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AbstractBackgroundMethodsResultsConclusionsPrevious studies have reported inconsistent results on the association between serum prealbumin level and survival outcomes in patients with gastric cancer. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the serum prealbumin level as a biomarker of survival outcomes in gastric cancer patients.Two independent reviewers conducted a thorough search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases until April 17, 2024. Studies reporting the association between serum prealbumin level and survival outcomes and presented the multivariable-adjusted relative risks for gastric cancer patients were included. The pooled HR and 95% CI were used to assess the strength of the association.Twelve studies, with a total of 9,351 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The combined data showed that low serum prealbumin level was associated with shorter overall survival (HR 1.65; 95% CI 1.42-1.91) and disease-free survival (HR 1.39; 95% CI 1.14-1.70). Subgroup analysis showed that low serum prealbumin level significantly predicted poorer overall survival, regardless of patients’ age, sample sizes, cutoff value for prealbumin level, and follow-up time.Low serum prealbumin level is an independent prognostic biomarker for shorter survival outcomes in patients with gastric cancer. Assessing serum prealbumin levels could potentially improve risk stratification for this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cachexia index is a novel indicator of cachexia, but its prognostic implications for survival outcomes have not been systematically assessed in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the association between the cachexia index and survival outcomes in gastrointestinal cancer patients. Two independent reviewers searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science to identify studies that evaluated the prognostic significance of the cachexia index in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. The prognostic value of the cachexia index was determined by combining the adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Thirteen studies were identified, including a total of 4207 patients. Meta-analysis indicated that a lower cachexia index was associated with shorter overall survival (HR 2.18; 95% CI 1.78–2.66) and disease-free survival (HR 1.72; 95% CI 1.50–1.97) in gastrointestinal cancer patients. Further stratified analysis confirmed the significant association between a lower cachexia index and shorter overall survival in different study designs, regions, patients' age, sample sizes, gastrointestinal cancer subtypes, tumor stages, and follow-up duration subgroups. The cachexia index could be utilized as a predictor of overall survival and disease-free survival in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. However, future prospective studies are required to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract\n摘要\nPLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARYThis study explored the effects of listening-based lexical focus-on-form (lexical FonF) on the acquisition and retention of morphologically complex words. One hundred eighty-two adult English learners with two levels of English proficiency (higher and lower proficiency) from a public university in mainland China were assigned to three different conditions: morphological instruction (MI), an experimental condition in which morphological instruction related to target words was provided in addition to a series of audio passages containing the target items; word meaning explanation (WME), an experimental condition in which explanations of the word meaning of target items were offered in addition to the listening activity; and one control condition (CT) in which learners were exposed only to the listening activity. The results indicated that lexical FonF led to more vocabulary gains than purely incidental FonF and that the MI condition significantly outperformed the WME condition in both the acquisition and retention of morphologically complex words. In addition, no interaction was detected between the preintervention proficiency level and word learning conditions.本研究探讨了基于听力的词形关注 (lexical FonF) 对语素复杂单词的习得和保持的影响。来自中国大陆一所公立大学的182名具有不同英语水平的成人英语学习者(高水平和低水平)被分配到三种不同的实验条件下: 在语素干预实验条件(MI)下, 学习者除了包含目标词的听力活动外, 还接受与目标词相关的语素规则讲解；在词义解释实验条件下(WME), 学习者除了包含目标词听力活动外, 还接受目标词的词义解释；在对照条件(CT)下, 学习者只进行包含目标词的听力活动。结果表明, 词形关注比纯粹的附带词形习得更有利于词汇学习, 而且在语素复杂单词的习得和保持方面, 语素干预效果明显优于词义解释。此外, 干预前的语言水平与单词学习条件之间并没有发现交互作用。This study looked at the effects of combining a meaning-focused listening activity and explicit vocabulary teaching (lexical FonF) on the acquisition and retention of morphologically complex words. One hundred eighty-two adult English learners with two levels of English proficiency (higher and lower proficiency) from a public university in mainland China were placed in three different conditions: morphological instruction (MI), an experimental condition in which learners were taught internal structure of target words in addition to a series of audio passages containing the target items; word meaning explanation (WME), an experimental condition in which explanations of the word meaning of target items were offered in addition to the listening activity; and one control condition (CT) in which learners only listened to a series of audio passages containing the target items. The results indicated that the combination of a meaning-focused listening activity and explicit vocabulary teaching led to more vocabulary gains than purely incidental vocabulary learning from a meaning-focused listening activity. In addition, the MI condition significantly outperformed the WME condition in both the acquisition and retention of morphologically complex words. The learners’ initial proficiency levels did not influence the impact of the intervention conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In order to achieve efficiency extremum of power conversion independent of parameter values and operational mode, an adaptive dual‐controller on‐line efficiency optimization method is presented in this paper. Firstly, based on tri‐modal analysis for four‐switch buck‐boost (FSBB) converter, efficiency extremum analysis is given and existed for such this converter. Then, adaptive dual controller on‐line efficiency seeking algorithm is shown to adaptive two variables for efficiency optimization and output voltage regulation. Furthermore, perturb and observe detector is described to realize control variables decoupling of dual‐controller and to prevent the instability of the whole system during the algorithm tuning process and to improve the algorithm speed of the dual controller. The proposed method is model independent and does not depend on the circuit parameter values. The detail implement of algorithm and performance analysis is given, and the experimental platform and experimental results are put forward to verify the effectiveness of the algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The 17-gene Genomic Prostate Score (GPS) test has been clinically employed to predict adverse prognosis in prostate cancer. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the 17-gene GPS in patients with prostate cancer. Methods: Potentially relevant studies were obtained by searching PubMed, Web of Science, Embase databases from their inception to December 1, 2023. Studies were considered eligible if they evaluated the association of the 17-gene GPS with distant metastases, biochemical recurrence, or prostate cancer–specific mortality (PCSM) in prostate cancer patients. To estimate the prognostic value, we pooled the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the high versus low GPS group or per 20-unit increase in GPS. Results: Seven cohort studies that reported on 8 articles comprising 1,962 patients satisfied the eligibility criteria. Meta-analysis showed that per 20-unit increase in GPS was significantly associated with distant metastases (HR 2.99; 95% CI 1.97–4.53), biochemical recurrence (HR 2.18; 95% CI 1.64–2.89), and PCSM (HR 3.14; 95% CI 1.86–5.30). Moreover, patients with high GPS (> 40 points) had an increased risk of distant metastases (HR 5.22; 95% CI 3.72–7.31), biochemical recurrence (HR 4.41; 95% CI 2.29–8.49), and PCSM (HR 3.81; 95% CI 1.74–8.33) than those with low GPS (≤ 40 points). Conclusions: A higher 17-gene GPS significantly predicts distant metastases, biochemical recurrence, and PCSM in men with clinically localized prostate cancer. However, large-scale multicenter prospective studies are necessary to further validate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant metabolites including anthocyanins play an important role in the growth of plants, as well as in regulating biotic and abiotic stress responses to the environment. Here we