Coumarin-furo[2,3-d]pyrimidone hybrid molecules targeting human liver cancer cells: synthesis, anticancer effect, EGFR inhibition and molecular docking studies

The design, synthesis and investigation of antitumor activities of some coumarin-furo[2,3-d]pyrimidone hybrid molecules are reported. In vitro, HepG2 cells were used to investigate the cytotoxicity of 6a-n and 10a-n. The results demonstrated that coupling a furopyrimidone scaffold with coumarin through a hydrazide linker can effectively improve their synergistic anticancer activity. The coumarin-furo[2,3-d]pyrimidone combination 10a exhibited significant inhibitory activity against HepG2 cells with IC50 = 7.72 ± 1.56 μM, which is better than those of gefitinib and sorafenib. It is worth mentioning that the coumarin-furo[2,3-d]pyrimidone combination 10a showed excellent inhibition of the EGFR enzymatic activity with IC50 = 1.53 μM and 90% inhibition at 10 μM concentration. In silico investigation predicts the possibility of direct binding between the new coumarin-furo[2,3-d]pyrimidone hybrid molecules and the EGFR. The results suggest that coumarin-furo[2,3-d]pyrimidone hybrid molecules are potential antitumor agents targeting human liver cancer cells.

Controllable Fabrication of Hydrophilic Surface Micro/Nanostructures of CFRP by Femtosecond Laser

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP), a highly engineered lightweight material with superior properties, is widely used in industrial fields, such as aerospace, automobile, and railway transportation, as well as medical implants and supercapacitor. This work presents an effective surface treatment method for the controllable fabrication of hydrophilic surface micro/nanostructures of CFRP through femtosecond laser processing. Selective removal of the epoxy resin and leaving the carbon fibers exposed are achieved when CFRP is weakly ablated by a femtosecond laser. The diameters and structures of the carbon fibers can be controlled by adjusting the laser processing parameters. Three-dimensional surface micro/nanostructures are processed when CFRP is strongly ablated by a femtosecond laser. Meanwhile, the transformation of the sp2 orbitals to sp3 orbitals of graphitic carbons of carbon fibers is induced by a femtosecond laser. Moreover, the investigation of surface roughness and wettability of femtosecond laser-processed CFRP indicates increased roughness and excellent hydrophilicity (a contact angle of 28.1°). This work reveals the effect of femtosecond laser processing on the regulation of the physicochemical properties of CFRP, which can be applicable to surface treatment and performance control of other fiber-resin composites. The excellent hydrophilicity will be conducive to the combination of CFRP with other materials or to reducing the friction resistance of CFRP used in medical implants.

Schisandrin A Alleviates Spatial Learning and Memory Impairment in Diabetic Rats by Inhibiting Inflammatory Response and Through Modulation of the PI3K/AKT Pathway

Clinical and epidemiological research shows that people with diabetes mellitus frequently experience diabetic cognitive impairment. Schisandrin A (SchA), one of the lignans found in the dried fruit of Schisandra chinensis, has a variety of pharmacological effects on immune system control, apoptosis suppression, anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation. The goal of the current investigation was to clarify the probable neuro-protective effects of SchA against streptozotocin-induced diabetes deficiencies of the spatial learning and memory in rats. The outcomes show that SchA therapy effectively improved impaired glucose tolerance, fasting blood glucose level and serum insulin level in diabetic rats. Additionally, in the Morris water maze test, diabetic rats showed deficits in spatial learning and memory that were ameliorated by SchA treatment. Moreover, giving diabetic rats SchA reduced damage to the hippocampus structure and increased the production of synaptic proteins. Further research revealed that SchA therapy reduced diabetic-induced hippocampus neuron damage and the generation of Aβ, as demonstrated by the upregulated phosphorylation levels of insulin signaling pathway connected proteins and by the decreased expression levels of inflammatory-related factors. Collectively, these results suggested that SchA could improve diabetes-related impairments in spatial learning and memory, presumably by reducing inflammatory responses and regulating the insulin signaling system.

Flooding Performance and Optimization of Injection Parameters of Nanosized Oil Displacement Agents in Extra-Low-Permeability Reservoirs

There have been few studies on the role of nanofluids in oil displacement and injection parameters, despite their significant impact on the oil displacement effect. To enhance oil recovery in an ultralow-permeability reservoir, the nanosized oil-displacement agent with nano-SiO2 modified by a silane coupling agent as a main component was selected for the first time in the Changqing oilfield. To assess the performance of the nanofluid, various factors such as particle size, contact angle, interfacial tension, and emulsion stability were taken into consideration. The oil displacement effect of nanofluids was evaluated by a microscopic model and ultralow-permeability core displacement experiment, and its optimal injection parameters were determined. The average particle size of the nano-oil displacement agent is 22-30 nm. It can change the wetting condition of the rock from oil-wet to water-wet and reduce the oil-water interfacial tension. Even at 80 °C, the emulsion formed by the agent remained stable. The oil displacement experiment shows that the nano-oil displacement agent whose injection pressure increases can displace the residual oil trapped in small pores that cannot be affected by conventional water flooding. The injection mode of "nanoflooding agent drive + water drive + nanoflooding agent drive", injection rate of 0.1 mL/min, injection concentration of 0.5%, and injection volume of 0.5 PV (0.25 PV per segment), which can effectively guide the injection of the oil displacement agent, achieve the best oil displacement effect.

An efficient lightweight network for image denoising using progressive residual and convolutional attention feature fusion

While deep learning has become the go-to method for image denoising due to its impressive noise removal capabilities, excessive network depth often plagues existing approaches, leading to significant computational burdens. To address this critical bottleneck, we propose a novel lightweight progressive residual and attention mechanism fusion network that effectively alleviates these limitations. This architecture tackles both Gaussian and real-world image noise with exceptional efficacy. Initiated through dense blocks (DB) tasked with discerning the noise distribution, this approach substantially reduces network parameters while comprehensively extracting local image features. The network then adopts a progressive strategy, whereby shallow convolutional features are incrementally integrated with deeper features, establishing a residual fusion framework adept at extracting encompassing global features relevant to noise characteristics. The process concludes by integrating the output feature maps from each DB and the robust edge features from the convolutional attention feature fusion module (CAFFM). These combined elements are then directed to the reconstruction layer, ultimately producing the final denoised image. Empirical analyses conducted in environments characterized by Gaussian white noise and natural noise, spanning noise levels 15-50, indicate a marked enhancement in performance. This assertion is quantitatively corroborated by increased average values in metrics such as Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), Structural Similarity Index (SSIM), and Feature Similarity Index for Color images (FSIMc), outperforming the outcomes of more than 20 existing methods across six varied datasets. Collectively, the network delineated in this research exhibits exceptional adeptness in image denoising. Simultaneously, it adeptly preserves essential image features such as edges and textures, thereby signifying a notable progression in the domain of image processing. The proposed model finds applicability in a range of image-centric domains, encompassing image processing, computer vision, video analysis, and pattern recognition.

L-shaped association between lean body mass to visceral fat mass ratio with hyperuricemia: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Insufficient attention has been given to examining the correlation between body composition and hyperuricemia, leading to inconsistent findings. The primary objective of this research is to explore the association between lean body mass index (LMI), visceral fat mass index (VFMI), and hyperuricemia. A specific emphasis will be placed on assessing the link between the ratio of lean body mass to visceral fat mass (LMI/VFMI) and hyperuricemia.

METHODS

The present study employed a cross-sectional design and involved a total of 9,646 individuals who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). To explore the associations among the variables, logistic and linear regressions were employed. Additionally, subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were conducted based on various characteristics.

