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The study aimed to explore whether neurophysiological measures of auditory processing in preschoolers can predict Chinese reading after going to school. Mismatch responses (MMRs) to auditory frequency, duration, and temporal pattern deviants were examined in 24 Chinese preschoolers (6.59 ± 0.25 years old). Reading abilities were tracked in Grades 2 (8.09 ± 0.29 years old) and 4 (9.65 ± 0.28 years old). We found that temporal pattern MMRs in preschoolers continuously contributed to Chinese reading fluency in Grades 2 and 4. However, MMRs to frequency or duration deviants did not predict their reading abilities in Grades 2 or 4. These findings suggest that MMRs of basic auditory temporal processing in preliterate children can serve as predictive biomarkers for future Chinese reading acquisition, thus holding promise for identifying Chinese children at risk of dyslexia before formal school education and further guiding early intervention to support their reading development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfonylurea herbicides (SUHs) are widely used in agriculture because of their low dosage, low cost, and high selectivity. However, due to improper use and lack of effective management, their residues pose a threat to the human health through environment and food pollution. Therefore, there is a need for simple, quick, economical, and effective methods to analyze SUHs in plant-derived foods, crops, and environmental samples. The present article presents a comprehensive review of the pretreatment and analytical technologies used for SUHs in various sample matrices, focusing on the developments since 2010. The main pretreatment methods include liquid–liquid extraction, solid-phase extraction, QuEChERS, and different microextraction methods, whereas analytical methods mainly include liquid chromatography coupled with different detectors, capillary electrophoresis, among others. In addition, the present study also compared the advantages and disadvantages of the methods and the future development is prospected. Highlight: Progress in pretreatment and analytical methods of sulfonylurea herbicides are summarized. Pros and cons of the pretreatment and determination methods have been given. Novel materials in solid-phase extraction and solid-phase microextraction are depicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new family, genus, and species record, Gayralia brasiliensis (Gayraliaceae, Ulotrichales, Chlorophyta) is reported in Singapore using chloroplast elongation factor Tu (tufA) and nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) markers alongside gross and microscopic examination. This species was likely missed by previous surveys due to its limited local distribution, superficial similarity to the much more common Ulva, and its small size. Morphologically, G. brasiliensis in Singapore is more similar to G. oxysperma than to G. brasiliensis in Brazil. This study demonstrates the importance of integrative molecular and morphological analysis for characterising macroalgal diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reproduction by perennial plants varies from being relatively constant over years to the production of massive and synchronous seed crops at irregular intervals, a reproductive strategy called mast seeding. The sources of interspecific differences in the extent of interannual variation in seed production are largely unknown. We conducted a global meta‐analysis of animal‐dispersed species to quantify how the interannual variability in seed crops produced by plants can be explained by the seed mass, dispersal mode, phylogeny, and climate. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the interannual variations in seed production and seed mass tended to be similar in related species due to their shared evolution. The interannual variation in seed production was 1.22 times higher in synzoochorous species dispersed by scatter‐hoarders compared with endozoochorous species dispersed by frugivores. Furthermore, the production of small seeds was associated with higher interannual variation in seed production, although synzoochorous species produced larger seeds than endozoochorous species. Precipitation rather than temperature had a significant positive effect on the interannual variation in seed production. The seed mass and dispersal mode contributed more to the interannual variation in seed production than phylogeny, climate, and fruit type. Our findings support a long‐standing hypothesis that interspecific variation in the masting intensity is largely shaped by interactions between plants and animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of chaotic systems with complex dynamic behaviors has always been a key aspect of chaos theory in engineering applications. This study introduces a novel fractional-order system characterized by hidden dynamics, hyperchaotic behavior, and multi-scroll attractors. By employing fractional calculus, the system's order is extended beyond integer values, providing a richer dynamic behavior. The system's hidden dynamics are revealed through detailed numerical simulations and theoretical analysis, demonstrating complex attractors and bifurcations. The hyperchaotic nature of the system is verified through Lyapunov exponents and phase portraits, showing multiple positive exponents that indicate a higher degree of unpredictability and complexity. Additionally, the system's multi-scroll attractors are analyzed, showcasing their potential for secure communication and encryption applications. The fractional-order approach enhances the system's flexibility and adaptability, making it suitable for a wide range of practical uses, including secure data transmission, image encryption, and complex signal processing. Finally, based on the proposed fractional-order system, we designed a simple and efficient medical image encryption scheme and analyzed its security performance. Experimental results validate the theoretical findings, confirming the system's robustness and effectiveness in generating complex chaotic behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charging power supplies with both fast and visualization functions have a wide range of applications in the information and new energy industries. In this paper, the visualized and contact‐type fast charging power supply based on WO3 film and Zn sheet is presented, and the prototype devices are fabricated. Different with the charging method of conventional batteries, charging is achieved by a Zn sheet contacting with a WO3 film moistened with water, resulting in a rapid discoloration of WO3. Theoretical investigation indicates that the interaction between Zn sheet and water molecules is the primary cause of the color change in the WO3 film. The WO3 film completes the colouring state within 10 s in the presence of Zn sheet and water, and the open‐circuit voltage of the device is 0.7 V, which can be used to drive various electronics by series‐parallel connection. This research introduces a novel method to induce colouring of WO3 films and proposes a fast charging mode different from traditional power sources. It provides valuable insights for the future development of fast charging in the field of electrical energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of a heme-responsive biosensor for dynamic pathway regulation in eukaryotes has never been reported, posing a challenge for achieving the efficient synthesis of multifunctional hemoproteins and maintaining intracellular heme homeostasis. Herein, a biosensor containing a newly identified heme-responsive promoter, CRISPR/dCas9, and a degradation tag N-degron was designed and optimized to fine-tune heme biosynthesis in the efficient heme-supplying Pichia pastoris P1H9 chassis. After identifying literature-reported promoters insensitive to heme, the endogenous heme-responsive promoters were mined by transcriptomics, and an optimal biosensor was screened from different combinations of regulatory elements. The dynamic regulation pattern of the biosensor was validated by the transcriptional fluctuations of the HEM2 gene involved in heme biosynthesis and the subsequent responsive changes in intracellular heme titers. We demonstrate the efficiency of this regulatory system by improving the production of high-active porcine myoglobin and soy hemoglobin, which can be used to develop artificial meat and artificial metalloenzymes. Moreover, these findings can offer valuable strategies for the synthesis of other hemoproteins. • Endogenous heme-responsive promoters were identified in P. pastoris. • Heme-responsive biosensors were designed and optimized. • Heme biosynthesis was fine-tuned using an optimized heme-responsive biosensor. • Fine-tuned heme