Ecdysone-controlled nuclear receptor ERR regulates metabolic homeostasis in the disease vector mosquito Aedes aegypti.

Hematophagous mosquitoes require vertebrate blood for their reproductive cycles, making them effective vectors for transmitting dangerous human diseases. Thus, high-intensity metabolism is needed to support reproductive events of female mosquitoes. However, the regulatory mechanism linking metabolism and reproduction in mosquitoes remains largely unclear. In this study, we found that the expression of estrogen-related receptor (ERR), a nuclear receptor, is activated by the direct binding of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and ecdysone receptor (EcR) to the ecdysone response element (EcRE) in the ERR promoter region during the gonadotropic cycle of Aedes aegypti (named AaERR). RNA interference (RNAi) of AaERR in female mosquitoes led to delayed development of ovaries. mRNA abundance of genes encoding key enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism (CM)-glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI) and pyruvate kinase (PYK)-was significantly decreased in AaERR knockdown mosquitoes, while the levels of metabolites, such as glycogen, glucose, and trehalose, were elevated. The expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) was notably downregulated, and lipid accumulation was reduced in response to AaERR depletion. Dual luciferase reporter assays and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) determined that AaERR directly activated the expression of metabolic genes, such as GPI, PYK, and FAS, by binding to the corresponding AaERR-responsive motif in the promoter region of these genes. Our results have revealed an important role of AaERR in the regulation of metabolism during mosquito reproduction and offer a novel target for mosquito control.

Enantioselective Access to ß-Amino Carbonyls via Ni-Catalyzed Formal Olefin Hydroamidation.

We herein describe a Ni-catalyzed formal hydroamidation of readily available α,ß-unsaturated carbonyl compounds to afford valuable chiral ß-amino acid derivatives (up to >99:1 e.r.) using dioxazolones as a robust amino source. A wide range of alkyl-substituted olefins conjugated to esters, amides, thioesters, and ketones were successfully amidated at the ß-position with excellent enantioselectivity for the first time. Combined experimental and computational mechanistic studies supported our working hypothesis that this unconventional ß-amidation of unsaturated carbonyl substrates can be attributed to the polar-matched migratory olefin insertion of an (amido)(Cl)NiII intermediate, in situ generated from the dioxazolone precursor.

High-dimensional multisubject time series transition matrix inference with application to brain connectivity analysis.

Brain-effective connectivity analysis quantifies directed influence of one neural element or region over another, and it is of great scientific interest to understand how effective connectivity pattern is affected by variations of subject conditions. Vector autoregression (VAR) is a useful tool for this type of problems. However, there is a paucity of solutions when there is measurement error, when there are multiple subjects, and when the focus is the inference of the transition matrix. In this article, we study the problem of transition matrix inference under the high-dimensional VAR model with measurement error and multiple subjects. We propose a simultaneous testing procedure, with three key components: a modified expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm, a test statistic based on the tensor regression of a bias-corrected estimator of the lagged auto-covariance given the covariates, and a properly thresholded simultaneous test. We establish the uniform consistency for the estimators of our modified EM, and show that the subsequent test achieves both a consistent false discovery control, and its power approaches one asymptotically. We demonstrate the efficacy of our method through both simulations and a brain connectivity study of task-evoked functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Study on the Thermal Stabilizing Process of Layered Double Hydroxides in PVC Resin.