RESULTS

The results showed that LMI was positively associated with hyperuricemia (for Per-SD: OR = 1.88, 95%CI: 1.75, 2.01; for quartiles [Q4:Q1]: OR = 5.37, 95%CI: 4.31, 6.69). Meanwhile, VFMI showed a positive association with hyperuricemia (for Per-SD: OR = 2.02, 95%CI: 1.88, 2.16; for quartiles [Q4:Q1]: OR =8.37, 95%CI: 6.70, 10.47). When considering the effects of In LMI/VFMI, an L-shaped negative association with hyperuricemia was observed (for Per-SD: OR = 0.45, 95%CI: 0.42, 0.49; for quartiles [Q4:Q1]: OR = 0.16, 95%CI: 0.13, 0.20). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses demonstrated the robustness of this association across different subgroups. Additionally, the segmented regression analysis indicated a saturation effect of 5.64 for the In LMI/VFMI with hyperuricemia (OR = 0.20, 95%CI: 0.17, 0.24). For every 2.72-fold increase of In LMI/VFMI, the risk of hyperuricemia was reduced by 80%.

CONCLUSION

The LMI/VFMI ratio is non-linearly associated with serum uric acid. Whether this association is causal needs to be confirmed in further longitudinal studies or Mendelian randomization.

Twenty-Four week Taichi training improves pulmonary diffusion capacity and glycemic control in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus

This study evaluated the effect of 24-week Taichi training and Taichi plus resistance band training on pulmonary diffusion capacity and glycemic control in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Forty-eight patients with T2DM were randomly divided into three groups: Group A-Taichi training: practiced Taichi 60 min/day, 6 days/week for 24 weeks; Group B-Taichi plus resistance band training: practiced 60-min Taichi 4 days/week plus 60-min resistance band training 2 days/week for 24 weeks; and Group C-controls: maintaining their daily lifestyles. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was applied to predict diffusion capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) by fasting blood glucose, insulin, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), von Willebrand Factor (vWF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), nitric oxide (NO), endothelin-1 (ET-1), vascular endothelial growth factor, and prostaglandin I-2. Taichi with or without resistance band training significantly improved DLCO, increased insulin sensitivity, eNOS and NO, and reduced fasting blood glucose, insulin, HbA1c, TNF-α, vWF, IL-6, ICAM-1, and ET-1. There was no change in any of these variables in the control group. DLCO was significantly predicted (R2 = 0.82) by insulin sensitivity (standard-β = 0.415, P<0.001), eNOS (standard-β = 0.128, P = 0.017), TNF-α (standard-β = -0.259, P = 0.001), vWF (standard-β = -0.201, P = 0.007), and IL-6 (standard-β = -0.175, P = 0.032) in patients with T2DM. The impact of insulin sensitivity was the most important predictor for the variation of DLCO based on the multiple regression modeling. This study demonstrates that 24-week Taichi training and Taichi plus resistance band training effectively improve pulmonary diffusion capacity and blood glycemic control in patients with T2DM. Variation of DLCO is explained by improved insulin sensitivity and endothelial function, and reduced inflammatory markers, including TNF-α, vWF, and IL-6.

Facile preparation of a CoNiS/CF electrode by SILAR for a high sensitivity non-enzymatic glucose sensor

The nanomaterials for non-enzymatic electrochemical sensors are usually pre-synthesized and coated onto electrodes by ex situ methods. In this work, amorphous cobalt-nickel sulfide (CoNiS) nanoparticles were facilely prepared on copper foam (CF) by the in situ successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method, and as-prepared CoNiS/CF was studied as an electrode for non-enzymatic glucose sensing. It was analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The electrochemical performance was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA). This binary sulfide electrode showed better performance toward glucose oxidation compared to the corresponding single sulfide and showed a wide linear range of 0.005 to 3.47 mM, a high sensitivity of 2298.7 μA mM-1 cm-2 and a low detection limit of 2.0 μM. The sensor exhibited high sensitivity and good repeatability and stability and was able to detect glucose in an actual sample. This work provides a simple and fast in situ electrode preparation method for a high-sensitivity glucose sensor.

Effect of the red uniform on the judgment of position or movement used in Wushu Routine, evaluated by practitioners of the modality

In the artistic sports program, the referee' scores directly determine the final results of the athletes. Wushu is a artistic sport that has a Chinese characteristic and has the potential to become an official competition at the Summer Olympic. In this study we tested whether a red uniform color affects Wushu Routine practitioners' ratings of athletes' position or movement of Wushu Routine. We also tested whether the effect varied depending on the gender of the athlete and the practitioner, and depending on whether female practitioners were in the ovulation phase of their menstrual cycle. Male (Experiment 1: N = 72) and female (Experiment 1: N = 72; Experiment 2: N = 52) participants who major in Wushu Routine were recruited to take a referee's perspective and rate the movement quality of male and female athletes wearing red or blue uniforms. The results of Experiment 1 showed that both male and female athletes wearing red uniform (compared to blue uniform) received higher ratings (p = .002, η2 = .066; p = .014, η2 = .043), and the red effect was especially strong when male practitioners rated female athletes (p = .002, η2 = .069). The results of Experiment 2, in an all-female sample, showed that in most cases there was no difference in ratings made by women in the ovulation and non-ovulation phases of their menstrual cycle, with the exception of their ratings of male athletes wearing red; in this condition, women gave higher ratings when they were in the ovulation phase of their cycle (p = .026). The results suggest that there is a red effect in an artistic sport like Wushu Routine, in which gender and the female menstrual cycle play an important role.

Effects of Kinesio taping on lower limb biomechanical characteristics during the cutting maneuver in athletes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

PURPOSE

To determine the effects of Kinesio taping (KT) on the biomechanical characteristics of the lower limbs during the 90° cutting maneuver in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) athletes.

METHOD

Eighteen ACLR athletes were recruited and subjected randomly to three taping conditions, KT, placebo taping (PT), and no taping (NT), followed by a 90° cutting test. A nine-camera infrared high-speed motion capture system (Vicon, T40, 200 Hz) was used to record the kinematic parameters of the lower limbs during the cutting maneuver, and a three-dimensional dynamometer (Kistler, 1000 Hz) was used to record the kinetic parameters of the lower limbs. A one-way repeated measures analysis of variance was conducted to compare the differences in the lower limb kinematic and kinetic characteristics of ACLR athletes subjected to these interventions.

RESULTS

During the landing phase, the knee valgus angle reduced significantly with KT than with NT (95% confidence interval = -1.399 to -0.154; P = 0.025), whereas no significant difference was observed between PT and NT (95% confidence interval = -1.251 to 0.217; P = 0.236). No significant differences were observed in the other kinematic variables among the three taping conditions (P > 0.05). During the landing phase, no significant differences in the kinetic variables were observed among the three taping conditions (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Although KT does not improve the kinetic variables of athletes after ACLR during the 90° cutting maneuver, it reduces the knee valgus angle, which could reduce the risk of secondary ACL injury.

Nondestructive Determination of Epicarp Hardness of Passion Fruit Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy during Storage

The hardness of passion fruit is a critical feature to consider when determining maturity during post-harvest storage. The capacity of near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) for non-destructive detection of outer and inner hardness of passion fruit epicarp was investigated in this work. The passion fruits' spectra were obtained using a near-infrared spectrometer with a wavelength range of 10,000-4000 cm-1. The hardness of passion fruit's outer epicarp (F1) and inner epicarp (F2) was then measured using a texture analyzer. Moving average (MA) and mean-centering (MC) techniques were used to preprocess the collected spectral data. Competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS), successive projection algorithm (SPA), and uninformative variable elimination (UVE) were used to pick feature wavelengths. Grid-search-optimized random forest (Grids-RF) models and genetic-algorithm-optimized support vector regression (GA-SVR) models were created as part of the modeling process. After MC preprocessing and CARS selection, MC-CARS-Grids-RF model with 7 feature wavelengths had the greatest prediction ability for F1. The mean square error of prediction set (RMSEP) was 0.166 gN. Similarly, following MA preprocessing, the MA-Grids-RF model displayed the greatest predictive performance for F2, with an RMSEP of 0.101 gN. When compared to models produced using the original spectra, the R2P for models formed after preprocessing and wavelength selection improved. The findings showed that near-infrared spectroscopy may predict the hardness of passion fruit epicarp, which can be used to identify quality during post-harvest storage.

