects induced by RPLP0P2 inhibition in CRC cells. Zinc finger and BTB domain-containing 20 (ZBTB20) was identified as a potential downstream target of miR-129-5p in CRC cells. ZBTB20 overexpression prevented miR-129-5p mimic-mediated anti-tumor effects in CRC cells. A tumor xenograft assay was performed to monitor the role of RPLP0P2 in tumor growth. Of note, in tumor-bearing mice, RPLP0P2-silencing inhibited tumor growth, followed by increased miR-129-5p and decreased ZBTB20 expression. Our results suggest that lncRNA RPLP0P2 functions as an oncogene that promotes CRC cell proliferation and invasion via regulating the miR-129-5p/ZBTB20 axis, thus, it may serve as a candidate target for CRC interventional therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The improved wear and corrosion resistance of gray cast iron (GCI) with enhanced mechanical properties is a proven stepping stone towards the longevity of its versatile industrial applications. In this article, we have tailored the microstructural properties of GCI by alloying it with titanium (Ti) and tungsten (W) additives, which resulted in improved mechanical, wear, and corrosion resistance. The results also show the nucleation of the B-, D-, and E-type graphite flakes with the A-type graphite flake in the alloyed GCI microstructure. Additionally, the alloyed microstructure demonstrated that the ratio of the pearlite volume percentage to the ferrite volume percentage was improved from 67/33 to 87/13, whereas a reduction in the maximum graphite length and average grain size from 356 ± 31 µm to 297 ± 16 µm and 378 ± 18 µm to 349 ± 19 µm was detected. Consequently, it improved the mechanical properties and wear and corrosion resistance of alloyed GCI. A significant improvement in Brinell hardness, yield strength, and tensile strength of the modified microstructure from 213 ± 7 BHN to 272 ± 8 BHN, 260 ± 3 MPa to 310 ± 2 MPa, and 346 ± 12 MPa to 375 ± 7 MPa was achieved, respectively. The substantial reduction in the wear rate of alloyed GCI from 8.49 × 10−3 mm3/N.m to 1.59 × 10−3 mm3/N.m resulted in the upgradation of the surface roughness quality from 297.625 nm to 192.553 nm. Due to the increase in the corrosion potential from −0.5832 V to −0.4813 V, the impedance of the alloyed GCI was increased from 1545 Ohm·cm2 to 2290 Ohm·cm2. On the basis of the achieved experimental results, it is suggested that the reliability of alloyed GCI based on experimentally validated microstructural compositions can be ensured during the operation of plants and components in a severe wear and corrosive environment. It can be predicted that the proposed alloyed GCI components are capable of preventing the premature failure of high-tech components susceptible to a wear and corrosion environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of Ti alloy casing is crucial for the safe and stable operation of aero engines. However, the fluctuation of key process parameters during the investment casting process of titanium alloy casings has a significant influence on the volume and number of porosity defects, and this influence cannot be effectively suppressed at present. Therefore, this paper proposes a strategy to control the influence of process parameters on shrinkage volume and number. This study constructed multiple regression prediction models and neural network prediction models of porosity volume and number for a ZTC4 casing by simulating the gravity investment casting process. The results show that the multiple regression prediction model and neural network prediction model of shrinkage cavity total volume have an accuracy of over 99%. The accuracy of the neural network prediction model is higher than that of the multiple regression model, and the neural network model realizes the accurate prediction of shrinkage defect volume and defect number through pouring temperature, pouring time, and mold shell temperature. The sensitivity degree of casing defects to key process parameters, from high to low, is as follows: pouring temperature, pouring time, and mold temperature. Further optimizing the key process parameter window reduces the influence of process parameter fluctuation on the volume and number of porosity defects in casing castings. This study provides a reference for actual production control process parameters to reduce shrinkage cavity and loose defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outbreaks of viral diseases seriously jeopardize people's health and cause huge economic losses. At the same time, virology provides a new perspective for biology, molecular biology and cancer research, and it is important to study the discovered viruses with potential applications. Therefore, the development of immediate and rapid viral detection methods for the prevention and treatment of viral diseases as well as the study of viruses has attracted extensive attention from scientists. With the continuous progress of science and technology, especially in the field of bioanalysis, a series of new detection techniques have been applied to the on-site rapid detection of viruses, which has become a powerful approach for human beings to fight against viruses. In this paper, the latest research progress of rapid point-of-care detection of viral nucleic acids, antigens and antibodies is presented. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of these technologies are discussed from the perspective of practical application requirements. Finally, the problems and challenges faced by rapid viral detection methods and their development prospects are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is crucial for the advancement of political economics and innovation economics to examine the relationship between income inequality and green innovation (GI). Using the panel fixed effect model, this study investigates the influence of income inequality on GI across 97 countries from 1991 to 2018 and demonstrates a significant non-linear association between the two. The empirical data exhibit an inverted U-shape relationship, suggesting that there is an optimal degree of income inequality that optimizes GI output, and the inflection point of our overall sample is at a Gini coefficient of 0.366. Additionally, we choose a set of robustness tests to validate the results by substituting explained variables, adding omitted variables, and employing the difference and system generalized method of moments (GMM) estimations. Moreover, heterogeneity analysis reveals that the non-linear patterns vary among samples, with the U-shape relationship being more significant in countries with lower income, higher corruption, and weaker government effectiveness. Our findings provide government decision-makers with a crucial reference for maximizing the importance of income distribution in fostering GI and achieving sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the mechanical properties of a novel multi-layer Silane/Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) film based on Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). Nanoindentation tests, theoretical analysis, and numerical simulations were employed. Multi-layer and single-layer film specimens, consisting of various formulations of silane and ITO, were fabricated on a plexiglass PMMA substrate. The elastic modulus and hardness of the silane, ITO, and PMMA substrate were determined using nanoindentation tests combined with the Continuous Stiffness Measurement (CSM). Moreover, the load-indentation depth curve obtained from the experiments was utilized to simulate the nanoindentation tests using the commercial finite element calculation software ABAQUS. The power hardening constitutive model was adopted for the film, and parameters were optimized using a MATLAB neural network. The simulation results for each film material agreed with the experimental findings. Furthermore, a correction factor α was proposed for calculating multi-layer film simulation parameters based on parameter