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Some spinel chromium oxides with the chemical formula ACr2O4 exhibit magnetic-induced multiferroicity due to the special spiral spin order. However, because of the relatively low temperature of the ordered spiral phase, this kind of multiferroicity generally displays a limited coexistence of magnetic and ferroelectric orders in a narrow temperature range. The Jahn–Teller (JT) effect, serving as a crucial link between charge and orbit degrees of freedom, can facilitate efficient modulation of multiferroic properties. In this work, Ni1−xCuxCr2O4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2) series are synthesized by occupying the same Wyckoff site with two kinds of JT ions. The microstructure and JT distortion can be distinctly influenced by varying the doping level of Cu2+ ions. Particularly, Ni0.85Cu0.15Cr2O4 (x = 0.15) presents the pronounced JT distortion, accompanied by observation of dielectric anomaly at ∼78 K, resulting from spin–orbit coupling. This implies that the JT effect can significantly promote the contribution of spin–orbit coupling in magnetoelectric correlation. Moreover, the magnetodielectric effect induced by intrinsic magnetoelectric coupling is confirmed in Ni0.85Cu0.15Cr2O4 over a wide temperature range of 10–200 K, which is much higher than the Néel temperature of ∼85 K. It indicates that spin–orbit coupling based on the JT effect could overcome the constraint of magnetic order to achieve effective control on electric polarization performance under an applied magnetic field, thereby showing broad application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hot compression experiments were performed at a deformation temperature of 720 °C to 870 °C and a strain rate of 0.0005 s−1 to 5 s−1. The strain‐compensated Arrhenius constitutive equation and the hot processing map at a strain of 0.6 were established, and the dynamic recrystallization behaviors of the alloy in different power dissipation (η) regions were studied. The results show that the correlation coefficient (R) and average relative errors (AARE) of the established constitutive equations are 0.999 % and 2.523 % in the β phase region, and 0.988 % and 7.709 % in the α+β phase region, respectively. The hot processing map shows that the deformation parameters in the high power dissipation regions range from 810 °C to 870 °C/0.0005 s−1 to 0.005 s−1, accompanied by a power dissipation factor of 0.41 to 0.55. These regions result from a combination of continuous and discontinuous recrystallization mechanisms. With the decrease in the power dissipation value, the appearance of deformation bands (DBs) and localized flow (FL) in the microstructure increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 2 000 yeast strains isolated from 1 200 samples mostly collected from Tibet and Yunnan provinces in China were identified as 462 species according to the internal transcribed spacer including the 5.8S rDNA (ITS) and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rDNA (LSU) sequence analyses. Among them, 70 new basidiomycetous yeast species were proposed based on the multi-locus phylogenetic analyses including the D1/D2 domains, the ITS, the small subunit rDNA (SSU), the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB1), the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2) and translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1), as well as the phenotypic comparisons. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) analysis with the genomic metric was also used in the evaluation of the species delimitation for the genera Holtermannia, Mrakia and Takashimella that contain closely related species with low sequence heterogeneity in both ITS and D1/D2 regions. Forty-six new species belonged to 16 genera in the Agaricomycotina, 13 new species occurred in 12 genera in the Pucciniomycotina, three new species were distributed in three genera in the Ustilaginomycotina, and eight new species were classified in seven newly established genera. One new family was also proposed based on one of these new genera. The analyses revealed several inaccurate species names attributed to genomes deposited in GenBank, indicating the necessity of a more rigorous quality checks of the genomes deposited in the public databases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whistler waves, leading to electron scattering and energy transport, are frequently observed in magnetic reconnection. High‐energy electrons produced by magnetic reconnection are expected to excite low‐frequency whistler waves. However, the study on low‐frequency whistler waves in magnetic reconnection is still quite scarce. Utilizing high‐resolution data from the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission, we provide observations of low‐frequency whistler waves in a turbulent reconnection outflow. The quasi‐antiparallel propagating whistler waves have power peaked at ∼0.1 fce ${f}_{ce}$ and wave number of kde $k{d}_{e}$ ∼0.43 in the plasma rest frame. It can be excited through the cyclotron resonance by the electron butterfly distributions, which can be interpreted by a model comprising the addition of electron beams hosting perpendicular anisotropy to electron isotropy distributions. The energy of resonant electrons is calculated as 1.06∼4.16 keV, the parts corresponding to lower frequency (<∼0.1fce ${f}_{ce}$) falling into suprathermal energy range. Our study can promote the understanding of generation of whistler waves in magnetic reconnection. Plain Language Summary: Whistler waves are one of the most important plasma waves in magnetic reconnection. Their frequency generally decreases as the energy of resonant electrons increases. Although magnetic reconnection can produce high‐energy electrons, the study on low‐frequency whistler waves with power peaked at ∼0.1fce is still quite scarce. Here, we present study of such whistler waves, which are excited by the electron butterfly distributions. The energy of resonant electrons is calculated as 1.06∼4.14 keV, the parts corresponding to lower frequency (<∼0.1fce) falling into suprathermal energy range. Key Points: Whistler