Presentation1.pdf

This paper presents a novel real-time dynamic framework for quantifying time-series structure in spoken words using spikes. Audio signals are converted into multi-channel spike trains using a biologically-inspired leaky integrate-and-fire (LIF) spike generator. These spike trains are mapped into a function space of infinite dimension, i.e., a Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space (RKHS) using point-process kernels, where a state-space model learns the dynamics of the multidimensional spike input using gradient descent learning. This kernelized recurrent system is very parsimonious and achieves the necessary memory depth via feedback of its internal states when trained discriminatively, utilizing the full context of the phoneme sequence. A main advantage of modeling nonlinear dynamics using state-space trajectories in the RKHS is that it imposes no restriction on the relationship between the exogenous input and its internal state. We are free to choose the input representation with an appropriate kernel, and changing the kernel does not impact the system nor the learning algorithm. Moreover, we show that this novel framework can outperform both traditional hidden Markov model (HMM) speech processing as well as neuromorphic implementations based on spiking neural network (SNN), yielding accurate and ultra-low power word spotters. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate its capabilities using the benchmark TI-46 digit corpus for isolated-word automatic speech recognition (ASR) or keyword spotting. Compared to HMM using Mel-frequency cepstral coefficient (MFCC) front-end without time-derivatives, our MFCC-KAARMA offered improved performance. For spike-train front-end, spike-KAARMA also outperformed state-of-the-art SNN solutions. Furthermore, compared to MFCCs, spike trains provided enhanced noise robustness in certain low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regime.</p

DataSheet_1_DMF Activates NRF2 to Inhibit the Pro-Invasion Ability of TAMs in Breast Cancer.pdf

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) account for more than 50% of the cells in the tumor immune microenvironment of patients with breast cancer. A high TAM density is associated with a poor clinical prognosis. Targeting TAMs is a promising therapeutic strategy because they promote tumor growth, development, and metastasis. In this study, we found that dimethyl formamide (DMF) significantly inhibited the tumor invasion-promoting ability of TAMs in the co-culture system and further showed that DMF functioned by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in TAMs. The orthotopic 4T1 cell inoculation model and the spontaneous mouse mammary tumor virus-polyoma middle tumor-antigen tumor model were used to evaluate the antitumor effect of DMF. The results showed that DMF significantly inhibited tumor metastasis and increased T-cell infiltration into the tumor microenvironment. Mechanistically, NRF2 activation was necessary for DMF to exert its function, and DMF can play a role in breast cancer as an anticancer drug targeting TAMs.</p

Combination of Pd–Cu Catalysis and Electrolytic H₂ Evolution for Selective Nitrate Reduction Using Protonated Polypyrrole as a Cathode

Pd–Cu catalysis is combined with in situ electrolytic H2 evolution for NO3– reduction with protonated polypyrrole (PPy) as a cathode. The surface of PPy is not only beneficial for H2 evolution, but exclusive for NO3– adsorption, and thus inhibits NO3– reduction. Meanwhile, the in situ H2 generation exhibits a much higher utilization efficiency because of the smaller bubble size and higher dispersion. The Pd–Cu catalysts with the ratios of 6:1 and 4:1 exhibit the highest NO3––N removal (100%) and N2 selectivity (93–95%) after 90 min. In comparison with the results obtained with other cathode materials (Ti, Cu, Co3O4, and Fe2O3) and obtained by other researchers, the new process shows a faster NO3––N reduction rate and much higher N2 selectivity. However, the O2 generated on the anode can oxidize Cu to Cu2O that may work as the catalyst for NO3––N reduction to NH4+–N by H2, resulting in more than 60% NH4+–N generated without a proton exchange membrane. Both the PPy film and Pd–Cu catalyst exhibit good stability and there is no Cu2+ or Pd2+ in solution after reaction. Real industrial wastewater is further treated in this system, the NO3––N is reduced from 670 mg L–1 to less than 100 mg L–1 in 90 min, and only little amount of NH4+–N is generated

Degradation of Rhodamine B Using an Unconventional graded Photoelectrode with Wedge Structure