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) is widely used in various fields and requires the use of thermal stabilizers to enhance its thermal stability during processing because of its poor thermal stability. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are widely considered to be one kind of highly efficient and environmentally friendly PVC thermal stabilizer. To investigate the thermal stabilizing process of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) in PVC resin, PVC and MgAl-LDHs powders with different interlayer anions (CO32-, Cl-, and NO3-) were physically mixed and aged at 180 °C. The structure of LDHs at different aging times was studied using XRD, SEM, and FT-IR. The results show that the thermal stabilizing process of LDHs on PVC mainly has three stages. In the first stage, the layers of LDHs undergo a reaction with HCl, which is released during the thermal decomposition of PVC. Subsequently, the ion exchange process occurs between Cl- and interlayer CO32-, resulting in the formation of MgAl-Cl-LDHs. Finally, the layers of MgAl-Cl-LDHs react with HCl slowly. During the thermal stabilizing process of MgAl-Cl-LDHs, the peak intensity of XRD reduces slightly, and no new XRD peak emerges. It indicates that only the first step happens for MgAl-Cl-LDHs. The TG-DTA analysis of LDHs indicates that the interaction of LDHs with different interlayer anions has the following order: NO3- < CO32- < Cl-, according to the early coloring in the thermal aging test of PVC composites. The results of the thermal aging tests suggest that LDHs with a weak interaction between interlayer anions and layers can enhance the early stability of PVC significantly. Furthermore, the thermal aging test demonstrates that LDHs with high HCl absorption capacities exhibit superior long-term stabilizing effects on PVC resin. This finding provides a valuable hint for designing an LDHs/PVC resin with a novel structure and excellent thermal stability.

Endo-Selective Intramolecular Alkyne Hydroamidation Enabled by NiH Catalysis Incorporating Alkenylnickel Isomerization.

Intramolecular alkyne hydroamidation represents a straightforward approach for the access to synthetically valuable cyclic enamides. Despite some advances made in this realm, the ability to attain a precise regiocontrol still remains challenging, especially for endo cyclization that leads to six-membered and larger azacyclic rings. Herein, we report a NiH-catalyzed intramolecular hydroamidation of alkynyl dioxazolones that allows for an excellent endo selectivity, thus affording a range of six- to eight-membered endocyclic enamides with a broad scope. Mechanistic investigations revealed that Ni(I) catalysis is operative in the current system, proceeding via regioselective syn-hydronickelation, alkenylnickel E/Z isomerization, and Ni-centered inner-sphere nitrenoid transfer. In particular, the key alkenylnickel isomerization step, which previously lacked mechanistic understandings, was found to take place through the η2-vinyl transition state. The synthetic value of this protocol was demonstrated by diastereoselective modifications of the obtained endocyclic enamides to highly functionalized δ-lactam scaffolds.

[Research strategies and methods for precious animal medicine substitutes].

Animal medicine is a large category of Chinese medicinecommonly used in clinical practice and has important scientific and therapeutic value. Animal medicine isscarcer than herbal medicine. In recent years, with the vigorous development of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),the contradiction between the increasing industrial demand andsupply of scarce and even endangered medicinal animals has become increasingly prominent. The continuous lack of medicinal animal resources affects the clinical demandandalso causes serious damage to the ecological environment. Only relying on artificial breeding is not enough to alleviate the current condition of depletion. In the face of this dilemma, it is a major challenge for the current industrial development to protect animal resources and meet clinical and industrial needs with "available medicines". The application of substitutes for animal medicines isthe key focus to alleviate this problem, and it is also the key scientific issue to be solved urgently in the modernization of TCM. This paper summarizedand reviewedthe history, current situation, strategies, and methods of animal medicinesubstitution and put forward the point of view of "similar chemical characteristics, similar efficacy, and higher safety" to provide references for scientific substitution and resource protection of rare animals.

Merging NiH Catalysis and Inner-Sphere Metal-Nitrenoid Transfer for Hydroamidation of Alkynes.

The formal hydroamination/hydroamidation utilizing metal hydride is an appealing synthetic tool for the construction of valuable nitrogen-containing compounds from unsaturated hydrocarbons. While significant advances have been made for the functionalizations of alkenes in this realm, the direct hydroamidation of alkynes remains rather limited due to the high feasibility of the key metal-alkenyl intermediate to choose other reaction pathways. Herein, we report a NiH-catalyzed strategy for the hydroamidation of alkynes with dioxazolones, which allows convenient access to synthetically useful secondary enamides in (E)-anti-Markovnikov or Markovnikov selectivity. The reaction is viable for both terminal and internal alkynes and is also tolerant with a range of subtle functional groups. With H2O found as an essential component for high catalyst turnovers, the involvement of inner-sphere nitrenoid transfer is proposed that outcompetes an undesired semireduction process, thus representing the first example to show the competence of Ni catalysis for metal-nitrenoid formation from dioxazolones.