biosynthesis enhanced the expression of high-active P-Mb and S-Hb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opposition-based learning (OBL) is an optimization method widely applied to algorithms. Through analysis, it has been found that different variants of OBL demonstrate varying performance in solving different problems, which makes it crucial for multiple OBL strategies to co-optimize. Therefore, this study proposed a dynamic allocation of OBL in differential evolution for multi-role individuals. Before the population update in DAODE, individuals in the population played multiple roles and were stored in corresponding archives. Subsequently, different roles received respective rewards through a comprehensive ranking mechanism based on OBL, which assigned an OBL strategy to maintain a balance between exploration and exploitation within the population. In addition, a mutation strategy based on multi-role archives was proposed. Individuals for mutation operations were selected from the archives, thereby influencing the population to evolve toward more promising regions. Experimental results were compared between DAODE and state of the art algorithms on the benchmark suite presented at the 2017 IEEE conference on evolutionary computation (CEC2017). Furthermore, statistical tests were conducted to examine the significance differences between DAODE and the state of the art algorithms. The experimental results indicated that the overall performance of DAODE surpasses all state of the art algorithms on more than half of the test functions. Additionally, the results of statistical tests also demonstrated that DAODE consistently ranked first in comprehensive ranking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel discrete memristor model that incorporates exponential and absolute value functions. A discrete coupled memristor neural network model is constructed based on this memristor design. The periodic and chaotic regions of the discrete neural network model are determined using bifurcation and Lyapunov exponent spectrum. Furthermore, by varying the initial values of the discrete memristive neural network, we observe the coexistence of chaos and periodic attractors, as well as periodic attractors. Additionally, an application to color image encryption based on the discrete system model is given. Security analysis is conducted in the aspects of key space, histogram analysis, correlation analysis, sensitivity analysis, Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), and information entropy analysis. The analysis results show that the algorithm has a key space size of 2 2 5 8 , and the information entropy of baboon graph is 7.9993, which is very close to the ideal value of 8. It shows that the image encryption algorithm is feasible and effective. Finally, the implementation of the discrete memristive neural network model is realized using Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The experimental implementation is conducted using the Verilog language on the Vivado 2018.3 platform, and the obtained results align with the numerical simulation results obtained through MATLAB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the basis of the chaotic system proposed by Wang et al. in 2023, this paper constructs a 5D fractional-order memristive hyperchaotic system (FOMHS) with multiple coexisting attractors through coupling of magnetic control memristors and dimension expansion. Firstly, the divergence, Kaplan–Yorke dimension, and equilibrium stability of the chaotic model are studied. Subsequently, we explore the construction of the 5D FOMHS, introducing the definitions of the Caputo differential operator and the Riemann–Liouville integral operator and employing the Adomian resolving approach to decompose the linears, the nonlinears, and the constants of the system. The complex dynamic characteristics of the system are analyzed by phase diagrams, Lyapunov exponent spectra, time-domain diagrams, etc. Finally, the hardware circuit of the proposed 5D FOMHS is performed by FPGA, and its randomness is verified using the NIST tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cat states, as an important resource in the study of macroscopic quantum superposition and quantum information applications, have garnered widespread attention. To date, preparing large-sized optical cat states has remained challenging. We demonstrate that, by utilizing interaction-free measurement and the quantum Zeno effect, even a fragile quantum microscopic system can deterministically control and become entangled with strong light fields, thereby generating large-amplitude optical cat states. During the entire preparation process, our method ensures that the microscopic system functions within a weak field environment, so that its quantum property can be protected. Furthermore, we show that the preparation of cat states is possible even when the quantum microsystem suffers from significant photon loss, provided that optical losses from classical devices are kept low, which implies that the fidelity of the cat state can be enhanced by improvements to and the perfection of the classical optical system. In quantum physics, superposition—illustrated by Schrödinger's cat being both dead and alive—inspires 'cat states', utilized in quantum technologies. The authors propose a theory where the optical state, through multiple indirect atom interactions in an interferometric setup, can generate large-amplitude optical cat states, advancing quantum applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beam string structures (BSS) are frequently employed in large-span spatial structures due to their high load-carrying efficiency and elegant appearance. Owing to the neglect of the influence of prestress, the natural frequency of the BSS is often overestimated which could be crucial to the dynamic behavior of BSS. This paper presents an exact matrix stiffness analysis method (MSM) for investigating the relationship between prestress and the natural frequency of the planar BSS. A novel dynamic stiffness matrix of beam–columns considering the natural frequency and axial force is used to develop the MSM. The dynamic analysis of the structural vibration stability of BSS is performed by using the global structural stiffness matrix which is assembled from the element stiffness matrices in the global coordinate system. The proposed MSM with the exact dynamic element stiffness matrix for the dynamic analysis of the BSS is verified by comparing with previous results based on the finite element method. The illustrative examples demonstrate that the prestress in the cable has a negative effect on the natural frequency of the BSS and should be considered in the dynamic analysis. As the axial force increases from zero to the buckling load Pcr, the natural frequency of the BSS decreases from the maximum vibration frequency to zero. The influence of prestress on the vibration frequencies of BSS is particularly significant when the prestress to balance the loads is large, especially in the case of large dead and live loads (e.g. floor slabs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway plays critical roles in intrinsic chemoresistance by regulating Fanconi anaemia complementation group D2 (FANCD2) expression. However, the mechanisms by which mTOR regulates FANCD2 expression and related inhibitors are not clearly elucidated. Extracts of Centipeda minima (C. minima) showed promising chemosensitizing effects by inhibiting FANCD2 activity. Here, we have aimed to identify the bioactive chemosensitizer in C. minima extracts and elucidate its underlying mechanism. Experimental Approach: The chemosensitizing effects of arnicolide C (ArC), a bioactive compound in C. minima, on non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were investigated using immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, the comet assay, small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection and animal models. The online SynergyFinder software was used to determine the synergistic effects of ArC and chemotherapeutic drugs on NSCLC cells. Key Results: ArC had synergistic cytotoxic effects with DNA cross‐linking drugs such as cisplatin and mitomycin C in NSCLC cells. ArC treatment markedly decreased FANCD2 expression in NSCLC cells, thus attenuating cisplatin‐induced FANCD2 nuclear foci formation, leading to DNA damage and apoptosis. ArC inhibited the mTOR pathway and attenuated mTOR‐mediated expression of E2F1, a critical transcription factor of FANCD2. Co‐administration of ArC and cisplatin exerted synergistic anticancer effects in the A549 xenograft mouse model by suppressing mTOR/FANCD2 signalling in tumour tissues. Conclusion and Implications: ArC suppressed DNA cross‐linking drug‐induced DNA damage response by