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This study presents an efficient methodology for simulating nonadiabatic dynamics of complex materials with excitonic effects by integrating machine learning (ML) models with simplified Tamm–Dancoff approximation (sTDA) calculations. By leveraging ML models, we accurately predict ground-state wavefunctions using unconverged Kohn–Sham (KS) Hamiltonians. These ML-predicted KS Hamiltonians are then employed for sTDA-based excited-state calculations (sTDA/ML). The results demonstrate that excited-state energies, time-derivative nonadiabatic couplings, and absorption spectra from sTDA/ML calculations are accurate enough compared with those from conventional density functional theory based sTDA (sTDA/DFT) calculations. Furthermore, sTDA/ML-based nonadiabatic molecular dynamics simulations on two different materials systems, namely chloro-substituted silicon quantum dot and monolayer black phosphorus, achieve more than 100 times speedup than the conventional linear response time-dependent DFT simulations. This work highlights the potential of ML-accelerated nonadiabatic dynamics simulations for studying the complicated photoinduced dynamics of large materials systems, offering significant computational savings without compromising accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common one-electron reduced density matrix (1-RDM) functionals that depend on Coulomb and exchange-only integrals tend to underestimate dynamic correlation, preventing reduced density matrix functional theory (RDMFT) from achieving comparable accuracy to density functional theory in main-group thermochemistry and thermochemical kinetics. The recently developed ωP22 functional introduces a semi-local density functional to screen the erroneous short-range portion of 1-RDM functionals without double-counting correlation, potentially providing a better treatment of dynamic correlation around equilibrium geometries. Herein, we systematically evaluate the performance of this functional model, which consists of two parameters, on main-group thermochemistry, thermochemical kinetics, nonbonded interactions, and more. Tests on atomization energies, vibrational frequencies, and reaction barriers reveal that the ωP22 functional model can reliably predict properties at equilibrium and slightly away from equilibrium geometries. In particular, it outperforms commonly used density functionals in the prediction of reaction barriers, nonbonded interactions, and singlet diradicals, thus enhancing the predictive power of RDMFT for routine calculations of thermochemistry and thermochemical kinetics around equilibrium geometries. Further development is needed in the future to refine short- and long-range approximations in the functional model in order to achieve an excellent description of properties both near and far from equilibrium geometries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pursuit of obtaining enzymes with high activity and stability remains a grail in enzyme evolution due to the stability-activity trade-off. Here, we develop an isothermal compressibility-assisted dynamic squeezing index perturbation engineering (iCASE) strategy to construct hierarchical modular networks for enzymes of varying complexity. Molecular mechanism analysis elucidates that the peak of adaptive evolution is reached through a structural response mechanism among variants. Furthermore, this dynamic response predictive model using structure-based supervised machine learning is established to predict enzyme function and fitness, demonstrating robust performance across different datasets and reliable prediction for epistasis. The universality of the iCASE strategy is validated by four sorts of enzymes with different structures and catalytic types. This machine learning-based iCASE strategy provides guidance for future research on the fitness evolution of enzymes. The authors design an isothermal compressibility-assisted dynamic squeezing index perturbation (iCASE) methodology to improve enzyme stability and efficacy, which is combined with machine learning predictive models to advance enzyme optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freeze drying is one of the common methods to extend the long-term stability of biologicals. Biological products in solid form have the advantages of convenient transportation and stable long-term storage. However, long reconstitution time and extensive visible bubbles are frequently generated during the reconstitution process for many freeze-dried protein formulations, which can potentially affect the management efficiency of staff, patient compliance, and product quality. The reconstitution time has been extensively studied, but the influence of the formulations on the formation of visible bubbles is often overlooked. This paper investigated the effect of freeze-drying formulation factors (i.e., protein concentrations, surfactant concentrations, and sucrose/mannitol compositions) on product stability and visible bubbles generated during reconstitution of freeze-dried etanercept formulations. The generating and breakup mechanisms of visible bubbles were detected via internal microstructure of cake, surface tension, and viscosity measurement. Under the same protein concentration, the formulation of mannitol mixed with sucrose in a weight ratio of 4:1 produces fewer visible bubbles during the reconstitution process compared to the formulation of sucrose with the same total mass. This has been proven to be due to the large number of smaller radius pores distributed in the pores of the freeze-dried cake of the former, while the average internal structure pores of the latter are much larger than those of the former. As an amorphous stabilizer, sucrose can ensure the long-term stability of protein and greatly reduce the generation and maintenance of foams in the reconstitution process, making it a more robust excipient for freeze-dried protein formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterometallic cluster‐based materials offer the potential to incorporate multiple functionalities, leveraging the aggregation effects of clusters and translating this heterogeneity and complexity into unexpected properties that are more than just the sum of their components. However, the rational construction of heterometallic cluster‐based materials remains challenging due to the complexity of metal cation coordination and structural unpredictability. This minireview provides insights into a general synthetic strategy based on Hard and Soft Acids and Bases (HSAB) theory, summarizing its advantages in the designed synthesis of discrete heterometallic clusters (intracluster assembly) and infinite heterometallic cluster‐based materials (intercluster assembly). Furthermore, it emphasizes the potential to exploit the intrinsic properties of mixed components to achieve breakthroughs across a broad range of applications. The insights from this review are expected to drive the progress of heterometallic cluster‐based materials in a controllable and predictable manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterometallic cluster‐based materials offer the potential to incorporate multiple functionalities, leveraging the aggregation effects of clusters and translating this heterogeneity and complexity into unexpected properties that are more than just the sum of their components. However, the rational construction of heterometallic cluster‐based materials remains challenging due to the complexity of metal cation coordination and structural unpredictability. This minireview provides insights into a general synthetic strategy based on Hard and Soft Acids and Bases (HSAB) theory, summarizing its advantages in the designed synthesis of discrete heterometallic clusters (intracluster assembly) and infinite heterometallic cluster‐based materials (intercluster assembly). Furthermore, it emphasizes the potential to exploit the intrinsic properties of