Steel Corrosion Evaluation of Basalt Fiber RPC Affected by Crack and Steel-Concrete Interface Damage Using Electrochemical Methods.

Basalt fiber (BF) is a new anti-corrosion and environmentally friendly material, which is expected to delay the corrosion process of steel bars and improve the durability of reinforced reactive powder concrete (RPC). The electrochemical method is a nondestructive testing and real-time monitoring technique used to characterize the corrosion behaviors of steel bars embedded in concrete structures. In this paper, the electrochemical technique was employed to evaluate the corrosion of steel bars embedded in basalt fiber modified reactive powder concrete (BFRPC). Besides, crack and steel-concrete interface damage (SCID) were considered as typical factors that affect steel corrosion in concrete. Thus, both reinforced fiber-free RPC and BFRPC specimens with crack and SCID were prepared for evaluating the steel corrosion behaviors by electrochemical methods. The results revealed that both crack and SCID would aggravate the steel corrosion, and the crack was the major factor that affects the corrosion process. Moreover, the excellent compactness of BFRPC and the bridging action of BF could effectively prevent the concrete cracking and steel corrosion process of concrete. Using reinforced BFRPC instead of ordinary concrete in practical projects could greatly extend the service life of steel bars.

Mechanical Properties and Fracture Behavior of Crumb Rubber Basalt Fiber Concrete Based on Acoustic Emission Technology.

Basalt fiber and crumb rubber, as excellent road material modifiers, have great advantages in improving the mechanical properties and fracture behavior of concrete. Acoustic emission (AE) is a nondestructive testing and real-time monitoring technique used to characterize the fracture behavior of concrete specimens. The object of this paper is to investigate the effects of crumb rubber replacement rate, basalt fiber content and water-binder ratio on the mechanical properties and fracture behavior of crumb rubber basalt fiber concrete (CRBFC) based on orthogonal test. The fracture behavior of a CRBFC specimen under three-point flexural conditions was monitored by AE technology and the relative cumulative hit (RCH) was defined to characterize the internal damage degree of CRBFC. The experimental results showed that, considering the mechanical strength and fracture damage behavior of CRBFC, the optimal crumb rubber replacement rate, basalt fiber content and water-binder ratio are 10%, 2 kg/m3 and 0.46, respectively. In addition, it was found that AE parameters can effectively characterize the fracture behavior of CRBFC. The fracture stages of CRBFC can be divided according to the cumulative AE hits and counts. AE amplitude value can be used as an early warning of CRBFC specimen fracture. Moreover, the fracture mode can be identified by RA and average frequency (AF) values variation during the loading process.

Natural Frequency Response Evaluation for RC Beams Affected by Steel Corrosion Using Acceleration Sensors.

This paper presented a laboratory investigation for analyzing the natural frequency response of reinforced concrete (RC) beams affected by steel corrosion. The electrochemical acceleration technique induced the corroded RC beams until the predetermined value of the steel corrosion ratio was achieved. Then, the natural frequency responses of the corroded beams were tested utilizing piezoelectric acceleration sensors. The damage states of the corroded beams were assessed through the measurement of crack parameters and the equivalent elastic modulus of the beams, which aims to clarify the fundamental characteristics of the dynamic response for the corroded RC beam with the increased steel corrosion ratio. The results revealed that steel corrosion reduces the bending stiffness of the RC beams and, thus, reduces the modal frequency. The variation of natural frequency can identify the corrosion damage even if no surface cracking of the RC beam, and the second-order frequency should be more indicative of the damage scenario. The degradations of stiffness and the natural frequency were estimated in this study by the free vibration equation of a simply supported beam, and a prediction method for the RC beam's residual service life was established. This study supports the use of variations in natural frequency as one diagnostic indicator to evaluate the health of RC bridge structures.