inhibiting the mTOR/E2F1/FANCD2 signalling axis, serving as a chemosensitizing agent. This provides insight into the anticancer mechanisms of ArC and offers a potential combinatorial anticancer therapeutic strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the problem of long-term uplift of high-speed railway subgrade in a red mudstone area, dehydration shrinkage under different relative humidity gradients was tested. The combined analysis of mineral composition and micro-fissure structure was made to assess the influences of the humidity gradient on the dehydration-shrinkage characteristics and residual deformation of mudstone. Compared with the process of gas moisture absorption-expansion, the range of humidity gradient in which irreversible residual deformation occurs significantly was determined. The results show that the dehydration-shrinkage characteristic of mudstone is time-dependent, but the dehydration process lags the shrinkage process; the dehydration rate and shrinkage rate increase with the increase of humidity gradient. Unlike the gas moisture absorption-expansion, the rate of moisture migration is higher in the dehydration process, and the shrinkage rate is much higher than the expansion rate. This sharp shrinkage is more likely to lead to residual deformation of mudstone. The larger the humidity gradient experienced by the absorption-dehydration cycle, the stronger the water-holding capacity of mudstone, indicating that the change of humidity has an irreversible effect on the structure of mudstone. The measured humidity range of irreversible residual deformation of mudstone is RH85% to RH99%. It is under the action of repeated changes in environmental humidity that the continuous accumulation of irreversible residual deformation causes the slow uplift of mudstone subgrade. The results provide a new perspective for revealing the internal mechanism of long-term uplifting of red mudstone in central Sichuan, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The backreaming operation plays a significant role in safe drilling for horizontal wellbores, while it may cause severe stuck pipe accidents. To lower the risk of the stuck pipe in backreaming operations, the mechanism of cuttings transport needs to be carefully investigated. In this research, a transient cuttings transport with multiple flow patterns model is developed to predict the evolution of cuttings transported in the annulus while backreaming. The established model can provide predictions of the distribution of cuttings bed along the wellbore considering the bulldozer effect caused by large-size drilling tools (LSDTs). The sensitivity analyses of the size of LSDTs, and backreaming operating parameters are conducted in Section 4. And a new theory is proposed to explain the mechanism of cuttings transport in the backreaming operation, in which both the bit and LSDTs have the "cleaning effect" and "plugging effect". The results demonstrate that the cuttings bed in annuli is in a state of dynamic equilibrium, but the overall trend and the distribution pattern are obvious. First, larger diameters and longer drilling tools could lead to a higher risk of the stuck pipe. Second, we find that it is not the case that the higher flow rate is always better for hole cleaning, so three flow-rate intervals are discussed separately under the given conditions. When the "dangerous flow rate" (<33 L/s in Case 4) is employed, the cuttings bed completely blocks the borehole near the step surface and causes a stuck pipe directly. If the flow rate increases to the "low flow rate" interval (33e35 L/s in Case 4), a smaller flow rate instead facilitates borehole cleaning. If the flow rate is large enough to be in the "high flow rate" interval (>35 L/s in Case 4), the higher the flow rate, the better the cleaning effect of cuttings beds. Third, an interval of tripping velocity called "dangerous velocity" is proposed, in which the cuttings bed accumulation near the LSDTs is more serious than those of other tripping velocities. As long as the applied tripping velocity is not within the "dangerous velocity" (0.4e0.5 m/s in Case 5) interval in the backreaming operation, the risk of the stuck pipe can be controlled validly. Finally, through the factors analyses of the annular geometry, particle properties, and fluid properties in Section 5, it can be found that the "low flow rate", "high flow rate" and "dangers flow rate" tend to decrease and the "dangerous velocity" tends to increase with the conditions more favorable for hole cleaning. This study has some guiding significance for risk prediction and parameter setting of the backreaming operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalytic dehydroaromatization of n-alkanes into high-value aromatics has garnered extensive interest from both academia and industry. Our group has previously reported that phosphorus-doped carbon materials exhibit high selectivity for C-H bond activation in the dehydroaromatization of n-hexane. In this study, using n-heptane as a probe, we synthesized biomass-based phosphorus-doped carbon catalysts to investigate the impact of hydrogen heat treatment and carbon deposition on catalyst structure. Despite achieving an initial conversion of n-heptane at approximately 99.6%, with a toluene selectivity of 87.9%, the catalyst activity fell quickly. Moreover, longer hydrogen treatment time and higher hydrogen concentrations were found to accelerate catalyst deactivation. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and N2 adsorption measurements (BET) indicated that a small amount of coke deposition was not the primary cause of catalyst deactivation. Temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia gas (NH3-TPD) revealed a significant decrease in acid-active functional groups. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and solid-state 31P NMR spectroscopy confirmed the reduction of active central phosphorus species. These results suggest that catalyst deactivation primarily arises from the decrease in acidity and the partial reduction of phosphorus-containing groups, leading to a substantial loss of active sites. This work contributes new perspectives to understanding the properties and design improvements of metal-free carbon catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In semiconductor manufacturing, defect inspection in non-patterned wafer production lines is essential to ensure high-quality integrated circuits. However, in actual production lines, achieving both high efficiency and high sensitivity at the same time is a significant challenge due to their mutual constraints. To achieve a reasonable trade-off between detection efficiency and sensitivity, this paper integrates the time delay integration (TDI) technology into dark-field microscopy. The TDI image sensor is utilized instead of a photomultiplier tube to realize multi-point simultaneous scanning. Experiments illustrate that the increase in the number of TDI stages and reduction in the column fixed pattern noise effectively improve the signal-to-noise ratio of particle defects without sacrificing the detecting efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earthworms are soil macrofauna that control soil ecosystems by strongly influencing soil nematodes, microorganisms, and nutrient cycling, as well as soil environmental factors. We have discovered an earthworm cyclic peptide that disrupts nematode DNA, affecting its lifespan, reproduction, and feeding preferences. To investigate the effects of this peptide on soil, it was added to soil, and changes in soil nematode, bacterial and fungal communities, soil nutrient contents, and basal respiration were measured on days 5 and 21. The results showed that the peptide reduced soil basal respiration on day 5 and soil NO3-N on day 21, decreased soil fungivores nematodes on day 5 and soil nematode abundance on day 21, and increased soil fungal community richness and diversity. It also altered the soil bacterial community structure between day 5 and the soil fungal community structure on days 5 and 21. The peptide regulates the soil environment by influencing the structure of soil bacterial and fungal communities through the soil nematode community, as demonstrated by partial least squares path modelling (PLS-PM) analyses. Earthworm cyclic peptides mediates tri-trophic interactions between earthworms, nematodes, microbes, and environmental factors, providing new insights into soil biota interactions and feedback in dynamic soil food webs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fractional-order differentiation (FOD) can record information from the past, present, and future. Compared with integer-order systems, FOD systems have higher complexity and more accurate ability to describe the real world. In this paper, two types of fractional-order memristors are proposed and one type is proved to have extreme multistability, local activity, and non-volatility. By using memristors to simulate the autapse of a neuron and to describe the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction caused by electromagnetic radiation, we establish a new 5D FOD memristive HNN (FOMHNN). Through dynamic simulation, rich dynamic behaviors are found, such as hyperchaos, multiscroll, extreme multistability, and "overclocking" behavior caused by order reduction. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that such rich dynamic behaviors are found in FOMHNN simultaneously. Based on this FOMHNN, a very efficient and secure image encryption scheme is designed. Security analysis shows that the encrypted Lena image has extremely low adjacent pixel correlation and high randomness, with information entropy of 7.9995. Despite discarding diffusion and scrambling, it has excellent plaintext sensitivity, with NCPR = 99.6095% and UACI = 33.4671%. Finally, this paper implements the proposed FOMHNN and image encryption on field programmable gate array (FPGA). To our knowledge, the related work of fully hardware implementation of fractional-order neural networks and image encryption schemes based on this is rare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of hyperhomocysteinemia among Tibetan residents in the west of Xizang Ali. Methods By using the method of multi-stage cluster random sampling, Tibetan residents were randomly selected from the western area of Xizang Ali for physical examination and questionnaire survey, and blood routine and biochemical indexes were collected. The prevalence and influencing factors of hyperhomocysteinemia in this area were analyzed by chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression. Results A total of 1 362 Tibetan residents in the western region of Xizang Ali were investigated. The results showed that there were 1 044 patients with hyperhomocysteinemia, with a prevalence rate of 76.7%. The prevalence rate of males (84.8%) was higher than that of females (71.5%). Smoking (OR=1.988, 95%CI: 1.076-3.675), poor household (OR = 1.775, 95%CI: 1.204-2.540), hyperuricemia (OA =3.416, 95%CI: 2.494-4.679), hypercholesterolemia (OA =4.051, 95%CI: 2.811-5.838), and hypertriglyceridemia (OR=2.589, 95%CI: 1.765-3.798) were risk factors of hyperhomocysteinemia. Female (0R=0.538, 95%CI: 0.384-0.752) and agricultural and pastoral areas (OR = 0.312, 95%CI: 0.156-0.625) were protective factors. Conclusion The prevalence rate of hyperhomocysteinemia is high in the western region of Xizang Ali. Sex, residence, smoking, and poor households are the influencing factors of hyperhomocys- teinemia. Hyperhomocysteinemia is significantly associated with hyperuricemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and other diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of organic–inorganic hybrid supramolecular polymers using polyoxometalate (POM) as building block is expected to bring new opportunities to the functionalization of supramolecular polymers and the development of novel POM‐based soft materials. Here, by using the orthogonal self‐assembly based on host–guest interactions and metal‐ligand interactions, we report the in situ construction of a novel POM‐based hybrid supramolecular polymer (POM‐SP) at the oil‐water interface, while the redox and competitive responsiveness can be triggered independently. Moreover, the binding energy of POM‐SP at the interface is sufficiently strong so that the assembly of POM‐SP jams, allowing the stabilization of liquids in nonequilibrium shapes, offering the possibility of fabricating all‐liquid constructs with reconfigurability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of organic–inorganic hybrid supramolecular polymers using polyoxometalate (POM) as building block is expected to bring new opportunities to the functionalization of supramolecular polymers and the development of novel POM‐based soft materials. Here, by using the orthogonal self‐assembly based on host–guest interactions and metal‐ligand interactions, we report the in situ construction of a novel POM‐based hybrid supramolecular polymer (POM‐SP) at the oil‐water interface, while the redox and competitive responsiveness can be triggered independently. Moreover, the binding energy of POM‐SP at the interface is sufficiently strong so that the assembly of POM‐SP jams, allowing the stabilization of liquids in nonequilibrium shapes, offering the possibility of fabricating all‐liquid constructs with reconfigurability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electroencephalogram (EEG) emotion recognition technology is essential for improving human–computer interaction. However, the practical application of emotion recognition technology is limited due to the variety of subjects and sessions. Transfer learning has been applied to address this issue and has received extensive research and application. Studies mainly concentrate on either instance transfer or representation transfer methods. This paper proposes an emotion recognition method called Joint Distributed Instances Represent Transfer (JD-IRT), which includes two core components: Joint Distribution Deep Adaptation (JDDA) and Instance-Representation Transfer (I-RT). Specifically, JDDA is different from common representation transfer methods in transfer learning. It bridges the discrepancies of marginal and conditional distributions simultaneously and combines multiple adaptive layers and kernels for deep domain adaptation. On the other hand, I-RT utilizes instance transfer to select source domain data for better representation transfer. We performed experiments and compared them with other representative methods in the SEED, SEED-IV, and SEED-V datasets. In cross-subject experiments, our approach achieved an average accuracy of 83.21% in SEED, 52.12% in SEED-IV, and 60.17% in SEED-V. Similarly, in cross-session experiments, the accuracy was 91.29% in SEED, 59.02% in SEED-IV, and 65.91% in SEED-V. These results demonstrate the improvement in the accuracy of EEG emotion recognition using the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The evolution of fruit size is poorly understood, though long‐standing hypotheses, the dispersal syndrome hypothesis and correlated evolution hypothesis, have highlighted the influence of frugivores and phylogeny on fruit size variation. Location: Interaction networks were extracted from studies carried out in Asia, Europe, Africa, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand and the Neotropics. Time Period: Up to 50 years between 1970 and 2022. Major Taxa Studied: Frugivores (birds and mammals) and fleshy‐fruited plants. Methods: We compiled a global data set on fruit size (i.e. width and length) and plant traits (i.e. leaf area and plant height) for 349 fleshy‐fruited plants, and the body mass of frugivores from 326 interaction networks. We constructed a plant phylogeny from a mega‐tree containing 74,533 vascular plant species and we calculated Pagel's λ to assess the phylogenetic signal in plant traits and fruit size. Phylogenetic generalized linear mixed model (PGLMM) was used to reveal relationships between fruit size and plant traits as well as the body mass of interacting frugivores. We used phylogenetic partial R2s regression model to tease apart the effects of body mass of frugivores, leaf area, plant height and plant phylogeny on the evolution of fruit size. Results: We show that the global variation in fruit width is better explained by frugivorous assemblages than by phylogeny and plant functional traits (leaf area and plant height). Despite the significant evolutionary correlation between fruit length and width, fruit length appears to be more phylogenetically constrained and less sensitive to frugivore‐driven selection than fruit width. Main Conclusion: In light of the two original hypotheses, our study demonstrates a global phylogenetic constraint on fruit length and frugivore‐driven selection on fruit width, provides a novel mechanistic explanation for the evolution of fruit size across fleshy‐fruited plant species. Our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between frugivory, phylogeny and plant traits in the evolution of fruit size, offering valuable insights into the broader context of published findings and hypotheses in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs), a glycolipid biosurfactant, possess great potential in many high‐value‐added fields. However, its water‐insolubility is an important obstacle to its wide application, especially in home and personal care fields. In this study, a new strategy “killing two birds with one stone” based on the chemical modification of natural MELs was developed for the preparation of hydrophilic MELs. These newly prepared MELs can be efficiently isolated from the reacted solution via stepwise extraction with a methanol/n‐hexane system. 