waves with power peaked at ∼0.1 fce ${f}_{ce}$ were observed in a turbulent reconnection outflowThe whistler waves were excited through cyclotron resonance by the electron butterfly distributionsThe resonant energy is calculated as 1.06∼4.16 keV, part of them falling into suprathermal energy range [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sub-ion-scale magnetic holes (MHs) are ubiquitous structures in plasmas across a wide range of environments. Despite previous observational and modeling efforts, the three-dimensional (3D) electric field in MHs has yet to be adequately resolved. In this study, utilizing high-resolution measurements of an MH (∼0.08 ρ i × 0.14 ρ i ) from the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission in Earth's turbulent magnetosheath, we report this 3D electric field and unveil its roles and generation mechanism. A model is established to quantify the impacts of E ∥ on increasing the loss cone of trapped electrons. The electric field is attributed to electron convection and pressure gradient terms of generalized Ohm's law. The MH, primarily coupling to the electron, is accompanied by electron jets. These electron jets can be interpreted as different segments of an electron vortex. These electron jets combined with nonideal electric fields not only lead to strong energy conversion ( j · ( E + v e × B ) ∼ 40 nW m−3) from the electromagnetic field to electrons but also enable energy conversion between different electron motion directions. Our study significantly clarifies the physical image of kinetic-scale MHs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The unique non-uniform polar nanoregions and complex phase structure near morphotropic phase boundaries (MPBs) in relaxor ferroelectric materials lead to rich microstructure changes (domain transition, phase transition) under external field stimulation. This not only results in the material with extremely high electromechanical properties, but also greatly affects their mechanical properties and stability. Objective: This study investigated the fundamental mechanical properties of the rhombohedral phase (R-phase) and tetragonal phase (T-phase) structures of the relaxor ferroelectric single crystal PMN-PT material using the nanoindentation with different shapes of indenters. Methods: The basic mechanical properties of the material were measured by nanoindentation, and the fracture caused by indentation was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Results: The elastic modulus of R-phase relaxed ferroelectric materials showed a significant dependence on the indentation depth, and the hardness of different phases (R, T-phase) materials all show obvious indentation size effects (ISE). Under the loading of the spherical indenter, both R and T phase materials exhibited a pop-in phenomenon caused by the transition from elastic to inelastic. Under the loading of the Berkovich indenter, the R and T phase materials showed different fracture characteristics of crack propagation response with the increase of the indentation depth. Conclusions: The result demonstrate that the mechanical properties of relaxor ferroelectric materials are significantly related to their phase structure, providing guidance for the design of load bearing and material selection in the practical application of related ferroelectric devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel strategies against parasitic infections are of great importance. Here, we describe a G4 DNA ligand with subnanomolar antiparasitic activity against T. brucei and a remarkable selectivity index (IC50 MRC-5/T. brucei) of 2285-fold. We also correlate the impact of small structural changes to G4 binding activity and antiparasitic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current simple and crude facilities make melon production more susceptible to cold stress during off‐season cultivation in China. The ABA signalling pathway is an important target for breeding cold‐tolerant melon.Cold‐tolerant No. 330 and cold‐sensitive No. 410 oriental melon genotypes were used to analyse the relationship between ABA and cold tolerance. 12 CmPYLs, ABA receptors, were identified from the melon genome database according to sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis. Gene function of CmPYL6 in cold tolerance was analysed using VIGS in No. 330 and overexpression in Arabidopsis WT.A total of 12 CmPYL members contain the representative domain and conserved sites. Under cold treatment, No.330 seedlings had lower electrolyte leakage and MDA content, higher ABA content and CmPYL6 expression than seedlings of No. 410. Exogenous application of ABA upregulated expression of CmPYL6 and enhanced cold tolerance of both genotypes, while inhibiting ABA accumulation reduced expression of CmPYL6 and cold tolerance of both genotypes. CmPYL6‐silenced No. 330 seedlings had reduced cold tolerance, increased electrolyte leakage and MDA content as well as limited proline and soluble sugar content, while CmPYL6 overexpressed transgenic Arabidopsis plants had enhanced cold tolerance, with limited electrolyte leakage and MDA content, as well as increased proline and soluble sugar content.The CmPYL6 gene is probably an important ABA receptor in regulating cold tolerance of oriental melon. Our study provides a direction for improving breeding of cold tolerance of oriental melon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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As the global climate environment continues to change, the frequency of extreme temperature events is expected to increase. The temperature stress environments of low and high temperatures can directly or indirectly affect the growth of rice (Oryza sativa L.), affecting its normal metabolism, which in turn can have an impact on yields and threaten global food security. Agriculture needs new technologies to mitigate temperature stress and improve grain yield and quality. In this study, two iron (Fe)-based nanoparticles (NPs), Fe2O3 NPs and Fe3O4 NPs, as well as groups of Fe ions corresponding to the Fe concentration, were selected for hydroponic experiments on rice under normal (25°C), low (20°C), and high (38°C) temperature conditions, respectively. It was found that low and high temperature stresses reduced stem length (3 and 7.02%), root length (49.53 and 26.01%), and aboveground (52.49 and 26.04%) and belowground biomass (53.94 and 35.22%) in rice. Both Fe2O3 NPs and Fe3O4 NPs could promote root development by nutrient uptake, transferring to the aboveground to enhance photosynthesis, and promoting the activity of antioxidant enzymes to eliminate oxidative stress to alleviate the stress of low and high temperatures. The Fe3O4 NPs were more stable and had obvious effects at both high and low temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photothermal excitation based on thermoelastic mechanisms is widely used in non-destructive testing, precision operations, and driving micro-resonators. The narrow drive bandwidth of the high vibration mode in photothermal excitation limits its application to multi-mode drives. Controlling the laser's irradiation position is an effective solution. In this study, we build a theoretical model to achieve selective and efficient excitation of different flexural vibration modes of beams with different supports. The model can be extended to other thermal and physical boundaries, which is validated by numerical simulations and experimental results. The results show that higher modes with complex periodic shapes can be efficiently excited by focusing the laser at the peak of the absolute value of the second derivative of the flexural mode while focusing the laser at the inflection point of the mode shape will result in extremely small amplitudes. Our study indicates that the thermal gradient plays a vital role in the oscillation of the beam. The conventional view assumes that the resonance of the photo-thermal excitation beam is caused by the local expansion and contraction of the material, which cannot completely explain the dependence principle of the photothermal vibration on the laser irradiation position. To investigate the mechanism of beam resonance under laser excitation, three excitation modes, unidirectional excitation, bidirectional in-phase excitation, and bidirectional anti-phase excitation, were established, and the conversion process of optical energy to mechanical energy under laser excitation was analyzed. These results provide new options for optimal excitation and multi-mode energy flow control in photothermal driving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The amide proton transfer‐weighted (APTw) imaging for kidney diseases is important. However, the breathing patterns on APTw imaging remains unexplored. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of intermittent breath‐hold (IBH) and free breathing (FB) on renal 3D‐APTw imaging. Study Type: Healthy volunteers were enrolled prospectively, and renal clear cell carcinoma (RCCC) patients were included retrospectively. Population: 58 healthy volunteers and 10 RCCC patients. Field Strength/Sequence: 3‐T, turbo spin echo, and fast field echo. Assessment: 3D‐APTw imaging was scanned using the IBH and FB methods in volunteers and using the IBH method in RCCC patients. The image quality was evaluated by three observers according to the 5‐point Likert scale. Optimal images rated at three points or higher were used to measure the APT values. Statistical Analysis: The measurement repeatability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the Bland–Altman plot. The APT values were analyzed using McNemar's test, one‐way analysis of variance, and t test. Results: 50 healthy volunteers and 8 RCCC patients were enrolled. Renal 3D‐APTw imaging using the IBH method revealed a higher success rate (88% vs 78%). The ICCs were excellent in the IBH group (ICCs > 0.74) and were good in the FB group (ICCs < 0.74). No significant differences in the APT values among various zones using the IBH (P = 0.263) or FB method (P = 0.506). The mean APT value using the IBH method (2.091% ± 0.388%) was slightly lower than the FB method (2.176% ± 0.292%), but no significant difference (P = 0.233). The APT value of RCCC (4.832% ± 1.361%) was considerably higher than normal renal using the IBH method. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that the IBH method substantially increased the image quality of renal 3D‐APTw imaging. Furthermore, APT values may vary between normal and tumor tissues. Level of Evidence: 2 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a study on the synthesis and character of a new organic-inorganic hybrid [4FBzTPP]2[CuBr4] (1) ([4FBzTPP]+ is 4-fluorobenzyltriphenylphosphinium) by XRD, SEM, FTIR and UV-Vis. The XRD analysis showed that the hybrid 1 belongs to the triclinic space group P21 with b = 8.8600(10) Å, c = 16.4867(17) Å, α = 16.639(2)°, β = 96.342(4)°, V = 2415.6(5) Å3, and Z = 2. The hybrid consists of two [4FBzTPP]+ cations and one [CuBr4]2– anion, and the [CuBr4]2– exhibits a twisted tetrahedral coordination geometry with the average bond length between Cu–Br is 2.393 Å. The 3D network structure of 1 is formed by electrostatic terms and other intermolecular interactions. The hybrid material undergoes a direct optical transition and has energy gap values of 1.66 eV and 2.18 eV, indicating its potential as a semiconductor material for optical research. The hybrid material undergoes a direct optical transition and has energy gap values of 1.66 eV and 2.18 eV, showing that the hybrid material is a potential semiconductor material for optical research. In addition, the compound exhibited good antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the observation of unidirectional magnetoresistance (UMR) in the ferrimagnetic insulator CoFe2O4(CFO)/Pt heterostructures, which stem from the giant interfacial Rashba–Edelstein effect. Furthermore, UMR has been found to show sign reversal and amplitude enhancement characteristics with decrease in temperature. We have ascribed it to the modulated distortion of Fermi contours due to pronounced spin canting at low temperatures. The presence of spin canting induced interfacial magnetic state has also been demonstrated by spin Hall magnetoresistance in CFO/Pt/Co/Al2O3 films. Our work reveals the