report comprehensive profiling of 3315 metabolites and a further metabolic-based genome-wide association study (mGWAS) based on 292,485 SNPs obtained from 311 rice accessions, including 160 wild and 151 cultivars. We identified hundreds of common variants affecting a large number of secondary metabolites with large effects at high throughput. Finally, we identified a novel gene namely OsLSC6 (Oryza sativa leaf sheath color 6), which encoded a UDP 3-O-glucosyltransferase and involved in the anthocyanin biosynthesis of Cyanidin-3-Galc (sd1825) responsible for leaf sheath color, and resulted in significant different accumulation of sd1825 between wild (purple) and cultivars (green). The results of knockout transgenic experiments showed that OsLSC6 regulated the biosynthesis and accumulation of sd1825, controlled the purple leaf sheath. Our further research revealed that OsLSC6 also confers resistance to cold stress during the seedling stage in rice. And we identified that a SNP in OsLSC6 was responsible for the leaf sheath color and chilling tolerance, supporting the importance of OsLSC6 in plant adaption. Our study could not only demonstrate that OsLSC6 is a vital regulator during anthocyanin biosynthesis and abiotic stress responses, but also provide a powerful complementary tool based on metabolites-to-genes analysis by mGWAS for functional gene identification andpromising candidate in future rice breeding and improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study explored the relative effectiveness of morphological analysis training and context clue training on multidimensional EFL vocabulary knowledge. A total of 90 college English learners were equally and randomly assigned to three groups: a morphological analysis group, a context clue group, and a control group. Vocabulary development was measured in four dimensions: inferencing, grammar, meaning, and collocation. The ANOVA results indicated that both experimental groups outperformed the control group in multiple aspects of word knowledge. In addition, in the word inferencing and meaning tests, the morphological group demonstrated significantly better performance; while the context clue group showed superior word grammar and collocation knowledge. Relevant implications are discussed based on the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid advancement of battery technology, the energy density and power density of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) as a key component of electric vehicles have been increasing. However, accidents triggered by the thermal runaway of LIBs have been occurring frequently. Therefore, to address this issue, it is imperative to investigate the TR characteristics of the battery under various conditions. This study investigates the TR characteristics of ternary pouch LIBs induced by surface heating, using techniques such as voltage and temperature acquisition, as well as video imaging. The experimental results are analyzed to elucidate the venting and combustion characteristics of the cells. Furthermore, in order to provide a more comprehensive elucidation of the TR behavior of the battery, a corresponding 3D model for surface-induced TR was constructed. The simulation results of this model are in good agreement with the experimental results and effectively capture the TR characteristics of the cells under surface heating. Finally, the simulation results showed that the cells are more prone to venting from the side due to the lower melting point of the polypropylene (PP) adhesive used for cell sealing. The use of high-temperature-resistant sealing adhesives is crucial in preventing uncontrolled lateral venting of the cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effects of a 10-week metacognitive instruction on low-proficiency Chinese EFL learners’ listening performance. It also explored the relative effectiveness of metacognitive instruction, bottom-up instruction and a combination of the two types of instructions on learners’ listening performance. Eighty low-proficiency Chinese college students were assigned to one control group and three experimental groups. One experimental group received metacognitive instruction, another experimental group received bottom-up listening strategy training and the third experimental group was exposed to a combination of the aforementioned trainings. The control group did not receive any training. The linear mixed effects model (LMM) results indicated that the integrated approach was the most effective at improving low-proficiency listeners’ listening performance, followed by bottom-up training. The metacognitive instruction alone did not prove useful at promoting the development of listening performance. The pedagogical implications of the study are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

α-Chiral amines are key intermediates for scalable preparation of bioactive compounds; herein we present a novel palladium-based nanocatalyst capable of selectively catalyzing the reductive amination of carbonyl compounds, which enables the in situ regeneration of amino donors from wasteful co-products in a one-enzyme cascade using ω-transaminase, without the requirement of the expensive coenzyme NAD(P)H. The cascade network combines a ω-transaminase-assisted transamination with a selective reductive amination reaction facilitated by a heterogeneous palladium-based nanocatalyst. Nitrogen is sourced from hydroxylamine ions to convert generated co-products back into amino donors, yielding chiral amines with exceptional yields of up to 99% and excellent enantioselectivity. This chemoenzymatic one-enzyme transamination-reductive amination cascade network is highly atom-efficient and generates H2O as its sole by-product, demonstrating its potential impact in synthetic chemistry and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a novel ratiometric electrochemical platform was developed for in vivo analysis of GSH based on the dual signal output of 2D Cu-TCPP(Fe) nanosheets. Our method with high selectivity and high accuracy enabled GSH monitoring in a live rat brain, and accurate GSH concentrations were firstly reported in different brain regions upon global cerebral ischemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A SU(1,1) interferometer (SUI) is a kind of quantum entangled interferometer that uses directly entangled quantum fields for sensing phase change. For rotational sensing, Sagnac geometry is usually adopted. However, because SUI depends on the phase sum of the two arms, traditional Sagnac geometry, when applied to SUI, will result in null signal. In this paper, we modify the traditional Sagnac interferometer by nesting SUIs inside. We show that the rotational signal comes from two parts labeled as "classical" and "quantum," respectively, and the quantum part, where quantum entangled fields are used for sensing, has the rotational signal enhanced by a factor related to the gain of the SUI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to address the issue of keeping the converter operating at a high efficiency level under different conditions, this paper suggests an adaptive step frequency adjustment online optimization search algorithm, which achieves the goal of fast adjustment and real‐time response to parameter changes. The converter is quickly adjusted to operate at a high efficiency by sampling the input and output current values and modulating the switching frequency utilizing the algorithm. Additionally, the algorithm shifts between two working models to finish the search for the best switching frequency while the converter's characteristics do not change. Moreover, it accomplishes the objective of instantly resynchronizing the algorithm after a change in the converter's parameters and starting a search for the best switching frequency in the new converter state. For various input voltages and output loads, the operating principle, optimal frequency, and efficiency are given. In addition, the principle analysis when the converter parameters are changed is provided, and the choice of two algorithm models is compared. Finally, a prototype buck converter with adjustable input voltage and load is constructed to test the algorithm's efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Satellite-based precipitation products (SBPPs) are essential for rainfall quantification in areas where ground-based observation is scarce. However, the accuracy of SBPPs is greatly influenced by complex topography. This study evaluates the performance of Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) and Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation (GSMaP) in characterizing rainfall in a mountainous catchment of southwestern China, with an emphasis on the effect of three topographic variables (elevation, slope, aspect). The SBPPs are evaluated by comparing rain gauge observations