Effect of Novel Processing Techniques on the Carotenoid Release during the Production of Red Guava Juice

Red guava, distinguished by its elevated lycopene content, emerges as a promising natural source of carotenoids. This study systematically evaluates the impact of diverse processing techniques on the efficient release of carotenoids. The primary objective is to facilitate the transfer of carotenoids into the juice fraction, yielding carotenoid-enriched juice seamlessly integrable into aqueous-based food matrices. The untreated guava puree exhibited a modest release of carotenoids, with only 66.26% of β-carotene and 57.08% of lycopene reaching the juice. Contrastly, both high-pressure homogenization (HPH) at 25 MPa and enzyme (EM) treatment significantly enhanced carotenoid release efficiency (p < 0.05), while high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) at 400 MPa and pulsed electric field (PEF) of 4 kV/cm did not (p > 0.05). Notably, HPH demonstrated the most substantial release effect, with β-carotene and lycopene reaching 90.78% and 73.85%, respectively. However, the stability of EM-treated samples was relatively poor, evident in a zeta-potential value of -6.51 mV observed in the juice. Correlation analysis highlighted the interactions between pectin and carotenoids likely a key factor influencing the stable dissolution or dispersion of carotenoids in the aqueous phase. The findings underscore HPH as a potent tool for obtaining carotenoid-enriched guava juice, positioning it as a desirable ingredient for clean-label foods.

Improved 3D-2D Perovskite for Efficient Perovskite Photovoltaics with Low-Temperature Carbon Electrodes

Surface passivation and interface modification are effective strategies to acquire outstanding performances for perovskite solar cells (PeSCs). To suppress charge recombination and enhance the stability of the perovskite device, a hydrophobic two-dimensional (2D) perovskite is presented to construct a 3D-2D composite perovskite, passivating the perovskite surface/interfacial imperfection. Herein, a 3D-2D heterojunction perovskite is in situ synthesized on a 3D surface to maximize the charge transport and environmental stability. Through optimizing the annealing procedure systematically, the champion 3D-2D carbon-based PeSC achieves a power conversion efficiency of 17.95% and has wonderful long-term stability. Especially, an improved 3D-2D (3D-2D+) PeSC from restrict annealing even maintains 96.2% of the initial efficiency in air over 800 h and 90% efficiency under continuous 70 °C heating for 10 h owing to the passivation of the surface and thorough crystal boundary for the 3D-2D+ perovskite. The strong environmental stability of 3D-2D PeSCs has provided a wider avenue for fully low-temperature carbon-based PeSCs.

Enhancing Cytochrome C Recognition and Adsorption through Epitope-Imprinted Mesoporous Silica with a Tailored Pore Size

We have reported the synthesis of epitope-imprinted mesoporous silica (EIMS) with an average pore size of 6.2 nm, which is similar to the geometrical size of the target protein, cytochrome C (Cyt c, 2.6 × 3.2 × 3.3 nm3), showing great recognition and large-scale adsorption performance. The characteristic fragment of Cyt c was used as a template and docked onto the surface of C16MIMCl micelles via multiple interactions. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the successful preparation of EIMS. Due to the ordered pore structure, larger pore size, and high specific surface area, the prepared EIMS show superior specificity (IF = 3.8), excellent selectivity toward Cyt c, high adsorption capacity (249.6 mg g-1), and fast adsorption equilibrium (10 min). This study demonstrates the potential application of EIMS with a controllable pore size for high-effective and large-scale separation of Cyt c, providing a new approach for effective biomacromolecular recognition.

Network pharmacology to unveil the mechanism of suanzaoren decoction in the treatment of alzheimer's with diabetes

BACKGROUND

Suanzaoren Decoction (SZRD), a well-known formula from traditional Chinese medicine, has been shown to have reasonable cognitive effects while relaxing and alleviating insomnia. Several studies have demonstrated significant therapeutic effects of SZRD on diabetes and Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the active ingredients and probable processes of SZRD in treating Alzheimer's with diabetes are unknown. This study aims to preliminarily elucidate the potential mechanisms and potential active ingredients of SZRD in the treatment of Alzheimer's with diabetes.

METHODS

The main components and corresponding protein targets of SZRD were searched on the TCMSP database. Differential gene expression analysis for diabetes and Alzheimer's disease was conducted using the Gene Expression Omnibus database, with supplementation from OMIM and genecards databases for differentially expressed genes. The drug-compound-target-disease network was constructed using Cytoscape 3.8.0. Disease and SZRD targets were imported into the STRING database to construct a protein-protein interaction network. Further, Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses were performed on the intersection of genes. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were conducted on the Hub gene and active compounds. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis was performed to further analyze key genes.

RESULTS

Through the Gene Expression Omnibus database, we obtained 1977 diabetes related genes and 622 AD related genes. Among drugs, diabetes and AD, 97 genes were identified. The drug-compound-target-disease network revealed that quercetin, kaempferol, licochalcone a, isorhamnetin, formononetin, and naringenin may be the core components exerting effects. PPI network analysis identified hub genes such as IL6, TNF, IL1B, CXCL8, IL10, CCL2, ICAM1, STAT3, and IL4. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses showed that SZRD in the treatment of Alzheimer's with diabetes is mainly involved in biological processes such as response to drug, aging, response to xenobiotic, and enzyme binding; as well as signaling pathways such as Pathways in cancer, Chemical carcinogenesis - receptor activation, and Fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis. Molecular docking results showed that licochalcone a, isorhamnetin, kaempferol, quercetin, and formononetin have high affinity with CXCL8, IL1B, and CCL2. Molecular dynamics simulations also confirmed a strong interaction between CXCL8 and licochalcone a, isorhamnetin, and kaempferol. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis revealed that CXCL8, IL1B, and CCL2 have significant potential in diabetes.

CONCLUSION

This study provides, for the first time, insights into the active ingredients and potential molecular mechanisms of SZRD in the treatment of Alzheimer's with diabetes, laying a theoretical foundation for future basic research.

Thermodynamic, electronic, and optical properties of ultra-wide bandgap zirconium-doped tin dioxide from a DFT perspective

The effects of zirconium doping on the thermodynamic, electronic, and optical properties of tin dioxide are investigated by using density functional theory calculations combined with the cluster expansion method. In the whole composition range, the formation enthalpies of all structures are positive, indicating that SnO2-ZrO2 is an immiscible system and the ZrSnO2 alloy has a tendency of phase separation at low temperature. The x-T phase diagram of ZrSnO2 ternary alloy shows that the critical temperature is 979 K, which means that when the growth temperature of ZrSnO2 crystal is higher than the critical temperature, it is possible to realize the full-component solid solution. The bandgaps of ZrxSn1-xO2 alloys (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) are direct and increase as the Zr composition increases. Zr doping can tune the bandgap of SnO2 from the ultraviolet-B region to the deep ultraviolet region, and has a strong optical response to deep ultraviolet light. The projected density of states and band offsets clearly reveal the reason for the increase of bandgap, which provides useful information to design relevant optoelectronic devices such as quantum wells and solar-blind deep ultraviolet photodetectors.

Dimension Tuning of All-Inorganic Ag-Based Metal Halides by Solvent Engineering

Dimension growth of metal halides is important for its properties and applications. However, such dimension control of the metal halides is rarely reported in the literature and the growth mechanism is not clear yet. A minute difference of solvent properties can tremendously alter the process of nucleation and growth of crystals. Herein, an intriguing phenomenon of dimension tuning for Ag-based metal halides is reported. The 1D Cs2 AgCl3 crystals can be obtained in pure DMF while the 2D CsAgCl2 crystals are obtained in pure DMSO. Both exhibit bright yellow emission, which are derived from self-trapping excitons (STEs). The photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of Cs2 AgCl3 (1D) and CsAgCl2 (2D) are 28.46 % and 20.61 %, respectively. In order to understand the mechanism of the dimension change, additional solvents (N,N-dimethylacetamide, DMAC, 1,3-Dimethyl-Tetrahydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one, DMPU) are also selected to process the precursor for crystal growth. By comparing the functional group, dielectric constant, and donor number among the four solvents, we find the donor number plays the predominant role in nucleation process for Cs2 AgCl3 and CsAgCl2 . This research reveals the relationship between coordination ability of the solvent and the dimension of metal halides.

