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BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION Cold chain distribution with multiple links maintains low temperatures to ensure the quality of meat products, whereas temperature fluctuations during this are often disregarded by the industry. The present study simulated two distinct temperatures cold chain distribution processes. Quality indicators and high‐throughput sequencing were employed to investigate the effects of temperature fluctuations on the quality and microbial diversity of beef meatballs during cold chain distribution.Quality indicators revealed that temperature fluctuations during simulated cold chain distribution significantly (P < 0.05) exacerbated the quality deterioration of beef meatballs. High‐throughput sequencing demonstrated that temperature fluctuations affected the diversity and structure of microbial community. Lower microbial species abundance and higher microbial species diversity were observed in the temperature fluctuations group. Proteobacteria and Pseudomonas were identified as the dominant phylum and genus in beef meatballs, respectively, exhibiting faster growth rates and greater relative abundance under temperature fluctuations.The present study demonstrates that temperature fluctuations during simulated cold chain distribution can worsen spoilage and shorten the shelf life of beef meatballs. It also offers certain insights into the spoilage mechanism and preservation of meat products during cold chain distribution. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the survival outcomes of neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (NARCT) for early breast cancer. Female patients ≤ 80 years old with unilateral T1-T4 invasive ductal breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and radiation therapy (RT) between 2006 and 2015 were enrolled from SEER database. Baseline differences in clinical and pathological characteristics were evaluated using chi-square test. The survival outcomes were estimated by Kaplan–Meier analysis and compared using Cox hazards models. The effects of baseline differences on survival outcome in patients treated with neoadjuvant radiation therapy (NART) and post-operation radiation therapy (PORT) were circumvented by propensity score matching (PSM). Altogether 14,151 patients receiving NAC and RT were enrolled, among whom 386 underwent NART. Based on a 1:4 PSM cohort, NART was an independent unfavorable prognostic factor for breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) and overall survival (OS) for the whole cohort. However, among patients receiving breast conserving surgery (BCS) (HR 1.029, P = 0.915 for BCSS; HR 1.003, P = 0.990 for OS) or implant-based immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) (HR 1.039, P = 0.921 for BCSS; HR 1.153, P = 0.697 for OS), those treated with NART had similar survival outcomes compared with patients treated with PORT. In conclusion, NARCT was a safe and feasible approach for patients undergoing BCS and IBR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amphiphilic block copolymers-based aqueous color inks show great potential in the field of visual communication design. However, the conventional step-by-step chemistry employed to synthesize the amphiphilic block copolymers is intricate, with low yield and high economic and environmental costs. In this work, we present a novel method for preparing an amphiphilic AB di-block copolymer of PCL-b-PAA by employing a combined polymerization strategy that involves both cationic ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of the ε-caprolactone monomer and the reversible addition–fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization on the acrylic acid monomer simultaneously. The corresponding polycaprolactone (PCL) and polyacrylic acid (PAA) serve as the hydrophobic and hydrophilic units, respectively. The effectiveness of the amphiphilic AB di-block copolymer as the polymeric pigment dispersant for water-based color inks is evaluated. The amphiphilic AB di-block copolymer of PCL-b-PAA exhibits a molecular weight of 1400 g mol−1, which is consistent with the theoretical value and suitable for polymeric dispersant application. The high surface excess (Γmax) of the PCL-b-PAA in water indicates a densely packed molecular morphology at the water/air interface. Additionally, micelles can be stably formed in the aqueous PCL-b-PAA solution at very low concentrations by demonstrating a low CMC value of 10−4 wt% and a micelle dimension of approximately 30 nm. The model ink dispersion is prepared using organic dyes (Disperse Yellow 232) and the amphiphilic block copolymer of PCL-b-PAA. The dispersion demonstrates near-Newtonian behavior, which is highly favorable for the application as inkjet ink. Furthermore, the ink dispersion displays a low viscosity, making it particularly suitable for visual communication design and printing purposes. Moreover, the ink dispersion demonstrates an unimodal distribution of the particle size, with an average diameter of approximately 500 nm. It retains exceptional stability of dispersion and even conducts a thermal aging treatment at 60 °C for 5 days. This work presents a facile and efficient synthetic strategy and molecular design of AB di-block copolymer-based dispersants for dye dispersions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the significance of chemotherapy (CT) among metaplastic breast cancer (MpBC), and to compare the survival outcomes between triple negative MpBC (MpBC-TNBC) and triple negative invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC-TNBC). SEER database was indexed to identify female unilateral primary MpBC diagnosed from 2010 to 2017. Patients were classified into neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with response (NAC-response), NAC-no response, adjuvant chemotherapy, and no CT. Breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) and overall survival (OS) was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and compared by log-rank test. Cox regression was used to evaluate the independent prognostic factors. A 1:4 propensity score matching method was adopted to balance baseline differences. Altogether 1186 MpBC patients were enrolled, among them 181 received NAC, 647 received adjuvant CT and 358 did not receive any CT. Chemotherapy was an independent favorable prognostic factor. NAC-response and adjuvant CT had a significant or an obvious trend of survival improvement compared with NAC-no response or no CT. MpBC-TNBC was an independent unfavorable prognostic factor compared with IDC-TNBC. Among them, there was significant or trend of survival improvement among all TNBCs receiving NAC or adjuvant CT compared with no CT. Chemotherapy was of important significance to MpBC prognosis and should be integrated in comprehensive treatment for MpBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central nervous system(CNS)is a complex system closely related to anesthesiology. The molecular biological mechanisms of many CNS diseases were not exactly clear. Long noncoding RNA(lncRNA) H19 is abundant in human brain and plays an important role in the regulation of various CNS diseases. Besides, lncRNA H19 is also involved in the mechanism of several anesthetics. In this review, we emphasized the role and addressed the specific mechanisms of lncRNA H19 in CNS diseases and anesthetics, hoping to provide a new theoretical basis for future researches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc-ion batteries are one of the promising energy storage devices, which have the advantages of environmental friendliness, high safety and low price and are expected to be used in large-scale battery application fields. However, four prominent water-induced adverse reactions, including zinc dendrite formation, zinc corrosion, passivation and the hydrogen evolution reaction in aqueous systems, seriously shorten the cycling life of zinc-ion batteries and greatly hinder their development. Based on this, polymer gel electrolytes have been developed to alleviate these issues due to their unique network structure, which can reduce water activity and suppress water-induced side reactions. Based on the challenges of polymer gel electrolytes, this review systematically summarizes the latest research progress in the use of additives in them and explores new perspectives in response to the existing problems with polymer electrolytes. In order to expand the performance of polymer gel electrolytes in zinc-ion batteries, a range of different types of additives are added via physical/chemical crosslinking, such as organic or inorganic substances, natural plants, etc. In addition, different types of additives and polymerization crosslinking from different angles essentially improve the ionic conductivity of the gel electrolyte, inhibit the growth of zinc dendrites, and reduce hydrogen evolution and oxygen-absorbed corrosion. After these modifications of polymer gel electrolytes, a more stable and superior electrochemical performance of zinc-ion batteries can be obtained, which provides some strategies for solid-state