Country-specific net-zero strategies of the pulp and paper industry.

The pulp and paper industry is an important contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions1,2. Country-specific strategies are essential for the industry to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, given its vast heterogeneities across countries3,4. Here we develop a comprehensive bottom-up assessment of net greenhouse gas emissions of the domestic paper-related sectors for 30 major countries from 1961 to 2019-about 3.2% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions from the same period5-and explore mitigation strategies through 2,160 scenarios covering key factors. Our results show substantial differences across countries in terms of historical emissions evolution trends and structure. All countries can achieve net-zero emissions for their pulp and paper industry by 2050, with a single measure for most developed countries and several measures for most developing countries. Except for energy-efficiency improvement and energy-system decarbonization, tropical developing countries with abundant forest resources should give priority to sustainable forest management, whereas other developing countries should pay more attention to enhancing methane capture rate and reducing recycling. These insights are crucial for developing net-zero strategies tailored to each country and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 for the pulp and paper industry.

Evaluating evasion strategies in zebrafish larvae.

An effective evasion strategy allows prey to survive encounters with predators. Prey are generally thought to escape in a direction that is either random or serves to maximize the minimum distance from the predator. Here, we introduce a comprehensive approach to determine the most likely evasion strategy among multiple hypotheses and the role of biomechanical constraints on the escape response of prey fish. Through a consideration of six strategies with sensorimotor noise and previous kinematic measurements, our analysis shows that zebrafish larvae generally escape in a direction orthogonal to the predator's heading. By sensing only the predator's heading, this orthogonal strategy maximizes the distance from fast-moving predators, and, when operating within the biomechanical constraints of the escape response, it provides the best predictions of prey behavior among all alternatives. This work demonstrates a framework for resolving the strategic basis of evasion in predator-prey interactions, which could be applied to a broad diversity of animals.

Phosphine Oxide-Nd3+ Coordination Chains with Cumulated Output Enable Efficient LED-Pumping Optical Amplification.

Near-infrared luminescent rare-earth organic complexes have attracted intensive attention in the field of optical waveguide amplification. However, their optical gains were commonly less than 4 dB/cm due to limited doping concentrations. Herein, two one-dimensional (1D) Nd3+ coordination chains, namely, [Nd(TTA)3(DBTDPO)]n (Nd1) and [Nd(TTA)3(DPEPO)]n (Nd2), bridged by phosphine oxide ligands were developed for the neodymium-doped waveguide amplifier. Despite its P-P distance being similar to DBTDPO, the different P═O orientation of DPEPO renders markedly shorter intra- and interchain Nd-Nd distances for Nd2 in comparison to Nd1. Furthermore, the weaker intermolecular interactions alleviate the quenching effect for Nd2. Therefore, Nd2 can provide more locally concentrated and radiative Nd3+ ions, leading to a larger Nd3+-characteristic 1.06 µm emission intensity and duration than Nd1. Based on embedded and evanescent-field waveguide structures, Nd2 achieves state-of-the-art gain maxima of 5.7 and 4.9 dB/cm as well as outstanding gain stability. These results indicate that controllable coordination assembly of lanthanide ions in multidimension provides a flexible approach to combine local high-density outputs and effective suppression of quenching.

Influence of Cation Substitution on Cycling Stability and Fe-Cation Migration in Li3Fe3-xMxTe2O12 (M = Al, In) Cathode Materials.

Li3Fe3Te2O12 adopts a crystal structure, described in space group Pnnm, related to that of LiSbO3, in which Te6+, Fe3+, and Li+ cations reside in a partially ordered configuration within an hcp array of oxide ions. Chemical or electrochemical insertion of lithium is accompanied by a fully reversible migration of some of the Fe cations with an initial capacity of 120 mA h g-1 (2.85 Li per formula unit). Long-term cycling stability is limited by the facile reduction of Te6+ to elemental Te, which leads to cathode decomposition. Partial substitution of Fe by In suppresses Te6+ reduction, such that Li3Fe2InTe2O12 shows no sign of this cathode decomposition pathway, even after 100 cycles. In contrast, Al-for-Fe substitution is chemically limited to Li3Fe2.6Al0.4Te2O12 and appears to have almost no influence on cathode longevity. These features of the Li3Fe3-xMxTe2O12 system are discussed on the basis of a detailed structural analysis performed using neutron and synchrotron X-ray diffraction.