mixed components to achieve breakthroughs across a broad range of applications. The insights from this review are expected to drive the progress of heterometallic cluster‐based materials in a controllable and predictable manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Augmented Reality (AR) has attracted unprecedented attention in industrial activities, especially after the emergence of HoloLens in 2016, which is considered as the state-of-the-art head-mounted-display AR glass that has been widely applied in human-centric intelligent manufacturing (HCIM) by enabling workers to access intuitive work instructions directly. Nevertheless, to the best of the authors' knowledge, there has not been a holistic perspective on HoloLens in HCIM from the underlying techniques associated with its on-site deployments, preventing workers from being adequately aware of its pros and cons when deploying it in manufacturing activities. To this end, this article aims to provide a systematic overview of HoloLens AR in HCIM that was published from 2016 to 2022. We analyze the underlying techniques of HoloLens primarily, mainly including tracking and registration, scene perception, multimodal interaction and display, which are significant for its actual deployments in HCIM. Followed by detailed discussions on the various human-centric manufacturing activities that benefit from HoloLens, as well as a summary of challenges and opportunities of HoloLens AR in HCIM. We find that, although the feasibility of HoloLens in various industrial scenarios has been shown, on-going improvements in the areas of tracking accuracy, reliable interaction, and usability are still necessary to promote the HoloLens applications. Besides, this review is also meaningful to the awareness on the current technical and practical situations of AR devices in HCIM, providing insights to facilitate on-site industrial AR applications or perform further academic research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct CH4 to CH3OH conversion is a long‐standing grand challenge in catalysis. We present one‐step steam reforming of methane to methanol (OSRMtM) by combining an atmospheric pressure CH4/H2O/Ar plasma with a Cu/Mordenite (Cu/MOR) catalyst at 170°C, achieving 77% CH3OH selectivity with 3.0% CH4 conversion. Catalyst characterization and plasma diagnostics, as well as D2O and H218O‐labeled isotope tracer experiments reveal that the excellent reaction performance is attributed to Cu‐O active sites confined by MOR zeolite. During plasma‐catalytic OSRMtM, both CH4 and H2O are activated in the plasma and dissociated to produce radicals (CH3, OH, and H). These radicals drive the redox process between Cu2+ and Cu+, playing an important role in plasma‐catalytic OSRMtM. Although a gradual reduction of Cu2+ to Cu+ leads to slow deactivation, the catalytic performance can be completely recovered through simple calcination, which enables a continuous plasma‐catalytic OSRMtM process using a fluidized‐bed reactor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Road running and similar community events boost local economies but also generate significant disposable waste, raising environmental concerns. According to the Theory of Planned Behavior, eco-friendly intentions are influenced by attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. This study explores these psychological factors among Taiwanese road runners, highlighting their ecological accountability and aiming to impact both theory and practice of environmental behavior towards societal sustainable development. Methods: A total of 430 questionnaires were collected from people associated with a series of road-running events in Taiwan. Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, the relationships between the key components such as attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, behavioral intention, and behavior were investigated. The survey questions were designed and adapted in accordance with the guidelines for Theory of Planned Behavior questionnaire construction proposed by Ajzen. Partial least squares—Structural Equation Modeling has been used in hundreds of studies across a wide range of disciplines and was used to explore these components and develop a pathway model. Results: The results indicated that when females participate in road-running events, their perceived behavioral control, behavioral intention, and behavior regarding environmental protection are higher than those of the males that were sampled. Road-running participants who are aware of environmental road-running events exhibit better attitudes toward promoting environmental protection and more likely to be influenced by subjective norms. Older road-running event participants tend to outperform their younger counterparts in all the key components that were investigated in this study. Conclusions: The findings supported the five hypotheses that were tested in this study. Moreover, when encouraging people to participate in road-running events, environmental intervention protection measures must be implemented to increase the public's awareness and knowledge of environmental protection at these types of events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type VI secretion system 2 (T6SS2) of Vibrio parahaemolyticus is required for cell adhesion and autophagy in macrophages; however, other phenotypes conferred by this T6SS have not been thoroughly investigated. We deleted TssL2, a key component of T6SS2 assembly, to explore the role of the T6SS2 in environmental adaptation and virulence. TssL2 deletion reduced Hcp2 secretion, suggesting that TssL2 played an important role in activity of functional T6SS2. We found that TssL2 was necessary for cell aggregation, wrinkly phenotype formation, and participates in motility and biofilm formation by regulating related genes, suggesting that TssL2 was essential for V. parahaemolyticus to adapt changing environments. In addition, this study demonstrated TssL2 significantly affected adhesion, cytotoxicity, bacterial colonization ability, and mortality in mice, even the levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8, suggesting that TssL2 was involved in bacterial virulence and immunity. Proteome analysis revealed that TssL2 significantly affected the expression of 163 proteins related to ABC transporter systems, flagellar assembly, biofilm formation, and multiple microbial metabolism pathways, some of which supported the effect of TssL2 on the different phenotypes of V. parahaemolyticus. Among them, the decreased expression of the T3SS1 and T2SS proteins was confirmed by the results of gene transcription, which may be the main reason for the decrease in cytotoxicity. Altogether, these findings further our understanding of T6SS2 components on environmental adaption and virulence during bacterial infection. Key points: • The role of T6SS2 in V. parahaemolyticus was far from clear. • TssL2 participates in cell aggregation, wrinkly phenotype formation, motility, and biofilm formation. • TssL2 is essential for cell bacterial colonization, cytotoxicity, virulence, and proinflammatory cytokine production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiNb2O7 (TNO) is a potential high-power type of anode owing to its extremely fast charging speed, but its actual application is limited by the inherent low electron/ion conductivity. Herein, TNO doped with the alkaline earth metal strontium (Sr) is designed to overcome these drawbacks. The ion conductivity is enhanced due to the expansion of the ion transport path caused by the large ion radius of doped Sr. Meanwhile, more oxygen vacancies change the electronic structure of the TNO anode, thereby improving the electronic conductivities. Therefore, the electrochemical performance of Sr-TNO is significantly improved, where the Sr0.01-TNO electrode shows an excellent discharge capacity of 237.0 mAh g−1 at 1C after 150 cycles and outstanding rate capability, especially at 