zinc-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing an optimized electronic structure of α-NiS electrode material is critical for its high-rate electrochemical performance of quasi-solid-state capacitor. Herein, Al3+ have been doped into α-NiS lattice and the reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is employed to modify Al-doping α-NiS, to alleviate the low-mobility charge of α-NiS. The electronic structure and electrochemical properties of α-NiS hollow spheres induced by Al-doping and rGO modification are investigated, both experimental characterization and theoretical results confirm Al-doping affect the electronic structure and electrochemical performance of α-NiS hollow spheres. In the composite of Al-doping α-NiS and rGO (named as Al x Ni 1-x S/rGO), the doped heteroatom improves the intrinsic electronic structure of α-NiS and the rGO provides a good electric conducting network, leading to an enhanced electrochemical performance of α-NiS as high-rate electrode material. After evaluation, the optimized Al 0.2 Ni 0.8 S/rGO composite shows a superior reversible capacity of 1096 C g−1 at 2 A g−1, and retains a capability of 471 C g−1 at a high-rate of 30 A g−1. Moreover, an asymmetric quasi-solid-state hybrid capacitors assembled by Al 0.2 Ni 0.8 S/rGO and activated carbon presents a high energy density of 30.6 Wh kg−1. This work provides a foundational strategy for the modification of α-NiS through Al-doping and combining with rGO, which has a positive effect on α-NiS electrode material in quasi-solid-state hybrid capacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol A is a pollutant issued from the degradation of plastics such as polycarbonate and epoxy resins, yet actual bisphenol A monitoring in environmental samples is limited. Here we present the electrochemical detection of bisphenol A with a novel composite, MoS2–CoS2/reduced graphene oxide, obtained by a facile two-step hydrothermal process using MoS2 nanoflowers, CoS2 nano-polyhedrons and reduced graphene oxide. Results show that the linear range of the electrochemical sensor is wider, of 0.02–200 μM, and the detection limit is lower, of 2.5 nM, than actual electrochemical sensors. These findings are explained by good conductivity and the presence of abundant active sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The sphenoethmoidal cell and the sphenoid sinus (SS) show great similarity in endoscopy and imaging. Hence, it is important to accurately identify the sphenoethmoidal cell preoperatively to prevent injury of the nerve and artery during endoscopic surgery. The aim of the present study was to investigate a special type of sphenoethmoidal cell. Methods: A total of 365 inpatients whose paranasal sinus computed tomography (CT) was collected and reviewed from May 2018 to September 2019 were included. The anatomical imaging characteristics of the sphenoethmoidal cell were observed. Results: A special type of the sphenoethmoidal cell was found on 9 sides in 730 sides (1.3%), according to its extension to the SS. Unlike Onodi cell (49.6%) and Jinfeng cell (1.3%), this cell simultaneously extends toward the superolateral, lateral, and inferolateral regions of the SS and is simultaneously closely attached to the optic canal and the maxillary nerve. Presently, this cell is named as the whole lateral type of the sphenoethmoidal cell, and the SS is located at the medial or inferomedial of it. Conclusions: When evaluating the paranasal sinus CT preoperatively, attention must be paid to the possibility of the whole lateral type of sphenoethmoidal cell appearing, not just Onodi cell, extending into the SS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu(II) supported on 5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-pyrrole-3-carboxylic acid functionalized Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Cu(II)-OHPC-Fe3O4) as a new magnetic nanocatalyst was prepared and characterized by ICP-AES, FT-IR, XRD, SEM, TEM, TGA, XRD, VSM and EDX techniques. Prepared nanocatalyst (Cu(II)-OHPC-Fe3O4) is employed for Pechmann reactions between different substituted phenols and ethyl acetoacetate to obtain new products of coumarin derivatives in good to excellent yields. This green catalyst was easily removed, reused several times with no significant loss of its activity and provided clean synthesis with excellent yield and reduced time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an aggressive malignancy that accounts for 5– 10% of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. MiRNA-223-3p has been demonstrated to be down-regulated in MCL and is a useful prognostic factor. However, little is known about underlying molecular mechanism of miRNA-233-3p in MCL. Methods: The expression levels of miRNA-223-3p and CHUK mRNA in MCL cells were detected by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The effects of miRNA-223-3p/CHUK overexpression/knockdown on MCL cell proliferation and apoptosis were measured by CCK-8 assay and annexin V PE/7-AAD-based flow cytometry/TUNEL assay, respectively. A nude mouse subcutaneous xenograft model was used to further evaluate the potential effects in vivo. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to verify the inhibitory effect of miRNA-223-3p on CHUK. Furthermore, the regulatory function of miRNA-223-3p on the CHUK/NF-ƘB2 axis was assessed by RT-qPCR, western blot and immunofluorescence. Results: In the present study, miRNA-223-3p overexpression inhibited proliferation and accelerated apoptosis of MCL cells in vitro and in vivo. The results of Luciferase reporter assay showed that CHUK was a direct target of miRNA-223-3p in HEK293T cells. Furthermore, the results of RT-qPCR, western blot confirmed that CHUK was targeted and negatively regulated by miRNA-223-3p for repressing NF-ƘB2 pathway activation in MCL cells. Importantly, CHUK overexpression promoted proliferation and suppressed apoptosis of MCL cells, whereas CHUK knockdown reversed down-regulated miRNA-223-3p -accelerated cell proliferation in vitro. Conclusion: In conclusion, miRNA-223-3p affects MCL development by regulating the CHUK/NF-ƘB2 signaling pathway, which is crucial to provide a novel therapeutic strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electronic properties of pristine graphdiyne nanosheet (GDY) and boron-doped graphdiyne (BGDY) were scrutinized using the first-principles calculation. Furthermore, the adsorption energy, charge transfer, and electrical conductivity variation of the 5-fluorouracil (5FU) drugs on both the GDY and BGDY sheet surfaces were reported and were employed to investigate the binding among them. The tendency of pristine GDY to 5FU drug was already identified to be negligible. Moreover, the band gap energy was changed only around 3.31% after 5FU adsorption on the GDY sheet. The adsorption energy of 5FU on the BGDY was computed in both gas and water solvent media and was about − 32.72 and − 41.96 kcal/mol, respectively. The moderate amount of solvation energy indicates the good solubility of the implemented drugs in the aqueous medium. Moreover, significant transfer of charge from the 5FU to the BGDY sheet results in a substantially positive charge for B, which is a prerequisite of the adsorption of the 5FU molecule with the suitable binding energy. In addition, after 5FU adsorption, the electrical conductivity of BGDY was increased by about 25.5%, and based on this result, the BGDY is a suitable electronic sensor for 5FU detection unlike to pristine GDY. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three symmetrical dithienylethenes bearing two electron-withdrawing aldehyde groups have been synthesized. And their structures were confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS (ESI). Investigation on photochromic properties indicated that they had good photochromic behavior with excellent fatigue resistance upon irradiation with UV or visible light. And it was found that the aldehyde substituent position had a significant effect on their photochromic properties. The DFT calculations further validated those experimental results for their photochromic behavior. Furthermore, they may be used as versatile building blocks to construct novel photochromic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silk fibroins (SFs) have many attractive properties; however, the practical applications of pure fibroin materials are severely restricted by their low elasticity. To improve flexibility of regenerated SF membranes, carboxyl-terminated polyethylene glycol (cPEG) was introduced into fibroin chains using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). Subsequently, laccase-mediated graft polymerization of polypyrrole (PPy) onto the SF-g-cPEG membrane was performed to achieve electrical conductivity. The results implied that cPEG was successfully grafted onto the SF chains; the elongation at break of the SF-g-cPEG membrane increased by three times compared to that of the untreated one. Meanwhile, the introduced cPEG promoted the binding of pyrrole radical cations onto fibroin membrane, resulting in an efficient deposition of a PPy conductive layer during the laccase treatment. Conductivity of the membrane