at eight ground stations from May to October in 2014–2018. Results show that IMERG and GSMaP have good rainfall detection capability for the entire region, with POD = 0.75 and 0.93, respectively. In addition, IMERG overestimates rainfall (BIAS = −48.8%), while GSMaP is consistent with gauge rainfall (BIAS = −0.4%). Comprehensive analysis shows that IMERG and GSMaP are more impacted by elevation, and then slope, whereas aspect has little impact. The independent evaluations suggest that variability of elevation and slope negatively correlate with the accuracy of SBPPs. The accuracy of GSMaP presents weaker dependence on topography than that of IMERG in the study area. Our findings demonstrate the applicability of IMERG and GSMaP in mountainous catchments of Southwest China. We confirm that complex topography impacts the performance of SBPPs, especially for complex topography in mountainous areas. It is suggested that taking topographical factors into account is needed for hydrometeorological applications such as flood forecasting, and SBPP evaluations and retrieval technology require further improvement in the future for better applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Identification of pnemococcal serotypes and antimicrobial resistance provides helpful information for the use of suitable vaccines and antibiotics; however, very limited data is available on these issues in Vietnam. The present study aimed to find the serotype distribution and drug resistance patterns of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from unvaccinated children less than 5 years of age with pneumonia at a province in centre Vietnam. Materials and Methods: A total of 126 clinical pnemococcal strains isolated from unvaccinated children less than 5 years of age with pneumonia at the Nghe An province, Vietnam between Nov 2019 and Mar 2021. All strains were identified using conventional microbiological method, VITEK® 2 Compact system, specific PCR and sequencing. The serotypes and antimicrobial resistance patterns of pnemococcal strains were determined using the multiplex PCR assays and VITEK® 2 Compact system. Results: The results showed that, eight different pneumococcal serotypes were identified. The most common serotypes were 19F (67.46%), followed by 23F (10.32%), 19A (9.52%), 6A/B (3.17%), 15A (2.38%), 9V (3.17%), 11A (1.59%) and 14 (0.80%), respectively. More than half of the pneumococcal strains were non-susceptible to penicillin. The resistance rate to ceftriaxone and cefotaxime were 41.3% and 50.8%. The percentage of pneumococci strains resistant to clarithromycin, azithromycin, erythromycin, cotrimoxazole, tetracyclin, and clindamycin were more than 93% of all strains. All pneumococcal serotypes were highly resistant to clarithromycin, azithromycin, erythromycin, cotrimoxazole, and clindamycin. Conclusion: Our findings showed high antibiotic resistance rates of the strains causing pneumococcal pneumonia, mostly macrolide resistance, among unvaccinated children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Precise sieving of N 2 and CH 4 was achieved by controlling Si/Al. • The diffusion capacity of NaK-PHI@GI was significantly enhanced. • NaK-PHI@GI showed excellent regeneration ability, and its regeneration could be realized by vacuuming at room temperature. The separation of nitrogen and methane via molecular sieving is often accompanied by mass transfer limitations. Here, we report a NaK-PHI zeolite that not only achieves the precise sieving of nitrogen and methane, but also significantly enhances the diffusion rate of nitrogen. By adjusting the framework composition of the zeolite, the metal cation in the NaK-PHI channel allows smaller nitrogen molecules to enter the channel but blocks methane entry, achieving precise N 2 /CH 4 sieving. A growth inhibitor (GI) was introduced to reduce the crystal size of the NaK-PHI@GI zeolite, and the adsorption kinetics were optimized, resulting in a diffusion rate enhancement of approximately three times; NaK-PHI@GI also exhibited an enhanced nitrogen adsorption capacity (10.5 cm3 g−1) as well as a higher nitrogen/methane uptake ratio (20.9). After multiple cycle-breakthrough tests and regeneration processes involving evacuation and depressurization, NaK-PHI@GI maintained a stable separation capacity, confirming its good recyclability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Mordenite with ammonium exchange were prepared for effective CH 4 /N 2 adsorbents. • CH 4 /N 2 selectivity significant increase on NH 4 -MOR as the ammonium exchange degree increases. • The introduction of the ammonium ion significantly amplifies the disparity in CH 4 and N 2 affinity on NH 4 -MOR. • NH 4 -MOR exhibited excellent CH 4 /N 2 separation performance and stability. Adsorption-based CH 4 /N 2 separation processes are promising and attractive, but remain a challenging task due to the lack of effective adsorbents. In this study, we present a strategy for the straightforward ammonium exchange of low-cost non-polluting sodium-type mordenite (MOR), obtaining MOR with varying ammonium contents (NH 4 -MOR) and exploring their effects on the CH 4 /N 2 separation performance. The results showed that the CH 4 /N 2 selectivity significant increase on NH 4 -MOR as the ammonium exchange degree increases. In particular, NH 4 -MOR-95 % exhibits a selectivity of CH 4 /N 2 up to 4.6, far exceeding that of the pristine Na-MOR (1.9), while also maintaining a high level of CH 4 adsorption (16.8 cm3/g) at 25 °C and 1 bar. The simulation results demonstrate that the introduction of ammonium ion significantly enhances the disparity in CH 4 and N 2 affinity on NH 4 -MOR. The breakthrough experiments confirmed that NH 4 -MOR has outstanding CH 4 /N 2 separation ability. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that this exceptional separation properties of NH 4 -MOR are maintained at a high level even with an increased activation temperature. This fully validates the effectiveness of the ion exchange strategy and the potential applications of mordenite in the efficient CH 4 /N 2 separation in the industry, where it was previously underutilized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Pure-phase K-MER with controllable Si/Al ratios were synthesized. • The control of the Si/Al ratio enabled precise regulation of the pore size on the sub-angstrom scale. • K-MER-2.7 showed a hindering effect on CH 4 and exhibited outstanding N 2 /CH 4 selectivity. • Breakthrough experiments confirmed the practical feasibility of zeolite separation of N 2 /CH 4 mixtures for the first time. The separation of nitrogen (N 2) and methane (CH 4) is a difficult challenge in the field of natural gas purification, especially the removal of small amounts of N 2. Here, we have successfully developed a series of pure-phase MER zeolites with controllable Si/Al ratios, showing different N 2 trapping effects through an oxalic acid-assisted synergistic fast dynamic crystallization strategy. Among them, K-MER-2.7 showed the most remarkable result, with an N 2 adsorption capacity of up to 0.48 mmol g−1 at 273 K, and an N 2 /CH 4 uptake ratio greater than 10. This was attributed to a narrowing of the pores to form ultra-micropores that limited the uptake of larger sized CH 4 , leading to excellent N 2 /CH 4 selectivity (85.6). Adsorption kinetic experiments and molecular dynamics simulations corroborated the severe hindering effect towards CH 4. Breakthrough experiments with a variety of feed gas compositions at different flow rates confirmed the practical feasibility of applying K-MER-2.7 to separate N 2 /CH 4 gas mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Older adults aged 65 years and above have a disproportionately higher utilization of emergency healthcare, of which Emergency Department (ED) visits are a key component. They experience higher degree of multimorbidity and mobility issues compared to younger patients, and are consequently more likely to experience a health event which requires an ED visit. During their visit, older adults tend to require more extensive workup, therefore spending a greater amount of time in the ED. Compared to the younger population, older adults are more susceptible to adverse events following discharge. Considering these factors, investigating the determinants of ED utilisation would be valuable. In this paper, we present a protocol for a systematic review of the determinants of ED utilisation among communitydwelling older adults aged 65 years and above, applying Andersen and Newman's model of healthcare utilisation. Furthermore, we aim to present other conceptual frameworks for healthcare utilisation and propose a holistic approach for understanding the determinants of ED utilisation by older persons. Methods: The protocol is developed in accordance with the standards of Campbell Collaboration guidelines for systematic reviews, with reference to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Review of Interventions. Medline, Embase and Scopus will be searched for studies published from 2000 to 2020. Studies evaluating more than one determinant for ED utilisation among older adults aged 65 years and above will be included. Search process and selection of studies will be presented in a PRISMA flow chart. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) determinants of ED utilisation will be grouped according to individual and societal determinants. Quality of the studies will be assessed using Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS). Discussion: In Andersen and Newman's model, individual determinants include predisposing factors, enabling and illness factors, and societal determinants include technology and social norms. Additional conceptual frameworks for healthcare utilisation include Health Belief Model, Social Determinants of Health and Big Five personality traits. By incorporating the concepts of these models, we hope to develop a holistic approach of conceptualizing the factors that influence ED utilisation among older people. Systematic review registration: This protocol is registered on 8 May 2021 with PROSPERO's International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42021253770). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the presence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fungi in traditional drugs collected in Vietnam. Materials and Methods: 505 samples of 88 different traditional drugs were obtained from 10 hospitals in Nghe An, a central province of Vietnam. AFB1 contamination was determined by a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay. Fungal contaminants were determined according to WHO regulations, and the obtained Aspergillus strains were characterized via morphological and molecular identification. Results: 24 samples (4.75% of the total samples) were contaminated with AFB1, and the average concentration was 0.062±0.030 µg/kg (ranging from 0.009 to 0.097 µg/kg). Fungal isolates were detected from 174 samples (34.45%). The genus Aspergillus was predominant (82.76% of the isolates), but Rhizopus, Alternaria, Corynespora, and yeast were also found in a few samples. Among 144 strains of Aspergillus recovered, A. niger (105 strains) was most frequently found, followed by A. tubingensis (31 strains), A. oryzae (4 strains), and A. flavus (4 strains). Conclusion: This study suggests a low risk of aflatoxin B1 exposure to consumers of traditional drugs in Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adverse effects of Fructus Psoraleae (FP), especially liver injury, have attracted wide attention in recent years. To establish a system to explore potential hepatotoxic targets and the chief culprit of liver injury based on clinical experience, network pharmacological method, molecular docking, and in vitro and in vivo experiments. Clinical applications and adverse reactions to FP were obtained from public literatures. Components absorbed in the blood were selected as candidates to search for potential active targets (PATs) of FP. Subsequently, potential pharmacological core targets (PPCTs) were screened through the "drug targets-disease targets" network. Non-drug active targets (NPATs) were obtained by subtracting the PPCTs from the PATs. The potential hepatotoxic targets (PHTs) of FP were the intersection targets obtained from Venn analysis using NPATs, hepatotoxic targets, and adverse drug reaction (ADR) targets provided by the databases. Then, potential hepatotoxic components and targets were obtained using the "NPATS-component" network relationship. Molecular docking and in vitro and in vivo hepatotoxicity experiments were performed to verify the targets and related components. Overall, 234 NPATs were acquired from our analysis, and 6 targets were identified as PHTs. Results from molecular docking and in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that angelicin is the leading cause of liver injury in FP, and VKORC1 plays an important role. The results indicate that six targets, especially VKORC1 , are associated with the PHTs of FP, and angelicin is the leading culprit involved in FP liver injury via inhibition of VKORC1. [Display omitted] • The occurrence of hepatic toxicity and the screening methods of toxic targets of FP are closely related to the practical clinical application. • A robust screening system was established to explore the hepatotoxic targets of FP. • Angelicin participates in Fructus Psoraleae (FP) liver injury by inhibiting VKORC1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zeolite‐supported metal catalysts have important applications in various catalytic reactions, but unveiling their atomic‐scale structures is always a grand challenge. The developed transmission electron microscopy (TEM) characterization techniques, e.g., integrated differential‐phase contrast (iDPC) scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) is emerging as a powerful tool for visualizing the electron beam‐sensitive materials at atomic resolution, thus, providing new opportunities for imaging the exact configurations of metal species in the various channels of zeolites. This emerging topic summarizes recent progress utilizing iDPC‐STEM‐related technique for determination of the structures of metal species in zeolites that should offer insights into the structure‐property relationships of zeolite‐supported metal catalysts. A brief perspective about the new TEM technique is also presented, showing prospects in this field that will stimulate further scientific research in zeolite‐supported metal catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the performances of male cross-dressers on Douyin and its underlying cultural ideologies in neo/non-liberal China through critical discourse analysis. Our analysis of male cross-dressing performers' portrayal of female roles in mother-son/daughter relationships, heterosexual romantic relationships, and friendships shows that such performances highlight four stereotypical feminine characters: fragile, controlling, materialistic, and insincere. We conclude that traditional Chinese gender ideologies, commercialization, and the government's regulation have given birth to this apolitical form of comedy that portrays women as inferior to men and disciplines them to conform to traditional gendered roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Human toxocariasis is a widespread zoonosis for which a chemotherapy decision and therapy effectiveness are difficult to determine. We aimed to investigate the kinetic profile of clinical and laboratory findings and treatment outcome of patients with toxocariasis in Vietnam. Methods: The prospective study was conducted between October 2017 and June 2019. The diagnosis of toxocariasis was established based on clinical, laboratory (eosinophilia, raised IgE concentration) and serological (positive Toxocara IgG ELISA) evaluation as well as the exclusion of another helminthic co‐infection. The patients were followed up after seven days, then one, three and six months after chemotherapy by thiabendazole. Results: The study involved 80 patients with a mean age of 41.6 ± 15.2 years of whom 58.8% were female. At three and six months after chemotherapy, most patients demonstrated resolution of clinical signs and symptoms, eosinophil count and IgE concentration but not in the proportion of IgG seropositivity. Skin lesions and eosinophilia resolved earlier than the other symptoms (one month after treatment). About four‐fifths of the patients were "cured" after three and six months of follow‐up; 33.8% showed side effects to thiabendazole therapy but no severe events were reported. The most common adverse reaction was neurologic symptoms followed by gastrointestinal or skin manifestations which lasted as long as 4 days. Conclusions: In toxocariasis patients, cutaneous manifestations and eosinophilia resolve more rapidly than other clinical and laboratory findings while IgG titre has a very slow kinetic after therapy. Thiabendazole seems to be a potential alternative for the treatment of human toxocariasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The nickel‐rich lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) are widely used as the energy source of new energy vehicles. But the relatively poor safety performance results in serious accidents, which attracts more and more attention of researchers. In this study, the thermal runaway (TR) features of a pouch cell consisted of LiNi0.5Mn0.3Co0.2O2/graphite are investigated by an extended volume‐accelerating rate calorimeter combined with resistance monitoring, voltage monitoring, and video imaging technologies. Based on these techniques, the TR process is divided into five representative stages, that is, the start of self‐heating, the