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Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is not sensitive to most chemotherapy drugs, leading to poor chemotherapy efficacy. Recently, Trametinib and Palbociclib have promising prospects in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. This article aims to explore the effects of Trametinib on pancreatic cancer and address the underlying mechanism of resistance as well as its reversal strategies. The GDSC (Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer) and CTD2 (Cancer Target Discovery and Development) were utilized to screen the potential drug candidate in PDAC cell lines. The dose-increase method combined with the high-dose shock method was applied to induce the Trametinib-resistant PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cell lines. The CCK8 proliferation assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry, and western blot were conducted to verify the inhibitory effect of Trametinib and Palbociclib. RNA-seq was performed in resistant PDAC cell lines to find the differential expression genes related to drug resistance and predict pathways leading to the reversal of Trametinib resistance. The GDSC and CTD2 database screening revealed that Trametinib demonstrates a significant inhibitory effect on PDAC. We found that Trametinib has a lower IC50 than Gemcitabine in PDAC cell lines. Both Trametinib and Gemcitabine can decrease the proliferation capacity of pancreatic cells, induce cell cycle arrest, and increase apoptosis. Simultaneously, the phosphorylation of the AKT and ERK pathways were inhibited by the treatment of Trametinib. In addition, the RNA-seq of Trametinib-induced resistance PDAC cell lines reveals that the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)-RB-E2F regulatory axis and G2/M DNA damage checkpoint might lead the drug resistance. Besides, the combination of Trametinib with Palbociclib could inhibit the proliferation and cell cycle of both resistant cells lines and also restore the sensitivity of drug-resistant cells to Trametinib. Last but not least, the interferon-α and interferon-γ expression were upregulated in resistance cell lines, which might lead to the reversal of drug resistance. The study shows Trametinib has a critical inhibitory effect on PDAC. Besides, the combination of Trametinib with Palbociclib can inhibit the proliferation of PDAC-resistant cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a pair of chiral manganese(II) complexes is reported based on phosphine oxide, denoted as R/S‐[(L)2MnBr]Br (L = 5,5′‐bis(diphenylphosphine oxide)−4,4′‐bi‐1,3‐benzodioxole). These complexes exhibit distinctive five‐coordinated crystal structures and high stability. In addition, R/S‐[(L)2MnBr]Br display intense red luminescence at room temperature and demonstrate outstanding circularly polarized luminescence property, featuring luminescence dissymmetry factor values of +1.56 × 10−2 and −1.94 × 10−2, respectively. By integrating S‐[(L)2MnBr]Br with commercial phosphors, a white light‐emitting diode is successfully fabricated with a correlated color temperature of 4512 K, achieving a remarkable color rendering index of 96.9. Furthermore, a exceptional scintillation performance is observed in the target compounds and ultimately showcase X‐ray imaging with a spatial resolution of up to 11.9 lp mm−1. This endeavor imparts invaluable insights for the advancement of prospective multifunctional chiral manganese(II)‐based luminescent materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most common squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is one of the pathogenic factors involved in the oncogenetic development and progression of NPC. E3 ligases, which are key members of the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS), specifically recognize various oncogenic factors and tumor suppressors and contribute to determining their fate through ubiquitination. Several studies have demonstrated that E3 ligases are aberrantly expressed and mutated in NPC and that these changes are closely associated with the occurrence and progression of NPC. Herein, we aim to thoroughly review the specific action mechanisms by which E3 ligases participate in NPC signaling pathways and discuss their functional relationship with EBV. Moreover, we describe the current progress in and limitations for targeted therapies against E3 ligases in NPC. Key messages: • E3 ubiquitin ligases, as members of the UPS system, determine the fate of their substrates and may act either as oncogenic or anti-tumorigenic factors in NPC. • Mutations or dysregulated expression of E3 ubiquitin ligases is closely related to the occurrence, development, and therapeutic sensitivity of NPC, as they play important roles in several signaling pathways affected by EBV infection. • As promising therapeutic targets, E3 ligases may open new avenues for treatment and for improving the prognosis of NPC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the forward problems on the data-driven rational solitons for the (2+1)-dimensional Kadomtsev–Petviashvili-I (KP-I) equation and spin-nonlinear Schrödinger (spin-NLS) equation via the deep neural networks learning. Moreover, the inverse problems of the (2+1)-dimensional KP-I equation and spin-NLS equation are studied via deep learning. The main idea of the data-driven forward and inverse problems is to use the deep neural networks with the activation function to approximate the solutions of the considered (2+1)-dimensional nonlinear wave equations by optimizing the chosen loss functions related to the considered nonlinear wave equations. • Forward problems of 2D KP-I and spin-NLS equations with rational solitons are studied via deep learning. • Inverse problems of 2D KP-I and spin-NLS equations are discussed via deep learning. • Inverse problems of the 2D combination of NLS and cmKdV equations are explored via deep learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe‐N/C catalysts have currently comparable oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity to Pt/C catalysts, which are up for consideration as the most promising non‐precious metal material for research. In spite of this, its development and application are limited by the Fenton effect and insufficient stability. Herein, we have fabricated a FeNi‐nitrogen‐doped porous carbon (FeNi‐NPC) catalyst using solvent thermal method, made from the bimetallic (Fe, Ni)‐doped ZIF‐8. A soft template of glucose was used to control the pore structure and active specific surface area of the catalyst. With the benefit of the electronic effect of the bimetal, FeNi‐NPC catalysts exhibit superior ORR activity and stability to Pt/C catalysts in both acidic (E1/2=0.8672 V) and alkaline (E1/2=0.8663 V) conditions. FeNi‐NPC demonstrated peak power densities in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) of up to 865 mW cm−2, which exceeds the currently reported M‐N/C catalysts. The work presented here will lead to the design of efficient ORR electrocatalysts in PEMFC devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the physics informed neural networks (PINNs), two types of supervised deep learning problems are explored. On the one hand, the data-driven vortex solutions of the 2D generalized nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation with PT periodic potential are investigated for finding data-driven solutions approximating 'exact' vortex solitons. The comparisons between the 'exact' and training vortex solitons show the effectiveness of the PINNs. On the other hand, it is intriguing for us to effectively study the data-driven discovery of parameters in the 2D generalized NLS equations with PT -symmetric periodic potential for both clean training data without a noise and perturbed training data with a 1% random noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Affective Computing is one of the central studies for achieving advanced human-computer interaction and is a popular research direction in the field of artificial intelligence for smart healthcare frameworks. In recent years, the use of electroencephalograms (EEGs) to analyze human emotional states has become a hot spot in the field of emotion recognition. However, the EEG is a non-stationary, non-linear signal that is sensitive to interference from other physiological signals and external factors. Traditional emotion recognition methods have limitations in complex algorithm structures and low recognition precision. In this article, based on an in-depth analysis of EEG signals, we have studied emotion recognition methods in the following respects. First, in this study, the DEAP dataset and the excitement model were used, and the original signal was filtered with others. The frequency band was selected using a butter filter and then the