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Fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) are widely used in high-radiation environments owing to their high sensitivity, stability, and resistance to electromagnetic interference. In this study, pure and Ge-doped silica core fibers were fabricated using chemical vapor deposition. Based on these fibers, two temperature sensors, FBG-Si and FBG-Ge, were developed using femtosecond laser direct writing combined with metalized armoring. The fibers and sensors were exposed to gamma radiation, and their stability, temperature accuracy, and refractive index were systematically evaluated. Electron paramagnetic resonance and radiation-induced loss were used to investigate the effects of gamma radiation on the fiber materials and temperature sensors at the atomic micro-scale. The results showed that the Bragg center wavelength (λB) of the FBGs linearly redshifted with increasing temperature under non-stressed conditions. After gamma irradiation, at a temperature, λB, redshifted further with increasing radiation dose. The FBG-Si sensor exhibited higher stability and smaller temperature errors than FBG-Ge. Both sensors exhibited a decrease in output power after irradiation. The performance degradation of the FBGs after irradiation is attributed to an increase in the number of color centers and defects within the grating, leading to higher transmission losses. As the radiation dose increased, the concentration of the color centers increased, leading to changes in the refractive index of the gratings. This ultimately resulted in a redshift in λB and caused temperature measurement errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the generation of zero-group velocity (ZGV) combined-harmonic modes through the interaction of counter-directional mixing of guided waves in carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminated plates. The internal resonance conditions for generating ZGV combined harmonics in transversely isotropic materials are derived in detail through theoretical analysis. The ZGV mode in a [90/45/−45/0]s layered CFRP plate is calculated using the semi-analytical finite element method. Based on this analysis, a primary mode pair is selected for generating the ZGV combined-harmonic mode. The generation of the ZGV combined-harmonic mode is successfully validated via a three-dimensional finite element model simulation, which also reveals the local resonance effect of the generated S1-ZGV combined harmonic. Subsequently, the feasibility of multi-internal damage localization is validated by the use of the generated ZGV combined-harmonic mode. A B-scan approach is implemented by locally generating the ZGV combined-harmonic mode through adjusting the excitation time delay of the primary waves. The results demonstrate that the S1-ZGV combined harmonic exhibits greater sensitivity and effectiveness for accurate localization of internal damage in composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Random ternary polymerization is a strategy for tuning the energy levels and improving the batch-to-batch reproducibility of polymer semiconductors for the application in polymer solar cells (PSCs). However, the influence of third component incorporation on exciton properties and charge photogeneration processes in terpolymer-based solar cells is still unclear. In this work, time-resolved spectroscopies were employed to study exciton properties and charge photogeneration processes in PSCs based on a series of terpolymers, PM1 and PM2, which have 20% and 50% of thiophene-thiazolothiazole (TTz) building blocks on the PM6 backbone, respectively. For neat terpolymer films, we found that the small amount (20%) of TTz incorporation in PM6 slightly reduces the exciton diffusion coefficient, but the exciton lifetime is significantly increased, resulting in a significant increase in exciton diffusion length. However, further increasing the TTz component (50%) in the PM6 backbone decreases exciton lifetime, the diffusion coefficient, and consequently exciton diffusion length. We found that a small amount of acceptor (Y6) addition can efficiently dissociate terpolymer excitons due to the weak molecular stacking of terpolymers in the blend films. For terpolymer:Y6-based blend films, we find that the small amount of TTz incorporation (PM1) could reduce the phase size of the donor and suppress bimolecular carrier recombination in blend films. Furthermore, we find that the energy level offset plays a critical role in charge photogeneration processes, and a HOMO energy level offset of 0.06 eV can dissociate acceptor excitons in terpolymer-based organic solar cells effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlling magnetic field with active electromagnetic metamaterial (AEM) consisting of a group of wires with precise arrangements of currents, essential for a wide range of applications, is limited by the structure where the source is fully surrounded by the concentric cylindrical AEM. We propose an open-type AEM design method based on the transformed medium theory and finite-element calculation method to overcome this stringent limitation. We experimentally demonstrate that an open-type AEM with negative magnetic permeability controls the magnetic field of a straight current wire at a distance outside the AEM. Our strategy leads to focus on the magnetic field in empty space with various structural forms and may broaden the application scope of electromagnetic metamaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a quantum mechanical investigation of cold inelastic collisions between H and O2 (Ec ≤ 10 K) using a recently developed diabatic potential energy matrix for the lowest two 2A″ states coupled by conical intersections. Time-independent close coupling calculations were carried out in both the adiabatic and nonadiabatic representations in order to delineate the impact of the geometric phase (GP) on scattering. Both adiabatic and nonadiabatic results show many resonance peaks dominated by single partial waves. The inclusion of GP is found to have a large impact on the scattering resonances and more generally on both the integral cross section (ICS) and differential cross section (DCS). In addition, our investigations show that both ICS and DCS could be controlled by the initial alignment of O2, and the effect of the GP also manifest in the stereodynamics of the H + O2 collisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) piezoelectric materials have a great potential for device applications by utilizing their remarkable electromechanical coupling. In this study, we propose a sure independence screening and sparsifying operator algorithm to search for 2D piezoelectric materials, which is culminating in the identification of a novel 2H-MoS2-like crystalline structure. Utilizing first-principles calculations grounded in density-functional theory, we systematically conducted a thorough analysis of their mechanical properties, electronic properties, and piezoelectric responses. The results indicate that 2H-MoS2-like crystalline structures exhibit the most superior piezoelectric characteristics and have an e11 coefficient of up to 5.09 and a d11 coefficient reaching 10.87, showing remarkable piezoelectric performance. Employing Kendall correlation analysis and polynomial regression, we analyzed the relations between physical parameters and piezoelectric properties, yielding empirical equation that encapsulate the piezoelectric nature of this new class of materials, which mostly related to their lattice structures and bandgaps. Then, we investigated the stress, system energy, and piezoelectric response of these materials under various strain conditions, a d11 coefficient reaching 12.07 for WMo3Se8. Our work may broaden the horizon of low-dimensional piezoelectric materials, offering a pathway to tailor materials with desired properties through our proposed effective strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present PyLRO , an open-source Python calculator designed to detect, quantify, and display long-range order in periodic structures. The program's design methodology, workflow, and approach to order quantification are described and demonstrated using a simple toy model. Additionally, we apply PyLRO to a series of metastable AlPO 4 structural intermediates from a prior high-pressure study, demonstrating how to compute and visualize structural order in all directions on a Miller sphere. We further highlight the program's capabilities through a high-throughput analysis of structural patterns in the pressure-induced amorphization of AlPO 4 , revealing atomistic insights into specific energy regions of massive amorphous structures. These results suggest that PyLRO can be a valuable tool for investigating crystal–amorphous transition in materials research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frictional heating in cyclotrimethylene trinitramine (RDX) can generate hotspots, which are local regions of elevated temperature that may trigger explosion. In this study, we quantified the characteristic size of the hotspot to be approximately 20 Å based on the width of the nanoscale shear band in shock loading simulations and further examined the temperature rise in RDX crystals during high-speed nanoscratching using molecular dynamics simulations. These simulations were performed under varying sliding velocities, normal loads, and sliding directions to explore the relationship between friction