of SF-g-cPEG/PPy meets the standard of conductive materials even after 48 cycles of bending testing. In addition, the composite membrane has acceptable in vitro biocompatibility. The present work provides a novel alternative for fabrication of flexible and conductive SF biomaterials, which would expand the applications of fibroin materials in wearable electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Unilateral auditory deprivation changes the membrane properties of principal neurons in the LSO on both sides. • mIPSCs in principal neurons are downregulated on the intact side at one week after unilateral cochlear ablation. • mEPSCs in principal neurons show compensatory effects on the ablated side at one week after unilateral cochlear ablation. Unilateral auditory deprivation results in lateralization changes in the central auditory system, interfering with the integration of binaural information and thereby leading to a decrease in binaural auditory functions such as sound localization. Principal neurons of the lateral superior olive (LSO) are responsible for computing the interaural intensity differences that are critical for sound localization in the horizontal plane. To investigate changes caused by unilateral auditory deprivation, electrophysiological activity was recorded from LSO principal neurons in control rats and rats with unilateral cochlear ablation. At one week after unilateral cochlear ablation, the excitability of LSO principal neurons on the side ipsilateral to the ablation (the ablated side) was greater than that on the side contralateral to the ablation (the intact side); however, the input resistance increased on both sides. Furthermore, by analysing the miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents and miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents, we found that unilateral auditory deprivation weakened the inhibitory driving force on the intact side, whereas it strengthened the excitatory driving force on the ablated side. In summary, asymmetric changes in the electrophysiological activity of LSO principal neurons were found on both sides at postnatal day 19, one week after unilateral cochlear ablation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructing a 3D hierarchical structure of electrode materials is a fast-developing technology to meet the increasing demand of high-rate electrochemical capacitors. Here, hierarchical CoNi2S4 nanofibers with pompom-like morphology are successfully synthesized via a two-step anion exchange reaction. The obtained CoNi2S4 nanofibers interweave densely with each other from inner core to external surface, constructing a stable 3D nanostructure. The pompom-like CoNi2S4 nanofibers have a high specific surface area of 169.7 m2 g−1 and a uniform nanopore size distribution in the range of 1–10 nm. Benefiting from these structural features, the pompom-like CoNi2S4 nanofibers provide more effective charge transport during electrochemical reactions compared with other 3D hierarchical structured CoNi2S4, such as flower-like nanosheets and urchin-like nanoneedles prepared by conventional methods. When evaluated as electrode materials in electrochemical tests, CoNi2S4 nanofibers with pompom-like hierarchical structure deliver a high specific capacitance of 2078.9 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 and an excellent rate capability of 844.4 F g−1 at 50 A g−1. The assembled CoNi2S4 nanofibers//activated carbon asymmetric electrochemical capacitor exhibits a good energy density of 48.2 W h kg−1 at a power density of 850 W kg−1, and a good cycling stability with 92.6% of its capacitance retained after 1000 cycles, suggesting that the pompom-like CoNi2S4 nanofibers can be applied as promising electrode materials for high-rate electrochemical capacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Activated neutrophils release depolymerized chromatin and protein particles into the extracellular space, forming reticular Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs). This process is accompanied by programmed inflammatory cell death of neutrophils, known as NETosis. Previous reports have demonstrated that NETosis plays a significant role in immune resistance and microenvironmental regulation in cancer. This study sought to characterize the function and molecular mechanism of NETosis-correlated long non-coding RNAs (NCLs) in the prognostic treatment of liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC). Methods: We obtained the transcriptomic and clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and evaluated the expression of NCLs in LIHC. A prognostic signature of NCLs was constructed using Cox and Last Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (Lasso) regression, while the accuracy of model was validated by the ROC curves and nomogram, etc. In addition, we analyzed the associations between NCLs and oncogenic mutation, immune infiltration and evasion. Finally, LIHC patients were classified into four subgroups based on consensus cluster analysis, and drug sensitivity was predicted. Results: After screening, we established a risk model combining 5 hub-NCLs and demonstrated its reliability. Independence checks suggest that the model may serve as an independent predictor of LIHC prognosis. Enrichment analysis revealed a concentration of immune-related pathways in the high-risk group. Immune infiltration indicates that immunotherapy could be more effective in the low-risk group. Upon consistent cluster analysis, cluster subgroup 4 presented a better prognosis. Sensitivity tests showed the distinctions in therapeutic effectiveness among various drugs in different subgroups. Conclusion: Overall, we have developed a prognostic signature that can discriminate different LIHC subgroups through the 5 selected NCLs, with the objective of providing LIHC patients a more precise, personalized treatment regimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silk fibroin (SF) has potential applications in the biomedical field because of its excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility. In the current study, chitooligosaccharide (COS) was enzymatically grafted onto SF using laccase. Subsequently, COS-grafted SF (SF-g-COS) was treated enzymatically in the presence of hexokinase and Mg-chelated adenosine triphosphate (ATP), so as to introduce phosphate groups onto the fibroin chains and promote the deposition of hydroxyapatite (HAp) during in situ biomimetic mineralization. The efficacy of phosphorylation and biomimetic mineralization of the SF-g-COS was evaluated by means of HPLC, MALDI-TOF MS, FTIR, XRD and EDS-Mapping. The results indicate that hexokinase has the capability to catalyze the phosphorylation of COS, resulting in an increase in the quantity of phosphorus in the SF-g-COS. Following mineralization of the phosphorylated SF-g-COS, a greater number of mineral phases were detected on its surface, accompanied by a higher content of calcium and phosphorus compared with other specimens. Cell viability tests using NIH/3T3 cells and cellular adhesion potential with MG-63 cells indicated that the fibroin-based biocomposite exhibited acceptable biocompatibility and superior cellular adhesion properties. The present study describes a novel method for preparation of fibroin/HAp biocomposites for bone tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuropathic pain genesis is related to gene alterations in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) after peripheral nerve injury. Transcription factors control gene expression. In this study, we investigated whether octamer transcription factor 1 (OCT1), a transcription factor, contributed to neuropathic pain caused by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve. Chronic constriction injury produced a time-dependent increase in the level of OCT1 protein in the ipsilateral L4/5 DRG, but not in the spinal cord. Blocking this increase through microinjection of OCT1 siRNA into the ipsilateral L4/5 DRG attenuated the initiation and maintenance of CCI-induced mechanical allodynia, heat hyperalgesia, and cold allodynia and improved morphine analgesia after CCI, without affecting basal responses to acute mechanical, heat, and cold stimuli as well as locomotor functions. Mimicking this increase through microinjection of recombinant adeno-associated virus 5 harboring full-length OCT1 into the unilateral L4/5 DRG led to marked mechanical allodynia, heat hyperalgesia, and cold allodynia in naive rats. Mechanistically, OCT1 participated in CCI-induced increases in Dnmt3a mRNA and its protein and DNMT3a-mediated decreases in Oprm1 and Kcna2 mRNAs and their proteins in the injured DRG. These findings indicate that OCT1 may participate in neuropathic pain at least in part by transcriptionally activating Dnmt3a and subsequently epigenetic silencing of Oprm1 and Kcan2 in the DRG. OCT1 may serve as a potential target for therapeutic treatments against neuropathic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel phosphate (Ni3(PO4)2) is a promising electrode material for electrochemical capacitors, but the low intrinsic electrical conductivity and poor rate capability of Ni3(PO4)2 