DFT-Based Study of the Structure, Stability, and Spectral and Optical Properties of Gas-Phase NbMgn (n = 2-12) Clusters

Gas-phase NbMgn (n = 2-12) clusters were fully searched by CALYPSO software, and then the low-energy isomers were further optimized and calculated under DFT. It is shown that the three lowest energy isomers of NbMgn (n = 3-12) at each size are grown from two seed structures, i.e., tetrahedral and pentahedral structures, and the transition size occurs at the NbMg8 cluster. Interestingly, the relative stability calculations of the NbMg8 cluster ground-state isomer stand out under the examination of several parameters' calculations. The charge-transfer properties of the clusters of the ground-state isomers of various sizes had been comprehensively investigated. In order to be able to provide data guidance for future experimental probing of these ground-state clusters, this work also predicted infrared and Raman spectra at the same level of theoretical calculations. The results show that the multipeak nature of the IR and Raman spectra predicts that it is difficult to distinguish them directly. Finally, the optical properties of these clusters were investigated by calculating the static linear, second-order nonlinear, and third-order nonlinear coefficients. Importantly and interestingly, the NbMg8 cluster was shown to have superior nonlinear optical characteristics to all other clusters; thus, it is a powerful candidate for a potentially ultrasensitive nonlinear optical response device for some special purpose.

Degradation of 2,4-DCP by immobilized laccase on modified biochar carrier

Rape straw was used as the raw material for the biochar in this study, which was then changed using acid, alkali, and magnetic techniques. The laccase was attached using the adsorptions-crosslinking process, and the three modified biochars served as the carriers. The ideal circumstances for laccase immobilization were explored, and both biochar and immobilized laccase's characteristics were examined. The removal of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) by immobilized laccase from modified biochar and its degradation products were researched. The main conclusions are as follows: the optimal concentration of glutaraldehyde (GLU) was 4%, and the pH was four, and the enzyme dosage was 1.75 mg/mL for the immobilized laccase of acid-modified biochar (SBC@LAC). The optimal concentration of GLU was 5%; the pH was four, and the enzyme dosage was 2 mg/mL for immobilized laccase from alkali-modified biochar (JBC@LAC). The optimal concentration of GLU was 5%; the pH was four, and the enzyme dosage was 1.75 mg/mL for immobilized laccase from magnetically modified biochar (CBC@LAC). SEM images could show the changes in the surface morphology of biochar caused by three modification methods. The BET results demonstrated that acid and magnetic modification increased the specific surface area of biochar, and alkali modification mainly expanded the pore size of biochar. FT-IR and XRD showed that modification and laccase loading had little effect on the structure of biochar. The stability of immobilized laccase was better than that of free laccase in acid-base, heat, and storage. Among the three modified biochar immobilized laccases, JBC@LAC showed the best acid-base stability and thermal stability, and the relative enzyme activity changed the least when pH and temperature conditions changed. The storage stability of SBC@LAC is the best. After 30 days of storage, the relative enzyme activity is still 83%. The removal rates of 2,4-DCP were 57, 99, and 63%, respectively, by SBC@LAC, JBC@LAC, and CBC@LAC. After five reuses, the removal rates of 2,4-DCP by SBC@LAC, JBC@LAC and CBC@LAC were 26, 42, and 27%, respectively. The intermediate products of 2,4-DCP degradation by immobilized laccase were p-phenol, p-benzoquinone and maleic acid.

Design of online combinatorial auction mechanism for urban land transfer

With the wide application of the "Tender, Auction, and Listing" system for land in China, it is of paramount importance to establish a sound land auction mechanism so as to avoid unreasonable land allocation. However, existing studies only focus on developers who are merely concerned about land combinations and offline auctions with low efficiency and high land unsold rate. To further improve land auction mechanism, we modeled the problem of land allocation as an online combinatorial auction. On this basis, we defined a land correction coefficient and designed an optimal online combinatorial auction mechanism that enabled developers to submit multiple combinations of land. Our designed mechanism proved to satisfy both incentive compatibility (IC) and individual rationality (IR), which can prevent developers from lying in the auction while winning higher revenue, reducing land unsold rate, increasing developer turnover rate and promoting the stability of land resource allocation rate. Therefore, online combinatorial auction mechanism, both applicable and efficient, is a practical solution for improving land auctions in China.

Thermal, photonic, and electrocatalysis in lignin depolymerization research

In order to realize a sustainable bio-based future, it is essential to fully harness the potential of biomass, including lignin - a readily available biopolymer that ranks second in abundance and serves as a renewable source of aromatics. While lignin has traditionally been used for lower-value applications like fuel and power generation, unlocking its higher-value potential through diverse conversion and upgrading techniques is of paramount importance. This review focuses on the catalytic conversion of lignin, with a specific emphasis on selective depolymerization, a process that not only supports economically and environmentally sustainable biorefineries but also aligns with Green Chemistry principles, mitigating adverse environmental impacts. Furthermore, we provide a comprehensive discussion of reaction pathways and mechanisms, including C-O and C-C bond cleavage, among different catalysts. Lastly, we analyze and briefly discuss the prospects of rational catalyst design in biomass valorization.

Polygonum Cuspidatum Alcohol Extract Exerts Analgesic Effects via the MAPK/ERK Signaling Pathway

Objective

Traditional Chinese medicine Polygonum cuspidatum (PC) has significant effects on reducing pain. In this study, we investigated the analgesic effects of the alcohol extract of PC on three types of inflammatory pain and explored its mechanism.

Methods

Potential targets for the analgesic effects of the main active components of PC alcohol extract were screened by network pharmacology and molecular docking. Three different inflammatory pain mouse models (acetic acid twisting, formalin foot swelling, and xylene ear swelling) were used to study the analgesic effects of PC. The expression of latent signaling pathways in L4-6 spinal cord tissues in formalin foot swelling mice was evaluated using real-time qPCR (RT-qPCR), Western blot (WB), and immunohistochemistry (IHC) analyses.

Results

Network pharmacology analysis shows that PC analgesic mechanism is related to the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. The five main active components of PC have good docking ability with JNK and p38. PC alcohol extract significantly reduced the pain behavior and alleviated inflammatory reactions in three mouse models, inhibited the mRNA and protein phosphorylation levels of JNK, ERK, p38, and CREB in spinal cord tissues.

Conclusion

PC alcohol extract can inhibit inflammation and alleviate pain, which is related to its inhibition of the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway in spinal cord. Thus, PC alcohol extract is a promising candidate for pain treatment.

Association between lean body mass to visceral fat mass ratio and bone mineral density in United States population: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Studies have explored the correlation between body composition and bone mineral density (BMD), but there has yet to be a consensus. Thus, the present study aims to comprehensively investigate the association between lean body mass, adipose tissue, and BMD.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (2011-2018) with 11,227 subjects. Multiple linear regression, smoothed curve fitting, threshold, and saturation effect analysis were used to explore the association between lean body mass, visceral fat mass, and BMD. Also, we used the lean body mass to visceral fat mass ratio (Log LM/VFM) as a proxy variable to analyze its association with BMD alone.

RESULTS

After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the results showed a positive correlation between lean mass and total BMD (for continuous: β = 0.078, P < 0.001; for quartile: β = 0.138, P < 0.001), while visceral fat mass was negatively correlated (for continuous: β = -0.027, P < 0.001; for quartile: β = -0.065, P < 0.001). A positive correlation was observed when the alternative variable Log LM/VFM was analyzed separately for its association with BMD (for continuous: β = 0.034, P < 0.001; for quartile: β = 0.084, P < 0.001). In addition, subgroup analyses for gender, age, body mass index, hypertension, and diabetes showed that all subgroups except the diabetes subgroup showed a substantial degree of robustness (P < 0.05). The smoothed curve fitting showed a nonlinear relationship between Log LM/VFM and BMD, and there was a threshold effect with a critical value of 2.60.

CONCLUSION

Maintaining a proper ratio of lean body mass and visceral fat mass is beneficial for increasing BMD.