analysis of the multi-layer film system. The degree of idealization for each multi-layer film test was characterized and analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Remediation of arsenic contamination is of great importance given the high toxicity and easy mobility of arsenic species in water and soil. This work reports a new and stable adsorbent for efficient elimination of arsenic by coating polyethyleneimine (PEI) molecules onto the surface of iron-doped birnessite (Fe-Bir). Characterization results of surface microstructure and crystalline feature (scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), etc.) suggest that Fe-Bir/PEI possesses a fine particle structure, inhibiting the agglomeration of birnessite-typed MnO 2 and offering abundant active sites for arsenic adsorption. Fe-Bir/PEI is capable of working in a wide pH range from 3 to 11, with an efficient removal capacity of 53.86 mg/g at initial pH (pH 0) of 7. Meanwhile, commonly coexisting anions (NO3−, SO 4 2−, and Cl−) and cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+) pose no effect on the arsenic removal performance of Bir/PEI. Fe-Bir/PEI exhibits a good reusability for arsenic removal with low Mn and Fe ions leaching after 5 cycles. Besides, Fe-Bir/PEI possesses efficient remediation capability in simulated As-contaminated soil. The modification of PEI in Fe-Bir/PEI can adsorb newly formed As(V), which is impossible for the adsorbent without PEI. Further, the arsenic removal mechanism of Fe-Bir/PEI is revealed with redox effect, electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bonding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document discusses the importance of microbial communities in agriculture and the use of metagenomic analysis to understand and utilize the agricultural microbiome. Microorganisms in the soil, such as bacteria and fungi, play a crucial role in nutrient cycling, plant growth promotion, disease control, and resilience to environmental stresses. The document highlights various research papers that explore the impact of microorganisms on crop management, disease dynamics, and soil health. The findings emphasize the potential of metagenomic technologies in advancing sustainable farming practices and promoting ecological sustainability. The document also provides links to a special issue on the topic and invites further research contributions. [Extracted from the article]

Background: 4-Aminopyridine (4AP) is a medication for the symptomatic treatment of multiple sclerosis. Several 4AP-based PET tracers have been developed for imaging demyelination. In preclinical studies, [11C]3MeO4AP has shown promise due to its high brain permeability, high metabolic stability, high plasma availability, and high in vivo binding affinity. To prepare for the translation to human studies, we developed a cGMP-compatible automated radiosynthesis protocol and evaluated the whole-body biodistribution and radiation dosimetry of [11C]3MeO4AP in non-human primates (NHPs). Methods: Automated radiosynthesis was carried out using a GE TRACERlab FX-C Pro synthesis module. One male and one female adult rhesus macaques were used in the study. A high-resolution CT from cranial vertex to knee was acquired. PET data were collected using a dynamic acquisition protocol with four bed positions and 13 passes over a total scan time of ~ 150 min. Based on the CT and PET images, volumes of interest (VOIs) were manually drawn for selected organs. Non-decay corrected time-activity curves (TACs) were extracted for each VOI. Radiation dosimetry and effective dose were calculated from the integrated TACs using OLINDA software. Results: Fully automated radiosynthesis of [11C]3MeO4AP was achieved with 7.3 ± 1.2% (n = 4) of non-decay corrected radiochemical yield within 38 min of synthesis and purification time. [11C]3MeO4AP distributed quickly throughout the body and into the brain. The organs with highest dose were the kidneys. The average effective dose of [11C]3MeO4AP was 4.0 ± 0.6 μSv/MBq. No significant changes in vital signs were observed during the scan. Conclusion: A cGMP-compatible automated radiosynthesis of [11C]3MeO4AP was developed. The whole-body biodistribution and radiation dosimetry of [11C]3MeO4AP was successfully evaluated in NHPs. [11C]3MeO4AP shows lower average effective dose than [18F]3F4AP and similar average effective dose as other carbon-11 tracers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increase in the nonlinearity of the bridge will lead to a more obvious vehicle–bridge interaction effect and affect the vehicle response and driving comfort as the span increases. This paper establishes a refined finite element model of vehicle–bridge coupling for the 575 m long-span concrete-filled steel tubular arch bridge, Pingnan Third Bridge. Coupling vibration responses under different vehicle speeds, vehicle weights and road conditions of this bridge is analyzed. Then its comfort is assessed according to the comfort criterion. The results show that the vehicle–bridge coupling model has good agreement with the field test. The dynamic response of the bridge within the speed limit has no significant linear relationship with the magnitude of the vehicle speed without considering the pavement class. When the vehicle exceeds the speed limit, the dynamic response increases sharply with the increase in speed. The increase in vehicle weight leads to an increase in the maximum dynamic deflection of the bridge and a decrease in the impact coefficient, but the actual total response of the bridge does not decrease. The worse the road surface condition, the more dramatic the dynamic response of the bridge structure, taking into account the road surface level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Protein arginine methyltransferase 6 (PRMT6) plays a crucial role in various pathophysiological processes and diseases. Glioblastoma (GBM; WHO Grade 4 glioma) is the most common and lethal primary brain tumor in adults, with a prognosis that is extremely poor, despite being less common than other systemic malignancies. Our current research finds PRMT6 upregulated in GBM, enhancing tumor malignancy. Yet, the specifics of PRMT6's regulatory processes and potential molecular mechanisms in GBM remain largely unexplored. Methods: PRMT6's expression and prognostic significance in GBM were assessed using glioma public databases, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and immunoblotting. Scratch and Transwell assays examined GBM cell migration and invasion. Immunoblotting evaluated the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and Wnt-β-catenin pathway-related proteins. Dual-luciferase reporter assays and ChIP-qPCR assessed the regulatory relationship between PRMT6 and YTHDF2. An in situ tumor model in nude mice evaluated in vivo conditions. Results: Bioinformatics analysis indicates high expression of PRMT6 and YTHDF2 in GBM, correlating with poor prognosis. Functional experiments show PRMT6 and YTHDF2 promote GBM migration, invasion, and EMT. Mechanistic experiments reveal PRMT6 and CDK9 co-regulate YTHDF2 expression. YTHDF2 binds and promotes the degradation of negative regulators APC and GSK3β mRNA of the Wnt-β-catenin pathway, activating it and consequently enhancing GBM malignancy. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate the PRMT6-YTHDF2-Wnt-β-Catenin axis promotes GBM migration, invasion, and EMT in vitro and in vivo, potentially serving as a therapeutic target for GBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have excellent immobilization effects on heavy metals (HMs) in water and soil. For the first time in Hunan province, the immobilization effect of Ca-Al LDH (SR-02-02) and Mg-Al LDH (SR-02-03) for the remediation of Cd and Pb was examined in contaminated soils. With treatments of SR-02-02 at 3000 kg/ha(L2–3), the immobilization effect of available Cd and Pb was 54.74% and 20.85%; with treatments of SR-02-03 at 3000 kg/ha(L3–3), the immobilization effect of available Cd and Pb was 68.02% and 26.70%, which showed that Cd, and Pb were gradually solidified into stable oxidizable and residual state. Less HMs were absorbed by rice as a result of the immobilization effect of SR-02-02 and SR-02-03, and the concentration of Cd and Pb in the root, stem, husk, and grain of rice were also significantly reduced. In particular, under the treatment of L2–3, the content of Cd and Pb in grain decreased by 69.13% and 72.67%, respectively; under the treatment of L3–3, the content of Cd and Pb in grain decreased by 80.76% and 100%, respectively. This was because LDHs materials reacted with HMs to form Cd-OH, Pb-OH, CdAl-LDH, and Ca/Mg-O-Pb etc. which reduced the availability of HMs. In conclusion, LDHs material is a promising material for the synergistic remediation of Cd and Pb contaminated soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the security control problem of semi-Markov jump systems. First, the parameter uncertainty, the time-varying delay, the nonlinear function and the cyber attack are considered in the system. Second, the nonlinear function is linearized by the fuzzy logic rule. A sliding mode surface is designed to obtain an equivalent controller and get a sliding mode dynamic system. By constructing Lyapunov functions of the mode dependence, a sufficient condition for H∞ asymptotic stability of the system is obtained. Then, an adaptive sliding mode controller is established, and the original system reaches the sliding mode surface in a finite time. Finally, two examples verify the correctness and practicality of the proposed theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How to expand the variable domain and monotonicity of aggregation functions to generate new aggregation functions is an important research content in aggregation functions. In this work, the concept of interval-valued pre-(quasi-)grouping functions is given by relaxing the interval monotonicity of interval-valued (quasi-)grouping functions to interval directional monotonicity. Then, some basic properties of interval-valued pre-(quasi-)grouping functions and the relationship between interval-valued pre-(quasi-)grouping functions and pre-(quasi-)grouping functions are presented. Accordingly, several construction methods of interval-valued pre-(quasi-)grouping functions are proposed. Finally, the concept of (I G , IN) -interval-valued directional monotonic fuzzy implications and QL -interval-valued directional monotonic operations are introduced on the basis of interval-valued pre-(quasi-)grouping functions I G , interval-valued overlap functions IO and interval-valued fuzzy negations IN. In addition, related studies were conducted on the basic properties of (I G , IN) -interval-valued directional monotonic fuzzy implications and QL -interval-valued directional monotonic operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractTraditional opera, vital to China’s intangible cultural heritage (ICH), is grappling with low dissemination efficiency and an inability to meet evolving aesthetic preferences in the era of new media. We combined virtual reality (VR) technology with traditional Chinese opera (TCO) to allow users to learn about this musical art form through an immersive experience and facilitate its digital diffusion. To verify this approach’s effectiveness, this research involved the construction of a hypothetical model based on the technology acceptance model (TAM), then surveys were administered to 340 participants and data were analyzed using SPSS26 and AMOS27. The results indicate that perceived visual design positively impacted perceived usefulness (PU), self- efficacy and personal innovativeness had significantly positive impacts on perceived ease of use (PEOU). Moreover, perceived playfulness exerted a noticeable impact on PU, PEOU, and intention to use (ITU), PU and PEOU indirectly influenced ITU through attitude. Our findings provide theoretical support for predicting public acceptance of learning about TCO through VR and insight into the transmission of other ICH items through VR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acoustic velocity varies in deep-water environments, and the variable-velocity seawater can affect the dispersion characteristics of Scholte wave. To improve the accuracy of inversion, a horizontal layered-seawater and layered-seabed (HLSLS) model is established with continuously varying velocities for seabed S-wave velocity inversion using Scholte wave. First, we deduced the Scholte wave dispersion equation and the amplitude-depth equation of the HLSLS model based on wave theory. Then, with the real acoustic velocity of the seawater and submarine sediments parameters of the Shenhu area in the South China Sea, we analyzed the influence of variable-velocity seawater on the dispersion characteristics of Scholte wave. Finally, we performed two-dimensional (2D) S-wave velocity inversion on the field OBS multi-component data in the South China Sea. The results showed that the variation of seawater acoustic velocity had a certain influence on the dispersion characteristics of Scholte wave in deep water. The accuracy and practicality of our method were verified through numerical and filed data experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of a composite saddle in single-tower earth-anchored suspension bridges (STEASBs) replaces the tower on the steep slope side, which is a cost-effective solution that improves bridge safety and provides environmental protection for the steep bank slope of the valley. However, this novel bridge design needs an appropriate model to evaluate the effect of rock anchor hangers on the structure in the non-girder area and adjust their parameters to optimize the mechanical response of the whole bridge structure. This study proposes an approach to quickly evaluate the most unfavorable load cases of the STEASB and further optimizes the structural parameters of rock anchor hangers to enhance structural safety. An analytical model for the STEASBs under the live load is proposed and verified by the finite element model (FEM), with the maximum relative error not exceeding 7.37%. Combined with the golden eagle optimizer (GEO), the most unfavorable load cases of the corresponding design indices are yielded. The Pareto optimal solutions for the spacing, cross-sectional area, and initial tension of the vertical rock anchor hangers are obtained through multi-objective optimization to improve the mechanical behavior of STEASBs. In addition, it is clarified that the main function of rock anchor hangers is to reduce the peak value of the stress amplitude of the hangers and girder-end rotation, providing a theoretical basis for the STEASB design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earlier research on the ways in which enterprise social media (ESM) usage contributes to employee resilience is rather limited. Using boundary spanning theory, this paper proposes a research model for investigating how enterprise social media usage contributes to employee resilience. Using Smart PLS 4.0 to analyze the survey data from 370 employees, this study found that, first, when enterprise social media is used for work and social purposes, it has a positive effect on employee boundary spanning, while the effect of social-related ESM usage on employee boundary spanning is larger than work-related ESM usage. Second, employee boundary spanning has the greatest effect on the behavioural dimension of employee-level resilience, followed by the cognitive dimension of employee-level resilience and the contextual dimension. Third, employees’ boundary spanning acts as a partial mediator between enterprise social media and employees’ different levels of resilience. Finally, it is interesting to find that individual adaptability can weaken the relationship between work-related ESM usage and employee boundary spanning, while individual adaptability can strengthen the relationship