coefficient, shear stress, and localized hotspots. Our results revealed that, despite the anisotropic friction properties, the temperature rise exhibited a consistent dependence on shear stress, with a critical shear stress identified above which the hotspots experienced a sharp increase in the temperature. This temperature transition correlates with localized melting, as demonstrated by the analysis of atomic temperature and bond-length changes. These findings enhance our understanding of the mechanical and thermal stability of energetic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroelectric topological structures have broad application prospects for high-density information storage for long-term data retention via topological protection. However, the high-density memory component might generate tremendous power consumption, causing the failure of ferroelectric devices due to the severe thermal effect. There remains an emergent issue on the synchronous achievement of high-density data storage with the decreasing influences of the thermal effects in ferroelectric topological domain structures. Here, we introduce dual-probe excitation to control the symmetry of the electric field and integrate the phase field simulation for modulating the flux-closure ferroelectric domain configuration to simultaneously improve the memory storage unit and thermal conductivity at the nanoscale in PbTiO3 thin film under a piezoresponse force microscopy experiment. It is found that the grown flux-closure polar state in both in-plane directions encourages us to enhance the storage density during dual-probe excitation in topological ferroelectric memory devices. Moreover, the increased number of flux-closure polar states and the decreased density of the domain walls can be obtained by using dual-probe excitation. Finally, we figured out that both the double-staircase-like and paddle-like domain configurations exhibit large storage units and effective thermal conductivity simultaneously under dual-probe excitation. Our study gives a guideline to synchronously improve storage performance and thermal conductivity through multiple-probe excitations in topological ferroelectric materials and devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piezoelectret metamaterials are a kind of piezoelectrets with distinctive properties such as negative Poisson's ratio and positive piezoelectric d31 coefficient. These materials hold significant promise for applications in sensing and mechanical energy harvesting. In this article, flexible piezoelectret metamaterials with a simple double-V cell structure are designed, and their properties are theoretically analyzed, simulated, and experimentally tested. The results indicate that the effective piezoelectric d33 and d31 coefficients can be tuned over a wide range by adjusting the geometric parameters of the cell. The experimental results are consistent with the theoretical prediction and simulation calculation. Differing from the piezoelectric d33 coefficient, which always has positive polarity, the sign of the piezoelectric d31 coefficient depends on Poisson's ratio of the material. In particular, d31 coefficients are negative for the materials with positive Poisson's ratio, while they have a positive sign when Poisson's ratio is negative. For a piezoelectret metamaterial sample prepared in this study, a large effective piezoelectric d31 coefficient up to 1200 pC/N is achieved experimentally. The significant piezoelectric effects in the piezoelectret metamaterials as well as their excellent mechanical adaptivity to irregular surface structures, such as the curved surfaces of humanoid robots and aircraft wings, introduce a novel solution for diverse applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waterjet-guided laser machining of silicon offers precision with minimal heat-affected zones (HAZs), but understanding the mechanisms behind laser-material interactions remains essential. This study first utilizes orthogonal experiments to reveal fundamental relationships between processing parameters (scanning cycle, laser fluence, scanning velocity, and waterjet pressure) on groove depth and the depth-to-HAZ ratio. These findings guide the in-depth investigation of laser-material mechanisms. The results indicate that the ablation rate decreases with increasing scanning cycles, a phenomenon primarily attributed to the different absorption rates of 532 nm laser light between silicon and silicon dioxide. This conclusion is supported by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) results, which reveal that the accumulation of silicon dioxide occurs as the scanning cycles increase. Additionally, a near-linear relation between the ablation rate and laser fluence is observed, as the ablated area is continuously exposed to high laser intensity regions. However, increasing laser fluence also leads to diminished processing quality due to greater thermal deformation in non-ablating regions. Last, increased scanning velocity is found to cause rougher surfaces, as insufficient heat diffusion leads to higher thermal stress and results in micro-crack formations. The results provide a detailed understanding of the laser-induced transformations in the material and highlight optimal conditions for reducing thermal damage while maintaining machining efficiency. This study advances the field of laser processing by offering insights into the mechanisms governing oxide formation, thermal cracking, and material deformation during silicon grooving, providing the foundation for future exploration of laser-material interaction dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an inverse design scheme for resistive heaters. By adjusting the spatial distribution of a binary electrical resistivity map, the scheme enables objective-driven optimization of heaters to achieve pre-defined steady-state temperature profiles. The approach can be fully automated and is computationally efficient since it does not entail extensive iterative simulations of the entire heater structure. The design scheme offers a powerful solution for resistive heater device engineering in applications spanning electronics, photonics, and microelectromechanical systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The difference and similarity between the velocity- and position-Verlet integrators are discussed from the viewpoint of their Hamiltonian representations for both linear and nonlinear systems. For a harmonic oscillator, the exact Hamiltonians reveal that positional trajectories generated by the two integrators follow an identical second-order differential equation and thus can be matched by adjusting initial conditions. In contrast, the series expansion of the Hamiltonians for the nonlinear discrete dynamics clearly indicates that the two integrators differ fundamentally. These analytical results are confirmed by simple numerical simulations of harmonic and anharmonic oscillators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing the oxidation resistance of hot-end components under extreme conditions is a key focus in aerospace equipment research. We used first-principles simulations to investigate a series of IrxHf100−x (at. %) coatings. By employing density functional theory and the local density approximation method, we studied the surface oxygen repulsion energy and estimated the optimal composition ratio of IrxHf100−x for the strongest oxidation resistance. The results indicate that as the Hf content increases, the oxygen repulsion energy first rises and then falls, reaching a maximum value of 3.04 eV at x = 10 at. %, with active oxygen adsorption occurring when X exceeds 45 at.%. To understand the mechanism of the oxygen repulsion process, we analyzed the electronic characteristics between Ir, Hf, and O. O preferentially hybridizes its atomic orbitals with Ir, and the improvement in oxidation resistance of the Ir–Hf coating is attributed to the reduction in Ir atomic spacing due to Hf doping, which reduces O–Ir orbital hybridization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we report giant nonreciprocal transmission of shear-horizontal surface acoustic waves (SH-SAWs) in a ferromagnetic bilayer structure with negative–positive magnetostriction configuration. Although the directions of magnetization in the neighboring layers are parallel, SH-SAWs can excite optical-mode spin waves (SWs) via magnetoelastic coupling at relatively low frequencies, which is much stronger than acoustic-mode SWs at high frequencies. The measured magnitude nonreciprocity or isolation of SH-SAWs exceeds 40 dB (or 80 dB/mm) at 2.333 GHz. In addition, maximum nonreciprocal phase accumulation reaches 188° (376°/mm). Our theoretical model and calculations provide an insight into the observed phenomena and demonstrate a pathway for further improving nonreciprocal acoustic devices toward highly compact microwave isolators and circulators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graph neural networks (GNNs) have evolved many variants for predicting the properties of crystal materials. While most networks within this family focus on improving model structures, the significance of atomistic features has not received adequate attention. In this study, we constructed an atomistic line GNN model using compositionally restricted atomistic representations which are more elaborate set of descriptors compared to previous GNN models, and employing unit graph representations that account for all