New Insights into MeHg Accumulation in Rice (Oryza sativa L.): Evidence from Cysteine.

The intake of methylmercury (MeHg)-contaminated rice poses immense health risks to rice consumers. However, the mechanisms of MeHg accumulation in rice plants are not entirely understood. The knowledge that the MeHg-Cysteine complex was dominant in polished rice proposed a hypothesis of co-transportation of MeHg and cysteine inside rice plants. This study was therefore designed to explore the MeHg accumulation processes in rice plants by investigating biogeochemical associations between MeHg and amino acids. Rice plants and underlying soils were collected from different Hg-contaminated sites in the Wanshan Hg mining area. The concentrations of both MeHg and cysteine in polished rice were higher than those in other rice tissues. A significant positive correlation between MeHg and cysteine in rice plants was found, especially in polished rice, indicating a close geochemical association between cysteine and MeHg. The translocation factor (TF) of cysteine showed behavior similar to that of the TF of MeHg, demonstrating that these two chemical species might share a similar transportation mechanism in rice plants. The accumulation of MeHg in rice plants may vary due to differences in the molar ratios of MeHg to cysteine and the presence of specific amino acid transporters. Our results suggest that cysteine plays a vital role in MeHg accumulation and transportation inside rice plants.

Multiobjective Optimization of Papermaking Wastewater Treatment Processes under Economic, Energy, and Environmental Goals.

Due to the heterogeneity of recycled paper materials and the production conditions, pollutants in papermaking wastewater fluctuate sharply over time. Quality control of the papermaking wastewater treatment process (PWTP) is challenging and costly. As regulations are also growing about the environmental effects of the PWTP on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, energy consumption, etc., the PWTP formulates a complex multiobjective optimization problem. This research established a multiagent deep reinforcement learning framework to simultaneously optimize process cost, energy consumption, and GHG emission in the PWTP, subjected to the effluent quality, to realize economic, energy, and environmental (3E) goals. The biological treatment process of wastewater in paper mills was simulated using benchmark simulation model no. 1 (BSM1). The data generated based on the BSM manual was utilized for model training, and real data acquired from a local papermaking factory was used to estimate the model performance. The results show that the proposed method outperforms conventional techniques in identifying the best control strategies for multiple targets.

Guided bone regeneration for peri-implant augmentation: A retrospective study comparing two surgical techniques with a mean follow-up of 26 months.

OBJECTIVES: To introduce a modified guided bone regeneration (GBR) technique using intact periosteum and deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) for peri-implant augmentation and compare the clinical outcomes with those of conventional GBR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who received peri-implant augmentation in posterior sites between 2015 and 2021 were reviewed in this study. Group A was treated with a modified GBR technique, and Group B was treated with conventional GBR. For group comparison, propensity score matching was performed with a sensitivity analysis. The implant survival rate, dimensional changes in hard tissue, marginal bone loss (MBL), and peri-implant parameters were evaluated. RESULTS: In total, 114 implants from 98 patients were included. The implant survival rates were 95.74% in Group A and 95.00% in Group B during the follow-up period. At 6 months, the median horizontal thickness was recorded at 0.87 mm (IQ1-IQ3 = 0.00-1.75 mm) in Group A, exhibiting a relatively lower value compared to the corresponding measurement of 0.98 mm (IQ1-IQ3 = 0.00-1.89 mm) in Group B (p = .937). Vertical height displayed no statistically significant intergroup difference between the two groups (p = .758). The mean follow-up period was 25.83 ± 12.93 months after loading in Group A and 27.47 ± 21.29 months in Group B (p = .761). MBL and peri-implant parameters were comparable between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, the modified GBR technique using intact periosteum and DBBM grafting might be a viable alternative to correct bone defects around implants in molar and premolar sites.

