Search

For zinc‐metal batteries, the instable chemistry at Zn/electrolyte interphasial region results in severe hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and dendrite growth, significantly impairing Zn anode reversibility. Moreover, an often‐overlooked aspect is this instability can be further exacerbated by the interaction with dissolved cathode species in full batteries. Here, inspired by sustained‐release drug technology, an indium‐chelated resin protective layer (Chelex‐In), incorporating a sustained‐release mechanism for indium, is developed on Zn surface, stabilizing the anode/electrolyte interphase to ensure reversible Zn plating/stripping performance throughout the entire lifespan of Zn//V2O5 batteries. The sustained‐release indium onto Zn electrode promotes a persistent anticatalytic effect against HER and fosters uniform heterogeneous Zn nucleation. Meanwhile, on the electrolyte side, the residual resin matrix with immobilized iminodiacetates anions can also repel detrimental anions (SO42− and polyoxovanadate ions dissolved from V2O5 cathode) outside the electric double layer. This dual synergetic regulation on both electrode and electrolyte sides culminates a more stable interphasial environment, effectively enhancing Zn anode reversibility in practical high‐areal‐capacity full battery systems. Consequently, the bio‐inspired Chelex‐In protective layer enables an ultralong lifespan of Zn anode over 2800 h, which is also successfully demonstrated in ultrahigh areal capacity Zn//V2O5 full batteries (4.79 mAh cm−2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diffusion MRI (dMRI) is inherently limited by SNR. Scanning at 7 T increases intrinsic SNR but 7 T MRI scans suffer from regions of signal dropout, especially in the temporal lobes and cerebellum. We applied dynamic parallel transmit (pTx) to allow whole-brain 7 T dMRI and compared with circularly polarized (CP) pulses in 6 subjects. Subject-specific 2-spoke dynamic pTx pulses were designed offline for 8 slabs covering the brain. We used vendor-provided B 0 and B 1 + mapping. Spokes positions were set using the Fourier difference approach, and RF coefficients optimized with a Jacobi-matrix high-flip-angle optimizer. Diffusion data were analyzed with FSL. Comparing whole-brain averages for pTx against CP scans: mean flip angle error improved by 15% for excitation (2-spoke-VERSE 15.7° vs CP 18.4°, P = 0.012) and improved by 14% for refocusing (2-spoke-VERSE 39.7° vs CP 46.2°, P = 0.008). Computed spin-echo signal standard deviation improved by 14% (2-spoke-VERSE 0.185 vs 0.214 CP, P = 0.025). Temporal SNR increased by 5.4% (2-spoke-VERSE 8.47 vs CP 8.04, P = 0.004) especially in the inferior temporal lobes. Diffusion fitting uncertainty decreased by 6.2% for first fibers (2-spoke VERSE 0.0655 vs CP 0.0703, P < 0.001) and 1.3% for second fibers (2-spoke VERSE 0.139 vs CP 0.141, P = 0.01). In conclusion, dynamic parallel transmit improves the uniformity of 7 T diffusion-weighted imaging. In future, less restrictive SAR limits for parallel transmit scans are expected to allow further improvements. • We implemented dynamic parallel transmit whole brain diffusion MRI. • Our protocols are based on the Human Connectome Project 7T study. • Parallel transmit improves uniformity of diffusion MRI, especially in temporal lobe. • Fiber fitting performance improves especially at the edges of the brain. • Forthcoming less restrictive SAR limits should further improve uniformity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of the interaction between polygenes and the parent–child relationship on junior high school students' aggressive behaviors were explored through the frameworks of gene‐endophenotype‐behavior and neurophysiological basis. A total of 892 junior high school students participated in this study. They were asked to complete self‐reported questionnaires, and saliva samples were collected. Results showed that 5‐HTTLPR, MAOA‐uVNTR, COMT (rs4680), and Taq1 (rs1800497) of the DRD2 gene affected students' aggressive behaviors in an accumulative way. The polygenic risk score explained 3.4% of boys' aggression and 1.1% of girls' aggression. The interactions between polygenic risk score and parent–child conflict significantly affected the aggressive behaviors of male students, but did not show any significant effect on those of female students. The interactional effect of polygenic risk score and parent–child conflict on junior high school students' aggressive behaviors was completely mediated by frustration. However, the interaction effect of polygenic risk score and parent–child affinity on aggression was not affected by frustration. This study helps us better understand junior high school students' aggressive behaviors and promotes the prevention and correction of adolescents' problem behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All‐solid‐state lithium‐ion batteries (ASSLIBs) based on sulfide solid‐state electrolytes (S‐SSEs) are considered as one of the most promising choices to address the safety hazards of traditional lithium‐ion batteries. However, the high‐voltage cathodes, such as LiCoO2 (LCO) with high‐valence Co (+3), tend to spontaneously oxidize S‐SSEs, causing polarization increase and rapid degradation. Herein, a self‐sacrificing reductive interphase consisting of CoO/Li2CO3/C, is in situ constructed on LCO surface via a simple carbon‐induced thermal reduction of LCO. With such a design, the Co valence of LCO surface is reduced to +2, reducing the oxidative nature of LCO to avoid reactions with S‐SSEs. As a result, ASSLIBs using Li10GeP2S12 (LGPS) S‐SSEs achieve a high initial capacity of 144.9 mAh g‒1 at 0.2 C and retard 93.1% of initial capacity after 100 cycles. Additionally, excellent rate cyclability of 109.2 mAh g‒1 at 1.0 C with 81.5% retentive capacity for 200 cycles is attained as well. Comprehensive evidence strongly demonstrates the effectiveness of this self‐sacrificing reductive interphase in inhibiting the interfacial reactions and ensuring long‐term cyclability. The proposed concept of a self‐sacrificing reductive interface in this study paves the way for stabilizing the cathode/SSEs interface and offers a novel approach for the design of high‐performance sulfide‐based ASSLIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of hybrid junctions remains challenging for the rational design of visible light-driven photocatalysts. Herein, In2S3/CdS/N-rGO hybrid nanosheets were successfully prepared via a one-step pyrolysis method using deep eutectic solvents as precursors. Benefiting from the surfactant-free pyrolysis method, the obtained ultrathin hybrid nanosheets assemble into stable three-dimensional self-standing superstructures. The tremella-like structure of hybrid In2S3/N-rGO exhibits excellent photocatalytic hydrogen production performance. The hydrogen evolution rate is 10.9 mmol·g−1·h−1, which is greatly superior to CdS/N-rGO (3.7 mmol·g−1·h−1) and In2S3/N-rGO (2.6 mmol·g−1·h−1). This work provides more opportunities for the rational design and fabrication of hybrid ultrathin nanosheets for broad catalytic applications in sustainable energy and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research has shown that insulin resistance (IR) is a known risk factor for diabetic foot (DF), and the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a reliable and simple indicator of IR. However, less is known about the relationship between the TyG and the risk of DF. Here, we investigated the association between the TyG index and the prevalence of DF. Methods: The eligible records from the Departments of Endocrinology of Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University were screened (from December 1, 2012, to December 31, 2021), and a total of 8866 patients were enrolled. The TyG index was calculated as ln[(fasting triglycerides (mg/dL)×fasting glucose (mg/dL)/2)]. The continuous variables between the DF and the non-DF groups were compared by Student's t test or the Mann-Whitney U test, and categorical variables were compared by the chi-square test. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was carried out to estimate the predictive value of the TyG index for DF. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations between the quartiles of the TyG index and the risk of DF. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted. Results: The TyG index was significantly lower in the DF group than in the no-DF group. The logistic regression revealed that an increased TyG index was associated with a lower risk of DF after adjusting for potential confounders. In addition, an ROC analysis indicated the discriminatory ability of the TyG index in DF presence with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.661 (95% CI 0.642–0.680, P < 0.001). Subgroup and sensitivity analysis also supported these robust results. Conclusions: The TyG index was inversely and dose-dependently associated with the risk of DF in diabetes patients, indicating that elevated TyG index was a protective factor for DF. Future studies are therefore warranted to confirm our finding and to explore the detailed pathological mechanism involved in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat stripe rust is a fungal disease caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. Tritici (Pst). It significantly impacts wheat yields in Xinjiang, China. Breeding and promoting disease-resistant cultivars carrying disease-resistance genes remains the most cost-effective strategy with which to control the disease. In this study, 17 molecular markers were used to identify Yr5, Yr9, Yr10, Yr15, Yr17, Yr18, Yr26, Yr41, Yr44, and Yr50 in 82 wheat cultivars from Xinjiang. According to the differences in SNP loci, the KASP markers for Yr30, Yr52, Yr78, Yr80, and Yr81 were designed and detected in the same set of 82 wheat cultivars. The results showed that there was a diverse distribution of Yr genes across all wheat cultivars in Xinjiang, and the detection rates of Yr5, Yr15, Yr17, Yr26, Yr41, and Yr50 were the highest, ranging from 74.39% to 98.78%. In addition, Yr5 and Yr15 were prevalent in spring wheat cultivars, with detection rates of 100% and 97.56%, respectively. A substantial 85.37% of wheat cultivars carried at least six or more different combinations of Yr genes. The cultivar Xindong No.15 exhibited the remarkable presence of 11 targeted Yr genes. The pedigree analysis results showed that 33.33% of Xinjiang wheat cultivars shared similar parentage, potentially leading to a loss of resistance against Pst. The results clarified the Yr gene distribution of the Xinjiang wheat cultivars and screened out varieties with a high resistance against Pst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The similar characteristics of biomaterials to the extracellular matrix are essential for efficient tissue repair through dictating cell behaviors. But the scaffold fabrication with complex shapes and controlled alignment have proven to be a difficult task. Herein, a well-designed three-dimensional silk fibroin scaffold is fabricated through ice template technology. The effect of the silk fibroin protein concentration and the freezing temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties of scaffolds are investigated systematically. Cells behavior mediated by the obtained silk fibroin scaffolds is detected. The results show that the protein concentration plays a vital role in microstructure and scaffold strength. A well-aligned scaffold can be obtained when silk fibroin solution is kept at 12 wt%, which holds the highest mechanical properties. The pore size can be further adjusted in the range of 5–80 µm by changing the freezing temperature from −60 to −196 °C. The well-oriented scaffold with the appropriate pore size of 10–20 µm has the best ability to guide cell alignment. The resulting scaffolds provide an excellent matrix to guide cells behaviors and have a potential application in tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enantioselective functionalization of racemic alkyl halides is an efficient strategy to assemble complex chiral molecules, but remains one of the biggest challenges in organic chemistry. The distant and selective activation of unreactive C−H bonds in alkyl halides has received growing interest as it enables rapid generation of molecular complexity from simple building blocks. Here, we reported a cobalt‐catalyzed remote borylation of alkyl (pseudo)halides (alkyl−X, X=I, Br, Cl, OTs) with pinacolborane (HBpin) and presented a robust approach for the generation of valuable chiral secondary organoboronates from racemic alkyl halides. This migration borylation reaction is compatible with primary, secondary, and tertiary bromides, offering direct access to a broad range of alkylboronates. The extension of this catalytic system to the borylation of aryl halides was also demonstrated. Preliminary mechanistic studies revealed that this remote borylation involved a radical reaction pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enantioselective functionalization of racemic alkyl halides is an efficient strategy to assemble complex chiral molecules, but remains one of the biggest challenges in organic chemistry. The distant and selective activation of unreactive C−H bonds in alkyl halides has received growing interest as it enables rapid generation of molecular complexity from simple building blocks. Here, we reported a cobalt‐catalyzed remote borylation of alkyl (pseudo)halides (alkyl−X, X=I, Br, Cl, OTs) with pinacolborane (HBpin) and presented a robust approach for the generation of valuable chiral secondary organoboronates from racemic alkyl halides. This migration borylation reaction is compatible with primary, secondary, and tertiary bromides, offering direct access to a broad range of alkylboronates. The extension of this catalytic system to the borylation of aryl halides was also demonstrated. Preliminary mechanistic studies revealed that this remote borylation involved a radical reaction pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-based terahertz (THz) coherent detection scheme has been recently proposed, which overcomes the bandwidth limitation or high probe laser power demand in solid-/gas-based schemes. Here, we report a highly efficient THz coherent detection method using ethanol with superior performances under the mechanism of four-wave mixing. We systematically investigate the energy ratios and relative polarizations between the THz-induced second harmonic and control second harmonic (CSH) beams and reveal that ethanol always exhibits significantly higher detection sensitivity than water. The coherent, incoherent, or hybrid detection mode can be flexibly switched by changing the CSH beam polarization. The enhanced sensitivity derives from the much larger third-order nonlinear coefficient and lower ionization potential of ethanol. In addition, for the ethanol–water mixtures with various concentrations, the THz coherent detection signals can always be decomposed into the linear superposition of those from pure ethanol and neat water at the sub-picosecond timescale, indicating the synergistic contribution of ethanol and water molecules in the mixture during the detection process. This work provides a valid method to significantly improve the sensitivity of the liquid-based coherent detection scheme and a research perspective for exploring the solute–solvent molecular interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote functionalization involving a fascinating chain‐walking process has emerged as a powerful strategy for the rapid access to value‐added functional molecules from readily available feedstocks. However, the scope of current methods is predominantly limited to mono‐ and di‐substituted alkenes. The remote functionalization of multi‐ and heteroatom‐substituted alkenes is challenging, and the use of alkynes in the chain walking is unexplored. We herein report a rhodium catalyzed remote borylation of internal alkynes, offering an unprecedented reaction mode of alkynes for the preparation of synthetically valuable 1,n‐diboronates. The regioselective distal migratory hydroboration of sterically hindered tri‐ and tetra‐substituted vinylboronates is also demonstrated to furnish various multi‐boronic esters. Synthetic utilities are highlighted through the selective manipulation of the two boryl groups in products such as the regioselective cross coupling, oxidation, and amination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote functionalization involving a fascinating chain‐walking process has emerged as a powerful strategy for the rapid access to value‐added functional molecules from readily available feedstocks. However, the scope of current methods is predominantly limited to mono‐ and di‐substituted alkenes. The remote functionalization of multi‐ and heteroatom‐substituted alkenes is challenging, and the use of alkynes in the chain walking is unexplored. We herein report a rhodium catalyzed remote borylation of internal alkynes, offering an unprecedented reaction mode of alkynes for the preparation of synthetically valuable 1,n‐diboronates. The regioselective distal migratory hydroboration of sterically hindered tri‐ and tetra‐substituted vinylboronates is also demonstrated to furnish various multi‐boronic esters. Synthetic utilities are highlighted through the selective manipulation of the two boryl groups in products such as the regioselective cross coupling, oxidation, and amination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been great interest in developing and designing economical, stable and highly active electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) via water splitting in an aqueous solution at different pH values. Transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), e.g., MoS2, are identified to be promising catalysts for the HER due to the limited active sites at their edges, while the large basal plane of MoS2 is inert and shows poor performance in electrocatalytic hydrogen production. We theoretically propose orbital modulation to improve the HER performance of the basal plane of MoS2 through non-metal P doping. The substitutional doping of P provides empty 3pz orbitals, perpendicular to the basal plane, can enhance the hydrogen adsorption for acid HER and can promote water dissociation for alkaline HER, which creates significant active sites and enhances the electronic conductivity as well. In addition, 3P-doped MoS2 exhibits excellent HER catalytic activity with ideal free energy at acid media and low reaction-barrier energy in alkaline media. Thus, the doping of P could significantly