ACFs-NH2 developed for dispersive solid phase extraction combined with Py-GC/MS for nanoplastic analysis in ambient water samples.

Accurate determination of nanoplastics (NPs) in aquatic ecosystems constitutes a challenge for which highly sensitive analytical methods are necessitated. Herein, a sample pretreatment based on self-made amino-functionalized activated carbon fibers (ACFs-NH2) dispersive solid-phase extraction (DSPE) allows for high-recovery, followed by high-sensitivity detection of NPs by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). The developed methodology allowed low detection limits (20-100 µg/L) to be achieved quickly in a few steps. Under optimal conditions, ACFs-NH2 (12.5 mg) was able to recover ≥98.45 % of polystyrene (PS) nanoplastics at high concentration (100 mg/L) in 10 mL seawater. Based on the high adsorption performance of materials, the adsorption dynamics and isotherms were determined to infer the interaction mechanism of PSNPs on ACFs-NH2. After adsorption, the target on the surface of the adsorbent can be directly pyrolyzed, which can simplify the operation steps and avoid the elution of organic solvents, making the process more environmentally friendly. This strategy is feasible for the analysis of trace NPs in water systems.

Host Factor Rab4b Promotes Japanese Encephalitis Virus Replication.

Although the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infects various cell types, its receptor molecules are still not clearly understood. In our laboratory's prior research, Rab4b was identified as a potential host factor that facilitates JEV infection in PK15 cells, utilizing a genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 knockout library (PK-15-GeCKO). To further explore the effect of Rab4b on JEV replication, we used the Rab4b knockout PK15 cell line using the CRISPR/Cas9 technology and overexpressing the Rab4b PK15 cell line, with IFA, RT-qPCR, and Western blot to study the effect of Rab4b on viral replication in the whole life cycle of the JEV. The results show that the knockout of Rab4b inhibited the replication of the JEV in PK15 cells, and the overexpression of Rab4b promoted the replication of the JEV in PK15 cell lines. Furthermore, we demonstrated for the first time that host factor Rab4b facilitates the adsorption, internalization, assembly, and release of the JEV, thereby promoting JEV replication. This study enriches the regulatory network between the JEV and host factors and lays the experimental foundation for further understanding of the function of the Rab4b protein.

Bioinspired Intelligent Ferrofluid: Old Magnetic Material with New Optical Properties.

Fine-tuning of microstructures enables the modulation of optical properties at multiple scales from metasurfaces to geometric optics. However, a dynamic system with a significant deformation range and topology transformation remains challenging. Owing to its magnetic controllability, ferrofluid has proven to be fertile ground for a wide range of engineering and technological applications. Here, we demonstrate a series of intelligent optical surfaces based on ferrofluid, through which multiple optical functions inspired by nature can be realized. The tunability is based on the topological transition of the ferrofluid between the flat state and cone array upon magnetic actuation. In the visible band, a tunable visual appearance is realized. In the mid-infrared band, active manipulation of reflection is realized based on the gradient-index (GRIN) effect. This system also features low latency response and straightforward manufacturability, and it may open opportunities for novel technologies such as smart windows, color displays, infrared camouflage, and other infrared-related technologies.

Intermediate parameter based distributed sensor fault-tolerant estimation for a class of nonlinear systems.

This paper investigates the estimation problem of a class of nonlinear systems with actuator and sensor faults. The primary objective is to design a distributed fault-tolerant observer which can estimate system states and actuator faults. Firstly, a distributed observer network with intermediate parameters is constructed to compensate the missing information of unobservable nodes of the system. Next, a class of redundant sensors is set up for each distributed observer node to obtain more output measurement samples. More importantly, when some of the redundant sensors occur faults, all sensor signals will be further processed and classified by a new algorithm. An index of sensor health level is constructed to characterize the quality of the fault-free or faulty sensor signals. By using the proposed algorithm, unhealthy sensor signals will be automatically filtered out, while healthy ones will be retained. Based on the healthy sensor signals, the system states and actuator faults are estimated. Finally, an example demonstrates that the proposed method is effective.

Synthesis of benzothiazole compounds based on 2D graphene oxide membrane nanoreactors.

The nanoconfinement effect plays an important role in chemical reactions. Inspired by enzymes, this work presents a new way to conduct the rapid flow synthesis of benzothiazoles in the two-dimensional (2D) nanoconfined space created by a graphene oxide membrane. The conversion reaches 96.7% in a short reaction time of less than 23 s at 22 °C.

