Search

Cryptorchidism is a common cause of male infertility, often necessitating microdissection testicular sperm extraction (m-TESE) for sperm retrieval post-surgery. However, uncertainties persist regarding m-TESE outcomes and influencing factors following cryptorchidism surgery. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate sperm retrieval rates (SRR) among patients undergoing m-TESE after cryptorchidism surgery. Factors including age at orchidopexy, age at m-TESE, type of cryptorchidism, serum hormone levels, testicular volume, and interval from surgery to m-TESE were analyzed for their impact on SRR.Nine studies encompassing 935 patients were included. The overall SRR was 57% (95% confidence interval [CI] 51% to 63%). Compared to patients with negative sperm retrieval (SR-), patients with positive sperm retrieval (SR+) underwent m-TESE at an older age (1.81 years; 95% CI 1.17 to 2.45) and orchidopexy at a younger age (-3.35 years; 95% CI -6.34 to -0.36). Different types of cryptorchidism (including high scrotal, inguinal canal, intra-abdominal) significantly influenced SRR (P<0.05). Serum testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone levels and testicular volume showed no significant correlation with SRR (P>0.05). Furthermore, SR- patients typically experienced shorter intervals from orchidopexy to m-TESE compared to SR+ patients (34.09 months; 95% CI 0.40 to 67.77). Earlier orchidopexy and much later m-TESE procedures, as well as undescended testis closer to the scrotum, increase the likelihood of successful sperm retrieval. Orchidopexy for cryptorchidism should be done as early as possible, whether it is performed before 18 months of age or detected at a much older age. In patients with undetected cryptorchidism and azoospermia after puberty, m-TESE should not be performed immediately after orchidopexy, the optimal interval from orchidopexy to m-TESE still requires further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to traditional resources, user-side resources are of various types and have more significant uncertainty about their regulatory capacity, leading to difficulties in coordinating decisions about their simultaneous participation in the electric energy and peaking ancillary services markets. This paper proposes a joint bidding decision-making method for the day-ahead electricity energy and peak shaving auxiliary service market based on distributed robust opportunity constraints, which addresses the problem of difficulty in using an accurate probability density distribution to represent the uncertainty process of user-side resources. Firstly, a data-driven method for characterizing the uncertainty of load regulation capacity is investigated, and fuzzy sets are constructed without assuming specific probability distributions of random variables. Then, to minimize the risk expectation of the joint bidding cost on the customer side, a bidding strategy that considers the uncertainty is proposed. Finally, an example simulation verifies the reasonableness and effectiveness of the proposed joint bidding method, and the results show that the constructed model overcomes the problem of over-conservatism of the robust model, and the computational adaptability is better than that of the stochastic model, which achieves a better balance between robustness and economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, UiO-66-NH2 nanoparticles were synthesized via a hydrothermal method, using acetic acid and hydrochloric acid as modulators to optimize the specific surface area and pore width. Oxytetracycline (OTC) was chosen as the test compound to evaluate the adsorption efficiency of UiO-66-NH2.The material was thoroughly characterized under varying conditions, and the adsorption mechanism was systematically explored through adsorption kinetics, isotherms, and thermodynamic analyses. The results demonstrated that UiO-66-NH2 exhibited a high OTC adsorption capacity, achieving a maximum of 312.5 mg g−1 under optimal conditions. XRD, TGA, and BET analyses revealed that acetic acid and hydrochloric acid significantly improved the crystallinity and thermal stability of UiO-66-NH2, increasing the specific surface area from 8.023 m2 g−1 to 998.663 m2 g−1 and reducing the pore width from 18.783 nm to 2.129 nm. FTIR, XPS, adsorption kinetics, and isotherm studies indicated that the main forces driving OTC adsorption by CMC-Fe were hydrogen bonding, π–π stacking, weak electrostatic interactions, and pore filling. Cyclic adsorption experiments further demonstrated the excellent reusability of UiO-66-NH2. In summary, the use of acetic acid and hydrochloric acid significantly increased the specific surface area of UiO-66-NH2, exposing more adsorption sites and playing a critical role in pollutant removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous nickel-titanium (NiTi) manufactured using metal injection molding (MIM) has emerged as an innovative generation of drug-loaded stent materials. However, an increase in NiTi porosity may compromise its mechanical properties and cytocompatibility. This study aims to explore the potential of porous NiTi as a vascular drug delivery material and evaluate the impact of porosity on its drug loading and release, mechanical properties, and cytocompatibility. MIM, combined with the powder space-holder method, was used to fabricate porous NiTi alloys with three porosity levels. The mechanical properties of porous NiTi were assessed, as well as the surface cell growth capability. Furthermore, by loading rapamycin nanoparticles onto the surface and within the pores of porous NiTi, we evaluated the in vitro drug release behavior, inhibitory effect on cell proliferation, and inhibition of neointimal hyperplasia in vivo. The results demonstrated that an increase in porosity led to a decrease in the mechanical properties of porous NiTi, including hardness, tensile strength, and elastic modulus, and a decrease in the surface cell growth capability, affecting both cell proliferation and morphology. Concurrently, the loading capacity and release duration of rapamycin were extended with increasing porosity, resulting in enhanced inhibitory effects on cell proliferation in vitro and inhibition of neointimal hyperplasia in vivo. In conclusion, porous NiTi holds promise as a desirable vascular drug delivery material, but a balanced consideration of the influence of porosity on both mechanical properties and cytocompatibility is necessary to achieve an optimal balance among drug-loading and release performance, mechanical properties, and cytocompatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of wastewater pollution in the production of monosodium glutamate (MSG) is becoming more and more serious. A novel type of chemically modified Salix psammophila powder charcoal (SPPCAM) was synthesized to address the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) in MSG wastewater. SPPCAM was prepared by carbonization method, in which inorganic ammonium molybdate (AM) was used as modifier and Salix psammophila powder (SPP) was used as raw material. Under optimal treatment conditions, maximum removal rates (removal capacities) of 45.9% (3313.2 mg·L−1) for COD and 29.4% (23.2 mg·L−1) for NH3-N in MSG wastewater were achieved. The treatment results significantly outperforming the unmodified Salix psammophila powder charcoal (SPPC), which only achieved removal rates (removal capacities) of 10.6% (763.9 mg·L−1) for COD and 12.9% (10 mg·L−1) for NH3-N. SPPC and SPPCAM before and after preparation were analysed by FT-IR and XRD, and Mo ions in the form of Mo2C within SPPCAM were successfully loaded. SEM, EDS-Mapping, BET, and other methods were used to analyse SPPCAM before and after MSG wastewater treatment, demonstrating that SPPCAM effectively treated organic pollutants in monosodium glutamate wastewater. The NH3-N in the treated MSG wastewater has reached the standard of safe discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the previously proposed shaft-loaded blister test technique for the synchronous characterization of the surface and interface mechanical properties of a thin-film/substrate system is further studied theoretically. The large deflection problem of the steady shaft-loaded blistering thin film is reformulated by surrendering the small-rotation-angle assumption of the membrane, which was previously adopted in the out-of-plane and in-plane equilibrium and radial geometric equations. A new and more accurate analytical solution to this large deflection problem is presented and is used to improve the previously presented synchronous characterization theory. The new analytical solution is numerically compared with the previous analytical solution to confirm the superiority of the new analytical solution over the previous analytical solution. An experiment is conducted to verify the beneficial effect of the improved synchronous characterization theory on improving the characterization accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous modeling studies have not properly explained the measured mass absorption cross section (MAC) at 550 nm, the linear backscattering depolarization ratio (LDR) at 355 and 532 nm, and the scattering matrix of soot at 532 nm. In this work, we attempt to use a black carbon (BC) model with an intrinsic organic carbon (OC) coating to explain