Ambient catalyst-free conversion of methane to methanol by water radical cations.

Methane combustion contributes 30% to global warming, making its conversion to cleaner chemicals a critical challenge. Here, we report a catalyst-free ambient conversion of methane to methanol with a remarkable yield exceeding 650 millimoles per hour and a high conversion rate of ~35%, achieved using in situ-generated water dimer radical cations, [Formula: see text] , in a specially designed batch reactor operating under mild conditions. In a single run, the reactor was typically operated for 10 minutes.

Optimization of a Coupled Neuron Model Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning and Application of the Model in Bearing Fault Diagnosis.

Bearings are critical yet vulnerable components in mechanical equipment, with potential failures that can significantly impact system performance. As stochastic resonance methods effectively convert noise energy into fault characteristic energy within bearing vibration signals, they remain a research focus in bearing fault diagnosis. This study proposes a coupled neuron model based on biological stochastic resonance effects for processing bearing vibration signals.

Occurrence, fate and impact of steroidal estrogens and xenoestrogens in plants: A review.

Estrogens encompass both steroidal estrogens and xenoestrogens. Natural steroidal estrogens, as hormones secreted by animals, regulate physiological activities within organisms. Synthetic steroidal estrogens and xenoestrogens are also widely utilized as pharmaceutical agents and industrial materials.

Cluster discharge resonance neuron model and its application in machinery multi-dimensional fault vibration signals.

Through the analysis of multidimensional vibration signals of machinery, existing faults in mechanical equipment can be timely identified to ensure normal equipment operation. In biological nervous systems, noise influences the generation, transmission, and response of neural signals, causing these signals to exhibit diverse dynamic behaviors. Inspired by this mechanism, to improve fault diagnosis accuracy, this study investigates the advantages of stochastic resonance effects in discharge neural networks and proposes an adaptive cluster discharge resonance neuron (CDRN) model.

Co-sorption of phthalate esters and Cd on biochar-sulfhydryl modified montmorillonite composites.

Developing efficient passivating sorption materials for the treatment of combined pollution by phthalate esters (PAEs) and Cd has become a critical focus in environmental protection and soil remediation. In this study, biochar-sulfhydryl modified montmorillonite composites (BC-SHMMT) were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated for the co-sorption of PAEs (DMP, DEP) and Cd. The integration of sulfhydryl-modified montmorillonite (MMT-SH) with biochar improved the material's surface structure, enhancing both co-sorption capacity and structural stability.

Interaction and sorption mechanisms of phthalate plasticizers and Cd on biochar.

Biochar exhibits significant potential for the remediation of soil contaminated with organic pollutants and heavy metals. A comprehensive understanding of the interfacial interactions and sorption mechanisms of low-hydrophobicity phthalate plasticizers, such as dimethyl phthalate (DMP) and diethyl phthalate (DEP), along with Cd on biochar, is essential for the effective remediation of polluted soil environments. This study systematically examines the interaction and sorption mechanisms of PAEs-Cd on biochar at both macro and micro levels using sorption batch experiments and molecular dynamics simulations.

Assessing the impact of different types of masks on COPD patients: a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Wearing masks imposes an additional respiratory burden on COPD patients. This study aimed to investigate the impact of various mask types on physiological parameters and subjective feelings in COPD patients.

Methods: This randomised, open-label, parallel-controlled trial randomly assigned 129 COPD patients from two Chinese hospitals to the N95 mask group, the surgical mask group and the no mask group, who were required to complete a 6-min rest (6MR) and a 6-min walking test (6MWT) while wearing their designated masks, and were assessed for blood pressure, oxygen saturation, pulse rate, Borg score, rating of perceived exertion (RPE) score, 6-min walk distance (6MWD) and subjective feeling score.

Exploring bifunctional molecules for anti-SARS-CoV-2 and anti-inflammatory activity through structure-based virtual screening, SAR investigation, and biological evaluation.

As new variants of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continue to emerge, they raise increasing concerns about the efficacy of neutralizing antibodies and vaccines. This situation underscores the urgent need for specific drugs against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Given that COVID-19 is particularly associated with substantial inflammation, the development of novel, effective antiviral and anti-inflammatory agents represents a promising research direction.

Discovery of Chalcone Derivatives as Bifunctional Molecules with Anti-SARS-CoV-2 and Anti-inflammatory Activities.

Danshensu extracted with traditional Chinese medicine has a wide range of bioactivities. Danshensu containing a catechol moiety has a moderate inhibitory effect on SARS-CoV-2 3CL (IC = 2.2 μM) by a reversible covalent interaction and exhibits good anti-inflammatory activity.

Biodegradation of PAEs in contaminated soil by immobilized bacterial agent and the response of indigenous bacterial community.

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are common hazardous organic contaminants in agricultural soil. Microbial remediation is an effective and eco-friendly method for eliminating PAEs. Nevertheless, the operational mode and potential application of immobilized microorganisms in PAEs-contaminated soil are poorly understood.

Identification of DDX5 as a Potential Therapeutic Target of Osteosarcoma Using Thiazolone Probes.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a rare malignant tumor that has predominantly affected children and adolescents in the past 50 years. The genomes of OS tumors exhibit a high degree of complexity, which leads to the great challenge of target identification for anti-OS. To date, no efficient therapeutic target for the treatment of OS has been validated in clinical practice.