symmetries. The developed model, named as CraLiGNN, outperforms previous representative GNN models in predicting the Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, and electronic thermal conductivity that are recorded in a widely used thermoelectric properties database, confirming the importance of atomistic representations. The CraLiGNN model allows optional inclusion of additional features. The supplement of bandgap significantly enhances the model performance, for example, more than 35% reduction of mean absolute error in the case of 600 K and 10 19 cm − 3 concentration. We applied CraLiGNN to predict the unrecorded thermoelectric transport properties of 14 half-Heusler and 52 perovskite compounds, and compared the results with first-principles calculations, showing that the model has extrapolation ability to identify the thermoelectric potential of materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective manipulation of polaron pairs (PPs) for realizing amplified magneto-photocurrent (AMPC) is of critical importance toward the development of low power consumption and high-performance organic spin-optoelectronic devices, for instance magneto-photo-volatile memories. By far, it is challenging and there is a lack of method to reach AMPC. The typical magneto-photocurrent due to the light–matter interanion is primarily for unveiling the spin-dependent electron–hole dissociation in organic solar cells. Herein, we achieved an AMPC of ∼140% in nonfullerene organic bulk heterojunction systems at room temperature. We found that the amplification can be effectively triggered by a multi-field to a large number of photogenerated PPs at intermediate charge transfer states. We further postulate that, at steady state, they may experience a cyclic photophysical process due to the triplet-exciton polaron interaction. This study paves the way for the realization of AMPC in the organic spin-optoelectronic system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

4-Hydroxypiridine (4-HPy) is a green chemistry corrosion inhibitor for low-carbon steel, valued for its environmental compatibility and low toxicity. Despite lower initial effectiveness than 4-mercapto/4-aminopyridine, 4-HPy's performance is markedly enhanced by halogen ions. By employing second harmonic generation (SHG) spectroscopy combined with electrochemical methods, Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and in situ UV spectroscopy, this study elucidates the synergistic enhancement mechanism of 4-HPy with Cl−, Br−, and I− in 0.5 mol/L HCl solution. Time-dependent SHG measurements showed a two-step process of rapid adsorption and subsequent orientation change, with a proposed mechanism to interpret the temporal changes in SHG intensity. Deducing the adsorption kinetic equations and their application to the experimental data yields the adsorption rate (kad) and orientation change rate (Kre). Halogens reduce the orientation angle of 4-HPy, facilitating its adsorption on the substrate surface and effectively inhibiting corrosion via distinct mechanisms. Cl− and Br− ions primarily adsorb onto the metal surface, forming an adsorption film that not only enhances the subsequent adsorption of 4-HPy but also provides a protective effect for the metal surface. Conversely, I− forms mainly complexes with 4-HPy in solution, co-adsorbs onto the metal surface, and demonstrates a significant synergistic effect. This study revealed the synergistic efficacy hierarchy among halogen ions, with the order 4HPy + NaCl < 4HPy + NaBr < 4HPy + NaI. This study enhances our molecular-level understanding of the synergistic mechanism between halogen ions and corrosion inhibitors and provides valuable insights for designing and developing effective corrosion inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cobalt monoxide (CoO) nanomaterials have drawn attention for their remarkable photocatalytic water splitting without an externally applied potential or co-catalyst. The success of overall water splitting is due to the appropriate band edge positions of the catalyst, which span the redox potentials of water splitting. Typically, CoO nanomaterials possess complex morphologies, which consist of multiple active surfaces. As a result, the precise roles of the surfaces in the overall water-splitting process remain to be elucidated. In this work, we have undertaken a thorough investigation into the band alignments at the CoO(100)–water and CoO(111)–water interfaces using ab initio molecular dynamics and machine learning accelerated molecular dynamics simulations. The results of band alignment reveal that CoO(100) supports both the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction, whereas CoO(111) only facilitates the HER. Moreover, the variance in band positions between CoO(100) and CoO(111) results in an intrinsic potential difference, facilitating the migration of electrons toward CoO(100), while holes accumulate on CoO(111). The separation of photoexcited carriers effectively promotes water splitting in CoO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how the structure of molecules affects their permeability across cell membranes is crucial for many topics in biomedical research, including the development of drugs. In this work, we examine the transport rates of structurally similar triphenylmethane dyes, malachite green (MG) and brilliant green (BG), across the membranes of living Escherichia coli (E. coli) cells and biomimetic liposomes. Using the time-resolved second harmonic light scattering technique, we found that BG passively diffuses across the E. coli cytoplasmic membrane (CM) 3.8 times faster than MG. In addition, BG exhibits a diffusion rate 3.1 times higher than MG across the membranes of liposomes made from E. coli polar lipid extracts. Measurements on these two molecules, alongside previously studied crystal violet (CV), another triphenylmethane molecule, are compared against the set of propensity rules developed by Lipinski and co-workers for assessing the permeability of hydrophobic ion-like drug molecules through biomembranes. It indicates that BG's increased diffusion rate is due to its higher lipophilicity, with a distribution coefficient 25 times greater than MG. In contrast, CV, despite having similar lipophilicity to MG, shows negligible permeation through the E. coli CM on the observation scale, attributed to its more hydrogen bonding sites and larger polar surface area. Importantly, cell viability tests revealed that BG's antimicrobial efficacy is ∼2.4 times greater than that of MG, which aligns well with its enhanced diffusion into the E. coli cytosol. These findings offer valuable insights for drug design and development, especially for improving the permeability of poorly permeable drug molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The (electro)chemical stability of undoped and Zn-doped 0.94Na1/2Bi1/2TiO3–0.06BaTiO3 lead-free piezoceramics (NBT–6BT) was studied. For this purpose, the Fermi level at the interface between NBT–6BT and Sn-doped In2O3 (ITO) electrode is varied by gradually reducing the ITO film either by annealing in vacuum or by applying a voltage across a Pt/NBT–6BT/ITO. The chemical and electronic changes are monitored in situ by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The experiments reveal the formation of metallic Bi when the Fermi level is reaching a value of 2.23 ± 0.10 eV above the valence band maximum, while no reduction of Ti is observed. The electrochemical reduction of Bi constitutes an upper limit of the Fermi level at ≈1 eV below the conduction band minimum. High electron concentrations in the conduction band and a contribution of free electrons to the electrical conductivity of NBT–6BT can, therefore, be excluded. The reduction occurs for an ITO work function of 4.2–4.3 eV. As typical electrode materials such as Ag, Cu, Ni, or Pt have higher work functions, an electrochemical instability of the electrode interfaces in ceramic capacitors is not expected. Under the given experimental conditions (350 °C, electric fields <40 V/mm), no degradation of resistance and no enrichment of Na at the interface are observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we explored the resistivity behavior of Sb7Se3 thin films on flexible mica. The films maintained their resistance characteristics through various thicknesses and bending cycles. With increasing bends, resistivity and phase transition temperature of both amorphous and crystalline states rose, while the resistance drift coefficient gradually increased. Raman and near infrared experiments confirmed the internal structural changes and bandgap enhancement after bending. Transmission electron microscopy showed enhanced crystallization and uniform element distribution after annealing. Atomic force microscopy observed cracks, explaining the property changes. Additionally, we developed a flexible Sb7Se3 thin-film resistive device with swift reversibility (∼10 ns) regardless of bending, opening new avenues for flexible information storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new class of graded metamaterial beams by leveraging actively controllable resonators (ACR). The metamaterial comprises a homogeneous host beam that is mounted with negative capacitance shunted piezoelectric cantilever beams, each of which has a tip mass block. Properly changing the negative capacitances (NCs) in the stiffening/softening shunt circuits can control the formed bandgaps, providing greater adjustability