venting of flammable gas, the volatilization of electrolyte, the melt of separator, and the internal short circuit of LIBs. Besides, a lumped‐parameter thermal model with high precision is developed to predict and explain the TR process. The heat generated by the decomposition of solid electrolyte interface (SEI), the reaction of anode‐electrolyte, the multiple phase transition of the cathode is considered as the main heating source of TR. The resistance shows a higher sensitivity to the SEI decomposition than temperature does. The venting process along with the evaporation of electrolytes provides significant opportunities to obstruct the TR. The interval time between voltage drop and temperature rise is 6.9 seconds, which is beneficial for the early warning of TR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the application of a Predictive Surrogate Model (PSM) for the prediction of the fluid and solid variables in the abdominal aorta by integrating Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) techniques. The Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) solver, which serves as the Full-Order Model (FOM), can capture the blood hemodynamics and structural mechanics precisely for a variety of physiological states, namely the rest and exercise conditions. Detailed analyses have been conducted on velocity components, pressure, Wall Shear Stress (WSS), and Oscillatory Shear Index (OSI) variables. Firstly, the reconstruction error has been derived based on a specific number of POD bases to assess the Reduced Order Model (ROM). Notably, the reconstruction error for velocity components in the rest condition is one order of magnitude higher than that in the exercise condition, yet both remained below 10%. This error for pressure is even more minimal, being less than 1%. The PSM is evaluated against rest and exercise conditions, exhibiting promising results despite the inherent complexities of the physiological conditions. Despite the inherent complexities of phenomena in the aorta, the predictive model demonstrates consistent error magnitudes for velocity components and wall-related indices, while solid variables show slightly higher errors. • Predictive Surrogate Model (PSM) is used for predicting fluid and solid variables in the abdominal aorta. • POD and LSTM techniques are integrated into the PSM. • Detailed analyses are conducted on velocity components, pressure, WSS, and OSI variables. • The PSM is evaluated for rest and exercise conditions despite the complexities of physiological conditions. • The predictive model demonstrates consistent error magnitudes for velocity components and wall-related indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sparse matrix computations are among the most important computational patterns, commonly used in geometry processing, physical simulation, graph algorithms, and other situations where sparse data arises. In many cases, the structure of a sparse matrix is known a priori, but the values may change or depend on inputs to the algorithm. We propose a new methodology for compile‐time specialization of algorithms relying on mixing sparse and dense linear algebra operations, using an extension to the widely‐used open source Eigen package. In contrast to library approaches optimizing individual building blocks of a computation (such as sparse matrix product), we generate reusable sparsity‐specific implementations for a given algorithm, utilizing vector intrinsics and reducing unnecessary scanning through matrix structures. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our technique on a benchmark of artificial expressions to quantitatively evaluate the benefit of our approach over the state‐of‐the‐art library Intel MKL. To further demonstrate the practical applicability of our technique we show that our technique can improve performance, with minimal code changes, for mesh smoothing, mesh parametrization, volumetric deformation, optical flow, and computation of the Laplace operator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis that commonly affects children and its etiology remains unknown. Growing evidence suggests that immune-mediated inflammation and immune cells in the peripheral blood play crucial roles in the pathophysiology of KD. The objective of this research was to find important biomarkers and immune-related mechanisms implicated in KD, along with their correlation with immune cells in the peripheral blood. Gene microarray data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) was utilized in this study. Three datasets, namely GSE63881 (341 samples), GSE73463 (233 samples), and GSE73461 (279 samples), were obtained. To find intersecting genes, we employed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Subsequently, functional annotation, construction of protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks, and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression were performed to identify hub genes. The accuracy of these hub genes in identifying KD was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Furthermore, Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA) was employed to explore the composition of circulating immune cells within the assessed datasets and their relationship with the hub gene markers. WGCNA yielded eight co-expression modules, with one hub module (MEblue module) exhibiting the strongest association with acute KD. 425 distinct genes were identified. Integrating WGCNA and DEGs yielded a total of 277 intersecting genes. By conducting LASSO analysis, five hub genes (S100A12, MMP9, TLR2, NLRC4 and ARG1) were identified as potential biomarkers for KD. The diagnostic value of these five hub genes was demonstrated through ROC curve analysis, indicating their high accuracy in diagnosing KD. Analysis of the circulating immune cell composition within the assessed datasets revealed a significant association between KD and various immune cell types, including activated dendritic cells, neutrophils, immature dendritic cells, macrophages, and activated CD8 T cells. Importantly, all five hub genes exhibited strong correlations with immune cells. Activated dendritic cells, neutrophils, and macrophages were closely associated with the pathogenesis of KD. Furthermore, the hub genes (S100A12, MMP9, TLR2, NLRC4, and ARG1) are likely to participate in the pathogenic mechanisms of KD through immune-related signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) scheme for visible light communications (VLC) based on single carrier (SC) transmission and frequency-domain successive interference cancellation. The scheme can achieve low peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR), a good balance between throughput and fairness, and a higher system capacity for a larger number of users. We show by experiment that SC with a lower PAPR offers improved bit error rate (BER) performance compared with the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Nanosized IM-5 zeolite is prepared by decreasing the amount of Al source of the precursors. • Nano-IM-5 zeolite has good CH 4 /N 2 adsorption and separation properties. • The presence of mesopores significantly enhances the mass-transfer rate. Reduction of zeolite crystal size from the micron scale to the nanoscale leads to a significant increase in specific surface area, favoring mass-transfer pathways. Here, we have prepared nanoscale (ca. 30–80 nm) IM-5@100 zeolite (IMF type) by a facile strategy of regulating the amount of Al source in the starting gel, and have investigated its CH 4 /N 2 adsorption and separation properties. We found that on decreasing the amount of Al source, the crystal size of the product changed significantly, decreasing from strips of length about 1 μm to irregular nanocrystals. Compared with micron-sized IM-5@50, the mesopore volume of IM-5@100 was increased fourfold from 0.12 cm3/g to 0.49 cm3/g, its external surface area was increased from 38 m2/g to 118 m2/g, and its DFT pore size distribution based on N 2 adsorption/desorption showed a mesopore distribution in the range 5–10 nm. Adsorption kinetics tests showed that nano-IM-5@100 can achieve adsorption equilibrium more swiftly and exhibits better mass-transfer performance. Moreover, IM-5@100 showed good adsorption capacity for CH 4 (17.8 cm3/g) and high IAST selectivity (4.7) for CH 4 /N 2 (50:50, v/v). Breakthrough experiments have indicated that IM-5@100 permits efficient practical separation of CH 4 /N 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Aiming to the problems of high circulating current and low efficiency caused by the traditional strategy of dual active bridge (DAB) converter under light load, in this paper, simple graphical optimization method (GSO) is proposed to improve the efficiency of dual active bridge converter. Through the contour plot of transmission power and current