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This paper proposes a circularly-polarized (CP) metasurface antenna with ultra-wideband radar cross section (RCS) reduction. Initially, the relationship between RCS reduction and phase difference with different reflection amplitudes is analyzed theoretically. Inspired by the shared-aperture principle, a high-frequency resistive layer is introduced into the antenna element to further fulfill ultra-wideband RCS reduction and low-profile requirements. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the inserted layer has no effect on the radiation performance of the antenna array. Then, the proposed element and its orthogonal unit are arranged in a checkerboard pattern for good CP radiation. In this configuration, the proposed metasurface array antenna has a maximum gain of 16.7 dBi with 72.1% aperture efficiency. The bandwidth of 5 dB RCS reduction with x- and y-polarized incidences is 7.10–17.95 GHz and 7.34–17.85 GHz, respectively. The proposed design is verified by the fabrication of prototype antennas and measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Online reviewers' identity information is an essential cue by which consumers judge reviews on ecommerce platforms. However, few studies have explored how prior anonymous reviews and focal reviews affect reviewers' preference for anonymity. The purpose of this paper is to investigate why reviewers seek anonymity in terms of prior anonymous reviews and focal reviews. Design/methodology/approach: Based on restaurant reviews collected from meituan.com, one of the largest group-buying ecommerce platforms in China, this study employed logistic regression to examine how prior anonymous reviews and focal reviews are associated with reviewers' preference for anonymity. Findings: Results show that the volume and sequence of prior anonymous review are positively associated with the likelihood of reviewers' preference for anonymity, whereas focal review valence is negatively correlated with this preference. Focal review length is positively correlated with reviewers' preference for anonymity but negatively moderates the roles of review valence and prior anonymous reviews on this preference. Originality/value: This study expands the information disclosure literature by exploring determinants of user identity disclosure from a reviewer perspective. This research also offers a methodological contribution by employing a more accurate measure to calculate reviewers' preference for anonymity, enhancing the empirical results. Lastly, this work supplements the online review literature on how prior anonymous reviews and focal reviews are associated with reviewers' identity disclosure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, short rod-shaped bacterium, designated as strain HZ0627T, was isolated from the appendiceal pus of a patient with appendicitis in Yongzhou, Hunan, China. This strain was subjected to comprehensive phenotypic, phylogenetic, and genomic analyses using polyphasic taxonomic methods. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that this strain belonged to the genus Proteus and the family Morganellaceae, whereas that based on the rpoB gene sequence and phylogenomic analysis demonstrated that this strain was distinctly separated from other type strains of Proteus species. Moreover, whole-genome-based analyses, including in silico DNA–DNA hybridization (isDDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI), revealed that strain HZ0627T had much lower isDDH rates (24.5–55.6%) and ANI (82.04–93.90%) than those of the thresholds (i.e., 70% and 95%, respectively) for species delineation, when compared to the type strains of other Proteus species. The cellular fatty acid profile of strain HZ0627T was dominated by C16:0 (34.5%), cyclo C17:0 (25.8%), C14:0 (12.6%), C16:1 iso I/14:0 3-OH (7.7%), C18:1ω7c/18:1ω6c (6.5%), and C16:1ω7c/16:1ω6c (4.9%), which clearly differentiated it from the documented type strains of Proteus species. In addition, several specific physiological traits, including optimal growth temperature, tolerance to sodium chloride, and carbon source utilization, differed from those of other Proteus species. Therefore, we propose the name Proteus appendicitidis sp. nov. for strain HZ0627T (= CCTCC AB 2022380T = KCTC 92986T), which represents the type strain of this novel Proteus species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epilepsy is a prevalent neurological disorder among women globally, often requiring long-term treatment. Hormonal fluctuations in women with epilepsy (WWE) can have reciprocal effects on epilepsy and antiseizure medications (ASMs), posing significant challenges for WWE. Notably, WWE commonly experience endocrine alterations such as thyroid dysfunctions, low bone metabolism, and reproductive hormone irregularities. On the one hand, the presence of hormones in women with epilepsy affects their susceptibility to epilepsy as well as the metabolism of antiseizure medications in various ways. On the other hand, epilepsy itself and the use of antiseizure medications impact the production, secretion, and metabolism of hormones, resulting in low fertility, increased risk of pregnancy complications, negative offspring outcomes, and so on. In order to develop more precise treatment strategies in the future, it is necessary to comprehend the explicit relationships between hormones, epilepsy, and antiseizure medications, as well as to elucidate the currently known mechanisms underlying these interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) is recommended for patients with COVID-19. However, the increasing use of HFNC brings a risk of delayed intubation. The optimal timing of switching from HFNC to invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) remains unclear. An effective predictor is needed to assist in deciding on the timing of intubation. Respiratory rate and oxygenation (ROX) index, defined as (SpO 2 /FiO 2) / respiratory rate, has already shown good diagnostic accuracy. Modified ROX (mROX) index, defined as (PaO 2 /FiO 2) / respiratory rate, might be better than the ROX index in predicting HFNC failure. The aim was to evaluate the predictive value of mROX for HFNC failure in patients with COVID-19. Severe or critical patients with COVID-19 treated with HFNC were enrolled in two clinical centers. Laboratory indicators, respiratory parameters, and mROX index at 0 h and 2 h after initial HFNC were collected. Based on the need for IMV after HFNC initiation, the patients were divided into an HFNC failure group and an HFNC success group. The predictive value of mROX index for IMV was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) and logistic regression analysis. We performed Kaplan–Meier survival analysis using the log-rank test. Sixty patients with COVID-19 (mean ± SD age, 62.8 ± 14.1 years; 42 patients were male) receiving HFNC were evaluated, including 18 critical and 42 severe cases. A total of 33 patients had hypertension; 14 had diabetes; 17 had chronic cardiac disease; 11 had chronic lung disease; 13 had chronic kidney disease; and 17 had a history of stroke. The AUROC of mROX index at 2 h was superior to that of other respiratory parameters to predict the need for IMV (0.959; p < 0.001). At the mROX index cutoff point of 4.45, predicting HFNC failure reached the optimal threshold, with specificity of 94% and sensitivity of 92%. Logistic regression analysis showed that 2-h mROX index < 4.45 was a protective factor for IMV (odd radio 0.18; 95% CI 0.05–0.64; p = 0.008). In the HFNC failure group, the median time from HFNC to IMV was 22.5 h. The 28-day mortality of the late intubation patients (≥ 22.5 h) was higher than that of the early intubation patients (< 22.5 h) (53.8% vs. 8.3%; p = 0.023). mROX at 2 h is a good early warning index of the need for IMV in patients with COVID-19 after HFNC initiation. Early intubation may lead to better survival in patients with 2-h mROX index < 4.45. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a frequently occurring malignant gastrointestinal cancer. The 5-year survival rate of HCC is still below 8%, and thus, identifying more effective therapeutic methods is needed. Here, we evaluated the effects of Stigmast-4-en-6β-ol-3-one (S463) on the viability and colony formation of liver cancer cells. S463 treatment decreased the viability and induced apoptosis and ferroptosis in liver cancer cells, and also increased cellular malondialdehyde (MDA) and lipid peroxidation levels. In S463 treated cells, the expression level of Bax was increased, and the expression level of GPX4 was reduced, and the cleavage of PARP was improved. We also found that S463 treatment downregulated E2F1 and upregulated p53 at both the mRNA and protein levels. Importantly, rescue experiments revealed that overexpression of E2F1 partially restored S463-induced Bax and p53 upregulation and GPX4 downregulation and counteracted the S463-induced decrease in cell viability and colony formation and the S463-induced increase in MDA and lipid peroxidation levels. Our findings suggest that S463 significantly inhibits viability and colony formation and induces apoptosis and ferroptosis in liver cancer cells via E2F1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a high-gain transmitarray antenna (TAA) is proposed to achieve a low radar cross-section (RCS) with polarization-insensitive characteristic. Initially, an anisotropic frequency selective rasorber (FSR) structure is constructed by a detailed analysis of the current distributions and parameter adjustments. Hence, manipulations of absorption and transmission are achieved, along with covering a transmission phase cycle by rotating the element at 90°. Then, employing a phase-controllable FSR and focal length optimization, a low-RCS and high-gain TAA is presented. For the radiation case, the proposed antenna has a pencil pattern with a peak gain of 21.8 dBi. The F / D ratio is low when a wide-beam feed is utilized. At scattering state, in-band and out-of-band 6 dB RCS reductions are realized ranging from 7.6 to 10.4 GHz and 11.6â€"12.4 GHz compared to the reference TA. Moreover, its bistatic RCS is reduced in approximately ±90° of angular space under normal incidence. The effectiveness of the proposed design is verified by experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This study aims to investigate the effects of acidification and sterilisation on the quality of channel catfish, based on the texture, colour, physical and chemical properties, protein composition and water migration of channel catfish fillets. The results showed that the hardness, chewiness and colour of acidified and sterilised (AS) groups were significantly better than unacidified and sterilised (NAS) groups. The content of TCA soluble peptide in NAS was significantly higher than AS groups, indicating that high‐temperature sterilisation induced more protein degradation. Electrophoresis analysis also showed that the protein bands in the unacidified and sterilised (NAS) groups weakened or disappeared. There was no significant difference in the fat oxidation index of peroxide value and thiobarbituric acid value indicating that little effect on oxidation was induced by acidification and sterilisation. After sterilisation, the water transferred from immobilised water to free water, and the weight loss rate of acidified non‐sterilised (ANS) groups was significantly higher than AS. On the whole, acidified channel catfish could be sterilised at a lower temperature, thus having better texture, colour and lower weight loss rate. The sterilisation temperature of 91–95 °C was recommended to maintain a better quality of ready‐to‐eat acidified fish fillets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of different cooking methods on the protein digestion characteristics of channel fish (Ietalurus punetaus). The channel fish muscles were subjected to different cooking methods, namely boiling, steaming and roasting and were subjected to in vitro gastrointestinal digestion simulation using raw fish as a control. All the cooking methods increased the protein digestibility (1.60–8.28%) and decreased the protein particle size at the end of the gastrointestinal digestion. The highest protein digestibility (66.78%) and the smallest protein particle size values (600.7 nm) were observed for the steamed group. Samples which were steam cooked showed lowest β‐sheet content (9.63 ± 0.81%) and were accompanied with moderate protein oxidation. As the core temperature increased from 40°C to 90°C, protein oxidation increased significantly (P < 0.05) with the increase of carbonyl groups and Schiff bases and decrease of sulfhydryl groups in all cooked groups. Based on the results, steaming was recommended as the best methods of cooking channel fish for improved protein digestibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on an integrated design of metasurface units and antenna elements, a 2‐bit metasurface array antenna with broadband low radar cross‐section (RCS) covering large incident angle space is proposed in this study. The slot width's influences on the reflective phase and element radiation performance are analysed. Furthermore, a genetic algorithm is utilised to obtain the coding pattern of the array antenna with diffuse scattering characteristics. A wideband RCS reduction is achieved from 4.2 to 9.0 GHz under x‐polarised incidence, and it has oblique incident angle stability ranging from 0° to 60° due to non‐uniform element arrangement. The current cancelation phenomenon is found to reveal the RCS reduction mechanism. Besides, the proposed antenna gain is 15.9 dBi with a peak aperture efficiency of up to 90.8%. Experimental results have a close coincidence with the simulations, which verifies the capability of the proposed design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterization of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2‐NPs) is significant to ensure its quality and safety in applications and facilitate risk assessment. Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a novel technique for characterization of the size of TiO2 particles. Herein, we investigated the key factors in the SERS analysis of anatase TiO2‐NPs using a variety of well‐characterized particle reference materials (8–173 nm) and gallocyanin (GLN) as a ligand for SERS. The result shows that regardless of the particle and ligand concentrations used, the R‐value obtained from the ratio of TiO2 (144 cm−1) to GLN (1639 cm−1) peak intensities was able to distinguish between the nano‐sized particles from the micro‐particles, although no significant difference was observed between 8 to 65 nm particles. This means particle size is the primary factor that affected the R. The concentration of the NPs and the ligand, respectively, could also affect the R as secondary factors and common dispersion methods such as adjusting the pH and the sonication did not affect the R. However, this method did not work in presence of a stronger binding dispersing agent such as sodium pyrophosphate (SPP). This study fulfilled the knowledge gap regarding the key factors that impacts the SERS analysis of TiO2‐NPs which will facilitate the further application of this technique in the analysis of TiO2‐NPs in food products and environmental matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract With the increasing likelihood of significant release of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) into the environment, investigations focused on the behavior and impact of ENMs on plant species which have become more important and prevalent. One consistent challenge in these studies is how to separate the plant surface-attached and internalized ENMs. Unfortunately, there are no current effective methods to remove ENMs from plant surfaces. In this study, a protocol was developed to remove surface-attached silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from spinach leaves. Spinach leaves were exposed to three kinds of AgNPs (2 μg per leaf) for 1 h and 7-day foliar exposure times, including 40 nm CIT- and PVP-AgNPs, and 100 nm CIT-AgNPs. Harvested AgNPs-contaminated spinach leaves were sequentially immersed in solutions of Clorox bleach (sodium hypochlorite, 200 mg/L, 5 min) and ammonium hydroxide (NH 3 ·H 2 O, 2.8%, 1 min), with a final rinse in deionized (DI) water (1 min). The AgNPs removal efficiency was evaluated by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Both ICP-MS results and SEM images demonstrated effective removal of 91–93% of the surface-attached Ag residuals from the contaminated spinach leaves. This value was significantly higher than removal with DI water (7%), Clorox bleach alone (36%), or NH 3 ·H 2 O alone (36%). However, no significant changes were observed for the internalized AgNPs, indicating that this method is only surface active. This study provides essential information for the rapid and efficient removal of surface-attached AgNPs and furthers understanding of NP interactions with food crops. Importantly, all chemicals used in this developed washing protocol are generally considered as safe (GRAS), and could readily be used as a postharvest washing procedure to reduce Ag contaminants in leafy vegetables. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • A novel washing method to remove surface attached AgNPs on spinach was developed. • This method preserves the internal AgNPs in plant tissues. • This method uses GRAS chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By coupling headspace solid‐phase microextraction (HS‐SPME) with surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), a facile and rapid method was developed for the detection of organophosphorus insecticides (phorate and isocarbophos) and organic sulfur bactericide (ferbam) in the vapour phase. Two types of SPME fibres based on stainless steel wires coated with gold (Au) nanoparticles were prepared. The fibre (Fibre II) prepared by an etching approach showed better sensitivity than did the fibre (Fibre I) prepared using a layer‐by‐layer self‐assembly method. The Raman spectra of phorate, isocarbophos, and ferbam obtained from Fibre II showed stronger and clearer characteristic peaks compared with those from Fibre I, at 634, 1,043, and 1,380 cm−1, respectively. It was found that the Raman intensity of phorate adsorbed on the Fibre II was nearly three times as high as that on Fibre I at 634 cm−1, whereas the Raman intensity of isocarbophos was around 10 times at 1,043 cm−1 and ferbam was approximately four times at 1,380 cm−1. Using Fibre II, we were able to detect vapour‐phase phorate, isocarbophos, and ferbam at concentrations as low as 0.02, 0.02, and 0.05 ppm, respectively, as well as their mixture. This approach can be simply extended to detect a wide range of volatile organic compounds and shows potential as an easier and faster alternative to gas chromatography methods for studying volatile chemicals in some cases. By coupling headspace solid‐phase microextraction with surface‐enhanced Raman scattering, a facile and rapid method was developed for the detection of pesticides in their vapour phase. The solid‐phase microextraction fibres based on stainless steel wires coated with gold nanoparticles were prepared and showed better sensitivity and strong extraction capacity. This method has the potential of being an easier and faster alternative way to GC methods for studying volatile chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Awareness of legal driving restrictions for PWE is poor in China. • PWE drive illegally frequently such that a large number of PWE have obtained their license and continue driving after a diagnosis of epilepsy. • Male and young/middle-aged PWE on fewer medications are more likely to be driving. • Driving restrictions for PWE require greater standardization, coordination, and enforcement. Patients with epilepsy (PWE) remain completely and permanently banned from driving under the latest changes to China's laws. The two aims of this study were, firstly, to evaluate the driving status of PWE with a driving license and the determinants of them continuing to drive; secondly, to investigate awareness and perceptions of epilepsy driving restrictions among PWE and the general population. Patients with epilepsy with a driver's license who attended the Fourth Affiliated Hospital and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University for treatment of their condition were invited to participate in a questionnaire survey between June 2021 and June 2022. During the same period, age-matched people with driver's licenses without epilepsy living in the cities of Hangzhou and Yiwu, Zhejiang province were invited to participate in the questionnaire study. A total of 291 PWE with a driver's license and 289 age-matched drivers among the general public participated in the survey. Of the sample, 41.6% of PWE and 26.0% of general drivers stated that they were aware of legal driving restrictions for PWE in China. In the past year, 54% of PWE had driven and 42.5% drove a vehicle daily. Logistic regression revealed that male sex (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.36–3.61, P = 0.001), age (95% CI: 1.12–3.27, P ≤ 0.036), and the number of antiseizure medications taken (95% CI: 0.24–0.25, P ≤ 0.001) were independently associated with illegally driving with epilepsy. In terms of legal issues, 71.1% of PWE did not support a lifetime ban on driving and 50.2% disagreed with physician reporting of PWE to the traffic authorities. Illegal driving is highly prevalent among PWE who hold a driving license, and male gender, age, and number of ASMs had an independent association with illegal driving in patients with epilepsy. There are highly varying opinions on the current driving laws with respect to PWE. Detailed national standards for medical fitness for driving that are easy to implement and enforce are urgently required for China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The impact of protein and oil concentration on emulsion gel properties was measured. • Increasing protein concentration increased gel strength but reduced lightness. • Adding different oil droplet concentrations did not influence gel strength. • The texture of emulsion gels could be optimized to mimic cooked chicken breast. RuBisCo from duckweed is a sustainable source of plant proteins with a high water-solubility and good gelling properties. In this study, we examined the impact of RuBisCo concentration (9–33 wt %) and oil droplet concentration (0 to 14 wt %) on the properties of emulsion gels designed to simulate the properties of chicken breast. The color (L*a*b*), water holding capacity (WHC), textural profile analysis, shear modulus, and microstructure of the emulsion gels were measured. The gel hardness and WHC increased significantly with increasing protein concentration, reaching values equivalent to chicken breast. The lightness of the emulsion gels was less than that of chicken breast, due to the presence of pigments (such as polyphenols) in the protein. Shear modulus versus temperature measurements showed that gelation began when the protein solutions were heated to around 40 °C and then the gels hardened appreciably when the temperature was further raised to 90 °C. The shear modulus of the gels then increased during cooling, which was attributed to the strengthening of hydrogen bonds at lower temperatures. The hardness of the gels increased slightly but then decreased when the oil droplet concentration was raised from 0 to 14 %. The lightness of the protein gels increased after adding the oil droplets, which was attributed to increased light scattering. Microstructure analysis showed that the RuBisCo proteins formed a particulate gel after heating, with the oil droplets being in the interstices between the particulates. In summary, RuBisCo proteins can be dissolved at high concentrations and can form strong emulsion gels. Consequently, they may be able to mimic the composition and textural attributes of real chicken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: ortho‐Methyl effects are exploited to tune steric hindrance between side‐chain N,N′‐diaryls and polycyclic dihydrodibenzo[a,c]phenazine, and in turn control the conformations of N,N′‐diphenyl‐dihydrodibenzo[a,c]phenazine (DPAC) and its ortho‐methyl derivatives Mx‐My (x=0, 1 or 2, y=1 or 2, x and y correlate with the number of methyl groups in the ortho‐positiond of N,N′‐diphenyl). The magnitude of steric hindrance increases as x and y increase, and the V‐shaped dihydrodibenzo[a,c]phenazine skeleton is gradually tuned from a bent (DPAC) to planar (M2‐M2) structure in the ground state. As a result, the relaxation of the excited‐state structure of DPAC and its numerous analogues could be mimicked by model structures Mx‐My, demonstrating for the first time the the conformation change from bent‐to‐planar and hence a large range of energy‐gap tuning of polycyclic conjugated structures controlled by the steric hindrance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: ortho‐Methyl effects are exploited to tune steric hindrance between side‐chain N,N′‐diaryls and polycyclic dihydrodibenzo[a,c]phenazine, and in turn control the conformations of N,N′‐diphenyl‐dihydrodibenzo[a,c]phenazine (DPAC) and its ortho‐methyl derivatives Mx‐My (x=0, 1 or 2, y=1 or 2, x and y correlate with the number of methyl groups in the ortho‐positiond of N,N′‐diphenyl). The magnitude of steric hindrance increases as x and y increase, and the V‐shaped dihydrodibenzo[a,c]phenazine skeleton is gradually tuned from a bent (DPAC) to planar (M2‐M2) structure in the ground state. As a result, the relaxation of the excited‐state structure of DPAC and its numerous analogues could be mimicked by model structures Mx‐My, demonstrating for the first time the the conformation change from bent‐to‐planar and hence a large range of energy‐gap tuning of polycyclic conjugated structures controlled by the steric hindrance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The directional solidification Fe-B alloy was prepared. The microstructures and three-body abrasive wear behaviors of directional solidification alloy were investigated.Design/methodology/approach Fe-B alloy was melted in medium frequency induction furnace. The hardness was measured on HRS-150 Rockwell-hardness tester and HXD-1000TMC tester. The wear characteristic of the alloy was examined with a block-on-ring geometry. The worn surface of the alloy was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and laser scanning microscopy.Findings The wear weight loss and worn surface roughness increase with the increasing contact load in wear tests. When the worn surface is perpendicular to the boride growth direction, the highest hardness plane of the boride can resist abrasive effectively under the surrounding and supporting of the martensite matrix.Originality/value The relation between boride growth direction and wear direction will cause different boride breaking tendency and wear weight loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has been widely applied for rapid and sensitive detection of various chemical and biological targets. Here, we incorporated a filter syringe system into the SERS method to detect the fungicide ferbam in water. Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were aggregated by sodium chloride (NaCl) to form nanoclusters that could be trapped in the pores of the filter membrane to from the SERS-active membrane. Then samples were filtered through the membrane. After capturing the target, the membrane was taken out and air dried before measuring by a Raman instrument. After optimisation of various parameters, the developed filter SERS method was able to detect the fungicide ferbam as low as 2.5 μg/L and had a good quantitative capability. The developed method was successfully applied in three water samples, including double-distilled water, tap water, and pond water. The test can be carried out on site using a portable Raman instrument. This study shows that the filter-based SERS method improves the detection capability in water samples, including the sensitivity and portability, and could be applied in the detection of various toxins in real-world water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Local recurrence following surgery in cancer treatment remains a major clinical challenge. To increase antitumor activity but maintain toxicity in an acceptable level in prevention of local cancer recurrence, we demonstrated a dual drug-loaded multilayered fiber mats strategy, in which DCA and oxaliplatin were co-electrospun into the distinct layer of resultant fabrics and the oxaliplatin-loaded fibers layer was sealed between the basement film layer and other two fibers layers. The dual drug-loaded multilayered fiber mats exhibit time-programmed dual release behavior and synergistic effect upon cancer cells. Nontoxic DCA selectively promotes apoptosis of cancer cells through modulating cellular metabolism, and oxaliplatin subsequently kills the remained cancer cells in a low concentration. After implantation on the resection margin of cervical carcinoma on a murine model, the dual drug-loaded multilayered fiber mats displayed enhanced anti-recurrence efficacy and decreased side toxic effects over 30 days compared with drug-loaded monolayered fiber mats. The time-programmed combination of DCA and oxaliplatin within multilayered nanofiber mats appears to be a promising strategy for local cancer treatment following resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The luminescence-structure relationships of vibration-induced emission (VIE) based on dihydrophenazine are summarized. • Recent advances of the VIE concept in differential sensing, conformation-dependent electon/energy transfers, dynamic multi-color emissions and single-molecular photoconductance are summarized. • A brief outlook on the future development of mechanisms and applications are also articulated. π-Conjugated molecules exhibit prosperous excited-state processes and tunable luminescence properties, as the key building blocks for fabricating smart luminescent materials. In this review, we focus on the vibration-induced emission (VIE) of saddle-shaped dihydrophenazine (DHP) derivatives, which involves dynamic conformation changes of photoexcited molecules to planar configuration in charge of the large Stokes-shifted emission. By modifying the rigid-flexible fused skeleton of DHP , a continuously tunable emission over a wide range can be achieved through the dynamic bent-to-planar transformations of a single-molecule entity. The interplay of aromaticity and steric hindrance was proposed as the regulation mechanism, and applied to clarify how the luminescence characteristics were affected by the intramolecular steric hindrance and ring tension. By taking advantage of the VIE phenomenon, i.e., dramatic structural/electronic responses and sensitive vibration-degree-dependent emissions, donor-bridge-acceptor systems with conformation-dependent electron/energy donors were fabricated, and the output of colorful fluorescent signals visible to the naked eye were realized in response to minor inter-/intra-molecular stimulations. Furthermore, the VIE phenomenon of DHP s brings new possibilities for obtaining different conductance features as one molecule changes its conformation in the metal–molecule-metal junction arrangement. This review includes the recent progress in VIE research as well as our perspectives on future directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Cu-catalyzed C–H amination/Ullmann N-arylation domino reaction of phenanthrene-9,10-diamines with aryl iodides has been developed, which provides a straightforward and facile access to 9,14-diaryl-9,14-dihydrodibenzo[a,c]phenazine. This reaction features readily available starting materials and simple experimental operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the clinical utility of diverse aneuploid circulating tumor cell (CTC) subtypes and particularly CTC-associated white blood cell (CTC-WBC) clusters in predicting treatment response, prognosis and real-time monitoring disease progression in advanced driver gene-negative non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Materials and methods: A total of 74 eligible patients were prospectively enrolled and serial blood samples were collected at pre-treatment(t0), after two cycles of therapy (t1) and at post-four-to-six treatment cycles (t2). Co-detection of diverse subtypes of aneuploid CTCs and CTC-WBC clusters was conducted in advanced NSCLC patients receiving first-line treatment. Results: At baseline, CTCs were detected in 69 (93.24%) patients and CTC-WBC clusters were detected in 23 (31.08%) patients. Patients with CTCs < 5/6ml or with CTC-WBC clusters undetectable exhibited a better treatment response than patients with pre-therapeutic aneuploid CTCs ≥ 5/6ml or harboring CTC-WBC clusters (p = 0.034 and p = 0.012, respectively). Before treatment, patients bearing tetraploid CTCs ≥ 1/6ml showed significantly inferior progression-free survival (PFS) [hazard ratio (HR):2.420, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.426–4.106; p = 0.001] and overall survival (OS) compared to patients with tetraploid CTCs < 1/6ml (HR:1.907, 95%CI: 1.119–3.251; p = 0.018). A longitudinal study demonstrated that post-therapeutic patients harboring CTC-WBC clusters displayed the reduced PFS and OS compared with those without CTC-WBC clusters, and subgroup analysis showed that the presence of CTC-WBC clusters indicated a worse prognosis in both lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) patients. After adjusting for multiple significant factors, post-therapeutic CTC-WBC clusters were the only independent predictor of both PFS (HR:2.872, 95% CI: 1.539–5.368; p = 0.001) and OS (HR:2.162, 95% CI: 1.168–4.003; p = 0.014). Conclusions: In addition to CTCs, longitudinal detection of CTC-WBC clusters provided a feasible tool to indicate initial treatment response, dynamically monitor disease progression and predict survival in driver gene-negative advanced NSCLC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The lowest resistivity of 1.2×10–4 Ωcm was obtained at a ZnO buffered substrate. [•] The characteristic of c-axis oriented texture grows up at different substrates. [•] Two kinds of stacking faults were observed at Fourier-filtered images. [•] Origin and consequences of stacking faults were discussed. [•] Lower defect density of film has a benefit effect on the resistivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to explore diagnostic biomarks and immune cell infiltration characteristics in ulcerative colitis (UC). We used the dataset GSE38713 as the training set and dataset GSE94648 as the test set. A total of 402 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained from GSE38713. Annotating, visualizing, and integrating discovery of these differential genes was performed using Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Gene and Genome Encyclopedia Pathway (KEGG), and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Protein–protein interaction networks were constructed from the STRING database, and protein functional modules were identified using the CytoHubba plugin of Cytoscape. Random forest and LASSO regression were used to screen for UC-related diagnostic markers, and ROC curves were generated to validate their diagnostic value. The composition of 22 immune cells was analyzed, and the immune cell infiltration in UC was analyzed using CIBERSORT. Results: Seven diagnostic markers associated with UC were identified: TLCD3A, KLF9, EFNA1, NAAA,WDR4, CKAP4, and CHRNA1. Immune cell infiltration assessment revealed that macrophages M1, activated dendritic cells, and neutrophil cells infiltrated relatively more compared to normal control samples. Our results suggest a new functional feature of UC and suggest potential biomarkers for UC through comprehensive analysis of integrated gene expression data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano-titanium dioxides (nano-TiO2) surface modified with isopropyl tri(dioctylpyrophosphate) titanate (NDZ-201), a titanate coupling agent, and 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (KH-560), a silane coupling agent, were separately mixed with bisphenol A epoxy resin (DEGBA) prepolymer and then cured using a UV-normal temperature synergistic curing process. Then, the isothermal curing process of the system was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The relationship between the organization structures, mechanical properties, and heat resistance properties of the cured composites and material formulation was studied, and the DSC results showed that the addition of nano-TiO2 reduced the curing reaction rate constant k1 and increased the k2 of the prepolymer, while the activation energy of the curing reaction after UV irradiation Ea1 decreased, and the activation energy in the middle and later periods Ea2 increased. The characterization results of the composite material showed that nano-TiO2 as a scattering agent reduced the photoinitiation efficiency of UV light, and due to its obvious agglomeration tendency in the epoxy resin, the mechanical properties of the composite material were poor. The dispersibility of the coupling-agent-modified nano-TiO2 in the epoxy resin was greatly enhanced, and the mechanical and heat resistance properties of the composite material improved remarkably. The comparison results of the two coupling agents showed that NDZ-201 had better performance in increasing the impact strength by 6.8% (minimum value, the same below) and the maximum thermal decomposition rate temperature by 4.88 °C of the composite, while KH-560 improved the tensile strength by 7.3% and the glass transition temperature (Tg) by 3.34 °C of the composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our knowledge of ciliate endosymbiont diversity greatly expanded over the past decades due to the development of characterization methods for uncultivable bacteria. Chlamydia‐like bacteria have been described as symbionts of free‐living amoebae and other phylogenetically diverse eukaryotic hosts. In the present work, a systematic survey of the bacterial diversity associated with the ciliate Euplotes octocarinatus strain Zam5b‐1 was performed, using metagenomic screening as well as classical full‐cycle rRNA approach, and a novel chlamydial symbiont was characterized. The metagenomic screening revealed 16S rRNA gene sequences from Polynucleobacter necessarius, three previously reported accessory symbionts, and a novel chlamydia‐like bacterium. Following the full‐cycle rRNA approach, we obtained the full‐length 16S rRNA gene sequence of this chlamydia‐like bacterium and developed probes for diagnostic fluorescence in situ hybridizations. The phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences unambiguously places the new bacterium in the family Rhabdochlamydiaceae. This is the first report of chlamydia‐like bacterium being found in Euplotes. Based on the obtained data, the bacterium is proposed as a new candidate genus and species: "Candidatus Euplotechlamydia quinta." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The hospital environment, particularly the intensive care unit (ICU), contributes to the transmission of several nosocomial pathogens, which can survive in this setting for a longer period of time and, in turn, contaminate the surfaces or the medical tools. Thus, appropriate disinfection of these areas and devices are crucial for controlling and preventing further infection. In this study, we examined the effect of different concentrations of chlorine-containing disinfectants (500mg/L, 1000mg/L, and 2000mg/L) on the ICU environment. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was based on a convenient sampling method. In this study, High-frequency objects were selected as subjects in ICU, with a total sample of 216.A hall including 6 beds was examined,selecting 4 high-frequency surfaces per bed unit:a bed gear, infusion system, bed end table, and monitor were disinfected with 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/L of chlorine (as Cl2), respectively.The surface dissection was performed at 21:00 o'clock daily, after which ATP fluorescence monitoring and bacterial count detection were performed. Results: There was no significant difference in ATP bioluminescence (F = 2.03, P > 0.05) and bacterial counting (χ2 = 2.03, P > 0.05) when using different concentrations of chlorine-containing disinfectant in the ICU. Yet, compared with high concentration (2000mg/L), a low concentration disinfectant reduced the hospital cost. Conclusion: By reducing the concentration of ICU high-frequency contact table disinfectants, it is possible to reduce the risk of long-term contamination with chlorine-containing disinfectants and reduce the cost of using ICU chlorine-containing disinfectants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three novel donor-π-acceptor (D-π-A) metal-free organic dyes ( TB, TS and TF) based on tri(triphenylamine)-substituted styrene as donor with various conjugated linkers (benzene, thiophene and furan) were synthesized, characterized and used for the application of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Under the same condition, The photo-to-electrical conversion efficiency of the DSSCs sensitized with TB, TS and TF reach 1.84%, 4.10% and 4.52%, respectively, which are lower than that sensitized with R1 (5.02%) with one triphenylamine unit. The results suggest that these bulky donor-based sensitizers are unfavorable to DSSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The current paper reports the synthesis of a highly hydrophilic, antifouling dendronized poly(3,4,5-tris(2-(2-(2-hydroxylethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)benzyl methacrylate) (PolyPEG) brush using surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) on PDMS substrates. The PDMS substrates were first oxidized in H2SO4/H2O2 solution to transform the Si–CH3 groups on their surfaces into Si–OH groups. Subsequently, a surface initiator for ATRP was immobilized onto the PDMS surface, and PolyPEG was finally grafted onto the PDMS surface via copper-mediated ATRP. Various characterization techniques, including contact angle measurements, attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, were used to ascertain the successful grafting of the PolyPEG brush onto the PDMS surface. Furthermore, the wettability and stability of the PDMS–PolyPEG surface were examined by contact angle measurements. Anti-adhesion properties were investigated via protein adsorption, as well as bacterial and cell adhesion studies. The results suggest that the PDMS–PolyPEG surface exhibited durable wettability and stability, as well as significantly anti-adhesion properties, compared with native PDMS surfaces. Additionally, our results present possible uses for the PDMS–PolyPEG surface as adhesion barriers and anti-fouling or functional surfaces in biomedical applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Bi-layer ZnO films with 2wt.% Al (AZO; ZnO:Al) and 4wt.