data was processed in the same range using min–max normalization. Besides, in this study, we performed hybrid experiments on sash windows and overlays to obtain an optimal combination for the calculation of features. We also apply the Discrete Wave Transform (DWT) to extract those functions from the preprocessed EEG data. Finally, a pre-trained k-Nearest Neighbor (kNN) machine learning model was used in the recognition and classification process and different combinations of DWT and kNN parameters were tested and fitted. After 10-fold cross-validation, the precision reached 86.4%. Compared to state-of-the-art research, this method has higher recognition accuracy than conventional recognition methods, while maintaining a simple structure and high speed of operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a permanent-magnet-quadrupole doublet lens with strong-focusing is designed and manufactured. Such an instrument could solve the problem of irregular beam spots produced by the weak focusing of conventional solenoid-focusing systems in low-energy electron irradiation accelerators. It could provide a better and more appropriate initial beam spot before the beam enters the subsequent magnetic spreading system or magnetic scanning system, thus, improving the irradiation uniformity. The association of the parameters of the rectangular permanent magnet with the quadrupole magnetic field is investigated. Focusing results, obtained using irregular beam spots with different profiles and different energies, and magnetic field measurement results, both from the instrument, verify the engineering feasibility of this permanent-magnet-quadrupole doublet lens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer. Neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NAST) followed by surgery are currently standard of care for TNBC with 50-60% of patients achieving pathologic complete response (pCR). We investigated ability of deep learning (DL) on dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI and diffusion weighted imaging acquired early during NAST to predict TNBC patients' pCR status in the breast. During the development phase using the images of 130 TNBC patients, the DL model achieved areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) of 0.97 ± 0.04 and 0.82 ± 0.10 for the training and the validation, respectively. The model achieved an AUC of 0.86 ± 0.03 when evaluated in the independent testing group of 32 patients. In an additional prospective blinded testing group of 48 patients, the model achieved an AUC of 0.83 ± 0.02. These results demonstrated that DL based on multiparametric MRI can potentially differentiate TNBC patients with pCR or non-pCR in the breast early during NAST. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, numerous dopants have been investigated to promote the initial heat storage performance or sintering resistance of Co 3 O 4 for thermochemical energy storage. Owing to the different synthesis methods and heat storage test conditions, the performances of these materials are not comparable. In this work, nine dopants, including four unreported dopants, were systematically compared and screened under the same conditions. Results demonstrated that for five redox cycles, the Si- and Mg- doped sample had adverse effects on the conversion rate, and the others maintained the conversion rate above 0.95. Cu and Zr doping exhibited the highest re-oxidation rate values, and those of the others were lower than that of pure cobalt oxide. Moreover, except for Cu and Zr, all dopants adversely affected energy density. According to aforementioned heat storage properties, Cu-, Zr-doped samples, and pure cobalt oxide were subjected to 100 cycles for further comparison. The Cu-doped sample exhibited a higher re-oxidation rate and energy density, and the Zr-doped sample exhibited more stable cyclability. Finally, by doping Cu and Zr, the micromorphology evolution was more stable than that of pure oxide for multiple cycles, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results revealed that the higher surface oxygen was the primary reason for the superior performance facilitated by Cu and Zr. The Cu- and Zr-modified cobalt oxides were the potential candidates for thermochemical energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been widely used in photocatalysis due to its excellent properties. In this manuscript, multifold TiO2 nanorods with highly efficient photocatalytic performance was prepared for H2 production using electron beam evaporation based on glancing angle deposition. The effects of annealing temperature and morphological structure on photocatalytic performance of TiO2 nanorods were studied. The optimal annealing conditions were 550 °C for 300 min in air. Photocatalytic performances of multifold nanorods were improved to varying degrees compared to no-fold nanorods. Photocurrent density of Z2 reached the maximum value at about 1.35 mA/cm2, which was more than six times that of Z0 (0.2 mA/cm2). Meanwhile, through SEM analysis and Nyquist plots, the smaller overall charge transfer resistance and larger BET surface area of Z2 resulted in the maximum photocurrent density. Increase in specific surface area and number of active sites of multifold structure improved photocatalytic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a permanent-magnet electron-beam-spread system for irradiation has been developed and constructed, and its performance was experimentally measured with a beam. This work is helpful to counter beam-tail sweep issues (resulting in excessive doses at the ends of each sweep). Using the beam's optical transmission matrix and beam dynamics simulations, we analyzed the impact of the individual parameters of a special quadrupole magnet and a special octupole magnet on the beam spread, and we determined the optimal parameters for irradiation production. To meet the design requirements of the magnetic field, the yoke structure was optimized, and permanent magnets with very similar degrees of magnetization and small magnetic declinations were used. The permanent-magnet electron-beam-spread system was applied to an actual 0.5-MeV electron irradiation accelerator, and the engineering feasibility of the permanent magnet electron beam spread system was fully verified by measuring the uniformity of the beam after the spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cigarette butts combustion is a proper sulfation method for MnCe-based catalyst. • After sulfation, Hg removal efficiency increased from 66.46 % to 88.76 % at 150 °C. • After sulfation, the O ad concentration on the catalyst surface almost doubled. MnO x -CeO 2 is a promising catalyst for Hg0 removal from coal flue gas at ∼150 °C but exhibits insufficient catalytic activity. Even though sulfation enhances the catalytic activity of MnO x -CeO 2 , gas-phase sulfation leads to SO 2 poisoning and catalyst deactivation. In this study, we developed a liquid-phase sulfation strategy involving the direct combustion of cigarette butts soaked in a solution of sulfate and metal precursors to directly synthesize sulfated MnCe catalyst (SMC). SMC was characterized via N 2 adsorption–desorption isotherms, SEM-EDS, XRD, XPS, and Hg-TPD. Both the MnCe catalyst and SMC exhibited good Hg0 oxidation efficiencies (66.46 % and 88.76 %, respectively) at 150 °C. The enhanced performance of SMC was attributed to the generation of abundant chemically adsorbed oxygen species on the SMC surface during sulfation. Moreover, the synergistic effect between the Ce4+ and Mn4+ species contributed to the improved catalytic performance of SMC. This strategy not only provides a one-step synthesis of sulfated catalysts but also has potential applications in Hg0 removal from coal flue gas in coal-fired power plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: RRM2 is a crucial subunit of ribonucleotide reductase. In this article, we provided a comprehensive analysis of RRM2 with immune infiltration in pan-cancer. We focused on the hotspots of ferroptosis-related gene RRM2 and immunotherapy. Via bioinformatics analysis, multiple indicators suggested that RRM2 high expression may enhance immunotherapy sensitivity. For the first time, we systematically analyzed the role of RRM2 in pan-cancer. We provided the prospect of RRM2 and immunotherapy for pan-cancer. Additionally, we proved the expression pattern, clinical value, prognostic value and potential pathways of RRM2 with different platforms. In particular, we confirmed RRM2 expression and function in bladder cancer in our clinical samples and cell lines. Collectively, we found that RRM2 is a novel prognostic biomarker, and these findings may aid in an improved understanding of the role of RRM2 and its clinical application in human cancers. As a crucial subunit of ribonucleotide