In the present study, we have discovered and identified a new crystalline form of pinaverium bromide, pinaverium bromide dihydrate (C26H41BrNO4⋅Br⋅2H2O), whose single crystals can be obtained by recrystallization from a mixture of water and acetonitrile at room temperature. The obtained crystals were characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction, and their crystal structure was also solved based on X-ray single-crystal diffraction data. The results show that the final pinaverium bromide dihydrate model contains an asymmetric unit of one pinaverium bromide (C26H41Br2NO4) molecule and two water molecules that combine with the bromine ion through O–H⋯O and O–H⋯Br hydrogen bonds. Then, the adjacent pinaverium bromide dihydrates are linked by O–H⋯O, O–H⋯Br, and C–H⋯O hydrogen bonds. On the other hand, the experimentally obtained X-ray powder diffraction pattern is in good agreement with the simulated diffraction pattern from their single-crystal data, confirming the correctness of the crystal structure. Hirshfeld surface analysis was employed to understand and visualize the packing patterns, indicating that the H⋯H interaction is the main acting force in the crystal stacking of pinaverium bromide dihydrate.

This study presents observations of coherent modes (CMs) in a spherical tokamak using a microwave interferometer near the midplane. The CMs within the 30–60 kHz frequency range were observed during electron cyclotron resonance heating only, and the frequency of the CMs increased proportionally with the square root of the electron temperature near $R = 0.7m$. Generally, these modes displayed bursting and chirping signatures with strong density rise and fall. Their appearance indicated an increase in the intensity of hard x rays, suggesting a deterioration in energetic electron confinement. Furthermore, the effect of CMs on the intensity of energetic electron-driven whistler waves was observed. They decreased when CMs were present and gradually increased with the decrease in CM intensity. The CMs may influence the intensity of whistler waves by affecting the energetic electron confinement.

The increasing demands for oil and gas and associated difficult drilling operations require oil-based drilling fluids that possess excellent rheological properties and thermal stability. The objective of the present work was to investigate the rheological properties and thermal stability of organo-montmorillonite (OMnt) modified with various surfactants and under various loading levels in oil-based drilling fluids, as revealed by the interaction between organic surfactants and montmorillonite. The influence of the structural arrangement of surfactants on the thermal stability of organo-montmorillonite (OMnt) in oil-based drilling fluids was also addressed. OMnt samples were prepared in aqueous solution using surfactants possessing either a single long alkyl chain two long alkyl chains. OMnt samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, thermal analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Organic surfactants interacted with montmorillonite by electrostatic attraction. The arrangements of organic surfactants depended on the number of long alkyl chains and the geometrical shape of organic cations. In addition to the thermal stability of surfactants, intermolecular interaction also improved the thermal stability of OMnt/oil fluids. A tight paraffin-type bilayer arrangement contributed to the excellent rheological properties and thermal stability of OMnt/oil fluids. The deterioration of rheological properties of OMnt/oil fluids at temperatures up to 200°C was due mainly to the release of interlayer surfactants into the oil.

Florpyrauxifen-benzyl (FPB) is an important postemergence rice herbicide. This study tested the potential for seed production in an FPB-resistant barnyardgrass population. A barnyardgrass population (NL) collected from a rice field in eastern China was highly resistant to FPB with a GR50 dose (the FPB dose causing a 50% reduction in fresh weight of aboveground parts) of 50.2 g ai ha−1. No significant differences in the percentages of surviving seedlings after treatment with different doses of the herbicide were found between F1 lines collected from F0 plants surviving a 36 g ai ha−1 FPB treatment and those collected from nontreated control F0 plants. Additionally, no significant differences were found in the rate of surviving seedlings after treatment with varying doses of FPB among the F2 lines collected from F1 plants that survived varying doses of FPB. At a constant temperature of 30 C, seeds from different F1 and F2 lines showed germination percentages of 85% to 92.0% and 68.3% to 89.0%, respectively. In the absence of competition, plants from the NL population surviving 0–144 g ai ha−1 FPB showed no significant differences in plant height, dry weight of aboveground parts, effective accumulated temperature (EAT) from sowing to seed maturation, seed production per plant, or 1,000-seed weight. In the susceptible population (HJ), plants surviving 18 g ai ha−1 FPB showed no significant differences compared to the nontreated control plants of the same population for the above variables. This is the first report of FPB-resistant barnyardgrass in China. Barnyardgrass seedlings that survived FPB application showed a higher potential for accumulating in the soil seedbank and negatively affecting rice.