interfacial magnetic state modulated UMR in CFO/Pt bilayers, thereby paving the way for extending its applications in ferrimagnet-based spintronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mouse estrous cycle is divided into four stages: proestrus (P), estrus (E), metestrus (M), and diestrus (D). The estrous cycle affects reproductive hormone levels in a wide variety of tissues. Therefore, to obtain reliable results from female mice, it is important to know the estrous cycle stage during sampling. The stage can be analyzed from a vaginal smear under a microscope. However, it is time-consuming, and the results vary between evaluators. Here, we present an accurate and reproducible method for staging the mouse estrous cycle in digital whole-slide images (WSIs) of vaginal smears. We developed a model using a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) in a cloud-based platform, Aiforia Create. The CNN was trained by supervised pixel-level multiclass semantic segmentation of image features from 171 hematoxylin-stained samples. The model was validated by comparing the results obtained by CNN with those of four independent researchers. The validation data included three separate studies comprising altogether 148 slides. The total agreement attested by the Fleiss kappa value between the validators and the CNN was excellent (0.75), and when D, E, and P were analyzed separately, the kappa values were 0.89, 0.79, and 0.74, respectively. The M stage is short and not well defined by the researchers. Thus, identification of the M stage by the CNN was challenging due to the lack of proper ground truth, and the kappa value was 0.26. We conclude that our model is reliable and effective for classifying the estrous cycle stages in female mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multi-stage water spray cooling system of the space launch site involves a complex gas–liquid two-phase mixed cooling problem in the process of spraying water onto the rocket engine gas jet. To investigate the complex multiphase flow field of the interaction between the airflow and liquid water jet, the Mixture multiphase flow model is adopted, which is coupled with the vaporization equation and component transport model of liquid water. The computational fluid dynamics method is used to numerically analyze the mixing and cooling mechanism of low-temperature liquid jet in high-temperature and high-speed gas flow. The results show that mixing low-temperature liquid jets in high-temperature and high-speed airflow can cause the exchange of momentum and energy, resulting in pressure loss and temperature reduction in the gas phase flow field. Due to the acceleration of transverse airflow, the diffusion flow range of the jet is significantly increased, and violent vaporization occurs, which further consume a large amount of airflow energy. The mixing cooling effect of transverse airflow and liquid water jet is directly related to the mass flow rate ratio of the jet to airflow. In addition, directly designing liquid water jet orifices on the solid wall of the guiding device can achieve the effect of improving the gas flow field environment. This conclusion can provide theoretical reference for the thermal protection design of ground launch devices in space launch site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genera Cephalotrichum and Microascus contain ecologically, morphologically and lifestyle diverse fungi in Microascaceae (Microascales, Sordariomycetes) with a world-wide distribution. Despite previous studies having elucidated that Cephalotrichum and Microascus are highly polyphyletic, the DNA phylogeny of many traditionally morphology-defined species is still poorly resolved, and a comprehensive taxonomic overview of the two genera is lacking. To resolve this issue, we integrate broad taxon sampling strategies and the most comprehensive multi-gene (ITS, LSU, tef1 and tub2) datasets to date, with fossil calibrations to address the phylogenetic relationships and divergence times among major lineages of Microascaceae. Two previously recognised main clades, Cephalotrichum (24 species) and Microascus (49 species), were re-affirmed based on our phylogenetic analyses, as well as the phylogenetic position of 15 genera within Microascaceae. In this study, we provide an up-to-date overview on the taxonomy and phylogeny of species belonging to Cephalotrichum and Microascus, as well as detailed descriptions and illustrations of 21 species of which eight are newly described. Furthermore, the divergence time estimates indicate that the crown age of Microascaceae was around 210.37 Mya (95 % HPD: 177.18–246.96 Mya) in the Late Triassic, and that Cephalotrichum and Microascus began to diversify approximately 27.07 Mya (95 % HPD: 20.47–34.37 Mya) and 70.46 Mya (95 % HPD: 56.96–86.24 Mya), respectively. Our results also demonstrate that multigene sequence data coupled with broad taxon sampling can help elucidate previously unresolved clade relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have observed robust chiral spin torques and non-reciprocal charge transport behaviors in the α-Fe2O3/Pt bilayers through a combination of magnetic field and current-dependent second longitudinal harmonic resistance measurements. The interfacial Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction induced magnetic chirality has been predicted to account for the sign reversal characteristic of the second longitudinal harmonic resistance with increasing the current amplitude. A physical model that considers the chirality dependence of both the asymmetric scattering and the giant Rashba spin–orbit coupling has been set up to uncover the microscopic interactions between charge, spin, and magnetic chirality. Our comprehensive approach leverages the semiclassical Boltzmann theory to validate the consistency between this model and our experimental findings. Through our investigation, we have established the pivotal role of interfacial magnetic chirality in determining both charge and spin transport behaviors within antiferromagnetic insulator/heavy metal bilayer systems. Our work not only enhances the comprehension of spin–orbit torques and