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Macrophages infiltrating tumour tissues or residing in the microenvironment of solid tumours are known as tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs). These specialized immune cells play crucial roles in tumour growth, angiogenesis, immune regulation, metastasis, and chemoresistance. TAMs encompass various subpopulations, primarily classified into M1 and M2 subtypes based on their differentiation and activities. M1 macrophages, characterized by a pro-inflammatory phenotype, exert anti-tumoural effects, while M2 macrophages, with an anti-inflammatory phenotype, function as protumoural regulators. These highly versatile cells respond to stimuli from tumour cells and other constituents within the tumour microenvironment (TME), such as growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, and enzymes. These stimuli induce their polarization towards one phenotype or another, leading to complex interactions with TME components and influencing both pro-tumour and anti-tumour processes. This review comprehensively and deeply covers the literature on macrophages, their origin and function as well as the intricate interplay between macrophages and the TME, influencing the dual nature of TAMs in promoting both pro- and anti-tumour processes. Moreover, the review delves into the primary pathways implicated in macrophage polarization, examining the diverse stimuli that regulate this process. These stimuli play a crucial role in shaping the phenotype and functions of macrophages. In addition, the advantages and limitations of current macrophage based clinical interventions are reviewed, including enhancing TAM phagocytosis, inducing TAM exhaustion, inhibiting TAM recruitment, and polarizing TAMs towards an M1-like phenotype. In conclusion, while the treatment strategies targeting macrophages in precision medicine show promise, overcoming several obstacles is still necessary to achieve an accessible and efficient immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed a novel Ni-catalyzed reductive cross-coupling reaction of aryl bromides and alkyl iodides via a photoactive electron donor–acceptor (EDA) complex. This photo-induced process enables the efficient construction of C(sp2)–C(sp3) bonds in the absence of an external photocatalyst. Electronically and structurally diverse aryl bromides, as well as secondary and primary alkyl iodides could undergo this transformation smoothly. Natural product derivatives were employed successfully, and UV-vis spectroscopy was utilized to gain mechanistic insight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coaxial cables and optical fibers are two types of cylindrical waveguides used in telecommunications. Fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) have found successful applications in various fields, such as optical communications, fiber lasers, and fiber-optic sensing. In this paper, we propose and numerically investigate the implementations of various fiber Bragg configurations, including uniform, chirped, apodized, and phase-shifted configurations, on coaxial cables to generate the corresponding special types of coaxial cable Bragg gratings (CCBGs). The simulation results of different CCBGs match well with the well-known FBG theories. It is demonstrated that the reflection spectrum of a CCBG can be flexibly tailored by introducing various quasi-periodic perturbations in the permittivity of the dielectric layer along the coaxial cable. The proposed special types of CCBGs with unique characteristics could find potential applications in radio frequency signal processing, communication, and sensing fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the tribological properties of a novel iron‐based self‐lubricating composite as the tribopairs of a plunger pump were systematically studied on an end‐face tribometer, and the tribological mechanism was also revealed. The results show that the wear mechanism of the composite can be ascribed to adhesive wear when the sliding speed is lower than 1.5 m/s. As the sliding speed increases from 1.5 to 2.0 m/s, the wear type transforms to oxidative wear due to the increase of tribo‐oxidation. In addition, the failure criteria of the tribopair composite materials are summarised. When the average coefficient of friction is greater than 0.04, or the wear rate is greater than 9.66 μm3/(N m), the tribopair fails. This offers a valuable reference for industrial application of the tribopairs made from the iron‐based self‐lubricating composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pipeline guided wave inspection is an efficient tool for determining the defect location. However, quantifying the defect size remains a challenging task. This paper proposes a quantification method for corrosion-like defects in pipelines based on the multifrequency identification of nondispersive torsional guided waves. First, a theoretical scattering model describing the T(0,1) wave's interaction with a simplified corrosion-like defect is introduced. Subsequently, a multifrequency identification method is proposed, enabling the inverse quantification of defect parameters by a defined spectral defect index (SDI). To implement this approach, a pseudo pulse-echo configuration is devised, which contains two rings of piezoelectric transducers attached on the pipeline's outer surface. Finite-element (FE) models are employed to test the performance of the proposed method for both axisymmetric and nonaxisymmetric defects, and an analysis of the robustness of the method is also conducted. The results show that this method has good accuracy even for signals with a very low signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio. Furthermore, an FE model is developed to validate the feasibility of this method for long-distance detection considering attenuation effect. Finally, experimental validation of the proposed method demonstrates close agreement between predicted and actual defect sizes, showing its potential for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin C (VC), encompasses a group of related water-soluble substances, which plays an important role in the physiologic processes and health of aquatic animals. Most aquatic animals have a limited capacity to synthesize VC, thus obtaining VC mainly from diets. To date, VC has been widely used as an aquatic feed additive due to its antioxidant, free radical scavenging, and anti-inflammatory abilities. However, the requirement for VC varies greatly among different aquatic animals. This updated review presents a general picture of the possible physiological function of VC for farmed aquatic animals, with emphasis on the information on growth, antioxidant status, immunity, diseases prevention, and reproductive performance, as well as the synergistic effects of VC with other micronutrients such as vitamin E, glucans, and metal elements during recent years. Furthermore, the interaction between dietary VC and the intestinal microbiota of aquatic animals have also been discussed. Understanding the beneficial function and mechanism of VC is of great significance for extending the application of VC in the aquaculture industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enhancement of digital transformation is of paramount importance for business development. This study employs machine learning to establish a predictive model for digital transformation, investigates crucial factors that influence digital transformation, and proposes corresponding improvement strategies. Initially, four commonly used machine learning algorithms are compared, revealing that the Extreme tree classification (ETC) algorithm exhibits the most accurate prediction. Subsequently, through correlation analysis and recursive elimination, key features that impact digital transformation are selected resulting in the corresponding feature subset. Shapley Additive Explanation (SHAP) values are then employed to perform an interpretable analysis on the predictive model, elucidating the effects of each key feature on digital transformation and obtaining critical feature values. Lastly, informed by practical considerations, we propose a quantitative adjustment strategy to enhance the degree of digital transformation in enterprises, which provides guidance for digital development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical and isotopic processes occur in