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Herein, a research is conducted on a AlGaN/GaN photoanode by depositing AlGaN with different thicknesses on the GaN epitaxial layer. The result shows that GaN with a thin AlGaN coating has significant enhancement on water‐splitting performance. The photocurrent of GaN photoanode with 5 nm AlGaN layer can be enhanced by a factor of 1.8, compared with planar GaN. The high performance of the AlGaN/GaN heterojunction photoanode is mainly attributed to the high electron–hole density generated at the interface between GaN and AlGaN layers and the quantum tunneling transport of photogenerated carriers. The high concentration of carriers can not only enhance the mobility of carriers but also increase the electron–hole pairs for the water oxidation reaction. The quantum tunneling effect can facilitate the carriers through the high‐energy barrier of AlGaN for photolysis reaction with electrolyte. Herein, a promising method for the application of GaN in efficient water splitting is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissolved oxygen (DO) in the electrolyte of aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) can cause irreversible side reactions in zinc metal anode. Therefore, the accurate detection of the DO concentration in the aqueous electrolyte is crucial for the performance promotion and mechanistic studies of AZIBs. Herein, organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) based DO sensors are developed by utilizing a carbon fiber (CF) derived CF/platinum/Nafion/polydimethylsiloxane composite as the gate electrode and amine-doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate as the channel semiconductor. Operating at a gate-source voltage of −0.1 V and a drain-source voltage of −0.025 V, the OECT-DO sensor demonstrates a high sensitivity (141 mV decade−1), a low detection limit (0.0011 mg L−1), a wide linear range (0.027–8.7 mg L−1), and good stability, which are attributed to the transconductance capability of OECT. The exceptional performance of the OECT-DO sensor enables the accurate monitoring of DO content in aqueous zinc sulfate electrolyte, which provides an opportunity to gain an insight of the impact of DO concentration on the zinc metal electrode. This study not only provides a cost-effective and efficient solution for detecting DO concentration in aqueous electrolytes, but also explores the potential applications of OECT sensors in the energy storage devices. • OECT sensor for detecting dissolved oxygen (DO) in aqueous electrolyte was fabricated for the first time. • The transconductance capability of OECT-DO effectively improved its DO sensing performances. • OECT-DO showed high sensitivity, low detection limit, wide linear range, and good stability. • The influence of DO in aqueous electrolyte on zinc-ion battery was studied with OECT-DO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Based on the results of long-term clinical and radiological follow-up studies of decompression and fusion with internal fixation for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS), we recognized that the direction of the pedicle screw affects the stability of the fixation. However, few studies have analyzed the role of pedicle screw insertion trajectory in disc height recovery after fusion. We therefore analyzed patients' general information, clinical efficacy and sagittal, coronal and implant parameters to determine whether there is a correlation between the insertion trajectory of screws and the recovery of intervertebral space height, with the ultimate aim to provide a basis for improving the clinical efficacy and radiological outcomes of patients with DLS and to identify an optimal technique for spine surgeons that would benefit patients with spondylolisthesis. Methods: From May 2015 to October 2019, patients who underwent single-segment decompression and fusion with internal fixation for DLS at our department were screened for enrollment in the study. The clinical history, pre- and post-operative lumbar sagittal parameters, intervertebral height, rate of recovery from spondylolisthesis and pedicle screw angle of inpatients were recorded and followed up for at least 6 months. Clinical assessments included the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for lower back and leg pain. Data on screw angle, fusion segment intervertebral space height and clinical outcome were the primary outputs. Pearson correlation and multivariate regression analyses were performed to investigate the relationship between the pedicle screw angle, the sagittal parameters of the fusion segment and clinical efficacy. Results: A total of 50 patients were initially enrolled, two patients were lost to follow-up after 6 months, 48 patients (17 men, 31 women) were eventually enrolled, and the follow-up rate was 96%. At least 6 months after the operation, vertebral spondylolisthesis improved to varying degrees [> 80% in 17 cases (35.4%) and > 20% in 43 cases (87.5%), respectively]. Changes in disc height (DH) were significantly associated with lower pedicle screw angle, while lumbar lordosis and segment lordosis remained the same. Multivariate regression analysis showed a significant negative correlation between the upper and lower pedicle screw angles and the change in DH (P < 0.05). At 2 weeks post-operation, the VAS score for low back pain and the ODI had improved significantly compared to pre-operation (P < 0.05). Conclusions: These results suggest that the Caudad insertion trajectory technique of pedicle screws may be an ideal alternative for the treatment of DLS. Trial Registration Number: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR): ChiCTR1800020368. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel magnetic field measurement method based on the magneto-volume effect is proposed. The magnetic field sensing structure fabricated by the proposed measurement method is made by the magnetic fluid (MF) partially filled into the hollow core fiber (HCF). The presence of air provides conditions for the change of MF volume with the magnetic field in the proposed sensing structure. Therefore, the magneto-volume effect is introduced into the magnetic field sensing mechanism. From 109.6 to 125.8 Gs, the peak wavelength shift is −65480 pm and the sensitivity is −4219.15 pm/Gs, which is 28.16 times higher than that of the fabricated contrast sensing structure. The sensitivity of the magnetic field sensing structure is greatly improved by introducing the magneto-volume effect compared with the contrast sensing structure. The response time and recovery time of the sensing structure are equally 0.2 s. Therefore, the sensing structure has high sensitivity, good linearity, and short response time, which has potential application prospects in magnetic field sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A magnetic field measurement method based on the magneto-volume effect of magnetic fluid (MF) and Fabry–Perot (FP) interferometer (FPI) is proposed, which has higher magnetic field sensitivity and shorter response time than the traditional optical fiber methods. The MF is partially injected into the fabricated FP cavity composed of two sections of SMFs and a capillary glass tube (CGT), where the FPI is made up of optical fiber end face and MF end face. When the external magnetic field is applied to the sensor, the volume change of MF will cause the change of air cavity length. Therefore, the reflection spectrum changes with external magnetic field due to the magneto-volume effect of MF. Experimental results show that the magnetic field sensor shows a sensitivity of 268.81 pm/Gs from 15.5 to 139.7 Gs even with a small amount of MF. The response time is 0.2 s at a step magnetic field of 7.7, 31.0, 46.5, and 139.7 Gs. In this work, the magnetic field sensor boasts high sensitivity, good repeatability, short response time, and low cost, which shows a great potential in applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly sensitive reflective Fabry–Perot (FP) magnetic field sensor using magnetic fluid (MF) based on the Vernier effect is presented and experimentally verified. Capillary action acts as an injection of MF into an FP cavity, which is composed of a single-mode fiber (SMF), capillary glass tube, and a short section of SMF coated with gold film. Vernier effect is formed by the MF cavity and air cavity in the FP magnetic field sensor, where the surface of MF is concave. The refractive index (RI) of MF depends on the magnetic field, and therefore, the wavelength of the reflection spectrum of the fabricated sensor can be sensitive to the magnetic field. The magnetic field sensor’s sensitivity is up to 1.02602 nm/Gs from 118.768 to 166.261 Gs, and the resolution is 0.0078 Gs. The sensor shows good linearity within the range of 71.317–231.751 Gs, and the linearity is larger than 0.999. In this article, a new type FP cavity