non-reciprocal charge transport but also contributes to the broader understanding of these phenomena. The outcomes of this study have broader implications for the advancement of spintronics and related fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The identification of structural variants and single‐nucleotide variants is essential in finding molecular etiologies of monogenic genetic disorders. Whole‐genome sequencing (WGS) is becoming more widespread in genetic disease diagnosis. However, data on its clinical utility remain limited in prenatal practice. We aimed to expand our understanding of implementing WGS in the genetic diagnosis of fetal structural anomalies. Methods: We employed trio WGS with a minimum coverage of 40× on the MGI DNBSEQ‐T7 platform in a cohort of 17 fetuses presenting with aberrations detected by ultrasound, but uninformative findings of standard chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and exome sequencing (ES). Results: Causative genetic variants were identified in two families, with an increased diagnostic yield of 11.8% (2/17). Both were exon‐level copy‐number variants of small size (3.03 kb and 5.16 kb) and beyond the detection thresholds of CMA and ES. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, we have described the first prenatal instance of the association of FGF8 with holoprosencephaly and facial deformities. Conclusions: Our analysis demonstrates the clinical value of WGS in the diagnosis of the underlying etiology of fetuses with structural abnormalities, when routine genetic tests have failed to provide a diagnosis. Additionally, the novel variants and new fetal manifestations have expanded the mutational and phenotypic spectrums of BBS9 and FGF8. © 2023 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activated hepatic stellate cells differentiate into myofibroblasts, which synthesize and secrete extracellular matrix (ECM) leading to liver fibrosis. It was previously demonstrated that bulleyaconitine A (BLA), an alkaloid from Aconitum bulleyanum, inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of human hepatic Lieming Xu-2 (LX-2) cells. In this study, we analyzed the effect of BLA on the production of ECM and related proteins by LX-2 cells activated with acetaldehyde (AA). The cells were randomized into the control group, AA group (cells activated with 400 μM AA), and BLA+AA group (cells cultured in the presence of 400 μM AA and 18.75 μg/ml BLA). In the BLA+AA group, the contents of collagens I and III and the expression of α-smooth muscle actin and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were statistically significantly higher than in the control, but lower than in the AA group. Expression of MMP-1 in the BLA+AA group was also significantly higher than in the AA group, but lower than in the control. Expression of TIMP-1 in the BLA+AA group was significantly higher than in the control, but lower than in the AA group. Thus, BLA suppressed activation and proliferation of LX-2 cells by inhibiting TGF-β1 signaling pathway and decreasing the content of collagens I and III by reducing the MMP-1/TIMP-1 ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Due to the remarkable physical properties of the graphene, the graphene-reinforced composite structures can be applied generally in the aerospace and other engineering fields. However, for the vibration amplitude attenuation of the graphene-reinforced structures, this is a challenging problem for researchers. The integrated piezoelectric sensors and actuators have many advantages as active intelligent materials in many mechatronic and vibration control systems. Therefore, the integrated piezoelectric actuator and sensor are designed by sticking piezoelectric patches on the surface of the FG–GRLCC rectangular plate to study the vibration amplitude attenuation. Methods: Based on the extended Halpin–Tsai micromechanical model, the elastic coefficients of the graphene-reinforced plate are formulated. Considering the classical laminated plate theory, the Hamilton principle, and the piezoelectric coupling effect, the dynamic equations of the piezoelectric FG–GRLCC rectangular plate are derived. The ordinary differential control equations of motion for the plate are obtained by applying the Galerkin method. To reduce vibration amplitude, the parameters of the positive position feedback (PPF) controller are designed using the Routh–Hurwitz stability criterion and the H ∞ optimal strategy. Results: The vibration characteristics for the piezoelectric FG–GRLCC rectangular plate with four different graphene distributions are studied. Numerical simulations are given to study the vibration amplitude attenuation via the proposed PPF control algorithm. In addition, the PPF control algorithm and the velocity feedback controller are compared. Conclusion: The designed PPF control algorithm can reduce the vibration amplitude for the four different graphene distribution for the FG–GRLCC rectangular plate subjected to the transverse excitation. In addition, the key of the vibration suppression is that the frequency of the PPF controller is same with the frequency of the structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, structured inverse variational inequality (SIVI) problems have attracted much attention. In this paper, we propose new splitting methods to solve SIVI problems by employing the idea of the classical Douglas-Rachford splitting method (DRSM). In particular, the proposed methods can be regarded as a novel application of the DRSM to SIVI problems by decoupling the linear equality constraint, leading to smaller and easier subproblems. The main computational tasks per iteration are the evaluations of certain resolvent operators, which are much cheaper than those methods without taking advantage of the problem structures. To make the methods more implementable in the general cases where the resolvent operator is evaluated in an iterative scheme, we further propose to solve the subproblems in an approximate manner. Under quite mild conditions, global convergence, sublinear rate of convergence, and linear rate of convergence results are established for both the exact and