Towards simulation optimization of subway station considering refined passenger behaviors.

The escalating passenger flow in subway systems presents significant challenges to station facilities during peak hours. Poorly designed station facilities can reduce passenger throughput efficiency and compromise passenger safety. This study conducts on-site investigations to extract refined parameters of passenger behaviors in security check and ticket checking areas. Using Beijing Subway Yizhuang Line Ciqunan Station as a case study, a microscopic simulation model is developed to replicate pedestrian flow within the subway station. By focusing on passenger demand and traffic organization, the layout of station facilities is regulated and optimized. After optimization, the passenger density in the security check and ticket inspection areas during the morning peak period decreased from 1.33 people/m2 to 1.00 people/m2; the longest queue length on the east side decreased from 15 people to 10 people, and the maximum queue length on the west side decreased from 7 people to 3 people. During peak hours, the dispersal time of passenger flow on the west side when entering the station decreased from 31.56 minutes to 30.04 minutes, and on the east side, it decreased from 36.12 minutes to 30.87 minutes. The optimization results effectively improved the efficiency of entering the station during peak hours.

Advances in the Application of AI Robots in Critical Care: Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: In recent epochs, the field of critical medicine has experienced significant advancements due to the integration of artificial intelligence (AI). Specifically, AI robots have evolved from theoretical concepts to being actively implemented in clinical trials and applications. The intensive care unit (ICU), known for its reliance on a vast amount of medical information, presents a promising avenue for the deployment of robotic AI, anticipated to bring substantial improvements to patient care. OBJECTIVE: This review aims to comprehensively summarize the current state of AI robots in the field of critical care by searching for previous studies, developments, and applications of AI robots related to ICU wards. In addition, it seeks to address the ethical challenges arising from their use, including concerns related to safety, patient privacy, responsibility delineation, and cost-benefit analysis. METHODS: Following the scoping review framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley and the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, we conducted a scoping review to delineate the breadth of research in this field of AI robots in ICU and reported the findings. The literature search was carried out on May 1, 2023, across 3 databases: PubMed, Embase, and the IEEE Xplore Digital Library. Eligible publications were initially screened based on their titles and abstracts. Publications that passed the preliminary screening underwent a comprehensive review. Various research characteristics were extracted, summarized, and analyzed from the final publications. RESULTS: Of the 5908 publications screened, 77 (1.3%) underwent a full review. These studies collectively spanned 21 ICU robotics projects, encompassing their system development and testing, clinical trials, and approval processes. Upon an expert-reviewed classification framework, these were categorized into 5 main types: therapeutic assistance robots, nursing assistance robots, rehabilitation assistance robots, telepresence robots, and logistics and disinfection robots. Most of these are already widely deployed and commercialized in ICUs, although a select few remain under testing. All robotic systems and tools are engineered to deliver more personalized, convenient, and intelligent medical services to patients in the ICU, concurrently aiming to reduce the substantial workload on ICU medical staff and promote therapeutic and care procedures. This review further explored the prevailing challenges, particularly focusing on ethical and safety concerns, proposing viable solutions or methodologies, and illustrating the prospective capabilities and potential of AI-driven robotic technologies in the ICU environment. Ultimately, we foresee a pivotal role for robots in a future scenario of a fully automated continuum from admission to discharge within the ICU. CONCLUSIONS: This review highlights the potential of AI robots to transform ICU care by improving patient treatment, support, and rehabilitation processes. However, it also recognizes the ethical complexities and operational challenges that come with their implementation, offering possible solutions for future development and optimization.

Performance of Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanoparticles Carrying FeNiCu as Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Rechargeable Zinc-Air Battery.

