A Mixed-Signal Chip-Based Configurable Coherent Photoacoustic-Radar Sensing Platform for In Vivo Temperature Monitoring and Vital Signs Detection.

For precise health status monitoring and accurate disease diagnostics in the current COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential to detect various kinds of target signals robustly under high noise and strong interferences. Moreover, the health monitoring system is preferred to be realized in a small form factor for convenient mass deployments. A CMOS-integrated coherent sensing platform is proposed to achieve the goal, which synergetically leverages quadrature coherent photoacoustic (PA) detection and coherent radar sensing for achieving universal healthcare.

Correcting a major error in assessing organic carbon pollution in natural waters.

Microbial degradation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in aquatic environments can cause oxygen depletion, water acidification, and CO emissions. These problems are caused by labile DOC (LDOC) and not refractory DOC (RDOC) that resists degradation and is thus a carbon sink. For nearly a century, chemical oxygen demand (COD) has been widely used for assessment of organic pollution in aquatic systems.

Cell Cytoskeleton and Stiffness Are Mechanical Indicators of Organotropism in Breast Cancer.

Tumor metastasis involves the dissemination of tumor cells from the primary lesion to other organs and the subsequent formation of secondary tumors, which leads to the majority of cancer-related deaths. Clinical findings show that cancer cell dissemination is not random but exhibits organ preference or organotropism. While intrinsic biochemical factors of cancer cells have been extensively studied in organotropism, much less is known about the role of cell cytoskeleton and mechanics.

Identification of Critical Genes and lncRNAs in Osteolysis after Total Hip Arthroplasty and Osteoarthritis by RNA Sequencing.

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a cost-effective treatment for osteoarthritis (OA), and osteolysis is a common complication of THA. This study was aimed at exploring the relevant molecular biomarkers for osteolysis after THA. We performed RNA sequence to identify and characterize expressed mRNAs and lncRNAs in OA and osteolysis.

Opportunistic bacteria with reduced genomes are effective competitors for organic nitrogen compounds in coastal dinoflagellate blooms.

Background: Phytoplankton blooms are frequent events in coastal areas and increase the production of organic matter that initially shapes the growth of opportunistic heterotrophic bacteria. However, it is unclear how these opportunists are involved in the transformation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) when blooms occur and the subsequent impacts on biogeochemical cycles.

Results: We used a combination of genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic approaches to study bacterial diversity, genome traits, and metabolic responses to assess the source and lability of DOM in a spring coastal bloom of Akashiwo sanguinea.

Biocompatible peptide hydrogels with excellent antibacterial and catalytic properties for electrochemical sensing application.

A unique electrochemical sensor was constructed based on designed peptide hydrogels loaded with ciprofloxacin and gold nanoparticles, which exhibited excellent biocompatibility, antibacterial capability and electrochemical catalytic property. The peptide hydrogel was prepared base on the self-assembly of a designed short peptide sequence of Phe-Glu-Lys-Phe (FEKF) with the N-terminal modified with a fluorene methoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) group. The peptide hydrogel possessed nanofibrous network structure and exhibited good shear-thinning behavior and excellent biocompatibility, and it can be easily doped with gold nanoparticles and the antibiotic drug ciprofloxacin.

Degradation of metoprolol from wastewater in a bio-electro-Fenton system.

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been intensely studied for the removal of refractory pollutants because of the strong oxidizing capacity of hydroxyl radical. One of the emerging AOP methods gaining increased attention is bio-electro-Fenton (BEF) which can generate hydroxyl radical in-situ in the cathode chamber using the energy harvested by exoelectrogenic bacteria in the anode. In this study, the feasibility of BEF technology for the removal of metoprolol, a typical micropollutant widely found in the water environment, was for the first time investigated.

Continuous-wave operation of an electrically pumped single microribbon based Fabry-Perot microlaser.

Fabry-Perot (FP) mode microlasers have been popularized and applied widely in on-chip coherent light sources because of the unique advantages of directional output emission. In this work, a heterojunction light-emitting diode (LED) made of a Ga-doped ZnO (ZnO:Ga) microribbon and p-GaAs template is fabricated. And its electroluminescence characteristics of strong coupling of exciton-photon and polariton lasing, in the blue-violet spectrum, were demonstrated under continuous-wave operation of an electrical injection.

Decreased plasma musclin levels are associated with potential atrial fibrillation in non-diabetic patients.

Background: Musclin is involved in the regulation of natriuretic peptide (NP) clearance and may affect the concentration of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). It has also been found to play an important role in several diseases, such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Both abnormalities in ANP and associated medical history are involved in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Spatial and temporal distribution of aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria: key functional groups in biological soil crusts.

Several significant ecosystem services are performed by biological soil crusts (BSCs) in drylands, wherein photoautotrophic microorganisms are commonly critical contributors. However, aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria (AAnPB) are rarely reported in BSCs, despite being the second major branch of Earth's phototrophic microbes. Here, we collected different types of BSCs and their subsoils from temperate deserts, investigated distributions of AAnPB communities among BSCs using cultivation and high-throughput sequencing approaches, predicted keystone species by co-occurrence network analysis, and verified their effects on BSCs formation through microcosm experiments.

An electrically driven whispering gallery polariton microlaser.