40C (196 mAh g−1). Furthermore, the LiFePO4‖Sr0.01-TNO full cell demonstrates excellent cycling stability, maintaining a stable structure and morphology after cycling. This work offers insights for developing fast-charging TNO-based lithium-ion batteries with long cycle life and high rate capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purposes: Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) size variants are frequently assessed by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). However, poor chromatography performance is often observed during SEC analysis. Existing studies have primarily focused on qualitatively describing non-specific interactions between ADCs and the column matrix. The purposes of the current study are to introduce an underlying cause from a novel perspective on the protein-protein interaction (PPI) mechanism, characterized by quantifying diffusion interaction parameter (kD) values, and to provide several strategies to reduce PPI and improve column performance during SEC analysis. Methods: Two kinds of ADCs with varying hydrophobicity properties and their corresponding monoclonal antibodies are used as models. The hydrophobicity of these products was verified using the relative calculated logarithm of the partition coefficient of a substance in n-octanol (oil) and water (rCLogP) and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), and the size variants were analyzed using SEC. Finally, the PPI was characterized by kD values of these four products. Results: The results of rCLogP and RP-HPLC indicated that ADC-1 is relatively hydrophobic, whereas ADC-2 is relatively hydrophilic. In the SEC analysis of the ADC-1, substituting sodium chloride with L-arginine hydrochloride or adding a specific concentration of acetonitrile as an organic solvent to the mobile phase resulted in reduced PPI and enhanced column performance. Conversely, the impact on ADC-2 was negligible. Conclusions: This study provides insights into improving the performance of SEC analysis for ADCs through strategies involving alterations in mobile phase composition. The changes in column performance can be quantitatively explained by the PPI mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Angiogenesis and inflammation are key events leading to peritoneal morphologic alteration and ultrafiltration failure in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). The current study aims to explore the role of ADAM17 in the angiogenetic and inflammatory responses of endothelial cells. Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured and treated with a high glucose-containing medium. In parallel experiments, the expression of ADAM17 in HUVECs was inhibited by SiRNA interference. The mRNA and protein expression of ADAM17, GRO-α and CXCR2 were assessed by qPCR and Western blotting, respectively. The concentrations of GRO-α, VEGF, IL-6 and TNF-α in the cellular supernatants were determined by ELISA. Tube formation and migration of HUVECs were evaluated by Matrigel and transwell migration apparatus. Results: High glucose increased the expression of ADAM17, CXCR2 and GRO-α in cultured HUVECs. RNA silencing of ADAM17 abolished high glucose-mediated increase of GRO-α and CXCR2, which were accompanied by reduced secretion of VEGF, IL-6, TNF-α, as well as tube formation and cell migration in HUVECs. Conclusions: Inhibition of ADAM17 ameliorates high glucose-induced angiogenic and inflammatory responses in endothelial cells partly through down-regulation of GRO-α/CXCR2 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Rapid electrical stimulation (RES) of atrial fibroblasts plays a crucial role in AF pathogenesis, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigates the regulatory axis involving MALAT1, miR-499a-5p, and SOX6 in human cardiac fibroblasts from adult atria (HCF-aa) under RES conditions. Methods: HCF-aa were subjected to RES at 0.5 V/cm and 10 Hz. The expression levels of metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1), miR-499a-5p, and SRY-Box Transcription Factor 6 (SOX6) were measured using qPCR and Western blot analyses. Luciferase reporter assays were performed to confirm target relationships. The effects of MALAT1 siRNA, miR-499a-5p mimics/inhibitors, and SOX6 overexpression on gene expression and apoptosis were assessed. Results: RES increased exosomal MALAT1 expression, peaking at 2 h. MiR-499a-5p levels initially increased, then decreased at 2 h, coinciding with peak MALAT1 expression. SOX6 mRNA and protein levels increased, peaking at 4 and 6 h, respectively. Luciferase assays confirmed MALAT1 and SOX6 as miR-499a-5p targets. MALAT1 knockdown increased miR-499a-5p levels and reduced SOX6 expression. MiR-499a-5p overexpression decreased SOX6 levels and inhibited RES-induced apoptosis. Conclusion: In HCF-aa under RES, increased exosomal MALAT1 expression counteracts miR-499-5p's suppression of SOX6, suggesting that MALAT1-containing exsosomes derived from HCF-aa may offer a novel cell-free therapeutic approach for AF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the effect of wheat dietary fibre (WDF) on glucose metabolism disorder and its mechanisms, 6-week-old db/db mice were given WDF by adding to diet or oral-gavage. The results showed that WDF by oral-gavage instead of adding to the feed can significantly reduce blood glucose levels. The levels of insulin and HOMA-IR were both decreased in the serum of WDF-gavaged mice as well as several inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β. WDF intake by gavage could better regulate the intestinal flora, thus inhibiting diabetes. The relative expressions of genes and proteins including TLR, P65, P50 and TNF-α were all significantly decreased by oral-gavaged WDF. Moreover, the ratio of phosphorylated p65 to total p65 was significantly decreased. In conclusion, ingestion of WDF by gavage can effectively improve glucose metabolism disorder in db/db mice by improving intestinal microbiota and regulating the TLRs/NF-κB/TNF pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild species of domesticated crops provide valuable genetic resources for resistance breeding. Prunus davidiana, a wild relative of peach with high heterozygosity and diverse stress tolerance, exhibits high resistance against aphids. However, the highly heterozygous genome of P. davidiana makes determining the underlying factors influencing resistance traits challenging. Here, we present the 501.7 Mb haplotype‐resolved genome assembly of P. davidiana. Genomic comparisons of the two haplotypes revealed 18,152 structural variations, 2,699 Pda_hap1‐specific and 2,702 Pda_hap2‐specific genes, and 1,118 allele‐specific expressed genes. Genome composition indicated 4.1% of the P. davidiana genome was non‐peach origin, out of which 94.5% was derived from almond. Based on the haplotype genome, the aphid resistance quantitative trait locus (QTL) was mapped at the end of Pda03. From the aphid resistance QTL, PdaWRKY4 was identified as the major dominant gene, with a 9‐bp deletion in its promoter of the resistant phenotype. Specifically, PdaWRKY4 regulates aphid resistance by promoting PdaCYP716A1‐mediated anti‐aphid metabolite betulin biosynthesis. Moreover, we employed a genome design to develop a breeding workflow for rapidly and precisely producing aphid‐resistant peaches. In conclusion, this study identifies a novel aphid resistance gene and provides insights into genome design for the development of resistant fruit cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable forecast precipitation can support disaster prevention and mitigation and sustainable socio-economic development. Improving forecast precipitation accuracy remains a challenge. Therefore, a novel method for multi-model forecast precipitation integration considering long lead times was proposed based on deep learning. First, the accuracy of numerical forecast precipitation was evaluated under different lead times. Secondly, an integrated