Catalysts for zinc-air batteries (ZABs) must be stable over long-term charging-discharging cycles and exhibit bifunctional catalytic activity. In this study, by doping nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) materials with three metal atoms (Fe, Ni, and Cu), a single-atom-distributed FeNiCu-NC bifunctional catalyst is prepared. The catalyst includes Fe(Ni-doped)-N4 for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), Fe(Cu-doped)-N4 for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and the NiCu-NC catalytic structure for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in the nitrogen-doped carbon nanoparticles. This single-atom distribution catalyst structure enhances the bifunctional catalytic activity. If a trimetallic single-atom catalyst is designed, it will surpass the typical bimetallic single-atom catcalyst. FeNiCu-NC exhibits outstanding performance as an electrocatalyst, with a half-wave potential (E1/2) of 0.876 V versus RHE, overpotential (Ej = 10) of 253 mV versus RHE at 10 mA cm-2, and a small potential gap (ΔE = 0.61 V). As the anode in a ZAB, FeNiCu-NC can undergo continuous charge-discharged cycles for 575 h without significant attenuation. This study presents a new method for achieving high-performance, low-cost ZABs via trimetallic single-atom doping.

A "One-Step" Strategy for the Global Characterization of Core-Fucosylated Glycoproteome.

Core fucosylation, a special type of N-linked glycosylation, is important in tumor proliferation, invasion, metastatic potential, and therapy resistance. However, the core-fucosylated glycoproteome has not been extensively profiled due to the low abundance and poor ionization efficiency of glycosylated peptides. Here, a "one-step" strategy has been described for protein core-fucosylation characterization in biological samples. Core-fucosylated peptides can be selectively labeled with a glycosylated probe, which is linked with a temperature-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) polymer, by mutant endoglycosidase (EndoF3-D165A). The labeled probe can be further removed by wild-type endoglycosidase (EndoF3) in a traceless manner for mass spectrometry (MS) analysis. The feasibility and effectiveness of the "one-step" strategy are evaluated in bovine serum albumin (BSA) spiked with standard core-fucosylated peptides, H1299, and Jurkat cell lines. The "one-step" strategy is then employed to characterize core-fucosylated sites in human lung adenocarcinoma, resulting in the identification of 2494 core-fucosylated sites distributed on 1176 glycoproteins. Further data analysis reveals that 196 core-fucosylated sites are significantly upregulated in tumors, which may serve as potential drug development targets or diagnostic biomarkers. Together, this "one-step" strategy has great potential for use in global and in-depth analysis of the core-fucosylated glycoproteome to promote its mechanism research.

Construction of high-density genetic map based on SLAF-seq and QTL analysis of major traits in sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.].

Sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam., is an important worldwide crop used as feed, food, and fuel. However, its polyploidy, high heterozygosity and self-incompatibility makes it difficult to study its genetics and genomics. Longest vine length (LVL), yield per plant (YPP), dry matter content (DMC), starch content (SC), soluble sugar content (SSC), and carotenoid content (CC) are some of the major agronomic traits being used to evaluate sweetpotato. However limited research has actually examined how these traits are inherited. Therefore, after selecting 212 F1 from a Xin24 × Yushu10 crossing as the mapping population, this study applied specific-locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq), at an average sequencing depth of 26.73 × (parents) and 52.25 × (progeny), to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). This approach generated an integrated genetic map of length 2441.56 cM and a mean distance of 0.51 cM between adjacent markers, encompassing 15 linkage groups (LGs). Based on the linkage map, 26 quantitative trait loci (QTLs), comprising six QTLs for LVL, six QTLs for YPP, ten QTLs for DMC, one QTL for SC, one QTL for SSC, and two QTLs for CC, were identified. Each of these QTLs explained 6.3-10% of the phenotypic variation. It is expected that the findings will be of benefit for marker-assisted breeding and gene cloning of sweetpotato.

Subthalamic nucleus-language network connectivity predicts dopaminergic modulation of speech function in Parkinson's disease.