fabricated by splicing SMF inside the capillary glass tube is proposed, and MF can be injected into the FP cavity, which can also be applied to other liquids to generate Vernier effect. The concave surface of MF is creatively applied to the sensors, and the experimental verification is carried out in a capillary glass tube, which provides a basis on the capillary action of other fluids in fiber sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we have successfully fabricated a GaN/InGaN nano-pyramids photoanode utilizing the selective area growth (SAG) method. This method has demonstrated a notable improvement in water splitting performance, with a photocurrent enhancement of approximately 1.5 times when compared to the planar GaN/InGaN sample. The remarkable enhancement in water splitting performance can be chiefly attributed to the presence of In-rich InGaN grown on the (10−11) plane and nano-pyramids morphology. The In-content in the pyramid GaN/InGaN structure is approximately 2.25 times higher than that of the planar sample, resulting in increased photon absorption due to a narrower bandgap. Moreover, the nano-pyramids morphology possesses a larger specific surface area, further enhancing its light absorption capacity. These combined advantages significantly contribute to the outstanding improvement in water splitting performance observed in the pyramid GaN/InGaN structure. Our work introduces a novel approach to harnessing GaN materials for highly efficient water splitting applications. • The InGaN quantum wells with nanopyramids structure are fabricated for larger surface area. • The In content of InGaN layer can get as high as 45 %. • The large surface areas, high In content can improve its water splitting performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Takayasu's arteritis (TA) may involve the pulmonary artery, which signifies a poor prognosis. This study investigated the features of TA patients with pulmonary artery involvement. Methods: One hundred and twenty-six inpatients diagnosed with TA were retrospectively studied. The clinical data of TA patients with and without pulmonary artery involvement were compared. The imaging features of pulmonary artery lesions in TA patients were evaluated. The treatment responses of pulmonary artery lesions were described, and the drug regimens in different treatment response groups were compared. Results: Among the patients with TA, 15.9% showed associated pulmonary artery involvement. The disease durations were significantly longer in patients with pulmonary artery involvement than in those without (108.0 months (53.5, 222.0) vs. 36.0 months (12.0, 120.0); p = 0.038). Hemoptysis was more common in TA patients with pulmonary artery involvement than in those without (15.0%, 3 cases vs. 0.0%; p < 0.001). TA patients with disease duration longer than 5 years showed a 3.42-fold higher odds of pulmonary artery involvement than those with a disease duration of less than 5 years (adjusted odds ratio, 3.42 (95% confidence interval, 1.20–9.76); p = 0.02). The most common imaging manifestations of pulmonary artery involvement were stenosis and occlusion. Among the six patients who had good response to treatment of pulmonary artery lesions, five were treated with the interleukin-6 receptor antagonist tocilizumab. Conclusions: TA patients with pulmonary artery involvement have a longer course of disease and more symptoms of hemoptysis. TA-related pulmonary artery lesions more commonly manifested as stenosis and occlusion. Tocilizumab may be effective for TA-related pulmonary vascular disease. Key Points • Disease duration longer than 5 years is associated with pulmonary artery involvement in TA. • Hemoptysis is a characteristic clinical symptom of TA with pulmonary artery involvement. • Tocilizumab may be more effective for pulmonary artery lesions of TA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the GaN/ZnO heterojunction and ZnO–NiO p–n junction core/shell nanocolumns were fabricated based on GaN nanocolumns. During the water splitting measurements, the photocurrent of GaN/ZnO/NiO (GZN) nanocolumns is 2.1 times higher than that of GaN nanocolumns. The enhancement is mainly due to the heterojunction between GaN and ZnO and the p–n junction between ZnO and NiO, which build strong built-in electric fields to accelerate the separation of photogenerated carriers. Besides, the refractive index of NiO and ZnO is smaller than that of GaN, which can facilitate the light absorption of GZN nanocolumns and improve the water splitting performance. Our work has greatly improved the photocatalytic efficiency of GaN for water splitting applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite nanostructures with plasmonic metals can introduce optical resonances and enhance optoelectronic performance significantly. In this work, novel lateral porous GaN/Ag nanowires (NWs) composite nanostructure‐based UV photodetectors were designed and fabricated, and the detectivity is up to 1015 Jones at V = 1 V with a fast response speed of ≈180 µs under UV illumination, which is more than ≈105 times faster than that of the photodetectors without Ag NWs. Combined with finite‐difference time‐domain simulations, the results show that such superior performance is mainly attributed to the surface plasmon resonance effect, which leads to a strong light trapping and efficient carriers' transport process at the lateral porous GaN/Ag NWs interfaces. This approach paves a way to realize ultra‐sensitive UV photodetectors with fast response through plasmonic metal/semiconductor nanocomposites, which are desirable for applications in optical switches, optical logical operations, and lightwave communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some previous studies already explored associations of Transcription Factor 7 Like 2 (TCF7L2) polymorphisms with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), with conflicting findings. Here, we aimed to better analyze the relationship between TCF7L2 polymorphisms and T2DM in a larger combined population by performing a meta-analysis. We searched Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science and CNKI for related articles. We calculated odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) to estimate whether there are genetic associations between TCF7L2 polymorphisms and T2DM. Totally 42 studies were included for this meta-analysis. The meta-analysis results demonstrated that TCF7L2 rs4506565, rs7901695, rs11196205 and rs12255372 polymorphisms were all significantly associated with susceptibility to T2DM in general population. Further subgroup analyses revealed similar significant findings in both Asians and Caucasians. Our findings supported that these TCF7L2 polymorphisms could be used to identify individuals at high risk of developing T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Meanwhile, serum glucocorticoid-regulated kinase-1 (SGK1) has been considered to be an important factor in the regulation of inflammation in some vascular disease. However, the role of SGK1 in hypoxia-induced inflammation and PAH is still unknown. WT and SGK1-/- mice were exposed to chronic hypoxia to induce PAH. The quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to determine the expression of SGK1. The right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI), RV/BW ratio, right ventricle systolic pressure (RVSP), and percentage of muscularised vessels and medical wall thickness were measured to evaluate PAH development. The infiltration of macrophages and localization of SGK1 on cells were examined by histological analysis. The effects of SGK1 on macrophage function and cytokine expression were assessed by comparing WT and SGK1-/- macrophages in vitro. SGK1 has high expression in hypoxia-induced PAH. Deficiency of SGK1 prevented the development of hypoxia-induced PAH and inhibited macrophage infiltration in the lung. In addition, SGK1 knockout inhibited the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in macrophages. SGK1-induced macrophage activation and proinflammatory response contributes to the development of PAH in hypoxia-treated mice. Thus, SGK1 might be considered a promising target for PAH treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All-solid-state potassium ion-selective electrodes (K+ ISEs) using ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) sphere as the solid contact (SC) are fabricated in this work, which exhibit excellent K+-sensing capability including the stable Nernstian response in a wide linear range of 10−4.19–10−0.21 M, a low detection limit of 5.4 μM, short response time, and good stability. The excellent performances of the K+ ISEs are attributable to the OMC spheres with interconnected mesopore structure, uniform spherical morphology, high surface area, high conductivity, and high capacitance, which provide the highly efficient ion-to-electron transduction