reductase, RRM2 plays a significant part in DNA synthesis. This study aimed to elucidate the comprehensive landscape of RRM2 in human cancers. With different bioinformatics platforms, we investigated the expression pattern, prognostic significance, mutational landscapes, gene interaction network, signaling pathways and immune infiltration of RRM2 in tumors. We found that RRM2 expression was predominantly up-expressed in tumor tissues in most tumors. Concurrently, RRM2 expression was significantly associated with worse prognosis and tumor stage across TCGA cancers. Moreover, RRM2 high levels were critically associated with the infiltration of natural killer T cells and immune scores. RRM2 was positively related to immune checkpoints, tumor mutation burden, microsatellite instability, neoantigen, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte in several cancers, predicting effective response to immunotherapy. Meanwhile, a strong co-expression of RRM2 with immune-related genes was observed. Additionally, multiple Cox regression analysis showed that RRM2 was an independent prognostic factor in bladder cancer (BLCA). Eventually, we verified that RRM2 was overexpressed in BLCA clinical samples and cell lines. Blocking RRM2 could suppress BLCA cells' growth and proliferation while enhancing sensitivity to cisplatin. This study provided a new perspective for understanding RRM2 in cancers and new strategies for tumor immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging tumor microenvironment (aging TME) is emerging as a hot spot in cancer research for its significant roles in regulation of tumor progression and tumor immune response. The immune and stromal scores of low-grade gliomas (LGGs) from TCGA and CGGA databases were determined by using ESTIMATE algorithm. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between high and low immune/stromal score groups were identified. Subsequently, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was conducted to screen out aging TME related signature (ATMERS). Based on the expression patterns of ATMERS, LGGs were classified into two clusters with distinct prognosis via consensus clustering method. Afterwards, the aging TME score for each sample was calculated via gene set variation analysis (GSVA). Furthermore, TME components were quantified by MCP counter and CIBERSORT algorithm. The potential response to immunotherapy was evaluated by Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion analysis. We found that LGG patients with high aging TME scores showed poor prognosis, exhibited an immunosuppressive phenotype and were less likely to respond to immunotherapy compared to those with low scores. The predictive performance of aging TME score was verified in three external datasets. Finally, the expression of ATMERS in LGGs was confirmed at protein level through the Human Protein Atlas website and western blot analysis. This novel aging TME-based scoring system provided a robust biomarker for predicting the prognosis and immunotherapy response in LGGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differentiation states of glioma cells correlated with prognosis and tumor-immune microenvironment (TIME) in patients with gliomas. We aimed to identify differentiation related genes (DRGs) for predicting the prognosis and immunotherapy response in patients with gliomas. We identified three differentiation states and the corresponding DRGs in glioma cells through single-cell transcriptomics analysis. Based on the DRGs, we separated glioma patients into three clusters with distinct clinicopathological features in combination with bulk RNA-seq data. Weighted correlation network analysis, univariate cox regression analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator analysis were involved in the construction of the prognostic model based on DRGs. Distinct clinicopathological characteristics, TIME, immunogenomic patterns and immunotherapy responses were identified across three clusters. A DRG signature composing of 12 genes were identified for predicting the survival of glioma patients and nomogram model integrating the risk score and multi-clinicopathological factors were constructed for clinical practice. Patients in high-risk group tended to get shorter overall survival and better response to immune checkpoint blockage therapy. We obtained 9 candidate drugs through comprehensive analysis of the differentially expressed genes between the low and high-risk groups in the model. Our findings indicated that the risk score may not only contribute to the determination of prognosis but also facilitate in the prediction of immunotherapy response in glioma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Our proposed method uniquely integrates all-fiber laser SMI with the principles of laser triangulation. This integration not only enhances the precision of angular measurements but also extends the applicability of the measurement system, enabling high-accuracy measurements in a broader range of conditions, including those challenging for traditional methods. • Our approach significantly reduces reliance on complex optical components, streamlining the design of the experimental setup. This reduction not only lowers the cost of the system but also increases its practicality and ease of use, making this high-precision angular measurement technique more accessible for laboratory and industrial applications. • By utilizing an all-fiber laser and FBGs, our method exhibits excellent resistance to environmental interferences such as temperature fluctuations and mechanical vibrations. This enhanced stability and interference resistance make our approach a powerful tool in applications requiring high reliability and precision, such as in precision engineering and scientific research. This study introduces a cutting-edge all-fiber laser self-mixing interferometry (SMI) system, addressing the need for high-precision angular measurements in scientific and industrial applications. Against the backdrop of traditional methods that often grapple with complexity and sensitivity to environmental disturbances, our approach stands out by offering a simplified, robust alternative with enhanced accuracy. Leveraging the coherence and monochromatic properties of laser light, our system employs a linear-cavity all-fiber configuration that minimizes the need for complex optical components. The integration of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) within the setup serves as a cornerstone, providing spectral selectivity and intrinsic stability. Through the fringe counting method and the incorporation of laser triangulation principles, the technique achieves remarkable precision in detecting angular displacements. A comprehensive set of experiments validates the proposed system, showcasing its capability to deliver consistent and reliable measurements. The implementation of Wavelet Transform-based denoising further refines the signal quality, ensuring that the extracted data remains true to the actual angular changes. Despite the inherent challenges such as potential systematic errors and environmental influences, our method demonstrates a high degree of repeatability and fidelity, which is crucial for applications demanding stringent accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Heterogeneous inner surface modification techniques were created based on biomimetic and hydrophobic approach. • The theory of a bionic lotus leaf structure on lower surface for constructing surface energy gradient were developed. • A stable surface energy difference for enhanced microdroplet array generation was proved. • Digital loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) was applied for an enclosed microwell array chip. Microdroplet array chips have great potential for biological applications. Both physical structure and chemical material modification are effective surface modification techniques for the generation of droplet arrays. However, single surface modification technique is constrained by either unstable infiltration state transition or the requirement for high surface tension. In this paper, we proposed a heterogeneous inner surface modification technique for an enclosed microdroplet array chip by coupling the physically structured surface modification that accelerates the wetting state of the aqueous solution, and the material-modified surface that can maintain this state, thus keeping the aqueous solution in a stable Wenzel state. This technique provides a stable surface energy difference for enhanced microdroplet array generation. We investigated the influences of variables that affect the heterogeneity of the inner surfaces of the chip, such as the contact angles of the upper and lower surfaces and the size of the micropores on the stability and size of the generated