A graded TiO2/Ti round disk photoelectrode with a wedge structure is proposed, fabricated, and used in a rotating disk photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) reactor for the first time. In addition to improved light utilization efficiency resulting from multiple reflections of radiation light on the wedge surface, enlarged surface area enables the electrode to carry more pollutants for treatment. Compared with the conventional planar electrode with same diameter, the wedge-surface electrode showed much lower light reflectivity (–1, wedge-surface electrode removed 100–79% total color in 60 min and 93–28% COD in 150 min, much higher than 69–28% and 50–4% obtained using the planar electrode under the same experimental conditions. Experimental results demonstrated that the wedge-surface electrode works efficiently and has great potential for treating high concentration dye wastewater

A Smart DNA Tweezer for Detection of Human Telomerase Activity

Reliable and accurate detection of telomerase activity is crucial to better understand its role in cancer cells and to further explore its function in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Here, we construct a smart DNA tweezer (DT) for detection of telomerase activity. The DT is assembled by three specially designed single-stranded oligonucleotides: a central strand dually labeled with donor/acceptor fluorophores and two arm strands containing overhangs complementary to telomerase reaction products (TRPs). It can get closed through hybridization with TRPs and get reopen through strand displacement reaction by TRPs’ complementary sequences. First, under the action of telomerase, telomerase binding substrates (TS) are elongated to generate TRPs ended with telomeric repeats (TTAGGG)_<i>n</i>. TRPs hybridize with the two arm overhangs cooperatively and strain DT to closed state, inducing an increased fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) efficiency, which is utilized for telomerase activity detection. Second, upon introduction of a removal strand (RS) complementary to TRPs, the closed DT is relaxed to open state via the toehold-mediated strand displacement, inducing a decreased FRET efficiency, which is utilized for determination of TRP length distribution. The detection limit of telomerase activity is equivalent to 141 cells/μL for HeLa cells, and telomerase-active cellular extracts can be differentiated from telomerase-inactive cellular extracts. Furthermore, TRPs owning 1, 2, 3, 4, and ≥5 telomeric repeats are identified to account for 25.6%, 20.5%, 15.7%, 12.5%, and 25.7%, respectively. The proposed strategy will offer a new approach for reliable, accurate detection of telomerase activity and product length distribution for deeper studying its role and function in cancer

Assessment of <i>in Vitro</i> Lead Bioaccessibility in House Dust and Its Relationship to <i>in Vivo</i> Lead Relative Bioavailability

House dust samples containing 25–738 mg of Pb kg–1 from 15 cities in China were assessed for in vitro Pb bioaccessibility and in vivo Pb relative bioavailability. On the basis of stable Pb isotope ratios, the Pb in dust samples mainly originated from coal combustion. Lead bioaccessibility was determined using gastric (GP) and intestinal phase (IP) of solubility bioaccessibility research consortium (SBRC), in vitro gastrointestinal (IVG), Deutsches Institut für Normunge.V. (DIN), and physiologically based extraction test methods (PBET), while Pb relative bioavailability (RBA) was determined using a mouse blood model. Lead bioaccessibility in 24 house dust samples varied significantly (23–99%) depending on the methods. Values from the IP were considerably lower than those from the GP because of the co-precipitation of Pb with iron and re-adsorption onto the dust matrix. The SBRC assay with lower GP pH produced higher Pb bioaccessibility because of enhanced Pb dissolution. When compared to mouse blood data using 12 dust samples (29–60%), SBRC–GP and DIN–GP data were correlated with Pb RBA with r2 values of 0.68 and 0.85 and intercepts 3.15 and 17.4, respectively. Overall, SBRC–GP had potential to predict Pb RBA in dust samples. However, our data suggested that more research is needed to develop a valid in vitro method for predicting Pb RBA in house dust

DataSheet1_circTAF8 Regulates Myoblast Development and Associated Carcass Traits in Chicken.docx