Local Path Planning for Mobile Robots Based on Fuzzy Dynamic Window Algorithm

Due to the increased employment of robots in modern society, path planning methods based on human-robot collaborative mobile robots have been the subject of research in both academia and industry. The dynamic window approach used in the research of the robot local path planning problem involves a mixture of fixed weight coefficients, which makes it hard to deal with the changing dynamic environment and the issue of the sub-optimal global planning paths that arise after local obstacle avoidance. By dynamically modifying the combination of weight coefficients, we propose, in this research, the use of fuzzy control logic to optimize the evaluation function's sub-functions and enhance the algorithm's performance through the safe and dynamic avoidance of obstacles. The global path is introduced to enhance the dynamic window technique's ability to plan globally, and important points on the global path are selected as key sub-target sites for the local motion planning phase of the dynamic window technique. The motion position changes after local obstacle avoidance to keep the mobile robot on the intended global path. According to the simulation results, the enhanced dynamic window algorithm cuts planning time and path length by 16% and 5%, respectively, while maintaining good obstacle avoidance and considering a better global path in the face of various dynamic environments. It is difficult to achieve a local optimum using this algorithm.

Enhancement of electrokinetic-phytoremediation by Ophiopogon japonicus: stimulation of electrokinetic on root system and improvement of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degradation

Root systems are sensitive to voltage and tend to improve the degradation of organic pollutants by promoting the root exudates and increasing microbial enzyme activity in the rhizosphere under the effect of electrokinetic. In this study, electrokinetic-assisted phytoremediation (EKPR) was applied for the remediation of soil containing phenanthrene (PHE) and pyrene (PYR). Direct current (DC) voltage (1 V cm-1) was applied across the soils for 30 days following 3 treatment schedules (0 h, 4 h, and 12 h per day), referred to as treatments EK0, EK4, and EK12. Electrokinetic assistance improved phytoremediation. Compared to EK0, the removal of PHE and PYR increased by 51.79% and 45.07% for EK4 and by 43.18% and 38.75% for EK12. The applied voltage promoted root growth, stimulated the root exudate release, and increased accumulation of PHE and PYR by plants, and the effect was most pronounced in treatment EK4. Catalase and urease activities in rhizosphere soil also increased, by respective increments of 44.51% and 40.86% for EK4 and by 28.53% and 21.24% for EK12. In this study, we demonstrated that a low voltage applied for an appropriate duration (4 h per day) improves removal of PAHs by stimulating root growth, promoting the root exudate release and enhancing enzyme activity in the microbiome of rhizosphere soil.

Engineering graphitic carbon nitride for next-generation photodetectors: a mini review

Semiconductor photodetectors, as photoelectric devices using optical-electrical signal conversion for detection, are widely used in various fields such as optical communication, medical imaging, environmental monitoring, military tracking, remote sensing, etc. Compared to the conventional photodetector materials including silicon, III-V semiconductors and metal sulfides, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) as a metal-free polymeric semiconductor, has many advantages such as low-price, easy preparation, efficient visible light response, and relatively good thermal stability. In the meantime, the polymer characteristics also endow the g-C3N4 with good mechanical properties. Apart from being used for photo(electro)catalysts during the past decades, the potential use of g-C3N4 in photodetectors has attracted great research interests very recently. In this review, we first briefly introduce the structure and properties of g-C3N4 and the key performance parameters of photodetectors. Then, combining the very recent progress, the review focuses on the active materials, fabrication methods and performance enhancement strategies for g-C3N4 based photodetectors. The existing challenges are discussed and the future development of g-C3N4 based photodetectors is also forecasted.

Nerve Defect Treatment with a Capping Hydroxyethyl Cellulose/Soy Protein Isolate Sponge Conduit for Painful Neuroma Prevention

Painful neuroma, as one of the complications of nerve injury from disease or trauma, results in instinctive neuropathic pain that adversely affects a patient's quality of life. To intercept neuroma development, capping strategies have been performed as effective therapies. Nonetheless, the most appropriate biocompatible material to shield the nerves is an urgent clinical requirement. Herein, a compatible hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC)/soy protein isolate (SPI) sponge capping conduit (HSSC) is used to prevent neuroma in vivo. Following capping on the sciatic nerve stump in vivo, the behavior of the rats and the structure of tissues are compared through histological assessment and autotomy scoring. The HSSCs gained a dismal autotomy score and enhanced the amelioration, where inflammatory invasions and overdeposition of collagen are defeated. The expression of myelin growth linked genes (Krox20, MPZ, and MAG) in the HSSC group at the eighth week was almost 2 times higher than that of the no capping group. The HSSC conduit served as a physical barrier to repress the infiltration of inflammation as well as provided an optimum microenvironment for facilitating nerve rejuvenation and intercepting neuroma development during nerve amelioration.

Heterogeneity changes of active bacterial community on cigar filler leaves after fermentation based on metagenome

Microorganisms play an important role in cigar fermentation. To further explore the dynamic changes of bacterial community composition, the changes of surface bacterial diversity of cigar filler leaves were investigated in the present study by high-throughput sequencing technology. It was found that the surface bacterial richness was declined after fermentation, and the dominant microorganisms on the surface of cigar filler leaves evolved from Pseudomonas spp. and Sphingomonas spp. before fermentation to Staphylococcus spp. after fermentation. The chemical composition and sensory quality evaluation of cigar filler leaves were closely related to the changes of surface bacterial community. The changes of the dominant surface bacterial community led to the differences of metabolic functions, among which the metabolic pathways such as the synthesis of secondary metabolites, carbon metabolism, and amino acid biosynthesis were significantly different. The results provide a basis for clarifying the roles of bacteria in fermentation of cigar filler leaves.

The healthy context paradox of bullying victimization and academic adjustment among Chinese adolescents: A moderated mediation model

Few empirical studies have specifically examined the underlying mechanisms of the "healthy context paradox" in Chinese cultural context. By constructing a moderated mediation model, the present study investigated the relationship between bullying victimization and academic adjustment, as well as the mediating effects of subjective well-being and the moderating role of classroom-level victimization. A sample of 631 adolescents (Mage = 13.75, SD = 0.74, 318 boys) were recruited from four schools in Hubei, Southern China. Results show that: (1) classroom-level victimization moderates the relationship between bullying victimization and academic adjustment. (2) Classroom-level victimization moderates the association through subjective well-being. This study confirms the healthy context paradox of bullying victimization and first reveals the mechanism of the mediating role of subjective well-being. Understanding the mechanisms that contribute to the health context paradox is crucial for developing targeted intervention strategies for individuals who experience ongoing bullying.

High-solids enzymatic saccharification of starch-rich raw herbal biomass residues for producing high titers of glucose

The bioresource utilization of herbal biomass residues (HBRs) has been receiving more attention. Herein, three different HBRs from Isatidis Radix (IR) and Sophorae Flavescentis Radix (SFR) and Ginseng Radix (GR) were subjected to batch and fed-batch enzymatic hydrolysis to produce high-concentration glucose. Compositional analysis showed the three HBRs had substantial starch content (26.36-63.29%) and relatively low cellulose contents (7.85-21.02%). Due to their high starch content, the combined action of cellulolytic and amylolytic enzymes resulted in greater release of glucose from the raw HBRs compared to using the individual enzyme alone. Batch enzymatic hydrolysis of 10% (w/v) raw HBRs with low loadings of cellulase (≤ 10 FPU/g substrate) and amylolytic enzymes (≤ 5.0 mg/g substrate) led to a high glucan conversion of ≥ 70%. The addition of PEG 6000 and Tween 20 did not contribute to glucose production. Furthermore, to achieve higher glucose concentrations, fed-batch enzymatic hydrolysis was conducted using a total solid loading of 30% (w/v). After 48-h of hydrolysis, glucose concentrations of 125 g/L and 92 g/L were obtained for IR and SFR residues, respectively. GR residue yielded an 83 g/L glucose concentration after 96 h of digestion. The high glucose concentrations produced from these raw HBRs indicate their potential as ideal substrate for a profitable biorefinery. Notably, the obvious advantage of using these HBRs is the elimination of the pretreatment step, which is typically required for agricultural and woody biomass in similar studies.