the large MAC, large LDR, and measured scattering matrix. Our results show that the bare fractal BC model is not able to explain MAC, LDR, and scattering matrix simultaneously and that the modeling values do not cover the measurement range. This study shows that the modeled LDR and scattering matrix can cover the measurement range if we constrain the MAC of the BC in the measurement range by the intrinsic OC coating when we consider the effects of monomer radius, monomer number, and monomer overlap simultaneously. Therefore, intrinsic OC coating can be a significant source of uncertainty in the optical properties of fresh soot. Plain Language Summary: Since soot is the most important absorbing particle in the atmosphere, an accurate calculation of the optical properties of soot is of great importance for climate assessment and remote sensing. However, some of the observed optical properties of soot are difficult to explain with current models. In this study, a black carbon (BC) model with an intrinsic organic carbon (OC) coating is used to explain these difficult‐to‐explain optical properties. The results show that the simulated mass absorption cross section (MAC), linear backscattering depolarization ratio (LDR), and scattering matrix are difficult to explain when only the influence of BC is considered, although the effects of monomer size, monomer number, and monomer overlap are taken into account. Range of observation. However, after accounting for the intrinsic OC coating, the model is able to account for the range of realistic optical observations. Therefore, the intrinsic OC coating may be responsible for some optical properties that are difficult to explain with the current models. Key Points: The model of pure black carbon (BC) has difficulty explaining some optical observations of sootWe have proposed a soot model consisting of a BC core and an intrinsic organic carbon (OC) shellThe intrinsic OC coating may be a cause of some unexplained optical properties in current models [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exceptional points (EPs)—singularities in the parameter space of non-Hermitian systems where two nearby eigenmodes coalesce—feature unique properties with applications such as sensitivity enhancement and chiral emission. Existing realizations of EP lasers operate with static populations in the gain medium. By analyzing the full-wave Maxwell–Bloch equations, here we show that in a laser operating sufficiently close to an EP, the nonlinear gain will spontaneously induce a multi-spectral multi-modal instability above a pump threshold, which initiates an oscillating population inversion and generates a frequency comb. The efficiency of comb generation is enhanced by both the spectral degeneracy and the spatial coalescence of modes near an EP. Such an "EP comb" has a widely tunable repetition rate, self-starts without external modulators or a continuous-wave pump, and can be realized with an ultra-compact footprint. We develop an exact solution of the Maxwell–Bloch equations with an oscillating inversion, describing all spatiotemporal properties of the EP comb as a limit cycle. We numerically illustrate this phenomenon in a 5-μm-long gain-loss coupled AlGaAs cavity and adjust the EP comb repetition rate from 20 to 27 GHz. This work provides a rigorous spatiotemporal description of the rich laser behaviors that arise from the interplay between the non-Hermiticity, nonlinearity, and dynamics of a gain medium. An ab initio laser theory is developed to show that exceptional-point lasers can self-generate frequency combs through dynamic population inversion. Notably, the repetition rate of these EP combs is independent of the cavity's free spectral range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We previously showed in animals that transpulmonary driving pressure (PL) can be estimated during Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA) and Neural Pressure Support (NPS) using a single lower assist maneuver (LAM). The aim of this study was to test the LAM-based estimate of PL (PL_LAM) in patients with acute respiratory failure. Methods: This was a prospective, physiological, and interventional study in intubated patients with acute respiratory failure. During both NAVA and simulated NPS (high and low levels of assist), a LAM was performed every 3 min by manually reducing the assist to zero for one single breath (by default, ventilator still provides 2 cmH2O). Following NAVA and NPSSIM periods, patients were sedated and passively ventilated in volume control and pressure control ventilation, to obtain PL during controlled mechanical ventilation (PL_CMV). PL using an esophageal balloon (PL_Pes) was also compared to PL_LAM and PL_CMV. We measured diaphragm electrical activity (Edi), ventilator pressure (PVent), esophageal pressure (Pes) and tidal volume. PL_LAM and PL_Pes were compared to themselves, and to PL_CMV for matching flows and volumes. Results: Ten patients were included in the study. For the group, PL_LAM was closely similar to PL_CMV, with a high correlation (R2 = 0.88). Bland–Altman analysis revealed a low Bias of 0.28 cmH2O, and 1.96SD of 5.26 cmH2O. PL_LAM vs PL_Pes were also tightly related (R2 = 0.77). Conclusion: This physiological study in patients confirms our previous pre-clinical data that PL_LAM is as good an estimate as PL_Pes to determine PL, in spontaneously breathing patients on assisted mechanical ventilation. Trial registration The study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (ID NCT05378802) on November 6, 2021 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to investigate the genomic and tumor microenvironmental (TME) profiles in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and explore potential predictive markers for Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) treatment response in high-risk NMIBC patients (according to European Association of Urology (EAU) risk stratification). 40 patients with high-risk NMIBC (cTis-T1N0M0) who underwent en bloc resection followed by BCG instillation were retrospectively enrolled. Surgical samples were subjected to Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) assay. Genomic profiling revealed high prevalences of alterations in TERT (55%), KDM6A (32.5%), FGFR3(30%), PIK3CA (30%), TP53(27.5%) and ARID1A (20%). TME analysis showed different proportions of macrophages, NK cells, T cells subsets in tumoral and stromal compartment. Multivariate analysis identified TERT C228T and alteration in KDM6A as two independent factors associated with inferior RFS. The study comprehensively depicted the genomic and TME profiles in NMIBC and identified potential predictive biomarkers for BCG treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the functionality of cellulosic materials research and development of high performance soluble materials. Therefore, the Fe3O4/CMS composite membrane was prepared by using carboxymethyl salix powder (CMS) and Fe3O4 as raw materials, 1-propenyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride and dimethyl sulfoxide as dissolution system. The effects of swelling time, swelling temperature, pH and ionic strength on the swelling performance of Fe3O4/CMS composite membranes and the swelling kinetics of the composite membranes were studied. The structure of the composite membrane was characterized by SEM, FT-IR, XRD and TG. The results showed that the swelling degree reached 5.54 g·g−1, when the swelling time was 45 min, the swelling temperature was 65°C, the pH was 5 and the ionic strength was 0.08 mol·L−1. The initial phase of dissolution of the composite membrane fits well with the Fickian diffusion model, and the whole dissolution process belongs to the Schott model, indicating that the main role of the dissolution process is the diffusion of water molecules, while the composite membrane can be preserved for a long time at high temperature, which provides sustainability for the composite membrane. The characterization results showed that the surface of Fe3O4/CMS composite film was rough with small grooves. The O-H effect was enhanced and the Fe-O absorption peak appeared at 600 cm−1, indicating that Fe3O4 had been successfully loaded onto the cellulose membrane. The Fe3O4/CMS composite membrane belonged to cellulose type II structure, meanwhile, the composite membrane had good thermal stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations (e[CO2]) represent an undeniable climate trend, under which the potential response of rice field N2O flux emissions may have been oversight and necessitated a mechanistic explanation for their linkage. During the 3-year rice growth period, two treatments were implemented, including the ambient CO2 concentration (AC) and an increase in the CO2 concentration by 200 μmol mol−1 (EC). The trends and variations in N2O emissions were monitored, and soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities during critical growth stages were collected and analyzed. The correlation between environmental factors was explored, and ultimately, the rice yields were measured. The findings suggest that in comparison to AC, EC significantly augmented the cumulative N2O emissions by 17.18–28.83% over a 3-year period. Notably, the N2O flux reached its peak during the initial stages of field solarization and irrigation, contributing to substantial