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The 2024 aluminum alloy is one of the high-quality lightweight materials. Friction stir welding (FSW) has shown advantages in reducing welding defects and improving welding quality in 2024 aluminum alloys. Currently, the research regarding FSW joint corrosion performance is mainly about the joint without plastic deformation. However, FSW joints often need to be formed into complex shapes by plastic deformation. The influence of plastic deformation on the corrosion performance of FSW joints is the focus of scientific research. To address this problem, the effect of high-temperature deformation on the mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of 2024 aluminum alloy joints was researched. The exfoliation corrosion test, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were employed to analyze the corrosion mechanism and microstructure. The results show that high-temperature deformation of the weld nugget zone greatly affects the mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of the FSW joint. Compared with the 0% deformation specimen, the hardness and tensile strength of the 20% deformation FSW joint increased by 32% and 21%, respectively. The FSW joint with 20% deformation shows the best mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. The number of precipitated S' phases of the FSW joint increases when the deformation increases to 20%, and the shape of the S' phase is a regular round particle shape. The dislocation density of the FSW joint increases continuously during deformation, which provides a favorable nucleation location for the S' phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, low-crystalized and defective NiOx/graphene was synthesized by a facile electrolysis-solvothermal method. In the electrolytic process, Ni ions originate from the Ni anode, and graphene is produced from the graphite cathode. Then, Ni ions are reduced into oxides and deposited on graphene in the subsequent solvothermal process. The NiOx/graphene displays excellent electrocatalytic activity and selectivity for ethanol oxidation reaction to acetate. The peak current density was 296.5 mA cm−2 on a glassy carbon electrode. The FE of acetate was more than 93% at the potential range between 1.4 and 1.7 V. We propose that the mechanism is a cooperation between the chemical deprotonating process of ethanol by Ni3+ species and the electrochemical oxidation of the CH3CH2O* intermediate to acetate at the interface between NiOx and graphene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the intrinsic structure model of SiCp/Al composites was constructed based on the analysis of static and dynamic mechanical properties of SiCp/Al composites. Quasi-static tensile tests were conducted for SiCp/2a14Al composites with 20% volume fraction using an electronic universal testing machine to study the static mechanical properties of the material. Dynamic compression tests were conducted at different temperatures (20 °C-400 °C) and strain rates (500 /s-3000 /s) using a Hopkinson compression bar test to analyze the dynamic mechanical properties of the material. The Johnson-Cook (JC) intrinsic structure model of SiCp/Al composites was constructed based on the material stress-strain test data under static and dynamic conditions, and the model was optimized by genetic algorithm. The results show that the SiCp/Al composites exhibit a strain-reinforcement effect under quasi-static conditions; under dynamic loading conditions, the material flow stress increases with the strain rate and exhibits a strain-rate reinforcement effect, which is related to the volume fraction of silicon carbide particles. With the increase of temperature, the flow stress decreases and exhibits a temperature-softening effect. The average error between the least squares fitted JC model and the experimental values is large, and the model error is reduced after optimization by genetic algorithm, which can accurately predict the rheological behavior of SiCp/2a14Al composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sluggish reaction kinetic and large overpotential of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) result in low energy efficiencies of different OER related devices. To solve these challenges, an OER electrocatalyst is constructed by coupling black phosphorus with Co/Ni nanosheets during a facile electrolysis-solvothermal process, where the bulky BP is successfully exfoliated into BP sheets (BP NSs) and the Co or Ni precursors are generated via anodic oxidation. Then, BP sheets are combined with Co–Ni species and finally formed into Co–Ni/BP composite via subsequent solvothermal process. The OER tests on this composite show the overpotential is 292 mV at 10 mA cm−2, much lower than that (341 mV) on a RuO 2 catalyst. The TOF value of this composite is 0.71 s−1 at 1.8 V (vs. RHE), 14.2 times higher than that of Co/BP (0.05 s−1) and 23.7 times higher than Ni/BP (0.03 s−1). Operando structure characterizations of this composite reveal that Co2+-Ni2+ dual-sites are formed on Co–Ni/BP and electrons are transferred from Ni to Co via a P bridge. These Co2+-Ni2+ dual-sites evolve into Co3+-Ni3+ dual-sites during the OER, where Ni 2 P is formed into NiOOH and CoP turns into Co 3 O 4. The Ni-P x -Co bridge is finally transformed into a heterogeneous Co 3 O 4 /NiOOH structure. This heterostructure efficiently regulates electronic structure of Co and Ni sites, resulting in the favorable adsorption of OH*, conversion of rate-determining step, reduced activation energy of the whole reaction, and eventually enhanced intrinsic activity toward the OER. This work provides a guidance to explore operando reconstruction mechanism of black phosphorus based electrocatalysts during electrocatalytic reactions. [Display omitted] • Synthesis of a Co–Ni/BP hybrid using a self-designed three-electrode method. • Superior OER performance of the Co–Ni/BP catalyst to RuO 2. • Reveal of reconstruction mechanism of the Co–Ni/BP catalyst during the OER. • Synergistic mechanism of Co–Ni dual-sites for the catalytic OER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fabrication of low-Pt loading and cost-efficient electrocatalysts still remains a challenge. In this work, a defective PtPd alloy with ultralow Pt content loaded on graphene (PtPd/G-40) is prepared by electrolytic synthesis method. During electrolysis, the formation of PtPd precursors and the exfoliation of graphite are achieved at the anode and cathode of the cell, respectively. The as-prepared PtPd/G-40 shows excellent electrocatalytic activity and stability toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR). Its mass activity is 29.7 times (at −100 mV) and 1.5 times higher than that of commercial Pt/C for HER and EOR, respectively. The ligand effect generated by formation of PtPd alloy and strain effect caused by abundant defects optimize the electronic structure of active Pt, which enhances its intrinsic activity and reduces the activation energy for HER and EOR. This facile synthetic approach generates a new type of graphene supporting defective metal alloy nanostructures as potential electrocatalysts for advanced energy conversion applications. [Display omitted] • Defective PtPd alloy with ultralow Pt content is produced by an electrolytic method. • The defective PtPd alloy on graphene shows superior electrocatalytic activity. • The impact of defective alloy on reaction intermediate adsorption is revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

D -pantolactone (D -PL) is one of the important chiral intermediates in the synthesis of D -pantothenic acid. Our previous study has revealed that ketopantolactone (KPL) reductase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SceCPR) could asymmetrically reduce KPL to D -PL with a relatively weak activity. In this study, engineering of SceCPR was performed using a semi-rational design to enhance its catalytic activity. Based on the computer-aided design including phylogenetic analysis and molecular dynamics simulation, Ser158, Asn159, Gln180, Tyr208, Tyr298 and Trp299 were identified as the potential sites. Semi-saturation, single and combined-site mutagenesis was performed on all six residues, and several mutants with improved enzymatic activities were obtained. Among them, the mutant SceCPRS158A/Y298H exhibited the highest catalytic efficiency in which the k cat / K m value is 2466.22 s−1·mM−1, 18.5 times higher than that of SceCPR. The 3D structural analysis showed that the mutant SceCPRS158A/Y298H had an expanded and increased hydrophilicity catalytic pocket, and an enhanced π-π interaction which could contribute to faster conversion efficiency and higher catalytic rate. The whole cell system containing SceCPRS158A/Y298H and glucose dehydrogenase (GDH), under the optimized condition, could reduce 490.21 mM D -PL with e.e. ≧ 99%, conversion rate = 98%, and the space-time yield = 382.80 g·L−1·d−1, which is the highest level reported so far. • Six candidate sites involving in the activity of SceCPR were revealed by the computer-aided design. • The mutant SceCPRS158A/Y298H achieved the highest catalytic efficiency, 18.5 times higher than that of SceCPR. • SceCPRS158A/Y298H had a catalyzed center which is larger, and more conductive to conversion rate than the SceCPR. • SceCPRS158A/Y298H could efficiently catalyze KPL to D -PL with the space-time yield = 382.80 g·L−1·d−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are rare neoplasms with limited understanding of its genomic alterations