every segment of the hydrological cycle. Hydrogeochemistry—the subdiscipline that studies these processes—has seen a transformation from "witch's brew" to credible science since 2000. Going forward, hydrogeochemical research and applications are critical to meeting urgent societal needs of climate change mitigation and clean energy, such as (1) removing CO2 from the atmosphere and storing gigatons of CO2 in soils and aquifers to achieve net‐zero emissions, (2) securing critical minerals in support of the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies, and (3) protecting water resources by adapting to a warming climate. In the last two decades, we have seen extensive activity and progress in four research areas of hydrogeochemistry related to water‐rock interactions: arsenic contamination of groundwater; the use of isotopic and chemical tracers to quantify groundwater recharge and submarine groundwater discharge; the kinetics of chemical reactions and the mineral‐water interface's control of contaminant fate and transport; and the transformation of geochemical modeling from an expert‐only exercise to a widely accessible tool. In the future, embracing technological advances in machine learning, cyberinfrastructure, and isotope analytical tools will allow breakthrough research and expand the role of hydrogeochemistry in meeting society's needs for climate change mitigation and the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed dispersal by frugivorous birds facilitates plant invasions, but it is poorly known how invasive plants integrate into native communities in fragmented landscapes. We surveyed plant–frugivore interactions, including an invasive plant (Phytolacca americana), on 22 artificial land‐bridge islands (fragmented forests) in the Thousand Island Lake, China. Focusing on frugivory interactions that may lead to seed dispersal, we built ecological networks of studied islands both at the local island (community) and at landscape (metacommunity) levels. On islands with P. americana, we found that P. americana impacted local avian frugivory networks more on islands with species‐poor plant communities and on isolated islands. Moreover, as P. americana interacted mainly with local core birds (generalists), this indicates reduced seed dispersal of native plants on invaded islands. At the landscape level, P. americana had established strong interactions with generalist birds that largely maintain seed‐dispersal functions across islands, as revealed by their topologically central roles both in the regional plant–bird trophic network and in the spatial metanetwork. This indicates that generalist frugivorous birds may have facilitated the dispersal of P. americana across islands, making P. americana well integrated into the plant–frugivore mutualistic metacommunity. Taken together, our study demonstrates that the impact of plant invasion is context‐dependent and that generalist native frugivores with high dispersal potential may accelerate plant invasion in fragmented landscapes. These findings highlight the importance of taking the functional roles of animal mutualists and habitat fragmentation into account when managing plant invasions and their impact on native communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field observations in sedimentation and erosion-prone areas indicate that most natural sand deposits may contain a certain amount of non-plastic fines and are often under anisotropic stress conditions. A series of triaxial compression tests were performed on clean and silty sand with fines content fc ranging from 0 to 20% at an initial mean effective stress of p0′ = 100 kPa and varying consolidation conditions to understand the impact of initial stress anisotropy on undrained shear behavior. The results indicate that the state parameter ψ is a superior predictor for characterizing the responses of sand-fines mixtures compared to the global void ratio and relative density. A comparison of the behavior of clean and silty sand with a constant ψ (= − 0.03) confirms that the sample with 10% fc exhibits the strongest dilation and greatest shear resistance, irrespective of the consolidation conditions. It is also demonstrated that the initial stress anisotropy with a comparably higher static stress ratio ηs typically diminishes the shear strength of mixtures. However, the influence of initial stress anisotropy on soil stiffness is not unilateral. The sample consolidated to a negative ηs is stiffer than that under isotropic consolidation, while the presence of a positive ηs leads to a decrease in the secant Young's modulus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the associations between high uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI) values and congenital heart disease (CHD) risk and whether they differed between singleton and multiple pregnancies. This hospital-based cohort study involving 52,047 pregnant women who underwent prenatal examinations from 2012 to 2016. Infants born to the included pregnant women were followed until 42 days after birth to identify those with CHDs. Generalized estimating equations were used to estimate the associations of high right UtA-PI (> 95th percentile) values with maternal preeclampsia and fetal CHDs. Logistic regression analyses were conducted using path analysis models to quantify the effect of high right UtA-PI values on fetal CHD risk. A total of 42,552 women and 43,470 infants (147 with CHDs) were included. Preeclampsia risk was associated with a high right UtA-PI in singleton-pregnant women (adjusted PR, 3.01; 95% CI 2.57–3.52). CHD risk was marginally associated with a high right UtA-PI in singleton-pregnant women (adjusted PR, 2.26, 95% CI 1.03–4.95). Considering only two factors, 96.0% of the fetal CHD risk was mediated by preeclampsia in singleton-pregnant women, while 93.8% of the risk was related to a high right UtA-PI in multiple-pregnant women. A high right UtA-PI was marginally associated with an increased fetal CHD risk in singleton-pregnant women and might play an important role in multiple-pregnant women. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings given the high loss to follow-up rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pembrolizumab is superior to chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for patients with mismatch-repair-deficient (dMMR) or microsatellite-instability-high (MSI-H) advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC), with a significant long-term survival benefit according to the KEYNOTE-177 trial. The current study aimed to determine whether pembrolizumab is a cost-effective treatment for patients with dMMR/MSI-H advanced or metastatic CRC in China. Methods: A partitioned survival model (PSM) was developed to simulate patients with dMMR/MSI-H advanced or metastatic CRC based on progression-free survival (PFS), progressive disease (PD) and death. The model was designed using a lifetime horizon, a 6-week cycle, and a 5% discount rate. The patients in the model had metastatic dMMR/MSI-H CRC and had not previously received treatment; these characteristics were similar to those of patients in KEYNOTE-177, a phase 3, open-label randomized clinical trial. The health outcomes and utilities were based on the KEYNOTE-177 trial and published data, respectively. Costs were calculated based on local charges (2022) and published literature. A treatment was deemed cost-effective in China if the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) value was less than U.S.$38,142.56 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). The robustness of the results was assessed via one-way deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Results: Baseline analysis revealed that pembrolizumab provided an additional 2.58 QALYs (3.00 life-year) at an incremental cost of U.S.$78,286.04, resulting in an ICER of U.S.$30,330.15 per QALY, which was below the willingness-to-pay threshold of U.S.$38,142.56 per QALY. When the patient assistance program (PAP) was considered, the ICER became U.S.