Speech impediments are a prominent yet understudied symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD). While the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is an established clinical target for treating motor symptoms, these interventions can lead to further worsening of speech. The interplay between dopaminergic medication, STN circuitry, and their downstream effects on speech in PD is not yet fully understood. Here, we investigate the effect of dopaminergic medication on STN circuitry and probe its association with speech and cognitive functions in PD patients. We found that changes in intrinsic functional connectivity of the STN were associated with alterations in speech functions in PD. Interestingly, this relationship was characterized by altered functional connectivity of the dorsolateral and ventromedial subdivisions of the STN with the language network. Crucially, medication-induced changes in functional connectivity between the STN's dorsolateral subdivision and key regions in the language network, including the left inferior frontal cortex and the left superior temporal gyrus, correlated with alterations on a standardized neuropsychological test requiring oral responses. This relation was not observed in the written version of the same test. Furthermore, changes in functional connectivity between STN and language regions predicted the medication's downstream effects on speech-related cognitive performance. These findings reveal a previously unidentified brain mechanism through which dopaminergic medication influences speech function in PD. Our study sheds light into the subcortical-cortical circuit mechanisms underlying impaired speech control in PD. The insights gained here could inform treatment strategies aimed at mitigating speech deficits in PD and enhancing the quality of life for affected individuals.

The relationship between screen time and gross motor movement: A cross-sectional study of pre-school aged left-behind children in China.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the level of screen time and gross motor movement level and the correlation between them in left-behind children aged 3 to 6 years old in China. METHODS: A randomized whole-group sampling method was used to study 817 left-behind children aged 3-6 years in 15 kindergartens in Xiangcheng city, Henan province. The third version of the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD-3) was used to test the children's gross motor movement level, and the screen time questionnaire was used to test the children's screen time level. The relationship between the two and the indicators was explored using Pearson's two-sided correlation and multilevel regression. RESULTS: The average daily screen time of left-behind children aged 3-6 years old increased with age, and the reporting rate of >2 h/d ranged from 22.43% to 33.73%; gross motor movement of left-behind children aged 3-6 years old increased with age, with significant differences between age (p<0.05). There was a low to moderate negative correlation (r = -0.133 to -0.354, p<0.05) between screen time and gross motor movement in children aged 3-6 years, and multiple regression analysis showed that screen time was predictive of gross motor movement in children (p<0.05), with an explanation rate of 21.4%. CONCLUSION: There is a correlation between screen time and gross motor movement development in children aged 3-6 years old left behind, and the gross motor movement ability of children aged 3-6 years old can be developed by reducing screen time and increasing physical activity.

Ferrocene-Based Antioxidant Self-Healing Hydrogel via the Biginelli Reaction for Wound Healing.

The development of antioxidant wound dressings to remove excessive free radicals around wounds is essential for wound healing. In this study, we developed an efficient strategy to prepare antioxidant self-healing hydrogels as wound dressings by combining multicomponent reactions (MCRs) and postpolymerization modification. A polymer containing ferrocene and phenylboronic acid groups was developed via the Biginelli reaction, followed by efficient modification. This polymer is antioxidant due to its ferrocene moieties and can rapidly cross-link poly(vinyl alcohol) to realize an antioxidant self-healing hydrogel through dynamic borate ester linkages. This hydrogel has low cytotoxicity and is biocompatible. In in vivo experiments, this hydrogel is superior to existing clinical dressings in promoting wound healing. This study demonstrates the value of the Biginelli reaction in exploring biomaterials, potentially offering insights into the design of other multifunctional polymers and related materials using different MCRs.

Effects of silencing NLRP3 gene on proliferation of psoriasis-like HaCaT cells and expressions of cytokines.