The purpose of this study is to further investigate the relationship between sweetener exposure and the risk of endometrial cancer (EC). Up until December 2022, a literature search in an electronic database was carried out utilizing PubMed, Web of Science, Ovid, and Scopus. The odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) were used to evaluate the results. Sweeteners were divided into nutritional sweeteners (generally refers to sugar, such as sucrose and glucose) and non-nutritional sweeteners (generally refers to artificial sweeteners, such saccharin and aspartame). Ten cohort studies and two case-control studies were eventually included. The study found that in 12 studies, compared with the non-exposed group, the incidence rate of EC in the sweetener exposed group was higher (OR = 1·15, 95 % CI = [1·07, 1·24]). Subgroup analysis showed that in 11 studies, the incidence rate of EC in the nutritional sweetener exposed group was higher than that in the non-exposed group (OR = 1·25, 95 % CI = [1·14, 1·38]). In 4 studies, there was no difference in the incidence rate of EC between individuals exposed to non-nutritional sweeteners and those who were not exposed to non-nutritional sweeteners (OR = 0·90, 95 % CI = [0·81, 1·01]). This study reported that the consumption of nutritional sweeteners may increase the risk of EC, whereas there was no significant relationship between the exposure of non-nutritional sweeteners and the incidence of EC. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended to reduce the intake of nutritional sweeteners, but it is uncertain whether use of on-nutritional sweeteners instead of nutritional sweetener.

With the progress of industry, people are facing more and more complicated tasks, which cannot be completed by conventional rigid robot. For this, a deployable robot based on spherical linkage parallel mechanism was proposed to satisfy relevant requirements for the degrees of freedom in this study. Based on the design of robot model and its control box, a mathematical model for the robot was established, and the relationship between motion space and drive space was deduced accordingly. Subsequently, a control system consisting of the upper and lower computers was introduced. Two control modes, that is, Joystick control and remote control, were developed. The upper computer control interface for the robot was completed by MATLAB construction. At last, the two control modes as well as autonomous detection were demonstrated by motion test. This achievement will further advance the applications of deployable robot in job aid and intelligent exploration.

Zn is an important trace element involved in various biochemical processes in aquatic species. An 8-week rearing trial was thus conducted to investigate the effects of Zn on juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) by feeding seven diets, respectively, supplemented with no Zn (Con), 60 and 120 mg/kg inorganic Zn (Sul60 and Sul120), and 30, 60, 90 and 120 mg/kg organic Zn (Bio30, Bio60, Bio90 and Bio120). Sul120 and Bio120 groups showed significantly higher weight gain and specific growth rate than Con group, with Bio60 group obtaining the lowest viscerosomatic index and hepatosomatic index. 60 or 90 mg/kg organic Zn significantly facilitated whole body Zn retention. Up-regulation of hepatic superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities and decline of malondialdehyde contents indicated augmented antioxidant capacities by organic Zn. Zn treatment also lowered plasma aminotransferase levels while promoting acid phosphatase activity and hepatic transcription levels of alp1, acp1 and lyz-c than deprivation of Zn. The alterations in whole body and liver crude lipid and plasma TAG contents illustrated the regulatory effect of Zn on lipid metabolism, which could be possibly attributed to the changes in hepatic expressions of acc1, pparγ, atgl and cpt1. These findings demonstrated the capabilities of Zn in potentiating growth and morphological performance, antioxidant capacity, immunity as well as regulating lipid metabolism in M. salmoides. Organic Zn could perform comparable effects at same or lower supplementation levels than inorganic Zn, suggesting its higher efficiency. 60 mg/kg supplementation of organic Zn could effectively cover the requirements of M. salmoides.