droplet. We also evaluated the compatibility of technique for different types of liquids and biological reagents for the droplet array generation. Furthermore, we demonstrated the potential of the droplet arrays generated in a heterogeneous dual-regulation manner for DNA amplification in loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cobalt-based ceramics is one of the most promising candidates for thermochemical energy storage. In this paper, a novel cigarette butts assisted combustion synthesis method was proposed to synthesize nano-CoOx ceramics used for thermochemical energy storage. For this method, cigarette butts were selected as solid fuels. The cigarette butts were impregnated in cobalt nitrate solution, and the cobalt nitrate solution was absorbed, filled and dispersed uniformly in the cigarette butts. The wet cigarette butts were directly burned, and two combustion modes (smoldering and flaming) were considered. After the wet impregnated cigarette butts burned out, nano-CoOx was obtained. The commercial and sol-gel method prepared CoOx was also tested for comparison. Based on the characterization results, the CoOx obtained from the combustion synthesis method was a mixture of Co 3 O 4 and CoO. In addition, CoOx synthesized in the smoldering combustion process (S250) had the highest BET specific surface area and better performance on thermochemical energy storage. The conversion rate was kept above 97% and the oxidation rate could maintain at a stable and higher value (∼175 μmol/min/g) after 30 cycles. For S250, the onset temperature gap between heat charging and discharging was the smallest (15.9 °C), suggesting that S250 could charge and discharge quickly and kept a complete reversibility in multiple cycles. The heat loss of S250 was the smallest and its heat grade was the highest. As a whole, direct combustion of the wet impregnated cigarette butts could be a feasible and rapid method to synthesize nano-CoOx ceramics, which exhibited superior performance on thermochemical energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report that the self‐assembly of drug amphiphiles, Evans blue conjugated camptothecin prodrug (EB‐CPT), can be modulated by another anticancer drug paclitaxel (PTX), resulting in ultrahigh quality of nanovesicles (NVs) with uniform shape and diameters of around 80 nm with the EB‐CPT:PTX weight ratio of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3, denoted as ECX NVs. Significantly, the co‐assembly of EB‐CPT and PTX without adding other excipients has nearly 100 % drug loading efficiency (DLE) and ultrahigh drug loading content (DLC) of PTX alone of up to 72.3±1.7 wt % which, to our best knowledge, is among the highest level reported in literature. Moreover, the ECX NVs with the EB‐CPT:PTX weight ratio of 1:2 showed remarkable combination index of 0.59 at a level of 50 % efficacy against HCT116 cells in vitro and greatly improved tumor inhibition effect in vivo compared with two clinically approved CPT‐ and PTX‐based anticancer nanomedicines (Onivyde and Abraxane) individually and their combinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report that the self‐assembly of drug amphiphiles, Evans blue conjugated camptothecin prodrug (EB‐CPT), can be modulated by another anticancer drug paclitaxel (PTX), resulting in ultrahigh quality of nanovesicles (NVs) with uniform shape and diameters of around 80 nm with the EB‐CPT:PTX weight ratio of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3, denoted as ECX NVs. Significantly, the co‐assembly of EB‐CPT and PTX without adding other excipients has nearly 100 % drug loading efficiency (DLE) and ultrahigh drug loading content (DLC) of PTX alone of up to 72.3±1.7 wt % which, to our best knowledge, is among the highest level reported in literature. Moreover, the ECX NVs with the EB‐CPT:PTX weight ratio of 1:2 showed remarkable combination index of 0.59 at a level of 50 % efficacy against HCT116 cells in vitro and greatly improved tumor inhibition effect in vivo compared with two clinically approved CPT‐ and PTX‐based anticancer nanomedicines (Onivyde and Abraxane) individually and their combinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Melanoma is an extremely aggressive type of skin cancer and experiencing a expeditiously rising mortality in a current year. Exploring new potential prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets of melanoma are urgently needed. The ambition of this research was to identify genetic markers and assess prognostic performance of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) regulators in melanoma. Methods: Gene expression data and corresponding clinical informations of melanoma patients as well as sequence data of normal controls are collected from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis was carried out to detect the RNA expression of IGF2BP3 in A375 cell line, melanoma tissues, and normal tissues. Western blot, cell proliferation, and migration assays were performed to assess the ability of IGF2BP3 in A375 cell line. Results: Differently expressed m6A regulators between tumor samples and normal samples were analyzed. A three-gene prognostic signature including IGF2BP3, RBM15B, and METTL16 was constructed, and the risk score of this signature was identified to be an independent prognostic indicator for melanoma. In addition, IGF2BP3 was verified to promote melanoma cell proliferation and migration in vitro and associate with lymph node metastasis in clinical samples. Moreover, risk score and the expression of IGF2BP3 were positively associated with the infiltrating immune cells and these hub genes made excellent potential drug targets in melanoma. Conclusion: We identified the genetic changes in m6A regulatory genes and constructed a three-gene risk signature with distinct prognostic value in melanoma. This research provided new insights into the epigenetic understanding of m6A regulators and novel therapeutic strategies in melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing cancer response to therapeutic interventions has been realized as an important course to early predict curative efficacy and treatment outcomes due to tumor heterogeneity. Compared to the traditional invasive tissue biopsy method, molecular imaging techniques have fundamentally revolutionized the ability to evaluate cancer response in a spatiotemporal manner. The past few years has witnessed a paradigm shift on the efforts from manufacturing functional molecular imaging probes for seeing a tumor to a vantage stage of interpreting the tumor response during different treatments. This review is to stand by the current development of advanced imaging technologies aiming to predict the treatment response in cancer therapy. Special interest is placed on the systems that are able to provide rapid and noninvasive assessment of pharmacokinetic drug fates (e.g., drug distribution, release, and activation) and tumor microenvironment heterogeneity (e.g., tumor cells, macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), T cells, and inflammatory cells). The current status, practical significance, and future challenges of the emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technology and machine learning in the applications of medical imaging fields is overviewed. Ultimately, the authors hope that this review is timely to spur research interest in molecular imaging and precision medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the neural tangent kernel (NTK) for general partial differential equations (PDEs) based on physics-informed neural networks (PINNs). As we all know, the training of an artificial neural network can be converted to the evolution of NTK. We analyze the initialization of NTK and the convergence conditions of NTK during training for general PDEs. The theoretical results show that the homogeneity of differential operators plays a crucial role for the convergence of NTK. Moreover, based on the PINNs, we validate the convergence conditions of NTK using the initial value problems of the sine–Gordon equation and the initial–boundary value problem of the KdV equation. • Some divergent cases of initialized NTK for normal conditions are found. • The convergence of NTK is discussed, and some results were changed. • The convergence condition of NTK is relaxed for some restrictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A very low rate of 3 ± 3 FPs per patient was maintained for all brain metastasis sizes. • Automated segmentation performance for brain metastases depends on metastasis size. • For metastases ≥6 mm, DSC was 87%, sensitivity was 99%, and PPV was 67%. • For metastases ≥3 mm and <6 mm, DSC was 64%, sensitivity was 87%, and PPV was 49%. • For metastases <3 mm, DSC was 17%, sensitivity was 25%, and PPV was 28%. Brain metastases are manually