Strain-tunable MoSe/ZrCl heterostructures: first-principles insights into photogalvanic and switching device performance.

Two-dimensional (2D) heterostructure materials, known for their tunable multifunctionality and low-dimensional confinement effects, offer vast potential for diverse applications. This work provides a comprehensive investigation of the electronic structure, transport and optical properties of MoSe/ZrCl heterostructures using density functional theory (DFT) with non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) methods. Our results demonstrate that the electronic properties of MoSe/ZrCl heterostructure materials can be precisely tuned by applying biaxial strain.

Correlation between gut microbiota and metabolomics under intermittent hypoxic conditions.

Objective: This study investigates the role of gut microbiota and metabolites as biomarkers in the diagnosis and assessment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) by analyzing the correlation between microbiota and metabolomics in the host's gut under conditions of chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH).

Methods: We analyzed the composition and function of gut microorganisms and metabolites in OSA and CIH mouse models using 16S rRNA sequencing combined with targeted metabolomics to evaluate the association between clinical indicators and severity of OSA and gut flora and metabolites.

Results: Compared with normal controls, we found: (1) The apnea hypoventilation index (AHI) and fasting blood glucose were higher in the moderate and severe OSA groups, the eosinophilia score (EP) and neutrophil percentage were significantly higher in the severe OSA group, and the percentage of lymphocytes in the blood count and platelet pressures were lower in the moderate group (P < 0.

Silver-Catalyzed -Stereoselective Trifluoromethoxylation of Bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes.

A silver-catalyzed -stereoselective halo-trifluoromethoxylation of BCBs was reported. This reaction efficiently yields 1,1,3-trisubstituted cyclobutanes with isolated yields of up to 90%. Additionally, the C1-halide group can function as a leaving group, facilitating the formation of 1,2,3-trisubstituted trifluoromethoxylated cyclobutanes.

A dynamic and stochastic perspective on time headway in traffic oscillations and its implications for traffic safety.

Traffic oscillations refer to the alternating patterns of vehicle deceleration and acceleration in congested conditions, which usually create significant safety concerns on freeways. Thus, it is imperative to understand the mechanisms of traffic oscillations and their underlying safety implications. This paper presents a novel approach to exploring the combined effects of dynamic time headway (DTH) and stochasticity on traffic oscillations during car-following.

Analysis of three treatment methods for granulomatous lobular mastitis: a retrospective study in a single center.

Background: Granulomatous lobular mastitis (GLM) is a rare, benign inflammatory condition of the breast that is difficult to distinguish from breast cancer on the basis of clinical and imaging findings. GLM typically has a long disease course, and is difficult to treat and prone to recurrence. Furthermore, there is currently no standard treatment for GLM.

Quercetin ameliorates obesity and inflammation via microbial metabolite indole-3-propionic acid in high fat diet-induced obese mice.

Background: Obesity is a chronic metabolic disease, mainly caused by excessive/abnormal fat accumulation, as well as accompanied by endotoxemia and chronic inflammation. Quercetin, a natural flavonoid, may alleviate obesity by regulating gut microbiota and metabolites, but its exact mechanism for improving obesity is unknown.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of quercetin on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in mice.

Enhancing the stability of spray-dried vitamin A acetate: the role of synergistic wall materials in microencapsulation.

Background: Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is susceptible to environmental factors, which can result in reduced activity. The stability of vitamins directly affects the shelf life and market competitiveness of products in the nutrient-fortified foods/drugs sector. Encapsulation via emulsion spray drying is a commonly utilized method to enhance the stability of active substances.

Construction of PdCu Alloy Decorated on the N-Doped Carbon Aerogel as a Highly Active Electrocatalyst for Enhanced Oxygen Reduction Reaction.

Fuel cells/zinc-air cells represent a transformative technology for clean energy conversion, offering substantial environmental benefits and exceptional theoretical efficiency. However, the high cost and limited durability of platinum-based catalysts for the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the cathode severely restrict their scalability and practical application. To address these critical challenges, this study explores a groundbreaking approach to developing ORR catalysts with enhanced performance and reduced costs.