stress, optimal efficiency point can be obtained by tangent of contour map under condition of constant power, and heavily calculation or complex iterations of existing conventional control strategies are avoided. Moreover, analysis of proposed graphical current stress optimization is addressed, and controller design of proposed method is given and described. Efficiency comparison between traditional modulation strategy and GSO is given to show the advantage of proposed mothed. An experimental prototype is built to verify the analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radio-over-free-space-optics (Ro-FSO) technology may pave the way towards a ubiquitous platform for seamless integration of radio and optical networks without expensive optical fiber cabling. In this paper, to increase the capacity of Ro-FSO, mode division multiplexing (MDM) of two modes has been capitalized in a three-channel WDM system spaced by 1 nm over a FSO link of 80 km, resulting in a 120 Gbps six-channel Ro-FSO system. The SNR and received power of MDM of two Laguerre-Gaussian modes LG00 and LG01 is compared with respect to MDM of two transverse donut modes. The performance of four-level quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) of radio subcarriers in the WDM-MDMs system is investigated for mitigation of frequency-selective fading under strong atmospheric turbulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We documented a new type of self-sourced unconventional reservoir consisting of interbedded organic-rich marlstone and calcareous conglomerates developed in lacustrine carbonate successions in the Eogene Shahejie formation (Es 3 3 ) of Shulu Sag, Bohai Bay Basin. The Es 3 3 interval used to be regarded as a set of homogeneous source rock for oil plays in the upper strata due to their high abundance of organic-matter. However, the Es 3 3 interval actually has very strong heterogeneity in their organic richness and hydrocarbon generation ability among different stratigraphic sequences (the Es 3 3 interval can be divided into sequence SQ1 to SQ5 from bottom to up). To better understand the heterogeneity in the unconventional reservoir and its effect on the hydrocarbon retention and migration, thin sections and scanning electronic microscopes were used to characterize the pore system in the reservoir, together with a amount of collected well database including wireline logging, gas logging, and physical property data (e.g. porosity and permeability). Intensive sampling from the Es 3 3 interval of Well ST1H was performed and samples were measured with Rock-Eval and TOC analysis. The rock extracts were analyzed with SARA and gas chromatography - Mass spectrum (GC-MS) analysis to examine the fluid geochemical characteristics and molecular biomarkers composition. The results show that although the whole Es 3 3 are characterized by low and ultra-low porosity and permeability, but the pore types in different lithology are different. The organic-rich marlstones develop large amount of organic matter pore and dissolved mineral pores, while the conglomerates developed inter-partical or inter-crystalline mineral pores dominantly. The sequence SQ2 has high quality of source rock for hydrocarbon generation, possessing moderate to high content of organic matter (TOC range 2–5 wt %) with Type I-II kerogen predominantly, basically in the thermal maturity stage of the peak oil window. OM and lithology play significant roles in controlling hydrocarbon expulsion and retention. Oil retained in the organic-rich marlstone was observed to absorb on the surface of OM and clay-rich matrix, which is also supported by the positive correlation between retained oil (represented by Rock-Eval S1) and TOC. Organic-lean conglomerates in the sequence SQ3 obtain abnormal high content of low mature oil determined by biomarker composition, which suggests the oil were derived from oil migration and mixture. Thermal maturity profile based on hydrocarbon biomarkers composition of rock extract provides a method to determine the effect of the hydrocarbon migration or retention within source rock. The organic-lean intervals adjacent or close to organic-rich source rock can be favorable targets for oil exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plantaricin NC8, a two-peptide non-lantibiotic class IIb bacteriocin composed of PLNC8α and PLNC8β and derived from Lactobacillus plantarum ZJ316, has been shown to be highly potent against a range of bacteria and fungi. In this study, we assessed the antimicrobial mechanism of plantaricin NC8 against the most sensitive bacterial strain, Micrococcus luteus CGMCC 1.193. The results showed that plantaricin NC8 induced membrane permeabilization and caused cell membrane disruption to M. luteus CGMCC 1.193 cells, as evidenced by electrolyte efflux, loss of proton motive force, and ATP depletion within a few minutes of plantaricin NC8 treatment. Furthermore, scanning and transmission electron microscopy showed that plantaricin NC8 had a drastic impact on the structure and integrity of M. luteus CGMCC 1.193 cells. In addition, we found that either PLNC8α or PLNC8β alone exhibited membrane permeabilization activity, but that PLNC8β had higher permeabilization activity, and their individual effects were not as strong as that of the combined compounds as plantaricin NC8. Finally, we showed that lipid II is not the specific target of plantaricin NC8 against M. luteus CGMCC 1.193. Our study reveals the antimicrobial mechanism of plantaricin NC8 against M. luteus CGMCC 1.193. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose an experimental demonstration of sparse code multiple access (SCMA) based visible light communications (VLC) system, in which the multi-dimensional codewords selected from a predefined codebook set are used to encode the transmitted data and a message passing algorithm (MPA) based multi-user receiver is used to detect the multiplexed codewords. Compared with the orthogonal frequency-division multiple access scheme, the SCMA scheme offers 150% overloading gain in the number of supported users at the cost of slightly decreased transmission performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Galectin‑3 is an important mediator of cardiac fibrosis and heart failure. Cell viability of cardiomyocytes was measured using a CCK‑8 assay; flow cytometry was employed for the detection of the cell cycle and cardiomyocytes apoptosis. Reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting was performed to examine the expression of associated genes and proteins. The present study demonstrated that overexpression of galectin‑3 significantly decreased the viability of cardiomyocytes in a time‑dependent manner, with simultaneous arrest of the cell cycle and induction of apoptosis. The expression levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and B‑cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‑2) were decreased and Bcl‑2‑associated X protein (Bax) was increased in cardiomyocytes with galectin‑3 overexpression. However, inhibition of galectin‑3 by intravenous tail vein injection of a galectin‑3‑targeting short hairpin RNA‑expressing vector during hypertension‑induced heart failure in Dahl hypertensive rats increased rat survival and body weight. Inhibition of galectin‑3 also increased the expression of PCNA and Bcl‑2 and reduced the expression of Bax in the cardiac tissue of hypertensive rats. These results demonstrate the therapeutic potential of targetinggalectin‑3 for the treatment of cardiac disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strains belonging to the genus of Staphylococci, such as Staphylococcus aureus are common pathologic bacteria which may cause nosocomial cross infection and food contamination. Plantaricin EF (PlnEF), a two-peptide nonlantibiotic bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus plantarum strains, shows great inhibitory effects against Gram-positive Staphylococci strains. To overproduce this two-peptide bacteriocin, pln E and pln F genes were cloned into pET32a (+) vector and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli by fusion with His6-tag in this study. The purified fusion proteins were cleaved by enterokinase, then PlnE and PlnF peptides without extra amino acids were obtained by a two-step purification method, ultrafiltration centrifuge (10 kDa) followed by a reverse-phase HPLC. Purity of PlnE and PlnF, determined by analytical HPLC, is ∼98%, and their molecular mass confirmed by ESI-MS was 3545.14 Da and 3703.1 Da, respectively. It was found that the two peptides had significant antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus citreus and Staphylococcus aureus strains and they functioned synergistically. PlnEF exerted its bactericidal activity against Staphylococci strains by permeabilizing the cell membrane, causing influx and efflux of