contoured during stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) treatment planning, which is time-consuming, potentially challenging, and laborious. The purpose of this study was to develop and investigate a 2-stage deep learning (DL) approach (MetNet) for brain metastasis segmentation in pre-treatment magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We retrospectively analyzed postcontrast 3D T1-weighted spoiled gradient echo MRIs from 934 patients who underwent SRS between August 2009 and August 2018. Neuroradiologists manually identified brain metastases in the MRIs. The treating radiation oncologist or physicist contoured the brain metastases. We constructed a 2-stage DL ensemble consisting of detection and segmentation models to segment the brain metastases on the MRIs. We evaluated the performance of MetNet by computing sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), and Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) with respect to metastasis size, as well as free-response receiver operating characteristics. The 934 patients (mean [±standard deviation] age 59 ± 13 years, 474 women) were randomly split into 80% training and 20% testing groups (748:186). For patients with metastases 1–52 mm (n = 766), 648 (85%) were detected and segmented with a mean segmentation DSC of 81% ± 15%. Patient-averaged sensitivity was 88% ± 19%, PPV was 58% ± 25%, and DSC was 85% ± 13% with 3 ± 3 false positives (FPs) per patient. When considering only metastases ≥6 mm, patient-averaged sensitivity was 99% ± 5%, PPV was 67% ± 28%, and DSC was 87% ± 13% with 1 ± 2 FPs per patient. MetNet can segment brain metastases across a broad range of metastasis sizes with high sensitivity, low FPs, and high segmentation accuracy in postcontrast T1-weighted MRI, potentially aiding treatment planning for SRS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfonic acid functionalized hyper-crosslinked polymer solid acid was synthesized in one step under the catalysis of sulfuric acid. One-step synthesis successfully solved the problem of rapid polymerization and simplified the synthesis routes. Different samples were synthesized by changing the usage of sulfuric acid and their structures were characterized by FT-TR, XRD, XPS and N2 adsorption/desorption. The polymerization process was analyzed by experimental design, and the results showed that although it was a one-step reaction, there were two processes of polymerization and sulfonation, and they were competitive. The catalytic activity of obtained samples were evaluated in the hydrolysis process of cellulose, and the hydrolysis conditions were optimized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play important roles in cell signaling and tissue homeostasis, in which the level of ROS is critical through the equilibrium between ROS generating and eliminating events. A disruption of the balance leads to disease development either by a surplus or a dearth of ROS, which requires ROS-modulating strategies to overturn the defect for disease treatment. Over the past decade, there have been tremendous advances in nanomedicine centering ROS generation and/or elimination as major mechanisms to treat a variety of diseases. In this review, we will discuss the research achievements on two opposite approaches of ROS-generating and ROS-eliminating strategies for treating cancer and other related diseases. Importantly, we will highlight the conceptual and strategic advances of ROS-mediated immunomodulation, including macrophage polarization, immunogenic cell death and T cell activation, which are currently rising as one of the mainstreams of cancer therapy. At the end, the future challenges and opportunities of mediating ROS-based mechanisms are envisioned. In light of the pleiotropic roles of ROS in different diseases, we hope this review is timely to deliver a clear logic of designing principles on ROS generation and elimination for different disease treatments. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the breakthrough discoveries of DNA and histone modifications, the field of RNA modifications has gained increasing interest in the scientific community. The discovery of N6-methyladenosine (m6A), a predominantly internal epigenetic modification in eukaryotes mRNA, heralded the creation of the field of epi-transcriptomics. This post-transcriptional RNA modification is dynamic and reversible, and is regulated by methylases, demethylases and proteins that preferentially recognize m6A modifications. Altered m6A levels affect RNA processing, degradation and translation, thereby disrupting gene expression and key cellular processes, ultimately resulting in tumor initiation and progression. Furthermore, inhibitors and regulators of m6A-related factors have been explored as therapeutic approaches for treating cancer. In the present review, the mechanisms of m6A RNA modification, the clinicopathological relevance of m6A alterations, the type and frequency of alterations and the multiple functions it regulates in different types of cancer are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fusarium ear rot (FER) caused by Fusarium verticillioides is a major disease of maize that reduces grain yield and quality globally. However, there have been few reports of major loci for FER were verified and cloned. Result: To gain a comprehensive understanding of the genetic basis of natural variation in FER resistance, a recombinant inbred lines (RIL) population and one panel of inbred lines were used to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for resistance. As a result, a total of 10 QTL were identified by linkage mapping under four environments, which were located on six chromosomes and explained 1.0–7.1% of the phenotypic variation. Epistatic mapping detected four pairs of QTL that showed significant epistasis effects, explaining 2.1–3.0% of the phenotypic variation. Additionally, 18 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified across the whole genome by genome-wide association study (GWAS) under five environments. Compared linkage and association mapping revealed five common intervals located on chromosomes 3, 4, and 5 associated with FER resistance, four of which were verified in different near-isogenic lines (NILs) populations. GWAS identified three candidate genes in these consistent intervals, which belonged to the Glutaredoxin protein family, actin-depolymerizing factors (ADFs), and AMP-binding proteins. In addition, two verified FER QTL regions were found consistent with Fusarium cob rot (FCR) and Fusarium seed rot (FSR). Conclusions: These results revealed that multi pathways were involved in FER resistance, which was a complex trait that was controlled by multiple genes with minor effects, and provided important QTL and genes, which could be used in molecular breeding for resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review contributes towards a systematic understanding of the mechanism of shape-dependent effects on nanoparticles (NPs) for elaborating and predicting their properties and applications based on the past two decades of research. Recently, the significance of shape-dependent physical chemistry and biomedicine has drawn ever increasing attention. While there has been a great deal of effort to utilize NPs with different morphologies in these fields, so far research studies are largely localized in particular materials, synthetic methods, or biomedical applications, and have ignored the interactional and interdependent relationships of these areas. This review is a comprehensive description of the NP shapes from theory, synthesis, property to application. We figure out the roles that shape plays in the properties of different kinds of nanomaterials together with physicochemical and biomedical applications. Through systematic elaboration of these shape-dependent impacts, better utilization of nanomaterials with diverse morphologies would be realized and definite strategies would be expected for breakthroughs in these fields. In addition, we have proposed some critical challenges and open problems that need to be addressed in nanotechnology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ag modified EVS was synthesized and used as catalytic sorbent for Hg° capture. • The doped Ag nanoparticles can significantly improve Hg° oxidation efficiency. • The interaction between Ag and V was responsible for the low temperature activity. • The role of silver and vanadium on the Hg° oxidation process was discussed. Vanadium silicate (EVS) is a vanadium-substituted form of titanosilicate that has a high potential for use as a sorbent for mercury removal. In the present study, EVS with supported silver nanoparticles (EVS-Ag100) as the catalytic sorbent was synthesized for elemental mercury (Hg°) capture. The physical and chemical properties of the sorbents were investigated. The raw EVS exhibited a poor Hg° capture capacity (7.7 μg g−1), because most of the vanadium species in the structure of EVS were V4+. The loading of the silver could significantly enhance the Hg° capture capacity (63.4 μg g−1). EVS-Ag100 exhibited a superior Hg° capture performance at temperatures of approximately 150 °C. Silver nanoparticles that formed on the EVS were the active sites. In addition, the vanadium species of EVS-Ag100 exhibited higher Hg° oxidation activity than those in the framework of raw EVS. The XPS results revealed the activation of the vanadium species by the silver nanoparticles. After the capture of Hg° in the presence of O 2 , more V5+ was observed on the surface of EVS-Ag100. Exposure of EVS-Ag100 to a continuous simulated flue gas at 150 °C with a gas hourly space velocity of 220,000 h−1 led to Hg° removal efficiency of >96% in a 1 h test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbide formation and evolution of a new Ni-26W-6Cr (wt.