88% of hydrophilic MELs were recovered from natural MELs, with a corresponding yield of 50%. This is mainly attributed to the esterification of fatty acids, representing the main and relatively‐difficult‐to‐remove impurities in fermentative‐produced MELs, facilitating separation from the MEL product via extraction. Moreover, these new MELs presented comparable surface activities to natural MELs while exhibiting enhanced water solubility and biocompatibility. This originates from the generation of MEL‐D, resulting from the deacetylation of natural MELs and the formation of new hydrophilic MELs containing just one hydrophobic chain (named “MEL‐G”). Hence, the present strategy is not only beneficial for the removal of impurities (fatty acids) but also for the preparation of MELs with improved hydrophilicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdWs) ferroelectric heterostructures provide a platform to design multifunctional electronic devices. In this Letter, the 2D vdWs ferroelectric α - In 2 Se 3 / Cs 3 Bi 2 I 9 heterostructures were constructed to investigate the appropriate band alignment, effective masses, charge transfer, and polarization switching barriers by employing first-principle calculation. The results show that the polarization reversal of α - In 2 Se 3 engineers band alignment transition from type-II (α - In 2 Se 3 - P ↑ / Cs 3 Bi 2 I 9 ) to type-I (α - In 2 Se 3 - P ↓ / Cs 3 Bi 2 I 9 ), resulting in an indirect bandgap changing from 0.09 to 0.75 eV. Calculated electron effective masses are isotropic, which is smaller than those of anisotropic hole effective masses. Interfacial charges transfer from Cs 3 Bi 2 I 9 to α - In 2 Se 3 , which can be ascribed to work function difference. By combining non-equilibrium Green's functions, the current–voltage characteristics of α - In 2 Se 3 / Cs 3 Bi 2 I 9 based ferroelectric tunnel junction were investigated, and the current on/off ratio of 103 is resulted by spatial charge carrier separation and recombination. The proposed electron–hole separation transport design strategy provides a comprehensive theoretical support for the development of microelectronic storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein a series of chiral BTI radical anions bearing different chiral substituents were efficiently prepared by chemical reduction. X‐ray crystallography revealed finely‐tuned packing and helix assemblies of the radicals by the size of chiral substituents in crystalline state. In accordance with the crystalline‐state packing, the powder ESR spectra indicate that 4 a−⋅CoCp2+ and 4 c−⋅CoCp2+ π‐dimers exhibit thermally excited triplet states arising from strong spin‐spin interactions, while discrete 4 b−⋅CoCp2+ shows a broad doublet‐state signal reflecting weak spin‐spin interactions. The interplay between the unpaired electron spin and chiral substituents was studied by UV‐Vis‐NIR spectra, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and TD DFT calculations. Different NIR absorptions of the radicals attributing to isolated SOMO→LUMO+1 (~889 nm) transitions were recorded. The emergence of Cotton effects (CEs) at the NIR region for 4 c−⋅CoCp2+ radical enantiomers suggest the interplay between chirality and unpaired electron spin. The origin of the different circularly polarized light absorptions regarding SOMO derived transitions (around 880 nm) was attributed to chiral substitutes regulated electric and magnetic transition dipole moments of the unpaired electron participated transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared with dissipative systems, conservative systems do not have attractors, thus they can better cope with the security risks brought by phase space reconstruction. In this paper, a paradigm for constructing 2 n +1 dimensional simplest Hamiltonian conservative chaotic systems (HCCSs) is proposed, and their Hamiltonian energy conservation, Casimir energy conservation, volume conservation, and boundedness are proved. Based on this construction paradigm, we propose a five-dimensional HCCS (FHCCS) that contains the fewest terms but has complex dynamic behaviors, including energy-controlled hyperchaotic multi-scroll flow, hyperchaos under wide parameter range, energy-induced extremely multistability, initial value enhancement of hyperchaos. To solve the problem of high-dimensional continuous chaotic systems seriously slowing down the speed of chaotic image encryption, a new fractal scrambling and batch diffusion algorithm is proposed. They only need a small number of chaotic sequences to achieve excellent encryption effects, such as strong plaintext sensitivity, strong key sensitivity, high information entropy, low correlation, and huge key space. After sufficient testing, on the Matlab platform, for high-resolution images with a resolution of 2048 × 2048 , only 0.186886s is needed to generate all pseudorandom numbers required for encryption. In addition, they can also make full use of the SIMD technology provided by the CPU to maximize the encryption speed. • It is proposed that a paradigm for constructing 2n+1 dimensional simplest Hamiltonian conservative chaotic systems (HCCSs). • Then a 5D HCCS with hyperchaotic multi-scroll flow, wide parameter range and extreme multistability is proposed. • A fast and secure encryption algorithm with efficient fractal scrambling and batch diffusion is proposed based on 5D HCCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractHeme, an iron-containing tetrapyrrole in hemoproteins, including: hemoglobin, myoglobin, catalase, cytochrome c, and cytochrome P450, plays critical physiological roles in different organisms. Heme-derived chemicals, such as biliverdin, bilirubin, and phycocyanobilin, are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and have shown great potential in fighting viruses and diseases. Therefore, more and more attention has been paid to the biosynthesis of hemoproteins and heme derivatives, which depends on the adequate heme supply in various microbial cell factories. The enhancement of endogenous biosynthesis and exogenous uptake can improve the intracellular heme supply, but the excess free heme is toxic to the cells. Therefore, based on the heme-responsive regulators, several sensitive biosensors were developed to fine-tune the intracellular levels of heme. In this review, recent advances in the: biosynthesis, acquisition, regulation, and upcycling of heme were summarized to provide a solid foundation for the efficient production and application of high-value-added hemoproteins and heme derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) provides innovative solutions for predicting complex infections. A comprehensive understanding of its strengths and limitations in real-world clinical settings is necessary to ensure that it is not overused or misinterpreted. Methods Two hundred nine cases with suspected pneumonia were recruited to compare the capabilities of 2 available mNGS assays (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid [BALF] mNGS and plasma mNGS) to identify pneumonia-associated DNA/RNA pathogens and predict antibiotic resistance. Results Compared to clinical diagnosis, BALF mNGS demonstrated a high positive percent agreement (95.3%) but a low negative percent agreement (63.1%). Plasma mNGS revealed a low proportion of true negatives (30%) in predicting pulmonary infection. BALF mNGS independently diagnosed 65.6% (61/93) of coinfections and had a remarkable advantage in detecting caustic, rare, or atypical pathogens. Pathogens susceptible to invasive infection or bloodstream transmission, such as Aspergillus spp, Rhizopus spp, Chlamydia psittaci , and human herpesviruses, are prone to be detected by plasma mNGS. BALF mNGS tests provided a positive impact on the diagnosis and treatment of 128 (61.2%) patients. Plasma mNGS, on the other hand, turned out to be more suitable for diagnosing patients who received mechanical ventilation, developed severe pneumonia, or developed sepsis (all P <.01). BALF mNGS was able to identify resistance genes that matched the phenotypic resistance of 69.4% (25/36) of multidrug-resistant pathogens. Conclusions Our data reveal new insights into the advantages and disadvantages of 2 different sequencing modalities in pathogen identification and antibiotic resistance prediction for patients with suspected pneumonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malignant tumor is the second leading cause of death due to its high incidence, lack of effective treatment and poor prognosis. The evaluation of anticancer drugs used to based on NCI-60 cell line models, but the limited heterogeneity and the