and molecular typing. Methods: The paraffin‐embedded tissue specimens of 38 patients with rectal NENs after surgery were subjected to whole gene sequencing (WGS), and mutation profilings were drawn to identify high‐frequency mutation genes, copy‐number variations (CNVs), tumor mutation burden (TMB), signal pathways, mutation signatures, DNA damage repair (DDR) genes, and molecular types. The differences of mutated genes and signaling pathways in different pathological grades and metastatic/non‐metastatic groups were compared. It helped to search for potential targets. Results: C > T and T > C transitions are the most common base substitutions in rectal NENs. DNA mismatch repair deficiency, DNA base modifications, smoking and exposure to ultraviolet light might play a role in the occurrence of rectal NENs. DAXX, KMT2C, BCL2L1, LTK, MERTK, SPEN, PKN1, FAT3, and LRP2 mutations were found in only low‐grade rectal NETs, whereas APC, TP53, NF1, SOX9, and BRCA1 mutations were common in high‐grade rectal NECs/MiNENs. These genes helped in distinguishing poorly‐differentiated or well‐differentiated rectal NENs. Alterations in P53, Wnt and TGFβ signaling pathways were more pronounced in rectal NECs and MiNENs. Alterations in Wnt, MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways promoted metastases. Rectal NENs were classified into two molecular subtypes by cluster analysis based on the mutant genes and signaling pathways combined with clinicopathological features. Patients with mutations in the LRP2, DAXX, and PKN1 gene showed a trend of well‐differentiated and early‐stage tumors with less metastasis (p = 0.000). Conclusions: This study evaluated risk factors for regional lymphatic and/or distant metastases, identified high‐frequency mutated genes, mutation signatures, altered signaling pathways through NGS. Rectal NENs were divided into two molecular types. This helps to evaluate the likelihood of metastasis, formulate follow‐up strategies for patients and provide a target for future research on precision treatment of rectal NENs. PARP inhibitors, MEK inhibitors, mTOR/AKT/PI3K and Wnt signaling pathway inhibitors may be effective drugs for the treatment of metastatic rectal NENs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interface engineering of the hole transport layer in CH3NH3PbI3 photodetectors has resulted in significantly increased carrier accumulation and dark current as well as energy band mismatch, thus achieving the goal of high-power conversion efficiency. However, the reported heterojunction perovskite photodetectors exhibit high dark currents and low responsivities. Herein, heterojunction self-powered photodetectors, composed of p-type CH3NH3PbI3 and n-type Mg0.2Zn0.8O, are prepared through the spin coating and magnetron sputtering. The obtained heterojunctions exhibit a high responsivity of 0.58 A/W, and the EQE of the CH3NH3PbI3/Au/Mg0.2Zn0.8O heterojunction self-powered photodetectors is 10.23 times that of the CH3NH3PbI3/Au photodetectors and 84.51 times that of the Mg0.2ZnO0.8/Au photodetectors. The built-in electric field of the p-n heterojunction significantly suppresses the dark current and improves the responsivity. Remarkably, in the self-supply voltage detection mode, the heterojunction achieves a high responsivity of up to 1.1 mA/W. The dark current of the CH3NH3PbI3/Au/Mg0.2Zn0.8O heterojunction self-powered photodetectors is less than 1.4 × 10−1 pA at 0 V, which is more than 10 times lower than that of the CH3NH3PbI3 photodetectors. The best value of the detectivity is as high as 4.7 × 1012 Jones. Furthermore, the heterojunction self-powered photodetectors exhibit a uniform photodetection response over a wide spectral range from 200 to 850 nm. This work provides guidance for achieving a low dark current and high detectivity for perovskite photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel–iron-layered double hydroxide (NiFeLDH) is one of the promising catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline electrolytes, but its conductivity limits its large-scale application. The focus of current work is to explore low-cost, conductive substrates for large-scale production and combine them with NiFeLDH to improve its conductivity. In this work, purified and activated pyrolytic carbon black (CBp) is combined with NiFeLDH to form an NiFeLDH/A–CBp catalyst for OER. CBp not only improves the conductivity of the catalyst but also greatly reduces the size of NiFeLDH nanosheets to increase the activated surface area. In addition, ascorbic acid (AA) is introduced to enhance the coupling between NiFeLDH and A–CBp, which can be evidenced by the increase of Fe-O-Ni peak intensity in FTIR measurement. Thus, a lower overvoltage of 227 mV and larger active surface area of 43.26 mF·cm−2 are achieved in 1 M KOH solution for NiFeLDH/A–CBp. In addition, NiFeLDH/A–CBp shows good catalytic performance and stability as the anode catalyst for water splitting and Zn electrowinning in alkaline electrolytes. In Zn electrowinning with NiFeLDH/A–CBp, the low cell voltage of 2.08 V at 1000 A·m−2 results in lower energy consumption of 1.78 kW h/KgZn, which is nearly half of the 3.40 kW h/KgZn of industrial electrowinning. This work demonstrates the new application of high-value-added CBp in hydrogen production from electrolytic water and zinc hydrometallurgy to realize the recycling of waste carbon resources and reduce the consumption of fossil resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic liquids (ILs) with long alkyl substituents are amphiphilic, which leads to a bicontinuous liquid structure. The strongly interacting anionic and cationic head groups form a long range charge network, with the hydrocarbon tails forming a nonpolar domain. Such nonpolar domains have been shown to dissolve a variety of neutral organic solvents. In mixtures of ILs with solvents the neutral organic molecules residing in the nonpolar domains experience different environments and friction from the charged cations and anions. Thus, the neutral molecules diffuse much faster than predicted by hydrodynamic scaling using the average viscosity of the mixture. In this work, we report studies on the structure and transport properties of mixtures of 1-octanol with the IL trihexyltetradecylphosphonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ( P 6,6,6,14 + / NTf 2 − ). The majority of the atom fraction in the P 6,6,6,14 + cation comprises four hydrocarbon substituents. The unique amphiphilic nature of ILs with the P 6,6,6,14 + cation makes 1-octanol fully miscible with the IL at ambient temperatures. X-ray scattering experiments show that the IL structure persists in the mixtures for 1-octanol mole fractions as large as xoct = 0.90. The self-diffusion coefficients of the three molecular species in the mixtures were measured by NMR experiments. The self-diffusion of the P 6,6,6,14 + cation is well described by the Stokes–Einstein equation, while the diffusivity of the NTf 2 − anion is slightly lower than the hydrodynamic prediction. The measured diffusivities of octanol in these mixtures are 1.3–4 times higher than the hydrodynamic predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic liquids (ILs) with relatively low viscosities and broad windows of electrochemical stability are often constructed by pairing asymmetric cations with bisfluorosulfonylimide (FSI−) or bistriflimide ( NTf 2 − ) anions. In this work, we systematically studied the structures of ILs with these anions and related perfluorobis-sulfonylimide anions with asymmetry and/or longer chains: (fluorosulfonyl)(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ( B S I 0 , 1 − ), bis(pentafluoroethylsulfonyl)imide (BETI−), and (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) (nonafluorobutylsulfonyl)imide ( B S I 1 , 4 − ) using high energy X-ray scattering and molecular dynamics simulation methods. 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium cations with shorter (ethyl, Im 2 , 1 + ) and longer (octyl, Im 1 , 8 + ) hydrocarbon chains were selected to examine how the sizes of nonpolar hydrocarbon and fluorous chains affect IL structures and properties. In comparison with these, we also computationally explored the structure of ionic liquids with anions having longer fluorinated tails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetometers based on nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamonds have promising applications in fields of living systems biology, condensed matter physics, and industry. This paper proposes a portable and flexible all-fiber NV center vector magnetometer by using fibers to substitute all conventional spatial optical elements, realizing laser excitation and fluorescence collection of micro-diamond with multi-mode fibers simultaneously and efficiently. An optical model is established to investigate multi-mode fiber interrogation of micro-diamond to estimate the optical performance of NV center system. A new analysis method is proposed to extract the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field, combining the morphology of the micro-diamond, thus realizing μm-scale vector magnetic field detection at the tip of the fiber probe. Experimental testing shows our fabricated magnetometer has a sensitivity of 0.73 nT/Hz1/2, demonstrating its feasibility and performance in comparison with conventional confocal NV center magnetometers. This research presents a robust and compact magnetic endoscopy and remote-magnetic measurement approach, which will substantially promote the practical