MPC-Based Asynchronous Attack Tolerant Control for Uncertain Markov Jump Cyber-Physical Systems.

The model predictive control (MPC)-based asynchronous attack tolerant control scheme is investigated in this article for uncertain Markov jump cyber-physical systems (MJCPSs) under the Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack. To tackle the problem of the system running mode may not be observed in the control center, an asynchronous model predictive controller is proposed. Specifically, a dynamic controller, which can tune the performance online, is designed besides a traditional state feedback one. Even though such a combination may cause possible degradation of system performance, it can expand the initial feasible region and relieve the online computation burden efficiently. In addition, a decision variable is introduced to alleviate limitations on the feasible region generated by the constraints in the traditional MPC method. A series of solvable optimal problems are further constructed to achieve the desired performances. Finally, an application of the proposed method is given to demonstrate its effectiveness.

Therapeutic effects of Reiki on interventions for anxiety: a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the therapeutic efficacy of Reiki therapy in alleviating anxiety. METHODS: In adherence to academic standards, a thorough search was conducted across esteemed databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, and the Cochrane Library. The primary objective of this search was to pinpoint peer-reviewed articles published in English that satisfied specific criteria: (1) employing an experimental or quasi-experimental study design, (2) incorporating Reiki therapy as the independent variable, (3) encompassing diverse patient populations along with healthy individuals, and (4) assessing anxiety as the measured outcome. RESULTS: The study involved 824 participants, all of whom were aged 18 years or older. Reiki therapy was found to have a significant effect on anxiety intervention(SMD=-0.82, 95CI -1.29∼-0.36, P = 0.001). Subgroup analysis indicated that the types of subjects (chronically ill individuals and the general adult population) and the dosage/frequency of the intervention (≤ 3 sessions and 6-8 sessions) were significant factors influencing the variability in anxiety reduction. CONCLUSION: Short-term Reiki therapy interventions of ≤ 3 sessions and 6-8 sessions have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing health and procedural anxiety in patients with chronic conditions such as gastrointestinal endoscopy inflammation, fibromyalgia, and depression, as well as in the general population. It is important to note that the efficacy of Reiki therapy in decreasing preoperative anxiety and death-related anxiety in preoperative patients and cancer patients is somewhat less consistent. These discrepancies may be attributed to individual pathophysiological states, psychological conditions, and treatment expectations.

Carbon-based photoelectrochemical sensors: recent developments and future prospects.

Owing to the considerable potential of photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensors, they have gained significant attention in the analysis of biological, environmental, and food markers. However, the limited charge mass transfer efficiency and rapid recombination of electron hole pairs have become obstacles in the development of PEC sensors. In this case, considering the unique advantages of carbon-based materials, they can be used as photosensitizers, supporting materials and conductive substrates and coupled with semiconductors to prepare composite materials, solving the above problems. In addition, there are many types of carbon materials, which can have semiconductor properties and form heterojunctions after coupling with semiconductors, effectively promoting the separation of electron hole pairs. Herein, we aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of reports on carbon-based PEC sensors by introducing their research and application status and discussing future development trends in this field. In particular, the types and performance improvement strategies of carbon-based electrodes and the working principles of carbon-based PEC sensors are explained. Furthermore, the applications of carbon-based photoelectric sensors in environmental monitoring, biomedicine, and food detection are highlighted. Finally, the current limitations in the research on carbon-based PEC sensors are emphasized and the need to enhance the sensitivity and selectivity through material modification, structural design, improved device performance, and other strategies are emphasized.

Hippocampal proteome comparison of infant and adult Fmr1 deficiency mice reveals adult-related changes associated with postsynaptic density.