model was built by coupling the attention mechanism and a long short-term memory neural network (LSTM). Finally, integrated forecast precipitation was obtained by taking high-precision numerical forecast precipitation as an input and examining its accuracy and applicability. Considering the example of the Yalong River, the results showed the following: (1) numerical forecast precipitation fails to forecast precipitation of a ≥10 mm/d intensity well, and is less applicable in streamflow forecast; (2) traditional machine learning methods for integrating multi-model forecast precipitation fail to forecast precipitation of a ≥25 mm/d intensity; (3) the LSTM-A integration model formed by attention weighting after the LSTM output can combine the advantages of numerical forecast precipitation under different intensities and improve the forecast precipitation accuracy for 7-day lead times; and (4) the LSTM-A integrated forecast precipitation has the best applicability in streamflow forecast, with an NSE above 0.82 and an MRE below 30% with 7-day lead times. These findings contribute to improving precipitation forecast accuracy at different intensities and enhancing defense against extreme weather events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Association schemes play an important role in algebraic combinatorics and have important applications in coding theory, graph theory and design theory. The methods to construct association schemes by using bent functions have been extensively studied. Recently, in Özbudak and Pelen (J Algebr Comb 56:635–658, 2022), Özbudak and Pelen constructed infinite families of symmetric association schemes of classes 5 and 6 by using ternary non-weakly regular bent functions. They also stated that "constructing 2p-class association schemes from p-ary non-weakly regular bent functions is an interesting problem", where p > 3 is an odd prime. In this paper, using non-weakly regular bent functions, we construct infinite families of symmetric association schemes of classes 2p, (2 p + 1) and 3 p + 1 2 for any odd prime p. Fusing those association schemes, we obtain t-class symmetric association schemes, where t = 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 . In addition, we give the sufficient and necessary conditions for the partitions P, D, T, U and V (defined in this paper) to induce symmetric association schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A WTi-Al2O3 cermet-based solar selective absorber was prepared to investigate the atomic diffusion induced spectral selectivity degeneration. The as-deposited coating exhibits superior absorptance (0.934) and low thermal emittance (0.098), as well as excellent thermal stability with a selectivity of 0.900/0.07 even after annealing at 923 K for 400 h in Ar ambient. However, the multilayer coating failed after being subjected to annealing at 923 K for 400 h in an air environment, as indicated by a decrease in solar absorptance to 0.912 and an increase in thermal emittance to 0.634. The microstructure characterizations reveal that the annealed coating exhibits a columnar morphology along the vertical direction of the substrate. The presence of abundant grain boundaries in the multilayer coating promotes the outward diffusion of Cr and Mn atoms in the stainless-steel substrate. The Mn atoms, in particular, possess the capability to migrate towards the surface of the coating and undergo an oxidation reaction with oxygen, facilitating the formation of a thick Mn2O3 layer. The roughness of the coating surface was significantly increased in this case, adversely affecting solar absorptance due to amplified sunlight reflection. In addition, the rocketing of thermal emittance is attributed to the destabilization of W infrared reflective layer during the annealing. These findings highlight the importance of considering the outward diffusion of Mn and Cr elements in the stainless-steel substrate when optimizing solar selective absorbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, 17 types of circular, hollow steel tube columns were designed for the axial compression test. A defect was corroded with an acid rain spray method. The effects of the geometric spatial location of local corrosion zones, three-dimensional size, shape, and number of local corrosion zones on the axial compression load-bearing capacity of the circular hollow steel columns were investigated. Through model verification and parameter analysis in the finite element software ABAQUS, a finite element model of 136 local corrosion, hollow steel tube columns under axial compression was established. In conjunction with experimental and numerical analysis, the primary factor influencing the load-bearing capacity of the steel tube columns was the decrease in effective cross-sectional zones at the corroded zones. Single or multiple local corrosion zones of the same size distributed along the length of the column can reduce the load-bearing capacity of steel tube columns. However, the number, location, and distribution of corrosion zones with the same size have similar degrees of influence on the load-bearing capacity of the steel tube column, with no significant differences. In the case of the same corrosion ratio η, the load-bearing capacity of steel tube column exhibits a linear relationship with the increase in both the radial corrosion thickness and the circumferential corrosion width within the locally corroded zone. The axial corrosion length in the corroded region has little effect on the load-bearing capacity of the steel tube columns. Ranking the effect of corrosion parameters on the axial compression bearing capacity under the same corrosion ratio η, the largest one is the radial corrosion thickness; the next are the circumferential corrosion width and the axial corrosion length. A practical formula was developed to calculate the load-bearing capacity of locally corroded steel tube columns, using the rate of section loss in the corroded region as the dependent variable. The formula accurately calculates the axial compressive load-bearing capacity of locally corroded steel tube columns and provides valuable reference for evaluating and maintaining steel tube structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Phylloporia fontanesiae polysaccharide was successfully isolated through a sequential water extraction and alcohol precipitation process. Utilizing the Box–Behnken design, the extraction process was optimized based on single‐factor experiments, considering variables such as the material‐to‐liquid ratio, extraction temperature, extraction time, and the number of extractions. The polysaccharide composition of P. fontanesiae is predominantly composed of mannose, glucuronic acid, glucose, and galactose, with a molar mass ratio of 4.31:4.10:36.83:1, along with minor amounts of aminoglucose and fucose. The polysaccharide fraction of P. fontanesiae comprises two distinct components, possessing relative molecular masses of 8.85 kDa and 134.03 kDa. Notably, the polysaccharide exhibited significant antioxidant activity. After undergoing simulated gastrointestinal digestion, no significant changes were observed in its antioxidant activity, molecular weight, or monosaccharide composition. This study not only enhanced the extraction efficiency of P. fontanesiae polysaccharide but also provided valuable insights into its composition, structure, and digestion characteristics. Practical Application: The optimum extraction process, stability, and antioxidant activity of Phylloporia fontanesiae polysaccharide during simulated digestion of gastrointestinal tract were studied. The results provide a theoretical basis for the development and application of this polysaccharide in the field of food and health products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Limited data exists to evaluate the optimal management of outpatient beta blocker therapy when patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are