boost the HER activity of MoS2 in such conditions. Our study suggests an effective strategy to tune HER catalytic activity of MoS2 through orbital engineering, which should also be feasible for other TMDC-based electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, tremendous advancements have been made in various technologies such as far-infrared, low-frequency Raman, and two-dimensional (2D) Raman terahertz (THz) spectroscopies. A coherent method has emerged from numerous experimental and theoretical investigations of molecular dynamics in liquids by comparing linear and non-linear spectroscopic techniques. Intermolecular hydrogen bond vibration, molecular reorientation motion, and interaction between molecule/ionic solute and hydrogen bonds have been demonstrated to occur in the THz region, which are closely related to their physical/chemical properties and structural dynamics. However, precise probing of various modes of motion is difficult because of the complexity of the collective and cooperative motion of molecules and spectral overlap of related modes. With the development of THz science and technology, current state-of-the-art THz sources can generate pulsed electric fields with peak intensities of the order of microvolts per centimeter (MV/cm). Such strong fields enable the use of THz waves as the light source for non-linear polarization of the medium and in turn leads to the development of the emerging THz Kerr effect (TKE) technique. Many low-frequency molecular motions, such as the collective directional motion of molecules and cooperative motion under the constraint of weak intermolecular interactions, are resonantly excited by an intense THz electric field. Thus, the TKE technique provides an interesting prospect for investigating low-frequency dynamics of different media. In view of this, this paper first summarizes the research work on TKE spectroscopy by taking a solid material without low-frequency molecular motions as an example. Starting from the principle of TKE technology and its application in investigating the properties of solid matter, we have explored the low-frequency molecular dynamics of liquid water and aqueous solutions using TKE. Liquid water is a core of life and possesses many extraordinary physical and biochemical properties. The hydrogen bond network plays a crucial role in these properties and is the main reason for its various kinetic and thermodynamic properties, which differ from those of other liquids. However, the structure of the hydrogen bond network between water and solutes is not well known. Therefore, evaluating the hydrogen bond-related kinetic properties of liquid water is important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous materials are a new type of engineering material with both functional and structural properties. Compared with regular porous structures and random porous structures, a gradient porous structure is a porous structure with a spatial variation mechanism, which can adjust the layout of the structure by changing its own load and boundary conditions according to different situations, thus obtaining better performance. In this paper, three spatial Voronoi structures with different spatial gradients are designed using the spatial Voronoi tessellation method. The differences in thermal protection performances between the Voronoi spatial gradient structure and the regular structure and the effects of porosity, gradient direction and heat flow density on the three-dimensional Voronoi stochastic gradient structure were investigated via data simulation. The results show that the effective thermal conductivity of the Voronoi spatial gradient structure is lower than that of the regular structure. The effective thermal conductivity of the structure gradually decreases with increasing porosity. Taking the gradient Voronoi structure consisting of 3 × 3 × 3 units as an example, when the porosity increases from 83% to 94.98%, its effective thermal conductivity decreases from 0.586 to 0.149 Wm − 1 K − 1 . The anisotropy of the random structure leads to effective thermal conductivity errors of more than 5% in all three gradient directions. In addition, according to the principle of thermal resistance superposition, we designed a battery pack set for calculating the effective thermal conductivities of pillar-based porous materials, including three-dimensional Voronoi gradient random porous materials on the Grasshopper platform. In this way, the effective thermal conductivity of a pillar-based porous material can be predicted more accurately. The predicted calculation results and the simulation results basically agree with each other, and the relative errors of both are within 10%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hongcun traditional dwellings are representative of Huizhou architecture in China, with distinctive cultural and architectural characteristics in terms of layout, material, decoration and other features. Research on Hongcun traditional dwellings has been a matter of ongoing interest in academic circles in China, but there has been no specific focus on the phenomena of decay affecting these structures, even though research on this aspect has the most direct impact on the conservation of traditional dwellings. In this study, abundant and comprehensive fieldwork was carried out to investigate the building information, materials and especially preservation status of traditional dwellings. Furthermore, the decay phenomena of traditional dwellings were identified and described in detail in the Masonry Components and Wooden Components sections, which are based on the collected information and the relevant guidelines. Moreover, the restoration and actual conservation practices for traditional dwellings, which were specifically both government-led and private projects, were examined. In these analyses, the main problems related to the decay phenomena investigation and intervention are systematically summarized, and corresponding solutions are proposed to ensure that optimized conservation strategies are applied to traditional dwellings in Hongcun village. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Developed a pH-modulated food adhesive for plant protein meat. • Tannic acid binds to SPI via covalent, hydrogen and ionic bonds. • Adhesive exhibits strong resistance to freezing and thawing. • Optimal adhesion in plant protein meat achieved at pH 9 with 0.75% TA addition. A food adhesive comprising tannic acid (TA) and soybean protein isolate (SPI) was developed to establish a cohesive bond between soy protein gel and simulated fat. The impact of varying TA concentrations and pH levels on the adhesive's rheology, thermal stability, chemical structure, and tensile strength were investigated. Rheological results revealed a gradual decrease in adhesive viscosity with increasing TA content. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric (TG) results indicated that the stability of the adhesive improved with higher TA concentrations, reaching its peak at 0.50% TA addition. The incorporation of TA resulted in the cross-linking of amino group in unfolded SPI molecules, forming a mesh structure. However, under alkaline conditions (pH 9), adhesive viscosity and stability increased compared to the original pH. This shift was due to the disruption of the SPI colloidal charge structure, an increase in the stretching of functional groups, further unfolding of the structure, and an enhanced binding of SPI to TA. Under the initial pH conditions, SPI reacted with TA's active site to form covalent crosslinked networks and hydrogen bonds. In alkaline condition, beyond hydrogen and ionic bonding, the catechol structure was oxidized, forming an ortho -quinone that crosslinked SPI and created a denser structure. Tensile strength measurements and freeze–thaw experiments revealed that the adhesive exhibited maximum tensile strength and optimal adhesion with 0.75% TA at pH 9, providing the best overall performance. This study provides a new formulation and approach for developing plant-based meat analogues adhesives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical antifouling sensing interface can effectively resist the adsorption of non-specific biomolecules, which provides a powerful means for the sensitive determination of various biomarkers in complex media. Therefore, the development of simple and efficient antifouling coatings is particularly important. Herein, we utilized tris (2-carboxyethyl) phosphine to rapidly reduce disulfide bonds in bovine serum albumin (BSA) to generate amyloid aggregation (PTB), thus forming a macroscopic two-dimensional film through one-step self-assembly. Compared to other antifouling interfaces, PTB has the advantages of simple preparation means, high stability and reproducibility, as well as good antifouling properties. At the same time, a layer of polyaniline (PANI) was electrodeposited on the modified electrode to improve the electron transmission rate, which improves the detection efficiency of the sensor. Furthermore, g-C 3 N 4 was introduced as an internal standard substance to eliminate instrument errors. According to the ratio of electrochemiluminescence (ECL) signals of [Ru(bpy) 3 ]2+ and g-C 3 N 4 , a ratiometric sensing strategy was designed to improve detection accuracy and