cumulative emissions; furthermore, EC exacerbated these emissions. The EC significantly enhanced the soil pH, dissolved organic carbon, NH4+–N content, and three types of enzyme activities, which were particularly pronounced during the early growth stage, while reducing the soil NO3−–N content. The relationships between N2O flux and temperature as well as between N2O flux and soil moisture exhibited an exponential pattern, with a stronger correlation observed between soil moisture. EC not only mitigated the sensitivity to temperature but also enhanced the association between soil moisture content. The growth of rice plants was enhanced by e[CO2]; however, its impact on grain yield remains limited. The aforementioned findings have significant theoretical implications for understanding the response of paddy field N2O emissions to e[CO2]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy (nCIT) for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) has shown short-term benefits, but long-term survival outcomes are unclear. This study compares nCIT and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nCT) in resectable ESCC. Patients and methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on ESCC patients who underwent nCT or nCIT followed by esophagectomy. Propensity score matching (PSM) with a caliper of 0.02 was employed to minimize bias. The primary endpoints included disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: A total of 131 comparable pairs of ESCC patients receiving nCT and nCIT were selected for the final analysis. The nCIT had higher rates of pathological complete response (pCR) and major pathological response (mPR) compared to nCT. Additionally, nCIT led to significant tumor down-staging, higher rates of R0 resection, and increased lymph node clearance during surgery. Patients who received nCIT exhibited improved disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) at the 3-year follow-up. The incidence of distant and mixed relapses was lower in the nCIT group compared to the nCT group. However, the risk of locoregional relapse was comparable between the two groups. Subgroup analyses showed that the benefits of nCIT were generally observed across most patient subgroups. Interestingly, in patients without pCR or mPR, nCIT still demonstrated better survival benefits than nCT. Conclusion: nCIT demonstrated superior pathological response rates and improved 3-year DFS and OS compared to nCT alone in locally advanced ESCC, but long-term survival validation is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium-ion capacitors (LICs) are emerging as promising hybrid energy storage devices that combine the high energy densities of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with high power densities of supercapacitors (SCs). Nevertheless, the development of LICs is hindered by the kinetic imbalances between battery-type anodes and capacitor-type cathodes. To address this issue, honeycomb-like N-doped carbon matrices encapsulating Co1−xS/Co(PO3)2 heterostructures were prepared using a simple chemical blowing-vulcanization process followed by phosphorylation treatment (Co1−xS/Co(PO3)2@NC). The Co1−xS/Co(PO3)2@NC features a unique heterostructure engineered within carbon honeycomb structures, which efficiently promotes charge transfer at the interfaces, alleviates the volume expansion of Co-based materials, and accelerates reaction kinetics. The optimal Co1−xS/Co(PO3)2@NC composite demonstrates a stable reversible capacity of 371.8 mAh g−1 after 800 cycles at 1 A g−1, and exhibits an excellent rate performance of 242.9 mAh g−1 even at 8 A g−1, alongside enhanced pseudocapacitive behavior. The assembled Co1−xS/Co(PO3)2@NC//AC LIC delivers a high energy density of 90.47 Wh kg−1 (at 26.28 W kg−1), a high power density of 504.94 W kg−1 (at 38.31 Wh kg−1), and a remarkable cyclic stablitiy of 86.3% retention after 5000 cycles. This research is expected to provide valuable insights into the design of conversion-type electrode materials for future energy storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dichloromethane (DCM), which is a widely used organic solvent in industrial production, is currently classified as a Class 2A carcinogen. Considering its potential harm to human health, it is necessary to design a convenient and economical method to monitor the concentration of DCM in the environment in real time. Here, we present a visualized fluorescence sensor for DCM utilizing photochromic CsPbBr3 perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs). By measuring the amount of chloride ions dissociated from DCM under 365 nm UV light catalysis, the resulting ion exchange products of CsPbBr3–xClx exhibit distinct fluorescence colors based on the halogen ratio, enabling visual detection. In addition, we have observed a linear relationship between the concentration of DCM and the wavelength shift difference of PNCs after a 30 min 365 nm UV exposure, within the DCM concentration range of 1–20% (0.16–3.11 mM). And the limit of detection was calculated to be 0.29%. We have successfully utilized this sensor to detect the concentration of DCM in laboratory waste liquid, achieving a high recovery rate. This application is beneficial for long-term laboratory personnel to promptly identify the source of harmful gases, thereby significantly contributing to the maintenance of laboratory safety and physical health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the similar physical and chemical properties of ilmenite and olivine, separating them is challenging. The flotation process, with the use of collectors, is an effective method. In this study, a ternary collector consisting of aluminum ion (III), benzohydroxamic acid (BHA), and sodium oleate (NaOL) was prepared for the flotation separation of ilmenite and olivine. Through micro-flotation experiments, molecular dynamics simulation (MD), density functional theory (DFT), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) analysis, the synergistic effect between the components of the ternary collector and the adsorption configuration on the surface of ilmenite was investigated. The results revealed that at pH = 8, Al (III), BHA, and NaOL could coordinate and adsorb effectively on the surface of ilmenite, enhancing its floatability for separation from olivine. The adsorption configuration differed from previous reports, showing a co-adsorption of multiple forms on the surface of ilmenite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the age of information explosion, people are increasingly accustomed to acquiring knowledge during fragmented periods of time, which has contributed to the growing popularity of micro-learning. However, when micro-learning takes place in non-formal or informal settings, it can be easily disrupted and may lack interaction, negatively impacting the learning experience and knowledge acquisition. This study examined the effect of learning communities on knowledge acquisition and learning experience in non-formal micro-learning settings. An 8-module micro-learning course was designed, and 80 participants were divided into an experimental group with a learning community and a control group without one. All participants completed a pre-test and post-test. The results showed significant improvements in post-test scores for both groups, with no notable difference in knowledge acquisition between them. Learners who took notes and repeatedly reviewed the learning content tended to have higher post-test scores. In addition, differences between the groups in terms of mental effort and satisfaction were insignificant. By the end of the course, the control group expressed a stronger desire to join a learning community. Community learners who made significant progress reported enjoying learning within the community, while those who did not regularly check community messages and experienced a decrease in test scores reported that excessive messaging caused distress. These findings have implications for course designers and researchers aiming to enhance micro-learning through online learning communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The formation of stem cell clones enables close contact of stem cells inside. The gap junctions in such clone spheres establish a microenvironment that allows frequent intercellular communication to maintain self-renewal and functions of stem cells. Nevertheless, the essential gap junction protein for molecular signaling in clones is poorly known. Methods: Primary human airway basal cells (hBCs) were isolated from brushing samples through bronchoscopy and then cultured. A tightly focused femtosecond laser was used to excite the local Ca2+ in an individual cell to initiate an internal Ca2+ wave in a clone to screen gap junction proteins. Immunoflourescence staining and clonogenicity assay were used to evaluate self-renewal and functions. RNA and protein levels were assessed by PCR and Western blot. Air–liquid interface assay was conducted to evaluate the differentiation potential. A Naphthalene injury mouse model was used to assess the regeneration potential. Results: Herein, we identify Connexin 25 (Cx25) dominates intercellular Ca2+ communications in clones of hBCs in vitro to maintain the self-renewal and pluripotency of them. The self-renewal and in vitro differentiation functions and