between social-related ESM usage and employee boundary spanning. The research findings suggest ways of using enterprise social media for specific purposes to increase employees’ different levels of resilience in organisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crack-tip opening displacement (CTOD) tests were conducted on girth welds of two API 5L X70 pipeline steels (pipe A and pipe B) to investigate the influence of base metal composition on the fracture toughness of the joint. CTOD measurements across the weld showed that the weld fusion zone had the lowest CTOD values for both pipes, with pipe B having a higher CTOD value than pipe A. Detailed microstructure characterization of the multi-pass weld showed that the fusion zone in both pipes consisted of three distinct zones: the columnar zone, the coarse equiaxed zone, and the fine equiaxed zone. Both the columnar zone and coarse-grained equiaxed zone had acicular ferrite and grain boundary ferrite microstructures, whereas the fine-grained equiaxed zone had a finer ferrite microstructure compared to the other two zones. The main difference between the two pipes was the variation in ferrite grain sizes and the volume fractions of grain boundary ferrite and acicular ferrite. In comparison to pipe B, pipe A, with a higher concentration of Mo, Ni, and Cu in both the base metal and the weld fusion zones, consisted of a higher volume fraction of grain boundary ferrite and a lower volume fraction of acicular ferrite in the columnar and coarse-grained equiaxed zones. The lower concentration of Mo, Ni, and Cu in pipe B likely resulted in the formation of a predominantly acicular ferrite microstructure in the fusion zone, thereby improving the toughness of the weld joint in comparison to pipe A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) maintain relative homeostasis of the cellular ubiquitome by removing the post‐translational modification ubiquitin moiety from substrates. Numerous DUBs have been demonstrated specificity for cleaving a certain type of ubiquitin linkage or positions within ubiquitin chains. Moreover, several DUBs perform functions through specific protein–protein interactions in a catalytically independent manner, which further expands the versatility and complexity of DUBs' functions. Dysregulation of DUBs disrupts the dynamic equilibrium of ubiquitome and causes various diseases, especially cancer and immune disorders. This review summarizes the Janus‐faced roles of DUBs in cancer including proteasomal degradation, DNA repair, apoptosis, and tumor metastasis, as well as in immunity involving innate immune receptor signaling and inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. The prospects and challenges for the clinical development of DUB inhibitors are further discussed. The review provides a comprehensive understanding of the multi‐faced roles of DUBs in cancer and immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV or MCPyV) is an alphapolyomavirus causing human Merkel cell carcinoma and encodes four tumor (T) antigen proteins: large T (LT), small tumor (sT), 57 kT, and middle T (MT)/alternate LT open reading frame proteins. We show that MCV MT is generated as multiple isoforms through internal methionine translational initiation that insert into membrane lipid rafts. The membrane-localized MCV MT oligomerizes and promiscuously binds to lipid raft-associated Src family kinases (SFKs). MCV MT-SFK interaction is mediated by a Src homology (SH) 3 recognition motif as determined by surface plasmon resonance, coimmunoprecipitation, and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays. SFK recruitment by MT leads to tyrosine phosphorylation at a SH2 recognition motif (pMTY114), allowing interaction with phospholipase C gamma 1 (PLCγ1). The secondary recruitment of PLCγ1 to the SFK-MT membrane complex promotes PLCγ1 tyrosine phosphorylation on Y783 and activates the NF-κB inflammatory signaling pathway. Mutations at either the MCV MT SH2 or SH3 recognition sites abrogate PLCγ1-dependent activation of NF-κB signaling and increase viral replication after MCV genome transfection into 293 cells. These findings reveal a conserved viral targeting of the SFK-PLCγ1 pathway by both MCV and murine polyomavirus (MuPyV) MT proteins. The molecular steps in how SFK-PLCγ1 activation is achieved, however, differ between these two viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pure V3+ species boosted the high-efficiency dehydrogenation of V/γ-Al 2 O 3 catalyst. [Display omitted] The vanadium-based dehydrogenation (DH) catalyst is becoming a promise alternative to the industrial used Pt- and Cr-based catalysts, due to lower cost and less environmental threat. However, the low DH activity hampered the industrial application of vanadium-based catalysts. Herein, for the first time, we introduce a method to prepare high-efficiency vanadium-based catalyst by constructing pure V3+ species on γ-Al 2 O 3 through treatment of as-prepared thiovanadate. The V3+ species contributes to not only enhancing the DH activity, but also fabricating the V3+-O/S acid-base pair with ideal strength and stability. The isobutene yield can reach as high as 56.9 wt%. Only Lewis acid is recognized on V3+/Al 2 O 3 catalyst, while no Brønsted acid remains. The side-reactions are consequently inhibited, and the selectivity to isobutene is improved. Besides, with the increase of vanadium loadings, the Lewis acid content increases at first and then decreases, and the content of acid sites in middle strength keeps decreasing. Though the deposited coke on V3+/Al 2 O 3 was just 2.5 wt% during 8.5 h consecutive DH reaction, the valence state of vanadium was still influenced and the fraction of inert V4+ species increased steadily. This study will improve the potential for industrial application of vanadium-based DH catalyst, and offer theoretical guidance for optimization of ideal DH catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A new concept for in-situ architecting MXene-based endogenous Schottky heterostructures is proposed. • The Nb 2 CT x /Nb 2 O 5 Schottky heterostructures exhibit superior capacity and cyclic stability. • The mechanisms for structure evolution of the Nb 2 CT x /Nb 2 O 5 Schottky heterostructures during the electrochemical reaction were revealed. Schottky heterostructures have significant advantages for exciting charge transfer kinetics at material interfaces. In this work, endogenous Nb 2 CT x /Nb 2 O 5 Schottky heterostructures with a large active surface area were constructed using an in-situ architectural strategy. The semiconductor Nb 2 O 5 has a low work function, and during the construction of Nb 2 CT x /Nb 2 O 5 Schottky heterostructures, there was an interfacial electron transfer, which resulted in a built-in electric field. The electrochemical reaction kinetics of Nb 2 CT x /Nb 2 O 5 Schottky heterostructures were enhanced due to the rapid transfer of charge driven by the electric field. The Nb 2 CT x /Nb 2 O 5 Schottky heterostructures have a large active surface area, which contributes to excellent electrolyte diffusion kinetics. Therefore, Nb 2 CT x /Nb 2 O 5 Schottky heterostructures have excellent lithium-ion storage capacity with 575 mAh/g after 200 cycles at 0.10 A/g, and 290 mAh/g after 1000 cycles at 2.00 A/g, without capacity fading. Furthermore, in-situ X-ray diffraction and ex-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses reveal the mechanisms for structure evolution and lithium-ion storage optimization of Nb 2 CT x /Nb 2 O 5 Schottky heterostructures during the electrochemical reaction. The construction of Schottky heterostructures with excited charge transport kinetics provides a novel idea for optimizing the lithium-ion storage activity of MXenes materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: ND630 is believed to be a new therapy pharmacologic molecule in targeting the expression of ACACA and regulating the lipid metabolism. However, the function of ND630 in prostate cancer remains unknown. KIF18B, as an oncogene, plays a vital role in prostate cancer progression. circKIF18B_003 was derived from oncogene KIF18B and was markedly overexpressed in prostate cancer tissues. We speculated that oncoprotein KIF18B-derived circRNA circKIF18B_003 might have roles in prostate cancer promotion. The aim of this study was to validate whether ND630 could control ACACA and lipid reprogramming in prostate cancer by regulating the expression of circKIF18B_003. Methods: RT-qPCR was used to analyze the expression of circKIF18B_003 in prostate cancer cell lines and prostate cancer samples. circKIF18B_003 expression was modulated in prostate cancer cells using circKIF18B_003 interference or overexpression plasmid. We examined the function and effects of circKIF18B_003 in prostate cancer cells using CCK-8, colony formation, wound healing, and Transwell invasion assays and xenograft models. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed to evaluate the localization of circKIF18B_003. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), RNA pull down, and luciferase reporter assay were performed to explore the potential mechanism of circKIF18B_003. Results: The function of ND630 was determined in this study. circKIF18B_003 was overexpressed in prostate cancer tissues, and overexpression of circKIF18B_003 was associated with poor survival outcome of prostate cancer patients. The proliferation, migration, and invasion of prostate cancer cells were enhanced after up-regulation of circKIF18B_003. circKIF18B_003 is mainly located in the cytoplasm of prostate cancer cells, and the RIP and RNA pull down assays confirmed that circKIF18B_003 could act as a sponge for miR-370-3p. Further study demonstrated that up-regulation of circKIF18B_003 increased the expression of ACACA by sponging miR-370-3p. The malignant ability of prostate cancer cells enhanced by overexpression of circKIF18B_003 was reversed by the down-regulation of ACACA. We found that overexpression of circKIF18B_003 was associated with lipid metabolism, and a combination of ND-630 and docetaxel markedly attenuated tumor growth. Conclusion: ND630 could control ACACA and lipid reprogramming in prostate cancer by regulating the expression of circKIF18B_003. ND630 and circKIF18B_003 may represent a novel target for prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this paper, we discuss the security control problem of cyber physical systems based on identifying false data injection attacks. First, the unknown adversary randomly attacks the measurement output, a mechanism is set in the sensor to update the measurement output to the constant, called the one‐valued quantized mechanism. Then, the Bienayme–Chebyshev inequality and the one‐valued quantized mechanism are utilized to design an identification algorithm, the estimated value of the false data injection attack and the minimum identification time can be obtained. Furthermore, based on the LMI theory, sampled‐data control gains with and without attacks are obtained to ensure the system mean‐square exponential stable, respectively. And the corresponding maximum sampling period of the controller is obtained. Finally, numerical examples verify the correctness and effectiveness of the theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social mating systems (e.g. monogamy, polygamy, or polyandry) are relatively stable behavioral strategies developed by environmental in animals, but the genetic imprint of a particular mating system is often incongruent with the social mating system due to extrapair matings. However, the genetics of mating systems remain little understood in rodents. In this study, we investigated the genetic signature of the mating system of 141 (63 females, 78 males) field-captured midday gerbils (Meriones meridianus)—a rodent species commonly found in the Minqin Desert in China—through microsatellite site analyses of genetic structure and relatedness. Seven pairs of highly polymorphic microsatellite loci were selected and were highly polymorphic, with the combined exclusion probability greater than 0.99. The parent pair paternity test by Cervus 3.0 software show that 11 mother–offspring and nine father–offspring relationships were identified in 2018, involving 26 individuals from 10 families. Similarly, 19 mother–offspring and 19 father–offspring relationships were identified in 2019, involving 48 individuals from 18 families. All three types of genetic mating structure were identified—monogamy (19 families), polyandry (4 families), and polygyny (5 families), providing evidence that the genetics underlying mating systems in this species are variable, can be incongruent with behavioral evidence for social mating systems, and could vary based on environmental cues, including degree of perceived or actual predation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reasonable lateral stiffness of the bridge mid-tower should ensure that the deflection-to-span ratio and sliding resistance coefficient satisfy the design requirements. However, if this stiffness is determined by the deterministic parametric analysis, the above two verification indices may exceed the threshold due to the randomness of the high-dimensional structure and load parameters. To satisfy the structural safety requirements of a three-tower suspension bridge during its design life, this study proposes a method to quickly and accurately evaluate the reliability indices of the deflection-to-span ratio and sliding resistance coefficient of the three-tower suspension bridge. Based on advanced first-order second-moment, the proposed method transforms the reliability problem into an optimization problem with constraint functions, uses the single-cable theory to establish the limit state function, and combines the manta ray foraging optimization algorithm and penalty function to derive the reliability index. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by performing Latin hypercube sampling for an examplary three-tower suspension bridge. These results prove that the new technique avoids tedious finite element simulation and surrogate model fitting, ensuring the accuracy of the reliability index while improving the calculation efficiency. The study further identifies critical structural parameters by parametric analysis. Based on the inverse reliability, the dimensionless stiffness range for the mid-tower with the randomness of the parameters is derived, and the preliminary design method of the lateral stiffness of the mid-tower based on the reliability is established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hunan Province has abundant mineral resources in China. Due to unreasonable mining, serious Cd contamination is highlighted in paddy soil. In addition, the long-term use of acidic chemical fertilizers causes that the soil is seriously acidified, and Cd possesses the high bioavailability under acidic conditions, which is easily absorbed by rice, resulting in excess Cd accumulation in rice grains. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have been reported as an efficient in-situ stabilizer for Cd remediation. In this work, two kinds of LDHs (MgAl-LDH/Ca(OH)2 (102A) and CaAl-LDH (112A)) are used for the first time in the remediation of Cd-contaminated acidic paddy soil in Hunan Province. The location of experimental field is in a village, Heshan District, Yiyang City, Hunan Province, China. The basic characteristics of the soil are as follows: clay, silt, sand, pH, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, cation exchange capacity, soil organic matter, and total Cd are 49.3%, 48.0%, 2.7%, 5.20, 2.63 g·kg−1, 16.90 mg·kg−1, 96.00 mg·kg−1, 11.60 cmol·kg−1, 42.31 g·kg−1 and 0.530 mg·kg−1, respectively. Herein, the applications of 102A, 112A and mixture of 102A and 112A have increased the soil pH value and decreased the available Cd content of the soil effectively. They show excellent performance in reducing the Cd content of rice grains. Group A4 (3 t/ha 102A) demonstrates the most effective Cd passivation efficiency, the available Cd content in the soil has reduced by 66.8%. The Cd content of early rice grains and late rice grains are 0.093 and 0.113 mg·kg−1, respectively, which is below the standard value of Cd in rice grain (0.2 mg·kg−1, GB 2762–2017), while the Cd content is 0.403 and 0.547 mg·kg−1 in the control group field, respectively. This work provides an alternative approach to remediate the Cd contamination in practical paddy soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendritic cells (DCs) can mediate immune responses or immune tolerance depending on their immunophenotype and functional status. Remodeling of DCs' immune functions can develop proper therapeutic regimens for different immune-mediated diseases. In the immunopathology of autoimmune diseases (ADs), activated DCs notably promote effector T-cell polarization and exacerbate the disease. Recent evidence indicates that metformin can attenuate the clinical symptoms of ADs due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Whether and how the therapeutic effects of metformin on ADs are associated with DCs remain unknown. In this study, metformin was added to a culture system of LPS-induced DC maturation. The results revealed that metformin shifted DC into a tolerant phenotype, resulting in reduced surface expression of MHC-II, costimulatory molecules and CCR7, decreased levels of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IFN-γ), increased level of IL-10, upregulated immunomodulatory molecules (ICOSL and PD-L) and an enhanced capacity to promote regulatory T-cell (Treg) differentiation. Further results demonstrated that the anti-inflammatory effects of metformin in vivo were closely related to remodeling the immunophenotype of DCs. Mechanistically, metformin could mediate the metabolic reprogramming of DCs through FoxO3a signaling pathways, including disturbing the balance of fatty acid synthesis (FAS) and fatty acid oxidation (FAO), increasing glycolysis but inhibiting the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TAC) and pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), which resulted in the accumulation of fatty acids (FAs) and lactic acid, as well as low anabolism in DCs. Our findings indicated that metformin could induce tolerance in DCs by reprogramming their metabolic patterns and play anti-inflammatory roles in vitro and in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemotherapy‐induced enteritis is one of the side effects associated with cancer therapy, which significantly affects the treatment effect, but there is no effective clinical detection method that can early diagnose its occurrence and progression. Here, a series of second near‐infrared window (NIR‐II) hybrid nanosensors are designed that consisted of lanthanide nanoparticles and β‐Mo2C‐derived polymetallic oxomolybdate nanoclusters (Ln@POM). Based on the high sensitivity of POM to reactive oxygen species (ROS) closely related to chemotherapy‐induced enteritis, the NIR‐II luminescence intensity and lifetime of Ln@POM (Ln: Yb3+, Nd3+, Ho3+, Tm3+, Er3+) show excellent responsiveness to H2O2 and HClO with the detection limit down to 0.15 and 0.14 µm, respectively. Utilizing Nd@POM as a ROS‐activated NIR‐II nanosensor, the chemotherapeutic enteritis is successfully detected within 7 h after induction of chemotherapy drugs, which is significantly earlier than the gold standard method (immunohistochemistry, 24 h). These results demonstrate that the designed hybrid nanosensors are promising optical tools for the early diagnosis of ROS‐related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anisotropic structure of wood will lead to a macroscopic anisotropic property in both mechanical strength and heat transfer. Previous experimental studies of wood materials were mainly focused on the mechanical property while their anisotropic thermal property in different environments is not sufficient. In this research, the anisotropic thermal performance of spruce wood is studied at different temperature, humidity, and mechanical load. The one-dimensional steady-state method and the transient plane source method are adopted to conduct the test. The thermal conductivity in both radial and longitudinal directions of spruce wood at temperature ranging from 25 °C to 422 °C, relative humidity ranging from 30 to 90 % RH, and mechanical load ranging from 0 to 20 MPa are obtained. The accuracy of the TPS method is validated using the 1D steady-state method. Both methods can be utilized to gauge the anisotropic thermal conductivity of spruce wood. Due to the unidirectional distribution of fiber, spruce wood has a longitudinal thermal conductivity that is roughly three times greater than its radial thermal conductivity. Among environmental conditions of temperature, humidity, and mechanical load, the thermal conductivity of spruce wood is varied with temperature more significantly, which is followed by humidity and mechanical load. The measurement uncertainty is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese herbal medicine has a wide range of sources, convenient materials, low residue, no drug resistance and other characteristics, and has a wide application prospect in livestock and poultry production. Chinese herbal medicine additives can shorten sows labor process, improve sows performance of farrowing, lactation and reproduction with prevent sows postpartum inflammation and regulate intestinal health. The article summarizes nutritional functions, biological activity components and biological functions of Chinese herbal medicine additives and application progress in sows production, to provide references for improving sows reproductive performance with Chinese herbal feed additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: RAP1 interacting factor 1 (Rif1) is highly expressed in mice embryos and mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). It plays critical roles in telomere length homeostasis, DNA damage, DNA replication timing and ERV silencing. However, whether Rif1 regulates early differentiation of mESC is still unclear. Methods: In this study, we generated a Rif1 conditional knockout mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell line based on Cre-loxP system. Western blot, flow cytometry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), RNA high-throughput sequencing (RNA-Seq), chromatin immunoprecipitation followed high-throughput sequencing (ChIP-Seq), chromatin immunoprecipitation quantitative PCR (ChIP-qPCR), immunofluorescence, and immunoprecipitation were employed for phenotype and molecular mechanism assessment. Results: Rif1 plays important roles in self-renewal and pluripotency of mESCs and loss of Rif1 promotes mESC differentiation toward the mesendodermal germ layers. We further show that Rif1 interacts with histone H3K27 methyltransferase EZH2, a subunit of PRC2, and regulates the expression of developmental genes by directly binding to their promoters. Rif1 deficiency reduces the occupancy of EZH2 and H3K27me3 on mesendodermal gene promoters and activates ERK1/2 activities. Conclusion: Rif1 is a key factor in regulating the pluripotency, self-renewal, and lineage specification of mESCs. Our research provides new insights into the key roles of Rif1 in connecting epigenetic regulations and signaling pathways for cell fate determination and lineage specification of mESCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real‐time visualization of individual viral mRNA translation activities in live cells is essential to obtain critical details of viral mRNA dynamics and to detect its transient responses to environmental stress. Fluorogenic RNA aptamers are powerful tools for real‐time imaging of mRNA in live cells, but monitoring the translation activity of individual mRNAs remains a challenge due to their intrinsic photophysical properties. Here, we