between the ion-selective membrane and conductive component in the electrodes. More importantly, the OMC sphere-based SC layer can be deposited in the flexible ISEs by solution processing, which thus enables the construction of ion-sensitive field-effect transistor-based handheld K+-sensing system with high sensitivity and reproducibility, demonstrating the potentials of the OMC spheres in practical ion detection devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practical engineering applications of high-entropy alloys (HEAs) are limited owing to the trade-off between their strength and plasticity. To address this limitation, herein, a FeCoCrNiMo 0.3 HEA with a novel micro-nano rod-shaped σ-phase framework was fabricated via laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). The high cooling rate during the LPBF process, combined with the synergistic effects of large aspect ratios and high growth rates of subgrains, create favorable conditions for the formation of micro-nano precipitation frameworks. This micro-nano precipitate framework introduced a directional constraint mechanism on deformation, thereby simultaneously increasing the strength and plasticity. The fabricated HEA exhibited considerably higher strength and plasticity than the most widely studied LPBF-FeCoCrNi HEA with common columnar grains, with a 30.9% increase in strength and 58.4% increase in ductility achieved. Furthermore, the strength-ductility trade-off has been overcome, and the strength-ductility synergy of the fabricated sample were better than those of other existing LPBF-HEAs. Our results can serve as reference guidelines for the preparation of HEAs with high strength and plasticity, which broaden the application prospects of LPBF-HEAs. • FeCoCrNiMo 0.3 HEA with a novel micro-nano precipitate framework was fabricated via LPBF. • Strength and ductility increased significantly after Mo addition. • The strength-ductility synergy were considerably better than those of other LPBF-HEAs. • A directionally constrained deformation mechanism contributed to the improvement in mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study explores the use of Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications version 2 (MERRA-2) global meteorological and aerosol reanalysis for improving the simulation of satellite sensor infrared brightness temperatures (BTs), and the retrieval of sea surface temperature (SST) in the NOAA Advanced Clear Sky Processor for Ocean (ACSPO) system, with a particular focus on ACSPO long-term reprocessing efforts. Using MERRA-2 upper-air pressure, temperature, and humidity profiles, rather than the currently used NCEP Global Forecast System (GFS) real-time data, as input into the Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM), reduces the global clear-sky observation-minus-model (O–M) BT biases in the infrared bands centered at 3.7, 8.6, 11, and 12 μm of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite onboard Suomi-NPP. The improvements are largely due to more accurate water vapor (total amount and/or vertical distribution) at low latitudes in MERRA-2, which brings the modeled BTs closer to observations. Additional stand-alone simulations, performed using RTTOV model and MERRA-2 aerosol profiles, further reduce the ACSPO global O–M BT biases and the dependence of O–M BT biases on the dust aerosol optical depth. The potential skill of MERRA-2 aerosol reanalysis for reducing dust-caused regional biases in the ACSPO global regression SST product is also demonstrated. Preliminary results suggest that MERRA-2 is a viable alternative to NCEP GFS for ACSPO reprocessing efforts. Highlights • Potential of MERRA-2 for improving IR BT simulations and SST retrievals is explored. • O-M BT biases and dependencies are reduced, when GFS data are replaced by MERRA-2. • MERRA-2 aerosol data have potential skill to correct dust-related BT and SST biases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • GaN nanocolumns were fabricated by self-assembly Ni mask. • The PL spectrum show high light absorption for GaN nanocolumns. • The GaN nanocolumns showed excellent photocatalytic activity. • A model was put forward to explain the high photocatalytic property. Abstract We investigate the influence of Gallium Nitride (GaN) nanocolumns on the water splitting. The results show that with the GaN nanocolumns diameters decreasing from 250 to 170 nm, the photocurrents for the water splitting increase from 0.12 to 0.29 mA/cm2. The highest photocurrent is ∼2.8 times higher than that of the planar GaN. The increase is mainly related to the surface states, which will lead to a band bending and help to separate the photo-generated carriers more effectively. Furthermore, with the diameters decreasing, it will reduce the distance for the photo-generated carriers to the surface, which will suppress the recombination and increase the photocatalytic performance during the transport process. The work provides a cost-effective way for the applications of GaN nanocolumns in highly efficient water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Development of the Mandarin Chinese matrix (CMNmatrix) sentence test for speech intelligibility measurements in noise according to the international standard procedure. Design: A 50-word base matrix representing the distribution of phonemes and lexical tones of spoken Mandarin was established. Hundred sentences capturing all the co-articulations of two consecutive words were recorded. Word-specific speech recognition functions, speech reception thresholds (SRT: signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), that provides 50% speech intelligibility) and slopes were obtained from measurements at fixed SNRs. The speech material was homogenised in intelligibility by applying level corrections up to ± 2 dB. Subsequently, the CMNmatrix test was evaluated, the comparability of test lists was measured at two fixed SNRs. To investigate the training effect and establish the reference data, speech recognition was measured adaptively. Study sample: Overall, the study sample contained 80 normal-hearing native Mandarin-speaking listeners. Results: Multi-centre evaluation measurements confirmed that test lists are equivalent in intelligibility, with a mean SRT of −10.1 ± 0.1 dB SNR and a slope of 13.1 ± 0.9 %/dB. The reference SRT is −9.3 ± 0.8 and −11.2 ± 1.2 dB SNR for the open- and closed-set response format, respectively. Conclusion: The CMNmatrix test is suitable for accurate and internationally comparable speech recognition measurements in noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly smooth, conductive and air-stable flexible transparent silver nanowire (AgNW) composite film is developed by solution process without high temperature treatment. The sheet resistance of the AgNW/polyvinyl butyral (PVB) film decreases significantly after the film is immersed into the silver-ammonia and glucose mixed solution for only a few seconds. The solution selectively wets the AgNWs rather than the PVB substrate, because the AgNWs is hydrophilic while the PVB is hydrophobic. The silver-ammonia on the surface of the AgNWs is reduced into silver, which solders the nanowire assembles together. This selective welding of the AgNWs greatly increases the electrical conductivity of the composite film without obviously attenuating its transmittance. Specifically, the sheet resistance of this AgNW composite film is 10.1 Ω/sq with a transmittance of 87% at the wavelength of 550 nm, and it also shows excellent stability. The film can be easily patterned and employing this composite film as an anode, the organic light emitting diode exhibits comparable performance to the ITO device. This simple and effective solution process method shows strong potential to be applied in industrial mass production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common disorder in the elderly patients, and neuroinflammation is the possible underlying mechanism. This study is designed to determine whether or not hypertonic saline (HS) pre-injection can alleviate POD in aged patients.Methods: This prospective study recruited 120 geriatric patients who underwent hip surgery. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: control group (NS group) and HS group. Patients in the NS group were pre-injected with 4 mL/kg isotonic saline, and those in the HS group were pre-injected with 4 mL/kg 7.5% HS. All 120 patients were then subjected to general anesthesia. Blood samples were extracted to detect the concentration of inflammatory factors, namely, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α, and the nerve injury factor S100β. Flow cytometry was used to detect the number of monocytes in peripheral venous blood and evaluate the relationship of inflammation to delirium. The nursing delirium screening scale (Nu-DESC) was used to determine cognitive function 1 to 3 days postoperatively.Results: Analysis using random-effect multivariable logistic regression indicated that HS administration before anesthesia was associated with a low risk of POD (odds ratio [OR], 0.13; 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.41; P = 0.001) and few CD14 + CD16+ monocytes (β = - 0.61; 95% CI, - 0.74 to - 0.48; P = 0.000) the following day. When the association between HS and delirium was controlled for CD14 + CD16+ monocytes, the effect size became nonsignificant (odds ratio [OR], 0.86; 95% CI, 0.14 to 5.33; P = 0.874). TNF-α was significantly associated with POD (odds ratio [OR], 1.10; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.16; P = 0.000). However, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and S100β were not significantly related to POD.Conclusion: HS can alleviate POD in geriatric patients and may inhibit the secretion of inflammatory factors by monocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to their unique microstructure, GH3230 superalloys prepared using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) exhibit high strength but low ductility, which limits their functional performance in engine combustion chambers. In this study, the process parameters were optimized to obtain LPBF GH3230 with minimal defects, and solid-solution treatment (ST) was conducted to modulate its inhomogeneous microstructure and mechanical properties. The results revealed that ST eliminated the substructure of as-printed (AP) samples and transformed nano-M 23 C 6 into micron and submicron M 6 C/M 12 C in situ. Significant amounts of M 6 C/M 12 C promoted Orowan strengthening, but the quasi-continuous semi-coherent lattice interface between M 6 C/M 12 C and the matrix was a weak zone for cracking, resulting in reduced plasticity owing to the presence of micron carbide. The increased solid solution temperature causes the carbide to remelt, triggering a strong plastic transformation. The impact of carbide size on strength and plasticity conversion rate was more significant than that of carbide content. Final, LPBF-GH3230 samples containing micron carbides were obtained in ST below 1230 °C with an ultimate tensile strength (UTS) comparable to that of forgings. Further increase in the ST temperature to 1280 °C eliminated the carbides, a LPBF-GH3230 that fulfilled the strength standard for cast parts (647 ± 23 MPa) with an excellent elongation (39.4 ± 1.7%) was obtained. This study provides a theoretical basis for the practical application of the LPBF GH3230 superalloy in the aerospace industry and offers guidance for improving post-treatment methods to ensure high plasticity. [Display omitted] • M 23 C 6 served as nucleation sites for M 6 C/M 12 C during solid-solution treatment. • Original uneven segregation led to the bimodal size distribution of carbides. • Superalloy plasticity was regulated by controlling the carbide size and content. • Micron carbide size had a greater effect on ductility than did the carbide content. • Superalloys with excellent performance comparable to that of castings were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crown ether can bind the alkali metal ions, and the binding is related to numerous factors. In present work, we investigated the effect of the species and number of heteroatom on the interaction energy and charge transfer between crown ether and alkali metal ions in the three complexes (12C4O-Li, 15C5O-Na and 18C6O-K) using density functional method. Our results show that the N- or S-substitution is more favorable to the enhancement of charge transfer between the alkali metal ions and crown ethers than P-substitution; furthermore, the interaction energy of N- or S-substitution is also higher than that of P-substitution. The 12C4O has strongest affinity for Li in the three complexes from the perspective of the variation of the species and the number of heteroatom. Thus, take 12C4O for example, it is concluded that the number of N-substitution has slight influence on the interaction energy; however, as the number of P- or S-substitutions increases, the interaction energy values decrease sharply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The magnetic field sensor composed of an ultra-short FPI filled with oil-based magnetic fluid cascaded with a bending coated single-mode-fiber MZI is proposed. • The FPI with ultra-short cavity (about 20 μm) composed of two sections of single mode fiber and a hollow core fiber drilled through by femtosecond laser. • The sensitivities of magnetic field and temperature are up to 240 pm/Gs and −2310 pm/℃ respectively. A fiber magnetic field sensor with temperature compensation is put forward and experimentally verified by utilizing Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) and multimode interferometer (MI). The FPI with ultra-short cavity (about 20 μm), which is proposed to improve the spectrum contrast after being filled with oil-based magnetic fluids (MF) and achieve the sensing of magnetic field, is drilled through by femtosecond laser. The FPI is composed of two sections of single mode fiber and a hollow core fiber, which is named as single mode fiber-hollow core fiber-single mode fiber (SHS). The MI composed of the coated-fiber-loop, which is only sensitive to temperature, is proposed to compensate the temperature on the sensing of magnetic field. The fiber loop is fabricated by only bending a section of coated single mode fiber (SMF). According to the experiment results, the spectrum visibility of magnetic field sensing part can be improved by 3.1 times by shortening the Fabry-Perot (FP) cavity length. The interference wavelength increases nonlinearly from 0 to 69.1 Gs while linearly from 69.1 to 137.7 Gs. In addition, its temperature sensitivity is −0.20 nm/℃ from 23.0 to 42.9 ℃. Moreover, the sensitivity of MI is −2.31 nm/℃ from 23.0 to 42.9 ℃. It could be used to compensate the temperature influence effectively. The structure boasts characteristics of simple manufacture, low cost and highly-sensitive, which can be applied in the fields of magnetic field sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enforce the interactions between polyaniline (PANI) and graphene, a facile strategy is developed in this work to fabricate the strongly coupled hybrids of PANI nanofibers and graphene (named as PAGs) by introducing different diamines to functionalize graphene oxide. As the electrode material in a two-electrode supercapacitor (SC), the ethylenediamine-functionalized hybrid (PAG-EDA) deliveries an excellent volumetric specific capacitance of 810 F cm −3 at 5 mV s −1 . The SC also manifests high cycling stability by maintaining 84.4% of the initial capacitance after 10,000 cycles. More importantly, PAG-EDA renders the SC to have both high energy density (92.15 W h kg −1 ) and high power density (182.28 kW kg −1 ), superior to most of the previously reported PANI based SC electrode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observed sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) mixing ratios onboard unmanned aerial systems (UAS) during March 11–13, 2013 are used to constrain the three-day averaged SO 2 degassing flux from Turrialba volcano within a Bayesian inverse modeling framework. A mesoscale model coupled with Lagrangian stochastic particle backward trajectories is used to quantify the source-receptor relationships at very high spatial resolutions (i.e., < 1 km). The model shows better performance in reproducing the near-surface meteorological properties and observed SO 2 variations when using a first-order closure non-local planetary boundary layer (PBL) scheme. The optimized SO 2 degassing fluxes vary from 0.59 ± 0.37 to 0.83 ± 0.33 kt d − 1 depending on the PBL scheme used. These fluxes are in good agreement with ground-based gas flux measurements, and correspond to corrective scale factors of 8–12 to the posteruptive SO 2 degassing rate in the AeroCom emission inventory. The maximum a posteriori solution for the SO 2 flux is highly sensitive to the specification of prior and observational errors, and relatively insensitive to the SO 2 loss term and temporal averaging of observations. Our results indicate relatively low degassing activity but sustained sulfur emissions from Turrialba volcano to the troposphere during March 2013. This study demonstrates the utility of low-cost small UAS platforms for volcanic gas composition and flux analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Magneto-shape effect of magnetic fluid was proposed and used to measure magnetic field. • The sensor consists of a capillary glass tube, two single-mode fibers and magnetic fluid. • Experimental results show that the sensor can easily react to field strength and orientation. • Measurement sensitivity reaches up to 296.1 pm/Gs from 22.6 Gs to 121.8 Gs in the axial field. In this work, an optic-fiber sensor utilizing magneto-shape effect of magnetic fluid (MF) has been put forward