Deficiency in fragile X mental retardation 1 (Fmr1) leads to loss of its encoded protein FMRP and causes fragile X syndrome (FXS) by dysregulating its target gene expression in an age-related fashion. Using comparative proteomic analysis, this study identified 105 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the hippocampus of postnatal day 7 (P7) Fmr1-/y mice and 306 DEPs of P90 Fmr1-/y mice. We found that most DEPs in P90 hippocampus were not changed in P7 hippocampus upon FMRP absence, and some P90 DEPs exhibited diverse proteophenotypes with abnormal expression of protein isoform or allele variants. Bioinformatic analyses showed that the P7 DEPs were mainly enriched in fatty acid metabolism and oxidoreductase activity and nutrient responses; whereas the P90 PEPs (especially down-regulated DEPs) were primarily enriched in postsynaptic density (PSD), neuronal projection development and synaptic plasticity. Interestingly, 25 of 30 down-regulated PSD proteins present in the most enriched protein to protein interaction network, and 6 of them (ANK3, ATP2B2, DST, GRIN1, SHANK2 and SYNGAP1) are both FMRP targets and autism candidates. Therefore, this study suggests age-dependent alterations in hippocampal proteomes upon loss of FMRP that may be associated with the pathogenesis of FXS and its related disorders. SIGNIFICANCE: It is well known that loss of FMRP resulted from Fmr1 deficiency leads to fragile X syndrome (FXS), a common neurodevelopmental disorder accompanied by intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). FMRP exhibits distinctly spatiotemporal patterns in the hippocampus between early development and adulthood, which lead to distinct dysregulations of gene expression upon loss of FMRP at the two age stages potentially linked to age-related phenotypes. Therefore, comparison of hippocampal proteomes between infancy and adulthood is valuable to provide insights into the early causations and adult-dependent consequences for FXS and ASD. Using a comparative proteomic analysis, this study identified 105 and 306 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the hippocampi of postnatal day 7 (P7) and P90 Fmr1-/y mice, respectively. Few overlapping DEPs were identified between P7 and P90 stages, and the P7 DEPs were mainly enriched in the regulation of fatty acid metabolism and oxidoreduction, whereas the P90 DEPs were preferentially enriched in the regulation of synaptic formation and plasticity. Particularly, the up-regulated P90 proteins are primarily involved in immune responses and neurodegeneration, and the down-regulated P90 proteins are associated with postsynaptic density, neuron projection and synaptic plasticity. Our findings suggest that distinctly changed proteins in FMRP-absence hippocampus between infancy and adulthood may contribute to age-dependent pathogenesis of FXS and ASD.

MXene-Based Soft Humidity-Driven Actuator with High Sensitivity and Fast Response.

Soft actuators possessing notable mechanical deformations, high sensitivity, and fast response speed play a crucial role in various applications, such as artificial muscles, soft robots, and intelligent devices. In this study, a smart humidity-driven actuator was successfully fabricated by utilizing MXene/cellulose nanofiber (CNF)/LiCl (MCL) through vacuum-assisted filtration with fast response speed and high sensitivity. Utilizing the excellent humidity responsiveness of MXene/CNF and the robust hygroscopicity of LiCl, the synergistic effect of these materials enhances the hygroscopic properties and response speed of the actuator. The MCL actuator demonstrates excellent actuation performance, fast deformation, and reliable cyclic stability. To illustrate the extensive potential of the soft actuator, a range of applications, from bionic devices to soft grippers and crawling actuators, are showcased. Remarkably, the crawling actuator demonstrates sustained crawling motion without necessitating a humidity switch, relying on the humidity gradient from water droplets, and exhibits spontaneous directional motions within a certain range, which makes it a promising prospect in the field of soft robotics.

Unveiling the roles of Sertoli cells lineage differentiation in reproductive development and disorders: a review.

In mammals, gonadal somatic cell lineage differentiation determines the development of the bipotential gonad into either the ovary or testis. Sertoli cells, the only somatic cells in the spermatogenic tubules, support spermatogenesis during gonadal development. During embryonic Sertoli cell lineage differentiation, relevant genes, including WT1, GATA4, SRY, SOX9, AMH, PTGDS, SF1, and DMRT1, are expressed at specific times and in specific locations to ensure the correct differentiation of the embryo toward the male phenotype. The dysregulated development of Sertoli cells leads to gonadal malformations and male fertility disorders. Nevertheless, the molecular pathways underlying the embryonic origin of Sertoli cells remain elusive. By reviewing recent advances in research on embryonic Sertoli cell genesis and its key regulators, this review provides novel insights into sex determination in male mammals as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying the genealogical differentiation of Sertoli cells in the male reproductive ridge.

LM-Gel Plasticine Based on Binary Cooperative with Kneadable Shaping and Conductivity.

Liquid metal (LM)-based polymers have received growing interest for wearable health monitoring, electronic skins, and soft robotics. However, fabricating multifunctional LM-based polymers, in particular, featuring a convenient shaping ability while offering excellent deformability and conductivity remains a challenge. To overcome this obstacle, here, we propose a strategy to prepare LM-Gel "plasticine" (LGP) with great deformability, which is composed of a PVA (poly(vinyl alcohol)) soft network and an LM conductive phase. LGP can be easily constructed into different shapes such as plasticine and can be applied to different conditions (such as building a 3D circuit, circuit repair, and switch). Meanwhile, LGP has great conductivity (2.3 × 104 S/m) after surface annealing. Besides, LGP has a good electric heating performance, which shows the potential for application in wearable heating devices. Thus, this approach not only provides a way to prepare LM-polymer plasticine but also provides a novel perspective toward extending the applied range of LM-polymer composites.