various molecules across the transmembrane barrier, eventually leading to cell death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduces a novel architecture for next generation passive optical network (PON) based on the employment of sparse code multiple access (SCMA) combined with orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation, in which the binary data is directly encoded to multi-dimensional codewords and then spread over OFDM subcarriers. The feasibility of SCMA-OFDM-PON is verified with experimental demonstration. We show that the SCMA-OFDM offers 150% overloading gain in the number of optical network units compared with the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present interleave division multiple access (IDMA) scheme combined with orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) for passive optical network, which offers improved transmission performance and good chromatic dispersion tolerance. The interleavers are employed to separate different users and the generated chips are modulated on OFDM subcarriers. The feasibility of IDMA-OFDM-PON is experimentally verified with a bitrate of 3.3 Gb/s per user. Compared with OFDMA, IDMA-OFDM offers 8 and 6 dB gains in term of receiver sensitivity in the cases of 2 and 4 users, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the positive role of English morphology in word learning, the existing evidence is mainly on young L1 native speakers' receptive word gains. This intervention study, which employed a pretest-posttest control-experimental group design, was conducted to explore the effects of morphological training on multiple aspects of academic vocabulary learning. Participants (N = 50) were college EFL learners from southern China, who received either traditional vocabulary instruction or morphological training for 6 weeks. The 2 × 2 ANOVA analysis revealed significant instructional effects on receptive academic vocabulary learning, but not for productive academic word knowledge. Results are discussed in light of the important connection between morphology and receptive word learning, and the nature of productive vocabulary acquisition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, peer support has emerged as a form of treatment for mental health conditions alongside traditional forms of treatment. We conducted an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses to provide a unified perspective of the effectiveness of peer support in mental health. This umbrella review was developed in line with PRISMA recommendations for reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO's International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42020205540). The AMSTAR 2 instrument was used to assess the quality of included reviews. While the treatment effects of peer support are broad-based, a greater number of reviews found improvement in recovery-oriented outcomes compared to clinical and psychosocial ones. No major adverse effects were associated with peer support. In contrast to traditional treatments, peer support is a relatively under-explored field and possibly as a result, many of the studies are low in quality. However, the potential for peer support to improve outcomes in mental health conditions cannot be ignored. More rigorous research should be conducted to fortify the evidence base, taking into consideration peer-patient characteristics, implementation factors and cultural nuances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose Clinically, patients under chronic psychological stress (PS) appear to be more susceptible to occlusal disharmony (OD) compared with those without PS. OD was proved to introduce anxiety-like stress. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to investigate whether OD would affect psychological stress-induced anxiety and its underlying mechanisms. Methods Chronic PS was induced by a communication box, and OD was produced by bonding a 0.3 mm-thick crown on the right maxillary first molar of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Sixty-seven rats were randomly divided into 8 groups: (A) chronic PS plus OD group (n = 6); (B) chronic PS plus sham OD group (n = 6); (C) chronic PS only group (n = 6); (D) OD group (n = 6); (E) sham OD group (n = 6); (F) control group (n = 6); (G) naive group (n = 6); (H) foot-shock group (n = 25). Open-field test (OFT) and elevated plus maze test (EPM) were conducted on the 7th, 21th, 35th day to measure the anxiety level of each group except naive and foot-shock group. In addition, corticosterone (CORT) level in serum, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-HT 2A receptor (5-HT 2A R) expressions in prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampal CA1 and dentate gyrus (DG) areas were measured on the 35th day to elucidate the mechanism(s) by which the exacerbation occurred. Results The significant differences in OFT and EPM tests on day 21 or day 35 between groups ( p < 0.01) indicated the successful establishment of animal model of PS or OD. And there was a significant increase in CORT concentration in serum ( p < 0.01), 5-HT expressions in PFC, hippocampal DG areas and 5-HT 2A R expressions in PFC, hippocampal CA1 areas ( p < 0.05) in group A, B, C, D compared with group F. Similar results were also found in group A, B, C, D when compared with group G ( p < 0.05) except 5-HT expression in DG area in group C and D ( p > 0.05), together with a gradual decrease in values of all the parameters mentioned above from group A to group G. Conclusion The significant changes in exploratory behaviors, serum CORT concentration, 5-HT and 5-HT 2A R expressions induced by OD in rats with or without chronic PS, and more obvious alterations in rats with chronic PS, may indicate that OD may be a promoting factor for anxiety through both peripheral and central pathways via the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and 5-HT system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discrete multi-tone (DMT) based passive optical network (PON) is a subject of great interest for recent research works, due to its high spectral efficiency, high flexibility and high tolerance to the fiber chromatic dispersion. In this paper, we investigate the transmission performance of DMT transmission for next generation PON, including the optimization of modulation index and the power fading of double sideband (DSB) induced by chromatic dispersion. A new single sideband (SSB) DMT modulation based on a dual-driver Mach-Zehnder modulator (DDMZM) is also presented, which can eliminate the power fading. The simulation results show that 4 × 25 Gb/s DSB DMT-PON combining with wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) and the single wavelength 100 Gb/s SSB-DMT are both promising candidates for future access network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organic-rich shale in the Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation (Є 1n) has great gas resources potential in south China but have no commercial gas production achieved yet. The EYY1 well is the first well located at the eastern edge of the upper Yangtze plate to obtain success in commercial gas production in the Niutitang Formation, providing a rare case for better understanding gas enrichment mechanism in the Niutitang shale. By observation of cores and thin sections, bulk rock X-ray diffraction mineral analysis, the Niutitang shale is classified into three kinds of organic-rich lithofacies: calcareous shale (CS), siliceous shale (SS) and transitional shale (TS). The organic matter (OM) and OM-hosted pore in different lithofacies were examined by using scanning electron microscope (SEM) with argon-ion polishing sample treating, accompanied by energy spectrum test and SEM image analysis. The results show that: (1) Shale lithofacies control the organic matter type and development degree of organic matter-hosted pores (OMPs). (2) CS have plenty of depositional organic matter (DOM) in which nano-micron sized OMPs are poorly developed with surface porosity ranges between 3.05% and 9.08%. Siliceous and transitional shale have more migrated organic matter (MOM), which possess more sponge-like nano-sized pores with surface porosities range of 10.7%–31.5%. The pore development degree and gas content of siliceous shale is higher than that of transitional and calcareous shale. (3) Organic matter abundance (TOC content), type, and mineral composition also have important constrain on OMPs development. TOC has a positive correlation to the OMPs, whereas TOC 4 wt% or so is a balance point between the influence of organic matter content and formation compaction on pore development, higher TOC cannot prevent the pore from collapsing due to compaction in this region. The OMPs associated with or adjacent to clay minerals in siliceous shale are more developed, which indicate clay minerals