the inexact methods. Finally, we present preliminary numerical results to illustrate the performance of the proposed methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migration of conventional petrochemical plasticizers can negatively affect the performance of plasticized products, human health and the environment and result in the reduction of petroleum resources. Thus, the development of bio-based plasticizers with migration resistance is very critical. In this study, two novel bio-based plasticizers with different structures derived from ricinoleic acid, i.e., epoxy acetylated benzyl ricinoleate (EABR) and epoxy acetyl terephthalate ricinoleate (EATPR), with good plasticizing effect and migration resistance were synthesized and characterized. The structure of EABR and EATPR was confirmed using FTIR and 1H NMR spectroscopies. The mechanical, thermal, and migration properties of the PVC samples plasticized with EABR and EATPR were extensively investigated, and the commercial plasticizer dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP) was used for comparison. The plasticized PVC samples with EABR and EATPR showed similar impact strength, elongation at break, and glass transition temperature (Tg) to DOTP-plasticized samples, indicating a good plasticizing effect on PVC. Furthermore, EABR and EATPR demonstrated superior performance in migration and volatility tests compared to DOTP. Besides, the plasticizing properties of the plasticized PVC were very sensitive to the structure of the plasticizer; EATPR, with a symmetric structure, showed better plasticization and plasticizing efficiency than EABR, with an asymmetric structure. In conclusion, the two bio-based plasticizers derived from ricinoleic acid showed attractive potential as alternatives to phthalate plasticizers, especially EATPR, with a larger symmetric molecular structure and higher aliphatic content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the nonlinear traveling wave vibrations are investigated for the graphene-reinforced porous aluminum-based sandwich rotating conical (GRPA-SRC) shell with the arbitrary boundary conditions. The material of the rotating conical shell is the sandwich structure composed of the graphene-reinforced porous aluminum-based (GRPA) material. Two surfaces of the rotating conical are made of the metallic aluminum and central core layer is the GRPA. There are three graphene distribution types and three porosity distributions applied to the nonlinear vibration analysis. We consider the comprehensive effect of combining the transverse harmonic excitation and in-plane load on the nonlinear traveling wave vibrations of the rotating conical shells. The first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) and von Kármán nonlinear strain–displacement relations are employed in the structural modeling. The effects of Coriolis forces and initial hoop tensions are considered to obtain the kinetic energy, potential energy and external force work. Since the vibration form of the rotating conical shell is the traveling wave vibration, the trigonometric functions are used to represent the mode in the circumferential direction. Chebyshev polynomials are used to solve the axial direction. Further utilizing energy principle, the nonlinear ordinary differential equations are obtained for the GRPA-SRC shell with two degrees of freedom. The amplitude–frequency response curves, force–amplitude response curves, bifurcation diagrams, maximum Lyapunov exponent, waveforms, phase portraits and Poincare map of the GRPA-SRC shell are calculated by using Runge–Kutta method. Adding the springs at both ends of the GRPA-SRC shell can simulate the arbitrary boundary conditions. During the solution process, the circumferential direction of the GRPA-SRC shell is represented by the trigonometric function, and direction of the generatrix is denoted by using Chebyshev polynomials. The arbitrary boundary conditions are obtained for changing the spring potential energy. This work is expected to provide the practical value for the nonlinear vibrations of the graphene-reinforced porous metal rotating shell with the arbitrary boundary conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effect of folic acid combined with L-carnitine on vascular endothelial injury in preeclampsia rats by regulating oxidative stress injury and inflammatory factor expression. 42 female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control group, preeclampsia group and folic acid+L-carnitine group with 14 rats in each group. The rats in folic acid+L-carnitine group were treated with folic acid 3 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg respectively the rats in normal control group and preeclampsia group were intragastrically given the same amount of normal saline as folic acid+L-carnitine group; from 9 d to 20 d, 75 mg/kg N-nitro-Larginine methyl arginine was subcutaneously injected into the neck and back of rats in preeclampsia group and folic acid+L-carnitine group from 9 d to 20 d. The gestational d 0 and d 5 of each group were compared after 21 d, the percentage of malondialdehyde, 8-iso-prostaglandin F2 alpha, interleukin-6, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, interleukin-1 beta and vascular endothelial microparticles were measured. The changes of femoral artery fibromuscular dysplasia were observed at 0 s, 60 s, 120 s, 180 s, 240 s and 300 s after 21 d. The levels of malondialdehyde and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2 alpha in preeclampsia rats were increased than those in normal control group; and those in folic acid+L-carnitine group were reduced than those in preeclampsia group. The levels of interleukin-6 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in preeclampsia rats were raised than those in normal control group; while these in folic acid+L-carnitine group were reduced than those in preeclampsia group. Folic acid combined with L-carnitine can alleviate vascular endothelial injury in preeclampsia rats by regulating oxidative stress injury and expression of inflammatory factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of in situ Raman spectroscopy under