and flexibility. Specifically, using modal analysis and considering higher modes of flexural vibrations, the ACR is simplified to an equivalent lumped parameter system with a correction factor applied to the reaction force. We demonstrate the relationship between the derived equivalent parameters of the ACR and NC for different circuitry configurations. A finite element model is built to validate the theoretical models of the ACR and the proposed metamaterial. Subsequently, a grading strategy is proposed to determine the NC values of ACR arrays for achieving broadband vibration suppression. A mechanical damping enhancement phenomenon that can contribute to forming an aggregated band is observed when resistances are introduced into the stiffening circuits. Three circuit configurations are examined, i.e., stiffening, softening, and hybrid circuits. The results showed that a proper grading coefficient can effectively suppress broadband vibration in the low-frequency range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a scheme for achieving basic quantum gates using ultracold polar molecules in pendular states. The qubits are encoded in the YbF molecules trapped in an electric field with a certain gradient and coupled by the dipole–dipole interaction. The time-dependent control sequences consisting of multiple pulses are considered to interact with the pendular qubits. To achieve high-fidelity quantum gates, we map the control problem for the coupled molecular system into a Markov decision process and deal with it using the techniques of deep reinforcement learning (DRL). By training the agents over multiple episodes, the optimal control pulse sequences for the two-qubit gates of NOT, controlled NOT, and Hadamard are discovered with high fidelities. Moreover, the population dynamics of YbF molecules driven by the discovered gate sequences are analyzed in detail. Furthermore, by combining the optimal gate sequences, we successfully simulate the quantum circuit for entanglement. Our findings could offer new insights into efficiently controlling molecular systems for practical molecule-based quantum computing using DRL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern electronic and optoelectronic devices rely on the development of the complementary pair of n-type and p-type semiconductors. However, it is often seen that n-type semiconductors are easier to realize and offer superior performances than their p-type counterparts, with p-type semiconductors showing much lower hole mobility and inefficient carrier doping. Here, by using first-principles studies, we demonstrate that lattice strain engineering can be a universal approach to enhance the hole mobility and dopability in p-type semiconductors. A broad class of p-type semiconductors, including anion p orbital derived valence band compounds (nitrides, oxides, halides, and chalcogenides), s orbital based post-transition metal oxides (e.g., SnO), and d-orbital based transition metal oxides (e.g., NiO), have been applied on strain to demonstrate their valence band modulation ability for the purpose of increasing the hole mobility and p-type dopability. We show that compressive lattice strain generally results in an upshifted valence band edge and reduced effective hole mass, leading to enhanced p-type dopability and increased hole mobility. Our work highlights strain engineering as a universal and effective approach for achieving better performed p-type compound semiconductors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Clinical seizures (CSs) showed higher pre-ictal gamma activity within the epileptic network than subclinical seizures. • In early CSs, power spectral density initially increased in the seizure onset zone, then later in the propagation zone. • High-frequency activity in temporal regions and low-frequency activity in insula were enhanced before ictal behavior onset. We investigated EEG features differentiating clinical seizures (CSs) from subclinical seizures (SCSs) to explore the mechanisms underlying the generation of ictal behavior in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE). Peri-ictal state of power spectral density (PSD) within seizure onset zone (SOZ) and propagation zone (PZ) were compared between SCSs and CSs. Functional connectivity was analyzed using the nonlinear correlation coefficient h 2, outgoing links (OUT) and ingoing links (IN). The EEG epochs of CSs-early part and SCSs were equally divided into four segments to reveal dynamic EEG changes. During pre-ictal state, PSD at 30–80 Hz in SOZ was higher in CSs than in SCSs. The preictal OUT and IN values in SOZ at 30–80 Hz were greater in CSs than in SCSs. During CSs-early part, PSD displayed an initial increase in SOZ but a late increase in PZ, with enhanced high-frequency activity in temporal regions and increased low-frequency activity in insula. The enhanced pre-ictal gamma activity within the epileptic network was able to distinguish CSs from SCSs. The unique temporospatial alterations within the epileptic network drive the expression of ictal behavior in mTLE. The distinct EEG features between SCSs and CSs offer transformative insights into the mechanisms driving ictal behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the upper central incisor's (U1) external apical root resorption (EARR) and incisive canal (IC) changes and their influencing factors under clear aligners and passive self-ligating fixed braces in first premolar extraction cases using CBCT. Materials and methods: This retrospective study included 60 participants (120 teeth) with similar baseline characteristics based on the American Board of Orthodontics discrepancy index scores. Participants were divided into clear aligner (CA) and passive self-ligating fixed appliance (FA) groups, with 30 participants per group. Pre- and post-treatment EARR, IC dimensional changes, U1-IC proximity, and orthodontic movements were analyzed through CBCT using Invivo 6.0.3 software. Descriptive and analytical statistics are performed, and a P-value < 0.05 is considered statistically significant. Results: The CA group exhibited statistically significantly lower U1-EARR compared to FA group. However, there were no significant differences in overall IC dimensions (P < 0.05). In FA, contact or invasion of U1 with IC are associated with a significant increase in EARR, but not in CA. The invasion also reveals significant reductions in IC dimensions in FA, whereas CA exhibited more limited changes (P < 0.05). Retraction and intrusion were significantly positively correlated with U1-EARR in FA, whereas intrusion only was correlated positively with U1-EARR in CA (P < 0.05). In both FA and CA, there was no significant correlation between the torque and U1 EARR (P > 0.05). Retraction, intrusion, and torque movements had differential impacts on IC dimensions in FA and CA treatments. Conclusion: In this study, our findings indicate that in cases involving the extraction of first premolars, Invisalign® clear aligners may have less U1-EARR than passive self-ligating fixed braces but no significant differences in the overall IC dimensions between both appliances. Clear aligners may reveal better outcomes in U1 EARR/IC changes concerning U1-IC proximity and different orthodontic movements. These findings may be necessary for orthodontists to consider during treatment planning. Clinical relevance: Clear aligners may be an appropriate choice in first premolar extraction cases, especially when the U1 is closer to IC or when there is a need for more retraction, intrusion, and torque. Their potential to reduce root resorption while preserving IC dimensions may make them more advantageous over passive self-ligating fixed braces in these scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highway construction reduces the production costs of enterprises, which is conducive to their increased investment in environmental management and the adoption of green production technologies, thereby promoting regional green economic growth. Traditional research mainly focuses on the pollution problem in the transportation infrastructure and transportation process, and it is difficult to explain the spatial spillover problem of the green economy brought by transportation. We measured the shortest passage time and market access of the Yangtze River Economic Belt highway from 2005 to 2019. Meanwhile, we measured the green total factor productivity based on the Malmquist-Luenberger index. The empirical results show that highway construction has a significant role in promoting green economic growth in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. However, there is obvious regional heterogeneity in the degree of effect. Market access has the largest effect in large cities, followed by medium cities, and has the smallest effect on small cities. This suggests that there is an environmental "bottoming-out effect" in highway-induced industrial transfer. Further, we find that green technology innovation is the mechanism by which highways affect green economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel system for directly measuring net photochemical ozone production rates in the atmosphere was developed. • A comparison of P(O 3) was conducted between the directly measured and calculated based on radical reactions. • The instrument was successfully deployed for the comprehensive field observation at an urban site in Yangtze River Delta (China) for 40 days. A novel system for measuring net photochemical