AI in Combating the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, the COVID-19 disease, and the resulting pandemic have reshaped the entire world in an unprecedented manner. Massive efforts have been made by AI communities to combat the pandemic. What roles has AI played in tackling COVID-19? How has AI performed in the battle against COVID-19? Where are the gaps and opportunities? What lessons can we learn to enhance the ability of AI to battle future pandemics? These questions, despite being fundamental, are yet to be answered in full or systematically.

Aryl urea substituted fatty acids: a new class of protonophoric mitochondrial uncoupler that utilises a synthetic anion transporter.

Respiring mitochondria establish a proton gradient across the mitochondrial inner membrane (MIM) that is used to generate ATP. Protein-independent mitochondrial uncouplers collapse the proton gradient and disrupt ATP production by shuttling protons back across the MIM in a protonophoric cycle. Continued cycling relies on the formation of MIM-permeable anionic species that can return to the intermembrane space after deprotonation in the mitochondrial matrix.

Ultraefficiently Calming Cytokine Storm Using TiCT MXene.

During the global outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, "cytokine storm" conditions are regarded as the fatal step resulting in most mortality. Hemoperfusion is widely used to remove cytokines from the blood of severely ill patients to prevent uncontrolled inflammation induced by a cytokine storm. This article discoveres, for the first time, that 2D TiCT MXene sheet demonstrates an ultrahigh removal capability for typical cytokine interleukin-6.

Negative CT Contrast Agents for the Diagnosis of Malignant Osteosarcoma.

The current positive computed tomography (CT) contrast agents (PCTCAs) including clinical iodides, present high CT density value (CT-DV). However, they are incapable for the accurate diagnosis of some diseases with high CT-DV, such as osteosarcoma. Because bones and PCTCAs around osteosarcoma generate similar X-ray attenuations.

NO emission and bacterial community dynamics during realization of the partial nitrification process.

In this study, greenhouse gas emissions and microbial community succession during the realization of the partial nitrification (PN) process were studied. The results show that NO emission mainly occurred in the aerobic stage and the PN reactor released about 20 mg of NO gas each cycle. There is a positive correlation between the dissolved NO concentration and the temperature of a typical cycle.