develop a genetically encoded turn‐on 3,5‐difluoro‐4‐hydroxybenzylidene imidazolinone (DFHBI)‐binding RNA nanozipper with superior brightness and high photostability by in situ self‐assembly of multiple nanozippers along single mRNAs. The nanozipper enables real‐time imaging of the mobility and dynamic translation of individual viral mRNAs in live cells, providing information on the spatial dynamics and translational elongation rate of viral mRNAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real‐time visualization of individual viral mRNA translation activities in live cells is essential to obtain critical details of viral mRNA dynamics and to detect its transient responses to environmental stress. Fluorogenic RNA aptamers are powerful tools for real‐time imaging of mRNA in live cells, but monitoring the translation activity of individual mRNAs remains a challenge due to their intrinsic photophysical properties. Here, we develop a genetically encoded turn‐on 3,5‐difluoro‐4‐hydroxybenzylidene imidazolinone (DFHBI)‐binding RNA nanozipper with superior brightness and high photostability by in situ self‐assembly of multiple nanozippers along single mRNAs. The nanozipper enables real‐time imaging of the mobility and dynamic translation of individual viral mRNAs in live cells, providing information on the spatial dynamics and translational elongation rate of viral mRNAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, a protective concrete-filled steel plate composite wall (PSC) is developed, consisting of a core concrete-filled bilateral steel plate composite shear wall and two lateral replaceable surface steel plates with energy-absorbing layers. The PSC wall is characterised by high in-plane seismic performance as well as out-of-plane impact performance. Therefore, it could be employed primarily in high-rise constructions, civil defence initiatives, and buildings with stringent structural safety criteria. To investigate the out-of-plane low-velocity impact behaviour of the PSC wall, fine finite element models are validated and developed. Then, the influence of geometrical and dynamic loading parameters on its impact behaviour is investigated. The results show that the replaceable energy-absorbing layer could significantly decrease the out-of-plane displacement and plastic displacement of the PSC wall due to its large plastic deformation, which could absorb a significantly large amount of impact energy. Meanwhile, the PSC wall could maintain high in-plane seismic performance when subjected to impact load. The plastic yield-line theoretical model is proposed and utilised to predict the out-of-plane displacement of the PSC wall, and the calculated results agree very well with the simulated results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this paper is to introduce a new integral transform named the W transform. We have been obtained some important results about the W transform. At the same time, the relation between the W transform and other transforms has been established. In order to prove the efficiency of this transform, we have solved the differential equations and integral equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium phosphate (MgP) has garnered growing interest in hard tissue replacement processes due to having similar biological characteristics to calcium phosphate (CaP). In this study, an MgP coating with the newberyite (MgHPO4·3H2O) was prepared on the surface of pure titanium (Ti) using the phosphate chemical conversion (PCC) method. The influence of reaction temperature on the phase composition, microstructure, and properties of coatings was systematically researched with the use of an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM), a contact angle goniometer, and a tensile testing machine. The formation mechanism of MgP coating on Ti was also explored. In addition, the corrosion resistance of the coatings on Ti was researched by assessing the electrochemical behavior in 0.9% NaCl solution using an electrochemical workstation. The results showed that temperature did not obviously affect the phase composition of the MgP coatings, but affected the growth and nucleation of newberyite crystals. In addition, an increase in reaction temperature had a great impact on properties including surface roughness, thickness, bonding strength, and corrosion resistance. Higher reaction temperatures resulted in more continuous MgP, larger grain size, higher density, and better corrosion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important experimental design problem in early‐stage drug discovery is how to prioritize available compounds for testing when very little is known about the target protein. Informer‐based ranking (IBR) methods address the prioritization problem when the compounds have provided bioactivity data on other potentially relevant targets. An IBR method selects an informer set of compounds, and then prioritizes the remaining compounds on the basis of new bioactivity experiments performed with the informer set on the target. We formalize the problem as a two‐stage decision problem and introduce the Bayes Optimal Informer SEt (BOISE) method for its solution. BOISE leverages a flexible model of the initial bioactivity data, a relevant loss function, and effective computational schemes to resolve the two‐step design problem. We evaluate BOISE and compare it to other IBR strategies in two retrospective studies, one on protein‐kinase inhibition and the other on anticancer drug sensitivity. In both empirical settings BOISE exhibits better predictive performance than available methods. It also behaves well with missing data, where methods that use matrix completion show worse predictive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel flexible (Ti 0.5 V 0.5) 3 C 2 T x free-standing electrode was prepared. • (Ti 0.5 V 0.5) 3 C 2 T x combines high specific capacitance (387 F g−1 and 1625 mF cm−3), high rate (69%) and long cycle life (∼100% after 100,000 cycle) simultaneously. • (Ti 0.5 V 0.5) 3 C 2 T x exhibited better comprehensive performance than previously reported MXenes. MXenes have gained widespread interest in flexible supercapacitor due to their rich electrochemical activity and free-standing electrode structure. However, it has been a challenge to obtain an electrode with high (mass and volumetric) specific capacitance, high rate and long cycle life simultaneously. Herein, we have prepared a novel few-layer double transition metal carbide (Ti 0.5 V 0.5) 3 C 2 T x MXene. Multivalent V atoms with high electrochemical activity were constructed in stable M 3 C 2 -type MXene to obtain the (Ti 0.5 V 0.5) 3 C 2 T x electrode with excellent performance in flexible supercapacitors. The (Ti 0.5 V 0.5) 3 C 2 T x film has an excellent specific capacitance of 387F g−1 (1625 mF cm−3) at 1.0 A g−1, and 267 F g−1 (1121 mF cm−3) even at a high current density of 20.0 A g−1, demonstrating superior rate performance (69%). Moreover, the capacitance of the (Ti 0.5 V 0.5) 3 C 2 T x film remains stable during 100,000 cycles. The symmetric supercapacitor assembled using (Ti 0.5 V 0.5) 3 C 2 T x film has high energy and power densities, up to 5.6 Wh kg−1 and 5210.3 W kg−1. And the all-solid-state (Ti 0.5 V 0.5) 3 C 2 T x flexible SC maintains stable electrochemical performance after 200 bending cycles. This work shows the huge potential of (Ti 0.5 V 0.5) 3 C 2 T x in flexible supercapacitor, and provides a new idea for the design of high performance flexible electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Felodipine is an effective drug to treat hypertension, but its abuse can cause bardycardia. It is significant to develop highly sensitive detection platform for felodipine to enable the efficient treatment of hypertension diseases. In this work, to highly efficiently detect felodipine, multi-emission near-infrared (NIR) hierarchical magnetic core-shell lanthanide-MOF nanoparticles, namely Nd-MOF@Yb-MOF@SiO2@Fe3O4 (NIR-1), has been