admitted for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). Objective: This study aimed to compare the effects of holding or decreasing the dose of outpatient beta blocker therapy vs continuation of therapy on rates of tachyarrhythmias during admission for ADHF. Methods: This single-center, retrospective cohort study divided patients with HFrEF (left ventricular ejection fraction less than or equal to 40%) admitted for ADHF into two cohorts: one that had their outpatient beta blocker continued at the same dose upon admission and one that had it held or dose decreased. The primary outcome was a composite of non-sustained or sustained ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, or atrial fibrillation or flutter with rapid ventricular response during the hospitalization. Secondary outcomes included the individual tachyarrhythmias in the primary outcome, in-hospital mortality, and 90-day re-admission for heart failure. Results: Of the 137 patients included, 82 were in the continuation cohort and 55 in the discontinuation/reduction cohort. The median length of stay was 5.3 days (interquartile range, 3.8-7.6). No significant difference in the primary composite outcome was found between the discontinuation/reduction and continuation cohorts (29.1% vs 22.0%; relative risk [95% confidence interval], 1.33 [.74-2.37]; P =.420). No significant differences were seen between the two cohorts for any of the secondary outcomes. Conclusion: Beta blocker therapy adjustment on admission for ADHF may not affect the occurrence of tachyarrhythmias in patients with HFrEF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the development of data-driven models for streamflow forecasting, choosing appropriate input variables is crucial. Although random forest (RF) has been successfully applied to streamflow forecasting for input variable selection (IVS), comparative analysis of different random forest-based IVS (RF-IVS) methods is yet absent. Here, we investigate performance of five RF-IVS methods in four data-driven models (RF, support vector regression (SVR), Gaussian process regression (GP), and long short-term memory (LSTM)). A case study is implemented in the contiguous United States for one-month-ahead streamflow forecasting. Results indicate that RF-IVS methods enable to acquire enhanced performance in comparison to widely used partial Pearson correlation and conditional mutual information. Meanwhile, performance-based RF-IVS methods appear to be superior to test-based methods, and the test-based methods tend to select redundant variables. The RF with a forward selection strategy is finally recommended to connect with GP model as a promising combination having potential to yield favorable performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Fusarium-induced root rot of Carya cathayensis (C. cathayensis) is a typical soil-borne disease that has severely damaged the Carya cathayensis industry in China. Understanding the interaction among soil microbial communities, soil characteristics, and pathogenic bacteria is very important for the ecological prevention and control of Carya cathayensis root rot. Methods: We used Miseq Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology to study the microbial community in the rhizosphere soil of healthy and diseased C. cathayensis, quantified the abundance of bacteria, fungi, and pathogenic fungi, and combined these with soil chemistry and enzyme activity indicators to analyze the characteristics of healthy and diseased rhizosphere soils. Results: We found that the pH, soil organic carbon(SOC), available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK),N-acetyl- β -D-glucosaminidase (NAG) β-glucosidase (BG), fungal gene copy number, bacterial community diversity and network complexity of the diseased soil were significantly lower (p < 0.05), while Fusarium graminearum copies number levels increased (p < 0.05). Additionally, the study found that healthy soils were enriched with beneficial bacteria such as Subgroup_7 (0.08%), MND1 (0.29%), SWB02 (0.08%), and Bradyrhizobium (0.09%), as well as potential pathogen-suppressing fungi such as Mortierella (0.13%), Preussia (0.03%), and Humicol (0.37%), were found to be associated with the growth and development of C. cathayensis. Discussion: In summary, this research comprehensively reveals the differences in environmental and biological factors between healthy and diseased soils, as well as their correlations. It provides a theoretical basis for optimal soil environmental regulation and the construction of healthy microbial communities. This foundation facilitates the development of multifaceted strategies for the prevention and control of C. cathayensis root rot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive and non-invasive preoperative molecular diagnosis is important for prognostic and therapy decision-making in adult-type diffuse gliomas. We employed a deep learning method for automatic segmentation of brain gliomas directly from conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the tumor core and peritumoral edema regions based on available glioma MRI data provided in the BraTS2021. Three-dimensional volumes of interest were segmented from 424 cases of glioma imaging data retrospectively obtained from two medical centers using the segmentation method and radiomic features were extracted. We developed a subtype prediction model based on extracted radiomic features and analyzed significance and correlations between glioma morphological characteristics and pathological features using data from patients with adult-type diffuse glioma. The automated segmentation achieved mean Dice scores of 0.884 and 0.889 for the tumor core and whole tumor, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the prediction of adult-type diffuse gliomas subtypes was 0.945. "Glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype", "Astrocytoma, IDH-mutant", and "Oligodendroglioma, IDH-mutant, 1p/19q-coded" showed AUCs of 0.96, 0.914, and 0.961, respectively, for subtype prediction. Glioma morphological characteristics, molecular and pathological levels, and clinical data showed significant differences and correlations. An automatic segmentation model for gliomas based on 3D U-Nets was developed, and the prediction model for gliomas built using the parameters obtained from the automatic segmentation model showed high overall performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive and non-invasive preoperative molecular diagnosis is important for prognostic and therapy decision-making in adult-type diffuse gliomas. We employed a deep learning method for automatic segmentation of brain gliomas directly from conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the tumor core and peritumoral edema regions based on available glioma MRI data provided in the BraTS2021. Three-dimensional volumes of interest were segmented from 424 cases of glioma imaging data retrospectively obtained from two medical centers using the segmentation method and radiomic features were extracted. We developed a subtype prediction model based on extracted radiomic features and analyzed significance and correlations between glioma morphological characteristics and pathological features using data from patients with adult-type diffuse glioma. The automated segmentation achieved mean Dice scores of 0.884 and 0.889 for the tumor core and whole tumor, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the prediction of adult-type diffuse gliomas subtypes was 0.945. "Glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype", "Astrocytoma, IDH-mutant", and "Oligodendroglioma, IDH-mutant, 1p/19q-coded" showed AUCs of 0.96, 0.914, and 0.961, respectively, for subtype prediction. Glioma morphological characteristics, molecular and pathological levels, and clinical data showed significant differences and correlations. An automatic segmentation model for gliomas based on 3D U-Nets was developed, and the