%) superalloy for the 800 °C molten salt reactor (MSR) was investigated by homogenization heat treatment tests and the effect of carbide characteristics on the plastic deformation behavior was further investigated by isothermal simulated tensile tests. The plastic deformation properties of Ni-26W-6Cr superalloys are associated with the morphological characteristics and distribution of carbides. During homogenization at 1220 °C, a unique phenomenon was discovered, that is, the precipitation of the acicular carbide. The XRD, TEM and EBSD results show that this acicular carbide is distributed along the particular crystal plane of the γ matrix. Based on crystallographic theory, there is no obvious orientation relationship between the carbide and the γ matrix, which is prone to cracking along the carbide/γ interface during deformation. After homogenization at 1220 °C for 48 h, the acicular M 6 C carbides dissolved and the discrete granular M 6 C carbides distributed diffusely at the grain boundaries can relieve stress concentration and strengthen the grain boundaries, reducing the deformation resistance of the alloy, effectively inhibiting grain boundary slip and thus inhibiting crack propagation, and improving the tensile strength and plasticity of the material. • Formation and evolution behavior of M 6 C carbide was investigated. • Element redistribution promoted the precipitation and coarsening of M 6 C carbide. • Acicular M 6 C precipitated and distributed along specific directions. • The M 6 C carbide was incoherent with matrix and related to the tensile properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The droplet impacting on a substrate is widely encountered in daily life and industrial applications. In this paper, the impact dynamics and heat transfer are numerically simulated for both single droplet and binary droplets on a hot superhydrophobic substrate. The dimensionless numerical model is built up through the transient 2D axisymmetric model with a volume of fluid (VOF) model. The effect of the Weber number, Reynolds number, size ratio, contact angle on the spreading dynamics and heat transfer is investigated in details. It is found that the spreading factor and contact time increase with the increasing Weber number. Besides, the maximum spreading factor and contact time of binary droplets are larger than those of a single droplet under the same Reynolds and Weber numbers. The transient heat transfer rate of a single droplet is larger than that of binary droplets impingement due to larger spreading surface area-to-volume. The total input heat of a single droplet is generally larger than that of binary droplets except at large Weber numbers, and the equal-sized binary droplets have the larger total input heat than un-equal-sized binary droplets. For binary droplets impact on a hot superhydrophobic surface, the hot substrate can promote the spreading and retard the receding due to thermo-capillary effect, and thus will enhance heat transfer between the droplet and the hot substrate. These findings may be helpful in gaining insights into the dynamics and heat transfer of binary droplets impact on the hot substrate. [Display omitted] • Spreading factor and contact time of binary droplets are higher than single droplet. • Heat transfer of single droplet is higher than binary droplets. • Heat transfer is the best for equal-sized droplet. • Thermal-capillary effect promotes the spreading and retards the receding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epigenetic mechanisms, including histone and DNA methylation, play a key role in kidney fibrosis, but the precise mechanism remains unclear. Concerted action between histone and DNA-methyltransferases like G9a and DNMT1 is a common theme in gene expression regulation. We investigated the role of G9a and DNMT1 in kidney fibrosis pathogenesis and aimed to elucidate key G9a and DNMT1 targets contributing to kidney fibrosis maintenance. G9a and DNMT1 were detected in human fibrotic kidneys, UUO mouse kidneys, and TGFβ1-induced HK-2 cells. G9a and DNMT1 expression was knocked down by siRNA or inhibited with CM272 in HK-2 and UUO mouse, and transcriptomic responses to CM272 were examined. Antifibrogenic activity and safety of CM272 were studied in UUO mouse. Cell cycle were analyzed with flow cytometry. Gene expression regulation was analyzed by chromatin immunoprecipitation and methylation-specific PCR. G9a and DNMT1 were overexpressed in human fibrotic kidneys, UUO mouse kidneys, and TGFβ1-induced HK-2 cells. G9a/DNMT1 inhibition potently alleviated fibrosis in vitro and vivo. G9a/DNMT1 inhibition reduced the expression of E2F targets and altered the methylation status of CDKN1A leading to the attenuated cell-cycle arrest. TGFβ1-induced overexpression of G9a or DNMT1 resulted in the enrichment of H3K9me2 and 5-methylcytosine at CDKN1A promoter. Our data link G9a and DNMT1 to CDKN1A regulatory function and kidney fibrosis. Combined targeting G9a and DNMT1 could be a promising strategy for the treatment of kidney fibrosis. • Together with DNMT1, G9a is overexpressed in human fibrotic kidneys, UUO mouse kidneys, and TGFβ1-induced HK-2 cells. • G9a/DNMT1 inhibition profoundly affects the fibrogenic activation of kidney myofibroblasts and cell cycle. • Reduced CDKN1A in response to renal fibrosis is linked to increased methylation of H3K9 and cytosine at the promoter region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The mechanical vibration significantly impacts the performance of PCM-based a cylindrical lithium-ion battery thermal management system. • The impact of vibration frequency on thermal management performance is not monotonous. • The temperature of the battery is lower and the temperature uniformity is better for a large vibration amplitude. The performance and safety of lithium-ion batteries (LIB) in electric vehicles (EV) depend strongly on the operating temperature, so an effective battery thermal management system (BTMS) is essential. Battery thermal management (BTM) technology based on phase change material (PCM) is currently considered to be one of the most promising approaches. Electric vehicles are inevitably affected by vibration during operation, and many studies have shown that mechanical vibration can enhance natural convection heat transfer. The effect of mechanical vibration on the PCM-based battery thermal management module of a single cylindrical lithium-ion battery at high ambient temperature and high discharge rate is studied by numerical simulation for the first time in this paper. N-octadecane is selected as the PCM application in the cylindrical battery's periphery. The results show that: (1) mechanical vibration enhances the heat transfer of natural convection to limit the excessive temperature rise and improve temperature uniformity of the lithium-ion battery, and when the PCM is 12 mm, the mechanical vibration has the most significant impact on the PCM-based BTMS (2) when the vibration frequency is 10 Hz, the cooling effect of the battery thermal management module is the best, which is 28.05% lower than when there is no vibration. when the vibration frequency is 50 Hz, the temperature uniformity of the battery is the best, with a maximum temperature difference of 3.86 K. (3) when the vibration amplitude is 100 mm, the maximum temperature difference of the battery is 1.89 K, and the maximum temperature decreases by 27.74%. This study provides a new perspective for the thermal management system of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium oxalate (CaOx) nephrolithiasis is a prevalent disorder linked to metabolism. Examining metabolic alterations could potentially give an initial understanding of the origins of CaOx nephrolithiasis. This study aims to determine gut metabolic biomarkers differentiating