synthesized by layer-by-layer (LBL) method. LBL method can adjust the optical properties of NIR-1 and expose more active sites to improve sensitivity in detection process. NIR-1 has near-infrared luminescence emission, which can efficiently avoid the interference of autofluorescence in biological tissues. Photo-luminescent (PL) experiments also reveal that NIR-1 could be used as a near-infrared ratiometric luminescent sensor for felodipine detection with high selectivity and sensitivity, the low of detection limit (LOD) is 6.39 nM in felodipine detection, which is also performed using real biological samples. In addition, NIR-1 can be used as a ratiometric thermometer could also be applied in the temperature sensing from 293 K to 343 K. Finally, detection mechanisms for felodipine and temperature sensing performance based on near-infrared (NIR) emission were also investigated and discussed in detail. Monitoring of the hypertension drug felodipine is important to avoid unwanted side effects from high concentrations, but its sensitive detection remains challenging. Here, combining the advantages of ratiometric luminescence probes and near-infrared lanthanide luminescence sensing, multi-emission near-infrared magnetic core-shell nanoparticles based on lanthanide metal–organic frameworks are synthesized using a layer-by-layer method and shown to have excellent temperature and felodipine detection abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: An immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) level above 1350 mg/L is one of the comprehensive criteria for the diagnosis of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in IgG4 levels determined using reagents from two main manufacturers and their concordance with clinical diagnosis. Methods: IgG4 levels were measured in 309 patients, including 146, 40, 42, 41, and 40 patients with untreated IgG4-RD, pancreatic cancer, primary Sjogren syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, and idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis, respectively, and 141 healthy controls. The results obtained using the Binding Site and Siemens reagents were compared in patients with IgG4-RD. Results: The serum IgG4 level measured using the Siemens reagent was almost two times that measured using the Binding Site reagent. The rate of IgG4-negative patients, which was 19.9% based on measurement using the Binding Site reagent, was only 4.8% based on measurement using the Siemens reagent (푝 < .001). Conclusions: There were significant differences in serum IgG4 levels based on commonly used reagents from different manufacturers. The IgG4 cut-off level of 1350 mg/L was not suitable for all detection reagents. Clinicians and patients should be cognizant of these differences associated with the specific detection reagents when evaluating the test results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: An immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) level above 1350 mg/L is one of the comprehensive criteria for the diagnosis of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in IgG4 levels determined using reagents from two main manufacturers and their concordance with clinical diagnosis. Methods: IgG4 levels were measured in 309 patients, including 146, 40, 42, 41, and 40 patients with untreated IgG4-RD, pancreatic cancer, primary Sjogren syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, and idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis, respectively, and 141 healthy controls. The results obtained using the Binding Site and Siemens reagents were compared in patients with IgG4-RD. Results: The serum IgG4 level measured using the Siemens reagent was almost two times that measured using the Binding Site reagent. The rate of IgG4-negative patients, which was 19.9% based on measurement using the Binding Site reagent, was only 4.8% based on measurement using the Siemens reagent (p < .001). Conclusions: There were significant differences in serum IgG4 levels based on commonly used reagents from different manufacturers. The IgG4 cut-off level of 1350 mg/L was not suitable for all detection reagents. Clinicians and patients should be cognizant of these differences associated with the specific detection reagents when evaluating the test results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the political indeterminacy of silence. It does so by way of reexamining the relationship of silence, solitude, and incarceration. Drawing on the Daoist notion of "say-nothing" and engaging Chinese artist Mu Xin's Prison Notes , this paper excavates how silence facilitates fugitives by re-enabling their senses of seeing, hearing, and imagining in restoring their affective relations with the world. Situated in the obscurity between speaking and unspeaking, carceral silence brings to the fore dramatic actions that come to destabilize, transform, and re-constitute the lived experience under incarceration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the principle of Fabry–Perot (F–P) cavity resonance and the selective permeability of gratings to specific electromagnetic waves, a graphene‐based metastructure (MS) is proposed for transmissive polarization conversion (PC). Using the full‐wave numerical simulation, it is found that by varying the Fermi energy of graphene, the effective resonance range of the suggested MS can be dynamically adjusted from 0.47 to 0.348–0.714 THz, achieving the target of precise to ultra‐broadband polarization modulation. In this paper, the plausibility of the structure is verified from multiple perspectives, and the correlation analyses of the electric and magnetic fields are the supporting illustrations. Additionally, the triggering mechanism of PC is visually illustrated in the study of the surface currents distributions. Simulation results reveal that the MS is superior in performance, functionality, and principle, and it is foreseen to hold excellent promise for integrated equipment in the terahertz (THz) band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphine, one of the most efficacious analgesics, is effective in severe pain, especially in patients with concomitant painful cancers. The clinical use of morphine may be accompanied by increased immunosuppression, susceptibility to infection and postoperative tumor metastatic recurrence, and the specific mechanisms and clinical strategies to alleviate this suppression remain to be investigated. Expression of CD11b is closely associated with the macrophage phagocytosis of xenobiotic particles, bacteria or tumor cells. Here, we find that morphine at 0.1–10 nM levels inhibited CD11b expression and function on macrophages via a μ-opioid receptor (MOR)-dependent mechanism, thereby reducing macrophage phagocytosis of tumor cells, a process that can be reversed by thymopentin (TP5), a commonly used immune-enhancing adjuvant in clinical practice. By knocking down or overexpressing MOR on macrophages and using naloxone, an antagonist of the MOR receptor, and LA1, a molecule that promotes macrophage CD11b activation, we suggest that morphine may regulate macrophage phagocytosis by inhibiting the surface expression and function of macrophage CD11b through the membrane expression and activation of MOR. The CD47/SIRPα axis, which is engaged in macrophage-tumor immune escape, was not significantly affected by morphine. Notably, TP5, when combined with morphine, reversed the inhibition of macrophage phagocytosis by morphine through mechanisms that promote membrane expression of CD11b and modulate its downstream signaling (e.g., NOS2, IFNG, IL1B and TNFA, as well as AGR1, PDGFB, IL6, STAT3, and MYC). Thus, altered membrane expression and function of CD11b may mediate the inhibition of macrophage phagocytosis by therapeutic doses of morphine, and the reversal of this process by TP5 may provide an effective palliative option for clinical immunosuppression by morphine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]