Recent studies have shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play important roles in skeletal muscle development. CircRNA biogenesis is dependent on the genetic context. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the introns flanking circRNAs may be intermediate-inducible factors between circRNA expression and phenotypic traits. Our previous study showed that circTAF8 is an abundantly and differentially expressed circRNA in leg muscle during chicken embryonic development. Here, we aimed to investigate circTAF8 function in muscle development and the association of the SNPs in the circTAF8 flanking introns with carcass traits. In this study, we observed that overexpression of circTAF8 could promote the proliferation of chicken primary myoblasts and inhibit their differentiation. In addition, the SNPs in the introns flanking the circTAF8 locus and those associated with chicken carcass traits were analyzed in 335 partridge chickens. A total of eight SNPs were found associated with carcass traits such as leg muscle weight, live weight, and half and full-bore weight. The association analysis results of haplotype combinations were consistent with the association analysis of a single SNP. These results suggest that circTAF8 plays a regulatory role in muscle development. These identified SNPs were found correlated with traits to muscle development and carcass muscle weight in chickens.</p

Photocatalytic Fuel Cell (PFC) and Dye Self-Photosensitization Photocatalytic Fuel Cell (DSPFC) with BiOCl/Ti Photoanode under UV and Visible Light Irradiation

A fuel cell that functioned as a photo fuel cell (PFC) when irradiated with UV light and as a dye self-photosensitization photo fuel cell (DSPFC) when irradiated with visible light was proposed and investigated in this study. The system included a BiOCl/Ti plate photoanode and a Pt cathode, and dye solutions were employed as fuel. Electricity was generated at the same time as the dyes were degraded. 26.2% and 24.4% Coulombic efficiency were obtained when 20 mL of 10 mg·L^–1 Rhodamine B solution was treated with UV for 2 h and visible light for 3 h, respectively. Irradiation with natural and artificial sunlight was also evaluated. UV and visible light could be utilized at the same time and the photogenerated current was observed. The mechanism of electricity generation in BiOCl/Ti PFC and DSPFC was studied through degradation of the colorless salicylic acid solution. Factors that affect the electricity generation and dye degradation performance, such as solution pH and cathode material, were also investigated and optimized

Lead-Free Cs₂AgBiBr₆ Perovskite with Enriched Surface Defects for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

In recent years, lead halide perovskites have been widely used as appealing candidates in solar energy conversion. However, further development of these materials is restricted by their instability and toxicity. Therefore, searching for efficient lead-free perovskites with excellent photoelectric properties is highly anticipated. We report a postsynthesis visible light irradiation on Cs2AgBiBr6 to form a defect-rich Cs2AgBiBr6 via inducing surface defects in Cs2AgBiBr6. The formation of surface defects can promote surface charge separation by tuning the local atomic arrangement and electronic structure and optimizing the surface structure, thereby boosting the photocatalytic efficiency of the defect-rich Cs2AgBiBr6. The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution efficiency is enhanced by about 5.27, 5.51, and 5.48 times compared to the bulk Cs2AgBiBr6, Cs2AgBiBr6/Pt, and Cs2AgBiBr6/Mo3S132–, respectively. This defect-rich Cs2AgBiBr6 presents strong stability with no performance decrease even after an 80 h photocatalytic reaction. These findings provide an accessible strategy for preparing highly efficient and stable lead-free perovskites

Water-Repellent Properties of Superhydrophobic and Lubricant-Infused “Slippery” Surfaces: A Brief Study on the Functions and Applications

Bioinspired water-repellent materials offer a wealth of opportunities to solve scientific and technological issues. Lotus-leaf and pitcher plants represent two types of antiwetting surfaces, i.e., superhydrophobic and lubricant-infused “slippery” surfaces. Here we investigate the functions and applications of those two types of interfacial materials. The superhydrophobic surface was fabricated on the basis of a hydrophobic fumed silica nanoparticle/poly­(dimethylsiloxane) composite layer, and the lubricant-infused “slippery” surface was prepared on the basis of silicone oil infusion. The fabrication, characteristics, and functions of both substrates were studied, including the wettability, transparency, adhesive force, dynamic droplet impact, antifogging, self-cleaning ability, etc. The advantages and disadvantages of the surfaces were briefly discussed, indicating the most suitable applications of the antiwetting materials. This contribution is aimed at providing meaningful information on how to select water-repellent substrates to solve the scientific and practical issues, which can also stimulate new thinking for the development of antiwetting interfacial materials