in vivo regeneration potential of hBCs in an airway damage model are both regulated by Cx25. The abnormal expression of Cx25 is validated in several diseases including IPF, Covid-19 and bronchiectasis. Conclusion: Cx25 is essential for hBC clones in maintaining self-renewal and functions of hBCs via gap junctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid rise of live-streaming selling and the increasing diversity of e-commerce channels have sparked ongoing debates regarding product pricing power. This price competition behaviour of online dual channels triggered by the supply-side pricing dilemma is a topic of significant research interest and forms the focal point of this paper. Therefore, we leverage the principles of game theory to construct a three-party evolutionary game model consisting of a brand, a steamer, and a traditional e-commerce platform. Within this framework, the brand holds the primary pricing authority. Our analysis examines the equilibrium strategies adopted by the various players under diverse scenarios and explores how the evolving behaviours of these parties impact the overall game system. Additionally, we employ the "people-goods-scene" perspective to deconstruct the intricate dynamics within this complex supply chain ecosystem. Our findings reveal two distinct evolutionary stable strategies: one in which brands maintain a stance against low-price negotiation, streamers avoid bargaining, and platforms avoid providing subsidies; the other in which brands are open to negotiating low prices, streamers engage in bargaining, and platforms provide subsidies. Notably, in most cases, brands tend to avoid explicitly stating their opposition to low-price negotiation. However, if a brand's strategy shifts towards rejecting such negotiation, the negative implications of price wars across channels become a critical consideration. Conversely, when a brand opts for a more concessive pricing strategy, we need to consider the potential positive impacts of low-price competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All‐solid‐state sodium metal batteries face the challenges of low ionic conductivity of solid electrolytes and poor wettability towards metallic Na anode. Herein, Na3Zr2Si2PO12 solid electrolyte is doped with Ca2+, obtaining a high ionic conductivity of 2.09×10−3 S cm−1 with low electronic conductivity of 1.43×10−8 S cm−1 at room temperature, which could accelerate Na+ transportation and suppress sodium dendrite growth. Meanwhile, a graphite‐based interface layer is coated on Na3.4Zr1.8Ca0.2Si2PO12 (Na3.4Zr1.8Ca0.2Si2PO12‐G) in order to improve the solid‐solid contact between solid electrolyte and Na anode, realizing a uniform current distribution and smooth Na metal plating/stripping, and thus achieving a triple higher critical current density of 3.5 mA cm−2 compared with that of Na3.4Zr1.8Ca0.2Si2PO12. In addition, the assembled Na3V2(PO4)3/Na3.4Zr1.8Ca0.2Si2PO12‐G/Na all‐solid‐state battery exhibits excellent electrochemical performances with a reversible capacity of 81.47 mAh g−1 at 1 C and capacity retention of 97.75 % after 500 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversity of metabolites produced in fermented pine needles at different stages of fermentation has rarely been investigated. In the present study, untargeted metabolomic analysis using GC-MS and LC-MS was performed to detect metabolites in fermented pine needles at different fermentation stages. A total of 30 samples of pine needles fermented first with yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and then with a mixed bacterial culture of Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 and Bifidobacterium Breve M16V, were used to detect differential metabolites at different stages of fermentation. Pearson's correlation analysis was used to determine correlations between metabolites and key microbial communities. A total of 708 differential metabolites (430 from LC-MS and 278 from GC-MS analysis) were identified. The PCA and OPLS-DA revealed distinct differences between metabolites at different fermentation stages. Key differential metabolites identified through GC-MS analysis included; Phosphoric acid, D-Fructose, 2-O-alpha-mannosyl-D-glycerate, 1,3-dihydroxyacetone dimer, Galactosylglycerol, 2-Isopropylmalic acid, alpha-D-Galactose, Citrate, 4-Hydroxycinnamic acid, and Shikimate. Similarly, key differential metabolites identified through LC-MS included; 2-Phenlyethanol, Dimethlglycine, 2-Hydroxybenzaldehyde, 3-Aminoisobutanoic acid, p-Cresol, Triethylamine, 2-Ketobutyric acid, Cytosine, Benzaldehyde, and Creatinine. Annotation of differential metabolites to KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed the association of these metabolites with phenylpropanoid, flavonoid, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Furthermore, the results showed that three bacterial (Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Lactobacillus) and three fungal genera (Penicillium, Candida, and Basidiomycota) significantly correlated with differential metabolites showing synergistic effects. Our study reveals a comprehensive comparison of metabolites at different fermentation stages and provides practical insights into the mechanism of metabolite enrichment in fermented pine needles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The world is moving towards digitalization and intelligence. Programming has become an essential development competency. Even though many countries are currently making great efforts to expand programming education, the programming education in these countries shows an imbalance in geographical and gender dimensions. We found that few studies paid attention to rural girls' programming learning in developing countries. Objectives: This study focuses on programming learning among rural girls in a developing country (China) from an educational equity perspective. We investigated the level and the changes in these girls' self‐efficacy and interest in programming. Methods: We conducted a three‐month (12‐week) semester of programming teaching for rural fifth‐grade girls. Two rounds of data collection were conducted at the mid‐semester (first‐measure) and the end of the semester (second‐measure), with semi‐structured interviews at the end of the semester. Results and conclusions: The results showed that rural girls' programming self‐efficacy was at a moderate‐to‐high level and remained stable, but there were no gender differences in programming self‐efficacy between boys and girls in the second‐measure. Girls' self‐efficacy was positively correlated with interest, and programming education could help girls to increase their interest in programming, but boys and girls did not show gender differences in their programming interest in second‐measure. Interestingly, we found that girls' perceived programming knowledge acquisition was significantly higher than overall programming efficacy. Takeaways: These findings provide meaningful implications for programming education in less developed areas and female early programming education. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: There is a significant gender imbalance in the programming field and females were severely underrepresented.Potential causes for these issues might be women's lack of confidence and interest in programming.Previous studies have shown that female college students in computer science showed insufficient confidence in programming at school, which made them avoid becoming programmers and choose other careers after graduation.Female students' low confidence and interest in programming might have already existed in their earlier studies, such as high school or even elementary school. What this paper adds: Rural fifth‐grade girls' programming self‐efficacy was at a moderately high level, with no significant differences compared to boys, and maintained a stable level throughout the entire learning period.Rural girls held a high level of programming interest at the beginning, which was reinforced by programming education, and there was no gender difference in programming interest.Rural girls' perceived programming knowledge acquisition was significantly higher than overall programming efficacy.Rural girls' self‐efficacy was positively correlated with interest. Implications for practice and/or policy: In rural areas, fifth‐grade girls and boys had approximate self‐efficacy and interest in programming.Providing early programming education to girls in rural areas can increase their interest in programming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonsense‐mediated decay (NMD) and autophagy play pivotal roles in restricting virus infection in plants. However, the interconnection between these two pathways in viral infections has not been explored. Here, it is shown that overexpression of NbSMG7 and NbUPF3 attenuates cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) infection by recognizing the viral internal termination codon and vice versa. NbSMG7 is subjected to autophagic degradation, which is executed by its interaction with one of the autophagy‐related proteins, NbATG8i. Mutation of the ATG8 interacting motif (AIM) in NbSMG7 (SMG7mAIM1) abolishes the interaction and comprises its autophagic degradation. Silencing of NbSMG7 and NbATG8i, or NbUPF3 and NbATG8i, compared to silencing each gene