divorce from clinical practice of models lead to extremely low success rate of novel anticancer drugs during clinical trials (less than 10%). In recent years, because of the high heterogeneity and human derived tumor matrix, patient-derived tumor models have been gradually applied to the preclinical evaluation of various antitumor drugs, which shows certain advantages in predicting the clinical efficacy of antitumor drugs. Optimize the drug combination through patient-derived tumor models to achieve individualized medicine has gradually become an indispensable strategy in clinical cancer therapy. The current review summarized the development of patient-derived tumor models, characterized the application, advantages and challenges of them in preclinical antitumor drug evaluation and clinical precise medicine, which will provide a scientific basis and novel insights for further basic research, drug development and clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sub-TeV or TeV γ -rays have been convincingly detected in the afterglows of some gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). The relativistic jet associated with GRBs may be surrounded by a cocoon and thus the thermal photons of the cocoon pervading the emission region of the jet can be upscattered to the very-high-energy regime (e.g., sub-TeV/TeV) by the electrons in the jet. In this scenario, the electrons in the jet cool down and thus the jet emission in the low-energy regime, e.g., the X-ray or optical, may be suppressed. In this paper, we study the effect of the cocoon's thermal photons on the jet emission in the low-energy regime. We find that the jet emission in the low-energy regime is significantly suppressed when the emission region of the jet is just encircled by a hot cocoon. Correspondingly, there is a sharp decay in the light curves of the jet emission in the low-energy regime, which can be understood to signify strong TeV emission in GRBs. Since the radius of the cocoon expands with the observer time t obs, the suppression of the jet emission in the low-energy regime may be relieved and thus the light curves of the jet emission would return to those of emission without a cocoon-external inverse-Compton cooling effect. For a long-lasting jet with power ∝ (1 + t obs / t c) α , an internal plateau followed by a sharp decay may generally appear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollution is a global concern. Various organic compounds are released into the environment through wastewater, waste gas, and waste residue, ultimately accumulating in the environment and the food chain. This poses a significant threat to both human health and ecology. Currently, a growing body of research has demonstrated that microorganisms employ their Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) system for biodegradation, offering a crucial approach for eliminating these pollutants in environmental remediation. CYP450, a ubiquitous catalyst in nature, includes a vast array of family members distributed widely across various organisms, including bacteria, fungi, and mammals. These enzymes participate in the metabolism of diverse organic compounds. Furthermore, the rapid advancements in enzyme and protein engineering have led to increased utilization of engineered CYP450s in environmental remediation, enhancing their efficiency in pollutant removal. This article presents an overview of the current understanding of various members of the CYP450 superfamily involved in transforming organic pollutants and the engineering of biodegrading CYP450s. Additionally, it explores the catalytic mechanisms, current practical applications of CYP450-based systems, their potential applications, and the prospects in bioremediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhodium-catalyzed three-component C–H bond activation of aromatics with amides and aldehydes to synthesize amines was established. The addition of copper was found to be essential to ensure the high reactivity. The mechanistic studies indicated that key intermediates formed by the transmetallization between rhodium and copper could further promote the addition between 2-(pyridin-2-yl)-phenyl-metal species and imines. A series of densely substituted amines could be conveniently prepared by this one-step, three-component procedure from commercially available substrates via C–H bond activation with water as the only by-product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the role of isorhamnetin on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in rats. Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were subcutaneously injected with dehydroepiandrosteron (DHEA) to establish PCOS model. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) were used to measure histological changes and apoptosis of ovary tissues. The levels of serum hormones and inflammatory factors in ovary tissues were measured by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA). In DHEA-induced PCOS rats, the levels of serum glucose, insulin, testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) were enhanced, estradiol (E2), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were decreased, inflammatory levels and apoptosis of ovary tissues were increased. Additionally, DHEA increased the body weight, ovary weight, and ovary volume, cystic follicles, and decreased corpus luteum. Moreover, the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway was activated in PCOS rats. The levels of TNF receptor superfamily member 1 A (TNFR1), TNF-α, and fas cell surface death feceptor (FAS) were enhanced in ovary tissues of DHEA induced PCOS rats. Isorhamnetin (ISO) treatment after DHEA modeling markedly reduced serum levels of glucose, insulin, testosterone and LH, increased E2, SHBG, FSH level, decreased inflammatory levels, and inhibited apoptosis and decreased body weight, ovary weight, and ovary volume. The levels of TNFR1, TNF-α, and FAS were markedly decreased after ISO treatment in PCOS rats. Additionally, ISO alone had no significant effect on rats. Isorhamnetin inhibits inflammatory response to alleviate DHEA-induced PCOS in rats by inactivating the TNF signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fractional calculus research indicates that, within the field of neural networks, fractional-order systems more accurately simulate the temporal memory effects present in the human brain. Therefore, it is worthwhile to conduct an in-depth investigation into the complex dynamics of fractional-order neural networks compared to integer-order models. In this paper, we propose a magnetically controlled, memristor-based, fractional-order chaotic system under electromagnetic radiation, utilizing the Hopfield neural network (HNN) model with four neurons as the foundation. The proposed system is solved by using the Adomain decomposition method (ADM). Then, through dynamic simulations of the internal parameters of the system, rich dynamic behaviors are found, such as chaos, quasiperiodicity, direction-controllable multi-scroll, and the emergence of analogous symmetric dynamic behaviors in the system as the radiation parameters are altered, with the order remaining constant. Finally, we implement the proposed new fractional-order HNN system on a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The experimental results show the feasibility of the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional gravity wave drag parameterizations produce wind stresses that are insensitive to changing horizontal resolution in numerical weather prediction (NWP), partly due to the idealized elliptical assumption. This study employs the modified subgrid-scale orography scheme based on the Fourier transform into gravity wave drag scheme of the China Meteorological Administration Global Forecast System (CMA-GFS) to assess its impacts on simulating precipitation during the slow-moving period of Typhoon In-Fa after its landfall in Zhejiang Province, China. The simulation with the updated scheme can effectively reduce the accumulated precipitation bias of the control one and improve the simulation of precipitation distribution and intensity, especially in the hourly precipitation simulation. The improved scheme primarily influences the wind field of the low-level troposphere and also changes the convergence of the integrated water vapor transport and ascending motions related to the reduced precipitation biases. The modified scheme enhances the tendencies of the horizontal winds caused by the varying horizontal resolutions in the model, strengthening the sensitivity of the gravity wave drag across the horizontal scales. Results from medium-range forecasts indicate the modified scheme benefits the statistics scores of precipitation over China and also reduces root-mean-square