Bibliometric and visualized analysis of myopic corneal refractive surgery research: from 1979 to 2022

Background

Myopic corneal refractive surgery is one of the most prevalent ophthalmic procedures for correcting ametropia. This study aimed to perform a bibliometric analysis of research in the field of corneal refractive surgery over the past 40 years in order to describe the current international status and to identify most influential factors, while highlighting research hotspots.

Methods

A bibliometric analysis based on the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) was used to analyze the publication trends in research related to myopic corneal refractive surgery. VOSviewer v.1.6.10 was used to construct the knowledge map in order to visualize the publications, distribution of countries, international collaborations, author productivity, source journals, cited references, keywords, and research hotspots in this field.

Results

A total of 4,680 publications on myopic corneal refractive surgery published between 1979 and 2022 were retrieved. The United States has published the most papers, with Emory University contributing to the most citations. The Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery published the greatest number of articles, and the top 10 cited references mainly focused on outcomes and wound healing in refractive surgery. Previous research emphasized "radial keratotomy (RK)" and excimer laser-associated operation methods. The keywords containing femtosecond (FS) laser associated with "small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE)" and its "safety" had higher burst strength, indicating a shift of operation methods and coinciding with the global trends in refractive surgery. The document citation network was clustered into five groups: (1) outcomes of refractive surgery: (2) preoperative examinations for refractive surgery were as follows: (3) complications of myopic corneal refractive surgery; (4) corneal wound healing and cytobiology research related to photorefractive laser keratotomy; and (5) biomechanics of myopic corneal refractive surgery.

Conclusion

The bibliometric analysis in this study may provide scholars with valuable to information and help them better understand the global trends in myopic corneal refractive surgery research frontiers. Two stages of rapid development occurred around 1991 and 2013, shortly after the innovation of PRK and SMILE surgical techniques. The most cited articles mainly focused on corneal wound healing, clinical outcomes, ocular aberration, corneal ectasia, and corneal topography, representing the safety of the new techniques.

Effects of epigallocatechin gallate, caffeine, and their combination on fat accumulation in high-glucose diet-fed Caenorhabditis elegans

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and caffeine are inevitable to be ingested together in the process of drinking green tea. This study used Caenorhabditis elegans as an organism model to examine whether the binding of EGCG and caffeine could influence the fat-reduction effect. The results revealed that EGCG significantly reduced the Nile Red fluorescence intensity and the triglyceride/protein ratio of the C. elegans obesity model by 14.7% and 16.5%, respectively, while the effect of caffeine was not significant. Moreover, the degree of reduction in fluorescence intensity and triglyceride/protein ratio by EGCG + caffeine was comparable to that of EGCG. In the exploration of underlying mechanism, we found that EGCG and EGCG + caffeine treatments had no influence on food intake and energy expenditure of C. elegans. Their fat-reduction effects were dependent on the regulation of lipogenesis, as shown by the decreased expression of the sbp-1, fat-7, and daf-16 genes.

Performance Regulation of Single-Atom Catalyst by Modulating the Microenvironment of Metal Sites

Metal-based catalysts, encompassing both homogeneous and heterogeneous types, play a vital role in the modern chemical industry. Heterogeneous metal-based catalysts usually possess more varied catalytically active centers than homogeneous catalysts, making it challenging to regulate their catalytic performance. In contrast, homogeneous catalysts have defined active-site structures, and their performance can be easily adjusted by modifying the ligand. These characteristics lead to remarkable conceptual and technical differences between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts. As a recently emerging class of catalytic material, single-atom catalysts (SACs) have become one of the most active new frontiers in the catalysis field and show great potential to bridge homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic processes. This review documents a brief introduction to SACs and their role in a range of reactions involving single-atom catalysis. To fully understand process-structure-property relationships of single-atom catalysis in chemical reactions, active sites or coordination structure and performance regulation strategies (e.g., tuning chemical and physical environment of single atoms) of SACs are comprehensively summarized. Furthermore, we discuss the application limitations, development trends and future challenges of single-atom catalysis and present a perspective on further constructing a highly efficient (e.g., activity, selectivity and stability), single-atom catalytic system for a broader scope of reactions.

A cross-sectional and longitudinal study of how two intervention methods affect the anxiety, sleep quality, and physical activity of junior high school students under quarantine

Purpose

This study investigated levels of anxiety and sleep quality and their association with physical activity in junior high school students under quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also tests the effectiveness of physical activity and psychological nursing interventions in alleviating anxiety 'and improving sleep quality.

Methods

In July 2021, 14,000 home-quarantined junior high school students in Yangzhou City (China) were selected by random cluster sampling to complete an online survey. We then selected 95 junior high school students for an 8-week longitudinal experiment exploring whether the two types of intervention made positive contributions to students' anxiety, sleep quality, and physical activity.

Results

The cross-sectional study revealed that physical activity was significantly related to anxiety and sleep quality. In the longitudinal study, students who underwent the exercise intervention or the psychological nursing intervention experienced significant improvement in their anxiety levels. The exercise intervention also promoted improved sleep quality. Overall, the exercise intervention was more effective than the psychological nursing intervention in reducing levels of anxiety and sleep disorders.

Conclusion

During the epidemic period, junior high school students should be encouraged to spend more time engaging in physical activity, and their sleep quality and anxiety shouldbe focused on.

Stimuli-responsive nanocarrier delivery systems for Pt-based antitumor complexes: a review

Platinum-based anticancer drugs play a crucial role in the clinical treatment of various cancers. However, the application of platinum-based drugs is heavily restricted by their severe toxicity and drug resistance/cross resistance. Various drug delivery systems have been developed to overcome these limitations of platinum-based chemotherapy. Stimuli-responsive nanocarrier drug delivery systems as one of the most promising strategies attract more attention. And huge progress in stimuli-responsive nanocarrier delivery systems of platinum-based drugs has been made. In these systems, a variety of triggers including endogenous and extracorporeal stimuli have been employed. Endogenous stimuli mainly include pH-, thermo-, enzyme- and redox-responsive nanocarriers. Extracorporeal stimuli include light-, magnetic field- and ultrasound responsive nanocarriers. In this review, we present the recent advances in stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems with different nanocarriers for improving the efficacy and reducing the side effects of platinum-based anticancer drugs.

DNA controllable peroxidase-like activity of Ti3C2 nanosheets for colorimetric detection of microcystin-LR

The peroxidase-like activity of Ti₃C₂ nanosheets (Ti₃C₂ NSs) was evaluated by catalytic oxidation of colorless o-phenylenediamine (OPD) into orange-yellow 2,3-diaminophenazine (DAP) with the aid of H₂O₂. The catalytic behavior followed the typical Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Systematic studies about the catalytic activity of Ti₃C₂ NSs including cytochrome C (Cyt C) electron transfer experiments, radical capture experiments, and fluorescence analysis were conducted, revealing that the catalytic mechanism of Ti₃C₂ NSs was attributed to nanozyme-accelerated electron transfer between substrates and nanozyme-promoted generation of active species (superoxide anion free radical (·O₂^-) and holes (h⁺)). Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) inhibited the peroxidase-like activity of Ti₃C₂ NSs, and the reduced catalytic activity was ascribed to DNA-hindered substrate accessibility to nanozyme surface. Based on the DNA controllable peroxidase-mimicking activity of Ti₃C₂ NSs, taking microcystin-LR (MC-LR) aptamer as an example, a label-free colorimetric aptasensor was proposed for the sensitive detection of MC-LR. The colorimetric aptasensor showed a wide linear range (0.01-60 ng mL^-1), low limit of detection (6.5 pg mL^-1), and high selectivity. The practicality of the colorimetric aptasensor was demonstrated by detecting different levels of MC-LR in spiked real water samples; satisfactory recoveries (97.2-102.1%) and low relative standard deviations (1.16-3.72%) were obtained.