A nomogram prediction of implant apical non-coverage on bone-added transcrestal sinus floor elevation: A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the risk indicators and develop and validate a nomogram prediction model of implant apical non-coverage by comprehensively analyzing clinical and radiographic factors in bone-added transcrestal sinus floor elevation (TSFE). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 260 implants in 195 patients receiving bone-added TSFE were included in the study. The population was divided into a development (180 implants) and a validation (80 implants) cohort. According to 6 months post-surgery radiographic images, implants were categorized as "apical non-coverage" or "apical covered." The association of risk factors including clinical and radiographic parameters with implant apical non-coverage was assessed using regression analyses. A nomogram prediction model was developed, and its validation and discriminatory ability were analyzed. RESULTS: The nomogram predicting bone-added TSFE's simultaneously placed implant's apex non-coverage after 6 months. This study revealed that sinus angle, endo-sinus bone gain, implant protrusion length, graft contact walls, and distal angle were predictors of implant apical non-coverage. The generated nomogram showed a strong predictive capability (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.845), confirmed by internal validation using 10-fold cross-validation (Median AUC of 0.870) and temporal validation (AUC = 0.854). The calibration curve and decision curve analysis demonstrated good performance and high net benefit of the nomogram, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical implementation of the present nomogram is suitable for predicting the apex non-coverage of implants placed simultaneously with bone-added TSFE after 6 months.

High-Efficiency Ultraviolet Electroluminescence from Multi-Resonance Phosphine Oxide Polycyclic Aromatics.

Efficient ultraviolet (UV) electroluminescent materials remain a great challenge, since short peak wavelength <400 nm and narrow full width at half maximum (FWHM) <50 nm are simultaneously required. In this sense, multi-resonance (MR) thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters featuring narrow-band emissions hold the promise for UV applications. Herein, a novel MR-TADF skeleton featuring carbazole-phosphine oxide (P=O) fused aromatics is developed to construct the first two UV MR emitters named CzP2PO and tBCzP2PO. In addition to synergistic resonance effects of P=O and N atom, sp3 -hybrid P atom renders the curved polycyclic planes of CzP2PO and tBCzP2PO, giving rise to their narrowband UV emissions with peak wavelengths <390 nm and FWHM<35 nm. Besides configuration quasi-planarization for radiation enhancement and quenching suppression, P=O moiety further enhances singlet-triplet coupling to facilitate reverse intersystem crossing, resulting in the state-of-the-art photoluminescence quantum yield of 62 % in tBCzP2PO doped films. As consequence, tBCzP2PO endowed its UV organic light-emitting diodes with the peak at 382 nm and FWHM of 32 nm, and especially the record-high external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 15.1 % among all kinds of UV devices. Our results demonstrate great potential of P=O based MR emitters in practical applications including optoelectronics, biology and medicine science.