We aimed to explore the effects of silencing NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) on proliferation of psoriasis-like HaCaT cells and expressions of cytokines. HaCaT cells were treated with human keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and were divided into KGF group, negative control group, NLRP3-RNAi group and control group. Cells proliferation was detected by CCK8, cell clone formation rate was detected by clone formation assay, distribution of cells cycle was detected by flow cytometry, expressions of cyclin B1 (Cyclin B1), cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), Ki67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) proteins were detected by Western blot, and levels of interleukin (IL)-17, IL-23, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Compared with control group, expressions of NLRP3 mRNA and protein, proliferation rate and clonal formation rate were increased in KGF group, percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase was decreased, percentage of cells in S phase was increased, expressions of Cyclin B1, CDK2, Ki67 and PCNA proteins were increased, and levels of IL-17, IL-23, IL-6 and TNF-α were increased. Compared with negative control group, expressions of NLRP3 mRNA and protein, proliferation rate and clonal formation rate were decreased in NLRP3-RNAi group, percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase was increased, percentage of cells in S phase was decreased, expressions of Cyclin B1, CDK2, Ki67 and PCNA proteins were decreased, and levels of IL-17, IL-23, IL-6 and TNF-α were decreased. Silencing NLRP3 gene can inhibit the proliferation of psoriasis-like HaCaT cells, arrest cell cycle, inhibit the expressions of cell proliferation-related proteins and reduce levels of pro-inflammatory factors.

Tolerogenic dendritic cells alleviate collagen-induced arthritis by regulating T-cell differentiation and inhibiting NLRP3-mediated apoptosis.

OBJECTIVE: Tolerogenic dendritic cells (tolDCs) have emerged as a potential treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the detailed mechanism requires further investigation. In this study, we aimed to explore the effects of tolDCs on T-cell differentiation and NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis in a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model. METHODS: TolDCs were induced using NF-κB ODN decoy. The efficacy of tolDCs intervention in alleviating arthritis symptoms was evaluated in CIA rats. Flow cytometry was employed to analyze CD4+ T-cell subpopulations, while scanning electron microscopy was utilized to observe pyroptosis morphology. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess the expression of pyroptosis-associated proteins. RESULTS: TolDCs intervention significantly reduced joint inflammation and damage in CIA rats. Moreover, it successfully restored the balance of Th1/Th2 cells as well as the balance of Treg/Th17 cells. Furthermore, tolDCs intervention effectively suppressed NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis in the synovium, decreasing the release of IL-1ß and IL-18. CONCLUSION: Our findings underscore the efficacy of tolDCs in attenuating CIA progression through modulation of CD4+ T-cell subpopulations and inhibition of NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis.

Comparison of the activation level in the sensorimotor cortex between motor point and proximal nerve bundle electrical stimulation.

Objective.Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is widely used for motor function rehabilitation in stroke survivors. Compared with the conventional motor point (MP) stimulation, the stimulation at the proximal segment of the peripheral nerve (PN) bundles has been demonstrated to have multiple advantages. However, it is not known yet whether the PN stimulation can increase the cortical activation level, which is crucial for motor function rehabilitation.Approach.The current stimuli were delivered transcutaneously at the muscle belly of the finger flexors and the proximal segment of the median and ulnar nerves, respectively for the MP and PN stimulation. The stimulation intensity was determined to elicit the same contraction levels between the two stimulation methods in 18 healthy individuals and a stroke patient. The functional near-infrared spectroscopy and the electromyogram were recorded to compare the activation pattern of the sensorimotor regions and the target muscles.Main Results.For the healthy subjects, the PN stimulation induced significantly increased concentration of the oxygenated hemoglobin in the contralateral sensorimotor areas, and enhanced the functional connectivity between brain regions compared with the MP stimulation. Meanwhile, the compound action potentials had a smaller amplitude and the H-reflex became stronger under the PN stimulation, indicating that more sensory axons were activated in the PN stimulation. For the stroke patient, the PN stimulation can elicit finger forces and induce activation of both the contralateral and ipsilateral motor cortex.Conclusions. Compared with the MP stimulation, the PN stimulation can induce more cortical activation in the contralateral sensorimotor areas possibly via involving more activities in the central pathway.Significance.This study demonstrated the potential of the PN stimulation to facilitate functional recovery via increasing the cortical activation level, which may help to improve the outcome of the NMES-based rehabilitation for motor function recovery after stroke.