are the main challenges. To tackle these problems, amorphous mesoporous Ni3(PO4)2 with a pore diameter of 2–10 nm is grown on reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and a Ni3(PO4)2/rGO composite is obtained via a facile hydrothermal-calcination method in this work. The Ni3(PO4)2/rGO composite calcined at 300 °C (Ni3(PO4)2/rGO-300) possesses a uniform particle size and a high specific surface area of 198.72 m2 g−1. Benefiting from the structural characteristics, the synergistic effect of components and the high specific surface area, the Ni3(PO4)2/rGO-300 composite exhibits an extremely high specific capacitance of 1726 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 and an excellent rate capability of 850 F g−1 at 25 A g−1. In addition, the assembled Ni3(PO4)2/rGO-300//activated carbon asymmetric electrochemical capacitor delivers a good energy density of 57.42 W h kg−1 at a power density of 160 W kg−1. Compared with Ni3(PO4)2/rGO composites calcined at other temperatures and other nickel–phosphorus compounds reported in the literature, the Ni3(PO4)2/rGO-300 composite containing amorphous mesoporous Ni3(PO4)2 exhibits superior electrochemical performance, representing a new kind of electrode material for electrochemical capacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries represent one of the next-generation Li-ion batteries. However, the poor conductivity and large volumetric expansion of sulfur result in low rate performance and unfavorable cycle stability. Herein, a laminated structure of sulfur/reduced graphene oxide intercalated by carbon nanotube (CNT-rGO/S) composites was designed and fabricated for the first time to address the issue. The composites prepared via hydrothermal coprecipitation was endowed a perfect crystal and highly integrated structure, which retained a good electrical conductivity and accommodated the sulfur volume expansion due to the sufficient free space between the CNT-intercalated graphene layers. The CNT-rGO/S cathode exhibits a good capacity of 783.3 mAh g −1 at 0.5 C and a desirable cycling stability with 77.2% of the capacity remaining after 1000 cycles even at a rate as high as 5 C, which offers great potential for practical applications in Li-S batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a novel classification method for lung nodules from CT images based on hybrid features. Towards nodules of different types, including well-circumscribed, vascularized, juxta-pleural, pleural-tail, as well as ground glass optical (GGO) and non-nodule from CT scans, our method has achieved promising classification results. The proposed method utilizes hybrid descriptors consisting of statistical features from multi-view multi-scale convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and geometrical features from Fisher vector (FV) encodings based on scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT). First, we approximate the nodule radii based on icosahedron sampling and intensity analysis. Then, we apply high frequency content measure analysis to obtain sampling views with more abundant information. After that, based on re-sampled views, we train multi-view multi-scale CNNs to extract statistical features and calculate FV encodings as geometrical features. Finally, we achieve hybrid features by merging statistical and geometrical features based on multiple kernel learning (MKL) and classify nodule types through a multi-class support vector machine. The experiments on LIDC-IDRI and ELCAP have shown that our method has achieved promising results and can be of great assistance for radiologists’ diagnosis of lung cancer in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Heterojunction of FeNi LDH/FeNi 2 S 4 was firstly constructed via one-step process. • Electrochemical bifunctional applications of the heterojunctions are investigated. • The heterojunctions exhibited excellent electrochemical catalytic ability for OER. • An improved specific capacitance was obtained with heterojunctions electrode. Construction of heterogeneous phases offers a promising strategy to tailor the physiochemical properties of electrode materials to improve their electrochemical performance toward energy conversion and capacitive storage. Herein, the hetero-phase combination of hexagonal FeNi layered double-hydroxide (FeNi-LDH) and spinel phase FeNi 2 S 4 microsphere assembled with nanosheets is synthesized via one-step solvothermal process. Owing to improved components, unique micro-structures and the construction of heterogeneous engineering between FeNi LDH and FeNi 2 S 4 with abundant active interface, FeNi LDH/FeNi 2 S 4 heterojunctions exhibit an excellent electrochemical performance for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hybrid capacitive storage. The heterojunctions show low overpotential of 259 mV at 10 mA cm−2, small Tafel slope of 75 mV dec−1, excellent cyclic stability in OER, as well as an improved specific capacity of 472.5C g−1 at 1 A g−1 in hybrid capacitors. The preparation and dual-function applications of FeNi LDH/FeNi 2 S 4 heterojunctions provide a new idea as the advanced electrode materials for electrocatalytic OER and hybrid capacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Spinel offers great opportunities in electrocatalytic water oxidation. • Advances in engineering spinel-based catalysts for water oxidation are manifested. • Some advanced strategies for engineering spinels are highlighted. • Challenges and improvement directions in this field are also discussed. Fabricating advanced oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts is of vital significance for the effectiveness of water splitting. Endowed with high catalytic performance toward OER, spinel-type materials are universally agreed to be one of most promising alternatives to the currently used noble metal-based electrocatalysts. Nonetheless, a major issue that limits the practical applications of spinel-type materials as OER catalysts is the high OER overpotential. Aiming to enable spinel-type materials to serve as practical OER electrocatalysts, intensive endeavors have been dedicated to the optimization of electrochemical properties by modifying their structures and compositions. Given that, summarizing the recent progress of spinel electrocatalysts with modified electronic configurations and their applications in OER is highly desirable. This review starts by introducing the OER mechanisms which involves with the conventional adsorbate evolution mechanism (AEM) and lattice oxygen mechanism (LOM). In addition, the OER pathways with spinel electrocatalysts and some important descriptors have also been summarized. Afterwards, many advanced strategies that have been demonstrated to be effective for optimizing the electrochemical properties of spinel electrocatalysts are predominately discussed. Finally, the perspective insights in advancing deep understanding and fabricating excellent spinel-type electrocatalysts are also manifested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructing high dams in karst valleys remains a challenging issue as karst conduits provide preferential channels for flow through the foundations. The uncertainty of the karst system drastically increases the risk of leakage and hence the difficulty in seepage control at the foundations. This study examined the transient flow behaviors through a karst foundation on which a rockfill dam with a height of 219 m had been constructed. During reservoir filling, an abnormal pressure rise occurred in the foundation downstream the grout curtains, typically with a magnitude of 53∼69 m higher than the pore pressure head at the neighboring positions. This phenomenon was comprehensively investigated by site characterization, inverse modelling, numerical simulation and cross-correlation analysis, demonstrating that the abnormal pressure rise is locally induced by eroded fault (left bank) or contact zones between karst formations (right bank). These conduits have an effective permeability value one order of magnitude higher than that of the karst formations, which quickly transmit the reservoir pressure pulse across the grout curtains, as evidenced by a higher cross-correlation and a smaller lag between pool level and piezometer measurements. The grout curtains have sufficiently low permeability in limiting the amount of leakage through the foundation, and hence ensure the safety of the reservoir operation in spite of the pressure rise. This study confirms the applicability of the equivalent continuum model in addressing groundwater flow problems in karst formations, as long as the site conditions are properly characterized. • The abnormal pressure rise at a high dam foundation in karst valley was dissected. • Eroded fault and contact zones of higher permeability cause the local pressure rise. • The conduits fast transmit pressure with higher cross-correlation and smaller lag. • The continuum model applies as long as site conditions are properly characterized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Amorphous/crystalline H-NiMoS 4 /NiS 2 hollow sphere was successfully constructed. • A high specific capacitance and good