Ultrahigh Performance in Lead-Free Piezoceramics Utilizing a Relaxor Slush Polar State with Multiphase Coexistence.

Owing to growing environmental concerns, the development of lead-free piezoelectrics with comparable performance to the benchmark Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT) becomes of great urgency. However, a further enhancement of lead-free piezoelectrics based on existing strategies has reached a bottleneck. Here we achieve a slush polar state with multiphase coexistence in lead-free potassium-sodium niobate (KNN) piezoceramics, which shows a novel relaxor behavior, i.e., frequency dispersion at the transition between different ferroelectric phases. It is very different from the conventional relaxor behavior which occurs at the paraelectric-ferroelectric phase transition. We obtain an ultrahigh piezoelectric coefficient (d33) of 650 ± 20 pC/N, the largest value of nontextured KNN-based ceramics, outperforming that of the commercialized PZT-5H. Atomic-resolution polarization mapping by Z-contrast imaging from different orientations reveals the entire material to comprise polar nanoregions with multiphase coexistence, which is again very different from conventional ferroelectric relaxors which have polar domains within a nonpolar matrix. Theoretical simulations validate the significantly decreased energy barrier and polarization anisotropy, which is facilitated by the high-density domain boundaries with easy polarization rotation bridging the multiphase-coexisting nanodomains. This work demonstrates a new strategy for designing lead-free piezoelectrics with further enhanced performance, which should also be applicable to other functional materials requiring a slush (flexible) state with respect to external stimulus.

Practical High Piezoelectricity in Barium Titanate Ceramics Utilizing Multiphase Convergence with Broad Structural Flexibility.

Due to growing environmental concerns on the toxicity of lead-based piezoelectric materials, lead-free alternatives are urgently required but so far have not been able to reach competitive performance. Here we employ a novel phase-boundary engineering strategy utilizing the multiphase convergence, which induces a broad structural flexibility in a wide phase-boundary zone with contiguous polymorphic phase transitions. We achieve an ultrahigh piezoelectric constant ( d33) of 700 ± 30 pC/N in BaTiO3-based ceramics, maintaining >600 pC/N over a wide composition range. Atomic resolution polarization mapping by Z-contrast imaging reveals the coexistence of three ferroelectric phases (T + O + R) at the nanoscale with nanoscale polarization rotation between them. Theoretical simulations confirm greatly reduced energy barriers facilitating polarization rotation. Our lead-free material exceeds the performance of the majority of lead-based systems (including the benchmark PZT-5H) in the temperature range of 10-40 °C, making it suitable as a lead-free replacement in practical applications. This work offers a new paradigm for designing lead-free functional materials with superior electromechanical properties.

Kernel Knockoffs Selection for Nonparametric Additive Models.

Thanks to its fine balance between model flexibility and interpretability, the nonparametric additive model has been widely used, and variable selection for this type of model has been frequently studied. However, none of the existing solutions can control the false discovery rate (FDR) unless the sample size tends to infinity. The knockoff framework is a recent proposal that can address this issue, but few knockoff solutions are directly applicable to nonparametric models. In this article, we propose a novel kernel knockoffs selection procedure for the nonparametric additive model. We integrate three key components: the knockoffs, the subsampling for stability, and the random feature mapping for nonparametric function approximation. We show that the proposed method is guaranteed to control the FDR for any sample size, and achieves a power that approaches one as the sample size tends to infinity. We demonstrate the efficacy of our method through intensive simulations and comparisons with the alternative solutions. our proposal thus makes useful contributions to the methodology of nonparametric variable selection, FDR-based inference, as well as knockoffs.