application of magnetometers based on NV centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aroma is an important economic trait of vegetable soybeans, which greatly influences their market value. The 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP) is considered as an important substance affecting the aroma of plants. Although the 2AP synthesis pathway has been resolved, the differences of the 2AP synthesis in the aromatic and non-aromatic vegetable soybeans are unknown. In this study, a broad targeted metabolome analysis including measurement of metabolites levels and gene expression levels was performed to reveal pathways of aroma formation in the two developmental stages of vegetable soybean grains [35 (S5) and 40 (S6) days after anthesis] of the 'Zhexian No. 8' (ZX8, non-aromatic) and ZK1754 (aromatic). The results showed that the differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) of the two varieties can be classified into nine main categories including flavonoids, lipids, amino acids and derivatives, saccharides and alcohols, organic acids, nucleotides and derivatives, phenolic acids, alkaloids and vitamin, which mainly contributed to their phenotypic differences. Furthermore, in combination with the 2AP synthesis pathway, the differences of amino acids and derivatives were mainly involved in the 2AP synthesis. Furthermore, 2AP precursors' analysis revealed that the accumulation of 2AP mainly occurred from 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C), not 4-aminobutyraldehyde (GABald). The quantitative RT-PCR showed that the associated synthetic genes were 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase (P5CDH), ∆1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS), proline dehydrogenase (PRODH) and pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase (P5CR), which further verified the synthetic pathway of 2AP. Furthermore, the betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (GmBADH2) mutant was not only vital for the occurrence of 2AP, but also for the synthesis of 4-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in vegetable soybean. Therefore, the differences of 2AP accumulation in aromatic and non-aromatic vegetable soybeans have been revealed, and it also provides an important theoretical basis for aromatic vegetable soybean breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tantalum and its alloys are regarded as equipment construction materials for processing aggressive acidic media due to their excellent properties. In this study, the influence of severe rolling (90%) on the dissolution rate of a cold-rolled Ta-4%W sheet in different directions was investigated during immersion testing and the corresponding mechanism was discussed. The results show that the dissolution rate of the cold-rolled sample is significantly lower than that of the undeformed sample. The corrosion resistance followed the sequence of "initial" < "90%-ND" < "90%-RD" < "90%-TD", while the strength is in positive correlation with the corrosion resistance. Severe rolling promotes grain subdivision accompanied by long geometrically necessary boundaries and short incidental dislocation boundaries on two scales in the cold-rolled sample. The volume elements enclosed by geometrically necessary boundaries form preferential crystallographic orientations. Such preferential crystallographic orientations can greatly weaken the electrochemical process caused by adjacent volume elements, resulting in greatly reduced corrosion rates in the severely deformed sample. The unexpected finding provides a new idea for tailoring the structures of tantalum alloys to improve both their strength and corrosion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carcinine is a natural imidazole-containing peptide derivative. It is widely used in the cosmetics industry as anti-aging supplement with antioxidant, anti-glycation and glycation reversal functions, and it also has a notable pharmacological effect as anti-tumor drug and in protection against retinopathy. However, a technological method for synthesis and production of carcinine has not been established. In this study, a whole-cell transformation system converting β-alanine and histamine to carcinine by the enzymes Ebony and phosphopantetheine transferase (Sfp) has been developed. The results revealed that the catalytic efficiency of the strain containing the fusion protein of Ebony and Sfp (Sfp-glycine-serine-glycine-Ebony, SGE) in Escherichia coli W3110 (WSGE strain) is significantly higher (7.45 mM) than the combinatorial strain of pET28a- ebony and pACYCDuet-s fp in E. coli BL21(DE3) (BSE strain) (2.17 mM). Under the optimal reaction conditions (25 ℃, pH 7.0, 12.5 g/L wet cells, 20 mM β-alanine and 40 mM histamine), the carcinine can be quickly synthesized within 24 h up to a concentration of 22.63 mM. To achieve a continuous and efficient conversion of the precursors, a batch-feeding catalysis was designed. With this system, β-alanine (40 mM) and histamine (40 mM) could be completely transformed to carcinine (40.34 mM) in 36 h with a productivity of 0.204 g/L h reaching a titer of 7.34 g/L. Hence, the batch-feeding whole-cell biocatalysis is a promising technology for the high yield production of carcinine which can promote the industrial production of carcinine. • Develop the recombinant cell to convert β-alanine and histamine to carcinine. • Optimize the catalytic conditions for carcinine biotransformation. • The maximum titer of carcinine in this study is 7.34 g/L in 36 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is still a lack of longitudinal dynamic studies on the taxonomic features, functional reserves, and metabolites of the rabbit gut microbiome. An experiment was conducted to characterize the bacterial community of rabbits. By combining metagenomics and metabolomics, we have comprehensively analyzed the longitudinal dynamics of the rabbit gut microbiota and its effect on host adaptability. Our data reveal an overall increasing trend in microbial community and functional gene diversity and richness during the pre-harvest lifespan of rabbits. The introduction of solid feed is an important driving factor affecting rabbit gut microbiological compositions. Clostridium and Ruminococcus had significantly higher relative abundances in the solid feed stage. Further, the starch and fiber in solid feed promote the secretion of carbohydrate-degrading enzymes, which helps the host adapt to dietary changes. The rabbit gut microbiota can synthesize lysine, and the synthase is gradually enriched during the diet transformation. The gut microbiota of newborn rabbits has a higher abundance of lipid metabolism, which helps the host obtain more energy from breast milk lipids. The rabbit gut microbiota can also synthesize a variety of secondary bile acids after the introduction of solid feed. These findings provide a novel understanding of how the gut microbiota mediates adaptability to environment and diet in rabbits and provide multiple potential strategies for regulating intestinal health and promoting higher feed efficiency. [Display omitted] • Solid feeds are a major driver of gut flora. • Starch and fiber promote the bacterial synthesis of carbohydrate-degrading enzymes. • Gut flora synthesizes lysine from scratch to alleviate lysine deficiency in solid feeds. • Solid feeds stimulate secondary bile acid production by gut flora and improve host lipid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the alleviative effect of curcumin (CUR) on the diquat (DQ)-induced cecal injury in broilers. A total of 320 one-day-old Cobb broilers were selected and randomly divided into 4 treatments, namely control, DQ, CUR 100, and CUR150 groups. The control and DQ groups were fed a basal diet, while the CUR 100 and CUR150 groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 100 and 150 mg/kg CUR, respectively. Each group had 8 replicates, with 10 broilers per replicate. On day 21 of the experiment, 1 broiler was selected from each replicate and intraperitoneally injected 20 mg/kg body weight of DQ for DQ, CUR 100, and CUR 150 groups. Broilers in control group received equivalent volume of saline. Broilers were euthanized 48h postinjection for tissue sampling. The results showed that DQ injection could cause oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions in the cecum, affecting the fatty acid production and flora structure, thus leading to cecum damage. Compared with the DQ group, the activity of superoxide dismutase, the level of interleukin 10, acetic acid, and total volatile fatty, and the abundance of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2, copper and zinc superoxide dismutase and catalase mRNA in the cecal mucosa of broilers in the CUR group increased significantly (P < 0.05). However, the levels of malondialdehyd, reactive oxygen species, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and the expression of cysteine-aspartic acid protease-3 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the CUR group. In addition, CUR treatment alleviated the damage to the cecum and restored the flora structure, and Lactobacillus and Lactobacillaceae promoted the alleviative effect of CUR on DQ. In summary, CUR could alleviate the cecal injury caused by DQ-induced oxidative damage and inflammatory reactions by regulating the Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway and intestinal flora, thus protecting the cecum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: To counter plant chemical defenses and