$1,730.67 per QALY, manifesting absolute cost-effectiveness. The results of sensitivity analyses demonstrated that pembrolizumab was cost-effective in most cases. Conclusions: Pembrolizumab is a cost-effective first-line treatment for dMMR/MSI-H advanced or metastatic CRC patients in China, especially considering the PAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: We evaluated whether the randomness of mutation breeding can be regulated through a double-reporter system. We hope that by establishing a new precursor feeding strategy, the production capacity of industrial microorganisms after pilot scale-up can be further improved. Methods and results: In this study, the industrial strain Streptomyces roseosporus L2796 was used as the starter strain for daptomycin production, and a double-reporter system with the kanamycin resistance gene Neo and the chromogenic gene gusA was constructed to screen for high-yield strain L2201 through atmospheric and room temperature plasma (ARTP). Furthermore, the composition of the culture medium and the parameters of precursor replenishment were optimized, resulting in a significant enhancement of the daptomycin yield of the mutant strain L2201(752.67 mg/l). Conclusions: This study successfully screened a high-yield strain of daptomycin through a double-reporter system combined with ARTP mutation. The expression level of two reporter genes can evaluate the strength of dptEp promoter, which can stimulate the expression level of dptE in the biosynthesis of daptomycin, thus producing more daptomycin. The developed multi-stage feeding rate strategy provides a novel way to increase daptomycin in industrial fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum key distribution (QKD) research has yielded highly fruitful results and is currently undergoing an industrialization transformation. In QKD systems, electro-optic modulators are typically employed to prepare the required quantum states. While various QKD systems operating at GHz repetition frequency have demonstrated exceptional performance, they predominantly rely on instruments or printed circuit boards to fulfill the driving circuit function of the electro-optic modulator. Consequently, these systems tend to be complex with low integration levels. To address this challenge, we have introduced a modulator driver integrated circuit in 0.18 µm SiGe BiCMOS technology. The circuit can generate multiple-level driving signals with a clock frequency of 1.25 GHz and a rising edge of ∼50 ps. Each voltage amplitude can be independently adjusted, ensuring the precise preparation of quantum states. The measured signal-to-noise ratio was more than 17 dB, resulting in a low quantum bit error rate of 0.24% in our polarization-encoding system. This work will contribute to the advancement of QKD system integration and promote the industrialization process in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports a fiber in-line Fabry–Perot interferometer (FPI) fabricated in a no-core fiber using the direct femtosecond laser writing technique for high-temperature sensing applications. Two in-line reflectors are directly inscribed in a no-core fiber to construct a low-finesse FPI. Fringe visibility greater than 10 dB is obtained from the reflection spectra of the fabricated no-core fiber FPIs. Temperature responses of a prototype no-core fiber FPI are characterized up to 1000 °C. The proposed configuration is compact and easy to fabricate, making it attractive for sensing applications in high-temperature harsh environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Plant embryogenic calli (ECs) can undergo somatic embryogenesis to regenerate plants. This process is mediated by regulatory factors, such as transcription factors and specifically expressed genes, but the precise molecular mechanisms underlying somatic embryogenesis at the single‐cell level remain unclear. In this study, we performed high‐resolution single‐cell RNA sequencing analysis to determine the cellular changes in the EC of the woody plant species Dimocarpus longan (longan) and clarify the continuous cell differentiation trajectories at the transcriptome level. The highly heterogeneous cells in the EC were divided into 12 putative clusters (e.g., proliferating, meristematic, vascular, and epidermal cell clusters). We determined cluster‐enriched expression marker genes and found that overexpression of the epidermal cell marker gene GDSL ESTERASE/LIPASE‐1 inhibited the hydrolysis of triacylglycerol. In addition, the stability of autophagy was critical for the somatic embryogenesis of longan. The pseudo‐timeline analysis elucidated the continuous cell differentiation trajectories from early embryonic cell division to vascular and epidermal cell differentiation during the somatic embryogenesis of longan. Moreover, key transcriptional regulators associated with cell fates were revealed. We found that ETHYLENE RESPONSIVE FACTOR 6 was characterized as a heat‐sensitive factor that negatively regulates longan somatic embryogenesis under high‐temperature stress conditions. The results of this study provide new spatiotemporal insights into cell division and differentiation during longan somatic embryogenesis at single‐cell resolution. Significance Statement: Plant embryogenic calli can undergo somatic embryogenesis to regenerate plants. The single‐cell RNA‐seq results described herein provide new spatiotemporal insights into cell division and differentiation in the Dimocarpus longan (longan) embryogenic callus. The generated gene expression map will enable us to investigate how embryonic cells differentiate into vascular and epidermal cells. The results may provide the foundation for future molecular and cellular investigations into the mechanisms mediating longan somatic embryogenesis and zygotic embryogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common chronic liver disease worldwide but still lacks specific treatment modalities. The gut microbiota and its metabolites have been shown to be intimately involved in NAFLD development, participating in and regulating disease progression. Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a metabolite highly dependent on the gut microbiota, has been shown to play deleterious regulatory roles in cardiovascular disease, but the relationship between it and NAFLD lacks validation from basic experiments. This research applied TMAO intervention by constructing fatty liver cell models in vitro to observe its effect on fatty liver cells and potential key genes and performed siRNA interference on the gene to verify the action. The results showed that TMAO intervention promoted the appearance of more red-stained lipid droplets in Oil-red O staining results, increased triglyceride (TG) levels and increased mRNA levels of liver fibrosis-related genes, and also identified one of the key genes, keratin17 (KRT17) via transcriptomics. Following the reduction in its expression level, under the same treatment, there were decreased red-stained lipid droplets, decreased TG levels, decreased indicators of impaired liver function as well as decreased mRNA levels of liver fibrosis-related genes. In conclusion, the gut microbiota metabolite TMAO could promote lipid deposition and fibrosis process via the KRT17 gene in fatty liver cells in vitro. • TMAO promotes lipid deposition in fatty liver cells in vitro. • TMAO promotes the fibrosis process of fatty liver cells in vitro. • KRT17 is the critical gene in the action of TMAO. • Reduced KRT17 expression levels diminish the cell-promoting effect of TMAO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The difunctionalization of unsaturated bonds plays a vital role in the enrichment of molecular complexity. While various catalytic methods for alkene and alkyne difunctionalization have been developed in recent years, hetero‐functionalization the introduction of two different atoms has been less explored. This is mainly due to the challenges associated with achieving high chemo‐, regio‐, and stereoselectivity, especially when adding two similar atoms from the same group across unsaturated bonds. In this study, we describe a nickel‐catalyzed, three‐component reductive protocol for group 14 element hetero‐difunctionalization of 1,3‐enynes using electrochemistry. This new method is mild, selective, and general, allowing for the silyl‐, germanyl‐, and stannyl‐alkylation of enynes. Various chlorosilanes as well as chlorogermans, and chlorostannanes can be successfully used in combination with aryl/alkyl‐substituted 1,3‐enynes and primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl bromides in the electroreductive coupling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The difunctionalization of unsaturated bonds plays a vital role in the enrichment of molecular complexity. While