% Ga-doped (GZO; ZnO:Ga) were deposited on the ZnO buffered and annealed ZnO buffered c(0001)-sapphire(Al2O3) substrates respectively by Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD). The effect of crystallinity of ZnO buffer layer on the crystallinity and electrical properties of the AZO/GZO bi-layer thin films was investigated. It was seen that the crystallinity of ZnO buffer layer had a great influence on the orientation and defect density of AZO/GZO bi-layer thin films from X-ray Diffraction (XRD) peaks and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) images. In a word, it was found in the films that more preferred c-axis orientation texture and reduction of the defects such as stacking faults and dislocations, with increasing of the crystallinity of ZnO buffer layer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Al-doped ZnO (AZO) transparent conducting films were successfully prepared on glass substrates by RF magnetron sputtering method under different substrate temperatures. The microstructural, electrical and optical properties of AZO films were investigated in a wide temperature range from room temperature up to 350°C by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Hall measurement, and UV–visible meter. The nature of AZO films is polycrystalline thin films with hexagonal wurtzite structure and a preferred orientation along c-axis. The crystallinity and surface morphologies of the films are strongly dependent on the growth temperature, which in turn exerts a great effect on microstructural, electrical and optical properties of the AZO films. The atomic arrangement of AZO film having an wurtzite structure was indeed identified by the HRTEM as well as the Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED). The defect density of AZO film was investigated by HRTEM. The film deposited at 100°C exhibited the relatively well crystallinity and the lowest resistivity of 3.6×10−4 Ω cm. The average transmission of AZO films in the visible range is all over 85%. More importantly, the low-resistance and high-transmittance AZO film was also prepared at a low temperature of 100°C. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this study was to explore the potential effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at ST36 on mice bearing breast tumors by regulating inflammatory cytokines to enhance antitumor immunity via vagus nerve. Female BALB/c mice were implanted with 4T1-luc2 breast tumor cells to establish a murine mammary cancer model. Tumor growth was evaluated by tumor volume, weight and bioluminescence imaging. Inflammatory conditions in serum and tumor tissue were assessed by cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-10) and HE staining. Proportions and functions of CD8+ T cells, NK cells and MDSCs were identified by flow cytometry and western blot. Involvement of vagal efferent components was confirmed by ChAT and c-Fos double labeling immunohistochemistry in dorsal motor nucleus of vagus (DMV). Subdiaphragmatic vagotomy was employed to determine if the effect of EA was mediated by vagus nerve. EA at ST36 reduced the volume and weight of tumors within 22 days after implantation. Proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α in serum, tumor and local inflammatory infiltration were obviously attenuated after EA. Meanwhile, EA intervention significantly augmented the proportion and cytolytic function of CD8+ T cells and NK cells, along with a decline in the accumulation and immunosuppressive activities of MDSCs. Finally, c-Fos expression in ChAT+ neurons in DMV increased following EA, and the ameliorating effect of EA was obviously blocked by subdiaphragmatic vagotomy. EA intervention relieved tumor progression in breast tumor-bearing mice by alleviating inflammation and enhancing antitumor immunity, which was mediated by eliciting efferent vagus nerve activity. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to enhance the mechanical properties of ceramic materials and realize the high value utilization of lignin, the nano-lignin precursor was added into the silicon nitride matrix as the second phase to obtain a novel ceramic composite material with excellent mechanical performance in this study. During the preparation, the nano-lignin was transformed into nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots(N-GQDs) in the ceramic matrix by the pyrolysis-hot pressing sintering coupling process. Aiming to reveal the pyrolysis conversion process of lignin, the segmented products at the different temperature gradient were prepared, and their phase composition and microstructure were deeply analyzed by various test methods. In addition, the continuous pyrolysis process of nano-lignin was further studied by simultaneous thermal analyzer. The results showed that, nano-lignin was transformed into solid products (amorphous carbon) in the temperature range of room temperature to 800 °C and produced a large number of volatiles. Subsequently, in the temperature range of 800∼1400 °C, part of amorphous carbon began to transform into N-GQDs, and part of α-Si 3 N 4 also began to transform into β-Si 3 N 4. When the temperature rose to the temperature of 1700 °C, all amorphous carbon was transformed into N-GQDs through carbon structure rearrangement and nitrogen doping, and meanwhile the most of α-Si 3 N 4 was transformed into β-Si 3 N 4. At the final stage, β-Si 3 N 4 columnar grains were covered by an overlayer composed of N-GQDs, and a novel ceramic composite with a special "core-shell" microstructure was obtained and exhibited excellent mechanical performance. This study presents a promising approach for the preparation of high-performance ceramic materials, and can also intrigue great interests in lignin graphitization and lignin-derived carbon materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrocyclic arenes have gained considerable attention for their structural diversity and widespread applications. In this research, a new kind of macrocyclic arenes, namely prism[2]dihydrophenazines (anti‐P2P20, syn‐P2P20, and P2P22), composed of two dihydrophenazine derivatives subunits bridged by methylene groups, were conveniently synthesized by AlCl3‐catalyzed one‐pot condensation in 1,2‐dichloroethane. Both anti‐P2P20 and its isomer syn‐P2P20 exhibited flexible and convertible conformation with narrow cavity, while P2P22 possessed rigid and rhombic‐like skeleton due to the more steric hindrance on subunits. In addition, the selection of electron‐deficient guest was found to influence the outside binding behavior of syn‐P2P20. Fantastic regular supramolecular tessellation was fabricated by tiling of syn‐P2P20 with tetrafluoro‐1,4‐benzoquinone (TFB) through the exo‐wall interactions. Using 1,5‐difluoro‐2,4‐dinitrobenzene (DFN) as a linker, only the regular 2D network superstructure with periodic units in a plane was obtained through cocrystallization. This work not only reports the construction of supramolecular tessellations by using prism[2]dihydrophenazines as building blocks, but also provides a new perspective for the design of macrocyclic arenes and fabrication of 2D supramolecular materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Encapsulated essential oils are being developed as natural antimicrobials and insecticides for use in sustainable agriculture applications. Although these plant-based pesticides are considered to be more environmentally friendly, they can have adverse effects on agricultural crops, thereby reducing yields. Our aim was therefore to establish the potential phytotoxicity of carvacrol nanoemulsions on a commercially important crop (spinach, Spinacia oleracea). Carvacrol oil-in-water nanoemulsions were fabricated by homogenizing 10 wt% oil phase (1:1 carvacrol and medium chain triglycerides) with 90% aqueous phase (1% quillaja saponin in 5 mM sodium citrate buffer, pH 3.5). Nanoemulsions were sprayed onto the spinach leaves by foliar exposure for three days and then the health status of the plants was assessed. At relatively low carvacrol concentrations (0.005–0.5%), the plants remained healthy, but at the highest concentration employed (5%) there was a significant reduction in the biomass and chlorophyll content of the spinach, as well as an increase in electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde formation. We demonstrated that this strong phytotoxicity was due to the carvacrol oil, rather than due to other constituents in the nanoemulsions. Our results show that there is a critical threshold concentration for use of essential oil nanoemulsions as pesticides on crop plants. • Stable carvacrol oil-in-water nanoemulsions were produced by microfluidization. • Quillaja saponin was used as an emulsifier and MCT as a ripening inhibitor. • These antimicrobial nanoemulsions were phytotoxic to spinach at high doses. • The phytotoxicity of the nanoemulsions was due to the carvacrol oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inorganic arsenic (iAs) in foods has raised significant concerns because it is carcinogenic to human beings. Herein, we integrated the Gutzeit method with X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy to measure iAs in selected beverages within 45 min. Briefly, iAs was firstly reduced to arsine under acidic conditions. Transformed arsine was then trapped on mercury bromide test discs and subsequently measured by XRF. Interference from dimethylarsinate on the test discs was minimized by an acetone rinsing step to a great extent. A standard curve with a linear range from 0 to 133.3 μg/L was established, and the limit of detection and quantification were 1.9 and 5.7 μg/L, respectively. This method was further evaluated with commercial beverages, and the results were compared with those from a commercial arsenic test kit and by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. We demonstrated that this method is sensitive, reliable, fast, and comparatively cost-effective for use in iAs screening in the food industry. •Gutzeit method coupled with XRF was used to detect inorganic arsenic in beverages. •The LOD and LOQ of this developed method are 1.9 μg/L and 5.7 μg/L, respectively. •Dimethylarsinate interference on test discs could be minimized by acetone wash. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two thioxanthone-based fluorescent probes exhibited prominent solvatofluorochromism, and they were further found to be useful as fluorescence indicators for the qualitative and quantitative detection of low-level water content in various solvent media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• INFOGEST model used to study food matrix effects on digestion and bioaccessibility. • Lysolecithin, caseinate, quillaja saponin, gum arabic, and Tween 20 as emulsifiers. • Lysolecithin and caseinate gave slowest lipid digestion and Tween 20 the fastest. • Emulsions with lysolecithin gave lowest bioaccessibility and Tween 20 the highest. This paper is part of a series examining the impact of the main factors influencing lipid digestion and nutraceutical bioaccessibility in β-carotene-loaded oil-in-water emulsions using the harmonized INFOGEST simulated gastrointestinal model. Here, the impact of emulsifier type was examined since food emulsions and nutraceutical delivery systems are often stabilized by various types of emulsifier. The INFOGEST method was adopted to investigate the in vitro gastrointestinal fate of emulsions stabilized by five kinds of food-grade emulsifier representing different classes: synthetic surfactants (Tween 20); natural surfactants (quillaja saponin); proteins (caseinate); polysaccharides (gum arabic); and phospholipids (soy lysolecithin). Microfluidization produced emulsions with small droplet sizes for all emulsifiers, except soy lysolecithin. Within the gastrointestinal model, the caseinate-coated oil droplets had the worst gastric stability, with severe droplet flocculation and coalescence occurring in the stomach. The fraction of the lipid phase that had been digested by the end of the gastrointestinal model was considerably lower for the emulsions stabilized by soy lysolecithin (93%) or caseinate (93%), than those stabilized by gum arabic (99%), quillaja saponin (111%) or Tween 20 (117%). This effect was attributed to lower surface area of lipids available for lipase to attach to for the lysolecithin and caseinate emulsions. The overall bioaccessibility of the β-carotene increased in this order: lysolecithin (25%) < gum arabic (51%) < caseinate (55%) < quillaja saponin (56%) < Tween 20 (62%). The impact of emulsifier type on carotenoid bioaccessibility was ascribed to various factors: (i) some emulsifiers inhibited lipid digestion and so a fraction of the β-carotene remained inside the undigested droplets and the mixed micelle phase had less solubilization capacity, i.e., lysolecithin, and caseinate; (ii) some emulsifiers protected β-carotene from chemical degradation, i.e., lysolecithin and caseinate; and (iii) some emulsifiers promoted sedimentation of the β-carotene-loaded micelles, i.e., lysolecithin. These results suggest that food emulsion behavior in the human gut may be influenced by the nature of the emulsifier employed, which is important knowledge when creating functional food and beverage products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Protein/polysaccharide beads were fabricated from plant and animal proteins. • All beads were digested slowly in the stomach but rapidly in the small intestine. • Raman spectroscopy was used to analyze beads during gastrointestinal digestion. • Similar digestion behaviors were observed for whey, soy and pea protein beads. • Animal proteins can be replaced by plant ones in hydrogel delivery systems. In this study, we encapsulated both animal-derived (whey) and plant-derived (soy and pea) proteins within polysaccharide/protein beads and measured the digestion of these beads under simulated gastrointestinal tract (GIT) conditions. Bead dimensions were measured using a digital caliper and found to increase as the shear thinning behavior of the protein/polysaccharide solutions used to form them increased. The hydrolysis of the plant and animal proteins trapped inside the protein/polysaccharide beads was studied using the pH-stat automatic titration method under simulated static GIT conditions. The encapsulated proteins were relatively resistant to digestion under gastric conditions, with only about 10 to 13% of the protein being digested by the end of the stomach phase. Conversely, they were almost fully digested under small intestinal conditions, with around 87 to 97% of the protein being hydrolyzed by the end. Indeed, by the completion of the small intestine phase, only "ghost" beads remained that contained cross-linked polysaccharides. The soy and pea proteins were digested slightly faster than the whey proteins in the stomach phase (p < 0.05), whereas the pea proteins were digested slightly faster than the soy and whey proteins under intestinal conditions (p < 0.05). Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed that there were changes in the composition and structure of the beads throughout the simulated GIT. Our results indicate that the gastrointestinal behavior of proteins can be modulated by encapsulating them in polysaccharide beads, which may be useful for the design of certain types of functional foods. Even so, the beads formed from the plant-based and animal-based proteins behaved fairly similarly, suggesting that animal proteins could be replaced by plant-based ones for this purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dioxide reforming of methane (CRM) represents a promising method that can effectively convert CH4 and CO2 into valuable energy resources. Herein, ultrathin NixMg1−xO nanoplate catalysts were synthesized using a scalable and facile process involving a one-pot, co-precipitation method in the absence of surfactants. This approach resulted in the synthesis of planar NixMg1−xO catalysts that were much thinner (˂8 nm) with larger specific surface area (>120 m2/g) in comparison to NixMg1−xO catalysts prepared by conventional methods. The ultrathin NixMg1−xO nanoplate catalysts exhibited high thermal stability, catalytic activity, and durability for CRM. Especially, these novel catalysts exhibited excellent anti-coking behavior with a low carbon deposition of 2.1 wt.% after 36 h of continuous reaction compared with the conventional catalysts, under the reaction conditions of the present study. The improved performance of the thin NixMg1−xO nanoplate catalysts was attributed to the high specific surface area and the interaction between metallic nickel nanocatalysts and the solid solution substrates to stabilize the Ni nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic fluorophores with dual‐emission and large Stokes shifts are attracting great attention due to their importance in fundamental research and technique applications. This Progress Report gives an account on how a novel luminescence mechanism termed vibration‐induced emission (VIE) is established. The VIE mechanism is coined for the rationalization of an alterable dual emission of V‐shaped N,N′‐disubstituded‐dihydribenzo[a,c]phenazines (DHPs), which are originated from a bent‐to‐planar vibration and the reverse in the excited state. The validation of the VIE mechanism is highlighted, such as the work reporting the utilization of chemically‐locked strategy to snapshot the excited‐state planarization of DHPs, and the application of the approach of steric hindrance‐induced planarization to tune the ground‐state geometry of DHPs. Moreover, the emerging applications of this VIE concept in photoelectric and biomedical disciplines are summarized. Additionally, further development of the VIE systems as well as the remaining challenges are prospected. This report could arouse wide interest from various fields to the specific area of VIE, which would not only broaden the VIE territory but also enlarge the scope of advanced functional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aspergillus niger ATCC 20611 is an industrially important fructooligosaccharides (FOS) producer since it produces the β-fructofuranosidase with superior transglycosylation activity, which is responsible