exposure to agrochemicals, herbivorous insects have developed several adaptive strategies to guard against the ingested detrimental substances, including enhancing detoxifying enzyme activities, avoidance behavior, amino acid mutation of target sites, and lower penetration through a thicker cuticle. Insect microbiota play important roles in many aspects of insect biology and physiology. To better understand the role of insect symbiotic bacteria in metabolizing these detrimental substances, we summarize the research progress on the function of insect bacteria in metabolizing phytochemicals and agrochemicals, and describe their future potential application in pest management and protection of beneficial insects. The diversity and high adaptability of insects are heavily associated with their symbiotic microbes, which include bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa, and archaea. These microbes play important roles in many aspects of the biology and physiology of insects, such as helping the host insects with food digestion, nutrition absorption, strengthening immunity and confronting plant defenses. To maintain normal development and population reproduction, herbivorous insects have developed strategies to detoxify the substances to which they may be exposed in the living habitat, such as the detoxifying enzymes carboxylesterase, glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs), and cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP450s). Additionally, insect symbiotic bacteria can act as an important factor to modulate the adaptability of insects to the exposed detrimental substances. This review summarizes the current research progress on the role of insect symbiotic bacteria in metabolizing phytochemicals and agrochemicals (insecticides and herbicides). Given the importance of insect microbiota, more functional symbiotic bacteria that modulate the adaptability of insects to the detrimental substances to which they are exposed should be identified, and the underlying mechanisms should also be further studied, facilitating the development of microbial-resource-based pest control approaches or protective methods for beneficial insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuing growth in space debris has posed a great threat to on-orbit operations. It is urgent to implement reliable and lasting monitoring of space debris. Safety and diversity in monitoring devices and business demands makes scheduling system resources increasingly complicated. This article proposes a novel adaptive multipopulation differential evolutionary algorithm based on a theoretical model specialized in the scheduling of space debris monitoring resources. Using Q-learning, the proposed algorithm adapts self-learning and dynamic adjustment properties in population proportion parameters. Experiments are performed with practical batch tasks and monitoring data to verify the effectiveness and reliable utility of the proposed algorithm to ensure the safety of on-orbit operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A green modification method for effectively enhancing toughness of PLA was established. Herein, alkaline lignin (LG) was firstly alkylated with dodecane, and then grafted with lactide (LA). The alkylated lignin-lactide graft copolymer (GLG-g-LA) was obtained via ring-opening polymerization (ROP). GLG-g-LA copolymer can be utilized as a functional filler to toughen polylactic acid (PLA) packaging film. The 31P-NMR of alkylated lignin (GLG) demonstrated that the peak of phenolic hydroxyl groups disappeared completely, while the relative peak intensity of carboxyl hydroxyl groups decreased significantly. The grafting rate of GLG-g-LA copolymer was improved more than twice times compared with lignin-lactide graft copolymer (LG-g-LA). Then LG-g-LA and GLG-g-LA copolymer were mixed with PLA to prepare different PLA composite films via casting method, respectively. Particularly, the elongation at break of PLA/GLG-g-LA2 composite film increased to 41.98%, which was more than 20 times higher than PLA. In general, PLA/GLG-g-LA composite film with toughness, excellent UV barrier, water resistance and controllable gas permeation could be used as high-performance and biodegradable materials in packaging field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The antioxidant capacity of gallic acid (GA) and its fatty alkyl esters such as butyl gallate, octyl gallate (OG), lauryl gallate and hexadecyl gallate in freeze‐dried oyster was investigated. During ambient storage, the significant increase of peroxide value and thiobarbituric acid value together with the decline for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) contents indicated the occurrence of lipid autoxidation in freeze‐dried oysters. Meanwhile, the oxidative degradation of glycerol phosphocholine (GPC), glycerol phosphoethanolamine (GPE) and triacylglycerols (TAG) molecular species carrying DHA or EPA in oyster ranked as: TAG > GPE > GPC. GA and its alkyl esters could effectively be prevented dried oyster lipid from oxidation. Among them, OG stood out as the most effective individual. This work implied that the chain lengths of GA alkyl esters affect their antioxidant ability for dried oysters, which provides the information for selecting eligible antioxidants to enhance the oxidative stability of freeze‐dried seafood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is an essential process in energy conversion and storage, especially in water electrolysis, while developing active and low-cost catalysts is the key to maximizing O 2 production. Here a facile three-electrode electrolysis system is firstly applied to synthesize nickel hydroxide-iron hydroxide/graphene hybrid. To fully utilize the electrical energy and simplify the catalyst synthesis, we made graphite exfoliated into graphene at the cathode and nickel-iron hydroxide synthesized at the anode simultaneously. The best electrocatalytic performance of Ni–Fe/G for OER shows an overpotential of 280 mV (without iR compensation) at 10 mA cm−2, superior to commercial RuO 2 (341 mV). Results show that the introduction of Fe in Ni–Fe/G not only converts part of α-Ni(OH) 2 into more active β-Ni(OH) 2 , but promotes the electric conductivity and electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) of the obtained Ni–Fe/G, therefore Ni–Fe/G shows the superior OER performance. The OER activity of Ni–Fe/G can be further adjusted by experiment conditions including electrolysis time and electrolyte concentration. This work provides a novel and facile method for highly efficient OER via engineering the non-noble metal hydroxide/graphene hybrid. Electrosynthesized nickel hydroxide-iron hydroxide/graphene hybrid by a three-electrode electrolysis system for efficient oxygen evolution reaction. [Display omitted] • A facile electrosynthesis method is designed for synthesis of Ni–Fe/graphene hybrid. • This obtained hybrid shows superior electrocatalytic activity toward OER to RuO 2. • Promotion of incorporated Fe to Ni hydroxide on OER performance is revealed. • OER activity of Ni–Fe/G can be adjusted by electrolysis conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low gain in the presence of a single transverse external electric field limits the application of metal‐semiconductor‐metal (MSM) photodetectors. Here, a longitudinal built‐in electric field by spin‐coating CH3NH3PbI3:PC61BM on the electrode region of an Au/ZnO MSM photodetector, which constitutes a vertically crossed composite electric field with a transverse external electric field, is constructed. In this case, the transverse electric field collects the electrons, and the longitudinal electric field separates them. Based on this novel electric field structure, carrier multiplication at lower voltage conditions is achieved. Compared to the low voltage, there is a significant amplification effect when the voltage reaches 7 V. The responsivity is increased ≈270 times for UV–vis wavelengths, escalating from ≈0.02 to ≈5.4 A W−1. This study provides a novel carrier transport control scheme for high‐gain perovskite‐based photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkenyl oxindoles have been characterized as autophagosome-tethering compounds (ATTECs), which can target mutant huntingtin protein (mHTT) for lysosomal degradation. In order to expand the application of alkenyl oxindoles for targeted protein degradation, we designed and synthesized a series of heterobifunctional compounds by conjugating different alkenyl oxindoles with bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) inhibitor JQ1. Through structure-activity relationship study, we successfully developed JQ1-alkenyl oxindole conjugates that potently degrade BRD4. Unexpectedly, we found that these molecules degrade BRD4 through the ubiquitin-proteasome system, rather than the autophagy-lysosomal pathway. Using pooled CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) screening, we revealed that JQ1-alkenyl oxindole conjugates recruit the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex CRL4DCAF11 for substrate degradation. Furthermore, we validated the most potent heterobifunctional molecule HL435 as a promising drug-like lead compound to exert antitumor activity both in vitro and in a mouse xenograft tumor model. Our research provides new employable proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) moieties for targeted protein degradation, providing new possibilities for drug discovery. Targeted protein degradation strategies are promising