to measure magnetic field direction. MF magneto-shape effect has been presented, simulated and verified through experiments as a magneto-optical effect. The sensor consists of a capillary glass tube, two single-mode fibers (SMFs) and MF. The interface between MF and air is concave because the glass tube is attractive to MF. As magnetic field rises, the concavity degree becomes more obvious, in other words, edge length of MF cavity is extended and central length of cavity is shortened. The interference wavelength of sensor will change with magnetic field, so as to achieve the purpose of monitoring magnetic field. The phenomenon is defined as the magneto-shape effect of MF. Due to the magnetic field direction dependence of pressure difference between the MF and air, the magneto-shape effect of MF has different perception of axial magnetic field and radial magnetic field, realizing vector magnetic field measurement. Results of experiment are shown as follows: the sensor can easily react to field strength and orientation. The wavelength shows the shape of number "8″ with magnetic field direction changing. The field sensitivity reaches up to 296.1 pm/Gs from 22.6 Gs to 121.8 Gs in the axial field. Moreover, direction sensitivity reaches 311.6 pm/° at 104.4 Gs. The wavelength shift in the axial direction is 25.5 times higher than that of the radial direction. The presented sensing structure could monitor vector magnetic field without constructing a non-circular symmetrical structure. The proposed sensing structure is provided with characteristics of simple to make, highly-sensitive and little fabrication consumption. It possesses potential applications in electronic power industry and aerospace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Witnessed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Raman, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies, BiVO 4 nanofibers and porous nanostructures were successfully fabricated by electrospinning method using NH 4 VO 3 and Bi(NO 3 ) 3 as starting materials. Polyvinylpyrrolidinone (PVP) was used to tune the viscosity and spinnability of the electrospinning sol. The slow decomposition and combustion of PVP matrix prevented rapid crystal growth of BiVO 4 nanostructures leading to considerably small crystallite size (approximately 19.1–28.3 nm) with less surface defects after two hours calcination at varying temperatures. This paid great tributes to the superior visible light photocatalytic activity when compared to the submicron sized BiVO 4 prepared in the absence of PVP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The similar molecules [2.2]paracyclophane (22PCP) and 1,1,2,2,9,9,10,10-octafluoro[2.2]paracyclophane (8F22PCP) have both generated considerable synthetic interest since they were first prepared. In this work, the nonlinear optical properties of 22PCP, 8F22PCP, and the related Li-doped systems 22PCP-Li and 8F22PCP-Li (which have a Li atom above 22PCP and 8F22PCP, respectively) were investigated. An analysis of natural bond orbital charges showed that there is greater charge transfer from the Li atom to the benzene rings in 8F22PCP-Li than in 22PCP-Li. The variation in the calculated nucleus independent chemical shift (NICS) value as a function of the distance from the lower benzene ring towards the upper benzene ring was found to be W-shaped for both 22PCP and 22PCP-Li. Moreover, whereas all of the NICS values of 22PCP and 22PCP-Li weremarkedly negative, all of the NICS values of 8F22PCP and 8F22PCP-Li were either positive or only moderately negative. Calculations of the electro-optical properties of these systems showed that the first hyperpolarizability of 22PCP-Li was noticeably larger than that of 8F22PCP-Li. According to the two-level model, the larger first hyperpolarizability of 22PCP-Li is due to its smaller transition energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contribution of endogenous acetylcholine to alveolar fluid clearance (AFC) and related molecular mechanisms were explored. AFC was measured in Balb/c mice after vagotomy and vagus nerve stimulation. Effects of acetylcholine chloride on AFC in Kunming mice and Na,K-ATPase function in A549 alveolar epithelial cells also were determined. AFC significantly decreased in mice with left cervical vagus nerve transection compared with controls (48.69 ± 2.57 vs. 66.88 ± 2.64, P ≤ 0.01), which was reversed by stimulation of the peripheral (60.81 ± 1.96, P ≤ 0.01). Compared with control, acetylcholine chloride dose-dependently increased AFC and elevated Na,K-ATPase activity, and these increases were blocked or reversed by atropine. These effects were accompanied by recruitment of Na,K-ATPase α1 to the cell membrane. Thus, vagus nerves participate in alveolar epithelial fluid transport by releasing endogenous acetylcholine in the infusion-induced pulmonary edema mouse model. Effects of endogenous acetylcholine on AFC are likely mediated by Na,K-ATPase function through activation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors on alveolar epithelia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, laser metal deposition (LMD) technique was applied to fabricate SiC p /AlSi10Mg composites. Innovatively, the effect of SiC p of different scale (micron, submicron and nano scale) on the microstructure and mechanical properties was studied. With the decrease of SiC p size, the reaction between SiC and aluminum matrix was more intense, and the volume fraction of Si precipitates and grain boundary Al-Si eutectic phase increased. Few micro-SiC p and agglomerated nano-SiC p were all unevenly distributed in the aluminum matrix, which caused the bimodal distribution of grain size in varying degrees. The mechanisms of defect formation, phases evolution and mechanical property enhancement were also discussed. Due to the agglomeration of nano-SiC p and its decomposition under laser irradiation, the seriously uneven microstructure of nano-SiC p /AlSi10Mg limited the mechanical properties. Moreover, the addition of SiC p increased the Marangoni flow instability of molten pool, leading to the high porosity and reducing the tensile strength of composites, which was more prominent in the samples containing micron and nano SiC p. Submicron-SiC p /AlSi10Mg presented uniform equiaxed crystals and the best comprehensive mechanical properties (microhardness 118.37HV, wear rate 1.60 ×10−3 mm3N−1m−1 and UTS 269.08 MPa). Based on the experimental results, adding multi-scale reinforcements will be more conducive to the performance optimization of composites. This study provides theoretical guidance for the engineering application of SiC p /Al composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Ti-Al composite plates have been used in aerospace and other important fields for specific purposes in recent years. However, relatively few studies have concentrated on Ti-Al additive manufacturing because during additive manufacturing process the local fusion and mixing of Ti/Al are inevitable. These areas where Ti and Al are mixed locally, especially interface, could easily generate high residual stresses and cracks. This study aims to manufacture Ti-Al functionally graded material and investigate the interaction of interface. Design/methodology/approach: In this study, Ti6Al4V/AlSi10Mg functionally graded materials were fabricated by laser based directed energy deposition (L-DED) and a strategy using V interlayer to relieve interfacial stress was investigated. Findings: The area between the two materials was divided into transition zone (TZ) and remelting zone (RZ). The phase distribution, microstructure and micro-Vickers hardness of the TZ and RZ were investigated. Typical intermetallic compounds (IMCs) such as TiAl3, Ti3Al and Ti5Si3 were found in both composites. The addition of V interlayer promoted the homogenization of IMCs near interface and led to the formation of new phases like V5Si3 and Al3V. Originality/value: The solidification process near the interface of Ti-Al functionally graded material and the possible generation of different phases were described. The result of this paper proved the feasibility of manufacturing Ti-Al functionally graded material by L-DED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feature engineering relies on domain knowledge and human intervention. To automate the process of feature engineering, automated feature construction methods use deep neural networks to capture feature interactions and attention coefficients to quantify the relationship between features. However, these methods ignore the influence of insignificant features that introduce noise and degrade the performance of the model. In this paper, we study the problem of feature interactions from the perspective of graph and propose a novel Automatic Feature Generation model based on Graph Structure Learning, called AFGSL. In this model, the adjacency matrix reflects the