sensitivity. Based on this, the proposed biosensor can achieve sensitive detection of CEA with a detection limit as low as 0.43 fg/mL (S/N = 3), which has important significance for early clinical diagnosis. • Designing PTB films with efficient antifouling ability through one-step self-assembly. • Developing an antifouling biosensor based on PTB films to improve its stability and lifetime. • Designing internal standard strategy to improve detection accuracy of the sensor. • The proposed antifouling biosensor achieved trace detection of CEA in complex serum samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interactions between non-starch polysaccharides alter the physicochemical properties of the mucin, therefore can affect encapsulated nutrients penetrating through the mucus layer in the gastrointestinal tract. This study explored the interactions between mucin and galactomannans (GMs) with different mannose-to-galactose ratios going through contact, diffusion, and binding stages. During contact stage, the contact angle was used to characterize the interactions between mucin and GMs, and results showed that locust bean gum (4:1) with lower molecular weight had more contact area to form more hydrogen bonds with water. At diffusion and binding stage, based on the analysis of ATR-FTIR, rheology, and fluorescence spectroscopy, more galactose side chains in guar gum (2:1) had more hydrogen donors and acceptors and more space between polysaccharides to form intermolecular hydrogen bonds with mucin, which enhanced the interactions with mucin. Molecular docking results suggested that more hydrogen bonds in the main chain and less in the side chain resulted in more availability to form intramolecular hydrogen bonds and therefore reduced the strength of the interactions with mucin. Moreover, the Transwell assay revealed that enhancing the interactions of GMs with mucin, especially hydrogen bonds, slowed down the migration of the riboflavin. The current discovery laid the groundwork for designing GMs-based delivery systems that are capable to control the duration of nutrient action on the mucus by changing the molecular properties of the polysaccharide. [Display omitted] • Three-stage interaction mechanism between mucin and GMs was discussed. • Mannose-to-galactose ratios of GMs regulate the interactions with mucin. • Interaction mechanism can control the migration behavior of riboflavin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A food adhesive with a dual network structure has been developed. • TPs bind to SPI through covalent and non-covalent bonding. • Adhesive exhibits best adhesion in plant protein meat with 5.0 % TPs. • Simple preparation method makes adhesive promising for the food applications. The study aimed to evaluate a food adhesive developed using tea polyphenols (TPs) with soybean protein isolate (SPI) to create a cohesive bond between soy protein gel and simulated fat. Upon the addition of 5.0 % TPs, significant increases in viscosity, thermal stability, and crystallinity were noted in adhesives, suggesting the formation of a cohesive network. Furthermore, TPs effectively enhanced adhesion strength, with the optimal addition being 5.0 %. This enhancement can be attributed to hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions between TPs and SPI molecules. TPs induced a greater expansion of the protein structure, exposing numerous buried hydrophobic groups to a more hydrophilic and polar environment. However, excessive TPs were found to diminish adhesion strength. This can be attributed to enhanced reactions between TPs and SPI, where high molecular weight SPI-TPs cooperatively aggregate to form agglomerates that eventually precipitated, rendering the adhesive network inhomogeneous, less stable, and more prone to disruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing efficient and cost-effective methodologies for high value-added conversion of waste plastic delivers substantial environmental and economic benefits. Herein, we develop a novel approach utilizing boric acid in the methanolysis of waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to derive pure dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) and boronic acid esters through in-situ capture of ethylene glycol (EG). It not only upcycles waste PET but also eliminates intricate EG purification processes. Catalyzed by magnalium-aluminum-layered double oxides (Mg 4 Al 1 -LDO), this method achieved 100 % conversions of PET with 96 % and 99 % yields of arylboronic esters and DMT, respectively. Kinetic studies and in-situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) demonstrated the pivotal role of the monodentate methoxy species, generated through the interaction of medium basic Mg–O ion pairs and methanol. This method demonstrates applicability for the upcycling of assorted discarded PET wastes, polyesters, and polycarbonates with EG units, highlighting its potential as a comprehensive solution for waste plastic management. [Display omitted] • Full utilization of waste PET into dimethyl terephthalate and cyclic arylboronic esters is firstly proposed. • This strategy features wide substrate scope harvesting various carboxylate and arylboronic esters. • This upcycling method is highly efficient and selective, and the products can be easily separated and purified. • Monodentate methoxy intermediates plays a pivotal role in the catalytic process. • The Mg 4 Al 1 -LDO catalyst is efficient, stable, cheap, and recyclable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Increasing the rivet-hole clearances can enhance the joints' fatigue life but also reduce joints' strength. • A 3D FE model integrating riveting and fatigue loading processes, was employed to analyze stress amplitude and CFRP damage. • The fatigue life of the joint and the path of crack propagation are directly affected by the stress amplitude. • Using the method of counting the number of damaged elements to quantitatively analyze the degree of CFRP damage. The CFRP/Al countersunk rivet joints are one of the most fatigued dangerous points of the aircraft fuselage. To deeply investigate the failure mechanisms of the riveted joint structures, this paper utilizes electromagnetic riveting technology to prepare single-lap joint specimens and investigates the quasi-static tensile and fatigue failure behaviours of the joints under different rivet-hole clearances and stress levels. In addition, to assist this investigation, a three-dimensional finite element model, combining riveting and fatigue loading, is developed. This model takes into account the strain rate effects during riveting process and progressive failure behavior of various typical damage modes in CFRP laminates. The results indicate that Aluminum alloy sheets fracture dominates the fatigue failure of the joints. Increasing the clearance can reduce the stress amplitude on the shear plane and further enhance the fatigue life of the joints. Furthermore, all additional CFRP damage during the loading process is the growth of the initial riveting damage, and the damage-induced fibre bearing capacity decrease is considered the reason for the increase in stress amplitude of the Al sheet. Last, excessive clearance enlargement does not appreciably diminish the initial riveting damage, instead, it could result in a joint strength reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationally designing high-efficient g-C 3 N 4 based photocatalysts still remains a big challenge. Herein, Ni 7 S 6 decorated K-doped g-C 3 N 4 /graphene oxide photocatalyst was synthesized. Interestingly, amorphous conductive carbon black and urea are simultaneously transferred to graphene oxide and K-doped g-C 3 N 4 , which achieves in-situ coupled K-g-C 3 N 4 /graphene oxide composite. The in-situ fabricated graphene oxide acts as a charge transfer substrate for the rapid photocarriers migration. Ni 7 S 6 forms Schottky heterojunction with K-g-C 3 N 4 photocatalyst, promoting photocarriers separation. The Ni 7 S 6 /K-g-C 3 N 4 /graphene oxide composite achieves a visible light hydrogen production rate of 487.59 μmol·g−1·h−1, which is about 7.5 times higher than that of K-g-C 3 N 4 (65.4 μmol·g−1·h−1). This work provides a novel strategy for preparing high-efficient g-C 3 N 4 based photocatalysts. [Display omitted] • Graphitic carbon nitride modified with graphene oxide and Ni 7 S 6 was prepared. • Graphitization and K-g-C 3 N 4 formation simultaneously took place forming tightly coupled interface. • Ni 7 S 6 with K-g-C 3 N 4 formed Schottky junction to inhibit the recombination of photocarriers. • The composite shows an excellent photocatalytic activity of 487.59 μmol·g−1·h−1 and enhanced stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) structures benefit from electromagnetic riveting (EMR). However, incorrect riveting parameters could result in damages in CFRP structures during the EMR process. Excessive interference size may introduce initial damages to the joints. As a result, in this paper, the damage behaviours and the interference characteristics of the 30CrMnSiA/CFRP double-sided countersunk electromagnetic riveted joints are investigated. The riveting damage experiment was conducted, with the regular pressing riveting (RPR) process as a comparison. Moreover, a progressive damage FE model considering