individually, leads to more virus accumulations, but overexpression of NbSMG7 and NbATG8i fails to achieve more potent virus inhibition. When CGMMV is co‐inoculated with NbSMG7mAIM1 or with NbUPF3, compared to co‐inoculating with NbSMG7 in NbATG8i transgene plants, the inoculated plants exhibit milder viral phenotypes. These findings reveal that NMD‐mediated virus inhibition is impaired by the autophagic degradation of SMG7 in a negative feedback loop, and a novel regulatory interplay between NMD and autophagy is uncovered, providing insights that are valuable in optimizing strategies to harness NMD and autophagy for combating viral infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR), which are calculated using different parameters, are widely used as markers of insulin resistance and are associated with cardiovascular diseases and prognosis. However, whether they have an additive effect on the risk of mortality remains unclear. This study aimed to explore whether the combined assessment of the TyG index and eGDR improved the prediction of long-term mortality in individuals with and without diabetes. Methods: In this cross-sectional and cohort study, data were derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001–2018, and death record information was obtained from the National Death Index. The associations of the TyG index and eGDR with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were determined by multivariate Cox regression analysis and restricted cubic splines. Results: Among the 17,787 individuals included in the analysis, there were 1946 (10.9%) all-cause deaths and 649 (3.6%) cardiovascular deaths during a median follow-up of 8.92 years. In individuals with diabetes, the restricted cubic spline curves for the associations of the TyG index and eGDR with mortality followed a J-shape and an L-shape, respectively. The risk of mortality significantly increased after the TyG index was > 9.04 (all-cause mortality) or > 9.30 (cardiovascular mortality), and after eGDR was < 4 mg/kg/min (both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality). In individuals without diabetes, the association between eGDR and mortality followed a negative linear relationship. However, there was no association between the TyG index and mortality. Compared with individuals in the low TyG and high eGDR group, those in the high TyG and low eGDR group (TyG > 9.04 and eGDR < 4) showed the highest risk for all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.592, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.284–1.975) and cardiovascular mortality (HR = 1.683, 95% CI 1.179-2.400) in the overall population. Similar results were observed in individuals with and without diabetes. Conclusions: There was a potential additive effect of the TyG index and eGDR on the risk of long-term mortality in individuals with and without diabetes, which provided additional information for prognostic prediction and contributed to improving risk stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing efficient MnO2-based bifunctional catalysts is a considerable challenge due to slow oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics and the limited activity of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, an efficient bifunctional catalyst Ni/α-MnO2 is prepared by a straightforward solid-phase synthesis method, enabling the anchoring of Ni atoms onto the α-MnO2 surface. The electrochemically active surface area is significantly enhanced due to the generation of oxygen vacancies and presence of atomic Ni sites. After Ni decoration, the half-wave potential of the ORR is elevated to 0.82 V, while the overpotential for the OER is reduced to 366 mV, resulting in an exceptionally low overall oxygen overpotential (ΔE = 0.79 V). Density functional theory calculations reveal that the d-band center of Mn exhibits negative shifts, consequently lowering the energy barrier for the conversion of OOH* to O* in the ORR and that of OH* to O* in the OER. In a secondary zinc–air battery, a supreme power density of 290 mW cm–2 is acquired at a current density of 350 mA cm–2, surpassing the performance of pristine α-MnO2. This work offers valuable guidance for the development of high-performance MnO2-based bifunctional catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silica aerogel incorporated Cementitious composites (AICs) are extensively utilized in construction, yet their long-term effectiveness is compromised by significant capillary water absorption. Notably, research seldom explores how varying amounts of aerogel affect these properties through changes in the material's internal pore structure, compounded by a scarcity of experimental data. Consequently, this study investigates the impact of silica aerogel incorporation on the water content distribution and capillary water absorption characteristics of AICs, utilizing SEM, MIP, and BET characterization techniques. The findings indicate that the water absorption profile of AICs typically follows a three-phase pattern: a rapid increase, a slow rise, and a relatively stable phase. Despite an increase in the static contact angle, neither the capillary absorption coefficient (Scap) nor the diffusion coefficient of liquid water (DL) decreased with higher aerogel content. Instead, there was an increase in the percentage of micro-mesoporous pore volume within the AICs, along with a more tortuous pore structure, which restricted the movement of water molecules through the pore channels, thereby progressively diminishing the material's capillary water absorption. These results may provide both a theoretical and experimental foundation for enhancing the long-term performance of AICs in building applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the higher conductivity of selenium than sulfur, lithium selenium (Li–Se) batteries have received increasing attention. However, the shuttle effect and the slow conversion kinetics of polyselenides have resulted in poor cycling performance of Li–Se batteries. In this work, a CoTe2 and MOF derived composite (CoTe2-MD) was designed and synthesized. As a dual-functional matrix, the MOF derivative acted as an adsorbent and effectively reduced the dissolution of the polyselenides in ether electrolytes via physical/chemical absorption. CoTe2 acted as an electrocatalyst, which accelerated the conversion reaction of the polyselenides and improved the redox kinetics of the reactions. The results proved that the dual-functional matrix consisting of the adsorbent and electrocatalyst further suppressed the shuttle effect and significantly improved the cycle stability of the Li–Se batteries. At 0.5C, the Se/CoTe2-MD electrode showed 540.4 mA h g−1 of initial discharge capacity. Even after 200 cycles, it still maintained a reversible capacity of 454.1 mA h g−1, with a decay rate of only 0.08% per cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cells can respond and adapt to complex forms of environmental change. Budding yeast is widely used as a model system for these stress response studies. In these studies, the precise control of the environment with high temporal resolution is most important. However, there is a lack of single-cell research platforms that enable precise control of the temperature and form of cell growth. This has hindered our understanding of cellular coping strategies in the face of diverse forms of temperature change. Here, we developed a novel temperature-controlled microfluidic platform that integrates a microheater (using liquid metal) and a thermocouple (liquid metal vs. conductive PDMS) on a chip. Three forms of temperature changes (step, gradient, and periodical oscillations) were realized by automated equipment. The platform has the advantages of low cost and a simple fabrication process. Moreover, we investigated the nuclear entry and exit behaviors of the transcription factor Msn2 in yeast in response to heat stress (37 °C) with different heating modes. The feasibility of this temperature-controlled platform for studying the protein dynamic behavior of yeast cells was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The cognitive expertise of experts has been an intriguing theme; there has been rapid growth in cognitive research related to esports. Given the close association between esports activities and cognition, esports holds promise in offering new perspectives for understanding cognitive expertise. This meta-analysis aims at quantitatively delineating the cognitive disparities between esports experts and amateurs. Methods: The expert group comprised professional video game players and high-ranking players (top 1%), while amateurs were assigned to the control group. Research studies published between January 2000 and December 2023 were systematically searched in databases. A three-level model with cluster-robust variance estimation was used to calculate the overall effect size. The moderating variables included professional level, cognitive abilities, dependent variable type, game genre, gender and age. Results: A total of 15 studies containing 142 effect sizes and 1085 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The results indicated that, compared to amateurs, video game experts demonstrated superior cognitive abilities with a small effect size (Hedges' g = 0.373, 95% CI [0.055–0.691], p =.012). The differences between