various catalytic methods for alkene and alkyne difunctionalization have been developed in recent years, hetero‐functionalization the introduction of two different atoms has been less explored. This is mainly due to the challenges associated with achieving high chemo‐, regio‐, and stereoselectivity, especially when adding two similar atoms from the same group across unsaturated bonds. In this study, we describe a nickel‐catalyzed, three‐component reductive protocol for group 14 element hetero‐difunctionalization of 1,3‐enynes using electrochemistry. This new method is mild, selective, and general, allowing for the silyl‐, germanyl‐, and stannyl‐alkylation of enynes. Various chlorosilanes as well as chlorogermans, and chlorostannanes can be successfully used in combination with aryl/alkyl‐substituted 1,3‐enynes and primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl bromides in the electroreductive coupling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bidirectional modulation of synaptic weight lays the basis for learning and memory in the brain, and the development of brain‐inspired photonic synaptic devices is hindered by deficient light‐stimulated inhibition. In this report, a type of organic thin film neuromorphic devices with a planar two‐terminal architecture, featuring as the inhibitory regulation of synaptic weight over two orders of magnitude upon selective UV illumination is developed. The in situ monitoring on the floating electrode potential and the corresponding simulation results demonstrate the effect of cumulative hole trapping in the polymer electret layer, which modulates the device conductance in a nonvolatile manner. Remarkably, UV‐induced long‐term depression is accompanied by enhanced short‐term potentiation in the device that may preserve a stable level of total synaptic activities. The UV‐stimulated inhibition and the adaptive short‐term plasticity, as well as the ON and OFF responses to light in the organic photonic synaptic device, suggest its potential applications in photonic neuromorphic computing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of cysteine enantiomers is of great significance in the biopharmaceutical industry and medical diagnostics. Herein, we develop an electrochemical sensor to discriminate cysteine (Cys) enantiomers based on the integration of a copper metal–organic framework (Cu-MOF) with an ionic liquid. Because the combine energy of D -cysteine (D -Cys) with Cu-MOF (−9.905 eV) is lower than that of L -cysteine (L -Cys) with Cu-MOF (−9.694 eV), the decrease in the peak current of the Cu-MOF/GCE induced by D -Cys is slightly higher than that induced by L -Cys in the absence of an ionic liquid. In contrast, the combine energy of L -Cys with an ionic liquid (−1.084 eV) is lower than that of D -Cys with an ionic liquid (−1.052 eV), and the ionic liquid is easier to cross-link with L -Cys than with D -Cys. When an ionic liquid is present, the decrease in the peak current of the Cu-MOF/GCE induced by D -Cys is much higher than that induced by L -Cys. Consequently, this electrochemical sensor can efficiently discriminate D -Cys from L -Cys, and it can sensitively detect D -Cys with a detection limit of 0.38 nM. Moreover, this electrochemical sensor exhibits good selectivity, and it can accurately measure the spiked D -Cys in human serum with a recovery ratio of 100.2–102.6%, with wide applications in biomedical research and drug discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building ecological networks is the fundamental basis of depicting how species in communities interact, but sampling complex interaction networks is extremely labour intensive. Recently, indirect ecological information has been applied to build interaction networks. Here we propose to extend the source of indirect ecological information, and applied regional ecological knowledge to build local interaction networks. Using a high-resolution dataset consisting of 22 locally observed networks with 17 572 seed-dispersal events, we test the reliability of indirectly derived local networks based on regional ecological knowledge (REK) across islands. We found that species richness strongly influenced 'local interaction rewiring' (i.e. the proportion of locally observed interactions among regionally interacting species), and all network properties were biased using REK-based networks. Notably, species richness and local interaction rewiring strongly affected estimations of REK-based network structures. However, locally observed and REK-based networks detected the same trends of how network structure correlates to island area and isolation. These results suggest that we should use REK-based networks cautiously for reflecting actual interaction patterns of local networks, but highlight that REK-based networks have great potential for comparative studies across environmental gradients. The use of indirect regional ecological information may thus advance our understanding of biogeographical patterns of species interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, male mice were treated with fermented and unfermented Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus black wolfberry juice (10 mL/kg/day) for 40 days, and their prophylactic effects on ulcerative colitis (UC) induced by dextran sodium sulfate were investigated. The intervention of black wolfberry juice reduced the levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and increased the content of anti‐inflammatory cytokines in the serum and colon. In addition, the pathological changes in colon tissue were alleviated, the expression of Bcl‐2 protein in the colon was enhanced, and the intestinal microbiota of the mice was regulated, with an increase in Bacteroidetes and a decrease in Helicobacter. These results suggested that black wolfberry juice had an anti‐UC function and Lactobacillus fermentation enhanced the anti‐inflammatory effect of black wolfberry juice by modulating the intestinal microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper constructs a geophysical model of hidden disaster-causing anomalies in coal rock for simulation experiments based on the structural design of coal rock seams at the mine working face to study the geophysical response characteristics of geological anomalies in coal rock seams. The material ratio and petrophysical parameters of the coal seam, roof, floor, collapse column, and fault in a mining area in Shanxi were tested using homogeneous and orthogonal test methods, and their petrophysical parameters, such as Vs,Vp, resistivity, permeability, and dielectric constant, were obtained. The coal dust and sand–cement contents are the main factors affecting the wave velocity, whereas the dielectric constant and resistivity are highly influenced by the water content of the material. The response characteristics of the petrophysical parameters of various types of geological structures measured via experiments are consistent with the corresponding geophysical responses of actual geophysical exploration methods. The experimental data were comparatively analyzed with the original coal rock samples and field in-situ probing results, and the best construction ratios of each geological structural unit were as follows: coal seam ratios of 61.11%, 11.11%, and 27.78% were selected for coal dust, sand, and cement content, respectively; sand–cement and gypsum–cement ratios of 2:1 and 2:8, respectively, were selected for the roof; and sand–cement and gypsum–cement ratios of 3:1 and 4:6, respectively, were selected for the floor. The optimal ratios of 75% sand, 10% gypsum, and 15% cement were chosen for the fault; those for the collapse column were 66.7% sand, 6.67% gypsum, and 26.6% cement. This study focuses on the ratios of various geotectonic physical models and their physical properties, it provides data support for subsequent model construction and a good experimental platform for the demonstration of various geophysical exploration methods and techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To probe the structure evolution of Si anode during cycling and explore its failing mechanism, a 3D image reconstruction technology is firstly employed to visualize Si anode in both electrode and particle levels. The FIB-SEM analysis results indicates that FEC additive leads to the formation of a stable SEI during early stage of cycling, resulting in effective suppression of free volume