CaOx nephrolithiasis utilizing untargeted and targeted metabolomics. CaOx nephrolithiasis model rats were built by 1% ethylene glycol administration. Histologic staining and renal function measurement revealed the presence of crystals in the lumen of the renal tubules, the renal injury and interstitial fibrosis in CaOx rats, demonstrating that the models of CaOx were established successfully. Hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) staining showed that CaOx group had inflammation and damage in the ileal tissue. Immunofluorescence and PCR results displayed that the tight junction proteins, ZO-1 and Occludin levels were decreased in the ileal tissues of the CaOx group. The untargeted metabolomic analysis revealed that 269 gut metabolites were differentially expressed between the CaOx group and the control group. Meanwhile, bile secretion, the main metabolic pathway in CaOx nephrolithiasis, was identified. Following, five significant bile acid metabolites were selected utilizing the targeted bile acid metabolomics, including Hyodeoxycholic acid (HDCA), Glycohyodeoxycholic acid (GHDCA), Nor-Deoxycholic Acid, omega-muricholic acid, and Taurolithocholic acid. Among these metabolites, HDCA and GHDCA presented the highest predictive accuracy with AUC = 1 to distinguish the CaOx group from the control group. As a result of network pharmacology, target genes of HDCA and GHDCA in CaOx nephrolithiasis were enriched in oxidative stress and apoptosis pathways. Conclusively, our study provides insight into bile acids metabolic changes related to CaOx nephrolithiasis. Although alterations in biochemical pathways indicate a complex pathology in CaOx rats, bile acid changes may serve as biomarkers of CaOx nephrolithiasis. • Employ metabolomics in calcium oxalate (CaOx) nephrolithiasis rat models. • Discover bile acids changes related to CaOx nephrolithiasis. • Predict function and mechanism of bile acids in CaOx nephrolithiasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the mechanism by which butyric acid can protect against calcium oxalate (CaOx) nephrolithiasis. To do so, a rat model was used with 0.75% ethylene glycol administration to induce CaOx crystal formation. Histological and von Kossa staining revealed calcium deposits and renal injury, while dihydroethidium fluorescence staining was used to detect reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Flow cytometry and TUNEL assays were used to assess apoptosis, respectively. Treatment with sodium butyrate (NaB) was found to partially reverse the oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis associated with CaOx crystallization in the kidney. In addition, in HK-2 cells, NaB reversed the decreased cell viability, increased ROS levels and apoptosis damage caused by oxalate exposure. Network pharmacology was employed to predict the target genes of butyric acid, CYP2C9. Subsequently, NaB was found to significantly reduce CYP2C9 levels in vivo and in vitro , and inhibition of CYP2C9 by Sulfaphenazole (a specific CYP2C9 inhibitor), was able to reduce ROS levels, inflammation injury, and apoptosis in oxalate-induced HK-2 cells. Collectively, these findings suggest that butyric acid may inhibit oxidative stress and reduce inflammation injury in CaOx nephrolithiasis by suppressing CYP2C9. • Butyric acid inhibits oxidative stress and inflammation injury in calcium oxalate (CaOx) nephrolithiasis. • Network pharmacology identifies CYP2C9 as the target gene of butyric acid in CaOx nephrolithiasis. • Inhibition of CYP2C9 could reduce ROS levels, inflammation injury, and apoptosis in oxalate-induced HK-2 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract To improve the activity of elemental mercury (Hg0) removal over the bentonite supported MnO x material (MnO x /bentonite), a novel starch-modified MnO x /bentonite composite (MnO x /starch-bentonite) was synthesized for Hg0 capture. The Hg0 removal activity tested under the atmosphere of pure N 2 and in the presence of O 2 showed that the MnO x /starch-bentonite exhibited better activity and stability than MnO x /bentonite. It was evident that the Hg0 removal efficiency over the novel catalytic sorbent (BS10M2) only declined by 16.9%, while that over MnO x /bentonite fell by 68.7% after a 5 h test under the atmosphere of N 2 + 6%O 2 at 120 °C. The starch modification decreased the surface area but enhanced the surface activity of bentonite, and more activate sites were generated on the surface of bentonite after being impregnated with potassium permanganate (KMnO 4) solution. The improved Hg0 removal performance was probably due to the generation of more Mn4+ and the newly introduced ester groups formed by the partial oxidation reaction between starch and KMnO 4 on the support, which played essential roles in mercury catalytic oxidation and adsorption. The MnO x were generated in two ways: KMnO 4 decomposition in a neutral solution condition and KMnO 4 reduction by the starch with hydroxyl groups. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • A novel starch-modified MnOx/bentonite composite for mercury removal was proposed. • The novel sorbent exhibited better activity and stability on mercury removal. • The newly generated Mn4+ and –COOH were responsible for the superior performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MnOx‐based catalyst has been used for elemental mercury (Hg0) removal in the coal‐fired flue gas, but the H2O in the flue gas significantly inhibits its activity. Generally, it is believed the inhibitory effect is caused by competitive adsorption between Hg0/HCl and H2O. In this study, we found that the MnOx was also aged in the flue gas with high concentration of H2O. The results indicated that the catalysts would be aged by H2O. The characterization of the fresh and aged catalysts showed that the amount of Mn4+ and chemisorbed oxygen species decreased. H2O didn't inhibit HCl adsorption on the catalyst surface, but suppressed the formation of active chlorine species, which was active for Hg0 removal. Therefore, besides the generally known competitive adsorption mechanism, there should be other possible reasons to interpret the inhibitory effects of water vapor on Hg0 oxidation process. Besides the competitive adsorption between H2O and Hg0/HCl, a new route was found to explain the inhibitory effect of H2O on Hg catalytic oxidation over the MnOx‐based catalysts. It was found that hydration‐like reaction is responsible for the catalyst aging by water vapour. In addition, the H2O in the flue gas inhibited the formation of active Cl species on the catalyst surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, elemental mercury (Hg 0 ) oxidation behavior in the NO oxidation step of fast SCR process was investigated. The Mn doped CeO 2 -ZrO 2 (CZM0.3) was selected as the catalyst, due to its superior oxygen storage capacity. The results showed that NO could be oxidized efficiently over the catalyst at around 250 °C under the atmosphere of NO/O 2 /N 2 . In the Hg 0 /NO/O 2 /N 2 reaction system, NO oxidation reaction remarkably improved Hg 0 oxidation efficiency. Two domination reaction pathways were proposed to interpret the influence of NO oxidation reaction on Hg 0 oxidation: one through a heterogeneous oxidation process, and the other through a homogeneous reaction. In the heterogeneous oxidation process, NO was adsorbed on the active sites and activated by the surface oxygen to form more active intermediates for Hg 0 oxidation. Hg 0 was probably oxidized in its gaseous state, since the affinity between NO and the catalyst was stronger than that between Hg 0 and the catalyst. The other reaction pathway was a homogeneous route, during which the gaseous NO 2 generated by NO oxidation could oxidize the gaseous Hg 0 within the designed reaction conditions. According to the present research, synergistic oxidation of NO and Hg 0 in the first step of fast SCR appears to be a promising way to remove Hg 0 and NO x in coal-fired power plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron‐based nanomaterials have shown great promise for tumor ferrotherapy in recent years. However, nanoparticle‐induced ferroptosis has low therapeutic efficacy owing to unsatisfactory Fenton reaction activity in a typical tumor microenvironment. In this study, NIR light‐activated Fe/PPy‐RGD nanopolymers were developed to combine photothermal therapy and ferrotherapy and achieve enhanced antitumor activity. Importantly, Fe/PPy‐RGD exhibited excellent therapeutic performance under NIR light activation both in vitro and in vivo. Under irradiation with NIR light, the heat generated by Fe/PPy‐RGD not only induced a therapeutic photothermal effect but also enhanced the release of iron ions and the Fenton reaction by inducing ferroptosis. Additionally, by virtue of RGD conjugation and its