Efficacy of Qingfei Paidu Granules combined with non-drug traditional Chinese medicine therapy in the treatment of patients with asymptomatic coronavirus disease: A retrospective study.

The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the clinical efficacy and safety of Qingfei Paidu granules (QFPG) combined with non-drug therapy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in treating patients with asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019). A total of 450 patients admitted to the wards of Chongming Changxing Island isolation site from April 1 to 18, 2022 were retrospectively analyzed and divided into 3 groups according to the treatment that they received. W1 was not treated (control group), and W2 was given QFPG (TCM treatment), W3 (TCM combined with TCM non-drug therapy) was treated with QFPG, five-element music therapy and Gong. We retrospectively analyzed the medical history data, including general information, time of first turning negative, length of hospital stays, number of cases classified as mild or ordinary, number of cases with adverse events/adverse reactions. The conversion to negative time of the 3 groups was 6.50, 4.40, and 3.81 days, respectively, and there were significant differences among the 3 groups (P < .001). The hospital duration in the 3 groups was 8.45, 5.72, and 5.53 days, respectively, and there were significant differences among the 3 groups (P < .001). The number of adverse events W1 (5/150, 3.3%), W2 (8/150, 5.3%), and W3 (4/150, 2.7%) was consistent among the 3 groups (P > .05). QFPG with TCM non-drug therapy is effective in patients with asymptomatic COVID-2019, which can effectively shorten the time to double negative and reduce the proportion of patients with mild disease.

Juvenile hormone acts on male accessory gland function via regulating l-asparaginase expression and triacylglycerol mobilization in Aedes aegypti.

Hormones control the reproductive development of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The adult male reproductive process and mating behavior require adequate nutrients and energy. Understanding the molecular mechanism linking hormones, energy metabolism, and reproduction in male mosquitoes is important. In this study, we found that the size of the male accessory gland, an essential part of the male reproductive system, gradually increased after eclosion. However, it was significantly reduced in male mosquitoes deficient in methoprene-tolerant (Met), the receptor of juvenile hormone. Likewise, egg hatchability of females that mated with Met-depleted males showed the same downward trend. The mRNA level of the gene encoding accessory gland protein, l-asparaginase (ASNase), was reduced in Met dsRNA-treated males. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR results revealed that Met was capable of binding directly to the promoter of ASNase and activated its transcription. RNA interference of ASNase in males resulted in the reduction of egg hatchability of the females with which they mated. These results showed that Met influenced the fecundity of male mosquitoes by directly upregulating the expression of the ASNase gene. Moreover, the levels of triacylglycerol and the sizes of lipid droplets were decreased by 72-78 h after eclosion in the fat body cells, whereas both of them increased in Met-depleted male mosquitoes, indicating that Met knockdown reduced lipid catabolism. These data demonstrate that Met might influence the egg hatchability of females by regulating lipid metabolism and the development of the male accessory gland in male mosquitoes.

Enhancing the Electrochemical Performance of Aqueous Processed Li-Ion Cathodes with Silicon Oxide Coatings.

Lithium-ion battery cathode materials suffer from bulk and interfacial degradation issues, which negatively affect their electrochemical performance. Oxide coatings can mitigate some of these problems and improve electrochemical performance. However, current coating strategies have low throughput, are expensive, and have limited applicability. In this article, we describe a low-cost and scalable strategy for applying oxide coatings on cathode materials. We report synergistic effects of these oxide coatings on the performance of aqueously processed cathodes in cells. The SiO2 coating strategy developed herein improved mechanical, chemical, and electrochemical performance of aqueously processed Ni-, Mn- and Co-based cathodes. This strategy can be used on a variety of cathodes to improve the performance of aqueously processed Li-ion cells.