experts and amateur players mainly manifest in spatial cognition and attention. Sensitivity analysis, risk of bias, and publication bias results indicated the reliability of these findings. Conclusions: This meta-analysis confirms that esports experts possess superior cognitive abilities compared to amateurs, particularly in aspects of spatial cognition and attention. These can provide an effective reference for future selection and training in esports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study utilized latent profile analysis to investigate care needs subgroups among older adults with urinary incontinence. Methods: The "Elderly Urinary Incontinence Care Needs Inventory" surveyed 510 participants in two Guangzhou City hospitals from July 2022 to June 2023. Latent profile analysis created a classification model, and variance and correlation analysis assessed influencing factors. Results: A total of 510 older adults with urinary incontinence participated. The standardized total care needs score was 78.77 ± 5.03, with variations across dimensions: social participation needs scored (71.16 ± 10.32), daily life care needs (78.80 ± 5.51), medical care needs (77.33 ± 12.17), psychological comfort needs (76.97 ± 6.51) and health education needs scored highest (82.67 ± 6.77). Three distinct profiles emerged: "medium," "high SPN‐PCN" and "high DLCN‐MCN‐HEN". The majority belonged to the "high SPN‐PCN" profile. Significant correlations were found with age, education, leaks and frequency of micturitions. Conclusion: Research findings showed the existence of three distinct categories, with a notable majority of participants belonging to the "high SPN‐PCN" group. The significance of having these classes identified lies in the move away from a one‐size‐fits‐all approach to a more nuanced understanding of care needs. Customized nursing interventions can be devised based on specific factors, such as age, education level, urinary incontinence‐related symptoms and potential category. For instance, for the "high SPN‐PCN" group, our nursing strategy can encompass heightened psychological support and expanded opportunities for social engagement.Furthermore, in the training and education of healthcare professionals, recognizing and meeting the needs of each potential category of older adults might require more attention. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 758–765. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2 (LMNCO) cathode and Li anode in high specific energy batteries is impeded by particle cracking and electrode–electrolyte side reactions. Here, lithium bis(oxalate)borate (LiBOB) and dopamine (DA) are used as dual electrolyte additives to effectively stabilize the LMNCO cathode and Li anode. Specifically, LiBOB is preferentially reduced on the Li anode to participate in the formation of a B-rich inorganic solid electrolyte interface film, which suppresses the interfacial reactions between Li anode and the electrolyte. Meanwhile, DA is preferentially oxidized on the LMNCO cathode to form a thin and uniform cathode electrolyte interface film, which is beneficial to inhibit the decomposition of the electrolyte and reduce the corrosion of the LMNCO cathode. The facts are consistent with the results of density function theory. The synergetic effect of LiBOB and DA results in excellent electrochemical performance. Especially at 1 C, the capacity retention of the cell with the reference electrolyte is only 74.7% after 100 cycles, while the cell with dual-additive electrolyte is up to 92.6% after 400 cycles. This work provides a new idea to improve the electrochemical performance of Li anode and LMNCO cathode by functional electrolyte additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Layered high nickel LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 (NCA), as one of the most promising cathode materials in lithium-ion batteries, has high specific capacity, stable structure, and environmentally friendly characteristics. However, severe Li+/Ni2+ mixing and surface side reactions hinder its further development. To solve these issues, fast lithium-ion conductor LiTi2(PO4)3 was coated on the surface of NCA using wet chemistry and high-temperature solid-state methods. The LiTi2(PO4)3 coating not only reduces the Li+/Ni2+ mixing effect of NCA, but also effectively suppresses the side reactions between the electrolyte and NCA surface, thereby improving its cycling performance. After 200 cycles at 1C, the capacity retention rate of pure NCA is 72.1%, while the corresponding value of 2.0wt% LTP-NCA is 88.0%. Even at a high rate of 5C, due to high Li+ diffusion rate of LiTi2(PO4)3, the capacity of 2.0wt% LTP-NCA reaches 152.8 mAh g−1 compared to 136.2 mAh g−1 of pure NCA. Therefore, fast lithium-ion conductor coating modification effectively improves electrochemical performance, which is beneficial for the further commercialization of NCA cathode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Large-Scale Group Decision-Making (LSGDM), effectively implementing consensus models is pivotal for managing decision complexity. While trust-based LSGDM has garnered attention, there remains a need for deeper insights into the dynamics of interexpert trust and the impact of authority effects on the decision-making process. This study introduces a sophisticated model for large-scale group decision-making, incorporating considerations of expert "trustworthiness-authority." Initially, the study assesses the trustworthiness of experts based on social network relationships and opinion similarity while using background information and consensus levels to establish their authority. Subsequently, experts are categorized into four distinct regions based on their trustworthiness and authority assessments. Furthermore, tailored consensus adjustment methods are proposed for each region based on social contagion theory to facilitate consensus achievement. Additionally, a case study is conducted to demonstrate the rationality and effectiveness of the proposed LSGDM model, considering expert "trustworthiness-authority." Finally, the necessity and superiority of the proposed model are further verified through comparison analysis and sensitivity analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen vacancies and heteroatom doping play important role in oxygen reduction activity of metal oxides. Developing efficient modification method is one of the key issues in catalysts research. Room temperature plasma treatment, with the advantages of mild working conditions, no emissions and high efficiency, is a new catalyst modification method developed in recent years. In this work, hydrothermal synthesized α -MnO2 nanorods are treated in NH3 plasma at room temperature. In the reducing atmosphere, oxygen vacancies and N doping are achieved simultaneously on the surface. The NH3 plasma etched MnO2 demonstrate a significant enhanced oxygen reduction activity with half-wave potential of 0.84 V, limiting current density of 6.32 mA cm−2 and transferred electrons number of 3.9. The Mg–air battery with N-MnO2 display a maximum power density of 76.3 mW cm−2 as well as stable discharge performance. This work provides new ideas for preparing efficient and cost-effective method to boost the catalysts activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Yangtze-Huai Rivers region is one of the primary rice cultivation areas, and this study focuses on analyzing the spatiotemporal variations of climate resources and their impact on agricultural parameters. On the timescale from 1970 to 2020, a total of 33 representative meteorological stations were selected in this region. The impact of climate change on rice climate resources was explored using methods such as climatic tendency rate analysis, the Mann-Kendall test, and wavelet analysis. The results showed that from 1970 to 2020, the Yangtze-Huai Rivers region saw an overall upward trend in climate resources affecting rice cultivation, with significant variations in rainfall, ETo values, AAT10, and safe production days. Global warming's increase in thermal resources may delay rice's safe full heading stage, with mountainous regions like the Jin-zhai Mountains showing an accelerated progression compared to northern areas. And the study observes a south-to-north decrease in safe production days and annual accumulated temperatures, highlighting the south's advantageous position for rice cultivation, despite the southwestern region not showing significant advantages over the north. There's a significant disparity in the photosynthetic production potential, temperature production potential, and the climate production potential values between southern and northern areas, emphasizing the need for region-specific cultivation strategies that consider local climatic and topographical conditions. Overall, this research elucidates the dynamic effects of climate variations on rice production in the Yangtze-Huai Rivers area, emphasizing the need for adaptive agricultural strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To facilitate the sensor fabrication and sensing operation in microstructured optical fiber-based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors for high refractive index (RI) detection, we propose a special hollow fiber-based SPR sensor that comprises an opening on its body side and a thin gold