A novel remediation strategy of mixed calcium peroxide and degrading bacteria for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contaminated water.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of toxic organic pollutants commonly detected in the aqueous phase. Traditional biodegradation is inefficient and advanced oxidation technologies are expensive. In the current study, a novel strategy was developed using calcium peroxide (CP) and PAH-degrading bacteria (PDB) to effectively augment PAH degradation by 28.

Discovery of potent thiazolidin-4-one sulfone derivatives for inhibition of proliferation of osteosarcoma in vitro and in vivo.

Chemotherapy combining with surgical treatment has been the main strategy for osteosarcoma treatment in clinical. Due to unclear pathogenesis and unidentified drug targets, significant progress has not been made in the development of targeted drugs for osteosarcoma during the past 50 years. Our previous discovery reported compound R-8i with a high potency for the treatment of osteosarcoma by phenotypic screening.

Assessing the impact of diverse mask types on COPD patients: a randomised controlled trial study protocol.

Introduction: Wearing masks has proven beneficial in preventing respiratory pathogen infections in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the impact of different mask types on physiological indicators and daily physical activity in COPD patients remains uncertain. This study aims to assess the immediate effects of various mask types on cardiopulmonary function indicators, subjective perceptions and the 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) in individuals with COPD.

Danshensu inhibits SARS-CoV-2 by targeting its main protease as a specific covalent inhibitor and discovery of bifunctional compounds eliciting antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has posed a serious threat to human. Since there are still no effective treatment options against the new emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2, it is necessary to devote a continuous endeavor for more targeted drugs and the preparation for the next pandemic. Salvia miltiorrhiza and its active ingredients possess wide antiviral activities, including against SARS-CoV-2.

Quantifying the roles of thermal volatilization and decomposition in microwave remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-polluted soil and modeling remediation effectiveness.

Microwave irradiation is a promising technology for the remediation of soil contaminated by organic contaminants. However, the roles of volatilization and decomposition in microwave removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil have not yet been quantitatively determined. A model describing the removal efficiency of benz(a)anthracene (BaA) at different treatment times and varied conditions was constructed, wherein BaA removal efficiency was positively and linearly correlated with soil temperature.

The impact of wearing facemask on COPD patients: A protocol of a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common, irreversible but preventable disease characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms. The mortality rate of COPD is predicted to reach 5.4 million by the year 2060.

Estrogens and xenoestrogen residues in manure-based fertilizers and their potential ecological risks.

Optimal manure treatment aimed at usage as agricultural soil fertilizers is a prerequisite ecological pollution control strategy. In this work, livestock manure-based fertilizers were collected from 71 animal farms across 14 provinces in China. The contamination levels and potential ecotoxicological risks of residual steroid estrogens (SEs): estrone (E1), estriol (E3), 17α-estradiol (17α-E2), 17β-estradiol (17β-E2) and xenoestrogen (XE) bisphenol A (BPA), were investigated.

Distribution of bound-PAH residues and their correlations with the bacterial community at different depths of soil from an abandoned chemical plant site.

The situ pollutant residue and microbial characteristics in contaminated environments are crucial for ecological restoration and soil utilization. This work reported the variation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) residues and the bacterial community at different depths in an aged-abandoned site. These results unveiled that over 90% of low molecular weight (LMW) and medium molecular weight (MMW), 52.

The impact of facemask on patients with COPD: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Since the emergence of COVID-19, mandatory facemask wearing has been implemented around the world to prevent viral transmission, however, the impact of wearing facemasks on patients with COPD was unclear.

Methods: The current study undertakes a systematic review and meta-analysis of a comprehensive literature retrieval from six databases, based on the pre-determined eligibility criteria, irrespective of language. The risk of bias was assessed using an established instrument.

Hermetic Packaging Based on Cu-Sn and Au-Au Dual Bonding for High-Temperature Graphene Pressure Sensor.

A chip-level hermetic package for a high-temperature graphene pressure sensor was investigated. The silicon cap, chip and substrate were stacked by Cu-Sn and Au-Au bonding to enable wide-range measurements while guaranteeing a high hermetic package. Prior to bonding, the sample was treated with Ar (5% H) plasma.

Ce(Ⅲ) activates peroxymonosulfate for the degradation of substituted PAHs.

Substituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (SPAHs) are being intensively investigated, considering their high toxicity. Additionally, the mechanism of the effect of substituents on the removal of SPAHs and the activation of Ce(III) ions on peroxymonosulfate (PMS) have not been explored. Here we evaluated the removal efficiency of SPAHs in the oxidation system constructed by Ce(Ⅲ) ions and PMS, with emphasized the effect of substituents on SPAHs degradation.

[Pose Testing Method for Medical Service Robots Based on Vision System].

Aiming at the medical service robot used in the indoor environment, this study proposes a method to test the pose accuracy of its working surface based on the binocular vision system. This method uses a binocular vision coordinate system to measure targets fixed on the working surface of the service robot, aligns the measurement system with the robot base coordinate system through the nonlinear least squares method, and integrates the multi-eye image data to achieve the accuracy test of the working surface. Finally, the vision test program was tested and verified on a mobile service robot model ABIR X8.