multiple typical damage modes of CFRP was developed for EMR damage prediction. The results show that when the rivet-hole diameter increases by 5 % (4.08 mm to 4.28 mm), the average interference size of the joint under EMR and RPR processes decreases by 41 % and 53 %, respectively. Double-sided countersunk riveted joint interference size along the rivet axial distribution is not uniform, the CFRP sheet side of the interference size is relatively small. The EMR achieves a tighter, more uniform interference fit, while causing more severe riveting damages to the CFRP structure. Initial riveting damage exhibits a variety of modes, with delamination damage showing most significant sensitivity to rivet hole clearance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low mechanical strength, poor processability, and low bioactivity of hydrogels limit their application in bone tissue engineering severely. Herein, a new 3D-printable, osteoinductive, and bioenergetic-active double-network (DN) hydrogel containing sodium alginate (SA), poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), and sodium polyphosphate (PolyP) was developed via a two-step method. The synergy of the covalent cross-linking network and the ionic cross-linking network improves the mechanical properties of the hydrogel. And the pre-gel with Ca2+ has better 3D printing performance to print complex tissue engineering scaffolds than common hydrogels. In addition, the incorporation of PolyP into DN hydrogel matrix significantly improves the bioactivity of hydrogels. The bioenergetic effect of PolyP improves adenosine triphosphate content of cells significantly to promote cell activities such as migration. The in vitro osseointegration investigation suggests that the orthophosphate monomer units, which are degradation fragments of PolyP, provide enough phosphoric acid units for the formation of calcium phosphate and accelerate the osteogenic differentiation of cells greatly. Therefore, the proposed printable, bioenergetic-active, osteoinductive DN hydrogel is potential to solve the problems of complex tissue engineering scaffolds and be applied in energy-crucial bone tissue regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All‐solid‐state lithium batteries (ASSLIBs) show significant promise as the next‐generation energy technology due to their high energy density and inherent safety. However, the severe interface reactions between solid electrolyte and the high‐voltage cathodes pose a major challenge, particularly at higher charge voltages. Herein, a H3PO4‐triggered H+/Li+ exchange strategy is proposed to covert LiCoO2 (LCO) surface to spinel Co3O4/Li3PO4 ionic‐conductive interphase. This spinel interphase presents a thickness of 15 nm and good affinity with LCO, which provides long‐lasting protection to suppress interfacial parasitic reactions. Besides, both spinel Co3O4 and amorphous Li3PO4 feature high ionic conductivity compared to bulk LCO, thereby facilitating the interfacial ionic transportation. With such modification, ASSLIBs delivers high specific capacity (146.2 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C), outstanding rate performance (116.4 mAh g−1 at 2 C), and long‐term cyclability (350 cycles at 0.5 C) under a cut‐off voltage of 4.3 V versus Li/Li+. Moreover, this robust spinel interphase further improves the stable cycling (168.9 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C for 100 cycles) under elevated cut‐off voltage (4.5 V vs Li/Li+). This finding highlights the H+/Li+ exchange to convert LCO surface to a spinel ionic‐conductive interphase, which poses new insights for interface design in ASSLIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • High regioselectivity and hydrolysis ability to ginsenosides by snailase were found. • Ginsenoside Ro was transformed to Chikusetsusaponin Ⅳa in vitro for the first time. • Ginsenoside Ro was transformed to Glucosyl oleanilate in vitro for the first time. • Ginsenoside Ro was transformed to Zingibroside R1 in vitro for the first time. • Ginsenoside Ro was transformed to Silphioside F in vitro for the first time. Minor ginsenosides display higher physiological activities than those of major ginsenosides, but their low abundance limits their clinical application. In this study, snailase was employed to transform protopanaxadiol-type (PPD) ginsenosides, protopanaxatriol-type (PPT) ginsenosides, and Ro to minor ginsenosides. The results showed that snailase hydrolyzed the saccharide chains at the C-3 position of Rb1, Rc, Rb2 Rg3 and Ro and the saccharide chains at the C-28 position of Ro efficiently. The end glucosyl unit of the saccharide chain at the C-6 position of Rf was hydrolyzed entirely. However, the rhamnosyl of Re was intact. The end glucosyl unit of the ginsenoside Rb1 was hydrolyzed entirely, but both arabinopyranosyl of Rb2 and arabinofuranosyl of Rc were not hydrolyzed. So snailase is selective for glycoside bond locations and saccharide types of ginsenoside, and it can be used to produce Rg3, CK, Rh1 and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mucoadhesion process is essential for polysaccharide-based nutrient delivery systems. In this study, the intramolecular interactions between mucin and guar gums (GGs) with different charge characteristics going through contact, diffusion, and binding stages were explored. The contact angle analysis was used to characterize the interactions between mucin and GGs at the contact stage. The data of attenuated total reflectance-infrared spectroscopy was calculated to measure the diffusion coefficient (D) of GGs with mucin at the diffusion stage. The results showed that the interactions between the mucin and GGs at the contact and diffusion stages were mainly hydrogen bonding generated by the hydrophilic groups of the polysaccharides and mucin due to the largest contact angle and lowest D value for the neutral guar gum (GG (O)). Fluorescence spectroscopy was carried out to analyze the interactions at the binding stage and found that the interactions were mainly driven by the electrostatic interaction. The results of ΔH°<0 and ΔS°>0 at pH 7.0 indicated the strong electrostatic attraction between the mucin and cationic guar gum (CGG (+)), improving the mucoadhesion ability of the CGG (+); while the electrostatic repulsion weakened the interactions between the mucin and anionic guar gum (AGG (-)). The current discovery of the three-stage interaction mechanism makes it possible to regulate the mucoadhesion ability of the delivery system by altering the polysaccharide charge characteristics. [Display omitted] • Three-stage interaction mechanism between mucin and GGs was analyzed. • Charge characteristics of GGs can regulate the strength of interactions with GGs. • The action time of GGs-based delivery system can be controlled during digestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Two different models of electrochemiluminescence immunosensors were proposed. • The sensors were used to sensitive quantification of the CP4-EPSPS protein. • The limits of detection for soybean RRS were 0.03% and 0.01%, respectively. • The two methods showed good specificity, stability, accuracy, and reproducibility. Two different models of electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunosensors for the sensitive and quantitative detection of the CP4-EPSPS protein in genetically modified (GM) crops were proposed in this study. One was a signal-reduced ECL immunosensor based on nitrogen-doped graphene, graphitic carbon nitride and polyamide-amine (GN-PAMAM-g-C 3 N 4) composites as the electrochemically active substance. The other model was a signal-enhanced ECL immunosensor based on a GN-PAMAM modified electrode for the detection of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs)-labeled antigens. The ECL signal responses of the reduced and enhanced immunosensors linearly decreased as the increase of the soybean RRS and RRS-QDs content in the range of 0.05% to 1.5% and 0.025% to 1.0%, with the limits of detection of 0.03% and 0.01% (S/N = 3), respectively. Both of the ECL immunosensors showed good specificity, stability, accuracy, and reproducibility in the analysis of real samples. The results indicate that the two immunosensors provide an ultra-sensitive and quantitative approach for the determination of the CP4-EPSPS protein. Due to their outstanding performances, the two ECL immunosensors could be useful tools for achieving the effective regulation of GM crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distributed photovoltaics (PVs) installed in industrial parks are important measures for reducing carbon emissions. However, the consumption level of PV power generation in different industries varies significantly, and it is often difficult to consume 100% of the PV power generation. The shared energy storage station (SESS) can improve the consumption level of PV power generation. In this study, a reputation factor pricing strategy for an SESS was proposed and a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model with the goal of maximizing the daily net income of the SESS was established. The optimal energy scheduling results of different pricing strategies were compared using this MILP model. Financial evaluation indexes were calculated for users and SESS in various scenarios. Regardless of the