ozone production rates in the atmosphere based on cavity ring-down spectroscopy (OPR-CRDS) was developed. The system consists of two chambers (a reaction chamber and a reference chamber) and a dual-channel O x -CRDS detector. To minimize the wall loss of O x in the chambers, the inner surfaces of both chambers are coated with Teflon film. The performance of the OPR-CRDS system was characterized. It was found that even though the photolysis frequency (J value) decreased by 10%, the decrease in the P(O 3) caused by the ultraviolet-blocking film coating was less than 3%. The two chambers had a good consistency in the mean residence time and the measurement of NO 2 and O x under the condition of no sunlight. The detection limit of the OPR-CRDS was determined to be 0.20 ppbv/hr. To further verify the accuracy of the system, the direct measurement values of the OPR-CRDS system were compared with the calculation results based on radical (OH, HO 2 , and RO 2) reactions, and a good correlation was obtained between the measured and calculated values. Finally, the developed instrument was applied to obtain the comprehensive field observations at an urban site in the Yangtze River Delta (China) for 40 days, the time series and change characteristics of the P(O 3) were obtained directly, and the good environmental adaptability and stability of the OPR-CRDS system were demonstrated. It is expected that the new instrument will be beneficial to investigations of the relationship between P(O 3) and its precursors. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: The study aimed to create a radiomics model based on breast intra- and peri-tumoral regions in dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI to distinguish benign from malignant breast lesions of Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) 4. Materials and methods: A total of 516 patients from Hospital 1 were assigned to the training cohort. Then, 146 and 52 patients were enrolled from Hospital 2 and 3, respectively, as the internal and external test cohort. Seven classification models were built, using features extracted from the intra- and peri-tumoral regions. Diagnostic performance was evaluated by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis and compared by the DeLong test. Subgroup analysis was performed after stratifying all lesions by enhancement pattern and the subdivision of BI-RADS 4. Results: The Comb2 model, built with features from peri-tumoral 2 mm and intra-tumoral region, demonstrated the best performance with AUCs of 0.828 and 0.844 in the internal and external test cohort, respectively. The Comb2 model was robust in both mass and non-mass enhancement (NME) lesions. At the three exploratory cutoff values on the ROC curve, the model identified 9.1% (sensitivity of C1 ≥ 98%), 27.3% (sensitivity of C2 ≥ 95%) and 36.4% (sensitivity of C3 ≥ 90%) of the benign lesions in the external test cohort. Applying the identified cutoff values in the external test cohort showed the potential to lower the number of unnecessary biopsies of benign lesions. Conclusion: An MRI-based radiomics model built with features extracted from the intra-tumoral region combined with the peri-tumoral 2 mm showed the best potential to reduce false-positive diagnoses and may avoid unnecessary biopsies with a low underestimate risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the synthesis of a solid adsorbent derived from degreasing cotton, and its metal ion removal ability in low concentration aqueous solution. In the first section of this paper, a novel synthetic strategy was reported for the introduction of an EDTA analog (aminoacetic acid) onto the surface of cotton fibers, resulting in a modified cotton adsorbent N,N-(dicarboxymethylaminoethyl,carboxymethyl)aminoethylamine carboxymethyl cotton amide. This material was characterized using 13C NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and SEM/EDS/EBSD. In the second section, the adsorption behavior of this material for the removal of Cu2+, Pb2+ and Cd2+ from aqueous solution was assessed and analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich models. Competitive ion adsorption and fixed-bed column adsorption experiments were carried out to evaluate its selective adsorption properties in mixed metal ion solutions using ICP spectroscopy. The results showed that this grafted cotton exhibited coordination properties similar to EDTA for the different metal ions, and that it exhibited selectivity and had good metal ion removal ability from low concentration solution. The maximum adsorption capacities for Cu2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+ were estimated to be 23.45 mg g−1, 34.7 mg g−1, and 66.93 mg g−1, respectively. Regeneration and adsorption experiments illustrated that this material had good renewable properties and could be used for multiple metal ion removal adsorption–regeneration–adsorption cycles. This material has great potential for application in the adsorption of toxic elements such as Cu2+, Cd2+, Pb2+ and other metal ions from aqueous solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, alumina-reinforced copper-based composite materials were prepared by using the electroless plating method to coat copper powder with a layer of silver and then combining the solution sol method and powder metallurgy method. The results show that recrystallized structures and twins appear in composite materials after high-temperature sintering. As the sintering temperature increases, the ratio of recrystallized structures and twins gradually decreases, and straight coherent Σ 3 annealing twins appear in the structure, the number of high-angle grain boundaries decreased, the number of small-angle grain boundaries continues to increase, the average grain size increased from 3.89 to 4.83 μ m, the tensile strength increased from 156 MPa to 167.5 MPa, the maximum elongation was 9.4%, and the density increased from 6.81 g/cm3 increased to 7.62 g/cm3, the porosity dropped from 13.3% to 5.5%, the conductivity increased from 60.3% IACS to 73.2% IACS, the maximum hardness value was 68.71 HV, the best performance of the composite was achieved by sintering at 900°C with the tensile strength and elongation are 163 MPa and 9%, respectively, the conductivity is 68.9% IACS, and the density is 7.35 g/cm3. Its fracture surface shows mostly ductile features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the purpose of developing new drugs and repositioning existing ones, accurate drug-target affinity (DTA) prediction is essential. While graph neural networks are frequently utilized for DTA prediction, it is difficult for existing single-scale graph neural networks to access the global structure of compounds. We propose a novel DTA prediction model in this study, MAPGraphDTA, which uses an approach based on a multi-head linear attention mechanism that aggregates global features based on the attention weights and a multi-scale gated power graph that captures multi-hop connectivity relationships of graph nodes. In order to accurately extract drug target features, we provide a gated skip-connection approach in multiscale graph neural networks, which is used to fuse multiscale features to produce a rich representation of feature information. We experimented on the Davis, Kiba, Metz, and DTC datasets, and we evaluated the proposed method against other relevant models. Based on all evaluation metrics, MAPGraphDTA outperforms the other models, according to the results of the experiment. We also performed cold-start experiments on the Davis dataset, which showed that our model has good prediction ability for unseen drugs, unseen proteins, and cases where neither drugs nor proteins has been seen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The timely and precise estimation of crop aboveground biomass (AGB) is crucial for evaluating crop development and forecasting yields. The objective is to examine the differences, advantages, and limitations between time series parameters and single-time-phase indicators derived from various vegetation indices in AGB estimation. Moreover, we aim to quantitatively investigate and elucidate the impact of the topographic and geographic conditions of the study region on the estimation of highland barley AGB. Results indicate that AGB simulations utilizing time series parameters from vegetation index time series (VI-TS) curves yield satisfactory results for all three VIs, with the exception of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), which encounters saturation issues. The performance metrics are as follows: the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) (R2 = 0.73, RMSE = 20.24 g/m2), the Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) (R2 = 0.67, RMSE = 20.97 g/m2), and the Normalized Difference Mountain Vegetation Index (NDMVI) (R2 = 0.54, RMSE = 24.92 g/m2). The inclusion of our quantitative terrain factor improves the simulation accuracies of NDVI, SAVI, and NDMVI. Overall, the terrain factor has a beneficial impact on the highland barley AGB simulation outcomes. This study establishes a foundational framework for the timely and precise estimation of highland barley biomass, crucial for monitoring agricultural production in plateau mountainous regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The nitrogen species in waste tires were amine-N (∼35 %) and pyrrole-N (∼65 %). • Molten salt enhanced deamination of amine-N to generate aniline and NH 3. • C-N bond cleavage