cycling performance was obtained. • The capacity retention of HSC was 83.7% after 20,000 cycles. • The HSC displayed a high energy density of 38.6 Wh kg−1 at 958.6 W kg−1. Phase engineering offers a promising strategy to tailor the physiochemical properties to further improve their electrochemical performance toward energy storage. However, it remains a challenge to fabricate well-defined amorphous/crystalline hetero-phase metal sulfides with high-density heterointerfaces. Herein, the synthesis of hetero-phase combination of amorphous NiMoS 4 and crystalline NiS 2 that possesses hollow nanosphere structure decorated by nanosheets (named as H-NiMoS 4 /NiS 2) is reported. Benefiting from the construction of the hollow nanosphere coated by nanosheets, amorphous/crystalline hetero-phase junction, and strong Ni-S hybridization, H-NiMoS 4 /NiS 2 electrode exhibits high specific capacity, outstanding rate capability and excellent cycling stability. Moreover, an all-solid-state supercapacitor was assembled with H-NiMoS 4 /NiS 2 as cathode and needle coke oxide (NCO) as anode, which can achieve remarkably high energy density of 38.6 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 958.6 W kg−1 and outstanding capacity retention of 83.7% after 20,000 cycling. The preparation of novel H-NiMoS 4 /NiS 2 nanomaterial with a hetero-phase of amorphous and crystalline provides a new solution for improving the structural stability and capacitor storage performance as electrodes for supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solute carrier organic anion-transporting polypeptides (OATPs) are a family of transporter proteins that have been extensively recognized as key determinants of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of various drugs because of their broad substrate specificity and wide tissue distribution as well as the involvement of drug-drug interaction. Human OATP1A2 is a drug uptake transporter known for its broad substrate specificity, including many drugs in clinical use. OATP1A2 expression has been detected in the intestine, liver, brain and kidney. A considerable number of single nucleotide polymorphisms have been found for the OATP1A2 gene. A number of studies have shown that the cellular uptake and pharmacokinetic behavior of some drugs may be impaired in the case of certain OATP1A2 variants. Interestingly, some studies show that the mRNA expression of OATP1A2 is nearly 10-fold higher in breast cancer compared with adjacent healthy breast tissues. This review is, therefore, focused on the genetic polymorphisms, function and clinical relevance of OATP1A2 as well as on the substrates transported by it. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• miRNA-223-3p affects ibrutinib susceptibility in mantle cell lymphoma. • CHUK is targeted and negatively regulated by miRNA-223-3p. • The miRNA-223-3p/CHUK/NF-κB2 axis affects ibrutinib resistance in mantle cell. Since the use of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor ibrutinib in relapsed/refractory (R/R) mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), the problem of drug resistance has become increasingly prominent. Though it has been proven that the nonclassic nuclear factor κB pathway (nonclassic NF-κB pathway) correlates with ibrutinib resistance in MCL, the upstream regulator is unknown. In the present study, conserved helix–loop–helix ubiquitous kinase (CHUK) overexpression accelerated proliferation and suppressed apoptosis of MCL cells after ibrutinib treatment in vitro. The results of luciferase reporter assay, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and Western blot revealed that CHUK was targeted and negatively regulated by miRNA-223-3p. miRNA-223-3p knockdown promoted proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of MCL cells after ibrutinib treatment in vitro and vivo, whereas CHUK knockdown reversed downregulated miRNA-223-3p-promoted cell proliferation after ibrutinib treatment in vitro. In conclusion, miRNA-223-3p modulates ibrutinib resistance through regulation of the CHUK/NF-κB signaling pathway in MCL, which is crucial in providing a marker to predict disease response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical performance of hybrid capacitors is seriously affected by the slow charging and discharging of the bulk phase. Here, Co-doped amorphous NiMoS4 modified with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was prepared by a simple one-step hydrothermal method, and the obtained Co-doped NiMoS4/rGO nanocomposite (Ni1−xCoxMoS4/rGO) exhibits a high specific surface area, realizing the redox reaction from the bulk to the surface. Owing to the doping of Co with abundant redox active sites and the support of rGO sheets with high conductivity and a stable structure, the Ni1−xCoxMoS4/rGO anode assembled with an oxidized needle coke (NCO) cathode shows an excellent energy density of 28.9 W h kg−1 at a power density of 968.3 W kg−1. In addition, the hybrid supercapacitor displays a superior cycling performance with a capacity retention of 92.4% after 10 000 cycles. The construction of the Co-doped NiMoS4/rGO nanocomposite provides an effective strategy to boost the activity and stability of amorphous NiMoS4 for high-performance hybrid supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Eight unsymmetrical N and/or O-bridged calixarene derivatives were obtained by 1 (naphthalene-2,7-diol), 2 (bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)methanone), 3 (4,4′-methylenedianiline), 4 (3,3′-methylenedianiline), 5 (4,4′-oxydianiline) and 6 (4,4′-(perfluoropropane-2,2-diyl)dianiline) reacting with fragment a (4,4′-bis(dichloro-s-triazinyloxy)propane-2,2-diyldibenzene) and b (N,N′-bis(dichloro-s-triazinyl)-4,4′-methylenedianiline) under very mild reaction conditions via efficient fragment coupling strategy. We also obtained the crystal structure of 1a (tetraoxocalix[2](propane-2,2-diyldibenzene,naphthalene)[2]triazine) which can form a molecular capsule by two dimers with C–H⋯N and C–H⋯O quadruple hydrogen bonds, and it has the encapsulation ability toward solvent molecules. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A series of symmetrical imidazole- and N-methylated imidazole-based diarylethenes were synthesized, and the structures have been well characterized by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Their photochromism were investigated upon UV/vis light irradiation in DMF solution. A significant red-shift of UV absorption was observed after irradiation with UV light when substituents on the benzene ring (such as methoxyl group) were introduced. But N-methylation on the two imidazole rings will result in a blue-shift of UV absorption. The photophysical properties can be adjusted by changing the substituents, which provides a new strategy for the design of diarylethenes with excellent properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five oxacalixarene derivatives with different linkers including fluorescent units, soft donor atoms, and hydrogen-bond acceptors have been prepared via one-pot approach. Crystal structure reveals that oxacalixarene adopts a classical 1,3-alternate conformation. In contrast, the oxacalixarene adopts a cavity-like conformation. The inner cavity size is up to 13.357 � and guest molecules, such as chloroform, are included in its solid state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a serious disease that usually occurs after solid organ transplant and stem cell transplant. Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder often involves the head and neck, but it is rare to present as a nasal deformity. Here, we describe a case of external nasal enlargement resulting from PTLD. Case report: A 40-year-old man presented with an enlarged external nose half a year ago. The nasal ala thickened, and the external nose was gradually enlarged, accompanied by bilateral nasal obstructions. A biopsy was taken under endoscopy procedure, and the result suggested a diagnosis of PTLD. Discussion: Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder usually appears in lymphoid tissues that form Waldeyer's rings or cervical lymph nodes in the head and neck. The early involvement of other head and neck subpoints is considered rare. This case is the first report of PTLD presenting as an external nasal deformity. The symptoms and clinical manifestations of PTLD in otorhinolaryngology are usually diverse and nonspecific but are early symptoms in the clinical course of PTLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Bifunctional PEG endows SF aerogel with flexibility and structural stability. • cPEG promotes pyrrole binding onto SF scaffold and PPy deposition. • Flexible and conductive SF aerogel exhibits potential as a pressure sensor. Silk fibroin (SF) has excellent biocompatibility and can be regenerated to obtain diverse materials. However, high brittleness and poor elasticity limit its applications in flexible devices, mainly due to high amounts of β -sheet structures in SF. Herein, a flexible SF aerogel is prepared by coupling polyethylene glycol (PEG) containing double-carboxyl end group with fibroin chains. This is followed by ammonium