pricing strategy implemented by SESS, the financial evaluation indexes for users were consistently better with SESS than without it. This highlighted the benefits of SESS in reducing energy costs for users. The reputation factor pricing strategy scenario increased the NPV of the SESS by 76% compared with the same discount pricing strategy scenario. Finally, a sensitivity analysis found that the economic advantages of the reputation factor pricing strategy improved with increased difference in the utility grid peak-valley tariff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zein nanoparticles tend to aggregate in water and are readily digested by enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract. In current study, the Zein-alginate nanogels loaded with curcumin (Cur@ZA) were fabricated with the "core-shell" structure. The Zein "core" was prepared via antisolvent precipitation method, and the alginate gel "shell" was formed by calcium-induced gelation method. The physicochemical properties, microstructure, encapsulation efficiency, stability and simulated digestion characteristics of nanogels were investigated. The results showed that Cur@ZA formed uniform gel spheres with small particle size (415.10 nm), while possessing a dense gel shell on the surface. The Zein "core" and alginate gel "shell" of Cur@ZA are tightly bound to each other by electrostatic adsorption, hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonding. Curcumin was able to be loaded in the Cur@ZA nanogels with a higher encapsulation rate (>92 %). Compared with the system which was not induced by calcium ion, the addition of calcium ions improved the photostability and thermal stability of curcumin, and facilitated slow and sustained release of curcumin in the simulated digestion. Therefore, this novel nanogel delivery system has the ideal physicochemical properties, stability and control-release ability, which has the potential to be used in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Whey protein concentrate (WPC)/pullulan (PUL) hydrogel is applied as a microencapsulation wall material to protect probiotics. However, the interactions between WPC and PUL during gelation have not been clarified. In the present study, the effects of PUL concentration and pH on the interactions between WPC and PUL during gelation were evaluated with respect to appearance, zeta‐potential, sulfhydryl group amount, surface hydrophobicity and infrared spectroscopy measurements. The rheological properties of WPC/PUL gels were also determined. RESULTS: The results obtained showed that a proper concentration (0.40 g mL–1) of PUL could improve the gel by enhancing the strength of hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions and exposure of hydrophobic groups, whereas too much PUL inhibited the formation of disulfide bonds. Furthermore, hydrophobic interactions, disulfide bonds and hydrogen bonds were destroyed in varying degrees under an alkaline environment. The rheological results also demonstrated a similar effect of PUL concentration and pH on the storage modulus (G') of WPC/PUL gels. CONCLUSION: When the WPC/PUL gel was formed at PUL concentration of 0.40 g mL–1 and pH 7.0, the interaction between WPC and PUL could be enhanced, which is beneficial for the future application of WPC/PUL gels in the food industry. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a typical time series, the length of the data sequence is critical to the accuracy of traffic state prediction. In order to fully explore the causality between traffic data, this study established a temporal backtracking and multistep delay model based on recurrent neural networks (RNNs) to learn and extract the long- and short-term dependencies of the traffic state data. With a real traffic data set, the coordinate descent algorithm was employed to search and determine the optimal backtracking length of traffic sequence, and multistep delay predictions were performed to demonstrate the relationship between delay steps and prediction accuracies. Besides, the performances were compared between three variants of RNNs (LSTM, GRU, and BiLSTM) and 6 frequently used models, which are decision tree (DT), support vector machine (SVM), k-nearest neighbour (KNN), random forest (RF), gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT), and stacked autoencoder (SAE). The prediction results of 10 consecutive delay steps suggest that the accuracies of RNNs are far superior to those of other models because of the more powerful and accurate pattern representing ability in time series. It is also proved that RNNs can learn and mine longer time dependencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a typical time series, the length of the data sequence is critical to the accuracy of traffic state prediction. In order to fully explore the causality between traffic data, this study established a temporal backtracking and multistep delay model based on recurrent neural networks (RNNs) to learn and extract the long- and short-term dependencies of the traffic state data. With a real traffic data set, the coordinate descent algorithm was employed to search and determine the optimal backtracking length of traffic sequence, and multistep delay predictions were performed to demonstrate the relationship between delay steps and prediction accuracies. Besides, the performances were compared between three variants of RNNs (LSTM, GRU, and BiLSTM) and 6 frequently used models, which are decision tree (DT), support vector machine (SVM), k-nearest neighbour (KNN), random forest (RF), gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT), and stacked autoencoder (SAE). The prediction results of 10 consecutive delay steps suggest that the accuracies of RNNs are far superior to those of other models because of the more powerful and accurate pattern representing ability in time series. It is also proved that RNNs can learn and mine longer time dependencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of a new tetraborylethylene (TBE) is reported, and its application in the preparation of [4+0]‐tetraarylethenes (TAEs) is elucidated. TAEs have widespread applications in material science and supramolecular chemistry due to their aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) properties. The divergent and stereoselective synthesis of [3+1]‐, [2+2]‐, and [2+1+1]‐TAEs via multiple couplings of vinylboronates with aryl bromides is demonstrated. These couplings feature a broad substrate scope and excellent functional group compatibility due to mild reaction conditions. Facile access to various tetraarylethenes is provided. This strategy represents an important complement to the conventional methods employed for the synthesis of TAEs, and would be a valuable tool for synthesizing TAE‐based molecules useful in functional materials, biological imaging and chemical sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of a new tetraborylethylene (TBE) is reported, and its application in the preparation of [4+0]‐tetraarylethenes (TAEs) is elucidated. TAEs have widespread applications in material science and supramolecular chemistry due to their aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) properties. The divergent and stereoselective synthesis of [3+1]‐, [2+2]‐, and [2+1+1]‐TAEs via multiple couplings of vinylboronates with aryl bromides is demonstrated. These couplings feature a broad substrate scope and excellent functional group compatibility due to mild reaction conditions. Facile access to various tetraarylethenes is provided. This strategy represents an important complement to the conventional methods employed for the synthesis of TAEs, and would be a valuable tool for synthesizing TAE‐based molecules useful in functional materials, biological imaging and chemical sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the summer, high ambient temperature and humidity cause economic loss to the global livestock industry via reduced livestock productivity and increased mortality. The problem of heat stress (HS) is likely to be exacerbated by global warming and climate change. Recent research has shown that HS not only leads to physiological and metabolic perturbations in live animals but can also affect carcass and meat quality characteristics plausibly by altering the rate and extent of postmortem muscle glycolysis and resultant pH. However, these impacts of HS are not consistent across species. Higher incidence of pale soft and exudative (PSE) meat has been reported in poultry. On the contrary, higher incidence of high ultimate pH and dark firm and dry (DFD) meat or no impacts of HS have been reported in sheep and cattle. With the limited data on HS impacts on meat quality of ruminants, it is difficult to explain the exact mechanisms driving these variable impacts. However, it is hypothesized that the severity and duration of HS may lead to variable impacts due to lack of opportunity to adapdate to acute heat exposure. Longer HS exposure may allow ruminants to adapdate to heat and may not record any negative impacts on meat quality. This paper reviews the recent research on impacts of HS on meat quality characteristics and identify the key areas of further research required to better understand these negative impacts to develop strategies for amelioration. In addition, some mitigation strategies of HS have also been discussed which include both managemental and nutritional interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proliferation, migration, and cellular morphology of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) play important roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis (AS). Homocysteine (Hcy) is a sulfur-containing amino acid, which is an intermediate product of methionine metabolism. Hcy can induce proliferation, migration, and phenotypic switch of VSMCs, but details of these mechanisms are still unclear. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) signaling pathway is involved in a host of cellular functions. In this study, we sought to determine if this multifunctional pathway played a role in Hcy-induced proliferation, migration, and phenotypic transformation of VSMCs, which has not been previously reported. miR-145 has been previously reported to suppress the effects of Hcy in VSMCs. In our study, using qRT-PCR, we found that Hcy itself reduced the expression of miR-145 in VSMCs, while overexpression of miR-145 reduced the proliferation, migration, and phenotypic transformation of VSMCs caused by Hcy. Using Western blot analysis, we found that VSMCs exposed to Hcy exhibited significant increases in the levels of PI3K, Akt, and mTOR proteins. Additionally, overexpression of miR-145 dramatically decreased PI3K, Akt, and mTOR expression. Using qRT-PCR we found that miR-145 expression increased after blocking PI3K using an inhibitor. Inhibition of the PI3K signaling pathway also prevented Hcy-induced VSMC proliferation, migration, and phenotypic switch. Taken together, our results suggest that miR-145 could inhibit VSMC proliferation, migration, and phenotype switching by preventing activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the selective death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Recently, NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis were found to be associated with PD. Cyclosporine A (CsA), an immunosuppressant, reduces neuronal death in PD. However, CsA could hardly pass through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and high dose is associated with severe side effects and toxicity. N-methyl-4-isoleucine-cyclosporine (NIM811) is a CsA derivate that can pass through the BBB. However, little is known about its effect on PD. Objective: The objectives of this study were to explore the mechanism of rotenone-induced cell damage and to examine the protective effects of NIM811 on the neurotoxicity of a Parkinson-like in vitro model induced by rotenone. Methods: Murine hippocampal HT22 cells were cultured with the mitochondrial complex I inhibitor rotenone, a widely used pesticide that has been used for many years as a tool to induce a PD model in vitro and in vivo and proven to be reproducible. NIM811 was added to the culture media 3 h prior to the rotenone incubation. Cell viability was determined by resazurin assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by dihydroethidine (DHE), and mitochondrial membrane potential by tetramethyl rhodamine methyl ester (TMRM). TUNEL and caspase-1 immunofluorescent double staining was used to detect pyroptosis. NLRP3, caspase-1, pro-caspase-1, GSDMD, and interleukin-18 (IL-18) were measured using Western blotting after 24 h of rotenone incubation. The reactivity of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) was determined by ELISA. Results: Our results demonstrated that rotenone caused more than 40% of cell death, increased ROS production, and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, while NIM811 reversed these alterations. Immunofluorescent double staining showed that rotenone increased the percentage of caspase-1 and TUNEL double-labelled cells, an indication of pyroptosis, after 24 h of incubation. The protein expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, pro-caspase-1, GSDMD, IL-18, and IL-1β was significantly increased after 24 h of rotenone incubation. NIM811 suppressed rotenone-induced pyroptosis and downregulated the protein expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, pro-caspase-1, GSDMD, IL-1β, and IL-18. Conclusion: These results provide evidence that rotenone activates the NLRP3 inflammomere and induces pyroptosis. NIM811 protects the cell from rotenone-induced damage and inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis. NIM811 might serve as a potential therapeutic drug in the treatment of PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium alginate hydrogel dressing is an excellent hydrogel dressing because of its excellent absorption characteristics and tear-free pain. However, its application is limited by its poor mechanical properties and non-bacterial properties. Here, we reported a new biomimetic hydrogel dressing with good mechanical properties and antibacterial properties by 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl oxidized bacterial cellulose (TOBC) intensified and a simple method for loading Zn2+. The results indicated that the mechanical properties were obviously improved by adding 20 wt% TOBC due to the formation of conjoined-network structure. When the concentration of Zn2+ is controlled at about 0.0001 wt%, the hydrogel has good antimicrobial and biological properties. This study provides a simple and sufficient method to prepare new biomimetic antimicrobial hydrogel dressings with good properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) canal segmentation has been considered a crucial task in dentistry. Failing to accurately identify the position of the IAN canal may lead to nerve injury during dental procedures. While IAN canals can be detected from dental cone beam computed tomography, they are usually difficult for dentists to precisely identify as the canals are thin, small, and span across many slices. This paper focuses on improving accuracy in segmenting the IAN canals. By integrating our proposed frequency-domain attention mechanism in UNet, the proposed frequency attention UNet (FAUNet) is able to achieve 75.55 % and 81.35 % in the Dice and surface Dice coefficients, respectively, which are much higher than other competitive methods, by adding only 224 parameters to the classical UNet. Compared to the classical UNet, our proposed FAUNet achieves a 2.39 % and 2.82 % gain in the Dice coefficient and the surface Dice coefficient, respectively. The potential advantage of developing attention in the frequency domain is also discussed, which revealed that the frequency-domain attention mechanisms can achieve better performance than their spatial-domain counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The physicochemical properties of the gels prepared by three different methods were investigated at different pH. • The differences in the properties of different gel stabilized high internal phase Pickering emulsions were investigated. • The mechanisms underlying the differences in the properties of high internal phase Pickering emulsions were described. • The bioavailability of coenzyme Q10 loaded into high internal phase Pickering emulsion were verified. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of whey protein gel particles (WPGPs) prepared by heat-induced method, enzyme cross-linking method and calcium ion cross-linking method on the structural properties and intrinsic linkage of their stable high internal phase Pickering emulsions (HIPPEs) under different pH conditions. The effects of different pH and preparation methods on the internal interaction forces, particle size, ζ-potential, wettability and secondary structure of gels was investigated. The results indicated that the construction of HIPPEs system was successfully constructed at pH 3, 5 or 7. The WPGPs stabilized HIPPEs can maintain stable state at 4 °C for 28 days. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) loaded with HIPPEs increased the bioavailability from 13.2% to 79.4%, which was demonstrated in in vitro digestion experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-phase flow instability may occur in nuclear reactor systems, which is often accompanied by periodic fluctuation in fluid flow rate. In this study, bubble rising and coalescence characteristics under inlet flow pulsation condition are analyzed based on the MPS-MAFL method. To begin with, the single bubble rising behavior under flow pulsation condition was simulated. The simulation results show that the bubble shape and rising velocity fluctuate periodically as same as the inlet flow rate. Additionally, the bubble pairs' coalescence behavior under flow pulsation condition was simulated and compared with static condition results. It is found that the coalescence time of bubble pairs slightly increased under the pulsation condition, and then the bubbles will continue to pulsate with almost the same period as the inlet flow rate after coalescence. In view of these facts, this study could offer theory support and method basis to a better understanding of the two-phase flow configuration under flow pulsation condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A urea-based hydrothermal approach has been applied to synthesize LiNi 0.5 Co 0.2 Mn 0.3 O 2 (NCM523) cathode materials with focus on investigating the influence of the reaction conditions on their electrochemical