errors of 2 m temperature and 10 m winds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red-layer mudstone is a typical expandable rock, that is, it easily expands and deforms in water. This study focused on the dynamic quantitative analysis of the mudstone hygroscopic process and development of strain caused by the hydration expansion of clay, by combining a self-designed simple self-imbibition device with the digital image correlation method. The mudstone samples were self-imbibed in deionized water and salt solutions of different concentrations under the same atmospheric conditions (25°C and 50% humidity). The effects of the salt type and salt concentration on the water absorption quality, expansion rate, crack initiation and expansion, matrix deformation, and water migration of mudstone over time were analyzed. The change in the water absorption capacity of mudstone with time was determined from the water absorption characteristic curve. The location and strain development of the local high-strain area during the water–rock interaction was captured from the full-field strain cloud image. The migration of water on the rock surface at different times was observed using camera photographs. Finally, water absorption was combined with strain, water migration, and crack propagation. The effect of saltwater on the hygroscopic expansion of mudstone was evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the value of the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) in predicting ICU admission in patients with aortic aneurysm (AA). Methods: The clinical data of patients were obtained from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV database. The association between CCI and ICU admission was explored by restricted cubic spline (RCS), threshold effect analysis, generalized linear model, logistic regression, interaction, and mediation analyses. Its clinical value was evaluated by decision curve analysis (DCA), receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), DeLong's test, and net reclassification index (NRI) analyses. Results: The ICU admission was significantly associated with the thoracic AA (TAA), unruptured status, and surgery status. Therefore, 288 candidate patients with unruptured TAA who received surgery were enrolled in the further analysis. We found that CCI was independently associated with the ICU admission of candidates (P = 0.005). Further, their nonlinear relationship was observed (adjusted P = 0.008), and a significant turning point of 6 was identified. The CCI had a favorable performance in predicting ICU admission (area under curve = 0.728) and achieved a better clinical net benefit. New models based on CCI significantly improved the accuracy of prediction. Besides the importance of CCI in ICU admission, CCI also exerted important interaction effect (rather than mediating effects) on the association of other variables (such as age and blood variables) with ICU admission requirements (all P < 0.05). Conclusions: The CCI is an important predictor of ICU admission after surgery in patients with unruptured TAA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The promotion of intersystem crossing (ISC) is critical for achieving a high‐efficiency long‐persistent luminescence (LPL) from organic materials. However, the use of a transition‐metal complex for LPL materials has not been explored because it can also shorten the emission lifetime by accelerating the phosphorescence decay. Here, we report a new class of LPL materials by doping a monovalent Au‐carbene complex into a boron‐embedded molecular host. The donor‐acceptor systems exhibit photoluminescence with both high efficiencies (>57 %) and long lifetimes (ca. 40 ms) at room temperature. It is revealed that the Au atom promotes the population of low‐lying triplet excited states of the host aggregate (T1*) which can be converted into the charge‐transfer (CT) state, thereby resulting in afterglow luminescence. Moreover, the use of a chirality unit on the guest molecule results in the LPL being circularly polarized. This work illustrates that transition‐metal complexes can be used for developing organic afterglow systems by exquisite control over the excited state mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The promotion of intersystem crossing (ISC) is critical for achieving a high‐efficiency long‐persistent luminescence (LPL) from organic materials. However, the use of a transition‐metal complex for LPL materials has not been explored because it can also shorten the emission lifetime by accelerating the phosphorescence decay. Here, we report a new class of LPL materials by doping a monovalent Au‐carbene complex into a boron‐embedded molecular host. The donor‐acceptor systems exhibit photoluminescence with both high efficiencies (>57 %) and long lifetimes (ca. 40 ms) at room temperature. It is revealed that the Au atom promotes the population of low‐lying triplet excited states of the host aggregate (T1*) which can be converted into the charge‐transfer (CT) state, thereby resulting in afterglow luminescence. Moreover, the use of a chirality unit on the guest molecule results in the LPL being circularly polarized. This work illustrates that transition‐metal complexes can be used for developing organic afterglow systems by exquisite control over the excited state mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While hydrovoltaic electrical energy generation developments in very recent years have provided an alternative strategy to generate electricity from the direct interaction of materials with water, the two main issues still need to be addressed: achieving satisfactory output power density and understanding the reliable mechanism. In the present work, the integration of capacitors and water evaporation devices is proposed to provide a stable power supply. The feasible device structure consuming only water and air is green and environmentally sustainable, achieving a recorded power density of 142.72 µW cm−2. The output power of the series of devices is sufficient to drive portable electronic products with different voltage and current requirements, enabling self‐driving systems for portable appliances. It has been shown that the working behavior originates from evaporating potential other than streaming potential. The present work provides both theoretical support and an experimental design for realizing practical application of hydrovoltaic electrical energy generation devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial synthesis of valuable hemoproteins has become a popular research topic, and Pichia pastoris is a versatile platform for the industrial production of recombinant proteins. However, the inadequate supply of heme limits the synthesis of high‐active hemoproteins. Here a strategy for enhancing intracellular heme biosynthesis to improve the titers and functional activities of hemoproteins is reported. After selecting a suitable expressional strategy for globins, the efficient heme‐supply P. pastoris chassis is established by removing the spatial segregation during heme biosynthesis, optimizing precursor synthesis, assembling rate‐limiting enzymes using protein scaffolds, and inhibiting heme degradation. This robust chassis produces several highly active hemoproteins, including porcine myoglobin, soy hemoglobin, Vitreoscilla hemoglobin, and P450‐BM3, which can be used in the development of artificial meat, high‐cell‐density fermentation, and whole‐cell catalytic synthesis of high‐value‐added compounds. Furthermore, the engineered chassis strain has great potential for producing and applying other hemoproteins with high activities in various fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To understand the epidemiological status of hypertension and related influencing factors in the areas of very high altitude in Tibet, and provide a basis for the prevention and control of hypertension in high altitude areas. Methods Using the whole-group random sampling method, questionnaires and physical examinations were conducted to collect basic personal information, height, weight, and blood pressure from adult Tibetan residents living in Jiaqiong Township, Bange County, Naked City, Tibet Autonomous Region. SPSS 26. 0 software was used for descriptive analysis, univariate analysis and Logistic regression analysis. Results The prevalence of hypertension among native adult Tibetan residents in Jiaqiong Town, Bange County, Naked City was 25. 4%, with 30. 5% in males and 21. 3% in females. The results of the multifactorial logistic regression analysis showed that the age group was middle-aged group (45 -59 years old) (OR = 3. 570, 95% CI = 2. 036-6.260, P <0. 001), elderly group (≤60 years old) (OR =6.213, 95% CI = 2. 744-14.067, P < 0. 001), obesity (OR = 3. 292,95% CI = 1. 