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal female reproductive system tumour. Despite the great advances in surgery and systemic chemotherapy over the past two decades, almost all patients in stages III and IV relapse and develop resistance to chemotherapy after first-line treatment. Ovarian cancer has an extraordinarily complex immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment in which immune checkpoints negatively regulate T cells activation and weaken antitumour immune responses by delivering immunosuppressive signals. Therefore, inhibition of immune checkpoints can break down the state of immunosuppression. Indeed, Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionised the therapeutic landscape of many solid tumours. However, ICIs have yielded modest benefits in ovarian cancer. Therefore, a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanistic basis of the immune checkpoints is needed to improve the efficacy of ICIs in ovarian cancer. In this review, we systematically introduce the mechanisms and expression of immune checkpoints in ovarian cancer. Moreover, this review summarises recent updates regarding ICI monotherapy or combined with other small-molecule-targeted agents in ovarian cancer.

Previous studies have reported inconsistent associations between low-carbohydrate diets (LCD) and plasma lipid profile. Also, there is little evidence on the role of the quality and food sources of macronutrients in LCD in cardiometabolic health. We investigated the cross-sectional associations between LCD and plasma cardiometabolic risk markers in a nationwide representative sample of the US population. Diet was measured through two 24-h recalls. Overall, healthy (emphasising unsaturated fat, plant protein and less low-quality carbohydrates) and unhealthy (emphasising saturated fat, animal protein and less high-quality carbohydrate) LCD scores were developed according to the percentage of energy as total and subtypes of carbohydrate, protein and fat. Linear regression was used to estimate the percentage difference of plasma marker concentrations by LCD scores. A total of 34 785 participants aged 18–85 years were included. After adjusting for covariates including BMI, healthy LCD was associated with lower levels of insulin, homoeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and TAG, and higher levels of HDL-cholesterol, with the percentage differences (comparing extreme quartile of LCD score) of −5·91, −6·16, −9·13, −9·71 and 7·60 (all P trend < 0·001), respectively. Conversely, unhealthy LCD was associated with higher levels of insulin, HOMA-IR, CRP and LDL-cholesterol (all P trend < 0·001). Our results suggest that healthy LCD may have positive, whereas unhealthy LCD may have negative impacts on CRP and metabolic and lipid profiles. These findings underscore the need to carefully consider the quality and subtypes of macronutrients in future LCD studies.

This paper aims to explore the influence of solvent effects on the crystal habit of venlafaxine hydrochloride using the modified attachment energy (MAE) model by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Solvent effects were investigated based on the different morphologies of venlafaxine hydrochloride acquired by simulation and experimental technology from the solvents of isopropanol, dimethyl sulfoxide, and acetonitrile. Firstly, morphologically dominant crystal faces were obtained through the prediction of crystal habit in vacuum by the attachment energy (AE) model. Subsequently, the MAEs were calculated by the MD simulation to modify the crystal shapes in a real solvent environment, and the simulation results were in agreement with the experimental ones. Meanwhile, in order to have a better understanding of the solvent effects, the surface structure was introduced to analyze the solvent adsorption behaviors. The results show that the crystal habits of venlafaxine hydrochloride are affected by the combination of the AE and surface structures. Finally, the flowability of the obtained crystal powders from different solvents was investigated by measurement and analysis of the angle of repose and compressibility. The above results verify that the physical properties are closely related to the morphologies of the crystals.