Identifying gray matter alterations in Cushing's disease using machine learning: An interpretable approach.

BACKGROUND: Cushing's Disease (CD) is a rare clinical syndrome characterized by excessive secretion of adrenocorticotrophic hormone, leading to significant functional and structural brain alterations as observed in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). While traditional statistical analysis has been widely employed to investigate these MRI changes in CD, it has lacked the ability to predict individual-level outcomes. PURPOSE: To address this problem, this paper has proposed an interpretable machine learning (ML) framework, including model-level assessment, feature-level assessment, and biology-level assessment to ensure a comprehensive analysis based on structural MRI of CD. METHODS: The ML framework has effectively identified the changes in brain regions in the stage of model-level assessment, verified the effectiveness of these altered brain regions to predict CD from normal controls in the stage of feature-level assessment, and carried out a correlation analysis between altered brain regions and clinical symptoms in the stage of biology-level assessment. RESULTS: The experimental results of this study have demonstrated that the Insula, Fusiform gyrus, Superior frontal gyrus, Precuneus, and the opercular portion of the Inferior frontal gyrus of CD showed significant alterations in brain regions. Furthermore, our study has revealed significant correlations between clinical symptoms and the frontotemporal lobes, insulin, and olfactory cortex, which also have been confirmed by previous studies. CONCLUSIONS: The ML framework proposed in this study exhibits exceptional potential in uncovering the intricate pathophysiological mechanisms underlying CD, with potential applicability in diagnosing other diseases.

Attack-resilient fault detection for interconnected systems under DoS attack.

In light of the expanding cyber-space applications, the imperative consideration of cyber-attack ramifications on system security is evident. This paper presents a resilient dynamic event-triggered fault detection scheme for a class of nonlinear interconnected systems subjected to denial of service (DoS) attacks. To counteract multifaceted threats, the co-design challenge involving switched-type fault detection filters and a resilient dynamic event-triggered transmission mechanism is addressed. In the design phase of the filters, the frequency information of the signal is considered comprehensively and linear solvable conditions ensuring desired augment system performance are delineated. Through a series of comparative simulation experiments, the findings support the conclusion that the proposed attack-tolerant fault detection mechanism not only conserves network resources but also demonstrates superior detection capabilities for specific frequency fault signals.

Miniaturized and untethered McKibben muscles based on photothermal-induced gas-liquid transformation.

Pneumatic artificial muscles can move continuously under the power support of air pumps, and their flexibility also provides the possibility for applications in complex environments. However, in order to achieve operation in confined spaces, the miniaturization of artificial muscles becomes crucial. Since external attachment devices greatly hinder the miniaturization and use of artificial muscles, we propose a light-driven approach to get rid of these limitations. In this study, we report a miniaturized fiber-reinforced artificial muscle based on mold editing, capable of bending and axial elongation using gas-liquid conversion in visible light. The minimum volume of the artificial muscle prepared using this method was 15.7 mm3 (d = 2 mm, l = 5 mm), which was smaller than those of other fiber-reinforced pneumatic actuators. This research can promote the development of non-tethered pneumatic actuators for rescue and exploration, and create the possibility of miniaturization of actuators.

Clinical study on laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery and transumbilical single-port laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of benign ovarian tumours and its influence on ovarian functions.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to explore the influence of traditional laparoscopic surgery and transumbilical single-port laparoscopic surgery on ovarian function in patients with benign ovarian tumours. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four patients with benign ovarian tumours who were treated in our hospital from January 2020 to June 2021 were selected and randomly divided into two groups, with 22 cases in each group according to random number table. The conventional group was treated with conventional laparoscopic surgery, while the modified group was treated with transumbilical single-port laparoscopic surgery. The measurement method was t -test, and the enumeration method was two tests. The clinical operation-related indicators, ovarian function (follicle-stimulating hormone, E 2 and luteinising hormone), complication incidence, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and landscaping satisfaction scores of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in complications and operation duration between the two groups ( P > 0.05). After treatment, the ovarian function indexes and beautification satisfaction scores of the modified group were significantly superior to those of the conventional group ( P < 0.05). Besides, the intraoperative bleeding volume, post-operative exhaust time, hospital stay and three-dimensional VAS scores on day 1 and day 3 after surgery of the modified group were lower than those of the conventional group ( P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Transumbilical single-port laparoscopic surgery for benign ovarian tumours has a significant clinical effect, which can effectively reduce bleeding during the operation, improve ovarian function, relieve surgical pain, promote rapid post-operative recovery and improve patients' satisfaction with landscaping. It is worthy of clinical application.