persulfate (APS)-initiated deposition of polypyrrole (PPy) units onto the scaffold. The bifunctional PEG not only improves the elasticity of SF aerogel, but it also promotes the accumulation of pyrrole cations on the fibroin surface and guides the formation of PPy. Meanwhile, PPy distributed in the SF matrix forms an electrically conductive pathway with an encouraging static conductivity, which is responsive to environmental humidity and external pressure. The sensitivity of the prepared SF-based conductive aerogel as a pressure sensor is much better than those reported in literature. Meanwhile, the stress and resistance show good synchronization during cyclic compressions. The present work provides a promising alternative for the fabrication of fibroin-based flexible and conductive aerogels as highly sensitive pressure sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although recent years have seen considerable interest in stimuli‐responsive hydrogels, their strict preparation conditions and narrow applicability limit their use as diverse sensors and soft robots. Herein, a versatile Agar‐Zwirrions hybrid hydrogel actuator (Agar/PSBMA) integrated with simultaneous temperature self‐sensing and wide‐range electrical response is developed. To prepare the Agar/PSBMA hydrogel, a simple and controllable preforming post‐enhancing and mechanical pressing method is used by introducing zwitterions materials into a temperature‐sensitive Agar matrix. Owing to the design, the compact multiplex complementary structure generated by this method and the materials can facilitate the improvement of flexibility, stretchability, and toughness while providing mechanical dissipation and adhesion properties. Importantly, the visible detected temperature self‐sensing ability during 10–40 °C, and quick and wide‐range bending responses of both high‐voltage and low‐voltage electric fields make it unique over other actuators. Furthermore, the electrical response behavior of the hydrogel is found to be impacted by mechanical characteristics and charge polarization based on the finite element Abaqus simulations analysis. The prepared versatile hydrogels show the potential for applications as soft robotics and controlled transportation of adhered substances while simultaneously monitoring their working temperature, which expands the response range of hydrogel actuators and broadens the scope of application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] It is a great challenge to design electrode materials with good stability and high specific capacitance for supercapacitors. Herein, a three-dimensional (3D) hydrangea-like NiMoO 4 micro-architecture with Ag nanoparticles anchored on the surface has been designed by adding EDTA-2Na, which was assembled with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and named as NiMoO 4 -Ag/rGO composite. Benefiting from the synergetic contributions of structural and componential properties, NiMoO 4 -Ag/rGO composite exhibits a high specific capacitance of 566.4 C g−1 at 1 A g−1, and great cycling performance with 90.5% capacitance retention after 1000 cycles at 10 A g−1. The NiMoO 4 -Ag/rGO electrode shows an enhanced cycling stability due to the two-dimensional towards two-dimensional (2D-2D) interface coupling between rGO and NiMoO 4 nanosheets, and the stable 3D hydrangea-like micro-architecture. Moreover, NiMoO 4 -Ag/rGO with 5–15 nm pore structure and enhanced conductivity exhibits improved charge transfer and ions diffusion. Besides, NiMoO 4 -Ag/rGO//AC capacitor displays an outstanding energy density of 40.98 Wh kg−1 at 800 kW kg−1, and an excellent cycling performance with 73.3% capacitance retention at 10 A g−1 after 8000 cycles. The synthesis of NiMoO 4 -Ag/rGO composite can provide an effective strategy to solve the poor electrochemical stability and slow electron/ion transfer of NiMoO 4 material as supercapacitors electrode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postoperative pain is common in pediatric urological surgery. The study assess the impact of perioperative intravenous infusion of low-dose esketamine on postoperative pain in pediatric urological surgery. Methods: Pediatric patients (n = 80) undergoing urological surgery were randomized into four groups. Patients in the control group were administered an analgesic pump containing only hydromorphone at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg (Hydromorphone Group 1, H1) or 0.15 mg/kg (Hydromorphone Group 2, H2). Patients in the experimental group were injected intravenously with 0.3 mg/kg of esketamine (Esketamine group 1, ES1) or equal volume of saline (Esketamine Group 2, ES2) during anesthesia induction. Esketamine 1.0 mg/kg and hydromorphone 0.1 mg/kg were added to the analgesic pump. Face, Leg, Activity, Crying, and Comfort (FLACC) scale or the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and adverse effects were recorded at 2, 6, 24, and 48 h postoperatively. Additionally, total and effective PCA button presses were recorded. Results: In comparison to the H1 group, the pain scores were notably reduced at all postoperative time points in both the ES1 and H2 groups. The ES2 group exhibited lower pain scores only at 24 and 48 h postoperatively. When compared to the H2 group, there were no significant differences in pain scores at various postoperative time points in the ES2 group. However, the ES1 group demonstrated significantly lower pain scores at 6, 24 and 48 h postoperatively, and these scores were also significantly lower than those observed in the ES2 group. The total and effective number of PCA button presses in the ES1, ES2 and H2 group were lower than that in the H1 group (P < 0.001). The incidence of adverse effects within 48 h after surgery was 15% in ES1, 22% in ES2, 58% in H1, and 42% in H2, respectively (P = 0.021). Conclusions: The use of low-dose esketamine infusion in analgesia pump can effectively alleviates postoperative pain in pediatric urological patients, leading to a significant reduction in the number of analgesic pump button press. The combined approach of perioperative anesthesia induction and analgesia pump administration is recommended for optimal pain management in these patients. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry- ChiCTR2300073879 (24/07/2023). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Red blood cells (RBCs) transfusion is related to perioperative neurocognitive disorders. The toxic effect of free heme has been identified in many pathologies. However, the underlying mechanisms of RBCs transfusion or free heme in cognitive impairment have not been clearly explored. Therefore, this research was conducted to determine the mechanism of free heme-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment. Methods: Rats were received intraperitoneal injection of hemin alone or combined with intracerebroventricular injection of Hemopexin (HPX), and MWM test was conducted to measure cognitive function. The amount of heme-HPX complexes was evaluated by flow cytometry for CD91 + cells. The microglial inflammatory response in rat brain was observed by immunofluorescence staining of Iba-1, and the inflammatory factors of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in rat brain and BV2 cells were detected by ELISA analysis. Furthermore, neuronal apoptosis in HT22 cells alone and in HT22 + BV2 coculture system was detected by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining. Finally, western blot was conducted to detect TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB proteins in rat brain and BV2 cells treated with hemin or combined with pathway inhibitors. Additionally, the M1 surface marker CD86 was observed in BV2 cells to further confirm neuroinflammation. Results: Intraperitoneal injection of hemin induced cognitive impairment, increase of CD91 + cells, up-regulation of TNF-α and IL-1β, down-regulation of IL-6, activation of microglia, and activation of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in rat brain. Significantly, intracerebroventricular injection of HPX reduced the above effects. Hemin induced boost of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in BV2 cells, as well as apoptosis in HT22 cells. Notably, when HT22 cells were cocultured with BV2 cells, apoptosis was significantly increased. Hemin also induced activation of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway and increased the M1 surface marker CD86 in BV2 cells, and inhibiting this pathway reduced the inflammatory responses. Conclusions: Free heme induces cognitive impairment, and the underlying mechanism may involve neuronal apoptosis and microglial inflammation via the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. HPX may have potential therapeutic effects. 