Excitation–emission-spectral unmixing-based fluorescence resonance energy transfer (ExEm-spFRET) microscopy exhibits excellent robustness in living cells. We here develop an automatic ExEm-spFRET microscope with 3.04 s of time resolution for a quantitative FRET imaging. The user-friendly interface software has been designed to operate in two modes: administrator and user. Automatic background recognition, subtraction, and cell segmentation were integrated into the software, which enables FRET calibration or measurement in a one-click operation manner. In administrator mode, both correction factors and spectral fingerprints are only calibrated periodically for a stable system. In user mode, quantitative ExEm-spFRET imaging is directly implemented for FRET samples. We implemented quantitative ExEm-spFRET imaging for living cells expressing different tandem constructs (C80Y, C40Y, C10Y, and C4Y, respectively) and obtained consistent results for at least 3 months, demonstrating the stability of our microscope. Next, we investigated Bcl-xL-Bad interaction by using ExEm-spFRET imaging and FRET two-hybrid assay and found that the Bcl-xL-Bad complexes exist mainly in Bad-Bcl-xL trimers in healthy cells and Bad-Bcl-xL2 trimers in apoptotic cells. We also performed time-lapse FRET imaging on our system for living cells expressing Yellow Cameleon 3.6 (YC3.6) to monitor ionomycin-induced rapid extracellular Ca2+ influx with a time interval of 5 s for total 250 s.

Extensive magmatism in NE China, eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt, has produced multi-stage granitic plutons and accompanying W mineralization. The Narenwula complex in the southwestern Great Xing’an Range provides important insights into the petrogenesis, geodynamic processes and relationship with W mineralization. The complex comprises granodiorites, monzogranites and granite porphyry. Mafic microgranular enclaves are common in the granodiorites, and have similar zircon U–Pb ages as their host rocks (258.5–253.9 Ma), whereas the W-bearing granitoids yield emplacement ages of 149.8–148.1 Ma. Permian granodiorites are I-type granites that are enriched in large-ion lithophile elements and light rare earth elements, and depleted in high field strength elements and heavy rare earth elements. Both the mafic microgranular enclaves and granodiorites have nearly identical zircon Hf isotopic compositions. The results suggest that the mafic microgranular enclaves and granodiorites formed by the mixing of mafic and felsic magmas. W-bearing granitoids are highly fractionated A-type granites, enriched in Rb, Th, U and Pb, and depleted in Ba, Sr, P, Ti and Eu. They have higher W concentrations and Rb/Sr ratios, and lower Nb/Ta, Zr/Hf and K/Rb ratios than the W-barren granodiorites. These data and negative ϵHf(t) values (–6.0 to –2.1) suggest that they were derived from the partial melting of ancient lower crust and subsequently underwent extreme fractional crystallization. Based on the regional geology, we propose that the granodiorites were generated in a volcanic arc setting related to the subduction of the Palaeo-Asian Ocean, whereas the W-bearing granitoids and associated deposits formed in a post-orogenic extensional setting controlled by the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean and Palaeo-Pacific Ocean tectonic regimes.

Hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance have been proposed to be associated with mortality risk, and diet can modulate insulin response. However, whether dietary patterns with high insulinaemic potential are associated with mortality remains unknown. We prospectively examined the associations between hyperinsulinaemic diets and the risk of total and cause-specific mortality in a large nationally representative population. Dietary factors were assessed by 24-h recalls. Two empirical dietary indices for hyperinsulinaemia (EDIH) and insulin resistance (EDIR) were developed to identify food groups most predictive of biomarkers for hyperinsulinaemia (C-peptide and insulin) and insulin resistance (homoeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance), respectively. Deaths from date of the first dietary interview until 31 December 2015 were identified by the National Death Index. Multivariable hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % CI were calculated using Cox regression models. During a median follow-up of 7·8 years, 4904 deaths were documented among 40 074 participants. For EDIH, the multivariable-adjusted HR (comparing extreme quintiles) were 1·20 (95 % CI 1·09, 1·32, P-trend<0·001) for overall mortality and 1·41 (95 % CI 1·15, 1·74, P-trend = 0·002) for CVD mortality. Similar associations were observed for EDIR with HR of 1·18 (95 % CI 1·07, 1·29, P-trend < 0·001) for total and 1·35 (95 % CI 1·09, 1·67, P-trend = 0·005) for CVD mortality. After further adjustments for BMI and diabetes, these positive associations were somewhat attenuated. Our findings suggested that diets with higher insulinaemic potential are associated with increased risk of overall and CVD-specific mortality.