New sesquiterpenoids with neuroprotective effects in vitro and in vivo from the Picrasma chinensis.

Three undescribed sesquiterpenes, designed as pichinenoid A-C (1-3), along with nine known ones (4-12) were isolated from the stems and leaves of Picrasma chinensis. The new isolates including their absolute configurations were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic methods, single crystal X-ray diffraction, and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) experiments, as well as comparison with literature data. Structurally, compounds 1 and 2 are descending sesquiterpenes, while pichinenoid C (3) is a rare sesquiterpene bearing a 2-methylenebut-3-enoic acid moiety at the C-6 side chain. All the isolated compounds were tested for their neuroprotective effects against the H2O2-induced damage on human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, and most of them showed moderate neuroprotective activity. Especially, compounds 1, 3-5, and 7 showed a potent neuroprotective effect at 25 or 50 µM. Moreover, the neuroprotective effects of compounds 1 and 4 were tested on a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced Parkinson's disease (PD) mouse model. Results of western blot and immunofluorescence indicated that compound 4 significantly counteract the toxicity of MPTP, and reversed the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in substantia nigra (SN) and striatum (ST) of the mouse brain. Interestingly, western blot data suggested compound 4 also enhanced B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) expressions in the brain tissues from MPTP damaged mouse.

Precutting Endoscopic Band Ligation-Assisted Resection Is Safe and Effective for Treating Gastric Submucosal Tumors from the Muscularis Propria.

BACKGROUND: We previously treated small gastric submucosal tumors originating from the muscularis propria layer by precutting endoscopic band ligation but lacked precise pathological results. Then, precutting endoscopic band ligation was modified by additional snare resection after ligation to obtain tumor specimens, termed precutting endoscopic band ligation-assisted resection. AIMS: In this study, we aimed to explore the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of precutting endoscopic band ligation-assisted resection. METHODS: From 2021 to 2022, a total of 16 consecutive patients underwent precutting endoscopic band ligation-assisted resection to treat small gastric submucosal tumors originating from the muscularis propria. The clinical demography, perioperative data, and follow-up outcomes were retrospectively collected. RESULTS: With a mean operative time of 21.3 min, all lesions were successfully and completely resected, and no severe adverse events or local recurrences occurred postoperatively. More importantly, en bloc and R0 resection were achieved in all 16 patients. CONCLUSION: Precutting endoscopic band ligation-assisted resection is a safe, effective, and time-saving endoscopic technique for managing gastric small gastric submucosal tumors originating from the muscularis propria for both diagnosis and eradication.

A novel approach combining network pharmacology and experimental validation to study the protective effect of ginsenoside Rb1 against cantharidin-induced hepatotoxicity in mice.

Cantharidin (CTD) is a widely used anticancer compound, but its clinical use is mainly limited due to hepatotoxicity. Ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) shows potential hepatoprotective effects. Nonetheless, the protective effect and underlying mechanism of GRb1 against CTD-induced hepatotoxicity in mice have not been investigated. This study aims to elucidate the effect and mechanism of GRb1 on CTD-induced hepatotoxicity using network pharmacology and in vivo experiments. Network pharmacology studies have shown that 263 targets were the main mechanisms by which GRb1 alleviates CTD-induced hepatotoxicity. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that 75 hub genes were mainly enriched in TNF, IL-17 and apoptosis signalling pathways. Molecular docking analysis showed that GRb1 exhibited high affinity with Akt1, Tnf, Il6, Bcl2 and Caspase3. In addition, results from animal studies demonstrated that GRb1 could ameliorate CTD-induced hepatotoxicity by inhibiting protein expression of Caspase-3, Caspase-8, Bcl-2/Bax, GRP78, ATF6, ATF4, CHOP, IRE1α and PERK. This research revealed the mechanism of GRb1 against CTD-induced hepatotoxicity by inhibiting apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and it may provide a scientific rationale for the potential use of GRb1 in the treatment of hepatotoxicity induced by CTD.