caused by electron transfer between NH 2 -Phenyl and Na+. • The benzothiazole was inhibited due to the depletion of the SH radicals by OH–. • Pyrrole-N exhibited limited reactivity and remained in char. Molten salt thermal treatment of solid waste is a promising way for energy recovery and pollutant removal. However, the migration of nitrogen during pyrolysis of waste tires poses a challenge for cleaner production. This study investigated nitrogen conversion pathways during waste tires pyrolysis using a binary NaOH-Na 2 CO 3 salt at 425, 500, and 575 °C. The results demonstrated that amine-N and pyrrole-N were the main N-containing species in waste tires. Compared to conventional pyrolysis, the molten salt enhanced the deamination of the amine-N while increasing levels of NH 3 and aniline. Owing to the catalytic benefits of molten salt, the C-N bond cleavage of amine-N was initiated by electron transfer involving the combination of NH 2 -Phenyl structures with Na+. The hydrocracking of Phenyl-NH-Phenyl in amine-N was facilitated by the available H radicals (or H 2). Furthermore, molten salt obstructed the contact of C(N) sites on the char surface, causing the suppression of HCN production. The SH radicals might be consumed by OH– ions, which disabled the formation path of benzothiazole from aniline and SH radicals. Comparatively, pyrrole-N showed limited reactivity and remained in char. This work contributes to nitrogen regulation during the molten salt treatment of solid waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the current state of nursing interns' spiritual care competency (SCC) and its relationship with their spiritual health. Background: Spiritual care is a vitally important component of holistic nursing. Understanding the spiritual care competency of nursing interns can help nursing managers and educators identify weaknesses in spiritual care practices, develop intervention measures to enhance SCC, and improve the quality of nursing services. However, the relationship between spiritual health and SCC among nursing interns remains unclear. Methods: A total of 361 nursing interns were recruited from three general hospitals. An online questionnaire assessed nursing interns' sociodemographic characteristics, spiritual care competency, and spiritual health. Statistical analyses included Pearson's correlation analysis, T-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple stepwise linear regression analysis. Results: The average spiritual care competency score among nursing interns was 107.24 ± 21.67 out of a possible 135, indicating a medium-high level of competency. Spiritual care competency was positively correlated with spiritual health (P < 0.01). The multiple stepwise linear regression model (n = 361) had an explained variance (R2 = 0.300), showing that spiritual health and the manner of receiving spiritual training were the main factors influencing the interns' spiritual care competency (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The findings suggest that improving the spiritual health of nursing interns can enhance their spiritual care competency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • MnO 2 @BMO/KL catalyst is constructed using hydrothermal and co-precipitation methods. • Incorporation of kaolinite introduces abundant oxygen adsorption sites in MnO 2 @BMO/KL. • Structural transformation of BMO results in enhanced electron transport channels. • Close contact between MnO 2 and BMO/KL reduces interface charge transfer resistance. • Effective oxidation of HMF (>99.0 %) to DFF (83.0 %) photocatalyzed by MnO 2 @BMO/KL. The existing photocatalytic systems are difficult to achieve high selectivity and conversion for the oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) under mild conditions. MnO 2 exhibits notable tunability in valence state, but its photocatalytic oxidation efficiency is limited by the poor absorption in near-infrared region, insufficient oxygen adsorption, and slow charge transfer. To overcome these limitations, an innovative MnO 2 @Bi 2 MoO 6 /kaolinite (MnO 2 @BMO/KL) composite photocatalyst was synthesized by the hydrothermal and co-precipitation techniques, and the as-prepared photocatalyst was used for selective photocatalytic oxidation of HMF to produce 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF). The combination of MnO 2 , three-dimensional layered Bi 2 MoO 6 (BMO), and kaolinite enhanced electron transport and oxygen adsorption. The incorporation of kaolinite as a support material led to the structural transformation of BMO, while the in-situ grown amorphous MnO 2 trapped and accelerated electron transfer to adsorbed O 2 , thus efficiently segregating the photo-generated charges to enhance the utilization rate. MnO 2 @BMO/KL achieved almost complete conversion of HMF (>99.0 %) and a DFF yield of 83.0 % after 6 h of visible light irradiation. Additionally, MnO 2 @BMO/KL exhibited excellent structural stability over 6 cycles. The synergistic action of singlet oxygen (1O 2) and superoxide (• O 2 −) was crucial in promoting the selective oxidation of HMF, while minimal generation of hydroxyl radical (•OH) reduced the risk of overoxidation. This study provides new insights into the development of economical and stable non-precious metal photocatalysts for highly selective conversion of biomass-derived chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic wound infections are a frequent complication for diabetic patients, and conventional treatment for combating diabetic wound infections relies on antibiotics. However, the misuse and overuse of antibiotics have led to the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria, making these infections challenging to treat. Thus, there is an urgent need for alternative strategies to effectively manage diabetic wound infections. Herein, we have developed a hyperglycemia-responsive antibacterial cryogel system that can generate and release hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) and nitric oxide (NO). This system involves incorporating glucose oxidase (GO) and L-Arginine (L-Arg: A) into hyaluronic acid aldehyde methacryloyl (HAAMA: H) and gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA: G) hybrid cryogels (GOA@HG). HAAMA facilitated higher loading and longer stability of L-Arg and GO via a Schiff base reaction. In vitro studies demonstrate that GOA@HG cryogels exhibited outstanding breathability, effective exudate management, and excellent hemostasis capabilities. Moreover, this system could consume excess glucose in diabetic wounds and efficiently eliminate bacteria through the cascaded release of H 2 O 2 and NO without causing antibiotic resistance. In vivo studies further reveal that GOA@HG cryogels significantly enhanced the healing of infected diabetic wounds by inhibiting bacterial growth, accelerating blood vessel formation, and promoting collagen deposition. Overall, GOA@HG cryogels displayed remarkable wound dressing properties and synergistic antimicrobial effects owing to glucose-responsive H 2 O 2 and NO release, which could serve as a highly efficient therapeutic strategy for treating infected diabetic wounds. A biohybrid cryogel dressing (GOA@HG) loaded with GO and L-Arg (A) serves as a glucose modulator and NO generator, offering excellent breathability, effective exudate management, and hyperglycemia-responsive antibacterial properties for enhancing the treatment of infected diabetic wounds. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fetal liver hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have the capacity to temporarily engraft, thereby facilitating the reconstitution of hematopoiesis without severe graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). In two cases of acute leukemia, the patients underwent fetal liver transplantation (FLT), receiving cells from multiple donors at doses ranging from 7.02 to 8.3 × 10^8 cells/kg, following an intensive conditioning regimen in 1983 and 1985. Remarkably, both individuals have since achieved sustained complete remission and hematopoietic recovery, and have maintained a normal life for over three decades. Although FLT is no longer a viable clinical option, the positive outcomes of these cases are noteworthy and are shared herein. Our findings underscore the potential of FLT to offer short-term hematopoietic support, contributing to the recovery of patients with acute leukemia and may inspire research into ideal HSCs that emulate the characteristics of fetal liver cells for future transplantation applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gallium oxide (Ga2O3), a wide bandgap semiconductor, has been extensively studied for its potential applications in deep ultraviolet photodetectors and next-generation power electronic devices. To enhance the optoelectronic properties of Ga2O3 films, a controllable doping strategy is proposed in this work. Using a sol-gel method, Ga2O3 films doped with magnesium (Mg) are prepared, with the Mg concentration adjustable through the precursor solution. The results indicate that the bandgap of Ga2O3 increases with higher doping levels, while the electrical conductivity decreases proportionally. To evaluate their optoelectronic characteristics, a series of photodetectors with Mg-doped Ga2O3 active layers are fabricated. Under a 254 nm incident light, the device with an optimal doping concentration of 4.2% demonstrates the best performance, achieving the highest responsivity (R) of 1.97 A/W and a photo-dark