Anti-Stemness and Anti-Proliferative Effects of Cadmium on Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells.

Cadmium accumulation in the body can damage a variety of organs and impair their development and functions. In the present study, we investigated the effect of cadmium on the stemness and proliferation of normal bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs). Normal bovine mammary epithelial cells treated with cadmium chloride were assessed for the expression of stemness-related proteins and cell proliferation.

Unpacking the green potential: How does supply chain digitalization affect corporate carbon emissions? - Evidence from supply chain innovation and application pilots in China.

The impact of supply chain digitalization (SCD) on carbon dioxide emissions is an emerging area of research, particularly in China, which is the world's largest carbon emitter. This study uses micro-level data on listed companies from 2010 to 2021 to systematically verify the impact and mechanism of SCD on corporate carbon emissions (CCE) through the difference-in-differences model. We determined that SCD can significantly reduce CCE and its implementation path involves three aspects: promoting technological innovation, reducing financing constraints, and increasing market attention.

Biochemical components of corneal stroma: a study on myopia classification based on Raman spectroscopy and deep learning methods.

The study aimed to identify differences in the biochemical composition of corneal stroma lenses across varying degrees of myopia using Raman spectrum characteristics. Corneal stroma lens samples from 38 patients who underwent small incision lens extraction (SMILE) surgery, were categorized into low (n = 9, spherical power -3.00D), moderate (n = 23, spherical power < -3.

Government carbon reduction policies and the shift to green lifestyles: The role of innovation, incentive, driving and economic effect.

This paper evaluates the impact of government efforts on the promotion of green lifestyles in realizing carbon emission reduction, a critical issue for achieving sustainable development. From the perspective of government policy, it examines the theoretical mechanisms through which government's attention to carbon reduction influences and catalyzes shifts in residents' adoption of green lifestyles. Employing an individual fixed-effects model, it conducts an empirical analysis to evaluate the influence of government's carbon reduction attention on the transformation of residents' environmental behaviors.

Monocular meta-imaging camera sees depth.

A novel monocular depth-sensing camera based on meta-imaging sensor technology has been developed, offering more precise depth sensing with millimeter-level accuracy and enhanced robustness compared to conventional 2D and light-field cameras.

Mechanism and biodegradability of melanoidins formed in hydrothermal process: From model compounds to food waste.

Hydrothermal pretreatment (HTP) is used to increase the biochemical methane potential (BMP) of food waste (FW). The formation of melanoidins will seriously affect the microbial activity and methane production during anaerobic digestion (AD). Based on spectroscopic methods, similarities and heterogeneity of melanoidins from different sources were investigated, and the wide peak band (260-350 nm) in the ultraviolet region and the differences of amide groups of fructose-amino acid system, fructose-casein system and FW system were revealed.

Evaluation of tolerability and safety of transcranial electrical stimulation with gel particle electrodes in healthy subjects.

Background: With the advancement of transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) technology, an increasing number of stimulation devices and treatment protocols have emerged. However, safety and tolerability remain critical concerns before new strategies can be implemented. Particularly, the use of gel particle electrodes brings new challenges to the safety and tolerability of tES, which hinders its widespread adoption and further research.

Label-free classification of atherosclerosis plaque via OCT and ultraviolet autofluorescence spectroscopy.

We proposed a label-free method for the identification and classification of atherosclerosis plaques by combining optical coherence tomography (OCT) with ultraviolet autofluorescence spectroscopy (uFLS). By aligning the OCT source and the FLS excitation beams, we were able to illuminate the same spot on plaques fixed to the integrated probe, which underwent rotational scanning. This setup enabled the detection of both OCT images and uFLS spectra of the plaques in a co-localized manner.

Multi-plane light conversion (MPLC) LP mode multiplexer based on grayscale maskless lithography.

Multi-plane light conversion (MPLC) is a technique that uses multiple phase plates to modulate a light beam step-by-step. This technique has attracted widespread attention in the field of mode-division multiplexing (MDM) communications due to its high flexibility. MPLC device requires precisely controlled fabrication accuracy in experiments, but conventional multi-etching processes will accumulate alignment errors.

Elucidating synergistic effects during co-pyrolysis of plastics and paper in municipal solid waste: Thermal behavior and product characteristics.

Plastics and paper are common components of municipal solid waste (MSW), making an in-depth understanding of their interactions essential for MSW thermal conversion. In this study, the co-pyrolysis behavior of plastic and paper was investigated. Firstly, the thermal decomposition characteristics were analyzed.

Tuning structures and catalysis performance of two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks based on copper phthalocyanine building block and phenyl connector.

Based on the experimentally reported stable and conductive two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks with copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) as building block and cyan substituted phenyl as connector (CuCOF-CN) as an electrocatalyst for CO reduction reaction (RR), first principle calculations were performed on CuCOF-CN and its analog with the CN being replaced by H (CuCOF). Comparatively studied on the crystal structures, electronic properties, and CORR performance of the two catalysts found that CuCOF has reduced crystal unit size, more positive charge on Cu and CuPc segments, smaller band gap, and lower reaction barrier for CO RR than CuCOF-CN. CuCOF is proposed to be good potential electrocatalyst with good environment friendliness.