avenues for drug development, but it is important to broaden the toolbox of E3 ligases that can be engaged. This study shows that alkenyl oxindole compounds act as novel E3 ligase ligands and recruit the CRL4-DCAF11 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex for substrate degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-powered photodetectors (PDs) with high performance are essential for applications in mobile portable electronics, communications, and sensing. However, the limited light absorption of the traditional planar heterojunction interface seriously restricts the commercial application of photodetectors. In this study, a new type PD with pyramidal island-like ZnO/Cu 2 O heterojunction interface was designed and prepared by electrochemical deposition and radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering technology using the inherent octahedral structure of Cu 2 O, and its unique pyramid island interface was conducive to improving the light utilization efficiency and photoelectric performance of the detector. Under zero bias conditions, the responsivities of 0.32 and 0.09 A W−1 were obtained under 380 nm and 550 nm illumination, respectively. And the PD exhibit fast rise and decay times of 0.163 and 0.179 s. The maximum external quantum efficiency reaches 107.18 %. The results demonstrate that our highly efficient and fast response self-powered PD is expected to be a candidate for next generation ultraviolet (UV) -visible photosensing applications. • The light-trapping structure in the solar cell is introduced into the photodetector. • The high response is due to light capture at the pyramidal island-like interface. • The photodetector is 4.2 times more responsive than planar structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-frequency supercapacitors (HF–SCs) are promising electric energy storage devices and alternating current line filters. However, severe self-discharge of HF–SCs causes significant energy loss and limits their applications. Current self-discharge suppression methods for supercapacitors typically lead to decreased rate performance and hence cannot be applied to HF–SCs directly. In this work, barium titanate (BTO) nanoparticles are employed as an electrolyte additive for HF–SCs to reduce self-discharge. By adding BTO nanoparticles into the electrolyte, both leakage current and decay of open circuit voltage of the devices are reduced without sacrificing the specific capacitance and high-frequency response. At a charging voltage of 2 V, the leakage current is reduced by 49 % (3.91 vs. 1.98 μA), while the time for the voltage to drop from 2.0 to 1.0 V is extended by 4.5 times (2300 vs. 10240 sec). When the HF–SCs with BTO electrolyte are employed to store the energy generated by a triboelectric nanogenerator, the time for charging the cells to 2.0 V is reduced by 82 %. Mechanistic analysis indicates that the reduced self-discharge can be attributed to the fluid electrorheological effect and the enhanced localized electric field within the gaps among BTO nanoparticles that lead to sluggish diffusion and migration of reactive species, so the diffusion-controlled faradaic reaction process is suppressed. [Display omitted] • Carbonized melamine foams were synthesized for high-frequency supercapacitors (HF–SCs). • BaTiO 3 nanoparticles were employed as electrolyte additive to reduce self-discharge. • Rate performances and high frequency responses of the HF–SCs were well retained. • Improved charging efficiency of the HF–SCs by a triboelectric nanogenerator was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the emergence of 5G communication and the rapid development of the microelectronics industry, the heat dissipation of high power circuits has become quite an important issue. Along these lines, the thermal conductivity distribution of the electronic packaging materials, which plays a key role in the protecting circuits, requires urgent improvement. In this study, amino-functional boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS) were prepared by employing ball milling boron nitride with urea (aqueous solution) as agents. Then, the epoxy composites filled with large size pristine boron nitride (pBN) and small size functional boron nitride were fabricated by using the wet ball-milling (wBN) technique. The acquired results indicate that the thermal conductivity property of the pBN/wBN/epoxy composites with pBN/wBN ratio of 2.5/7.5 can reach the value of 0.386 W/mK, which is 96% higher than that of pure epoxy. Meanwhile, the measured value is superior from both the pBN/epoxy and wBN/epoxy composites with the same filling amount. This effect can be attributed to the efficient construction of the fillers network and thermal conduction path. Within the epoxy matrix, wBN can fill the pores between pBN and form a denser filler network. In addition, the amino-functional groups grafted with wBN result in their enhanced dispersion within the epoxy matrix that leads to a more stronger interfacial effect. Our approach provides useful insights in understanding the incorporation mechanisms of fillers in polymers, and thereby enhancing their potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a widespread mycotoxin worldwide that causes major health risks. The esophageal epithelium is unavoidably exposed to food contaminated OTA after ingestion. Yet, few studies have involved in the putative effects of OTA on the cytotoxicity and glucose metabolism responses on esophageal epithelial cells. In this in vitro study, we aimed to investigate the effects of OTA on esophageal epithelial cell intracellular apoptosis, oxidative stress, DNA damage, mitochondrial function and glucose metabolism. Human esophageal epithelial Het-1A cells were exposed to 2.5, 5 or 10 μM OTA for 24 h. The results showed that OTA decreased cell viability and concomitantly increased apoptosis-related indices, reactive oxygen species generation, oxidative DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction and mitochondrial apoptotic pathway activation. In addition, OTA switched the glucose metabolism of Het-1A cells from oxidative phosphorylation towards glycolysis by decreasing the expression of tricarboxylic acid cycle-associated enzymes such as α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and by increasing pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 expression. The data indicated that cell apoptosis, oxidative damage, mitochondrial dysfunction and glucose metabolism perturbation might play pivotal roles in the mechanism of OTA-induced esophageal toxicity. [Display omitted] • Ochratoxin A(OTA) induces oxidative stress of esophageal epithelium cells. • OTA triggers DNA damage and apoptosis. • Oxidative-stress mediated mitochondrial damage involved in OTA-induced apoptosis. • OTA switchs glucose metabolism from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The antioxidant effects of gallic acid (GA) and its alkyl esters including methyl gallate, ethyl gallate, propyl gallate, butyl gallate (GA‐C4), octyl gallate, lauryl gallate, hexadecyl gallate and octadecyl gallate in frying oil (soybean oil) and oyster during frying were investigated. Rancimat induction period (RIP) assay indicated GA and its alkyl esters effectively improved the oxidative stability of soybean oil according to the 'polar paradox'; that is, the antioxidant effects of the polyphenols decreased in lipid system with the increasing of hydrophobicity. Results also indicated that GA and its alkyl esters all effectively retarded lipid oxidation in oyster tissue according to parameters including RIP, peroxide value and electron spin resonance assays. Moreover, the antioxidant efficiency in oyster increased with the alkyl chain length until GA‐C4, and thereafter, the antioxidant effects decreased, similar to the 'cut‐off effect'. This study provides basic data for improving the oxidative stability of seafood during frying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The toxicity of excessive glutamate release has been implicated in various acute and chronic neurodegenerative conditions. Vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUTs) are the major mediators for the uptake of glutamate into synaptic vesicles. However, the dynamics and mechanism of this process in glutamatergic neurons are still largely unknown.Objective: This study aimed to investigate the candidate protein partners of VGLUT1 and their regulatory roles in the vesicles in rat brain.Methods: Pull down assay, co-immunoprecipitation assay, or split-ubiquitin membrane yeast two hybrid screening coupled with nanoRPLC-MS/MS were used to identify the candidate protein partners of VGLUT1 in the vesicles in rat brain. The in vitro and in vivo models were used to test effects of AβPP, Atp6ap2, Gja1, and Synataxin on VGLUT1 expression.Results: A total of 255 and 225 proteins and 172 known genes were identified in the pull down assay, co-immunoprecipitation assay, or split-ubiquitin yeast two-hybrid screening respectively. The physiological interactions of SV2A, Syntaxin 12, Gja1, AβPP, and Atp6ap2 to VGLUT1 were further confirmed. Knockdown of Atp6ap2, Gja1, and Synataxin increased VGLUT1 mRNA expression and only knockdown of AβPP increased both mRNA and protein levels of VGLUT1 in PC12 cells. The regulatory function of AβPP on VGLUT1 expression was further confirmed in the in vitro and in vivo models.Conclusion: These results elucidate that the AβPP and VGLUT1 interacts at vesicular level and AβPP plays a role in the regulation of VGLUT1 