current ratio of 2.6 × 103. Furthermore, density functional theory calculations are employed to provide a detailed analysis of the fundamental mechanisms behind the enhanced optoelectronic properties. This approach to controllable and optimized doping in Ga2O3 films shows promise for future applications in semiconductor devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the processability and film-forming properties of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), the effects of the blended ratios (0:10, 3:7, 4:6, 5:5, 6:4, and 10:0) of gelatin (GA) and HPMC on the microstructure, physical stability, and rheological properties of the GA-HPMC aqueous two-phase system were investigated by using zein-pectin composite particles as stabilizers. The results showed that adding 0.3% zein-pectin composite particles could reduce the phase separation rate and phase separation degree of GA and HPMC, and this stability effect was enhanced with increasing HPMC proportion(4%~7%); Under the same mass fraction of zein-pectin composite particles, these systems with proportion of GA<5% formed a water-in-water structure with GA as the dispersed phase and HPMC as the continuous phase, and with the increase of the GA ratio, the viscosity and gel strength of GA-HPMC aqueous two-phase system increased; The gelling temperature (58.90~54.19 °C) of the GA-HPMC aqueous two-phase system was significantly lower than that of pure HPMC solution (61.63 °C), and its melting temperature (28.80~32.23 °C) was positively correlated with the proportion of GA. The effect of the blended ratios on the stability and rheological properties of the GA-HPMC aqueous two-phase system showed an opposite trend, so a suitable blended ratio should be selected according to the actual requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During public health emergencies, studying the travel characteristics and influencing factors of shared bicycles during different time periods on weekdays can provide valuable insights for urban transportation planning and offer recommendations for bike-sharing systems (BSS) affected by such events. Utilizing bike-sharing data, this study initiated the analysis by scrutinizing the spatial flow patterns in the core area of Beijing, employing network indicators within the framework of complex network theory. Subsequently, influencing factors associated with bike-sharing trips were pinpointed using the exponential random graph model (ERGM). Using COVID-19 as an example, it examines the impact of public health emergencies on bike-sharing during multiple time periods. Supported by the network analysis method, our findings revealed that the majority of travel activities occurred between adjacent areas. Throughout weekdays, a consistent level of travel activity was observed, exhibiting distinct patterns during daytime and nighttime. The period from 4:00 to 8:00 emerged as the peak time, characterized by heightened traffic and temperature changes. Morning commuting extended until 8:00–12:00, followed by a transition period from 12:00–16:00. The most active travel time, encompassing various purposes, was identified as 16:00–20:00. Additionally, the presence of hospitals and train stations amplified travel within the pandemic-affected area. Finally, variants of ERGMs were employed to assess the influence of finance, shopping, dining, education, transportation, roads, and COVID-19 on bike-sharing activities. The road network emerged as the most critical factor, exhibiting a significant negative impact. Conversely, COVID-19 had the most pronounced positive influence, with transportation stops and educational institutions also contributing significantly in a positive manner. This research provides valuable transportation planning insights for addressing public health emergencies and promotes the effective utilization of bike-sharing systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban heat island (UHI) effects, intensified by urbanization and environmental changes, are critical challenges to urban thermal comfort and sustainability. This study investigates the combined role of water bodies and vegetation in mitigating microclimatic heat island effects within a campus area, focusing on their cooling impacts and interactions. Using field measurements and numerical simulations, the research evaluates the cooling effects and wind flow modifications induced by greenery and water bodies in the surrounding environment. The findings demonstrate that both vegetation and water bodies provide a significant cooling effect, reducing temperatures by 0–6 K in downstream regions, with the impact being more pronounced closer to the blue–green spaces. Furthermore, the combined application of water bodies and vegetation offers enhanced cooling effects; however, their influence on the thermal environment exhibits a nonlinear relationship. These results underscore the importance of strategic blue–green infrastructure planning in mitigating UHI effects and optimizing urban thermal environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of novel variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to pose an ongoing challenge for global public health services, highlighting the urgent need for effective therapeutic interventions. Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are a major therapeutic strategy for the treatment of COVID-19 and other viral diseases. In this study, we employed hybridoma technology to generate mAbs that target the BA.5 receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Through a comprehensive screening process, we identified four mAbs capable of effectively neutralizing BA.5, XBB.1.16, and related variant infections in vitro, among which ORB10 was found to neutralize BA.5 variants with a plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT50) of 8.7 ng/mL. Additionally, competitive binding assays, sequencing of heavy and light chain variable regions, and binding kinetics characterization provided insights into the epitopes and binding affinities of the identified mAbs. Moreover, in vivo experiments in the K18-hACE2 mouse model demonstrated the protective efficacy of ORB10 against both BA.5 and XBB.1.16 variants. Finally, cryo-electron microscopy structural analysis of the ORB10-RBD complex identified key residues involved in the antibody-antigen interactions, providing insights into the molecular mechanisms of neutralization and immune escape of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants from mAbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interleaving (intermixing exemplars from different categories) is more effective in promoting inductive learning than blocking (massing exemplars from a given category together). Yet learners typically prefer blocking over interleaving during self-regulated inductive learning, highlighting the need to develop effective interventions to overcome this metacognitive illusion and promote learners' practical use of the interleaving strategy. Drawing on a sample of university students, three experiments examined the effects of an instructional intervention on (a) correction of metacognitive fallacies regarding the superiority of blocking over interleaving for inductive learning, (b) adoption of the interleaving strategy during self-regulated learning when learners are allowed to make study choices exemplar-by-exemplar, (c) classification performance, and (d) transfer of category learning across diverse domains. Experiments 1 and 2 showed that instructions about the benefits of interleaving over blocking improved metacognitive awareness of the efficacy of interleaving and enhanced self-usage of the interleaving strategy during learning of new categories. However, this intervention had negligible influence on interleaving distance and did not improve classification performance. Experiment 3 found that informing learners about the benefits of extensive interleaving, as compared to minimal interleaving or no interleaving, successfully increased interleaving distance and boosted classification performance, and the intervention effects transferred to learning categories in a different domain. These findings support the practical use of the instructional intervention in promoting self-usage of the interleaving strategy and highlight the important role of enlarging interleaving distance in facilitating inductive learning. Educational Impact and Implications Statement: Educators have endeavored to explore methods to enhance the efficiency of inductive learning. Intermixing exemplars from different categories produces superior learning outcomes than studying each category's exemplars in a blocked manner. However, most learners fail to appreciate the benefits of interleaving and prefer to studying exemplars in a massed schedule. Providing learners with individualized feedback on blocked versus interleaved performance and highlighting relevant findings from previous research can effectively enhance their awareness of the merits of interleaving and encourage them to adopt the interleaved strategy during self-regulated learning. When learners attempt to intersperse exemplars of a given category with those from many other categories, their inductive performance improves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• UVA 365 /ClO 2 /NaClO process showed excellent degradation efficiency of CBZ. • The UVA 365 /ClO 2 /NaClO process can effectively control the consumption of oxidants. • The main active species were HO • and Cl • at high ratios of ClO 2. • The UVA 365 /ClO 2 /NaClO process can reduce the formation of chlorate and chlorite. A mixed oxidant of chlorine dioxide (ClO 2) and NaClO was often used in water treatment. A novel UVA-LED (365 nm)-activated mixed ClO 2 /NaClO process was proposed for the degradation of micropollutants in this study. Carbamazepine (CBZ) was selected as the target pollutant. Compared with the UVA 365 /ClO 2 process, the UVA 365 /ClO 2 /NaClO process can improve the degradation of CBZ, with the rate constant increasing from 2.11×10−4 sec−1 to 2.74×10−4 sec−1. In addition, the consumption of oxidants in the UVA 365 /ClO 2 /NaClO process (73.67%) can also be lower than that of UVA 365 /NaClO (86.42%). When the NaClO ratio increased, both the degradation efficiency of CBZ and the consumption of oxidants can increase in the UVA 365 /ClO 2 /NaClO process. The solution pH can affect the contribution of NaClO in the total oxidant ratio. When the pH range of 6.0-8.0, the combination process can generate more active species to promote the degradation of CBZ. The change of active species with oxidant molar ratio was investigated in the UVA 365 /ClO 2 /NaClO process. When ClO 2 acted as the main oxidant, HO• and Cl• were the main active species, while when NaClO was the main oxidant, ClO• played a role in the system. Both chloride ion (Cl–), bicarbonate ion (HCO 3 –), and nitrate ion (NO 3 –) can promote the reaction system. As the concentration of NaClO in the reaction solution increased, the generation of chlorates will decrease. The UVA 365 /ClO 2 /NaClO process can effectively control the formation of volatile disinfection by-products (DBPs), and with the increase of ClO 2 dosage, the formation of DBPs can also decrease. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissolved oxygen (DO) management is crucial for the health and survival of fish in aquaculture. Maintaining optimal DO levels requires accurately predicting DO trends and developing appropriate control strategies. However, the dynamic and complex interactions among multiple water quality parameters make accurate multivariate time series prediction of DO challenging. Furthermore, traditional DO control methods often rely on intricate, site-specific DO mathematical models, complicating operational procedures and limiting their adaptability. To address these problems, we propose a novel prediction-control framework called IBM-MPC, which integrates a sophisticated predictive model with a neural network model predictive control (MPC) system. The predictive model incorporates a wrapper feature selection model, an improved snake optimization algorithm (ISO), and a hybrid deep learning model that combines bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) networks with a multi-head self-attention mechanism (MHSA). This configuration captures complex nonlinear relationships in multivariate time series data, enhancing prediction accuracy. The neural network MPC system leverages accurate DO predictions to optimize control strategies, reducing reliance on extensive physical data and computational complexity. Experimental results demonstrate the superior performance of the IBM-MPC model, achieving a root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.72%, a mean absolute error (MAE) of 1.05%, and a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 12.57%, surpassing other baseline models in prediction accuracy. Furthermore, the neural network MPC achieves a reduction in the integral time absolute error (ITAE) by 5.2% compared to traditional MPC system, representing a significant advancement in aquaculture water quality management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of computer graphics and 3D computer vision, the field of reconstructing 3D geometric shapes from sketches has quickly seen an influx of innovative methodologies. However, the majority of current methods primarily rely on the associative memory of matching images to models during their training stages, failing to fully grasp the real structure of the three-dimensional objects presented in the images. These approaches often lead to significant discrepancies between the reconstructed objects and the expected models. For instance, some methods often lose important geometric details when dealing with objects that have complex topological structures, resulting in a significant reduction in the visual consistency between the reconstructed models and the original images. Moreover, existing technologies also demonstrate clear limitations in theoretically capturing the subtle symmetry and local features of three-dimensional objects. To address this issue, we propose a two-phase framework in this work to more accurately reflect the objects in the input images in the reconstructed models. Initially, we employ an encoder–decoder structure to generate an implicit signed distance field (SDF) representing the 3D shapes. Subsequently, we carry out a comprehensive optimization of the decoder from the first phase. This process includes two main steps: firstly, utilizing differentiable rendering techniques to render the mesh model derived from the distance field, ensuring its consistency with the input images; secondly, combining the symmetry of the 3D shapes with innovative regularization loss to further refine the decoder, aiming to reduce the discrepancies between the images and the 3D shapes. Compared to similar research, our method not only demonstrates superior performance in reconstructing 3D shapes from sketches but also offers new perspectives and solutions for the optimization of 3D shapes. This work signifies an important advancement in understanding and reconstructing the transition process from sketches to precise 3D models. Code: https://github.com/Hyuq1/Sketch2Reality.git [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA methylation is known to be associated with cataracts. In this study, we used a mouse model and performed DNA methylation and transcriptome sequencing analyses to find epigenetic indicators for age-related cataracts (ARC). Anterior lens capsule membrane tissues from young and aged mice were analyzed by MethylRAD-seq to detect the genome-wide methylation of extracted DNA. The young and aged mice had 76,524 and 15,608 differentially methylated CCGG and CCWGG sites, respectively. The Pearson correlation analysis detected 109 and 33 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with negative methylation at CCGG and CCWGG sites, respectively, in their promoter regions. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional enrichment analyses showed that DEGs with abnormal methylation at CCGG sites were primarily associated with protein kinase C signaling (Akap12, Capzb), protein threonine kinase activity (Dmpk, Mapkapk3), and calcium signaling pathway (Slc25a4, Cacna1f), whereas DEGs with abnormal methylation at CCWGG sites were associated with ribosomal protein S6 kinase activity (Rps6ka3). These genes were validated by pyrosequencing methylation analysis. The results showed that the ARC group (aged mice) had lower Dmpk and Slc25a4 methylation levels and a higher Rps6ka3 methylation than the control group (young mice), which is consistent with the results of the joint analysis of differentially methylated and differentially expressed genes. In conclusion, we confirmed the genome-wide DNA methylation pattern and gene expression profile of ARC based on the mouse cataract model with aged mice. The identified methylation molecular markers have great potential for application in the future diagnosis and treatment of ARC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interleukin-34 (IL-34) was recently reported to be a new biomarker for atherosclerosis diseases, such as coronary artery disease and vascular dementia. IL-34 regulates the expression of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-17A, IL-1 and IL-6), which are classical cytokines involved in myocardial ischemia‒reperfusion (MI/R) injury. However, the exact role of IL-34 in MI/R remains unknown. In this study, a rat MI/R model was used to explore the effect of IL-34 on modulating inflammatory processes during MI/R injury. First, eighteen rats were subjected to 30 min of LAD ligation followed by 0 h, 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 8 h or 24 h of reperfusion (n = 3 for each group). The level of IL-34 peaked at 4 h after MI/R in the ischemic myocardium. Next, ischemia for 30min and reperfusion for 4h (I/R) model was used. 24 rats were randomly divided into I/R group (n = 8), IL-34+IR group (n = 8) and IL-34+ab12+IR group (n = 8). We found that IL-34 pretreatment increased the expression of inflammatory cytokines, including high mobility group Box 1 (HMGB1), IL-17A, and IL-6; the expression of the apoptosis protein cleaved caspase-3; and the Bcl-2/Bax ratio within the ischemic myocardium. We also observed increased serum cardiac enzymes and a larger myocardial injury area. Treatment with a Janus kinase (JAK) pathway inhibitor, however, partially reduced the expression of these proteins and attenuated myocardial injury. Together, these results showed that IL-34 aggravates MI/R injury by inducing the expression of the HMGB1-IL-17A-IL-6 axis and apoptosis after MI/R, which is partially dependent on the JAK pathway. Therefore, blocking the JAK signaling pathway or inhibiting IL-34 expression might provide a new idea to reduce MI/R injury, but further researches are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]