multiple fields is widely recognized as an effective approach for investigating the physical mechanism of phase transitions in ferroelectrics, because it can directly provide the detailed information about the vibration evolution of various phonon modes within lattices, such as bond stretching and rotation. Based on this technique, our work aims to thoroughly probe the dynamics of phase transitions in traditional ferroelectric potassium sodium niobate [(K,Na)NbO3, KNN] under external fields, by analyzing the in situ dependence of wavenumber and intensity of phonon modes under the varying temperature and electric fields. The results indicate that different vibration modes respectively relating to the A-site ions and NbO6 octahedra in KNN exhibit distinct and abrupt distortion behavior during the orthorhombic-tetragonal and tetragonal-cubic transitions. Moreover, a certain degree of distortion can still be observed in the cubic phase above the Curie temperature. With an applied electric field, KNN presents quite different electrostriction in orthorhombic and tetragonal phases. Particularly, more than one kind of phonon mode undergoes non-linear variations under the varying electric fields, accompanied by the mutations at some fixed fields. These findings will be conducive to further understanding the phase transition mechanism in KNN from the perspective of phonon evolution. Simultaneously, it will also give crucial guidance for the design and development of KNN-based ferroelectrics as well as functional devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration and precipitation change affect plants' survival and thriving. Phenotypic plasticity can show plants adaptability to varying environment. Physiological plasticity reflects plants capacity to open areas, and morphological plasticity reflects capacity to survive and grow. In this study, we simulated combined effects of elevated CO2 and precipitation change on the phenotypic plasticity of two Stipa species: Stipa grandis and Stipa breviflora. Our results indicated that plasticity of physiology was higher than plasticity of morphology under either ambient or elevated CO2 concentration in both Stipa species. S. breviflora showed higher plasticity index of physiological (PIp) and plasticity index of morphological (PIm) than S. grandis under elevated CO2 concentration. Therefore, we speculate that S. breviflora is more adaptable than S. grandis under high CO2 concentration in the future. Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration and simultaneous precipitation change is advantageous to S. breviflora distribution expansion, nonetheless, the changing environments also favor the competitive ability of S. grandis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Laying performance is an important economic trait in poultry. The blood is essential in transporting nutrients to the yolk and albumen and is necessary for egg formation. 2. This study calculated the phenotypic relationships of duck egg quality, egg production efficiency and 22 serum parameters in the egg-laying stage. Using a variety of methodologies, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was carried out to uncover the genetic foundations of the 22 serum biochemical markers of laying ducks. 3. Spearman correlation coefficients between the egg production (226–329 per day) and the serum parameters were all weak, being less than 0.3. This analysis was done on 22 serum parameters, with total protein (TP), total triglycerides (TG), calcium (Ca) and phosphorous (P) having the highest correlation coefficients (r = 0.56–0.88). The coefficients for blood markers, such as total cholesterol (CHOL), total bilirubin (TBIL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) varied from 0.70–0.94. 4. Based on single-marker single-trait genome-wide analyses by a mixed linear model program of EMMAX, nine candidate genes were associated with enzyme traits (AST/ALT aspartate transaminase/glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, creatine kinase) and 19 candidate genes were associated with metabolism and protein-related serum parameters (glucose, total bile acid, uric acid (UA), albumin (ALB). 5. The mvLMM (multivariate linear mixed model) of GEMMA software was used to carry out multiple trait integrated GWAS. Two candidate genes were found in the TP-TG-CA-P analysis and seven candidate genes in the CHOL_LDL-C_HDL-C_TBIL study. There was a high genetic correlation between the two groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multipartite quantum steering correlation among Raman scattering beams generated by the enhanced Raman scattering process is investigated. In this single-pass nonlinear process, without an optical resonant cavity, Raman scattering beams of the same order can be significantly enhanced through differential amplification of pump, resulting in enhanced Raman scattering beams. Based on the multipartite quantum steering correlation criterion, tripartite quantum steering and five-partite quantum steering can be obtained by the first-order Raman scattering and the second-order Raman scattering, respectively. This scheme of the generation of multipartite quantum steering enriches the types of quantum manipulation and can be applied to quantum information work such as quantum networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare earth elements (REES) in urban soils are attracting increasing attention due to their expanded usage in modern technology. However, there is limited information on the spatial patterns and influencing factors of REES in urban soil. This study aims to investigate the characteristics of REES (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu) in urban soil in Kaifeng, Henan province, China. A total of sixty-six representative soil samples were collected from different land use types and the concentrations of thirteen rare earth elements (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu) were analyzed. Results showed that the concentrations of REES in different land use types followed the order of Ce > La > Nd > Pr > Gd > Sm > Dy > Er > Yb > Eu > Tb > Tm > Lu. Light rare earth elements (LREE) are generally