expression which is essential for maintaining vesicular activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photodetectors (PDs) that combine inorganic semiconductors with organic lead halide perovskites to produce broader spectral responses have captured great interest from researchers; however, the imperfect perovskite crystallinity and the defects on the film surface are still the main factors inhibiting the PD's capability. Here, we proposed a simple method by introducing ionic liquid [1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide (BMII)] into ZnO/CH3NH3PbI3 to encourage the growth of perovskite grains, raise the crystallinity of perovskite, and reduce the trap states, finally enhancing the photoelectric performances. After the addition of BMII, there are 171-fold, 74-fold, and 76-fold increases, respectively, in the light–dark current ratio, the spectral responsivity, and the external quantum efficiency, meanwhile, detectivity can reach 2.58 × 1013 Jones in the UV–vis range. The impressive results can be owed to the higher carrier concentration of ZnO/CH3NH3PbI3 with BMII, which can facilitate the charge transfer and suppress the recombination of photogenerated carriers. This study may be of assistance to extend our knowledge of developing high-performance PDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] To easily load Pt on smoothy graphene synthesized by cathodic exfoliation method and achieve adjacent plane distribution of Pt, carbon dots (CDs) are used to construct anchoring points to load highly dispersed Pt species due to strong interaction between CDs and Pt species. The composite of Pt-CDs/graphene is synthesized via a continuous process of cathodic exfoliation-hydrothermal-impregnation-reduction. Characterization results indicate the distribution configuration of Pt varies from coated structure of CDs@Pt to dispersed configuration of CDs&Pt or Pt&CDs, then to wrapping configuration of Pt@CDs with increased amount of CDs. It's found that suitable introduction of CDs promotes the adjacent plane distribution of Pt species. The obtained best Pt-4CDs/G shows the low overpotential of 36 mV (10 mA⋅cm−2) and high mass activity of 3747.8 mA mg−1 at −40 mV towards electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), 9.2 times more active than that of Pt/C (406.2 mA mg−1). The superior HER performance of Pt-4CDs/G is attributed to its relatively adjacent plane distribution of Pt, which supports high electrochemically active surface area and more adjacent Pt sites for H* adsorption. Benefitting from that, the HER process for Pt-4CDs/G favorably follows the Tafel pathway, resulting in low hydrogen adsorption free energy and excellent HER activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of antitumor immune responses, the activation of the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) assumes a critical role and imparts enhanced immunogenicity. An effective strategy for exogenously activating the immune system involves the utilization of STING agonists, and prior investigations primarily concentrated on modifying endogenous cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) to achieve this. Nevertheless, the practical utility of CDNs was restricted due to limitations associated with their physicochemical attributes and administration protocols. In this article, we present the discovery of a novel small-molecule agonist denoted as M335, identified through high-throughput screening using surface plasmon resonance (SPR). M335 demonstrates the ability to activate the TBK1-IRF3-IFN axis in a STING-dependent manner in vitro. Through experimentation on mouse models bearing tumors, we observed that the administration of M335 resulted in the activation of immune cells. Notably, significant antitumor effects were achieved with both intratumoral and intraperitoneal administration of M335. These findings suggest the potential of M335 as a promising agent for cancer immunotherapy, which will promote the development of STING agonists in anti-tumor applications. A novel small-molecule STING agonist M335 was identified, and the growth of cold tumors were significantly inhibited as the activation of immunity after administration of M335 either intratumorally or intraperitoneally. [Display omitted] •A novel small-molecular STING agonist M335 was identified. •M335 targets STING with weak interaction to active immune pathway. •The alkylamine moiety of M335 is crucial for the activity. •M335 exerts antitumor effect in vivo by activating immune cells. •M335 was effective both intratumoral and intraperitoneal administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of a broadband photodetector with high response, high sensitivity and controllable band is a major challenge to improve the application range of photodetectors. The integration of quantum dots and highly conductive materials is one of the important approach for the application of broadband photodetectors. In this work, ultraviolet–visible–near infrared (UV–Vis–NIR) sensitive PD consisting of ZnO film/PbS quantum dots (QDs) heterostructure was proposed. While forming a built-in electric field, the heterostructure also generates a barrier to prevent carrier recombination, so that the heterostructure PD has excellent photoresponse performance in the UV–Vis–NIR range, and the peak responsivity is increased by 550%. Increased from 0.974 mA/W to 6.332 mA/W, accompanied by obvious red shift, faster response and recovery speed compared to pure ZnO film PD. Different from other experiments, in order to make the performance gain of PbS QDs on ZnO film more obvious and intuitive, this article uses RF magnetron sputtering to prepare ultra-thin ZnO film, and discusses the impact of PbS QDs on the photoelectric properties of ZnO film more comprehensively and systematically. The performance of the broad spectrum in this experiment will be of great help to the research and application of ZnO PD in the future. • Ultraviolet–visible–near infrared (UV–Vis–NIR) sensitive PD consisting of ZnO film/PbS quantum dots (QDs) heterostructure was proposed. • While forming a built-in electric field, the heterostructure also generates a barrier to prevent carrier recombination, so that the heterostructure PD has excellent photoresponse performance in the UV–Vis–NIR range, and the peak responsivity is increased by 550%. Increased from 0.974 mA/W to 6.332 mA/W, accompanied by obvious red shift. • Faster response and recovery speed compared to pure ZnO film PD. • Discusses the impact of PbS QDs on the photoelectric properties of ZnO film more comprehensively and systematically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In micro-grinding, the effect of material microstructure on residual stress is significant since the depth of cut is usually smaller than the average grain size. In this paper, the effect of crystallographic orientation (CO) on the distribution of residual stress induced by micro-grinding is investigated. The COs and their volume fractions of workpiece material are quantified by Taylor factor, based on which the models of flow stress and plastic modulus of polycrystalline materials are proposed. Then, the residual stress is calculated based on the micro-grinding force and temperature derived from the flow stress, after the mechanical and thermal loading followed by relaxation process, which are analyzed with the developed plastic modulus. Thereby, the compressive analytical model of micro-grinding-induced residual stress is proposed considering the grinding parameters, wheel topography, and material microstructure. In addition, micro-grinding experiments and residual stress measurements are conducted to verify the models. The prediction of residual stress agrees well with the experimental result. Residual stresses are measured by X-ray techniques, and the results illustrate that the COs of material would influence the state of stress. Finally, the sensitivity analysis is carried out, with the result showing that the effect of CO on residual stress is significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In micro-grinding, the effect of material microstructure on residual stress is significant since the depth of cut is usually smaller than the average grain size. In this paper, the effect of crystallographic orientation (CO) on the distribution of residual stress induced by micro-grinding is investigated. The COs and their volume fractions of workpiece material are quantified by Taylor factor, based on which the models of flow stress and plastic modulus of polycrystalline materials are proposed. Then, the residual stress is calculated based on the micro-grinding force and temperature derived from the flow stress, after the mechanical and thermal loading followed by relaxation process, which are analyzed with the developed plastic modulus. Thereby, the compressive analytical model of micro-grinding-induced residual stress is proposed considering the grinding parameters, wheel topography, and material microstructure. In addition, micro-grinding experiments and residual stress measurements are conducted to verify the models. The prediction of residual stress agrees well with the experimental result. Residual stresses are measured by X-ray techniques, and the results illustrate that the COs of material would influence the state of stress. Finally, the sensitivity analysis is carried out, with the result showing that the effect of CO on residual stress is significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ochratoxin A(OTA) induces aerobic glycolysis of GES-1 cells. • OTA increases the glycolytic-associated enzymes (HK2, PFK1, LDHA) in GES-1 cells. • OTA promotes the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of PKM2. • OTA reduces the TCA-cycle-associated enzymes (IDH1 and ODGH) in GES-1 cells. Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a ubiquitous mycotoxin with potential nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic and immunotoxic effects. We previously demonstrated that OTA could cause mitochondrial function disturbance in GES-1 cells in vitro , which lead to the presumption that the glucose metabolism of GES-1 cells will be altered by OTA. Therefore in the present study, we explored the toxicity of OTA on glucose metabolism of GES-1 cells and the molecular mechanism. We found that OTA could induce aerobic glycolysis, evidenced shown by increase of glucose consumption, lactate production and cellular ATP concentration. We further detected expressions of GLUT1 and glycolytic enzymes including HK2, PFK1, PKM2 and LDHA as well as tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle-associated enzymes including IDH1, OGDH and CS. The results showed that expression of GLUT1 as well as the activities and expressions of HK2, PFK1 and LDHA were significantly increased while IDH1 and OGDH were reduced by OTA. As to PKM2, western blot showed that OTA could elevated the phospho-PKM2 Ser37 protein level and induce the nuclear accumulation of PKM2, which was further supported by immunofluorescence analyses, in addition, pyruvate kinase activity was reduced by OTA. In conclusion, these findings suggest that OTA exposure induces the metabolic shift from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis via regulating the activities and expressions of glycolysis and TCA-cycle associated molecules in GES-1 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small cysteine-rich peptides (CRPs) are important in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. OsDT11, encoding an 88 amino acid CRP-type protein, has been reported to enhance tolerance to drought in rice (Oryza sativa L.) without negatively affecting other agronomic traits. However, the molecular mechanisms of OsDT11-mediated drought tolerance are still unclear. Here, we performed RNA-Seq analysis to compare the transcriptome profiles between wild-type (WT) and OsDT11-overexpressing (OE) rice lines under drought stress or under control (non-drought) conditions. A total of 1570 and 1421 differentially expressed genes were identified in the OE lines and the WT under drought treatment, respectively, compared to non-drought conditions. Gene ontology analysis indicated that the 430 up-regulated genes in common to both OE and the WT lines were induced for functions related to responses to water deprivation and to abscisic acid (ABA). More than half of these genes had higher expression in the OE than in the WT under drought stress. In the OE, but not in the WT, 294 genes were specifically up-regulated under drought stress and were functionally enriched in starch and sucrose biosynthetic processes and in response to stress. This implies that OsDT11 not only triggers strongly response to drought stress, but also alters several metabolic processes to enhance drought tolerance. Gene expression profiling suggests that OsDT11 confers drought tolerance by mediating an enhanced response to drought stress in an ABA-dependent signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterioplankton communities play a critical role in biogeochemical cycling in freshwater environments, but how the hydrological regime impacts the assembly of bacterioplankton communities remains unclear. This study examined differences in bacterioplankton community structures between wet (July and September) and dry (October and November) seasons in two consecutive years (2016 and 2017) in Poyang Lake, the largest seasonal freshwater lake in China. Our results revealed no overall difference in bacterioplankton compositions and their predicted functions among spatially separated sites. However, bacterioplankton communities did show significant temporal shifts, mainly between samples in November and other months. Transitions from the dry to the wet season were observed in October in both sampling years. Meanwhile, insignificant spatial but significant temporal differences were also found for physicochemical variables. Moreover, redundancy analysis indicates that compared with water depth, water temperature was found to better explain changes in the bacterioplankton community. These findings consistently indicate that the bacterioplankton community in Poyang Lake is relatively less sensitive to annual hydrology shifts than water temperature and nutrient conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activating the inert basal planes of layered molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2) is critical to deliver its high hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) efficiency. Herein, oxygen-incorparated MoS x with abundant undercoordinated Mo atoms is fabricated by a facile solvothermal procedure, which realizes synergistically structural and electronic regulations of MoS 2 inert basal planes. Experiment results reveal that oxygen incoparation can effectively modulate the electronic structure and further optimize the intrinsic conductivity, while the defect-rich structure with abundant undercoordinated Mo atoms increases the number of active sites. Moreover, the influence of solvothermal temperature on activity of MoS 2-x is also investigated. The achieved MoS x electrocatalyst prepared at 220 °C exhibits a superior activity for HER with a low overpotential of 191 mV at 10 mA cm−2, a small Tafel slope of 67 mV dec−1, and an excellent stability due to the largest surface area and superior conductivity. Image 1 • MoS 2-x were prepared through solvothermal with low S/Mo ratio precursor. • Oxygen in MoS 2-x produces undercoordinated Mo and unsaturated S sites. • Undercoordinated Mo sites and unsaturated S sites both boost HER activity. • Solvothermal temperature affects structure and activity of obtained MoS 2-x. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore whether the distance of rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms from the anal margin has an impact on the prognosis of patients and evaluate lymphatic metastases risk score for colorectal neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs). Methods: Clinical pathological and follow-up data of 71 patients identified as colorectal neuroendocrine neoplasms by pathology from July 2011 to July 2019 were carefully collected. Results: Among 71 patients with colorectal NENs, most of the tumors were rectal NENs (62 cases). A total of 26 patients were in the presence of lymph node metastasis, and 44 patients had negative lymph nodes. Patients with lesions from the anal margin > 5 cm in rectum have a better prognosis (P = 0.022). Tumor stage (P = 0.034) and grade (P = 0.001) were independent risk predictors of lymphatic metastases. We developed a lymphatic metastasis risk score for rectal NENs, and patients with the score ≥ 7.5 were more likely to develop lymph node metastases (area 0.958, 95% CI 0.903–1.000, P = 0.000) with a sensitivity of 72.2% and a specificity of 97.3%. Conclusion: Patients with lesions from the anal margin > 5 cm and lymphatic metastasis risk score ≥ 7.5 should be treated actively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dual-wavelength UV photodetector (PD) with sandwich structure of ZnO/Au/MgZnO/SiO2 was fabricated and investigated with an emphasis on the effects of the Ag nanoparticles localized surface plasmons (LSPs). The results demonstrated that the modification in Ag nanoparticle (NP) position played a remarkable influence on the performance of dual-wavelength UV photodetectors. In comparison with decorating Ag NPs on the surface of the PDs, embedding Ag NPs between the MgZnO and ZnO films could improve two peak responsivities (caused by MgZnO and ZnO layers) significantly. By calculating the responsivities enhancement ratio of double layers (MgZnO and ZnO), the results indicated that the enhancement ratio of MgZnO is higher than that of ZnO. This was ascribed to LSPs of energy match with MgZnO which was superior to ZnO. This work described a creative method for increasing the performance of dual-wavelength UV PDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abnormal lipid metabolism plays crucial roles in the development of cancer. Spindlin 1 (SPIN1) involving the process of spindle organization and chromosomal stability serves as an important player in the carcinogenesis. In this study, we try to identify the new function of SPIN1 in lipid metabolism of liver cancer. Tissue microarray showed that 75% (60/80) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues were positive for SPIN1, which was highly expressed in clinical HCC samples and positively associated with malignancy of HCC. Strikingly, SPIN1 could modulate abnormal lipid metabolism by increasing intracellular triglycerides, cholesterols, and lipid droplets in hepatoma cells, which could remarkably enhance the proliferation of hepatoma cells. Mechanistically, SPIN1 up-regulated FASN in hepatoma cells. SPIN1 co-activated transcriptional factor SREBP1c in the promoter of FASN through interaction with SREBP1c. Moreover, SPIN1 promoted the growth of liver cancer in vitro and in vivo and the levels of intracellular triglycerides, cholesterols and lipid droplets were increased in the tumor tissues