layer coated on its outer surface. The analyte is able to flow into the hollow core through the side-opening to form new fiber core, with the Gaussian-like mode propagating in it. We investigate the sensing performance of the proposed sensor in a higher RI range of 1.48 to 1.54 at two feasible schemes: one is to only fill the fiber core with analyte (Scheme A), and the other is to directly immerse the sensor in the analyte (Scheme B). The results demonstrate that our sensor exhibits higher wavelength sensitivity at Scheme A with a maximum wavelength sensitivity of 12,320 nm/RIU, while a greater amplitude sensitivity was found at Scheme B with a maximum amplitude sensitivity of 1146 RIU−1. Our proposed sensor features the advantages of simple fabrication, flexible operation, easy analyte filling and replacing, enhanced real-time detection capabilities, high RI detection, and very high wavelength sensitivity and amplitude sensitivity, which makes it more competitive in SPR sensing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Air leaks are common after pulmonary surgery. Prolonged air leaks (PALs) may persist through discharge and often are managed with one-way valve devices (OWD). We sought to determine the course and complications of patients discharged with OWDs, risk factors for complications, and to evaluate the utility of clamp trials before chest tube (CT) removal. Methods: Single-institution, retrospective review of patients discharged with a OWD after pulmonary surgery between 2008 and 2022. Charts were examined for the presence of complications and CT duration. Differences in CT duration were compared by using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Result: Sixty-four of 1917 (3.3%) pulmonary surgeries resulted in OWD use. Twelve of 64 (19%) patients discharged with a OWD suffered a complication. Nine of 64 (14%) had a CT-related readmission, and seven of 64 (11%) required PAL intervention. Patients sustaining a complication demonstrated longer CT durations before complication compared with duration in patients without complications, with median days of 13 [IQR 6–21] vs. 7 [IQR 6–12], p = 0.04). Five (7.8%) OWD patients developed an empyema; only one (20%) occurred before a CT duration of 14 days. Sixteen of 64 (25%) patients underwent a clamp trial before CT removal. One of ten (10%) failed even with no air leak present, whereas one of six (17%) failed with a present/questionable air leak. Conclusions: One-way valve device use has a substantial complication rate, and chest tube duration is a risk factor. In-hospital interventions might benefit patients with larger leaks that likely require prolonged OWD use. Because clamp trials occasionally fail, we contend that a clamp trial is the safest course before CT removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prognosis of limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) after surgery usually is estimated at diagnosis, but how the prognosis actually evolves over time for patients who survived for a predefined time is unknown. Methods: Data on patients with a diagnosis of LS-SCLC after surgery between 2004 and 2015 were retrieved from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The 5-year conditional cancer-specific survival (CCSS) and conditional overall survival (COS) were calculated. Results: This study analyzed 997 patients (555 women, 55.7%) with a median age, of 67 years (interquartile range [IQR], 60–73 years). The 5-year CCSS and COS increased from 44.7% and 38.3%, respectively, at diagnosis to 83.7% and 67.9% at 5 years after diagnosis. Although there were large differences with different stages (stages I, II, and III) at diagnosis (respectively 59.5%, 28.4%; 28.1% for CCSS and 50.6%, 24.8%, and 23.6% for COS), the gap decreased with time, and the rates were similar after 5 years (respectively 85.0%, 80.3%, and 79.4% for CCSS; 65.6%, 56.9%, and 61.3% for COS). The 5-year conditional survival for the patients who received lobectomy was better than for those who received sublobectomy or pneumonectomy. Multivariable analyses showed that only age and resection type were independent predictors for CCSS and COS, respectively, throughout the period. Conclusion: Conditional survival estimates for LS-SCLC generally increased over time, with the most significant improvement in patients with advanced stage of disease. Resection type and old age represented extremely important determinants of prognosis after a lengthy event-free follow-up period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of material surface microstructure on interface properties is crucial for the preparation and development of special functional materials. In this paper, polydimethylsiloxane‐based superhydrophobic surfaces of varying roughness and surface energy are prepared using the template method and a spraying technique, and the effect of surface microstructure on lateral friction is studied using a lateral friction detection system. The experimental results indicate that as the surface roughness of a sample decreases, it is observed that the water droplets transition from a Cassie state to a Wenzel state. When the roughness changes from 4.619 μm, reduce to 3.512 μm, the maximum static friction force increases from 33.59 μN increased to 51.52 μN. The lateral sliding friction force ranges from 15.87 ± 1.9 μN increases to 40.91 ± 1.2 μN. For a given surface roughness, when the surface energy is reduced, the water droplets on the surface can be seen to transition from a Wenzel state to a Cassie state, the maximum static friction force increases from 19.32 μN dropped to 9.23 μN, and the lateral sliding friction force increases from 15.26 ± 1.6 μN dropped to 3.47 ± 2.1 μN. However, this behavior is distinct from that observed when changing the roughness of the sample. Studying the influence of the surface microstructure on the lateral friction force observed at a solid–liquid interface can provide important insights into novel geometries that may be used in new, advanced functional surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into the relationships between the perception of corporate social responsibility (PCSR), organizational commitment and employee innovation behavior, as well as the multiple mediating roles of affective, normative and continuance commitment in the relationship between the perception of CSR and innovation behavior. This research involved 419 employees from 15 artificial intelligence (AI) enterprises in Shenzhen, China. This study's hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. The findings indicate that PCSR significantly impacts innovation behavior, and affective, continuance and normative commitments also positively influence innovation behavior. Moreover, these three commitments play a partial mediating role in the relationship between PCSR and innovation behavior. This study enriches and expands the understanding of the multiple mediating mechanisms between PCSR and employee innovation behavior, providing a theoretical basis and guidance for management to comprehensively understand the role of employees' PCSR in enhancing organizational commitment and fostering innovation behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing (3DP), refers to manufacturing technologies that build up the desired geometries by adding materials layer by layer. Common meltable and fusible materials such as polymers, metals, and ceramics could be used in 3DP processes. During decades of development, products made by 3DP can now achieve stringent industrial standards at comparable costs compared to those traditionally manufactured. Improving 3DP technologies is required to make them more competitive and acceptable than their counterparts. However, achieving this is challenging since the quality of printing products is still heavily dependent on many cost-driven factors. Inadequate quality, impaired functionality, and reduced service life are three main consequences of 3DP's failures. To effectively detect and mitigate defects and failures of 3DP products, machine condition monitoring (MCM) technologies have been used to monitor 3D printing processes. With the help of those dedicated algorithms, it could also prevent failures from occurrence by alerting operators to take appropriate actions accordingly. This study systematically reviews the MCM technologies used in a typical 3DP process—the fused deposition modelling (FDM), identifying their advantages and disadvantages. The mentioned MCM technologies include but are not limited to traditional MCM (sensors only), aided with analytical and artificial intelligence (AI) tools. The MCM techniques focus on the defects of the 3DP process. The detection and identification of those defects are investigated. Furthermore, research trends on developing MCM technologies, including challenges and opportunities, are identified for improving the FDM process. This review highlights the developed methodologies of MCM that are applied to FDM processes to detect and identify abnormalities such as defects and failures. The evaluations of defects are elaborated to deepen the comprehension of the essence of the defects, including their cause, severity, and effect. A detailed deliberation about identifying the critical components for the successful application of 3DP MCM systems was done. Finally, this review indicates the