Hierarchical structure of pyramid Si-ZnO NRs as reliable SALDI-MS platform for trace detection of pesticide.

Assessing agrochemical residues is crucial for food safety and consumer health. Surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (SALDI-MS) has been proven to be efficient for pesticide detection, however its uneven substrate surface distribution limits its practical applicability. Improving detection sensitivity while maintaining detection repeatability is still challenging.

Improving detection sensitivity of SALDI-MS by constructing patterned composite hierarchical structures.

Surface-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry (SALDI-MS) is a prominent tool for detecting small molecules; however, enhancing its detection sensitivity remains a significant challenge. Two strategies are commonly employed to enhance detection sensitivity: enriching analytes through substrate modification and improving the laser desorption/ionization efficiency of the substrate. In this study, we developed a patterned composite hierarchical structure as a SALDI-MS substrate to improve detection sensitivity.

Combining single-cell analysis and molecular docking techniques to construct a prognostic model for colon adenocarcinoma and uncovering inhibin subunit βb as a novel therapeutic target.

Background: Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is a malignancy with a high mortality rate and complex biological characteristics and heterogeneity, which poses challenges for clinical treatment. Anoikis is a type of programmed cell death that occurs when cells lose their attachment to the extracellular matrix (ECM), and it plays a crucial role in tumor metastasis. However, the specific biological link between anoikis and COAD, as well as its mechanisms in tumor progression, remains unclear, making it a potential new direction for therapeutic strategy research.

A paper-based SERS/colorimetry substrate for reliable detection.

For on-site analysis, the combination of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and colorimetry, as a dual-mode detection, can effectively improve the accuracy of detection, and reduce the influence of instrument fluctuation, which greatly improves the accuracy and reliability of the results. However, the preparation of SERS/colorimetry substrates are usually time-consuming and costly, which limits their practical applications. In this paper, a hydrophobic paper-based SERS/colorimetry substrate can be prepared by a simple spraying method.

Research on bearing fault diagnosis based on a multimodal method.

As an essential component of mechanical systems, bearing fault diagnosis is crucial to ensure the safe operation of the equipment. However, vibration data from bearings often exhibit non-stationary and nonlinear features, which complicates fault diagnosis. To address this challenge, this paper introduces a novel multi-scale time-frequency and statistical features fusion model (MTSF-FM).

Managing malice in negative environments: the mediating effect of coping styles on the relationship between negative sense of place and malevolent creativity among Chinese high school students.

Background: Creativity motivated by negative intentions can be referred to as malevolent creativity. While existing findings have largely focused on environmental or individual factors influencing malevolent creativity, less attention has been directed towards understanding how the sense of place-derived from individual-environment interaction-affects malevolent creativity. Additionally, the role of coping styles as mediating mechanisms in negative environments has been insufficiently explored.

Hindered Sedimentation of Tungsten Carbide Particles in a Hydroxyl-Terminated Polybutadiene-Based Polymer-Bonded Explosive Energetic Composite System.

Energetic composite systems with uniform particle distributions are of considerable interest, but sedimentation is a persisting challenge. Tungsten carbide (WC, density: 15.36 g/cm) particles are promising cemented carbide particles owing to their desirable properties.

Hypoxia-induced TPC2 transcription and glycosylation aggravates pulmonary arterial hypertension by blocking autophagy flux.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a serious medical condition that causes a failure in the right heart. Two-pore channel 2 (TPC2) is upregulated in PAH, but its roles in PAH remain largely unknown. Our investigation aims at the mechanisms by which TPC2 regulates PAH development.

Recent advances of bioaerogels in medicine: Preparation, property and application.