relationships between features, so that it can be used to filter out insignificant features. Furthermore, Q-learning is used to train the policy of stacking interaction layers, which enables it to make full use of both local and global information in the process of feature generation. The results of experiments on four real-world datasets show that AFGSL outperforms the state-of-the-art methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high-temperature application of high-entropy alloys (HEAs) fabricated via selective laser melting (SLM) relies on an in-depth understanding of the mechanical properties and deformation mechanisms involved. This study conducted tensile testing of FeCoCrNi HEA, at various temperatures and strain rates, where the microstructure was systematically characterized before and after deformation. The FeCoCrNi HEAs fabricated via SLM exhibited a greatly enhanced tensile strength at room temperature compared to those produced by traditional processing, but the strength at high temperature was significantly compromised. Experimental data were used to calculate the parameters of a constitutive model based on three classical mathematical models to predict the flow behavior at elevated temperatures. The softening mechanism was attributed to the evolution of the dislocation network, and a structure–mechanism–property relationship at elevated temperatures was established. Further, cracks initiated at the grain boundaries at elevated temperatures owing to nano-clustering. These results are expected to contribute to the development and improvement of SLM-HEAs for use at high temperatures. • Strengthening of SLM-HEAs is mainly attributed to dislocation networks. • Effect of dislocation networks was compromised at elevated temperatures. • High temperature embrittlement is caused by nano clustering at grain boundaries. • Experimental data were used to model high-temperature tensile strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high-temperature application of high-entropy alloys (HEAs) fabricated via selective laser melting (SLM) relies on an in-depth understanding of the mechanical properties and deformation mechanisms involved. This study conducted tensile testing of FeCoCrNi HEA, at various temperatures and strain rates, where the microstructure was systematically characterized before and after deformation. The FeCoCrNi HEAs fabricated via SLM exhibited a greatly enhanced tensile strength at room temperature compared to those produced by traditional processing, but the strength at high temperature was significantly compromised. Experimental data were used to calculate the parameters of a constitutive model based on three classical mathematical models to predict the flow behavior at elevated temperatures. The softening mechanism was attributed to the evolution of the dislocation network, and a structure–mechanism–property relationship at elevated temperatures was established. Further, cracks initiated at the grain boundaries at elevated temperatures owing to nano-clustering. These results are expected to contribute to the development and improvement of SLM-HEAs for use at high temperatures. • Strengthening of SLM-HEAs is mainly attributed to dislocation networks. • Effect of dislocation networks was compromised at elevated temperatures. • High temperature embrittlement is caused by nano clustering at grain boundaries. • Experimental data were used to model high-temperature tensile strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To develop a corpus of sentences in babble noise that is suitable for Mandarin-speaking children. Two experiments were conducted with specific aims of (1) developing sentence material that is grammatically and semantically within the linguistic abilities of children; and (2) improving the efficiency of the test by equalizing the relative intelligibility of individual items in sentences. Design and Study sample: Sentences were extracted from spoken material of Chinese children aged between 4 and 5 years of age. The sentences were tested for intelligibility in a four-talker babble by 96 adult native speakers of Mandarin. Psychometric functions were generated, and used for adjusting signal-to-noise ratios of individual items by varying the level of the time-locked babble to equate intelligibility of the target speech. These adjusted stimuli were tested for intelligibility using a different group of 64 adult listeners. Results: The signal-to-noise ratio for 50% correct was not different before and after adjustments (− 6.1 dB and − 6.0 dB, respectively). However, there was a significant reduction in standard deviation from 2.3 dB before adjustment to 1.1 dB after adjustment (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The experiments established a corpus of Mandarin BKB-like sentences with four-talker babble as competing noise, in which the test items' homogeneity was optimized via psychometric evaluation (HOPE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusions: A set of Chinese Mandarin monosyllable test lists with good reliability and sensitivity was established. Objectives. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the equivalence of a group of monosyllable lists. Methods: A genetic algorithm was adopted to reorganize the material based on the Phoneme Allocation Table; 10 lists with 25 monosyllabic test items in each were generated. A two-factor design was used for the equivalence evaluation test. A total of 80 normal-hearing and native Mandarin-speaking university students (40 males and 40 females) participated in the trial. Every subject was tested with all 10 lists in sequence at 5 presentation levels (-5, 0, 5, 10, and 15 dB HL). Performance-intensity (P-I) function of each list was fit before P-I curve slope and recognition threshold were calculated. Results: Equivalence evaluation results indicated good psychophysical equivalence between the 10 lists except for list 2. List 9 has a reused item. After the elimination of lists 2 and 9, multivariate ANOVA revealed a good equivalence between the remaining eight lists ( p == 0.136). The mean threshold of eight equivalent lists was 10.32 ± 0.38 dB HL, while the mean slope was 5.00 ± 0.29%/dB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusion. A homogeneity selection could establish a homogenous resource for Chinese Mandarin monosyllabic test lists. Objective: This study aimed to develop a set of succinct and phonemically balanced monosyllabic Mandarin recognition test lists with good item homogeneity, in an effort to meet the need for Chinese Mandarin speech recognition test materials. Methods: In reference to the Chinese phonemes distribution probability, we developed the Phoneme Allocation Table, which decided the occurrence of all consonants, vowels, and semantic tones in each list. A total of 489 monosyllables were selected and organized into 30 lists, with 25 monosyllables in each. A two-factor design was used to screen homogenous items out. Sixty normal-hearing native Mandarin speakers participated in experiment. The performance-intensity (P-I) function curve of each test item was fit by logistic regression. Items were screened out as homogenous ones using the following criteria: 1) regression R value was not <0.9; 2) slope was between 2%/dB and 12%/dB; 3) threshold was between --8 dB HL and 10 dB HL. Results: The Phoneme Allocation Table was established as a framework of 30 lists, providing a basis on which phonemically balanced monosyllabic lists can be developed. In all, 342 monosyllables with good homogeneity were screened out and can be reorganized to establish monosyllabic test lists with good sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions Real‐world big data studies on drug‐reduced male semen quality are few and far between, with most studies based on animal trials, small scale retrospective studies, or a limited number of pre‐market clinical trials.This study aimed to identify culprit drugs that reduced male semen quality based on the United States Food and Drug Administration adverse event reporting system. The Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities preferred terms and standardized Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities queries were used to define reduced male semen quality. Adverse events related to drug‐reduced male semen quality were then analyzed by disproportionality analysis using the United States Food and Drug Administration adverse event reporting system data between 2004 and 2023.At the preferred term level, 59 drugs with risk signals were detected to be associated with drug‐reduced male semen quality, with the three most frequently reported second‐level Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical groups being antineoplastic agents (n = 16, 27.12%), psychoanaleptics (n = 9, 15.25%), and psycholeptics (n = 6, 10.17%). At the standardized Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities queries level, the five drugs with the greatest number of cases were finasteride (845 cases, IC025 = 7.72), dutasteride (163 cases, IC025 = 7.22), tamsulosin (148 cases, IC025 = 5.99), testosterone (101 cases, IC025 = 4.08), and valproic acid (54 cases, IC025 = 2.44). Additionally, clinical information about drug‐reduced male semen quality is absent from the Summary of Product Characteristics of 41 drugs in our study.Using the United States Food and Drug Administration adverse event reporting system database, we offer a list of drugs with risk signals for reducing male semen quality. In the future, there is still a need for more studies on drugs whose effects on male semen quality are not fully understood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) is a prevalent form of primary liver cancer. Research has demonstrated the contribution of tumor stem cells in facilitating tumor recurrence, metastasis, and treatment resistance. Despite this, there remains a lack of established cancer stem cells (CSCs)-associated genes signatures for effectively predicting the prognosis and guiding the treatment strategies for patients diagnosed with LIHC. Methods: The single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bulk RNA transcriptome data were obtained based on public datasets and computerized firstly using CytoTRACE package and One Class Linear Regression (OCLR) algorithm to evaluate stemness level, respectively. Then, we explored the association of stemness indicators (CytoTRACE score and stemness index, mRNAsi) with survival outcomes and clinical characteristics by combining clinical information and survival analyses. Subsequently, weighted co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and Cox were applied to assess mRNAsi-related genes in bulk LIHC data and construct a prognostic model for LIHC patients. Single-sample gene-set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA), Cell-type Identification By Estimating Relative Subsets Of RNA Transcripts (CIBERSORT) and Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) analysis were employed for immune infiltration assessment. Finally, the potential immunotherapeutic response was predicted by the Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE), and the tumor mutation burden (TMB). Additionally, pRRophetic package was applied to evaluate the sensitivity of high and low-risk groups to common chemotherapeutic drugs. Results: A total of four genes (including STIP1, H2AFZ, BRIX1, and TUBB) associated with stemness score (CytoTRACE score and mRNAsi) were identified and constructed a risk model that could predict prognosis in LIHC patients. It was observed that high stemness cells occurred predominantly in the late stages of LIHC and that poor overall survival in LIHC patients was also associated with high mRNAsi scores. In addition, pathway analysis confirmed the biological uniqueness of the two risk groups. Personalized treatment predictions suggest that patients with a low risk benefited more from immunotherapy, while those with a high risk group may be conducive to chemotherapeutic drugs. Conclusion: The current study developed a novel prognostic risk signature with genes related to CSCs, which provides novel ideas for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of LIHC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FeCoCrNi, a high-entropy alloy fabricated by laser powder bed fusion, has excellent room-temperature mechanical properties but poor high-temperature mechanical performance. To expand the application of FeCoCrNi, in this study, we added Mo to form σ precipitates, which improved the high-temperature mechanical properties of the alloy via Orowan strengthening. We also elucidated the main deformation mechanism of FeCoCrNiMo 0.5 , involving the transformation of the deformational mode from dislocation-based motion to twinning deformation. • LPBF-fabricated FeCoCrNiMo 0.5 HEA with high strength and ductility at high temperature. • The high-temperature strength and ductility increased significantly after Mo addition. • Superior high-temperature strength–ductility synergy compared to reported alloys. • Change in deformation mechanism and second phase precipitation improved the mechanical properties after Mo addition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An acid-assisted vacuum filtration approach is developed in this work to fabricate perylene diimide (PDI) and single wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) based organic lithium ion battery (LIB) cathodes by using concentrated sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4) as the solvent. PDI and SWCNT can be readily dispersed in H 2 SO 4 by the protonation of their aromatic frameworks, thus rendering the effective combination of them in the acidic solution. The resulting PDI/SWCNT films are highly appealing flexible cathodes for LIBs by associating the intriguing electrochemical activity of PDI with the excellent electric conductivity and mechanical stability of SWCNT. Either with lithium foils or pre-lithiated carbon clothes as the anodes, the LIBs with PDI/SWCNT cathodes can deliver highly stable electrochemical performances in terms of rate capability and cycling stability. The PDI/SWCNT cathodes also have very good mechanical stability, enabling the LIBs based on them to reserve the battery performances at different bending states. The excellent electrochemical stability of the PDI/SWCNT cathodes is attributable to the acidic solution based processing method, which is expected to be expanded in the electrode fabrication of various organic secondary batteries with π-conjugated components. An acid-assisted vacuum filtration approach is developed in this work to fabricate perylene diimide (PDI) and single wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) based flexible lithium ion battery (LIB) cathodes by using concentrated sulfuric acid as the solvent. The LIBs with the PDI/SWCNT cathodes manifest very stable electrochemical performances, attributable to the acidic solution based processing method. Image 1 • An acid-assisted vacuum filtration approach is developed to produce PDI/SWCNT cathodes. • PDI/SWCNT cathodes can deliver high capacities at high current densities. • LIBs with PDI/SWCNT cathodes show highly stable electrochemical performances. • LIBs with PDI/SWCNT cathodes also have very good flexibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) provide the opportunity to fabricate flexible biosensors with high sensitivity. However, there are currently very few methods to improve the selectivity of OECT sensors. In this work, nitrogen/oxygen‐codoped carbon cloths (NOCCs) are prepared by the carbonization of polyaniline‐wrapped carbon cloths at 750 °C under different atmospheres. The resulting NOCC electrodes exhibit different electrochemical sensing behaviors toward ascorbic acid (AA) and dopamine (DA), enabling the fabrication of OECT sensors with high sensitivity and selectivity that are comparable to the state‐of‐the‐art OECT sensors for AA and DA. The structural characterization and theoretical calculation reveal that the electrochemical sensing behaviors of the NOCC electrodes are closely related to their surface compositions, providing an unprecedented strategy for the design of flexible OECT sensors with high sensitivity and selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transport of molecules and ions through biological nanopores is governed by interaction networks among restricted ions, transported molecules, and residue moieties at pore inner walls. However, identification of such weak ion fluctuations from only few tens of ions inside nanopore is hard to achieve owing to electrochemical measurement limitations. Here, we developed an advanced frequency method to achieve qualitative and spectral analysis of ion interaction networks inside a nanopore. The peak frequency fm reveals the dissociation rate between nanopore and ions; the peak amplitude am depicts the amount of combined ions with the nanopore after interaction equilibrium. A mathematical model for single‐molecule frequency fingerprint achieved the prediction of interaction characteristics of mutant nanopores. This single‐molecule frequency fingerprint is important for classification, characterization, and prediction of synergetic interaction networks inside nanoconfinement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transport of molecules and ions through biological nanopores is governed by interaction networks among restricted ions, transported molecules, and residue moieties at pore inner walls. However, identification of such weak ion fluctuations from only few tens of ions inside nanopore is hard to achieve owing to electrochemical measurement limitations. Here, we developed an advanced frequency method to achieve qualitative and spectral analysis of ion interaction networks inside a nanopore. The peak