for the conversion of sucrose to FOS accompanied by the by-product (glucose) generation. This study aims to consume glucose to enhance the content of FOS by heterologously expressing glucose oxidase and peroxidase in engineered A. niger. Results: Glucose oxidase was successfully expressed and co-localized with β-fructofuranosidase in mycelia. These mycelia were applied to synthesis of FOS, which possessed an increased purity of 60.63% from 52.07%. Furthermore, peroxidase was expressed in A. niger and reached 7.70 U/g, which could remove the potential inhibitor of glucose oxidase to facilitate the FOS synthesis. Finally, the glucose oxidase-expressing strain and the peroxidase-expressing strain were jointly used to synthesize FOS, which content achieved 71.00%. Conclusions: This strategy allows for obtaining high-content FOS by the multiple enzymes expressed in the industrial fungus, avoiding additional purification processes used in the production of oligosaccharides. This study not only facilitated the high-purity FOS synthesis, but also demonstrated the potential of A. niger ATCC 20611 as an enzyme-producing cell factory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The original PDF and HTML versions of this Article contained errors in Eqs. (1) and (2). In both equations the approximately equal to symbol displayed incorrectly as ». This has been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) and excimer formation are unimolecular and bimolecular reactions, respectively. The coupling between these two reactions has been rarely observed. Here we show the interplay between ESIPT and excimer formation in CF3-HTTH (2,2′-(thiazolo[5,4-d]thiazole-2,5-diyl)bis(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenol) solid crystal, resulting in the extensively broad multiple emissions spanning from 420 to 750 nm. Comprehensive structural, time-resolved spectroscopic, and two-photon microscopic studies of CF3-HTTH in crystal lattice unveil the pre-equilibrium ESIPT between the normal (N*) and tautomer (T*) form, for which the slow population decay and well-ordered lattice packing facilitate excimeric (E*) formation, rendering N* (460 nm), T* (520 nm) and E* (600 nm) triple emissions. In contrast, the lower degree of packing on the solid surface prohibits excimer formation, showing only the ESIPT process. The correlation between luminescence properties and packing structure sheds light on the corresponding mechanochromic effect based on molecular solid architecture and provide new insight into the aggregation-induced properties. The coupling between excited state intramolecular proton transfer and excimer formation is a phenomenon of fundamental importance but rarely observed. Here the authors observe this interaction in thiazole based organic crystals using a combination of steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we introduce the cyclic 8π‐electron (C8π) molecule N,N′‐diaryl‐dihydrodibenzo[a,c]phenazine (DPAC) as a dual‐functional donor to establish a series of new donor–linker–acceptor (D–L–A) dyads DLA1–DLA5. The excited‐state bent‐to‐planar dynamics of DPAC regulate the energy gap of the donor, while the acceptors A1–A5 are endowed with different energy gaps and HOMO/LUMO levels. As a result, the rate and efficiency of the excited‐state electron transfer vs. energy transfer can be finely harnessed, which is verified via steady‐state spectroscopy and time‐resolved emission measurements. This comprehensive approach demonstrates, for the first time, the manifold of excited‐state properties governed by bifunctional donor‐based D–L–A dyads, including bent‐to‐planar, photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from excited donor to acceptor (oxidative‐PET), fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), bent‐to‐planar followed by electron transfer (PFET), and PET from donor to excited acceptor (reductive‐PET). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we introduce the cyclic 8π‐electron (C8π) molecule N,N′‐diaryl‐dihydrodibenzo[a,c]phenazine (DPAC) as a dual‐functional donor to establish a series of new donor–linker–acceptor (D–L–A) dyads DLA1–DLA5. The excited‐state bent‐to‐planar dynamics of DPAC regulate the energy gap of the donor, while the acceptors A1–A5 are endowed with different energy gaps and HOMO/LUMO levels. As a result, the rate and efficiency of the excited‐state electron transfer vs. energy transfer can be finely harnessed, which is verified via steady‐state spectroscopy and time‐resolved emission measurements. This comprehensive approach demonstrates, for the first time, the manifold of excited‐state properties governed by bifunctional donor‐based D–L–A dyads, including bent‐to‐planar, photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from excited donor to acceptor (oxidative‐PET), fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), bent‐to‐planar followed by electron transfer (PFET), and PET from donor to excited acceptor (reductive‐PET). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• AAL inhibited NO production and iNOS expression in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. • AAL reduced the production and mRNA expression of TNF-α and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. • AAL inhibited the NF-κB-related genes in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. • AAL increased the survival rate by inhibiting iNOS expression in LPS-induced septic mice. • AAL decreased IL-6 and IL-1β mRNA expression through the inhibition of NF-κB-related genes in LPS-induced septic mice. We evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of methanol extracts of Chinese medicinal plants from Beijing and determined which extract was the most effective. We found the methanol extract of Acalypha australis L. (AAL) to be the most effective. AAL has been used for clearing heat, toxic material, and hemostasia in Chinese medicine. Although these uses are closely related to inflammation, the anti-inflammatory effect of AAL has not yet been described and its underlying mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to identify anti-inflammatory effect of AAL and its underlying mechanism in vitro and in vivo. In RAW 264.7 macrophages, cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT assay and nitric oxide (NO) was measured with Griess reagent. To confirm the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and its mRNA expression, enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) were performed. Further, protein expression was analyzed by western blotting. Septic shock was induced by intraperitoneal injection of LPS (25 mg/kg) in mice. One hour before LPS injection, AAL (25 and 50 mg/kg) was administered orally. In LPS-stimulated macrophages, AAL inhibited NO production at concentrations without cytotoxicity. Additionally, AAL reduced not only inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression but the production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) by attenuating nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)-related proteins (NF-κB p65, phosphorylation of inhibitor κB-α; p-IκB-α, phosphorylation of inhibitor κB kinase-α/β; p-Ikk-α/β). Moreover, AAL enhanced the survival rate of mice through the inhibition of iNOS expression and IL-6 and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) production in LPS-induced septic mice. Furthermore, AAL also reduced the expression of NF-κB-related proteins. These finding suggest that AAL is related to the modulation of inflammatory reactions by blocking NF-κB activation in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages and LPS-induced septic mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing radical‐induced afterglow emission under ambient conditions is challenging since newly formed radical species are susceptible to air and water. In this work, long afterglow materials (up to 4 s) are realized by doping a series of N,N'‐diaryl‐5,10‐dihydrophenazine (DPP)derivatives into rigid cycloaliphatic epoxy resins (CER). The afterglow is found to result from the interaction between the matrix and the excited states of the dopants through the generation of radical species under continuous UV excitation, which can be regulated by the peripheral functional groups of the N‐phenyl substituents. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations predict that the introduction of electron‐withdrawing groups hinders the afterglow emission, which may be related to the reducing reduction potential and inefficient spin‐orbit coupling (SOC) coefficients. The afterglow emission of the radical‐based systems demonstrates a bright opportunity for information encryption, anti‐counterfeiting, and photolithography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]