ultrasmall size, Fe/PPy‐RGD could effectively accumulate at tumor sites in living mice after systemic administration and could be monitored via MR imaging. Hence, this study provides a promising approach for integrating ferrotherapy with photothermal therapy to achieve enhanced tumor treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The approach of concurrent‐to‐synchronous chemoradiation has now been advanced by well‐designed nanovesicles that permit X‐ray irradiation‐triggered instant drug release. The nanovesicles consist of Au nanoparticles tethered with irradiation labile linoleic acid hydroperoxide (LAHP) molecules and oxidation‐responsive poly(propylene sulfide)‐poly(ethylene glycol) (PPS‐PEG) polymers, where DOX were loaded in the inner core of the vesicles (Au‐LAHP‐vDOX). Upon irradiation, the in situ formation of hydroxyl radicals from LAHP molecules triggers the internal oxidation of PPS from being hydrophobic to hydrophilic, leading to degradation of the vesicles and burst release of cargo drugs. In this manner, synchronous chemoradiation showed impressive anticancer efficacy both in vitro and in a subcutaneous mouse tumor model by one‐dose injection and one‐time irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The approach of concurrent‐to‐synchronous chemoradiation has now been advanced by well‐designed nanovesicles that permit X‐ray irradiation‐triggered instant drug release. The nanovesicles consist of Au nanoparticles tethered with irradiation labile linoleic acid hydroperoxide (LAHP) molecules and oxidation‐responsive poly(propylene sulfide)‐poly(ethylene glycol) (PPS‐PEG) polymers, where DOX were loaded in the inner core of the vesicles (Au‐LAHP‐vDOX). Upon irradiation, the in situ formation of hydroxyl radicals from LAHP molecules triggers the internal oxidation of PPS from being hydrophobic to hydrophilic, leading to degradation of the vesicles and burst release of cargo drugs. In this manner, synchronous chemoradiation showed impressive anticancer efficacy both in vitro and in a subcutaneous mouse tumor model by one‐dose injection and one‐time irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To remove elemental mercury (Hg 0 ) in chlorine-free coal combustion flue gas efficiently, CuCl 2 loaded CeO 2 -ZrO 2 sorbents (denoted as CC/CZ) were developed. In this way, the abundant Cl and affluent active chemical adsorbed oxygen (O∗) on the surface of the sorbent would be combined and made full use for Hg 0 removal. XRD, XPS, SEM, Raman, TG, and N 2 adsorption/desorption were employed to characterize the sorbents. Hg 0 removal behaviors over CC/CZ were studied using a lab-scale fixed-bed reactor. The sorbent with optimal loading 6% CuCl 2 exhibited superior and stable performances (89.6–97.1%) within a much wider applicable temperature range (100–300 °C) in the absence of HCl. The results also indicated that 6%CC/CZ exhibit very good performance at lower temperature (100–200 °C). The interaction between Cl and chemical adsorbed oxygen was observed and probably responsible for its superior Hg 0 removal performance. XPS results of the fresh, thermal-treated, and spent 6% CuCl 2 /CZ may explain the Hg 0 oxidation process. Hg 0 was mainly oxidized by the generated active chlorine species and the main reaction product was HgCl 2 . The active chlorine species were formed due to the interaction between chlorine and chemical adsorbed oxygen species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

10.1007/s00330-019-06214-8 4 Li Y, Wei D, Liu X. Molecular subtyping of diffuse gliomas using magnetic resonance imaging: comparison and correlation between radiomics and deep learning. Such features include first-order features (for instance pixel intensity mean, median, and histograms), second-order features (for instance texture analysis), and higher order features. [Extracted from the article]

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced apoptosis is a widely practiced strategy for cancer therapy. Although photodynamic therapy (PDT) takes advantage of the spatial-temporal control of ROS generation, the meticulous participation of light, photosensitizer, and oxygen greatly hinders the broad application of PDT as a first-line cancer treatment option. An activatable system has been developed that enables tumor-specific singlet oxygen (1O2) generation for cancer therapy, based on a Fenton-like reaction between linoleic acid hydroperoxide (LAHP) tethered on iron oxide nanoparticles (IO NPs) and the released iron(II) ions from IO NPs under acidic-pH condition. The IO-LAHP NPs are able to induce efficient apoptotic cancer cell death both in vitro and in vivo through tumor-specific 1O2 generation and subsequent ROS mediated mechanism. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of modulating biochemical reactions as a ROS source to exert cancer death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced apoptosis is a widely practiced strategy for cancer therapy. Although photodynamic therapy (PDT) takes advantage of the spatial-temporal control of ROS generation, the meticulous participation of light, photosensitizer, and oxygen greatly hinders the broad application of PDT as a first-line cancer treatment option. An activatable system has been developed that enables tumor-specific singlet oxygen (1O2) generation for cancer therapy, based on a Fenton-like reaction between linoleic acid hydroperoxide (LAHP) tethered on iron oxide nanoparticles (IO NPs) and the released iron(II) ions from IO NPs under acidic-pH condition. The IO-LAHP NPs are able to induce efficient apoptotic cancer cell death both in vitro and in vivo through tumor-specific 1O2 generation and subsequent ROS mediated mechanism. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of modulating biochemical reactions as a ROS source to exert cancer death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel class of magnetically responsive catalytic sorbents are proposed and synthesized with a potential application to simultaneous removal of Hg 0 and NO at low temperature from the flue gases of coal-fired power plants. The catalytic sorbent consists of magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ), molecular sieve (HZSM-5), supported silver nanoparticles and catalytically reactive component of V 2 O 5 . Each of these materials provides a unique function for the purpose of capturing mercury, removing NO, and separation from fly ash. After separation from the fly ash, the spent sorbent can be regenerated and reused, leaving an uncontaminated fly ash product. The successful synthesis as designed was confirmed and properties of the catalytic sorbent were characterized by several methods. The synthesized catalytic sorbent was able to completely capture Hg 0 at 150 °C with a capture capacity as high as 32.4 μg·g −1 , while achieving 84% removal of NO at 150 °C. Even at a relatively high space velocity, the catalytic sorbent achieved 97% Hg 0 and 80% NO removal simultaneously, while maintaining a good stability after repetitive regeneration and recycle. The magnetically responsive catalytic composite was shown to be a promising candidate for multi-pollutant emission control from coal-fired power plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shikonin has been reported to induce glioma cell death via necroptosis, a type of programmed necrosis primarily mediated by RIP1 and RIP3. Although RIP1 and RIP3 are found to regulate some features of necrosis such as energy depletion and cellular membrane disruption, it remains unclear whether RIP1 and RIP3 could modulate DNA double strand breaks (DSBs), which is a crucial event leading to chromatinolysis. In this study, we used glioma cell lines and mice model of xenograft glioma to investigate the roles of RIP1 and RIP3 in shikonin-induced DNA DSBs. We found that shikonin induced upregulation of RIP1 and RIP3, necrosome formation and DNA DSBs in vitro and in vivo. In vitro investigation showed that the DNA DSBs and the reduction of cellular viabilities induced by shikonin were both prevented when RIP1 or RIP3 was pharmacologically inhibited by specific inhibitor or genetically knocked down with siRNA. Then, we proved that suppression of intracellular ROS with antioxidant NAC inhibited DNA DSBs caused by either hydrogen peroxide or shikonin, suggesting that ROS played a crucial role in regulation of DNA DSBs of glioma cells induced by shikonin. Further, we found that RIP1 and RIP3 regulated shikonin-induced overproduction of ROS via causing excessive generation of mitochondrial superoxide and depletion of GSH, indicating that ROS was the downstream signal of RIP1 and RIP3. Taken together, we demonstrated that RIP1 and RIP3 contributed to shikonin-induced DNA DSBs in glioma cells via increase of intracellular ROS levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]