frequency fm reveals the dissociation rate between nanopore and ions; the peak amplitude am depicts the amount of combined ions with the nanopore after interaction equilibrium. A mathematical model for single‐molecule frequency fingerprint achieved the prediction of interaction characteristics of mutant nanopores. This single‐molecule frequency fingerprint is important for classification, characterization, and prediction of synergetic interaction networks inside nanoconfinement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transport of molecules and ions through biological nanopores is governed by interaction networks among restricted ions, transported molecules, and residue moieties at pore inner walls. However, identification of such weak ion fluctuations from only few tens of ions inside nanopore is hard to achieve owing to electrochemical measurement limitations. Here, we developed an advanced frequency method to achieve qualitative and spectral analysis of ion interaction networks inside a nanopore. The peak frequency fm reveals the dissociation rate between nanopore and ions; the peak amplitude am depicts the amount of combined ions with the nanopore after interaction equilibrium. A mathematical model for single‐molecule frequency fingerprint achieved the prediction of interaction characteristics of mutant nanopores. This single‐molecule frequency fingerprint is important for classification, characterization, and prediction of synergetic interaction networks inside nanoconfinement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphanylhydrosilylalkynes R2HSiCCPAr2 (R,Ar: Me,4‐tBuC6H41, Me,Mes 2, Mes,Ph 3; Mes = 2,4,6‐Me3C6H2) were prepared and the reactions with B(C6F5)3 were studied. Reaction of 1 and B(C6F5)3 produced E‐alkene {(E)‐(C6F5)3BCHC[P(4‐tBuC6H4)2]SiMe2}2 (4) and that of 2 and B(C6F5)3 yielded Z‐alkene (Z)‐(C6F5)2BCHC(PMes2)SiMe2(C6F5) (5). The former is proposed to go through a key [Me2HSi]+ for function while the latter via the phosphacyclopropene intermediate, both of which are a result by self‐hydrosilylation. Reaction of 3 and B(C6F5)3 generated at room temperature a P→B coordination compound Mes2HSiCCP(Ph2)B(C6F5)3 (6) and at 100 °C the 1,1‐carboboration E‐alkene (E)‐Mes2HSi(Ph2P)CC(C6F5)B(C6F5)2 (7). Kinetic study and DFT calculations were accomplished for reaction of 2 and B(C6F5)3 to 5. The mechanisms of these reactions have been discussed. The reactions of the P/Si+ LPs Me2Si(Ph2P)CCHB(C6F5)3}2 (3a) and 4 were also investigated. Compound 4 disassociated H2O into {(E)‐(C6F5)3BCHC[PH‐4‐tBuC6H4)2]Si(Me2)}2(µ‐O) (8) and (E)‐(C6F5)3BCHC[PH(4‐tBu‐C6H4)2]Si(Me2)O(HNC5H5) (9). Compound 3a reacted with tBuNCO by [3+2] dipolar cycloaddition to give a C2OPSi‐heterocycle [(C6F5)3BHC]CSi(Me2)P(Ph2)OC(NtBu) (10). Furthermore, 4 reacted with tBuNCO and then H2O to afford (E)‐(F5C6)3BHCC[P(4‐tBuC6H4)2C(O)NHtBu][Si(Me2)OH(NC5H5)] (11) through a C2OPSi‐heterocycle intermediate followed by the H2O‐disassociation under the C2OPSi‐ring opening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Obtained by a solution-based acid-pasting approach, the composite of perylene diimide and carbon black (PTCDI/CB) exhibits excellent electrochemical performances as the organic cathode material in both lithium and sodium ion batteries. Abstract An acid-pasting approach is developed in this work to fabricate the composite of perylenetetracarboxylic diimide (PTCDI) and carbon black in concentrated sulfuric acid. Different from traditional mechanical mixing, the solution-based fabrication strategy enables the sufficient blending of PTCDI as active component and carbon black as conductive agent in the PTCDI/CB composite. Serving as the cathode material, the PTCDI/CB composite shows excellent electrochemical performances in both lithium ion battery (137 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1 and 110 mAh g−1 at 2000 mA g−1) and sodium ion battery (134 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1 and 99 mAh g−1 at 1000 mA g−1), which are comparable to the state-of-art organic/inorganic cathode materials. Considering the simplicity of the processing procedures and the low cost of the starting materials, the acid-pasting approach is a highly attractive method for the solution-based manufacturing of organic secondary battery electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The road disturbance rejection problem for vehicle active suspension involving the nonlinear characteristics is researched in this paper. A continuous-time state space of nonlinear vehicle active suspension is established first, in which the road disturbance is generated from the output of an introduced exosystem based on the ground displacement power spectral density. After that, based on the dynamics of road roughness and the internal model principle, a disturbance compensator with zero steady-state error is designed, which is related to the dynamic characteristics of road disturbance and independent of the control system model. By combining the vehicle active suspension system and the designed road disturbance compensator, an augmented system is obtained without explicit indication of road disturbance. Then by solving a series of decoupled nonlinear two-point-boundary-value problem and employing an iterative computing algorithm, an approximation optimal road disturbance rejection controller is obtained. Finally, the simulation results illustrate that the proposed approximation optimal road disturbance rejection controller can reduce the values of sprung mass acceleration, tire deflection, suspension deflection, and energy consumption and compensate the nonlinear behaviors of vehicle active suspension effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies indicate a preliminary association between age and circadian blood pressure (BP) variation. This association would be affected by confounding factors in real-world populations. The authors investigated whether this is a convincingly independent association in a real-world population of adults with hypertension. Clinical data and findings of 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring were obtained from 297 consecutive adults with hypertension (60.19±0.77 years). BP dipping patterns were categorized based on the percentage of nocturnal BP drop. Multivariate linear regression analysis identified an independent correlation between age and percentage of nocturnal systolic BPdrop (β=-7.296; 95% CI, -10.430 to -4.162 [P<.001]). Reverse dippers were the oldest and extreme dippers were the youngest. A significant age difference was noted among patients grouped into four BP dipping patterns with and without adjustments for sex, body mass index, drugs, diabetes mellitus, smoking, 24-hour mean heart rate, and 24-hour mean systolic and diastolic BP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The pattern of changes in the cervical spine and the spinal cord and their dynamic characteristics in patients with cervical spinal cord injury without fracture and dislocation remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the dynamic changes in the cervical spine and spinal cord from C2/3 to C7/T1 in different positions by using kinematic magnetic resonance imaging in patients with cervical spinal cord injury without fracture and dislocation. This study was approved by the ethics committee of Yuebei People's Hospital. Methods: Using median sagittal T2-weighted images for 16 patients with cervical spinal cord injury without fracture and dislocation who underwent cervical kinematic MRI, the anterior space available for the cord, spinal cord diameter, posterior space available for the cord from C2/3 to C7/T1, and Muhle’s grade were determined. The spinal canal diameter was calculated by adding the anterior space available for the cord, spinal cord diameter, and posterior space available for the cord. Results: The anterior space available for the cord, posterior space available for the cord, and spinal canal diameters at C2/3 and C7/T1 were significantly higher than those from C3/4 to C6/7. Muhle’s grades at C2/3 and C7/T1 were significantly lower than those at the other levels. Spinal canal diameter was lower in extension than in the neutral and flexion positions. In the operated segments, significantly lesser space was available for the cord (anterior space available for the cord + posterior space available for the cord), and the spinal cord diameter/spinal canal diameter ratio was higher than those in the C2/3, C7/T1, and non-operated segments. Conclusion: Kinematic MRI demonstrated dynamic pathoanatomical changes, such as canal stenosis in different positions, in patients with cervical spinal cord injury without fracture and dislocation. The injured segment had a small canal diameter, high Muhle’s grade, low space available for the cord, and high spinal cord diameter/spinal canal diameter ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]