prediction model for gliomas built using the parameters obtained from the automatic segmentation model showed high overall performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanically interlocked molecules, such as rotaxanes, have drawn significant attention within supramolecular chemistry. Although a variety of macrocycles have been thoroughly explored in rotaxane synthesis, metal‐organic macrocycles remain relatively under‐investigated. Aluminum molecular rings, with their inner cavities and numerous binding sites, present a promising option for constructing rotaxanes. Here, we introduce an innovative "ring‐donor⋅⋅⋅axle‐acceptor" motif utilizing Al8 molecular rings, enabling the stepwise assembly of molecules, complexes, and polymers through tailored coordination chemistry. This novel approach can not only be applied to macrocycle‐based systems like catenanes but also enhance specific functionalities progressively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanically interlocked molecules, such as rotaxanes, have drawn significant attention within supramolecular chemistry. Although a variety of macrocycles have been thoroughly explored in rotaxane synthesis, metal‐organic macrocycles remain relatively under‐investigated. Aluminum molecular rings, with their inner cavities and numerous binding sites, present a promising option for constructing rotaxanes. Here, we introduce an innovative "ring‐donor⋅⋅⋅axle‐acceptor" motif utilizing Al8 molecular rings, enabling the stepwise assembly of molecules, complexes, and polymers through tailored coordination chemistry. This novel approach can not only be applied to macrocycle‐based systems like catenanes but also enhance specific functionalities progressively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to their consistently emerging applications in modern photonics, highly sensitive and rapid mid‐infrared (MIR) photodetectors, operating at high temperatures, are of great significance. Herein, a novel PbTe/Ge heterostructure is introduced. Notably, the discovery of a 2D electron gas (2DEG) system on the surface of the PbTe layer is experimentally identified for the first time. A high‐performance PbTe/Ge heterostructure MIR photodetector utilizing a plasmonic photovoltaic effect is developed by employing asymmetric electrodes. The photodetecting device demonstrates an exceptionally high detectivity of 1.1 × 1011 Jones along with a short response time of 15 ns at room temperature. Additionally, the proposed plasmonic photovoltaic mechanism of the device is investigated and mainly ascribed to the propagating plasmons, generated by the coupling of the 2DEG with incident MIR photons. Moreover, a linear detector array (LDA) of PbTe/Ge is demonstrated for a thermal imaging application, which exhibits promising high‐quality real‐time imaging via the 2D photodetector arrays on Ge‐based integrated circuits. This work opens up a new way for the development of next‐generation, advanced MIR photonic devices and integrated photonic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The complexity of left ventricular (LV) trabeculae is related to the prognosis of several cardiovascular diseases. Purpose: To evaluate the prognostic value of LV trabecular complexity in patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD). Study Type: Prospective outcome study. Population: 207 participants on maintenance dialysis, divided into development (160 patients from 2 centers) and external validation (47 patients from a third center) cohorts, and 72 healthy controls. Field Strength: 3.0T, steady‐state free precession (SSFP) and modified Look‐Locker imaging sequences. Assessment: All participants had their trabecular complexity quantified by fractal analysis using cine SSFP images. Patients were followed up every 2 weeks until April 2023, or endpoint events happened. Random Forest (RF) and Cox regression models including age, diabetes, LV mass index, mean basal fractal dimension (FD), and left atrial volume index, were developed to predict major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Patients were divided into low‐ and high‐risk groups based on scores derived from the RF model and survival compared. Statistical Tests: Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis; Kaplan–Meier survival analysis with log rank tests; Harrel's C‐index to assess model performance. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Fifty‐five patients (26.57%) experienced MACE during a median follow‐up time of 21.83 months. An increased mean basal FD (≥1.324) was associated with a significantly higher risk of MACE. The RF model (C‐index: 0.81) had significantly better discrimination than the Cox regression model (C‐index: 0.74). Participants of the external validation dataset classified into the high‐risk group had a hazard of experiencing MACE increased by 12.29 times compared to those in the low‐risk group. Data Conclusion: LV basal FD was an independent predictor for MACE in patients with ESRD. Reliable risk stratification models could be generated based on LV basal FD and other MRI variables using RF analysis. Level of Evidence: 2 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Precise glioma segmentation from multi‐parametric magnetic resonance (MR) images is essential for brain glioma diagnosis. However, due to the indistinct boundaries between tumor sub‐regions and the heterogeneous appearances of gliomas in volumetric MR scans, designing a reliable and automated glioma segmentation method is still challenging. Although existing 3D Transformer‐based or convolution‐based segmentation networks have obtained promising results via multi‐modal feature fusion strategies or contextual learning methods, they widely lack the capability of hierarchical interactions between different modalities and cannot effectively learn comprehensive feature representations related to all glioma sub‐regions. Purpose: To overcome these problems, in this paper, we propose a 3D hierarchical cross‐modality interaction network (HCMINet) using Transformers and convolutions for accurate multi‐modal glioma segmentation, which leverages an effective hierarchical cross‐modality interaction strategy to sufficiently learn modality‐specific and modality‐shared knowledge correlated to glioma sub‐region segmentation from multi‐parametric MR images. Methods: In the HCMINet, we first design a hierarchical cross‐modality interaction Transformer (HCMITrans) encoder to hierarchically encode and fuse heterogeneous multi‐modal features by Transformer‐based intra‐modal embeddings and inter‐modal interactions in multiple encoding stages, which effectively captures complex cross‐modality correlations while modeling global contexts. Then, we collaborate an HCMITrans encoder with a modality‐shared convolutional encoder to construct the dual‐encoder architecture in the encoding stage, which can learn the abundant contextual information from global and local perspectives. Finally, in the decoding stage, we present a progressive hybrid context fusion (PHCF) decoder to progressively fuse local and global features extracted by the dual‐encoder architecture, which utilizes the local‐global context fusion (LGCF) module to efficiently alleviate the contextual discrepancy among the decoding features. Results: Extensive experiments are conducted on two public and competitive glioma benchmark datasets, including the BraTS2020 dataset with 494 patients and the BraTS2021 dataset with 1251 patients. Results show that our proposed method outperforms existing Transformer‐based and CNN‐based methods using other multi‐modal fusion strategies in our experiments. Specifically, the proposed HCMINet achieves state‐of‐the‐art mean DSC values of 85.33% and 91.09% on the BraTS2020 online validation dataset and the BraTS2021 local testing dataset, respectively. Conclusions: Our proposed method can accurately and automatically segment glioma regions from multi‐parametric MR images, which is beneficial for the quantitative analysis of brain gliomas and helpful for reducing the annotation burden of neuroradiologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Bone incision leads to interrupted and sluggish blood flow in the process of distraction osteogenesis (DO), creating a hypoxia (0–2% oxygen tension) at the center of the bone callus. This hypoxia is critical in the coupling of osteogenesis and angiogenesis during DO. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Uniaxial Static Strain (USS) on osteogenesis in osteoblasts under hypoxic conditions, with a focus on the expression of osteogenic markers and angiogenic factors. Methods: The USS was made by a multi-unit tension compression device.Osteoblasts were subjected to 10% USS made under hypoxic conditions to mimic the process of DO in vitro. The cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, mineralized nodule formation, and expression of osteogenic and angiogenic markers were evaluated by using a CCK-8 assay, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, ALP activity assay, alizarin red S staining, qRT-PCR, Western blotting and ELISA. Results: Hypoxia inhibited osteoblast cell proliferation, ALP activity, mineralized nodule formation, and the expression of runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx- 2), osteopontin(OPN), osteocalcin (OCN), collagen type I (Col1a1). Conversely, hypoxia upregulated the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which are associated with angiogenesis. However, the application of USS enhanced osteoblasts' osteogenic capacity and upregulated angiogenic factors under hypoxic conditions. Conclusion: USS can enhance osteogenesis in osteoblasts under hypoxic conditions. Moreover, it may stimulate angiogenesis by promoting the expression of VEGF, which further contributes to bone formation. This finding provides important implications for understanding the mechanisms involved in bone regeneration and may have clinical applications in optimizing the effectiveness of DO techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to examine the effects of local corrosion on the axial compression performance of concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) members. Nineteen CFST short columns with local corrosion were designed and fabricated to undergo axial compression mechanical property tests, with the radial corrosion depth of the local corrosion area as the key test parameter. The failure mechanism and mechanical property change laws of CFST axial compression short columns with circumferential full corrosion at the ends and middle were studied. Combined with finite element modeling, the influence laws of the three-dimensional geometrical characteristics of the local corrosion zone, i.e., the axial length, the annular width and the radial depth, on the structural bearing performance were thoroughly explored and discussed. The results revealed that the main reason for the reduction in load-carrying capacity of circular CFST axial columns due to local corrosion is attributed to the reduction of the effective cross-sectional area of the steel tube in the corrosion area. When local corrosion occurs at different axial positions, the variation range of the bearing capacity of CFST columns is within 10%. Regarding the impact of the three dimensions of local corrosion on the axial load-carrying capacity of CFST, the radial corrosion depth was identified as the most influential factor, followed by the annular corrosion width, and finally by the axial corrosion length. When the axial corrosion length exceeds 20% of the specimen length, its further influence on the load-carrying capacity is considered limited. Finally, a practical calculation formula for the bearing capacity of locally corroded CFST columns is proposed. The predicted results of this formula fit well with the test results and can quickly estimate the remaining bearing capacity of the structure by measuring the geometric parameters of the local corrosion area, providing a reference for the assessment and maintenance of CFST structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: Macrocyclic compounds are of great interest for their ability to capture guest molecules into their cavities. In particular, host‐guest interaction plays a crucial role in the formation of supramolecular compounds. Herein, two host‐guest supramolecular compounds, [Al8(OH)8(L)16]·2HL (HL@AlOC‐166, HL = 4‐Iodobenzoic acid) and [Al8(OH)8(L)8(L1)8]·2DMF (DMF@AlOC‐166, HL1 = isoamyl alcohol), are acquired by introducing different types of guest components based on the internal pore cavities of the aluminum molecular ring [Al8(OH)8(L)16] (AlOC‐166). The inclusion of these guests is attributed to the presence of abundant hydrophilic OH serving as the hydrogen bond donors inward the ring cavity. Host‐guest compounds usually exhibit superior nonlinear optical (NLO) response due to the existence of guest molecules that could change symmetry, dipole moments, charge distributions, etc. Unexpectedly, the AlOC‐166 achieved the best NLO results, although it had no guest molecules inside its molecular ring, which breaks the traditional concept. The reason for this trend can be explained by the difference in intermolecular force rather than intramolecular interaction, mainly related to the amount and strength of π···π and C—I···π interactions in different compounds. This work investigates the effect of host‐guest interaction on NLO, representing a new perspective for designing optical limiting materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How corporate social responsibility (CSR) and consumer social responsibility (CnSR) can perform a preeminent role in satisfying and retaining consumers is an unprecedented research gap that needs to be uncovered in the existing literature. This study explores the multidimensional associations of CSR on consumers' satisfaction (CS) and consumer retention (CR) along with moderation of CnSR from a developing economy using rigorous empirical analysis within small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in China. The findings affirmed the positive nexus of CSR on CS and CR. The results asserted the significant moderating impact of CnSR among CSR, CR, and CS. These results yield insights for the management to reshape strategies by understanding social responsibility perspectives on both sides to align corporate and consumers' interests. Additionally, how the inclusion of CSR practices can bridge the gap between corporations and consumers is another unique contribution of this study. Finally, the paper confers interesting and valuable implications along with lines for future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study investigates the multifaceted barriers and facilitators affecting research data sharing across the research data lifecycle. It aims to broaden the understanding of data sharing beyond the publication phase, emphasizing the continuous nature of data sharing from generation to reuse. Design/methodology/approach: Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study integrates the Theory of Planned Behavior, the Technology Acceptance Model, and the Institutional Theory to hypothesize the influence of various factors on data sharing behaviors across the lifecycle. A questionnaire survey and structural equation modeling are utilized to empirically test these hypotheses. Findings: This study identifies critical factors influencing data sharing at different lifecycle stages, including perceived behavioral control, perceived effort, journal and funding agency pressures, subjective norms, perceived risks, resource availability, and perceived benefits. The findings highlight the complex interplay of these factors and their varying impacts at different stages of data sharing. Research limitations/implications: This study illuminates the dynamics of research data sharing, offering insights while recognizing its scope might not capture all