which have positive effects on the adsorption of organic matter and the formation and preservation of OMPs. • Cambrian Niutitang shale includes three lithofacies. • The migrated organic matter has more developed pores than depositional organic matter. • The development of OM-hosted pore is influenced by lithofacies, TOC, and clay mineral. • Clay minerals enhance the OM-hosted pore development in pore scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SnSb alloys with high theoretical capacities for lithium-ion batteries always suffer from the quick capacity fading owing to their huge volume change. In this study, SnSb nanoparticles are fixed in the nanochannels of flexible mats composed of graphene, and multichannel porous carbon nanofiber mats which are prepared by electrospinning and subsequent thermal treatment at 700 °C in Ar/H 2 . The flexible mats can be bent for 180 degree without any crack and can be unfolded as usual. As binder-free anodes, the mats with suitable ratio of GO in precursor solution show discharge capacity of 617 mA h/g at 300th cycle at a current density of 100 mA/g, much higher than those similar nanofibers added with more or less GO. The flexible mats can deliver a rate capacity of 369 mA h/g at a current density of 2 A/g, also higher than those similar nanofibers. The electronic tests show that the graphene asrising from GO can linearly improve the conductivity of the mats. The enhanced properties of Sn x Sb-graphene-carbon flexible mats can be attributed to the improved conductivity and mechanical property due to the presence of graphene, the multichannels to accommodate the volume change of Sn x Sb during lithiation/delithiation, and carbon nanofiber mats to provide high-way and diffusion channels for electrons and ions. It is believed that the electrospinning method combined with graphene could be a useful approach to prepare flexible mats for supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries, and fuel cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Paleogene lacustrine marlstone is an important source rock for giant oil fields found in Eastern China, which presently has become a main exploration target for tight oil resources. However, seldom studies have been conducted on possible variations in geochemical features of lacustrine marlstones during on-going burial process as well as the thermal evolution. Hydrous pyrolysis experiments were performed using organic-rich thermally immature marlstone samples from the Shulu Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, in order to have a better understanding in the formation process and accumulation mechanism for tight oil retained within the source rock. Laboratorial data of samples including solid residues, retained hydrocarbon (extracted bitumen) and expelled hydrocarbons were analyzed. The results indicate that quantity and composition of retained hydrocarbon are controlled by thermal maturity of the source rocks. Mass balance of organic matter provides a clue for recovering the amount of gaseous/light hydrocarbon retained in the solid residues. The formation and accumulation of tight oil mostly takes place in the oil window–wet gas window, which consists of four stages: (1) In the thermal maturity range of 0.5–0.8% Ro, the amount of retained and expelled hydrocarbons appears to increase synchronously; (2) At 0.8–1.0% Ro, the retained hydrocarbons reach maximum amount while the expelled hydrocarbons keep constant; and the gas to oil ratio of retained hydrocarbon (GOR R ) in the above two stages keeps at a low level; (3) Over the maturity of 1.0–1.1% Ro, the amount of retained hydrocarbons decreases while expelled hydrocarbons increases, during which GOR R increases significantly and retained hydrocarbons characterized by more lighter hydrocarbon composition; (4) At about 1.3–1.5% Ro the amount of retained hydrocarbons is less than that of expelled hydrocarbons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the driving force behind China's economic and technological development. However, these enterprises often face challenges in financing their research and development (R&D) activities due to limited financing opportunities. Previous research has primarily focused on the resource attributes of government innovation subsidies, which serve as a crucial funding source for these SMEs. This paper aims to explore the impact of government innovation subsidies on firms from a novel perspective, considering the signaling characteristics of these subsidies. The theoretical foundation of this study lies in the asymmetric information theory and the signaling mechanism through which government subsidies send signals about enterprises. The study uses enterprise data from 2012 to 2019 to investigate the effect of government subsidies on the R&D investment of enterprises listed on the SMEs Board in Chinese stock market. The results reveal a significantly positive effect of government subsidies on the R&D investment of SME Board–listed enterprises and verify the mediating role of financing constraints in this effect. The extent to which government subsidies influence the R&D investment of SME Board–listed enterprises is associated with the enterprises' ownership characteristics, debt ratios, and times interest earned ratios. This study contributes to the literature on the SMEs Board market and may provide the Chinese government insights into developing industry policies that maximize the effectiveness of government subsidies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal maturity has a significant impact on hydrocarbon generation and the storage capacity within shales, but explicit and quantitative characterization of that impact on continental shales is scarce. To better understand how thermal maturation affects the organic and inorganic changes of the continental shale reservoirs, hydrous pyrolysis was performed to simulate the maturation process. TOC, Rock-Eval and adsorption isotherms tests were used to obtain various geochemical parameters of the shale solid residues. The results indicate that with pyrolysis temperature increasing from ambient temperature to 550 °C, the vitrinite reflectance increases from 0.5% to 2.5% Ro and the TOC (total organic carbon) loss weight reaches 25%. Regarding porosity, the fraction of micro-to meso-pores in the shale increases with an increase in the pyrolysis temperature, whereas the macro-pores do not change significantly. The total amount of gas adsorption does not necessarily increase as the TOC is consumed, but the gas adsorption capacity per unit of TOC increases with increasing thermal maturity. Our finding provides theoretical modelling for identifying shale gas development prospective zones according to thermal maturity mapping and for predicting quantitatively the geochemical and inorganic changes that occur with thermal evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Continental shales in China are generally characterised by low thermal maturity and high clay content, characteristics that are significantly different from those of marine shales documented in the USA and elsewhere. Whether such continental shales have commercial hydrocarbon potential as marine shale in the USA is a question for the China petroleum industry. Recently, vertical drills in the lacustrine shales in the Yanchang Formation produced an average of two to five tons of oil and 1000–3000m3 of gas per day by reservoir hydraulic fracturing, which demonstrates that the continental shales can also achieve viable hydrocarbon production. Shale and gas samples collected from the Chang 7 (C7) and Chang 9 (C9) Members, Yanchang Formation in the southeastern Ordos Basin were examined for geochemical, petrologic and gas content analysis. The results show that the C7 and C9 Members developed a huge volume of organic-rich shales (with 2–4wt.% TOC) in the deep or semideep lacustrine, characterised primarily by type-II kerogen, with a relatively low thermal maturity and a vitrinite reflectance ranging from 0.5 to 1.5% Ro, which decreases from west to east. The hydrocarbon product varies with the thermal maturity. In the southwestern corner, the gas content measured by canister desorption equals 1.15–3.49m3/t rock, and the gas-absorption capacity ranges from 3 to 5m3/t rock, whereas in the eastern part, the gas content is low, and oil production is 1–4m3/day on average. Nanometre-scale pores and micro-fractures are well developed. All of this indicates that the continental shales in the southeastern Ordos Basin might have huge shale hydrocarbon resources. However, the clay content of the continental shales of C7 and C9, ranging from 40 to 60% of the bulk mineral content, are much higher than for gas produced in marine shales, which might lead to significant challenges for successful development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]