Several candidates of universal influenza vaccine (UIV) have entered phase III clinical trials, which are expected to improve the willingness and coverage of the population substantially. The impact of UIV on the seasonal influenza epidemic in low influenza vaccination coverage regions like China remains unclear. We proposed a new compartmental model involving the transmission of different influenza subtypes to evaluate the effects of UIV. We calibrated the model by weekly surveillance data of influenza in Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, China, during 2010/11–2018/19 influenza seasons. We calculated the percentage of averted infections under 2-month (September to October) and 6-month (September to the next February) vaccination patterns with varied UIV effectiveness and coverage in each influenza season, compared with no UIV scenario. A total of 195 766 influenza-like illness (ILI) cases were reported during the nine influenza seasons (2010/11–2018/19), of which the highest ILI cases were among age group 0–4 (59.60%) years old, followed by 5–14 (25.22%), 25–59 (8.19%), 15–24 (3.75%) and ⩾60 (3.37%) years old. The influenza-positive rate for all age groups among ILI cases was 17.51%, which is highest among 5–14 (23.75%) age group and followed by 25–59 (16.44%), 15–24 (16.42%), 0–4 (14.66%) and ⩾60 (13.98%) age groups, respectively. Our model showed that UIV might greatly avert influenza infections irrespective of subtypes in each influenza season. For example, in the 2018/19 influenza season, 2-month vaccination pattern with low UIV effectiveness (50%) and coverage (10%), and high UIV effectiveness (75%) and coverage (30%) could avert 41.6% (95% CI 27.8–55.4%) and 83.4% (80.9–85.9%) of influenza infections, respectively; 6-month vaccination pattern with low and high UIV effectiveness and coverage could avert 32.0% (15.9–48.2%) and 74.2% (69.7–78.7%) of influenza infections, respectively. It would need 11.4% (7.9–15.0%) of coverage to reduce half of the influenza infections for 2-month vaccination pattern with low UIV effectiveness and 8.5% (5.0–11.2%) of coverage with high UIV effectiveness, while it would need 15.5% (8.9–20.7%) of coverage for 6-month vaccination pattern with low UIV effectiveness and 11.2% (6.5–15.0%) of coverage with high UIV effectiveness. We conclude that UIV could significantly reduce the influenza infections even for low UIV effectiveness and coverage. The 2-month vaccination pattern could avert more influenza infections than the 6-month vaccination pattern irrespective of influenza subtype and UIV effectiveness and coverage.

The relationship between SFA consumption and the risk of overweight/obesity remains unclear. Epidemiological evidence is lacking among Chinese population. This study aimed to investigate the association between individual dietary SFA intake and the risk of overweight/obesity in Chinese adults. Data from 8465 adults with BMI < 24 kg/m2 at entry in the China Health and Nutrition Survey (1989–2011) were analysed. Three-day 24-h dietary records were used to collect dietary data. Cox proportional hazards regression models were constructed to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % CI for the risk of developing overweight or obesity. A total of 3171 incident cases of overweight/obesity were identified (1649 for women and 1522 for men) during a median of 11 years of follow-up. Compared with the lowest category, the intake of total SFA (TSFA) showed no significant association with the risk of overweight/obesity. However, an increased risk of overweight/obesity was observed with a higher intake of medium chain SFA (MCSFA) (Ptrend = 0·004), especially decanoic acid (10:0) (HR was 1·25 (95 % CI 1·10, 1·42) comparing the highest category with the reference group; Ptrend < 0·001), whereas an inverse relationship was observed for hexanoic acid (6:0) consumption; compared with non-consumers, 6:0 intake was associated with 32 % lower risk of overweight/obesity (HR: 0·68 (95 % CI 0·56, 0·84); Ptrend < 0·001). Overall, the intake of subtypes of MCSFA but not TSFA was associated with the risk of overweight/obesity. Increasing hexanoic acid (6:0) and limiting decanoic acid (10:0) consumption may be protective for overweight/obesity among Chinese population.