[Determination of 21 organophosphate esters and their metabolites in drinking water by automatic solid phase extraction-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method for simultaneous determination of 21 organophosphate esters(OPEs) and their metabolites in drinking water by automatic solid phase extraction-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. METHODS: The drinking water was purified by automatic solid phase extraction with HLB column, eluted by methanol, determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry with ACQUITY UPLC BEH(100 mm×2.1mm, 1.7 µm) column, and quantified by internal standard method. RESULTS: The optimized method could simultaneously detect 21 organophosphate esters and their metabolites in drinking water. The detection limit was 0.01-0.24 ng/L, the quantitation limit was 0.03-0.77 ng/L. The recovery range was 57.6%-121.2% and the relative standard deviation is 1.2%-11.1% when the concentration was 0.8-20 ng/L. Senventeen tap water and 30 packaged drinking water collected by the supermarket were measured. The ΣOPEs range was 16.8-177 ng/L, and the Σdi-OPEs range was 0.328-16.3ng/L, indicating the exposure risk of organophosphates and their metabolites in water. CONCLUSION: The pretreatment of the method is simple, automatic and sensitive, and is suitable for simultaneous high-throughput determination of organophosphate esters and their metabolites in large quantities of drinking water.

Resistant starch intake facilitates weight loss in humans by reshaping the gut microbiota.

Emerging evidence suggests that modulation of gut microbiota by dietary fibre may offer solutions for metabolic disorders. In a randomized placebo-controlled crossover design trial (ChiCTR-TTRCC-13003333) in 37 participants with overweight or obesity, we test whether resistant starch (RS) as a dietary supplement influences obesity-related outcomes. Here, we show that RS supplementation for 8 weeks can help to achieve weight loss (mean -2.8 kg) and improve insulin resistance in individuals with excess body weight. The benefits of RS are associated with changes in gut microbiota composition. Supplementation with Bifidobacterium adolescentis, a species that is markedly associated with the alleviation of obesity in the study participants, protects male mice from diet-induced obesity. Mechanistically, the RS-induced changes in the gut microbiota alter the bile acid profile, reduce inflammation by restoring the intestinal barrier and inhibit lipid absorption. We demonstrate that RS can facilitate weight loss at least partially through B. adolescentis and that the gut microbiota is essential for the action of RS.

Artemether regulates liver glycogen and lipid utilization through mitochondrial pyruvate oxidation in db/db mice.

OBJECTIVES: Diabetes is an important global health problem. The occurrence and development of type 2 diabetes (T2D) involves multiple organs, among which the liver is an important organ. Artemether is a methyl ether derivative of artemisinin and has displayed significant antidiabetic effects. However, its regulation of glucose metabolism is not clearly elucidated. This study explored the effect of artemether on liver mitochondrial pyruvate metabolism. METHODS: T2D db/db mice were used and grouped into db/db and db/db+Art groups. Lean wild type mice served as control. After artemether intervention for 12 weeks, the respiratory exchange ratio (RER), redox state, relevant serum lipid content, liver glycogen and lipid content, liver insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signal transduction, mitochondrial pyruvate oxidation pathway, fatty acid and glycogen metabolic pathways were evaluated. RESULTS: This experiment demonstrated that artemether raised RER and enhanced liver mitochondrial pyruvate metabolism in db/db mice. Artemether also reduced serum and urinary lipid peroxidation products and regulated the redox status in liver. The accumulation of liver glycogen in diabetic mice was attenuated, the proportion of lipid content in serum and liver was changed by artemether. The signal pathway associated with liver glycogen metabolism was also regulated by artemether. In addition, artemether increased serum insulin and regulated insulin/IGF-1 signal pathway in liver. CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirmed that artemether can regulate liver glycogen and lipid utilization in T2D mice, its biological mechanisms were associated with mitochondrial pyruvate oxidation in the liver.

Enhancing soil redox dynamics: Comparative effects of Fe-modified biochar (N-Fe and S-Fe) on Fe oxide transformation and Cd immobilization.