performance. The compositions of the carbonate precursor are precisely controlled by tuning urea concentration, hydrothermal reaction temperature, and time. The mole ratio between urea and transition metal ions and reaction temperature influence the composition of the precursor; while the reaction time influences the electrochemical performance of the final product. The optimized materials show better cyclability and rate capability compared with the materials synthesized with other hydrothermal reaction conditions. The enhancement is attributed to the larger Li + diffusion coefficient and lower charge transfer resistance, which are due to the lower degree of Li/Ni cation mixing and more uniform distribution of transition metal ions. This work is a systematic study on the synthesis of NCM523 cathode material by a urea-based hydrothermal approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Missing data in precipitable water vapor derived from global navigation satellite systems (GNSS-PWV) is commonly a large hurdle in climatical applications, since continuous PWV is an important prerequisite. Interpolation using principal component analysis (PCA) is typically used to resolve this problem. However, the popular PCA-based interpolating methods, e.g., rank-deficient least squares PCA (RDPCA) and data interpolating empirical orthogonal function (DINEOF), often lead to unsatisfactory results. This study analyzes the relationship between missing data and PCA-based interpolation results and proposes an improved interpolation-based RDPCA (IRDPCA) that can take into account the PWV derived from ERA5 (ERA-PWV) as an additional aid. Three key steps are involved in the IRDPCA: initially interpolating missing data, estimating principal components through a functional model and optimizing the interpolation through an iterative process. Using a 6-year GNSS-PWV over 26 stations and ERA-PWV in Yunnan, China, the performance of the IRDPCA is compared with the RDPCA and DINEOF using simulation experiments based on both homogeneous data (i.e., interpolating ERA-PWV using available ERA-PWV) and heterogeneous data (i.e., interpolating GNSS-PWV using ERA-PWV). In the case of using homogeneous data, the root mean square (RMS) values of the interpolation errors are 3.45, 1.18 and 1.17 mm for the RDPCA, DINEOF and IRDPCA, respectively; while the values are 3.50, 2.50 and 1.55 mm in the heterogeneous case. These results demonstrate the superior performance of the IRDPCA in both the heterogeneous and homogeneous cases. Moreover, these methods are also applied to the interpolation of the real GNSS-PWV. The RMS, absolute bias and correlation of the GNSS-PWV are calculated by comparison with ERA-PWV. The results reveal that the interpolated GNSS-PWV using the IRDPCA is not impacted by the systematic discrepancies in the ERA-PWV and agrees well with the original data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Static and meta-dynamic recrystallisation are known to take place in some steels under low tensile stresses during thermo-mechanical processes, e.g. between rolling stands in a hot strip finishing mill. The main objective of the present work is to understand the mechanisms responsible for the recrystallisation-assisted visco-plastic deformation in a hot worked iron-nickel austenitic alloy subjected to low stress levels at high temperatures. To that purpose, the recrystallisation kinetics of the alloy was first quantified from stress relaxation, interrupted creep and double-hit compression tests, followed by a microstructural study. The evolutions of strain both in the recrystallising and in the fully recrystallised microstructures were quantified. One of the most original aspects of this work is the experimental verification that the acceleration of the viscoplastic deformation of a recrystallising material is unequivocally and intrinsically associated with the on-going recrystallisation phenomenon itself. For the austenitic alloy of interest, the most important contribution to this deformation enhancement was found to arise from the deformation of newly recrystallised grains in the primary creep regime. Finally, it is also shown that this recrystallisation-assisted deformation can be qualitatively predicted with acceptable accuracy using a relatively simple, physics-inspired constitutive model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) tropospheric tomography can reflect a three-dimensional distribution of water vapour. However, the common ill-posed problem for GNSS tropospheric tomography needs to be addressed. The relatively newly launched Chinese Fengyun-4A (FY-4A) satellite water vapour data have a high spatiotemporal resolution and may be used to assist in resolving the ill-posed problem. In this study, a new tropospheric tomographic method using both GNSS and FY-4A data was proposed. Tomographic schemes for the new method with the coverage rate of GNSS sites (CRGS, which is defined as the ratio of the number of GNSS sites to the number of horizontal grids in the tropospheric tomography) of 0.2, 0.28, 0.36 and 0.44 were compared with traditional tomographic schemes using the same CRGS. Test results showed that adding FY-4A data, in addition to GNSS data, to the tomographic system could effectively increase the number of voxels crossed by signals, which benefits the ill-posed problem. When CRGS equated 0.28, the new method had the largest improvement compared with the traditional method, in which the mean of the root mean squared error (RMSE) of the water vapour density (WVD) was reduced from 2.44 and 1.38 g/m3 to 2.05 and 1.22 g/m3 using radiosonde and ERA5 data as the references, respectively. Statistical results showed that the new method that used both GNSS and FY-4A data outperformed the traditional method that only used GNSS data. • New tropospheric tomographic method using FY-4A and GNSS data is proposed. • Adding FY-4A data to the GNSS tomographic system benefits the ill-posed problem. • New method has a better performance than the traditional method in the WVD. • The fewer GNSS stations, the bigger improvement for the new method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal chalcogenides still suffer from the fast recombination of photoinduced charges and serious photo-corrosion when used as visible-light-responsive photocatalysts. The rationally designed photocatalysts should simultaneously possess high light-harvesting efficiency, fast charge separation, optimum redox ability and lasting stability, and this remains a big challenge. Herein, 0D WO 3 nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by using a deep eutectic solvents (DESs) pyrolysis method. And then 0D WO 3 NPs coupled 1D Mn 0.1 Cd 0.9 S (MCS) nanorods were introduced to construct the S-scheme 1D/0D MCS/W heterojunction cauliflower-shaped assemblies, which were developed by using a simple hydrothermal method. X-ray photoelectron spectra disclosed the formation of the S-W-O bond, indicating strong interfacial interaction between MCS and WO 3 at the heterojunction. The formed S-scheme 1D/0D MCS/W heterojunction cauliflower-shaped assemblies and the construction of internal electric field not only enhance visible light absorption, but also boost charge separation efficiency, and endow higher redox ability and long-term durability. Profiting from morphological and energy band structure synergy, the resultant MCS/W heterojunction assemblies exhibited an enhanced photocatalytic H 2 generation rate of 21.25 mmol h−1 g−1, which was 25 times higher than that of pristine MCS. This work provides new deep insights into the rational construction of S-scheme heterojunction assemblies based on morphology and band structure design to boost the photocatalytic performance. [Display omitted] • S-schemed 1D/0D Mn 0.1 Cd 0.9 S/WO 3 hierarchical heterojunction assemblies were constructed. • The interconnected flower-like skeletons effectively promote charge and mass migration. • The heterojunction displayed a stronger light-harvesting ability and optimum redox ability. • Highly improved separation efficiency of photogenerated electrons and holes. • Visible-light driven photocatalytic H 2 evolution increased by 25.0 time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of wheat bran arabinoxylan (WBAX) with different molecular characteristics on the gelatinization and long-term retrogradation behavior of wheat starch (WS) have been evaluated. WBAXs with M w of 280–754 kDa and Ara/Xyl of 0.45–0.62 were obtained through alkaline extraction with graded ethanol precipitation. WBAXs with larger M w and branching degree could impede gelatinization process of wheat starch by effectively decreasing the water availability for starch gelatinization. The hydrogen-bonding interactions between WS and WBAX could enhance the gel strength of WS-WBAX mixed pastes. WBAXs with lower branching degree could inhibit the long-term retrogradation of starch through hindering the rearrangement of amylopectin and double-helical associations of amylose during long-term storage, due to hydrogen-bonding interaction between WBAX and starch. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) relaxometry analysis confirmed that the addition of WBAXs could improve the water holding properties of retrograded starch gels. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]