disciplinary and cultural nuances. It highlights pathways for stakeholders to bolster data sharing, suggesting a collaborative push towards open science, reflecting on how strategic interventions can bridge existing gaps in practice. Practical implications: This study offers actionable recommendations for policymakers, journals, and institutions to foster a more conducive environment for data sharing, emphasizing the need for support mechanisms at various lifecycle stages. Originality/value: This study contributes to the literature by offering a comprehensive model of the research data lifecycle, providing empirical evidence on the factors influencing data sharing across this continuum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary amides play a crucial role in organic and pharmaceutical synthesis. Herein, we present a rapid and convenient method for transforming diverse DNA‐conjugated nitriles into primary amides utilizing hydrogen peroxide and potassium carbonate. The substrate scope and DEL compatibility of this reaction were thoroughly investigated, revealing a wide range of substrates with moderate‐to‐excellent conversion. This on‐DNA transformation holds significant promise for constructing DNA‐encoded libraries (DELs) and enabling late‐stage functionalization to expand chemical diversity. Our approach not only highlights the versatility of the method but also underscores its potential for broad applications in organic and pharmaceutical synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathological activation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) plays a crucial role in the development of pressure overload‐induced cardiac remodelling and subsequent heart failure (HF). Growing evidence demonstrates that multiple microRNAs (miRNAs) are abnormally expressed in the pathophysiologic process of cardiovascular diseases, with miR‐425 recently reported to be potentially involved in HF. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of fibroblast‐derived miR‐425‐5p in pressure overload‐induced HF and explore the underlying mechanisms. C57BL/6 mice were injected with a recombinant adeno‐associated virus specifically designed to overexpress miR‐425‐5p in CFs, followed by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) surgery. Neonatal mouse CFs (NMCFs) were transfected with miR‐425‐5p mimics and subsequently stimulated with angiotensin II (Ang II). We found that miR‐425‐5p levels were significantly downregulated in HF mice and Ang II‐treated NMCFs. Notably, fibroblast‐specific overexpression of miR‐425‐5p markedly inhibited the proliferation and differentiation of CFs, thereby alleviating myocardial fibrosis, cardiac hypertrophy and systolic dysfunction. Mechanistically, the cardioprotective actions of miR‐425‐5p may be achieved by targeting the TGF‐β1/Smad signalling. Interestingly, miR‐425‐5p mimics‐treated CFs could also indirectly affect cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in this course. Together, our findings suggest that fibroblast‐derived miR‐425‐5p mitigates TAC‐induced HF, highlighting miR‐425‐5p as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for treating HF patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the 1‐year effects of orthokeratology (OK) lenses and spectacle lenses with highly aspherical lenslets (HALs) on axial length (AL) elongation in children with unilateral myopic anisometropia. Methods: This ambispective cohort study recruited 81 children aged 8–14 years with unilateral myopic anisometropia. Of these, 42 participants (mean age 11.07 ± 1.54 years; 23 males) were treated with monocular OK lenses (OK group), and 39 (mean age 10.64 ± 1.72 years; 22 males) with binocular HALs (HAL group). Changes in AL and spherical equivalent refraction (SER) from baseline at 3, 6 and 12 months were compared between eyes and groups. Kaplan–Meier estimation and Cox proportional hazard regression were performed to analyse the risk of myopia onset in the initially non‐myopic eyes. Results: Mean axial elongation in the myopic and non‐myopic eyes at the 12‐month follow‐up visit were 0.17 ± 0.20 and 0.41 ± 0.26 mm in the OK group (p < 0.001) and 0.10 ± 0.15 and 0.12 ± 0.12 mm in the HAL group (p = 0.32), respectively. Compared with the OK group, the non‐myopic eyes in the HAL group had less axial elongation, lower cumulative myopia incidence and percentage of participants with rapid myopic shift at the 6‐ and 12 month follow‐up (all p < 0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that a higher initial SER decreased the risk of myopia onset significantly in the initially non‐myopic eyes (B = −2.06; 95% CI, 0.03–0.49; p = 0.003). Conclusions: Monocular OK lenses suppressed axial elongation in the myopic eye and minimised anisometropia; however, the non‐treated contralateral eye may experience faster myopia onset and myopic shift. Binocular HALs can effectively reduce axial elongation in both eyes of children with unilateral myopic anisometropia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we construct a class of generalized quasi-cyclic (GQC) codes with index $ \ell $ over finite chain rings. Based on probabilistic arguments, we discuss asymptotic rates and relative distances of this class of codes. As a result, we show that GQC codes with index $ \ell $ over finite chain rings are asymptotically good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tunneling splittings observed in molecular rovibrational spectra are significant evidence for tunneling motion of hydrogen nuclei in water clusters. Accurate calculations of the splitting sizes from first principles require a combination of high-quality inter-atomic interactions and rigorous methods to treat the nuclei with quantum mechanics. Many theoretical efforts have been made in recent decades. This Perspective focuses on two path-integral based tunneling splitting methods whose computational cost scales well with the system size, namely, the ring-polymer instanton method and the path-integral molecular dynamics (PIMD) method. From a simple derivation, we show that the former is a semiclassical approximation to the latter, despite that the two methods are derived very differently. Currently, the PIMD method is considered to be an ideal route to rigorously compute the ground-state tunneling splitting, while the instanton method sacrifices some accuracy for a significantly smaller computational cost. An application scenario of such a quantitatively rigorous calculation is to test and calibrate the potential energy surfaces of molecular systems by spectroscopic accuracy. Recent progress in water clusters is reviewed, and the current challenges are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development and widespread presence of social bots online has been transforming users' online news environment. This study adopts a human-centered perspective to investigate the impact of individuals' social media usage experiences on their social bot literacy, perception of threats posed from bots, and perceived social bot control within the context of China. We collected data from surveying 1159 Sina Weibo users and conducting interviews among 20 participants. The data were used to examine (1) the relationship between social media use and social bot literacy and perceived bot control, (2) the mediating role of social bot literacy between social media use and perceived bot control, and (3) the moderating role of perceived threat from bots in this relationship. The results of the analysis suggested a significant moderated mediation model in which social bot literacy mediated the correlation between social media use and perceived bot control and individuals' perceived threat further moderated this relationship. Specifically, for those with a higher level of perceived threat, their indirect effect of social media use was lower compared to those with a lower level of perceived threat from bots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]