Radiomic signatures reveal multiscale intratumor heterogeneity associated with tissue tolerance and survival in re-irradiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Post-radiation nasopharyngeal necrosis (PRNN) is a severe adverse event following re-radiotherapy for patients with locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LRNPC) and associated with decreased survival. Biological heterogeneity in recurrent tumors contributes to the different risks of PRNN. Radiomics can be used to mine high-throughput non-invasive image features to predict clinical outcomes and capture underlying biological functions. We aimed to develop a radiogenomic signature for the pre-treatment prediction of PRNN to guide re-radiotherapy in patients with LRNPC. METHODS: This multicenter study included 761 re-irradiated patients with LRNPC at four centers in NPC endemic area and divided them into training, internal validation, and external validation cohorts. We built a machine learning (random forest) radiomic signature based on the pre-treatment multiparametric magnetic resonance images for predicting PRNN following re-radiotherapy. We comprehensively assessed the performance of the radiomic signature. Transcriptomic sequencing and gene set enrichment analyses were conducted to identify the associated biological processes. RESULTS: The radiomic signature showed discrimination of 1-year PRNN in the training, internal validation, and external validation cohorts (area under the curve (AUC) 0.713-0.756). Stratified by a cutoff score of 0.735, patients with high-risk signature had higher incidences of PRNN than patients with low-risk signature (1-year PRNN rates 42.2-62.5% vs. 16.3-18.8%, P < 0.001). The signature significantly outperformed the clinical model (P < 0.05) and was generalizable across different centers, imaging parameters, and patient subgroups. The radiomic signature had prognostic value concerning its correlation with PRNN-related deaths (hazard ratio (HR) 3.07-6.75, P < 0.001) and all causes of deaths (HR 1.53-2.30, P < 0.01). Radiogenomics analyses revealed associations between the radiomic signature and signaling pathways involved in tissue fibrosis and vascularity. CONCLUSIONS: We present a radiomic signature for the individualized risk assessment of PRNN following re-radiotherapy, which may serve as a noninvasive radio-biomarker of radiation injury-associated processes and a useful clinical tool to personalize treatment recommendations for patients with LANPC.

Nucleophilic Allylation of Acylsilanes in Water: An Effective Alternative to Functionalized Tertiary α-Silylalcohols.

A nucleophilic allylation of acylsilanes in water was developed, generating versatile functionalized tertiary α-silyl alcohols in high yields. With the assistance of hydrogen bonding, a reaction model of less reactive acylsilane was achieved. Unlike the conventional strategy, transition metals and an additional Lewis acid catalyst were not required, and rate acceleration was observed in water.

Organobase-Catalyzed Umpolung of Amides: The Generation and Transfer of Carbamoyl Anion.

A novel organobase-catalyzed umpolung reaction of amides was disclosed. This method provides an efficient method to generate and transfer carbamoyl anions. In this transformation, some of the inherent disadvantages of carbamoyl metal were avoided. The mechanistic analysis revealed that the reaction proceeds through polarity inversion of amide, and various carbamoyl anions were applied in the reaction. Moreover, a wide range of substrates was achieved with moderate to excellent yield.

The bromoporphyrins as promising anti-tumor photosensitizers in vitro.

The synthesis of ideal photosensitizers (PSs) is considered to be the most significant bottleneck in photodynamic therapy (PDT). To discover novel PSs with excellent photodynamic anti-tumor activities, a series of novel photosensitizers 5,15-diaryl-10,20-dibromoporphyrins (I1-6) were synthesized by a facile method. Compared with hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether (HMME) as the representative porphyrin-based photosensitizers, it is found that not only the longest absorption wavelength of all compounds was red-shifted to therapeutic window (660 nm) of photodynamic therapy, but also the singlet oxygen quantum yields were significantly increased. Furthermore, all compounds exhibited lower dark toxicity (except I2) and stronger phototoxicity (except I4) against Eca-109 tumor cells than HMME. Among them, I3 possessed the highest singlet oxygen quantum yield (ΦΔ = 0.205), the lower dark toxicity and the strongest phototoxicity (IC50 = 3.5 µM) in vitro. The findings indicated the compounds I3 had the potential to become anti-tumor agents for PDT.