from mice. In conclusion, SPIN1 modulates abnormal lipid metabolism and enhances growth of liver cancer through SREBP1c-triggered FASN signaling. Therapeutically, SPIN1 may serve as a novel target for HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In micro-grinding, the effects of crystallography on grinding force become significant since the depth of cut is of the same order as the grain size. In this research, the Taylor factor model for multi-phase materials is proposed based on the previously reported Taylor factor model for monocrystalline material. Based on this model, the flow stress model is developed, which takes both the effect of CO on the athermal stress and the stress induced by the phase transformation into account. Based on the flow stress model, the predictive model of chip formation force is proposed by adapting parallel-sided shear zone theory. The rubbing force is modeled by applying Waldorf's worn tool theory. Furthermore, the plowing force is predicted based on previously reported model by the authors. Subsequently, a comprehensive model of the micro-grinding force is proposed by considering mechanical-thermal loading, the effects of crystallography, and phase transformation. Finally, the model is validated by conducting an orthogonal-designed experiment with the result proving that the prediction of the model is capable to capture the magnitude and trend of the experimental data. Moreover, the proposed analysis are compared with the predictions of two other previously reported models with the result, indicating that the model that considers the effect of CO and the phase transformation improves the accuracy of the micro-grinding force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To promote kinetic rate of half reactions in water splitting, we synthesized a bifunctional PtFe/graphene with dual active sites by a facile self-designed four-electrode electrochemical method. Characterization data indicate interfacial oxygen bridge structure of Pt–O–Fe is expectedly formed and electrons transfer from Fe to Pt via this bridge structure. This unique interfacial structure not only regulates electronic structure of Pt and Fe, but also offers interfacial electron-transfer channel to improve overall conductivity, which essentially enhances intrinsic activity towards acidic HER and alkaline OER. For HER, the best Pt–Fe/G shows the mass activity of 4239.3 mA mg−1 at −0.063 V, 3.79 times higher than that of Pt/G (1118.5 mA mg−1) and 5.02 times higher than that of commercial Pt/C (843.1 mA mg−1) catalyst, respectively. Introduction of Fe to Pt decreases the energy barrier of HER process (ΔG∗), and results in conversion of rate-limiting step from H+ adsorption (Volmer step) to H∗ desorption (Tafel step). For OER, the greatest PtFe/G exhibits an overpotential of lower 26 mV (10 mA cm-2) than commercial RuO 2 and its mass activity is 16.7 times higher than Fe/G. The formed Pt–O–Fe bond effectively elevates the electrophilic properties and facilitates adsorption of OH−, contributing to the change of rate-limiting step and enormous decrease of reaction activation energy (E a). This work inspires researchers to construct efficient interfacial oxygen bridge structure to enhance electrocatalytic performance for water splitting and design novel electrochemical method for synthesis of graphene-based composites. Designing interfacial Pt–O–Fe oxygen bridge structure in PtFe/graphene synthesized by a four-electrode electrochemical system for efficient water splitting. [Display omitted] • A facile four-electrode electrochemical method is used to synthesize PtFe/graphene. • This PtFe/graphene exhibits superior electrocatalytic performance towards acidic HER and alkaline OER. • Interfacial oxygen bridge structure of Pt–O–Fe enhances the intrinsic electrocatalytic activity. • Experimental method is used to reveal activation energy and active sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of curcumin on the growth performance, slaughter performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, and digestive enzyme activity of meat rabbits. One hundred and sixty healthy weaned meat rabbits were randomly divided into four groups (forty replicates per group and one rabbit per replicate). The control group was fed a basal diet and the test groups (T1, T2 and T3) were fed diets supplemented with 50, 100 and 150 g/t curcumin in the basal diet, respectively. The study lasted for 28 days, including a pre-feeding period of 7 days and a formal trial period of 21 days. The results showed that diets supplemented with curcumin significantly increased rabbits' body weight gain and average daily feed intake; Apparent digestibility of energy, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, NDF and ADF; Jejunal villus height, the ratio of villus height to crypt depth; The activities of amylase and lipase in jejunal and caecal digesta and cellulase in caecal digesta; Caecal mucosal thickness, eviscerated dressing percentage, and dorsal and abdominal hair thickness (p <.05). Diets supplemented with curcumin significantly decreased rabbits' feed to gain ratio, jejunal crypt depth and thickness of the intestinal wall (p <.05). In conclusion, curcumin is a kind of valuable feed additive, which can improve the nutrient digestibility, growth performance, slaughter ratio and fur development of meat rabbits by improving digestive tract development and digestive enzyme activity. The appropriate dosage in the meat rabbit diet is 100 g/t. Dietary supplementation of curcumin improved the growth performance, gastrointestinal digestive enzyme activities and slaughter performance of meat rabbits. Dietary supplementation of curcumin increased the antioxidant capacity of meat rabbits. Curcumin could be used as a new kind of feed additive for meat rabbits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies disclosed that a high thyroid stimulating hormone level is an independent risk factor for diabetes peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, whether thyroid metabolism has an effect on DPN in euthyroid T2DM patients remains unknown. The aim of this study was to identify the association between thyroid function and DPN in euthyroid T2DM patients. A set of 580 euthyroid T2DM patients was enrolled in the current study and stratified into DPN and Non-DPN groups. Mann–Whitney U test was performed to analyze the continuous variables of biochemical and thyroid metabolism indicators, and the Chi-square test was used to compare the categorical variables. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to analyze the relationship between clinical indicators and free thyroxine (FT4). By using the logistic regression analysis, the prevalence of DPN in different thyroid function indicators were evaluated. T2DM patients with DPN had obviously lower levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alpha-hydroxybutyric dehydrogenase (α-HBDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), calcium (Ca), creatinine (Cr), uric acid (UA), retinol binding protein (RBP), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and FT4 than the T2DM patients without DPN (P < 0.05). FT4 was associated with TP, prealbumin (PA), ALB, SOD, anion gap (AG), Ca, chlorine (Cl), UA, RBP, apoprotein A (Apo A), apoprotein B (Apo B), apoprotein E (Apo E), and total cholesterol (TC). According to the FT4 quartile, participants were sequentially divided into four groups to compare the prevalence of DPN between each group. The data suggested that the prevalence of DPN in these four groups was 53.79%, 53.28%, 54.97%, 38.10%, respectively. Moreover, compared with quartile 4, patients in quartile 1, 2, 3 all had a significantly higher risk of DPN (P = 0.007, P = 0.011, P = 0.004). The level of FT4 was negatively correlated with the prevalence of DPN in euthyroid T2DM patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogenated graphene has attracted much attention because its properties can be tuned by varying the degree of hydrogenation. In this work we adjusted the degree of hydrogenation of hydrogenated graphene by using different solvents in the electrochemical cathodic exfoliation process. Interestingly, the graphene obtained by exfoliation in different solvents showed a range of electrochemical performances. The characterization data indicated that the highest level of hydrogenation was observed with the sample produced in N , N -dimethylformamide (G-DMF). Moreover, the G-DMF also showed superior electrochemical performance in terms of electron-transfer rate and sensitivity towards ascorbic acid, which is attributed to the fact that it has most catalytic active defect sites, induced by the high degree of hydrogenation. In addition, the sample produced in propylene carbonate (G-PC) showed the lowest density of defects, while the sample produced in dimethyl sulfoxide (G-DMSO) did not appear to have any electrochemical benefits. Overall, the results suggest a route to the scalable production of graphene with a tunable degree of hydrogenation using a facile and simple strategy. Unlabelled Image • A facile, scalable electrochemical method using graphite powder as the cathode was used to exfoliate bulk graphite into graphene nanosheets. • The degree of hydrogenation of the resulting graphene depends on the solvent used in the electrochemical cathodic exfoliation process. • There was a positive correlation between degree of hydrogenation and the electrochemical performance of the resulting graphene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]