Boron Nitride/Polyurethane Composites with Good Thermal Conductivity and Flexibility

Thermal insulating composites are indispensable in electronic applications; however, their poor thermal conductivity and flexibility have become bottlenecks for improving device operations. Hexagonal boron nitride (BN) has excellent thermal conductivity and insulating properties and is an ideal filler for preparing thermally insulating polymer composites. In this study, we report a method to fabricate BN/polyurethane (PU) composites using an improved nonsolvent-induced phase separation method with binary solvents to improve the thermal performance and flexibility of PU. The stress and strain of BN60/PU are 7.52 ± 0.87 MPa and 707.34 ± 38.34%, respectively. As prepared, BN60/PU composites with unordered BN exhibited high thermal conductivity and a volume resistivity of 0.653 W/(m·K) and 23.9 × 10¹² Ω·cm, which are 218.71 and 39.77% higher than that of pure PU, respectively. Moreover, these composite films demonstrated a thermal diffusion ability and maintained good integrity after 1000 bending cycles, demonstrating good mechanical and thermal reliability for practical use. Our findings provide a practical route for the production of flexible materials for efficient thermal management.

Sheet-on-sheet ZnIn2S4@RGO-modified separators with abundant sulfur vacancies for high-performance Li-S batteries

A novel sheet-on-sheet architecture with abundant sulfur vacancies (Vs) is designed by in situ growth of flake-like ZnIn2S4 on the reduced graphene oxide (Vs-ZIS@RGO) surface, which serves as a functional layer on the separators for high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs). Benefiting from the sheet-on-sheet architecture, the separators exhibit rapid ionic/electronic transfer, which is capable of supporting fast redox reactions. The vertically ordered ZnIn2S4 shortens the diffusion pathways of lithium-ions and the irregularly curved nanosheets expose more active sites to effectively anchor lithium polysulfides (LiPSs). More importantly, the introduction of Vs adjusts the surface or interface electronic structure of ZnIn2S4, enhancing the chemical affinity to LiPSs while accelerating conversion reaction kinetics of LiPSs. As expected, the batteries with Vs-ZIS@RGO modified separators exhibit an initial discharge capacity of 1067 mA h g-1 at 0.5C. Even at 1C, the excellent long cycle stability (710 mA h g-1 over 500 cycles) with an ultra-low decay rate of 0.055% per cycle is also attained. This work proposes a strategy of designing the sheet-on-sheet structure with rich sulfur vacancies, which provides a new perspective to rationally devise durable and efficient LSBs.

Mechanistic Understanding of Tyrosinase Inhibition by Polymeric Proanthocyanidins from Acacia confusa Stem Bark and Their Effect on the Browning Resistance of Fresh-Cut Asparagus Lettuce

Tyrosinase inhibitors are capable of preventing unfavorable enzymatic browning of fruits and vegetables. In this study, the capacity of Acacia confusa stem bark proanthocyanidins (ASBPs) to inhibit tyrosinase activity was evaluated. ASBPs were shown to be a high-potential inhibitor of tyrosinase with IC50 values of 92.49 ± 4.70 and 61.74 ± 8.93 μg/mL when using L-tyrosine and L-DOPA as the substrate, respectively. The structural elucidation performed with UV-vis, FT-IR spectroscopy, ESI-MS and thiolysis coupled to HPLC-ESI-MS suggested that ASBPs had structural heterogeneity in monomer units and interflavan linkages and consisted mainly of procyanidins dominant with B-type linkages. To gain insights into the inhibitory mechanisms of ASBPs against tyrosinase, different spectroscopic and molecular docking methods were further conducted. Results validated that ASBPs possessed the ability to chelate copper ions and could prevent the oxidation process of substrates by tyrosinase. The hydrogen bond formed with Lys-376 residue played a key role in the binding force of ASBPs with tyrosinase that induced a certain alteration in the microenvironment and secondary structure of tyrosinase, resulting in the enzymatic activity being ultimately restricted. It was also observed that ASBPs treatment effectively inhibited the activities of PPO and POD to retard the surface browning of fresh-cut asparagus lettuce and thus extended their shelf-life. The results provided preliminary evidence supporting the exploitation of ASBPs into potential antibrowning agents for the fresh-cut food industry.

Admirable stability achieved by ns2 ions Co-doping for all-inorganic metal halides towards optical anti-counterfeiting

Optical materials play a momentous role in anti-counterfeiting field, such as authentication, currency and security. The development of tunable optical properties and optical responses to a range of external stimuli is quite imperative for the growing demand of optical anti-counterfeiting technology. Metal halide perovskites have attracted much attention of researchers due to their excellent optical properties. In addition, co-doping methods have been gradually applied to the research of metal halide perovskites, by which more abundant luminescence phenomena can be introduced into the host perovskite. Herein, the ns² ions of bismuth (Bi³⁺) and antimony (Sb³⁺) ions co-doped zero-dimensional Cs₂SnCl₆ metal halide with an excitation-wavelength-dependent emission phenomenon is synthesized as an efficient multimodal luminescent material, the luminescence of which is tunable and covers a wide region of color. What's more, a dynamic dual-emission phenomenon is captured when the excitation wavelength changes from 320 nm to 420 nm for Cs₂SnCl₆:Bi_0.08Sb_0.12 crystals. Moreover, the Bi³⁺ and Sb³⁺ doped metal halide material shows great enhancement in solvent resistance and thermal stability compared to the pristine Cs₂SnCl₆. The admirable stability and distinguishable photoluminescence (PL) phenomenon of this all-inorganic metal halide has great potential to be applied in optical anti-counterfeiting technology. Furthermore, the co-doping method can accelerate the discovery of new luminescence phenomena in original metal halide perovskites.

A latent profile analysis of subjective exercise experiences among physically vulnerable college students and psychiatric symptoms correlates during three phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan, China

Introduction

Physical activity among college students since the COVID-19 pandemic was well studied; however, subjective exercise experience and the emotional response toward physical exercise received less attention.

Methods

The present study used latent profile analysis (LPA) to explore the latent class of subjective exercise experience among physically vulnerable college students who scored 59 points or less in tests under the National Student Physical Health Standard. Three non-duplicated samples at different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic were collected in March 2020 (N = 127), March 2021 (N = 118), and November 2021 (N = 206) respectively. Psychometrically validated scales, namely, Subjective Exercise Experiences Scale (SEES), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were used to measure subjective exercise experience, anxiety symptoms, and depressive symptoms.

Results and discussion

LPA revealed a 3-class solution for the subjective exercise experience of physically unfit students, namely, the “negative experience group” (30.82%), the “fatigue group” (41.91%), and the “positive experience group” (27.27%). Multinomial regression showed that probable anxiety [odds ratio (OR) = 0.12] was associated with the overall negative exercise experience while probable depression (OR = 0.19) was associated with psychological fatigue. Women (OR = 0.496) were more likely to experience overall negative exercise experience, and the outbreak of the COVID- 19 (OR = 2.14) pandemic influenced the psychological distress of the subjective exercise experience compared with the other two phases in the post-COVID- 19 era. Our findings provided significant implications for physical education targeting university students that interventions should be tailored differently for three profiles of the subjective exercise experience.

The Synergy Effect of Ignition Energy and Spark Plug Gap on Methane Lean Combustion with Addressing Initial Flame Formation and Cyclic Variation

Controlling carbon emissions could be a win-win for both the environment and humans, and the use of low-carbon fuels is the key to being carbon-neutral in traffic transportation. Natural gas can achieve low carbon emissions and obtain high efficiency, but the poor lean combustion performance may result in large cycle-by-cycle variations. In this study, the synergy effect of high ignition energy and spark plug gap on methane lean combustion was optically studied under low-load and low-EGR conditions. High-speed direct photography combined with simultaneous pressure acquisition was used to analyze early flame characteristics and engine performance. The results show that high ignition energy can improve the methane engine's combustion stability, especially under high excess air coefficient conditions, and the main reason is that the initial flame formation is improved. However, the promoting effect may become marginal when the ignition energy increases above a critical value. As for the effect of spark plug gap, it varies with the ignition energy, and there exists an optimal spark plug gap for a given ignition energy. In another word, high ignition energy must combine with a large spark plug gap; thus, the promoting effect on combustion stability can be maximized and the lean limit can be extended. The statistical analysis of the flame area shows that the speed of initial flame formation is more important in determining combustion stability. As a result, a large spark plug gap (1.20 mm) can extend the lean limit to 1.4 under high ignition energy conditions. The current study shall give some insights into the spark strategies for natural gas engines.