Effectiveness and complications of transcrestal sinus floor elevation using the cushioned grind-out technique: A retrospective cohort study with up to 7 years of follow-up.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness and complications of the cushioned grind-out technique. The primary outcome was endo-sinus bone gain (ESBG), while secondary outcomes included the Schneiderian membrane perforation rate and mid- to long-term implant survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, we compared the cushioned grind-out technique with the classic osteotome technique, establishing statistical models to assess ESBG, membrane perforation rate and implant survival rate. RESULTS: A total of 259 patients and 340 implants were included. The mean ESBG was 5.31 mm for the cushioned grind-out group and 4.64 mm for the osteotome group. Multivariable regression analysis revealed that the cushioned grind-out technique significantly facilitated ESBG (p = .028). Nineteen preparation sites experienced membrane perforation, with rates of 5.5% and 6.4% for the cushioned grind-out and osteotome groups, respectively. However, the difference was not statistically significant (p = .920). Additionally, the cumulative survival rate of the implants for 7 years was 95.2% and 91.4%, respectively, with the surgical technique not significantly influencing the results. CONCLUSIONS: With 6 months to 7 years of post-prosthetic restoration review data, our findings show that the cushioned grind-out technique facilitates a higher ESBG, with no significant difference in membrane perforation or implant failure rate.

Cushioned grind-out technique transcrestal sinus floor elevation for simultaneous implantation in severe atrophic maxilla: A retrospective study with up to 7 years of follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the cushioned grind-out technique transcrestal sinus floor elevation for simultaneous implant placement with ≤4 mm of residual bone height (RBH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective propensity score matching (PSM) study. Five PSM analyses included the confounding variables of Schneiderian membrane perforation, early and late implant failure, and peri-implant apical and marginal bone resorption. After PSM, we compared the difference in five aspects between the RBH ≤ 4 and >4 mm groups. RESULTS: A total of 214 patients with 306 implants were included in this study. After PSM, the generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) indicated that RBH ≤ 4 mm had no significantly higher risk of Schneiderian membrane perforation and early and late implant failure (p = .897, p = .140, p = .991, respectively). The implant cumulative 7-year survival rate of the RBH ≤ 4 and >4 mm groups was 95.5% and 93.9%, respectively (log-rank test: p = .900). Within at least 40 cases per group after PSM, two multivariate GLMMs indicated that RBH ≤ 4 mm could not be identified as the promotive factor of bone resorption of either endo-sinus bone gain or crest bone level (RBH × time interaction p = .850, p = .698, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations, 3 months to 7 years of post-prosthetic restoration review data indicated an acceptable mid-term survival and success rate of applying the cushioned grind-out technique in RBH ≤ 4 mm cases.

Inhibition of Rgs10 aggravates periodontitis with collagen-induced arthritis via the nuclear factor-κB pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of the Rgs10-associated nuclear factor (NF)-κB signalling pathway in periodontitis with rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: Porphyromonas gingivalis and collagen were locally applied to mice to establish in vivo periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis models, respectively. Both agents were administered together to establish the comorbid group. All models were treated with adeno-associated virus-green fluorescent protein (AAV-GFP) or adeno-associated virus small hairpin Rgs10 (AAV-sh-Rgs10). In vivo expression of Rgs10 and inflammatory cytokines was analysed, along with exploration of the NF-κB signalling pathway in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mouse-derived RAW264.7 cells, with and without treatment of small interfering RNA (siRNA; Rgs10-Mus-MSS245072). RESULTS: In the comorbidity mouse group (mice with both periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis), inhibition of Rgs10 exacerbated periodontitis, along with upregulation of phospho-RelA (pP65), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression in the NF-κB signalling pathway. Similarly, treatment of LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells with siRNA resulted in the inhibition of Rgs10, along with upregulation of pP65, TNF-α and IL-6 expression in vitro. CONCLUSION: Inhibition of Rgs10 in mice with periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis can promote the progression of periodontitis, indicating the potential therapeutic role of Rgs10 in this condition.

Hyposterolactone A, a 3α-Hydroxy Steroidal Lactone from the Deep-Sea-Derived Fungus Hypocrea sp. ZEN14.