Near-infrared micro/nanolaser devices utilizing low-dimensional semiconductors can provide essential building blocks to achieve integrated optoelectronic devices and circuitry for advanced functionalities and are compatible with on-chip technologies. Although significant progress has been made through using narrow-band semiconductor micro/nanostructures to realize near-infrared stimulated radiation at room temperature, severe challenges still remain involving much lower quantum efficiencies and higher auger recombination. Herein, we report an experimental realization of a current-injection semiconductor polariton device made of a ZnO microwire via Ga-doping (ZnO:Ga MW) and p-type GaAs template.

Prevalence of congenital scoliosis in infants based on chest-abdomen X-ray films detected in the emergency department.

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of congenital scoliosis (CS) in infants based on chest-abdomen radiographs.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on infants in the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary children's hospital between February 2008 and September 2019. Patients who had undergone chest-abdomen X-rays were included.

The dynamics and drivers of environmental performance in Chinese cities: a decomposition analysis.

This paper examines urban environmental performance using a unique database of 286 Chinese cities for the period 2002-2014. Both the dynamics of urban total factor environmental efficiency and total factor environmental productivity are explored employing slack-based measures. The findings reveal a U-shaped trend of urban environmental performance over time during the sample period.

gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from desert biocrusts.

A pink-pigmented, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, strictly aerobic bacterial strain MIMtkB3, was isolated from moss crusts in Hunshandake desert of China. Cells grew at 15-45 °C (optimum of 28 °C), at pH of 6.0-8.

Choline derivatives immobilized on silica to catalyze transesterification reaction for production of glycerophosphocholine.

Choline derivatives were covalently immobilized on the surface of γ -aminated silica. The obtained immobilized choline derivative was then successfully used for a transesterification reaction to produce glycerophosphocholine (GPC). Fourier transform infrared analysis and thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal gravimetry indicated that the surface of the γ -aminated silica was covered by choline derivatives and the highest immobilization amount reached 1.

Preservation of mitochondrial homeostasis is responsible for the ameliorative effects of Suhuang antitussive capsule on non-resolving inflammation via inhibition of NF-κB signaling and NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Suhuang antitussive capsule (Suhuang), one of traditional antitussive Chinese patent medicines, has been used for the treatment of post-infectious cough and cough variant asthma in clinical practice. It has been demonstrated to show numerous biological actions including antitussive and anti-inflammatory effects.

Aim Of The Study: This study aims to investigate the effects of Suhuang on non-resolving inflammation and its underlying molecular mechanism.

A single microwire near-infrared exciton-polariton light-emitting diode.

Exciton-polaritons, which originate from the strong coupling between photon modes of microresonators and excitons in semiconductor micro-/nanostructures, have drawn much attention due to their significance for fabricating coherent light sources which possess considerably lower emission thresholds. In this study, an exciton-polariton light-emitting diode (LED), made from a Ga-doped ZnO microwire (ZnO:Ga MW) and a p-GaAs template serving as the hole supplier, is fabricated. The n-ZnO:Ga MW/p-GaAs heterojunction device can emit light with a near-infrared wavelength of 880 nm and a narrow line width of about 60 nm.

Abatement potential and cost of agricultural greenhouse gases in Australian dryland farming system.

Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of GHG mitigation in the dryland agricultural sector is needed in terms of designing and implementing detailed and efficient mitigation programs, which is currently rarely covered by the literature. In this paper, we use a parametric directional distance approach to explore the farm-level abatement potential and cost (shadow value) of GHG for dryland farms in southwestern Australia. The study indicates that dryland agriculture could abate substantial GHG emissions and save agricultural inputs simultaneously.

The effectiveness and heterogeneity of carbon emissions trading scheme in China.

Some developed economies have run emission trading scheme (ETS) to mitigate carbon emissions. However, we know little about the effectiveness and heterogeneity of ETS in a context of developing economy. This paper evaluates the effectiveness and heterogeneity of China's pilot ETS, the first ETS run in a developing economy.

Design, synthesis of Cinnamyl-paeonol derivatives with 1, 3-Dioxypropyl as link arm and screening of tyrosinase inhibition activity in vitro.

This study aimed to obtain tyrosinase inhibitors for treating hyperpigmentation. A series of cinnamyl ester analogues were designed and synthesized with cinnamic acid (CA) and peaonol compounds. The safety, melanin content and inhibitory effects of all target compounds were evaluated.

The emerging role of miR-128 in musculoskeletal diseases.

MicroRNA-128 (miR-128) is associated with cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, apoptosis, and survival. Genetic analysis studies have demonstrated that miR-128 participates in bone metabolism, which involves bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and adipocytes. miR-128 also participates in regeneration of skeletal muscles by targeting myoblast-associated proteins.

High-Precision Single-Photon Laser Time Transfer with Temperature Drift Post-Compensation.

Laser time transfer is of great significance in timing and global time synchronization. However, temperature drift may occur and affect the delay of the electronics system, optic generation and detection system. This paper proposes a post-processing method for the compensation of temperature-induced system delay, which does not require any changes to the hardware setup.

sp. nov., isolated from shallow-sea hydrothermal systems off Kueishantao Island.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, non-flagellated, non-motile, rod-shaped (0.4-0.6×1.