Emergence of hysteresis loop in social contagions on complex networks

Understanding the spreading mechanisms of social contagions in complex network systems has attracted much attention in the physics community. Here we propose a generalized threshold model to describe social contagions. Using extensive numerical simulations and theoretical analyses, we find that a hysteresis loop emerges in the system. Specifically, the steady state of the system is sensitive to the initial conditions of the dynamics of the system. In the steady state, the adoption size increases discontinuously with the transmission probability of information about social contagions, and trial size exhibits a non-monotonic pattern, i.e., it first increases discontinuously then decreases continuously. Finally we study social contagions on heterogeneous networks and find that network topology does not qualitatively affect our results.This work was funded in part by the National Key Research and Development Program (Grant No. 2016YFB0800602), the National Natural Science the Foundation of China (Grant Nos 61472045,61573067), and the China Scholarship Council. (2016YFB0800602 - National Key Research and Development Program; 61472045 - National Natural Science the Foundation of China; 61573067 - National Natural Science the Foundation of China; China Scholarship Council)Published versio

A unified apparent porosity/permeability model of organic porous media: Coupling complex pore structure and multi-migration mechanism

 Shale gas resources are widely distributed and abundant in China, which is an important field for strategic replacement and development of oil and gas resources. Shale gas reservoirs has adsorption gas, free gas. The structure of different scale media, such as organic pores, are difficult to describe. Therefore, flow behavior cannot be simulated by conventional method. In this paper, the micro-scale fluid migration in shale gas reservoirs was established in a single pore, which coupled surface diffusion, slip flow, and viscous flow. On this basis, the fractal scale relationship was applied to describe the distribution of pore radius, tortuosity, and surface roughness. Based on the comprehensive characterization of static structure haracteristics of porous media, such as pore size distribution, pore shapes, tortuosity and surface roughness, and the dynamic pore size influenced by various stresses, the apparent porosity/permeability model of organic matter considering single-phase multi-migration mechanism was established. The gas migration in organic porous media was analyzed with the apparent porosity/permeability model. The results show that the small pores in organic matter are the main storage space of gas (more than 95% of the gas is stored in pores less than 10 nm), and the large pores are gas flow channel. At the same time, the apparent porosity/permeability model combined with conventional Darcy equation can be used to describe the single-phase gas flow in shale gas reservoirs.Cited as: Sheng, G., Su, Y., Zhao, H., Liu, J. A unified apparent porosity/permeability model of organic porous media: Coupling complex pore structure and multi-migration mechanism. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2020, 4(2): 115-125, doi: 10.26804/ager.2020.02.0

Cyclotriphosphazene-based derivatives for antibacterial Applications: an update on recent advances

As a phosphorus scaffold, hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene (HCCP) is widely used for the synthesis of varieties of derivatives, including metal-binding complexes and several unique organometallic compounds, which exhibit potential catalytic, flame retardant and bio logical activities. Some metal-binding HCCP derivatives have shown antibacterial activities as free ligands and metal complexes. These derivatives can also serve as building blocks for the formation of antibacterial metal-containing polymers. This mini-review is focused on the de sign and development of HCCP derivatives as potential antibacterial agents with representa tive examples as well as antibacterial mechanisms from recent yearsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A Genetic Algorithm for Universal Optimization of Ultrasensitive Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensors with 2D Materials

We present a general optimization technique for surface plasmon resonance, (SPR) yielding a range of ultrasensitive SPR sensors from a materials database with an enhancement of ∼100%. Applying the algorithm, we propose and demonstrate a novel dual-mode SPR structure coupling SPP and a waveguide mode within GeO₂ featuring an anticrossing behavior and an unprecedented sensitivity of 1364 deg/RIU. An SPR sensor operating at wavelengths of 633 nm having a bimetal Al/Ag structure sandwiched between hBN can achieve a sensitivity of 578 deg/RIU. For a wavelength of 785 nm, we optimized a sensor as a Ag layer sandwiched between hBN/MoS₂/hBN heterostructures achieving a sensitivity of 676 deg/RIU. Our work provides a guideline and general technique for the design and optimization of high sensitivity SPR sensors for various sensing applications in the future

Brief communication: Long-term absence of Langerhans cells alters the gene expression profile of keratinocytes and dendritic epidermal T cells.