Chemical investigation of the deep-sea-derived fungus Hypocrea sp. ZEN14 afforded a new 3α-hydroxy steroidal lactone, hyposterolactone A (1) and 25 known secondary metabolites (2-26). The structure of the new compound was established by detailed spectroscopic analysis, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculation as well as a J-based configuration analysis. Compound 10 showed potent cytotoxicity against Huh7 and Jurkat cells with IC50 values of 1.4 µM and 6.7 µM, respectively.

Effect of the implant apical exposure and coverage < or ≥ 2 mm bone graft on transcrestal sinus floor elevation: a 1- to 7-year retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the effect of the apex coverage by the bone graft, including exposure and coverage less than or greater than 2 mm on implant survival rate and peri-implant bone and soft tissue remodeling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 264 implants in 180 patients who had undergone transcrestal sinus floor elevation (TSFE) with simultaneous implant placement were included in this retrospective cohort study. Radiographic assessment was used to categorize the implants into three groups based on apical implant bone height (ABH): ≤ 0 mm, < 2 mm, or ≥ 2 mm. The implant survival rate, peri-implant marginal bone loss (MBL) during short-term (1-3 years) and mid- to long-term (4-7 years) follow-up, and clinical parameters were used to evaluate the effect of implant apex coverage after TSFE. RESULTS: Group 1 had 56 implants (ABH ≤ 0 mm), group 2 had 123 implants (ABH > 0 mm, but < 2 mm), and group 3 had 85 implants (ABH ≥ 2 mm). There was no significant difference in the implant survival rate between groups 2 and 3 compared to group 1 (p = 0.646, p = 0.824, respectively). The MBL during short-term and mid- to long-term follow-up indicated that apex coverage could not be considered a risk factor. Furthermore, apex coverage did not have a significant effect on other clinical parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Despite limitations, our study found that implant apex coverage by the bone graft, including exposure and coverage levels less than or greater than 2 mm, did not significantly affect implant survival, short-term or mid- to long-term MBL, or peri-implant soft tissue outcomes. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Based on 1- to 7-year data, the study suggests that implant apical exposure and coverage levels of less than or greater than 2 mm bone graft are both valid options for TSFE cases.

Friedel-Crafts Reaction of Acylsilanes: Highly Chemoselective Synthesis of 1-Hydroxy-bis(indolyl)methanes and 1-Silyl-bis(indolyl)methanes Derivatives.

A novel double Friedel-Crafts reaction of acylsilanes in water is described. This strategy enables synthesis of bis(indolyl)methane derivatives with 1-hydroxy or 1-silyl substituents in moderate to high yield. Compared to the 1-silyl-bis(indolyl)methane derivatives from indole substrate, 1-hydroxy-bis(indolyl)methane derivatives were synthesized from the 5-hydroxyindole, and the hydrogen bonds in the 5-hydroxyindole play a crucial role in regulating the reaction selectivity.

Rutaecarpine Ameliorates Murine N-Methyl-N'-Nitro-N-Nitrosoguanidine-Induced Chronic Atrophic Gastritis by Sonic Hedgehog Pathway.

CAG is a burdensome and progressive disease. Numerous studies have shown the effectiveness of RUT in digestive system diseases. The therapeutic effects of RUT on MNNG-induced CAG and the potential mechanisms were probed. MNNG administration was employed to establish a CAG model. The HE and ELISA methods were applied to detect the treatment effects. WB, qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, TUNEL, and GES-1 cell flow cytometry approaches were employed to probe the mechanisms. The CAG model was successfully established. The ELISA and HE staining data showed that the RUT treatment effects on CAG rats were reflected by the amelioration of histological damage. The qRT-PCR and WB analyses indicated that the protective effect of RUT is related to the upregulation of the SHH pathway and downregulation of the downstream of apoptosis to improve gastric cellular survival. Our data suggest that RUT induces a gastroprotective effect by upregulating the SHH signaling pathway and stimulating anti-apoptosis downstream.