expansion and particle pulverization in Si anodes, and further improves the cycle life. This new technique could be further applied for the study of other electrode materials with similar volume expansion issues. [Display omitted] Despite the high theoretical capacity, silicon (Si) anode suffers from dramatical capacity loss, due to its massive volume swings (up to 300%) during cycling. Hence, thorough understanding of the structural evolution mechanism is necessary and essential for performance optimization of Si anode. Herein, a multi-scale three-dimensional (3D) image reconstruction technique is firstly applied to visualize the structural evolution process of Si anodes. Three key components (Si particles, inactive components, and voids) in the electrode are quantitatively analyzed by the focused ion beam and scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM) technology. Furthermore, the average sizes of Si particles were run statistics during the cycling. By combining the componential observation within the electrode (macroscopic information) and the 3D models of the particle with solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer (microscopic information), the failure mechanism of Si anode is vividly demonstrated. This work establishes a new methodology to quantitatively analyze the structural and compositional evolution of Si anode, which could be further applied for the studies of many other electrode materials with similar issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(Deuterium‐labeled) CF2H‐ and CFH2‐moieties are of high interest in drug discovery. The high demand for the incorporation of these fluoroalkyl moieties into molecular structures has witnessed significant synthetic progress, particularly in the (deutero)hydrodefluorination of CF3‐containing compounds. However, the controllable replacement of fluorine atoms while maintaining high chemoselectivity remains challenging. Herein, we describe the development of a selective (deutero)hydrodefluorination reaction via electrolysis. The reaction exhibits a remarkable chemoselectivity control, which is enabled by the addition of different organoboron sources. The procedure is operationally simple and scalable, and provides access in one step to high‐value building blocks for application in medicinal chemistry. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been carried out to investigate the reaction mechanism and to rationalize the chemoselectivity observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(Deuterium‐labeled) CF2H‐ and CFH2‐moieties are of high interest in drug discovery. The high demand for the incorporation of these fluoroalkyl moieties into molecular structures has witnessed significant synthetic progress, particularly in the (deutero)hydrodefluorination of CF3‐containing compounds. However, the controllable replacement of fluorine atoms while maintaining high chemoselectivity remains challenging. Herein, we describe the development of a selective (deutero)hydrodefluorination reaction via electrolysis. The reaction exhibits a remarkable chemoselectivity control, which is enabled by the addition of different organoboron sources. The procedure is operationally simple and scalable, and provides access in one step to high‐value building blocks for application in medicinal chemistry. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been carried out to investigate the reaction mechanism and to rationalize the chemoselectivity observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, the fabrication of an addressable 8 × 8 photodetector array is reported by combining In2Se3 nanofilm with periodic inverse micropyramid‐Si (PIMP‐Si), which is obtained through colloidal lithography and anisotropic wet etching. Due to the unique configuration and the outstanding light trapping effect, the as‐fabricated heterojunction device presents an excellent self‐powered photoresponse over the broadband wavelength range from 265 to 1300 nm, with a peak sensitivity at ≈810 nm. The responsivity, specific detectivity, and rise/fall time are estimated to be 0.58 A W−1, 1.76 × 1012 Jones, and 5.1/18 µs, respectively, which are competitive in comparison with other devices with similar geometries. Meanwhile, the photodetector array displays a satisfactory pixel‐to‐pixel uniformity, which allows the device to record the full‐color image of "HFUT" with satisfying resolution, revealing the potential application of the PIMP‐Si/In2Se3 heterojunction photodetector array for real‐time red‐green‐blue‐infrared image sensing and video capturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It has been argued that what differentiates delusional ideation from full-blown delusions (indicating need for care) is not the number of beliefs, but the experiential dimensions such as conviction, distress, and preoccupation. However, how these dimensions evolve over time and affect outcomes is under-researched. While delusional conviction and distress are associated with reasoning biases and worry respectively in clinical samples, how these processes predict trajectories of delusional dimensions in the general population remains unclear. Method: Young adults (age 18–30) were screened for delusional ideation on the Peters et al. Delusions Inventory. Participants with at least one delusional ideation were randomly selected for a 4-wave assessment (6-month apart). Trajectories of delusional dimensions were separately identified by latent class growth analyses, then compared on baseline levels of jumping-to-conclusions bias, belief inflexibility, worry, and meta-worry. Results: The longitudinal sample consisted of 356 individuals (drawn from a community sample of 2,187). For each of the three dimensions (conviction, distress, and preoccupation), four-group linear models were identified–high stable, moderate stable, moderate decreasing, and low stable. The high stable group exhibited worse emotional and functional outcomes at 18 months than the other three groups. Worry and meta-worry predicted group differences, and notably differentiated the moderate decreasing groups from the moderate stable groups. Contrary to hypothesis, jumping-to-conclusions bias was milder in the high/moderate stable groups than the low stable group for conviction. Conclusions: Distinct trajectories of delusional dimensions were predicted by worry and meta-worry. Differences between the decreasing and stable groups carried clinical implications. General Scientific Summary: This study suggests that young adults who have persistent delusional ideation will have poorer outcomes in 18 months, and that persistence of delusional ideation is predicted by a tendency to worry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the severe natural disasters, typhoon hazard brings tremendous tragedy to human beings. The foreland in the southeast of China is one of the most typhoon prone areas in the world. There are amount of damage of civil engineering structures induced by typhoon every year. Especially for the spacious villages, the low-rise buildings are vulnerable to typhoon so that many of them are destroyed regionally. The typhoon vulnerability assessment of civil engineering structures is a classical multiple attribute group decision making (MAGDM) issues. In this paper, the 2-tuple linguistic neutrosophic number grey relational analysis (2TLNN-GRA) method is built based on the grey relational analysis (GRA) and 2-tuple linguistic neutrosophic sets (2TLNSs) with incomplete weight information. For deriving the weight information of the attribute, an optimization model is built on the basis of the GRA, by which the attribute weights can be decided. Then, the optimal alternative is chosen through calculating largest relative relational degree from the 2-tuple linguistic neutrosophic number positive ideal solution (2TLNNPIS) which considers both the largest grey relational coefficient (GRC) from the 2TLNNPIS and the smallest GRC form 2-tuple linguistic neutrosophic number negative ideal solution (2TLNN NIS). Then, combine the traditional fuzzy GRA model with 2TLNNSs information, the 2TLNN-GRA method is established and the computing steps for MAGDM are built. Finally, a numerical example for typhoon vulnerability assessment of civil engineering structures has been given and some comparisons is used to illustrate advantages of 2TLNN-GRA method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat fragmentation impacts seed dispersal processes that are important in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. However, it is still unclear how habitat fragmentation affects frugivorous interactions due to the lack of high-quality data on plant-frugivore networks. Here we recorded 10,117 plant-frugivore interactions from 22 reservoir islands and six nearby mainland sites using the technology of arboreal camera trapping to assess the effects of island area and isolation on the diversity, structure, and stability of plant-frugivore networks. We found that network simplification under habitat fragmentation reduces the number of interactions involving specialized species and large-bodied frugivores. Small islands had more connected, less modular, and more nested networks that consisted mainly of small-bodied birds and abundant plants, as well as showed evidence of interaction release (i.e., dietary expansion of frugivores). Our results reveal the importance of preserving large forest remnants to support plant-frugivore interaction diversity and forest functionality. Smaller communities, such as those on islands, under ecological network simplification reduce interactions between specialist organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Many women report cognitive concerns during the menopausal transition, and cognitive testing supports objective declines in some cognitive domains for some women. Identifying risk and protective factors that mediate cognitive difficulties would help women gain better insight into how they can manage cognitive difficulties during the menopause transition. The purpose of this review was to synthesize the studies that examine the relationships between cognition, menopausal symptoms and risk/protective factors during menopause transition.Methods: A search of the literature examining cognition and risk factors in perimenopausal women between 2010 and September 2020 was performed using Ovid MEDLINE, PsychINFO, and PubMed. The results were synthesized narratively. Studies were categorized into clusters and conceptual mapping was used to illustrate the findings.Results: 33 studies were included in this review and divided into three clusters. Factors associated with cognitive and other menopausal symptoms were grouped into demographic, socio-economic, lifestyle and reproductive factors.Conclusion: The current review identified a broad range of demographic, reproductive, socio-economic, and lifestyle risk/protective factors that are associated with cognition and menopausal symptoms. Relationships were also observed between vasomotor, affective and sleep symptoms with cognition, suggesting a complex relationship, including direct and indirect effects of risk/protective factors on cognition during menopause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to explore the effects of ultra-high pressure (UHP) on the cathepsin (B, D, H, and L) activities, protein oxidation, and degradation properties as well as quality characteristics of iced shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Fresh shrimps were vacuum-packed, treated with UHP (100–500 MPa for 5 min), and stored at 0 °C for 15 days. The results showed that the L* (luminance), b* (yellowness), W (whiteness), ΔE (color difference), hardness, shear force, gumminess, chewiness, and resilience of shrimp were significantly improved by UHP treatment. Moreover, the contents of surface hydrophobicity, myofibril fragmentation index (MFI), trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-soluble peptides, carbonyl, dityrosine, and free sulfhydryl of myofibrillar protein (MP) were significantly promoted by UHP treatment. In addition, UHP (above 300 MPa) treatment enhanced the mitochondrial membrane permeability but inhibited the lysosomal membrane stability, and the cathepsin (B, D, H, and L) activities. UHP treatment notably inhibited the activities of cathepsins, delayed protein oxidation and degradation, as well as texture softening of shrimp during storage. Generally, UHP treatment at 300 MPa for 5 min effectively delayed the protein and quality deterioration caused by endogenous enzymes and prolonged the shelf life of shrimp by 8 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been recognized that texture patterns with abundant high-frequency components, such as grass and water, produce visual masking effects, and the distortion in textures is hard to be perceived by human eyes than structure regions. However, modern video codecs in a rate-distortion optimized manner usually consume a lot of bits to encode textures, leading to the insufficiency in perceptual coding performance. Nowadays, with the rapid development of deep learning, learning based texture synthesis methods have been proposed to replace the coding process of prediction residuals to reduce the rate cost. In this paper, we present a deep texture synthesizer named edge-based texture synthesis framework (ETSF). At encoder side, the framework detects texture regions by semantic and fidelity classification criteria, and the detected regions are quantized coarsely by the hybrid coding framework. In texture characterization, ETSF extracts low-level edge features representing pixel intensity variation. Feature processing tools are developed to remove the spatiotemporal redundancy of edges. The processed edge information is compressed and transmitted. To effectively recover textures, we design an edge-based texture synthesis generative adversarial network (ETSGAN) at the decoder of ETSF, which can incorporate edge information into convolutional layers and generate realistic textures. Experimental results on a collected texture dataset show that the proposed ETSF can achieve an average of -12.8%, -14.2% and -9.6% MOS BD-rate under lowdelay_B, lowdelay_P and random_access configurations of VVC coding, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Road profile information can be utilized to enhance vehicle control performance, passenger ride comfort, and route planning and optimization. Existing road-profile estimation algorithms are mainly based on one single vehicle, which are usually susceptible to modeling uncertainties and measurement noises. This technical brief proposes a new cascaded learning framework that utilizes multiple heterogeneous vehicles to achieve enhanced estimation. In this framework, each individual vehicle first performs a local estimation via a standard disturbance observer (DOB) while traversing a considered road segment. Then learning filters are designed to dynamically connect the vehicles, and the preliminary estimates from one vehicle are utilized to generate the learning signal for another. For each vehicle, a heterogeneous learning signal is produced and added to its estimation loop for estimating enhancement, through which the estimations are improved over multiple iterations. Extensive numerical studies are carried out to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method with promising results demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report a reductive cross‐coupling reaction of α‐oxy halides, simply generated from aldehydes, with a series of C(sp2)‐ and C(sp)‐electrophiles. A wide range of aryl and heteroatom aryl halides, vinyl bromides, alkynyl bromides, and acyl chlorides react with unhindered and hindered aldehyde‐derived α‐oxy halides by providing protected alcohols as well as α‐hydroxy ketones. Noteworthy, the reductive couplings are achieved not only through thermal catalysis with the use of metal reductants but also by photocatalysis, electrochemistry, and mechanochemistry. The unrestricted interchange of the four strategies indicates their underlying mechanistic similarities. The generation of NiI intermediate is proposed to be the key point for ketyl radical formation via a single‐electron transfer (SET) event, which was rationalized by an array of control experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report a reductive cross‐coupling reaction of α‐oxy halides, simply generated from aldehydes, with a series of C(sp2)‐ and C(sp)‐electrophiles. A wide range of aryl and heteroatom aryl halides, vinyl bromides, alkynyl bromides, and acyl chlorides react with unhindered and hindered aldehyde‐derived α‐oxy halides by providing protected alcohols as well as α‐hydroxy ketones. Noteworthy, the reductive couplings are achieved not only through thermal catalysis with the use of metal