technical barriers that need to be overcome to enhance the performance of monitoring, detection, and prediction by MCM and associated technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study air pollution in the North China Plain (NCP), the Air Chemistry Research in Asia (ARIAs) campaign conducted airborne measurements of air pollutants in spring 2016. High pollutant concentrations, with O3 > 100 ppbv, CO > 500 ppbv, and NO2 > 10 ppbv, were observed. CMAQ simulations with the 2010 EDGAR emissions capture the spatial and temporal variations in ozone and its major precursors such as NO2 and VOCs, with significant underestimation. Differences between CMAQ simulations and satellite observations reflect changes in anthropogenic emissions, decreased NOx emissions in megacities such as Beijing, but slight increases in other cities and rural areas. CMAQ also underestimates HCHO and CO, suggesting adjustments of the 2010 EDGAR emissions are necessary. HCHO/NO2 column ratios derived from OMI measurements and CMAQ simulations show that VOC-sensitive chemistry dominates the ozone photochemical production in eastern China, suggesting the importance of tightening regulations on anthropogenic VOC emissions. After adjusting emissions based on satellite observations, better model performance was achieved. Because of the VOC-sensitive environment in ozone chemistry over the NCP, the underestimation of anthropogenic emissions could be important for CMAQ simulations, while future study and regulations should focus on VOC emissions with continuous controls on NOx emissions in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating logical reasoning and machine learning by approximating logical inference with differentiable operators is a widely used technique in the field of Neuro-Symbolic Learning. However, some differentiable operators could introduce significant biases during backpropagation, which can degrade the performance of Neuro-Symbolic systems. In this paper, we demonstrate that the loss functions derived from fuzzy logic operators commonly exhibit a bias, referred to as Implication Bias. To mitigate this bias, we propose a simple yet efficient method to transform the biased loss functions into Reduced Implication-bias Logic Loss (RILL). Empirical studies demonstrate that RILL outperforms the biased logic loss functions, especially when the knowledge base is incomplete or the supervised training data is insufficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has a special geographical location and large lake groups making it an important research subject of global climate change and regional response. Taking its 149 typical lakes as the research subject, using the relevant features of lake area data from 1985 to 2020, the variation of the lake area, the chronological division of climate change, and the impact of climate features on the lake area growth rate are analyzed. The main methods and results include the following: (1) By using the time series clustering algorithm to mine the shape similarity of lake area change, three patterns of area change, C1, C2 and C3 modes, which show a slow growth trend, a strong fluctuation, and a significant growth trend, respectively, are summarized. (2) When the optimal segmentation point index of the binary sequence is proposed and combined with the clustering results of the lake regional climate to find the year of the optimal segmentation point for all lakes, the regional climate segmentation points of lakes are concentrated from 1995 to 2005. (3) When researching the lakes in C3 mode, using the XGBoost model as the regression model to extract the feature importance affecting lake growth rate, the effect of precipitation on lake area is the highest, followed by surface temperature. When a double machine learning model is established to conduct causal analysis to obtain an unbiased estimation of the lake area growth rate influenced climate features, the effect of precipitation is the highest, followed by evaporation. The methods used and the results show a new perspective in understanding climate change and lake response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A critical parameter of extracorporeal CO2 removal (ECCO2R) applications is the CO2 removal rate (VCO2). Low‐flow venovenous extracorporeal support with large‐size membrane lung remains undefined. This study aimed to evaluate the VCO2 of a low‐flow ECCO2R with large‐size membrane lung using a renal replacement therapy platform in an experimental animal model. Methods: Twelve healthy pigs were placed under mechanical ventilation and connected to an ECCO2R‐CRRT system (surface area = 1.8 m2; OMNIset®, BBraun, Germany). Respiratory settings were reduced to induce two degrees of hypercapnia. VCO2 was recorded under different combinations of PaCO2 (50–69 or 70–89 mm Hg), extracorporeal blood flow (ECBF; 200 or 350 mL/min), and gas flow (4, 6, or 10 L/min). Results: VCO2 increased with ECBF at all three gas flow rates. In severe hypercapnia, the increase in sweep gas flow from 4 to 10 L/min increased VCO2 from 86.38 ± 7.08 to 96.50 ± 8.71 mL/min at an ECBF of 350 mL/min, whereas at ECBF of 200 mL/min, any increase was less effective. But in mild hypercapnia, the increase in sweep gas flow result in significantly increased VCO2 at two ECBF. VCO2 increased with PaCO2 from 50–69 to 70–89 mm Hg at an ECBF of 350 mL/min, but not at ECBF of 200 mL/min. Post‐membrane lung PCO2 levels were similar for different levels of premembrane lung PCO2 (p = 0.08), highlighting the gas exchange diffusion efficacy of the membrane lung in gas exchange diffusion. In severe hypercapnia, the reduction of PaCO2 elevated from 11.5% to 19.6% with ECBF increase only at a high gas flow of 10 L/min (p < 0.05) and increase of gas flow significantly reduced PaCO2 only at a high ECBF of 350 mL/min (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Low‐flow venovenous extracorporeal ECCO2R‐CRRT with large‐size membrane lung is more efficient with the increase of ECBF, sweep gas flow rate, and the degree of hypercapnia. The influence of sweep gas flow on VCO2 depends on the ECBF and degree of hypercapnia. Higher ECBF and gas flow should be chosen to reverse severe hypercapnia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore care requirements of older adults with urinary incontinence (UI) and contributing factors. Method: This cross-sectional study used the Older Adults Urinary Incontinence Care Needs Inventory to survey participants with UI in three large-scale tertiary hospitals located in Guangzhou City, China, from January 2023 to November 2023. Statistical analyses, including analysis of variance, t tests, correlation analyses, and linear regression models, were conducted to assess factors influencing participants' care needs. Results: A total of 530 older adults with UI participated in the survey and mean standardized score for overall care needs was 78.65 (SD = 5.01), with mean scores for each dimension ranging from 70.88 (SD = 10.55) for social participation needs to 82.45 (SD = 7.11) for health education needs. Factors that were found to influence incontinence care needs in older adults included age, literacy level, number of leaks, and type of disease (F = 37.07, adjusted R2 = 0.290, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Comprehensive care for older adults with UI, encompassing physiological, psychological, and social aspects, is crucial. It is essential to tailor care to individual needs and characteristics, taking into account factors, such as age and education, to ensure effective care. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 50(5), 43–49.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES Our goal was to access early and mid-term outcomes of a gutter-plugging chimney stent graft for treatment of Stanford type B aortic dissections in the clinical trial Prospective Study for Aortic Arch Therapy with stENt-graft for Chimney technology (PATENCY). METHODS Between October 2018 and March 2022, patients with Stanford type B aortic dissections were treated with the Longuette chimney stent graft in 26 vascular centres. The efficiency and the incidence of adverse events over 12 months were investigated. RESULTS A total of 150 patients were included. The technical success rate was 99.33% (149/150). The incidence of immediate postoperative endoleak was 5.33% (8/150, type I, n = 6; type II, n = 1; type IV, n = 1) neurologic complications (stroke or spinal cord ischaemia); the 30-day mortality was 0.67% (1/150) and 1.33% (2/150), respectively. During the follow-up period, the median follow-up time was 11.67 (5–16) months. The patent rate of the Longuette graft was 97.87%. Two patients with type I endoleak underwent reintervention. The follow-up rate of the incidence of retrograde A type aortic dissection was 0.67% (1/150). There was no paraplegia, left arm ischaemia or stent migration. CONCLUSIONS For revascularization of the left subclavian artery, the Longuette chimney stent graft can provide an easily manipulated, safe and effective endovascular treatment. It should be considered a more efficient technique to prevent type Ia endoleak. Longer follow-up and a larger cohort are needed to validate these results. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY NUMBER NCT03767777 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]