Biochar and modified biochar have gained wide attention for Cd-contaminated soil remediation. This study investigates the effects of rape straw biochar (RSB), sulfur-iron modified biochar (S-FeBC), and nitrogen-iron modified biochar (N-FeBC) on soil Fe oxide transformation and Cd immobilization. The mediated electrochemical analysis results showed that Fe modification effectively enhanced the electron exchange capacity (EEC) of biochar. After 40 days of anaerobic incubation, compared to the treatment without biochar (CK), the concentrations of CaCl2-extractable Cd in N-FeBC, S-FeBC, and RSB treatments decreased by 79%, 53%, and 23%, respectively. Compared with S-FeBC, N-FeBC significantly decreased the soil Eh and increased soil pH within the first 15 days, which could be attributed to its higher EEC and alkalinity. There is a negative correlation between the concentration of CaCl2-extractable Cd and soil pH (p < 0.01). The sequential extraction results showed that both N-FeBC and S-FeBC promoted Cd transfer from acid-soluble to Fe/Mn oxides bound fraction (Fe/Mn-Cd). N-FeBC significantly increased the concentration of amorphous Fe oxides (amFeox) from 4.0 g kg-1 in day 1 to 4.6 g kg-1 in day 15 by promoting the NO3--reducing Fe(II) oxidation process, while S-FeBC significantly increased amFeox from 4.0 g kg-1 in day 15 to 4.8 g kg-1 in day 40 by promoting the Fe(II) recrystallization. There is a positive correlation between the concentration of amFeox and Fe/Mn-Cd (p < 0.01). The scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that Cd was bound to the amFeox coating on the surface of Fe-modified biochar. By acting as an electron shuttle, the active surface of Fe-modified biochar may serve as a hotspot for Fe transformation, which promotes amFeox formation and Cd immobilization. This study highlights the potential of Fe-modified biochar for the remediation of Cd-contaminated soils and provides valuable insights into the development of effective remediation approaches for Cd-contaminated soils.

Recent Developments in Functional Polymers via the Kabachnik-Fields Reaction: The State of the Art.

Recently, multicomponent reactions (MCRs) have attracted much attention in polymer synthesis. As one of the most well-known MCRs, the Kabachnik-Fields (KF) reaction has been widely used in the development of new functional polymers. The KF reaction can efficiently introduce functional groups into polymer structures; thus, polymers prepared via the KF reaction have unique α-aminophosphonates and show important bioactivity, metal chelating abilities, and flame-retardant properties. In this mini-review, we mainly summarize the latest advances in the KF reaction to synthesize functional polymers for the preparation of heavy metal adsorbents, multifunctional hydrogels, flame retardants, and bioimaging probes. We also discuss some emerging applications of functional polymers prepared by means of the KF reaction. Finally, we put forward our perspectives on the further development of the KF reaction in polymer chemistry.

High-order sensory processing nanocircuit based on coupled VO2 oscillators.

Conventional circuit elements are constrained by limitations in area and power efficiency at processing physical signals. Recently, researchers have delved into high-order dynamics and coupled oscillation dynamics utilizing Mott devices, revealing potent nonlinear computing capabilities. However, the intricate yet manageable population dynamics of multiple artificial sensory neurons with spatiotemporal coupling remain unexplored. Here, we present an experimental hardware demonstration featuring a capacitance-coupled VO2 phase-change oscillatory network. This network serves as a continuous-time dynamic system for sensory pre-processing and encodes information in phase differences. Besides, a decision-making module for special post-processing through software simulation is designed to complete a bio-inspired dynamic sensory system. Our experiments provide compelling evidence that this transistor-free coupling network excels in sensory processing tasks such as touch recognition and gesture recognition, achieving significant advantages of fewer devices and lower energy-delay-product compared to conventional methods. This work paves the way towards an efficient and compact neuromorphic sensory system based on nano-scale nonlinear dynamics.