Unusual Antibacterial Property and Selectivity Enabled by Tuning Nanozyme Activities of L-Arginine Derived Carbon Dots.

Functional integration of antimicrobial activity and cell proliferation promotion at low concentrations is important for the clinical application of carbon dots (CDs). In this study, the precursor, L-arginine, and dopant, copper salt, are used to prepare copper-doped CDs (Cu-CDs). Owing to their excellent synergistic enzyme-like activities, Cu-CDs can rapidly increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) to lethal levels, preferentially in bacteria, and exhibit potent antibacterial ability, which can mainly be attributed to the membrane disruption effect.

WTAP Promotes the Excessive Proliferation of Airway Smooth Muscle Cells in Asthma by Enhancing AXIN1 Levels Through the Recognition of YTHDF2.

Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease in children, the incidence rate of which has increased in recent years. Wilms tumour 1-associated protein (WTAP) is an N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methyltransferase. The purpose of this study was to explore the specific mechanism of WTAP in asthma progression, and clarify the intricate interplay between m6A modifications, WTAP, AXIN1, and their collective impact on airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) proliferation in asthma.

Ultra-low-cost and high-fidelity NIR-II confocal laser scanning microscope with Bessel beam excitation and SiPM detection.

Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) is one of the most important imaging tools in the biomedical field, and near-infrared-II (NIR-II, 900-1700nm) fluorescence imaging technology has also made fruitful research progress in deep imaging in recent years. The NIR-II based CLSM has problems such as an expensive detector and reduced image resolution caused by long wavelength excitation. Here, by simultaneously using a low-cost silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) as a detector and a Bessel beam as an excitation, we developed an ultra-low-cost and high-fidelity NIR-II confocal laser scanning microscope.

Cerebrospinal fluid-induced stable and reproducible SERS sensing for various meningitis discrimination assisted with machine learning.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-based pathogen or biochemical testing is the standard approach for clinical diagnosis of various meningitis. However, misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis always occur due to the shortages of unusual clinical manifestations and time-consuming shortcomings, low sensitivity, and poor specificity. Here, for the first time, we propose a simple and reliable CSF-induced SERS platform assisted with machine learning (ML) for the diagnosis and identification of various meningitis.

Physiological Time-Series Fusion With Hybrid Attention for Adaptive Recognition of Pain.

Automatic pain assessment is an application in healthcare serving personalized pain care, and patients cannot self-report pain. Pain at the present is inferred from physiological dynamics at the present and in the near past. However, heterogeneous pain responses cross-subject and cross-type hinder accurate recognition of pain.

Enhancing water security: Statistical measurement and spatiotemporal analysis.

Water security is essential for ensuring energy security, sustainable development, and human survival. However, due to a series of challenges, including rising water demand, environmental pollution, and water resource shortages, the global water security situation remains concerning and poses a threat to global sustainable development. To assess water security in China, this study uses data from 30 provinces in China from 2012 to 2021.

Didymin ameliorates ulcerative colitis-associated secondary liver damage by facilitating Notch1 degradation.

Background: Didymin is a dietary flavonoid originally discovered by our group as a potent anti-ulcerative colitis (UC) agent. However, whether didymin plays a protective role in UC-associated inflammatory liver injury is still unclear.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of didymin on UC-associated inflammatory liver injury and explore the underlying mechanism.

Alloy Reconstruction in Pyrolytic Bowknot-like Heteronuclear CoFe Clusters for Electrocatalytic Application.

The construction of doped molecular clusters is an intriguing way to perform bimetallic doping for electrocatalysts. However, efficiently harnessing the benefits of a doping strategy and alloy engineering to create a nanostructure for electrocatalytic application at the molecular level has consistently posed a challenge. Here we propose an in situ reconstruction strategy aimed at producing an alloy nanostructure through a pyrolysis process, originating from bowknot-like heterometallic clusters.

Valorization of lignin from aqueous-based lignocellulosic biorefineries.

An additional 100 million tons/year of lignin coproduct will result when lignocellulosic biomass is processed in biorefineries to fiber, sugars, biofuels, and bioproducts. This will double the amount of lignin already generated from pulping and paper production. Unlike pulping that results in lignosulphonate (88% of total) or Kraft lignin (9%), aqueous-based biorefining leaves behind non-sulfonated lignin and aromatic molecules.

Regional policy options for carbon peaking in the Yangtze River Delta under uncertainty.

The Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region plays a crucial role in achieving China's carbon peaking goal. However, due to uncertainties surrounding future economic growth, energy consumption, energy structure, and population, the attainment of carbon peaking in this region remains uncertain. To address this issue, this study utilized the generalized Divisia index method to analyze the driving factors of carbon emissions, including economy, energy, investment, and population.

Variability in soybean yield responses to elevated atmospheric CO: Insights from non-structural carbohydrate remobilisation during seed filling.

The increasing atmospheric CO concentration (e[CO]) has mixed effects on soybean most varieties' yield. This study elucidated the effect of e[CO] on soybean yield and the underlying mechanisms related to photosynthetic capacity, non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) accumulation, and remobilisation. Four soybean cultivars were cultivated in open-top chambers at two CO levels.