721-6. 298, P < 0. 001), waist-to-height-ratio 0. 5 (OR =2. 733, 95% CI = 1. 278-5. 844, P < 0. 05 ) were the independent risk factors for hypertension. Female gender (OR = 0. 402,95 % CI =0. 237-0. 682, P = 0. 001) were protective factors for hypertension. Conclusion The prevalence of hypertension in native Tibetans living in the very high altitude areas of Tibet is at an average level, and people with advanced age, obesity, and waist-to-height ratio ≤0. 5 are at high risk of hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bending of steel truss structures is an important gauge for detecting, identifying, and evaluating potential issues with structural safety performance. The limitations and high cost of traditional monitoring methods make it challenging to carry out stable long-term monitoring. Therefore, this paper developed a displacement monitoring system for steel truss structures which fulfill the requirements of having low cost, high stability, and ease of operation. The system is based on the improved sub-pixel positioning technology, achieving precise positioning in unfavorable conditions such as long structure-camera distance, angle skew, and dim light. Then, this system was calibrated through field experiment and compared with other measurement systems. Finally, a load identification method was developed to identify discrepancies between the true load and the design load. This method uses optimization functions to identify the true load applied in the experiment, and the optimization parameter obtained by a genetic algorithm iteration is output as the optimal solution. The results suggest that the photogrammetric system performs well in practical engineering applications and can provide advantages including high precision, low cost, simple operation, etc. Results obtained by the load identification method agree well with measurements obtained from the actual structure, and can serve as a tool for evaluating the mechanical properties of similar structures. This method monitors potential risks of steel truss structures, and greatly improve the stability and safety of such structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Senescence is the final stage of plant growth and development, and is a highly regulated process at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels. When triggered by age, hormonal, or environmental cues, plants actively adjust their metabolism and gene expression to execute the progression of senescence. Regulation of senescence is vital for the reallocation of nutrients to sink organs, to ensure reproductive success and adaptations to stresses. Identification and characterization of hallmarks of leaf senescence are of great importance for understanding the molecular regulatory mechanisms of plant senescence, and breeding future crops with more desirable senescence traits. Tremendous progress has been made in elucidating the genetic network underpinning the metabolic and cellular changes in leaf senescence. In this review, we focus on three hallmarks of leaf senescence – chlorophyll and chloroplast degradation, loss of proteostasis, and activation of senescence-associated genes (SAG s), and discuss recent findings of the molecular players and the crosstalk of senescence pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distributions of small rodents in mountainous environments across different elevations can provide important information regarding the effects of climate change on the dispersal of plant species. However, few studies of oak forest ecosystems have compared the elevational patterns of sympatric rodent diversity, seed dispersal, seed bank, and seedling abundance. Thus, we tested the differences in the seed disperser composition and abundance, seed dispersal, seed bank abundance, and seedling recruitment for Quercus wutaishanica along 10 elevation levels in the Taihang Mountains, China. Our results provide strong evidence that complex asymmetric seed dispersal and seedling regeneration exist along an elevational gradient. The abundance of rodents had a significant negative correlation with the elevation and the seed removal rates peaked and then declined with increasing elevation. The seed removal rates were higher at middle and lower elevations than higher elevations but acorns were predated by 5 species of seed predators at middle and lower elevations, and thus, there was a lower likelihood of recruitment compared with those dropped beneath mother oaks at higher elevations. More importantly, the number of individual seeds in the seed bank and seedlings increased with the elevation, although dispersal services were reduced at sites lacking rodents. As conditional mutualists, the rodents could possibly act as antagonistic seed predators rather than mutualistic seed dispersers at low and middle elevations, thereby resulting in the asymmetric pattern of rodent and seedling abundance with increasing elevation to affect the community assembly and ecosystem functions on a large spatial scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesoscale eddies can alter the propagation of wind-generated near-inertial waves (NIWs). Different from previous studies, the subsurface mooring observed NIWs are generated outside an anticyclonic eddy (ACE) and then interact with the arriving ACE. It is found that with the arrival of the ACE, the NIWs accelerate to propagate downward and the maximum vertical wavelength and group velocity of NIWs reach ∼500 m and ∼35 m day−1, respectively. When entering the core of the ACE, the near-inertial energy is trapped and finally stalls at a critical depth, which basically corresponds to the base of the ACE located at around 750-m depth. Through a ray-tracing model and dynamic analyses, this critical depth is much deeper than that of NIWs generated directly inside an ACE. By using depth–time varying stratification and relative vorticity, ray-tracing experiments further demonstrate that NIWs generated outside and passed over by an ACE can propagate to deep depths. Furthermore, energy budget analyses indicate that the net energy transfer from the ACE to NIWs plays an important role in the enhancement of downward-propagating near-inertial energy and its long-term persistence (∼45 days) in the critical layer. Within the critical layer, the enhancement of shear instability and nonlinear interactions among internal waves account for the loss of the trapped near-inertial energy and provide energy for furnishing deep ocean mixing. Significance Statement: The interactions between near-inertial waves and a westward-moving anticyclonic eddy are investigated in this study. Knowledge about the propagation of near-inertial waves continues to be a topic of interest because near-inertial waves transfer energy from the mixed layer to the interior ocean, which is an important source of turbulent mixing. While much is known about how near-inertial energy propagates inside an anticyclonic eddy, few studies have examined how near-inertial energy propagates when it is generated outside an anticyclonic eddy and then enters the arriving anticyclonic eddy. In this study, the deep propagation and trapping of near-inertial energy by a westward-moving anticyclonic eddy is observed, which contributes greatly to the energy budget and the deep-ocean mixing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capacity of vegetative regeneration can contribute to the invasion success of alien plant species in introduced ranges. Belowground bud bank is a trait closely related to vegetative regeneration, but it is still unknown whether belowground bud bank can help invasive alien plants to successfully invade into native plant communities. We measured bud bank density and aboveground biomass of invasive alien and native plants, and species diversity in four wetlands along a soil moisture gradient in Zhejiang Province in East China. Overall, bud bank density, aboveground biomass, and plant diversity differed significantly among the four wetlands along the soil moisture gradient. Bud bank density, aboveground biomass, and the relative dominance of invasive plants increased with increasing soil moisture, whereas bud bank density and the relative dominance of the native plants showed the opposite trend. For invasive plants, both the proportion of aboveground biomass and the relative dominance were significantly positively related to their bud proportion. These results suggest that belowground bud bank of invasive alien plant species can contribute to their successful invasion in native plant communities. Therefore, measures such as plowing and raking could be taken to destroy or restrict belowground bud bank of invasive alien plants to prevent their invasion and to restore native vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]