Bioaerogels represent a type of three-dimensional porous materials fabricated from natural biopolymers, and show a significant potential for medical application due to their characteristics of extremely low density, high specific surface area, excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability. The preparation method and parameters of bioaerogels are focused on, and their influence on the structure and properties of bioaerogels are discussed in detail. Then, to match the properties of bioaerogels with the medical applications, this work emphasizes the main properties (including biocompatibility, degradability, and mechanical properties), structural parameters (such as suitable porosity, pore size and high specific surface area), and further summarizes the influence of single-component and composite bioaerogels on their properties.

Surface Modification of Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene and Applications: A Review.

Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is often considered an ideal reinforcing material due to its extraordinary characteristics like high abrasion resistance, excellent toughness, and chemical stability. However, the poor surface properties have significantly hindered the progress of UHMWPE with high performance. This review is intended to introduce the physicochemical mechanisms of UHMWPE interfacial property modification.

Socioeconomic status and depression in later life: longitudinal mediation effects of activities of daily living.

Background: Socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with both depression and activities of daily living (ADL and IADL). However, the role of ADL as a biological mechanism in the relationship between SES and late-life depression, examined through longitudinal data, remains understudied. This study explored the longitudinal mediation effects of basic ADL or IADL on the SES-depression link in older adults.

Combustion and mechanical properties enhancement strategy based on stearic acid surface activated boron powders.

Boric acid and other impurities on the surface of boron (B) particles can interact with hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB), weakening the mechanical properties and energy release efficiency of boron-based solid rocket propellants. SA@B composite particles were created by coating stearic acid (SA) on the surface of B particles through solvent evaporation-induced self-assembly. The study investigated the impact of SA coating on the combustion performance of B particles and the mechanical properties of HTPB matrix composites.

Global prediction and analysis for helicopter noise footprint based on acoustic modes.

Aiming to address the significant external noise produced by helicopter rotors, an integrated process based on acoustic modes has been developed for predicting the global noise footprint. The proposed method has the advantages of global prediction, analysis, and low computational costs. The key steps involve constructing an acoustic modal database and efficient prediction of noise footprint.

Enhancing biodegradation efficiency of PLA/PBAT-ST20 bioplastic using thermophilic bacteria co-culture system: New insight from structural characterization, enzyme activity, and metabolic pathways.

The rising utilization of PLA/PBAT-ST20 presents potential ecological risks stemming from its casual disposal and incomplete degradation. To solve this problem, this study investigated the degradation capabilities of PLA/PBAT-ST20 by a co-culture system comprising two thermophilic bacteria, Pseudomonas G1 and Kocuria G2, selected and identified from the thermophilic phase of compost. Structural characterization results revealed that the strains colonized the PLA/PBAT-ST20's surface, causing holes and cracks, with an increase in the carbonyl index (CI) and polydispersity index (PDI), indicating oxidative degradation.

In Situ Collection and SERS Detection of Nitrite in Exhalations on Facemasks Based on Wettability Differences.

As one of the common carriers of biological information, along with human urine specimens and blood, exhaled breath condensate (EBC) carries reliable and rich information about the body's metabolism to track human physiological normal/abnormal states and environmental exposures. What is more, EBC has gained extensive attention because of the convenient and nondestructive sampling. Facemasks, which act as a physical filter barrier between human exhaled breath and inhaled substances from the external environment, are safe, noninvasive, and economic devices for direct sampling of human exhaled breath and inhaled substances.

Study on synergistic hydrogen generation from aluminum-based composites in different forms of water.

The environmental suitability of hydrogen storage materials is significantly influenced by the way aluminum reacts synchronously with water, ice, and water steam. The straightforward ball milling process was used to synthesize Al-based composite materials with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or graphene oxide (GO). The reactivity of the composites in various types of water was investigated.

In silico genome-wide analysis of homeodomain-leucine zipper transcription factors in L.

HD-Zip (Homeodomain-Leucine Zipper) is a family of transcription factors unique to higher plants and plays a vital role in plant growth and development. Increasing research results show that HD-Zip transcription factors are widely involved in many life processes in plants. However, the HD-Zip transcription factor for cannabis, a valuable crop, has not yet been identified.