In Situ Reconstructed Mo-doped Amorphous FeOOH Boosts the Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

Developing a fast and highly active oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst to change energy kinetics technology is essential for making clean energy. Herein, we prepare three-dimensional (3D) hollow Mo-doped amorphous FeOOH (Mo-FeOOH) based on the precatalyst MoS2 /FeC2 O4 via in situ reconstruction strategy. Mo-FeOOH exhibits promising OER performance. Specifically, it has an overpotential of 285 mV and a durability of 15 h at 10 mA cm-2 . Characterizations indicate that Mo was included inside the FeOOH lattice, and it not only modifies the electronic energy levels of FeOOH but also effectively raises the inherent activity of FeOOH for OER. Additionally, in situ Raman analysis indicates that FeC2 O4 gradually transforms into the FeOOH active site throughout the OER process. This study provides ideas for designing in situ reconstruction strategies to prepare heteroatom doping catalysts for high electrochemical activity.

Emergent weak antilocalization and wide-temperature-range electronic phase diagram in epitaxial RuO2thin film.

Binary ruthenium dioxide (RuO2) has gradually attracted much attention in condensed matter physics and material sciences due to its various intriguing physical properties, such as strain-induced superconductivity, anomalous Hall effect, collinear anti-ferromagnetism, etc. However, its complex emergent electronic states and the corresponding phase diagram over a wide temperature range remain unexplored, which is critically important to understanding the underlying physics and exploring its final physical properties and functionalities. Here, through optimizing the growth conditions by using versatile pulsed laser deposition, high-quality epitaxial RuO2thin films with clear lattice structure are obtained, upon which the electronic transport is investigated, and emergent electronic states and the relevant physical properties are unveiled. Firstly, at a high-temperature range, it is the Bloch-Grüneisen state, instead of the common Fermi liquid metallic state, that dominates the electrical transport behavior. Moreover, the recently reported anomalous Hall effect is also revealed, which confirms the presence of the Berry phase in the energy band structure. More excitingly, we find that above the superconductivity transition temperature, a new positive magnetic resistance quantum coherent state with an unusual dip as well as an angel-dependent critical magnetic field emerges, which can be attributed to the weak antilocalization effect. Lastly, the complex phase diagram with multiple intriguing emergent electronic states over a wide temperature range is mapped. The results greatly promote the fundamental physics understanding of the binary oxide RuO2and provide guidelines for its practical applications and functionalities.

A lightweight thermally insulating and moisture-stable composite made of hollow silica particles.

Thermal insulation materials are highly desirable for several applications ranging from building envelopes to thermal energy storage systems. A new type of low-cost insulation material called hollow silica particles (HSPs) was recently reported. The present work presents an HSP-based stand-alone composite that has very low thermal conductivity and is highly stable to moisture.

Structural Design Calculation of Basalt Fiber Polymer-Modified RPC Beams Subjected to Four-Point Bending.

In this paper, a basalt fiber surface was treated with coupling agent KH-550 and hydrochloric acid, and the basalt fiber polymer-modified active powder concrete (RPC) material was prepared. There are significant differences in material composition and properties between basalt fiber polymer-modified RPC and ordinary concrete, and the structural design calculation (cracking moment and normal section bending bearing capacity) of an ordinary reinforced concrete beam is no longer applicable. Thus, mechanical parameters such as displacement and strain of reinforcement basalt fiber polymer-modified RPC beams subjected to four-point bending were tested. The excellent compressive and tensile strengths of basalt fiber polymer-modified RPC were fully utilized. The tensile strength of basalt fiber polymer-modified RPC in the tensile zone of the beam was considered in the calculation of normal section bending bearing capacity of reinforcement basalt fiber polymer-modified RPC beams. The results showed that the measured values of the cracking moment and ultimate failure bending moment of reinforcement basalt fiber polymer-modified RPC beams were in good agreement with the calculated values. The established formulas for cracking moment and normal section bending bearing capacity can provide references for the design of reinforcement basalt fiber polymer-modified RPC simply supported beam and promote the wide application of basalt fiber polymer-modified RPC materials in practical engineering.