Antioxidant mechanisms and products of four 4',5,7-trihydroxyflavonoids with different structural types

4',5,7-OHs are common substituents of natural flavonoids, a type of effective phenolic antioxidant. However, the antioxidant processes between 4',5,7-trihydroxyflavonoids with different structural types have not been compared systematically, and the antioxidant products are challenging to determine. This study compared four 4',5,7-trihydroxyflavonoids, including apigenin, genistein, kaempferol, and naringenin. In quantum chemical analyses, the four 4',5,7-trihydroxyflavonoids showed different thermodynamic properties, and the C4'-OH (or C3-OH of kaempferol) possessed the strongest activity. Moreover, the reaction rate constants were larger when a hydrogen atom was transferred from C4'-OH (or C3-OH of kaempferol) than from C5-OH. When different atoms were linked to 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH˙), the C3'-DPPH adducts showed the smallest energy. In experimental assays, the scavenging ability for neutral free radicals, radical cations, and radical anions was negatively correlated with the corresponding theoretical parameters. Finally, mass spectroscopy detected the apigenin-DPPH˙, genistein-DPPH˙, and naringenin-DPPH˙ adduct peaks. In conclusion, the structural type of 4',5,7-trihydroxyflavonoids can affect the antioxidant ability, site, and speed, but not the mechanism. After hydrogen abstraction at C4'-OH, 4',5,7-trihydroxyflavones, 4',5,7-trihydroxyisoflavones, and 4',5,7-trihydroxyflavanones will produce antioxidant products via C3'-radical linking.

Novel Microbial Palladium Nanoparticles with a High Photothermal Effect for Antibacterial Applications

Novel biocompatible palladium nanoparticles (Pd-NPs) have been prepared by microorganisms via Bacillus megaterium Y-4. It was demonstrated that ultrasonication treatment of biologically reduced Pd-NPs impart a much higher absorption in NIR regions and a better photothermal conversion efficiency to the material. The as-prepared material showed excellent biocompatibility and antibacterial activity under NIR irradiation. In less than 10 min, the disinfection efficiency for a low dosage of Pd-NPs (20 mg/L) was 99.99% toward both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The exclusive and even dispersed microbial Pd-NPs display a high efficiency of photothermal conversion under the irradiation of NIR, which endows them with excellent antibacterial activity in a low dosage.

The psychological stress response of COVID-19 to medical staff and prevention: A large sample study from China

Objectives

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, medical staff in China were more likely to suffer from psychological problems. By investigating the actual state of psychological stress response of medical staff during the COVID-19 outbreak, the study discussed and analyzed the influencing factors of different psychological states in order to prevent the occurrence of serious adverse emotional events in medical staff.

Methods

In the Xiangyang Central Hospital, 1,466 medical staff members have adopted the Psychological Questionnaire for Emergencies Events of Public Health (PQEEPH), which includes questions about depression, neurasthenia, fear, obsessive anxiety, and hypochondriac disorders. The questionnaire also asks about gender, age, education level, health, department, position, and whether personnel exposure history correlation analysis has been confirmed.

Results

The survey revealed that 55% had depression, 26.7% had neurasthenia, 95% had fear, 47.9% had obsessive anxiety, and 69.3% had hypochondria. The effects of depression and hypochondriac emotional stress were significantly greater in female workers than in male workers (p < 0.05). Those with higher educational levels had a stronger emotional stress response. Medical professionals with or without contact histories, those who were suspected or confirmed, as well as those in various positions and departments, all demonstrated significant differences in their stress emotions (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Emotional stress affected medical professionals, especially doctors and nurses, who were on the front lines of clinical work in the face of significant public health emergencies. Therefore, to reduce the stress burden and enhance mental health on medical staff, hospitals were suggested to improve their emergency management practices. In addition, the sensitization knowledge training and psychological counseling for front-line clinical staff should be strengthened.

Xanthohumol relieves arthritis pain in mice by suppressing mitochondrial-mediated inflammation

Chronic pain is the most common symptom for people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and it affects approximately 1% of the global population. Neuroinflammation in the spinal cord induces chronic arthritis pain. In this study, a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice model was established through intradermally injection of type II collagen in complete Freund's adjuvant solution. Following CIA inducement, the paws and ankles of mice were found to swell, mechanical pain and spontaneous pain were induced, and their motor coordination was impaired. The spinal inflammatory reaction was triggered, which presented as severe infiltration of inflammatory cells, and the expression levels of GFAP, IL-1β, NLRP3, and cleaved caspase-1 increased. Oxidative stress in the spinal cord of CIA mice was manifested as reduced Nrf2 and NDUFB11 expression and SOD activity, and increased levels of DHODH and Cyto-C. At the same time, spinal AMPK activity was decreased. In order to explore the potential therapeutic options for arthritic pain, Xanthohumol (Xn) was intraperitoneally injected into mice for three consecutive days. Xn treatment was found to reduce the number of spontaneous flinches, in addition to elevating mechanical pain thresholds and increasing latency time. At the same time, Xn treatment in the spinal cord reduced NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated inflammation, increased the Nrf2-mediated antioxidant response, and decreased mitochondrial ROS level. In addition, Xn was found to bind with AMPK via two electrovalent bonds and increased AMPK phosphorylation at Thr174. In summary, the findings indicate that Xn treatment activates AMPK, increases Nrf2-mediated antioxidant response, reduces Drp1-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction, suppresses neuroinflammation, and can serve to relieve arthritis pain.

Effect of Vacuum-Sealed Annealing and Ice-Water Quenching on the Structure and Photocatalytic Acetone Oxidations of Nano-TiO2 Materials

In the current research, P25 TiO₂ materials sealed in quartz vacuum tubes were subject to annealing and ice-water post-quenching, with the effects on TiO₂ structures, morphology, and photocatalytic activity being studied. It is shown that the vacuum-sealed annealing can lead to a decrease in the crystallinity and temperature of anatase-to-rutile phase transition. A disorder layer is formed over TiO₂ nanoparticles, and the TiO₂ lattices are distorted between the disorder layer and crystalline core. The ice-water post-quenching almost has no effect on the crystalline structure and morphology of TiO₂. It can be seen that the vacuum-sealed annealing can generate more defects, and the electrons are mainly localized at lattice Ti sites, as well as the percentage of bulk oxygen defects is also increased. Although further ice-water post-quenching can introduce more defects in TiO₂, it does not affect the electron localization and defect distribution. The vacuum-sealed annealing process can increase the photocatalytic acetone oxidations of the anatase phase TiO₂ to some extent, possibly because of the defect generation and Ti³⁺ site formation; the further ice-water quenching leads to a decrease in the photocatalytic activity because more defects are introduced.

The nutritional functions of dietary sphingomyelin and its applications in food

Sphingolipids are common structural components of cell membranes and are crucial for cell functions in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Sphingomyelin and its metabolites, such as sphingoid bases, ceramide, ceramide-1-phosphate, and sphingosine-1-phosphate, play signaling roles in the regulation of human health. The diverse structures of sphingolipids elicit various functions in cellular membranes and signal transduction, which may affect cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and maintain biological activities. As nutrients, dietary sphingomyelin and its metabolites have wide applications in the food and pharmaceutical industry. In this review, we summarized the distribution, classifications, structures, digestion, absorption and metabolic pathways of sphingolipids, and discussed the nutritional functioning of sphingomyelin in chronic metabolic diseases. The possible implications of dietary sphingomyelin in the modern food preparations including dairy products and infant formula, skin improvement, delivery system and oil organogels are also evaluated. The production of endogenous sphingomyelin is linked to pathological changes in obesity, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. However, dietary supplementations of sphingomyelin and its metabolites have been shown to maintain cholesterol homeostasis and lipid metabolism, and to prevent or treat these diseases. This seemly paradoxical phenomenon shows that dietary sphingomyelin and its metabolites are candidates for food additives and functional food development for the prevention and treatment of chronic metabolic diseases in humans.