4ne3ar5vcagQ2fAD43rWML Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ru doping and sulfur vacancy engineering synergistically modify the electronic structure of FeNi 2 S 4 to boost electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction. [Display omitted] • A facile ion doping and vacancy engineering strategy has been proposed for modifying the electronic structure. • Ru doping and S vacancy concurrently facilitate the surface reconstruction of FeNi 2 S 4. • The in situ formed Ni3+-rich oxyhydroxides are highly active toward OER. • The Ru-FeNi 2 S 4-x catalyst can exhibit outstanding electrocatalytic OER performance. Electronic structure engineering lies at the heart of the catalyst design, however, utilizing one strategy to modify the electronic structure is still challenging to achieve optimal electronic states. Herein, an advanced approach that incorporating both Ru dopants and sulfur vacancies into thiospinel-type FeNi 2 S 4 to synergistically modulate the electronic configuration, is proposed. Deep characterizations and theoretical study reveal that the in-situ formed Ni3+ species are real active centers. Ru doping and sulfur vacancies synergistically tune the electronic states of Ni2+ sites to a near-optimal value, leading to the formation of abundant oxygen evolution reaction (OER)-active Ni3+ species via electrochemical reconstruction. Consequently, the optimized Ru-FeNi 2 S 4 catalyst can exhibit superb electrocatalytic performance towards OER, delivering the overpotentials of 253 mV and 340.8 mV at 10 mA·cm−2 in alkaline water and seawater, respectively. The proper combination of vacancy and heteroatom doping in this work may unlock the catalytic power of conventional catalysts toward electrochemical reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spherical Ni2SnO4 nanoparticles were uniformly loaded on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) sheets via a hydrothermal process. The obtained nickel stannate–reduced graphene oxide (Ni2SnO4–RGO) composite was used as a catalyst for activating persulfate (PS). The heterostructure composed of Ni2SnO4 and RGO prevents both the agglomeration of Ni2SnO4 nanoparticles and the restacking of RGO sheets. The synergy between the two components affords enhanced Ni2SnO4–RGO catalytic activity. Using Ni2SnO4–RGO to activate PS can degrade bisphenol A (BPA) at a faster rate with less PS, in comparison with the most recently reported catalysts. BPA solution (50 mL, 0.10 mM) can be 100% degraded by PS (0.02 g) within 30 min at pH 8 using Ni2SnO4–RGO (0.02 g) as the catalyst. Moreover, the preparation of Ni2SnO4–RGO is simple, inexpensive and environment-friendly. The radical scavenging study indicates that sulfate radicals () and hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) are involved in the oxidation, in which plays a leading role. In addition, Ni2SnO4–RGO retains high catalytic activity after four consecutive cycles, exhibiting greatly enhanced stability in comparison with Ni2SnO4. Besides, the effect of different inorganic anions on the degradation was also explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene based copper‐nickel bimetal nanocomposite (Cu3Ni2‐rGO) was prepared via a one‐step solvothermal procedure, in which Ni(OH)2 and Cu(OH)2 were used as precursors. Structural characterization confirms that the as‐prepared Cu3Ni2‐rGO nanocomposite is composed of Cu3Ni2 nanoparticles in the size range of 20–100 nm and the reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets. Benefiting from the combination of Cu3Ni2 and rGO, the Cu3Ni2‐rGO nanocomposite exhibits excellent catalytic performance on reducing highly toxic Cr(VI) at room temperature. The reduction of Cr(VI) (40 mL, 100 mg L−1) can be completed within 6 min using Cu3Ni2‐rGO nanocomposite as the catalyst, which is much more efficient than using monometallic nanocomposite containing only Cu or Ni. Moreover, Cu3Ni2‐rGO nanocomposite can be magnetically separated, which enables effective recycle. Besides, Cu3Ni2‐rGO shows good cycling stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of compound C on an in vivo mouse model of high-fat diet- (HFD-) induced obesity and hepatosteatosis. Methods. C57BL/6 mice were fed with a standard diet (n = 5) for 16 weeks and then injected saline once a day for 4 weeks as the normal chow group. Mice (n = 10) were fed with HFD for 16 weeks to induce obesity and hepatosteatosis and then divided into two groups: HFD + vehicle group injected with the vehicle solution (saline) and HFD + compound C group injected with compound C in saline (5 mg/kg i.p., once a day) for 4 weeks. Liver histology was observed. The expression levels of genes related to lipid metabolism and proinflammation in liver tissue were examined. NLRP3 inflammasome expression in liver tissue was detected by the western blot assay. HepG2 cells were pretreated with compound C and/or AICAR for 1 h and then treated with palmitic acid (PA) for 3 h. The cells were collected, and mRNA levels were determined. Results. There was a significant reduction in body-weight gain and daily food intake in the HFD + compound C group compared with the HFD + vehicle group (p<0.05). The glucose tolerance test (GTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT) showed that compound C alleviated insulin resistance. Histology analysis showed a significant reduction of hepatic steatosis by compound C. Compound C also significantly decreased fatty acid synthesis genes, while increased fatty acid oxidation genes. Furthermore, compound C significantly reduced the expression of proinflammatory markers and NLRP3 inflammasome (p<0.05). Compound C enhanced mRNA levels of SOD1, SOD2, catalase, GPx1, and GPx4 and reduced the p-AMPK/AMPK ratio, which were stimulated by palmitic acid (PA). The effect was enhanced by AICAR. Conclusion. Our data suggest that compound C is a potent NAFLD suppressor and an attractive therapeutic target for hepatic steatosis and related metabolic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract HNO 3 modified graphite/PTFE cathode with exterior hydrophobic film has more appreciable performance for H 2 O 2 generation than the counterparts. Abstract Electrochemical 2-electrons oxygen reduction process has been regarded as the effective strategy for H 2 O 2 generation in wastewater treatment. However, its large-scale application is still limited by the relatively high cost of the carbon materials and short-term stability. In this study, a nitric acid modified graphite/polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composite cathode with exterior hydrophobic film was fabricated for cost-effective electrogeneration of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2). Experimental results show that 2 M HNO 3 modification rendered the introduction of much more defect sites and oxygen/nitrogen-containing groups on graphite. As a result, H 2 O 2 electrogeneration was 3.0 times as much as that of virgin graphite counterpart at 3 mA cm−2. Moreover, the additional introduction of exterior hydrophobic film on the as-prepared graphite/PTFE cathode did not only further promote H 2 O 2 electrogeneration, but also endowed the cathode with strong hydrophobic stability. As for the modified cathode with exterior hydrophobic film, the influence of mass graphite/PTFE binder ratio (1:1–4:1) and pH (3.0–9.0) on H 2 O 2 electrogeneration was slight, but the current density (3.0–15 mA cm−2) had evident effect on H 2 O 2 electrogeneration. Generally, owing to its low price and being easily available, the modified graphite would be cost-effectively utilized to prepare the gas diffusion cathode for the large-scale electrogeneration of H 2 O 2 in industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the effectiveness of currently available antihypertensive medications, there is still a need for new treatment strategies that are more effective in certain groups of hypertensive and for additional resources to combat hypertension. However, medication non‐adherence was previously recognized as a major problem in the treatment of hypertension. The mechanisms behind the positive impacts of lifestyle changes might occur in different ways. In comparison with other studies, the efficacy and effectiveness of lifestyle modifications and antihypertensive pharmaceutical treatment for the prevention and control of hypertension and concomitant cardiovascular disease have been demonstrated in randomized controlled trials. However, in this review, the attitudinal lifestyle modifications and barriers to blood pressure control were elaborated on. An effective method for reducing blood pressure (BP) and preventing cardiovascular events with antihypertensive medications has been outlined. Maintaining healthy lifestyle factors (body mass index, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, sodium excretion, and sedentary behavior) could lower systolic blood pressure BP by 3.5 mm Hg and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by about 30%, regardless of genetic susceptibility to hypertension. Conducting a lifestyle intervention using health education could improve lifestyle factors, such as reducing salt, sodium, and fat intake, changing eating habits to include more fruits and vegetables, not smoking, consuming less alcohol, exercising regularly, maintaining healthy body weight, and minimizing stressful conditions. Each behavior could affect BP by modulating visceral fat accumulation, insulin resistance, the renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone system, vascular endothelial function, oxidative stress, inflammation, and autonomic function. Evidence of the joint effect of antihypertensive medications and lifestyle reforms suggests a pathway to reduce hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To solve the problems of high cement dosage and poor fluidity of conventional cemented paste backfill (CPB) materials, the fluidity and strength properties of foam-cemented paste backfill (FCPB) were studied in combination. Based on determining the optimum contents of a foaming agent and a foam stabilizer, FCPB density was measured. To investigate the fluidity and strength of FCPB under different foam contents (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, and 40%), different solid contents (75 wt.