Hippocampal proteomic changes in high-fat diet-induced obese mice associated with memory decline.

Substantial evidence suggest that chronic consumption of high-fat diets (HFDs) can lead to obesity, abnormal metabolism, as well as cognitive impairment. Molecular and cellular changes regarding hippocampal dysfunctions have been identified in multiple HFD animal models. Therefore, in-depth identification of expression changes of hippocampal proteins is critical for understanding the mechanism of HFD-induced cognitive deficits. In this study, we fed 3-week-old male mice with HFD for 3 months to generate obese mice who exhibit systemic metabolic abnormality and learning and memory decline. Using an iTRAQ-labeled proteomic analysis, we identified a total of 82 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the hippocampus upon HFD with 35 up-regulated proteins and 47 down-regulated proteins. Functional enrichment indicated that these DEPs were predominantly enriched in regulation of catabolic process, dendritic shaft, neuron projection morphogenesis and GTPase regulator activity. Protein-protein interaction enrichment showed that the DEPs are mostly enriched in postsynaptic functions; and of them, six proteins (i.e., DLG3, SYNGAP1, DCLK1, GRIA4, GRIP1, and ARHGAP32) were involved in several functional assemblies of the postsynaptic density including G-protein signaling, scaffolding and adaptor, kinase and AMPA signaling, respectively. Collectively, our findings suggest that these DEPs upon HFD might contribute to memory decline by disturbing neuronal and postsynaptic functions in the hippocampus.

Identification of the AP2/ERF transcription factor family of Eleutherococcus senticosus and its expression correlation with drought stress.

In this study, through analysis of the genome of Eleutherococcus senticosus (ES). 228 AP2/ERF genes were identified and classified into 5 groups AP2 (47 genes), ERF (108 genes), RAV (6 genes), DREB (64 genes), and soloist (3 genes). According to the AP2/ERF classification of Arabidopsis thaliana, the ES AP2/ERF proteins were subdivided into 15 groups. The gene structure and motifs of each group of AP2/ERF in ES were highly similar, which confirmed the conservation of AP2/ERF genes. The ES AP2/ERF genes were unevenly distributed on chromosomes, and a total of four pairs of tandem repeats, and 84 co-linear gene pairs were found, so the AP2/ERF genes expanded in a fragment replication manner, and dominated by pure selection during evolution. By analyzing the transcriptome data of ES under different drought stress conditions, 87 AP2/ERF genes with differential expression were obtained, of which 10 genes with highly significant differences were further analyzed and screened for qRT-PCR validation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the AP2/ERF gene of Eleutherococcus senticosus, and the bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation provided valuable information about them, which is of great significance for further research on the molecular mechanisms of ES in response to drought stress.

Quantitative analysis of the current status and research trends of biochar research - A scientific bibliometric analysis based on global research achievements from 2003 to 2023.

Biochar has excellent physical and chemical properties such as porosity, high carbon content, high cation exchange capacity, and rich surface functional groups and has been widely used in environmental remediation. Over the past 20 years, although various reviews have described the application of biochar as an environmentally friendly multifunctional material in environmental remediation, no comprehensive summary and analysis of the research trends in this field exists. To promote the rapid and stable development of the field of biochar, the current state of research on biochar is clarified using the bibliometric method in this report, and potential development directions and challenges for the future are identified. All relevant biochar literature from 2003-2023 was collected from the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure and Web of Science Core Collection. A total of 6,119 published Chinese papers and 25,174 English papers were selected for the quantitative analysis. CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Scimago graphics software was used to summarize the numbers of papers published over the years, as well as the countries, institutions, and authors that published the most articles. Secondly, using keyword co-occurrence and emergence analysis, the recognized research hotspots in different areas such as adsorbents, soil remediation, catalytic oxidation, supercapacitors, and "biochar-microbial" synergy were analyzed. Finally, the prospects and challenges of biochar were assessed to provide new perspectives for further promoting its development in technological, economic, environmental, and other aspects.