reductants but also by photocatalysis, electrochemistry, and mechanochemistry. The unrestricted interchange of the four strategies indicates their underlying mechanistic similarities. The generation of NiI intermediate is proposed to be the key point for ketyl radical formation via a single‐electron transfer (SET) event, which was rationalized by an array of control experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It remains challenging to manipulate the nature of photoluminescence as either fluorescence or phosphorescence for a correlated cluster series. In this work, two correlated nanoclusters, Au5Ag11(SR)8(DPPOE)2 and Pt1Ag16(SR)8(DPPOE)2 with comparable structure features, were synthesized and structurally determined. These two alloy nanoclusters displayed distinct photoluminescent nature—the Au5Ag11 nanocluster is fluorescent, whereas the Pt1Ag16 nanocluster is phosphorescent. The decay processes of the excited electrons in these two nanoclusters have been explicitly mapped out by both experimental and theoretical approaches, disclosing the mechanisms of their fluorescence and phosphorescence. Specifically, the metallic compositions of the nanocluster kernels mattered in determining their photoluminescent nature. The results herein provide an intriguing nanomodel that enables us to grasp the origin of photoluminescence at the atomic level, which further paves the way for fabricating novel nanoclusters or cluster‐based nanomaterials with customized photophysical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microwave interferometers have been attractive devices for high-precision measurements of displacement-related physical quantities in a variety of scientific and engineering applications. However, due to the long operating wavelength, the displacement measurement resolution of microwave interferometers is limited to the micrometer scale. In this article, we propose and demonstrate a novel technology based on microwave interferometry for displacement measurements with potential picometer resolution. An open-ended (OE) transmission line resonator based on a homemade hollow coaxial cable is explored in proof-of-concept numerical and experimental investigations. The technique involves two stages of displacement sensitivity amplification: one is the open end-based phase sensitivity amplification, and the other is the destructive interference-based phase sensitivity amplification. We experimentally demonstrate a wavelength sensitivity amplification factor of 1800 through spectral interrogation where only the open end-based amplification is involved, and a phase sensitivity amplification factor of 1.4 million through phase interrogation where both the open end-based amplification and the destructive interference-based phase shift amplification are involved, i.e., two-stage phase shift amplified microwave interferometry (TPAMI). The numerical investigations and the experimental results match well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It remains challenging to manipulate the nature of photoluminescence as either fluorescence or phosphorescence for a correlated cluster series. In this work, two correlated nanoclusters, Au5Ag11(SR)8(DPPOE)2 and Pt1Ag16(SR)8(DPPOE)2 with comparable structure features, were synthesized and structurally determined. These two alloy nanoclusters displayed distinct photoluminescent nature—the Au5Ag11 nanocluster is fluorescent, whereas the Pt1Ag16 nanocluster is phosphorescent. The decay processes of the excited electrons in these two nanoclusters have been explicitly mapped out by both experimental and theoretical approaches, disclosing the mechanisms of their fluorescence and phosphorescence. Specifically, the metallic compositions of the nanocluster kernels mattered in determining their photoluminescent nature. The results herein provide an intriguing nanomodel that enables us to grasp the origin of photoluminescence at the atomic level, which further paves the way for fabricating novel nanoclusters or cluster‐based nanomaterials with customized photophysical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CACNA1A gene encodes the alpha-1A subunit of P/Q type voltage-gated calcium channel Cav2.1, which is associated with a broad clinical spectrum and variable symptomatology. While few patients with progressive ataxia caused by CACNA1A missense variants have been reported, here we report three unrelated Chinese patients with progressive ataxia due to de novo missense variants in the CACNA1A gene, including a novel pathogenic variant (c.4999C > G) and a previously reported pathogenic variant (c.4037G > A). Our findings and a systematic literature review show the unique phenotype of progressive ataxia caused by missense variants and enlarge the genetic and clinical spectrum of CACNA1A. This suggests that in addition to routine screening for dynamic mutations, screening for CACNA1A variants is important for clinicians facing patients with progressive ataxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A SH0 wave directivity model is proposed to predict the displacement wavefield generated by a rectangular d24 PZT. • The model is validated through multi-physics FE simulation and experiments. • The model can serve as a tool for directivity modelling of rectangular PZT. • A size optimization method is introduced to design the d24 PZT for effectively generating bidirectional SH0 waves. Generating directional guided waves helps to avoid unwanted reflections while providing location information for defects. Bidirectional waves focus wave beams in two opposite directions, which can be applied for generating circumferential zero-order shear horizontal (SH0) waves for large-diameter pipe inspection. In this paper, a novel method for generating bidirectional SH0 waves through size optimization using face-shear (d 24) lead zirconate titanate (PZT) transducer is proposed. A theoretical model is established based on the shear-lag model and the Huygens principle, which describes the generation and propagation of SH0 waves in thin plate by bonded d 24 PZT transducer. The theoretical model is validated by multi-physics finite element (FE) simulation results in terms of SH0 displacement wavefield. Based on the theoretical model, the performance of bidirectional SH0 wave generation is studied. The maximum bidirectional ratio that can be achieved by d 24 PZT within a size range (1–25 mm) under a five-cycle sinusoid tone-burst excitation at a center frequency range (50–300 kHz) is studied. Results show that over 20 dB effect can be achieved at the PZT with a specific aspect ratio. Laboratory experiments are conducted using d 24 PZT transducers at 50–300 kHz to validate the effect of bidirectional wave generation in practical detection scenarios. Experimental results show effects of over 20 dB within a certain frequency range can be achieved when using a PZT with a large aspect ratio, which agree well with the theoretical predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new polymerization strategy towards flavor precursors. • Grafting volatile flavors onto polyacrylate matrix. • A remarkable increase in thermal decomposition temperatures. • Effective release of target flavors during heating process. • Copolymerization of a hydrophilic monomer to improve solubility in alcohols. Herein we present a novel 'polymerization strategy' aimed at synthesizing flavor precursors, with a focus on enhancing their thermal stability and release properties. Three volatile flavors, menthol, methyl cyclopentenolone, and ethyl maltol, are reacted with acryloyl chloride to produce corresponding vinyl monomers. These monomers undergo radical polymerization to form homopolymers (P1 − P3). To improve solubility in alcohol solvents, a hydrophilic oligoethylene glycol monomer is introduced, copolymerized with the flavor containing monomers, resulting in copolymers (P4 − P6). An important advantage of these polymers lies in their significantly enhanced thermal stability, exhibiting an increase of approximately 100 to 200 °°C compared to small molecular flavors. Furthermore, our methodology enables efficient release of the target flavors upon heating, as evidenced by online analyses of volatiles from pyrolysis using fixed-bed reactor combined with single photoionization mass spectrometry (FBR-SPIMS) and pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC–MS). This work represents a practical and innovative approach to improving the thermal stability of volatile flavors and elevating their release temperature, offering promising applications in high-temperature food processing and tobacco industries. The grafting of volatile flavor compounds onto polyacrylate substrates represents a novel approach in the synthesis of flavor precursors. The polymer-supported flavor precursors realize enhanced thermal stability and improved efficacy in aroma release, particularly under elevated temperatures. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a renewable aromatic compound with enormous production potential, lignin has various potential high-value utilization pathways, but the success achieved in the field of photocatalysis is limited. Herein, this work prepares a new type of photocatalyst by modifying Graphitic Carbon Nitride Nanotubes (CNT) with self-assembled lignin nanospheres for the photocatalytic production of H 2 O 2 and the degradation of azo dyes. Under light conditions, lignin enhances the production of H 2 O 2 through oxygen reduction and collaborates with carbon nitride tubes to generate O 2 − and 1O 2. Furthermore, carbon nitride tubes form electron-rich regions with lignin, promoting the transfer of electrons from adsorbed aromatic pollutants to this region, thereby facilitating their degradation. The experimental results indicate that the addition of 5 % lignin significantly enhances the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of azo dyes, with a degradation rate 1.87 times higher than that of the original carbon nitride tubes. Furthermore, CNL also have excellent degradation ability to pollutants in actual wastewater. This study provides new insights and prospects for the high-value utilization of lignin, enabling it to be used as a photocatalytic co-catalyst to participate in the photocatalytic degradation of environmental pollutants. • Photocatalyst CNL5 was synthesized by modifying carbon nitride with lignin, improving its photocatalytic activity. • Study on the mechanism of lignin-modified carbon nitride nanotubes photocatalytic production of H 2 O 2. • By π-π attraction, the electrons of pollutants participate in the photocatalytic reaction. • The application and challenges of high value utilization of lignin in photocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid expansion of urban areas has caused a series of impacts on the ecological environment. Exploring the effects of urban sprawl on carbon emissions and its mechanisms is crucial for realizing sustainable development patterns and low-carbon city planning. This study integrates used nighttime light data and population grid data to construct an Urban Sprawl Index. It employs a spatial Durbin model to analyze the spatial impact of urban sprawl on carbon emissions, examining the mechanisms from the perspective of local land transfers. The research reveals the following findings: (1) Urban sprawl significantly contributes to a positive spatial spillover effect on carbon emissions, leading to increased emission levels in surrounding cities. (2) The overall local impact of urban sprawl on urban areas is not significant. It suppresses carbon emissions in municipal districts but increases them in counties, with these effects counterbalancing each other. (3) Mechanism analysis indicates that different types of land transfers have varied effects on carbon emissions in districts and counties, and the regulation of the floor area ratio regulation strengthens the impact of land transfers. (4) Heterogeneity analysis shows that the size of urban populations significantly reduces the local effects of sprawl on carbon emissions, while environmental regulations strength attenuate the impact of urban sprawl on carbon emissions in municipal districts. The findings of this study provide practical references and policy implications for formulating reasonable urban development and land use plans, facilitating the achievement of peak carbon and carbon neutrality goals. [Display omitted] • Urban sprawl significantly contributes to a positive spatial spillover effect on carbon emissions. • The overall local impact of urban sprawl on urban areas is negligible. • Urban sprawl cuts emissions in districts but raises them in counties, offsetting overall. • Different types of land transfers have varied effects on carbon emissions in districts and counties. • Floor area ratio rules heighten land transfer impacts on emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand joint emission reduction (JER) of upstream and downstream firms under a low-carbon operational environment, this study incorporates green technology, remanufacturing, low-carbon promotion, consumer environmental awareness (CEA), and mixed carbon policies (carbon tax + cap-and-trade) into a dynamic framework to investigate JER decisions of the upstream manufacturer and the downstream retailer. Applying the differential game theory, we consider low-carbon goodwill as the state variable and explore members' optimal decisions in four cases, namely, idealized case, noncooperative case, unilateral cost-sharing contract (UCSC) case, and bilateral cost-sharing contract (BCSC) case. Our results show that the noncooperative case leads to a loss of efficiency in joint emission reduction. Although the BCSC is more advantageous than the UCSC in improving the efficiency of JER, a profit redistribution mechanism needs to be included, and the profit distribution ratio should be controlled within a certain interval. Only in this situation do both parties prefer the BCSC. Additionally, the impact of mixed carbon policies and CEA on JER decisions, low-carbon goodwill, profits, and coordination are fully discussed, and it is found that in the face of stricter mixed carbon policies, the downstream retailer plays a moderating role only in cooperative cases. Several practical implications are concluded for JER, contract design, CEA, and carbon policies. Governments and firms can benefit from our research by gaining a deeper understanding of JER. • Differential game is applied to explore joint emission reduction (JER) decisions. • Upstream manufacturer depends on green technology and remanufacturing to realize green production. • Mixed carbon policies and consumer environmental awareness are considered. • Only in cooperative cases does the downstream retailer play a moderating role in JER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

End-stage liver disease (ESLD) is characterized by the deterioration of liver function and a subsequent high mortality rate. Studies have investigated the use of adult stem cells to treat ESLD. Here, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine the efficacy of a combination therapy with adult stem cell transplantation and traditional medicine for treating ESLD. Four databases—including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library—were investigated for studies published before January 31, 2021. The main outcome indicators were liver function index, model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores, and Child‒Turcotte‒Pugh (CTP) scores. Altogether, 1604 articles were retrieved, of which eight met the eligibility criteria; these studies included data for 579 patients with ESLD. Combination of adult stem cell transplantation with conventional medicine significantly improved its efficacy with respect to liver function index, CTP and MELD scores, but this effect gradually decreased over time. Moreover, a single injection of stem cells was more effective than two injections with respect to MELD and CTP scores and total bilirubin (TBIL) and albumin (ALB) levels, with no significant difference in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. With respect to the TBIL levels, patients receiving mononuclear cells (MNCs) experienced a significantly greater therapeutic effect—starting from twenty-four weeks after the treatment—whereas with respect to ALB levels, CD34+ autologous peripheral blood stem cells (CD34+ APBSCs) and MNCs had similar therapeutic effects. Severe complications associated with adult stem cell treatment were not observed. Although the benefits of combination therapy with respect to improving liver function were slightly better than those of the traditional treatment alone, they gradually decreased over time. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021238576. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]