% and 77 wt.%), and different cement-tailing ratios (1:4 and 1:5), spread tests and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests were conducted. In addition, the FCPB microstructure was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicate that the optimum combination dosages of sodium lauryl sulfate (K12) and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) are 0.5 g/L and 0.2 g/L. The density decreases with the foam content (FC), but the fluidity and strength of the FCPB increase first and then decrease with the FC. In addition, the microstructure analysis explains the enhanced strength of FCPB by adding foam. These results contribute to further understanding the effect of foam content on the fluidity and strength of the FCPB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme rainfall events have become an increasing component of the annual precipitation in China, which caused amounts of geological disasters, especially in Southwest China. At approximately 7 a.m. (Beijing time) on July 13, 2020, a catastrophic soil and rock landslide occurred in Baima Town, Wulong District, Chongqing, China. With a length of 750 m and a width of 125 m to 260 m, the landslide carried approximately 1.4 × 106 m3 of rock and soil debris and destroyed eight houses, two main roads, a shale gas pipeline, and a large amount of farmland. After the landslide failure, the accumulation zone still deformed responding to continuous rainfall. The failure mechanism of the landslide was analyzed based on the geological conditions, deformation process, and triggering factors. The research shows that the Niuerwan landslide had a complex deformation process. According to the deformation characteristics, the landslide is divided into five parts: the source area, the compression area, the rapid-sliding area, the landslide-affected zone, and the accumulation area. The source area was triggered by continuous torrential rainfall and controlled by mudstone and bedding plane. The variation of the microrelief in the study area has a significant effect on the failure model of the landslide. Precipitation triggered the failure of the steep source area which impacted the middle part. Eventually, a continuous sliding surface developed along with the weak layer, giving rise to catastrophic failure. Moreover, the accumulation area at the steep slope toe rapidly moved downward to form a debris flow under the combined action of the geological conditions and rainfall. The Niuerwan landslide is a complex rainfall-induced landslide with a unique evolution process, which can provide some useful information for the early warning and deformation mechanism of landslides in similar geological settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Serum amyloid A has been widely reported as a useful biochemical marker in the diagnoses of acute appendicitis. The aim of this study was to appraise the diagnostic accuracy of serum amyloid A in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Methods: A systematic search of several databases was conducted. The search time was from the beginning of the databases creation to March 1, 2021, and the languages were restricted to English and Chinese. Clinical studies using serum amyloid A for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis were included. The overall sensitivity and specificity were calculated by using a bivariable mixed effects model. Heterogeneity was tested using I2 statistics. This study has been registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; no. CRD42021241343). Results: Five studies comprising 668 participants were eligible for inclusion. The overall sensitivity and specificity of serum amyloid A in diagnosing acute appendicitis were 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79-0.92) and 0.74 (95% CI, 0.59-0.85), respectively. The positive and negative likelihood were 3.3 (95% CI, 2.1-5.4) and 0.18 (95% CI, 0.11-0.28), respectively. The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curves was 0.89 (95% CI, 0.86-0.91). The heterogeneity was significant (I2 = 82%; 95% CI [63%-100%]). Conclusions: Serum amyloid A has good diagnostic accuracy for acute appendicitis. It is expected that serum amyloid A could be helpful in the early clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a kind of acquired brain injury, which is caused by external mechanical forces. Moreover, the neuroprotective role of sevoflurane (Sevo) has been identified in TBI. Therefore, this research was conducted to figure out the mechanism of Sevo in TBI via FGF2.Methods: The key factors of neuroprotective effects of Sevo in TBI rats were predicted by bioinformatics analysis. A TBI model was induced on rats that then inhaled Sevo for 1 h and grouped via lentivirus injection. Modified Neurological Severity Score was adopted to evaluate neuronal damage in rats, followed by motor function and brain water content measurement. FGF2, EZH2, and HES1 expression in brain tissues was evaluated by immunofluorescence staining, and expression of related genes and autophagy factors by RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis. Methylation-specific PCR was performed to assess HES1 promoter methylation level, and ChIP assay to detect the enrichment of EZH2 in the HES1 promoter. Neuronal damage was assessed by cell immunofluorescence staining, and neuronal apoptosis by Nissl staining, TUNEL staining, and flow cytometry.Results: Sevo diminished brain edema, improved neurological scores, and decreased neuronal apoptosis and autophagy in TBI rats. Sevo preconditioning could upregulate FGF2 that elevated EZH2 expression, and EZH2 bound to the HES1 promoter to downregulate HES1 in TBI rats. Also, FGF2 or EZH2 overexpression or HES silencing decreased brain edema, neurological deficits, and neuronal autophagy and apoptosis in Sevo-treated TBI rats.Conclusions: Our results provided a novel insight to the neuroprotective mechanism of Sevo in TBI rats by downregulating HES1 via FGF2/EZH2 axis activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The results in lead–zinc tailings environment have guiding significance. • The optimal bacterial activity and suitable experimental time is 20–38 h of cultivation. • Temperatures have the greatest impact on the size and morphology of crystals. • Crystal size and morphology are crucial factors that affect bonding ability. • The yield and characteristic parameters of crystal from the lead–zinc tailings environment were obtained. Exploring a low-cost and environmentally friendly cementation method to replace cement bond is a hot topic in tailings cementation backfills. In this study, microbially induced carbonate precipitation technology was used in tailings environment and the mechanisms of mineralization and precipitation of microorganisms were studied, including ambient temperature, pH, cementing solution concentration, and the ratio of bacteria to cement solution. The considered factors are based on tailings backfill site compared to the grouting method, the bacterial liquid and tailings were mixed only once to obtain enough calcium carbonate. The yield and surface morphology of crystal under different parameter conditions were obtained. The experiment results showed that temperature was the most critical factor controlling the yield and morphology of calcium carbonate crystals. The crystal productivity at 35 °C was 92.67%, which was 5.34–14.0% higher than that obtained at other temperatures. Compared with other temperature conditions, the crystal grain size was 2.03–5.57 μm at 35 °C and the crystal structure was irregular and rough, which was more conducive to adhesion and bonding effect with other materials. The bacterium exhibited higher activity and a greater ability to precipitate crystals within the pH range of 6.0 to 8.0, while the environment at a pH of 9.0 had an obvious inhibitory effect on bacterial activity. There was an inversely proportional relationship between the cementing solution concentration and the amount of crystal precipitation. The utilization rate of bacteria and calcium ions reached the highest when the ratio of bacterial liquid to cementing solution was 1:1. The optimal experimental parameters were determined based on a comprehensive consideration of the crystal yield and experimental cost. The research process provided a theoretical basis for the application of microbial tailings backfill. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]