Tissue-resident and infiltrating immune cells are continuously exposed to molecules derived from the local cells that often come in form of secreted factors, such as cytokines. These factors are known to impact the immune cells\u27 biology. However, very little is known about whether the tissue resident immune cells in return also affect the local environment. In this study, with the help of RNA-sequencing, we show for the first time that long-term absence of epidermal resident Langerhans cells led to significant gene expression changes in the local keratinocytes and resident dendritic epidermal T cells. Thus, immune cells might play an active role in maintaining tissue homeostasis, which should be taken in consideration at data interpretation

Keystone microalgae species determine the removal efficiency of sulfamethoxazole: a case study of Chlorella pyrenoidosa and microalgae consortia

In recent years, antibiotics pollution has caused serious harm to the aquatic environment, and microalgae mediated degradation of antibiotics has attracted increasing attention. However, the potential toxicity of antibiotics to keystone microalgae species or their microalgae consortia, and the impact of microalgal diversity on antibiotic removal need to be further studied. In this study, we investigated the removal efficiency and tolerance of five freshwater microalgae (Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Scenedesmus quadricauda, Dictyosphaerium sp., Haematoccocus pluvialis, and Botryococcus braunii) and their microalgae consortia to sulfamethoxazole (SMX). We found that the removal efficiency of SMX by C. pyrenoidosa reached 49%, while the other four microalgae ranged between 9% and 16%. In addition, C. pyrenoidosa, S. quadricauda, and Dictyosphaerium sp. had better tolerance to SMX than H. pluvialis, and their growth and photosynthesis were less affected. At 10 and 50 mg/L SMX, the removal capacity of SMX by mixed microalgae consortia was lower than that of C. pyrenoidos except for the consortium with C. pyrenoidos and S. quadricauda. The consortia generally showed higher sensitivity towards SMX than the individual species, and the biochemical characteristics (photosynthetic pigment, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, superoxide anion (O2-), superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and extracellular enzymes) were significantly influenced by SMX stress. Therefore, the removal of antibiotics by microalgae consortia did not increase with the number of microalgae species. Our study provides a new perspective for the selection of microalgal consortia to degrade antibiotics

Endothelial glycocalyx injury is involved in heatstroke-associated coagulopathy and protected by N-acetylcysteine

IntroductionDamage to endothelial glycocalyx (EGCX) can lead to coagulation disorders in sepsis. Heat stroke (HS) resembles sepsis in many aspects; however, it is unclear whether EGCX injury is involved in its pathophysiology. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the damage of EGCX and the development of coagulation disorders during HS.MethodsWe retrospectively collected 159 HS patients and analyzed coagulation characteristics and prognosis of HS patients with or without disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). We also replicated a rat HS model and measured coagulation indexes, pulmonary capillary EGCX injury in HS rats. Finally, we evaluated the effect of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on HS-initiated EGCX injury and coagulation disorders.ResultsClinical data showed that HS patients complicated with DIC had a higher risk of death than HS patients without DIC. In a rat HS model, we found that rats subjected to heat stress developed hypercoagulability and platelet activation at the core body temperature of 43°C, just before the onset of HS. At 24 h of HS, the rats showed a consumptive hypo-coagulation state. The pulmonary capillary EGCX started to shed at 0 h of HS and became more severe at 24 h of HS. Importantly, pretreatment with NAC substantially alleviated EGCX damage and reversed the hypo-coagulation state in HS rats. Mechanically, HS initiated reactive oxidative species (ROS) generation, while ROS could directly cause EGCX damage. Critically, NAC protected against EGCX injury by attenuating ROS production in heat-stressed or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-stimulated endothelial cells.DiscussionOur results indicate that the poor prognosis of HS patients correlates with severe coagulation disorders, coagulation abnormalities in HS rats are associated with the damage of EGCX, and NAC improves HS-induced coagulopathy, probably through its protection against EGCX injury by preventing ROS generation

Diversity-Oriented Synthesis Yields a Novel Lead for the Treatment of Malaria

Here, we describe the discovery of a novel antimalarial agent using phenotypic screening of Plasmodium falciparum asexual blood-stage parasites. Screening a novel compound collection created using diversity-oriented synthesis (DOS) led to the initial hit. Structure–activity relationships guided the synthesis of compounds having improved potency and water solubility, yielding a subnanomolar inhibitor of parasite asexual blood-stage growth. Optimized compound 27 has an excellent off-target activity profile in erythrocyte lysis and HepG2 assays and is stable in human plasma. This compound is available via the molecular libraries probe production centers network (MLPCN) and is designated ML238.Chemistry and Chemical Biolog

Efficient Hydrogen Production from Methanol Using a Single-Site Pt1/CeO2 Catalyst.

Hydrogen is regarded as an attractive alternative energy carrier due to its high gravimetric energy density and only water production upon combustion. However, due to its low volumetric energy density, there are still some challenges in practical hydrogen storage and transportation. In the past decade, using chemical bonds of liquid organic molecules as hydrogen carriers to generate hydrogen in situ provided a feasible method to potentially solve this problem. Research efforts on liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) seek practical carrier systems and advanced catalytic materials that have the potential to reduce costs, increase reaction rate, and provide a more efficient catalytic hydrogen generation/storage process. In this work, we used methanol as a hydrogen carrier to release hydrogen in situ with the single-site Pt1/CeO2 catalyst. Moreover, in this reaction, compared with traditional nanoparticle catalysts, the single site catalyst displays excellent hydrogen generation efficiency, 40 times higher than 2.5 nm Pt/CeO2 sample, and 800 times higher compared to 7.0 nm Pt/CeO2 sample. This in-depth study highlights the benefits of single-site catalysts and paves the way for further rational design of highly efficient catalysts for sustainable energy storage applications