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Abstract Extreme myopia (EM), defined as a spherical equivalent (SE) ≤ −10.00 diopters (D), is one of the leading causes of sight impairment. Known EM-associated variants only explain limited risk and are inadequate for clinical decision-making. To discover risk genes, we performed a whole-exome sequencing (WES) on 449 EM individuals and 9606 controls. We find a significant excess of rare protein-truncating variants (PTVs) in EM cases, enriched in the retrograde vesicle-mediated transport pathway. Employing single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) and a single-cell polygenic burden score (scPBS), we pinpointed PI16 + /SFRP4+ fibroblasts as the most relevant cell type. We observed that KDELR3 is highly expressed in scleral fibroblast and involved in scleral extracellular matrix (ECM) organization. The zebrafish model revealed that kdelr3 downregulation leads to elongated ocular axial length and increased lens diameter. Together, our study provides insight into the genetics of EM in humans and highlights KDELR3’s role in EM pathogenesis.

Cu3SbSe4, a copper-based sulfide free of rare earth elements, has received extensive attention in thermoelectric materials. However, its low carrier concentration restricts its widespread application. In this study, a microwave-assisted solution synthesis method was used to produce samples of Cu3SbSe4, which enabled the formation of CuSe in situ and increased the yield. Through the use of first-principles calculations, structural analysis, and performance evaluation, it was found that CuSe can enhance the carrier concentration and that induced nano-defects have a positive effect on reducing the lattice thermal conductivity. Moreover, doping with Sn decreases the band gap of the system and moves the Fermi level into the valence band, increasing the carrier concentration to 1.15 × 10−20 cm−3. Finally, the zT value of the Cu3Sb0.98Sn0.02Se4 sample was achieved at 1.05 at 623 K when the theoretical yield of a single synthesis was 10 mmol.

The previous works commonly adjust the carrier concentration through acceptor doping, but at the same time, the decrease of the Seebeck coefficient limits the further improvement of electrical properties in Cu3SbSe4-based materials. In this work, a microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis method was used to synthesize Cu3SbSe4/TiO2 hollow microspheres. Part of TiO2 participates in the reaction, replaces the Sb site of Cu3SbSe4 to form holes, and the rest is dispersed in the matrix in the form of the second phase. The first-principles calculations reveal that the doping of Ti significantly changes the band structure and phonon spectrum, thereby regulating carrier concentration while increasing phonon scattering. In addition, experimental results show that the energy filtering effect generated by the extra-mixed TiO2 nano particles, which suppresses the decrease of Seebeck coefficient by acceptor doping. Consequently, the highest average power factor 897.5 μW m−1 K−2 and the zT peak value of 0.70 can be obtained in Cu3SbSe4/6%TiO2 sample at 298–623 K. This work provides a new sight to improve the thermoelectric properties in Cu3SbSe4 through carrier concentration regulation and nano-phase composition.

Chambersite (Mn3B7O13Cl) is both a rare inorganic macromolecular manganese chloroborate and a rare mineral. The chambersite deposit was firstly discovered in Jixian, Tianjin, China, which is the only mineable chambersite deposit in the world. Due to its unique multi-element composition and structure type, it has great application potential as a light-emitting material in biological anti-virus, anti-tumor, and anti-microbial applications, as well as a nuclear-protection and LED applications. However, as yet there are few reports on the material science of chambersite. Rare-earth and transition-group ion-activated borate are important constituent systems in luminescent materials. In this paper, nano-chambersite and rare-earth-element Eu3+-doped nano-chambersite were successfully synthesized by Sol-Gel method. The crystal structure of the nano-chambersite was characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The performance comparison between natural chambersite and synthetic chambersite was provided to provide a basis for the rational development and utilization of chambersite. The results show that the artificially synthesized chambersite has a spherical shape with a particle size of less than 50 nm, and has the same phase structure as natural chambersite. It belongs to the orthorhombic system and has a structure similar to that of spinel. The inter planar spacing of (010) is 0.8565 nm. Under 490 nm excitation light, the natural chambersite, artificially synthesized chambersite, and rare-earth-element Eu3+-doped chambersite crystal all showed a Mn2+ emitting center. The Mn2+ that filled the center of the tetrahedral lattice site of the crystal exhibited a green emission, whereas the Mn2+ that filled the center of the octahedral lattice site of the crystal exhibited a red emission. The artificially synthesized chambersite showed a unique red shift of the emission spectrum with increases in the emitting-light wavelength. This unique phenomenon is beneficial to the conversion of cold and warm luminescence. Eu3+ doping in the artificially synthesized chamversite further increased the intensity of the luminescence.

The vertex-degree function index Hf(Γ) is defined as Hf(Γ)=∑v∈V(Γ)f(d(v)) for a function f(x) defined on non-negative real numbers. In this paper, we determine the extremal graphs with the maximum (minimum) vertex degree function index in the set of all n-vertex chemical trees, trees, and connected graphs. We also present the Nordhaus–Gaddum-type results for Hf(Γ)+Hf(Γ¯) and Hf(Γ)·Hf(Γ¯).

We have proposed in this paper an embedded palmprint recognition system using the dual-core OMAP 3530 platform. An improved algorithm based on palm code was proposed first. In this method, a Gabor wavelet is first convolved with the palmprint image to produce a response image, where local binary patterns are then applied to code the relation among the magnitude of wavelet response at the ccentral pixel with that of its neighbors. The method is fully tested using the public PolyU palmprint database. While palm code achieves only about 89% accuracy, over 96% accuracy is achieved by the proposed G-LBP approach. The proposed algorithm was then deployed to the DSP processor of OMAP 3530 and work together with the ARM processor for feature extraction. When complicated algorithms run on the DSP processor, the ARM processor can focus on image capture, user interface and peripheral control. Integrated with an image sensing module and central processing board, the designed device can achieve accurate and real time performance.

With the development of space exploration technology and the deepening of space cognition,more and more space science exploration projects have been advanced and implemented,which promoted the era of big data in space science.The foreign e-Science construction status in space science and two supporting and service information systems of China Space Science Data Center(CSSDC) were described.More specifically,it presented the application environment of big data in the e-Science project of CSSDC:Space Science Virtual Observatory(VSSO),as well as illustrated the comprehensive application platform of space science in cloud environment:Solar-Terrestrial and Astronomy Research Network (STARNetwork).

Abstract Background and purpose: Catalpol (CAT) has diverse pharmacological functions, including cellular homeostasis maintenance and anti-inflammatory effects. Sirtuin 5 (SIRT5) plays a considerable role in regulating cellular homeostasis in cardiac diseases. Our research explores the therapeutic potential of CAT against myocardial injury and its underlying mechanism. Methods: The H9c2 cells were pretreated with different CAT concentrations for 24 h, or CAT for 24 h followed by CoCl2 stimulation. Cell viability was determined with MTT assay. Biochemical assays, western blotting, and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), combined with bioinformatic analysis, were used to examine the impact of CAT on CoCl2-induced myocardial injury in H9c2 cells and further explore its molecular mechanisms. Results: CAT ameliorated levels of myocardial enzymes, increased nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+/NADH) ratio and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), while inhibited lactic acid (LD), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 in CoCl2-induced H9c2 cells. Mechanistically, SIRT5 knockdown inhibited Lin28a expression and negated the effects of CAT on ATP level, LD content, and the expression of inflammatory factors in cells. CAT likely exerted its protective effects on myocardial function through the SIRT5-mediated signaling pathway. Conclusions: CAT regulates energy metabolism and inflammation via the SIRT5-mediated signaling pathway, exerting a protective effect in myocardial injury.