more concentrated than heavy rare earth elements (HREE). Total REE concentrations in the soils were the highest in transportation land, followed by industrial and mining land, residential land, public management and service land, commercial consumption land and control area land. The highest REE concentrations were observed in the middle and southeast of the study area, mainly in densely populated old urban and traditional industrial areas. Different land use types showed LREE enrichment, and Eu exhibited negative anomaly characteristics. The SL/SH ratio was generally higher than the upper crust at 9.54, indicating clear terrigenous signs. The overall depositional environment of the surface soil in the study area was reduced, and the degree of heterogeneity of the LREE within the surface soil was significantly different from that of HREE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare-earth ferromagnetic (RE–FM) heterostructures have attracted significant attention due to their intricate spin structures and physical phenomena. The antiferromagnetic coupled (AFC) interface formed by the distinctive interaction between the FM and RE elements has critical contributions to the magnetization reversal process. In this work, we investigate the enhancement of current-induced magnetization switching with the AFC interface at the Co/Ho heterostructure. The results shows that an increased spin–orbit torque (SOT) efficiency of up to 250% was achieved at a Ho thickness of 7 nm, with a critical switching current density of 2.7 × 1010 A/m2. When a Cu interlayer was introduced between the Co/Ho interface, a decreased SOT efficiency was observed, indicating that the SOT enhancement is primarily attributed to the AFC interfacial effect. At the AFC interface, the interaction between Co and Ho atoms generates an additional torque, enhancing the effective SOT efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen (EPR) steering is a quantum effect based on quantum entanglement and it is the key resource for building quantum networks because of its useful properties. Based on the criterion for genuine multipartite EPR steering, the genuine quadripartite EPR steering is confirmed and it can be generated by a spontaneous parametric down-conversion cascaded process with two sum-frequency generations in an optical superlattice. This occurs either below the oscillation threshold and without oscillation threshold. The influence of the parameters of cascaded nonlinear process on the quadripartite EPR steering among signal, idler, and two sum-frequency beams are also discussed. Choosing appropriate nonlinear parameters can achieve good quadripartite quantum steering. This scheme of the generation of genuine quadripartite EPR steering has potential applications in quantum communication and computing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize is an important food and industrial material resource. We constructed a high-density genetic map using the whole-genome resequencing and specific-locus amplified fragments sequencing (SLAF-seq) techniques for the "HZS" and "X224M" elite maize inbred lines, and 196 F2 individuals from a cross between "HZS" and "X224M." In our study, the average resequencing depth of the maternal and paternal parents was 13.30-fold and 11.94-fold, respectively. In the F2 population, the sequencing depth ranged from 9.64-fold to 45.16-fold with an average of 23.18-fold. In total, 12, 354, 021 SNPs were detected in the F2 population, and 87.78% of which were polymorphic. Among these SNPs, 2, 843, 917 (53.96%) were included in the segregation pattern aa × bb. Finally, 6, 186 SNPs were used to construct a high-density genetic map. The length of this map included all 10 chromosomes in maize and was 1, 667.36 cM, with an average distance of 0.318 cM between markers. The number of mapped SNPs in different linkage groups (LGs) ranged from 254 to 960, and the genetic distance of each LGs ranged from 157.22 to 192.72 cM. Based on the evaluation of haplotype and heat maps, the results indicated that our genetic map is of high quality, and we now have more detailed information for gene mapping and marker-assisted breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to explore the expression of linc01816 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its effect on cellular activities of tumor cells, as well as its potential mechanism. RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression levels of linc01816 in human ESCC tissues and cell lines. ESCC cell lines were transfected with linc01816 siRNA and the difference in the proliferation abilities of different groups of cells was detected by CCK-8 method. Transwell method was used to detect the changes in its migration and invasion abilities. Kaplan–Meier curve was conducted to analyze the clinical value of linc01816 in ESCC. The relative expression of linc01816 was overexpressed in ESCC tissues and cells. High linc01816 expression was related to several clinical features and shorter overall survival rate. Compared with negative controls, linc01816 knockdown decreased the viability potential, migration and invasive abilities of ESCC cells, and was partially reversed by miR-326 inhibition. The overexpressed linc01816 was associated with ESCC patients' overall survival. The proliferation and invasion capacities of ESCC cells can be inhibited by silencing linc01816, which may be related to the regulation of miR-326 expression. Linc01816/miR-326 axis may be a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for ESCC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is increasingly recognized as a chronic, progressive and fatal lung disease with an unknown etiology. Current studies focus on revealing the genetic factors in the risk of IPF, making the integrative analysis of genetic variations and transcriptomic alterations of substantial value. Aim This study aimed to improve the understanding of the molecular basis of IPF through an integrative analysis of whole-exome sequencing (WES), bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data. Methods WES is a powerful tool for studying the genetic basis of IPF, allowing for the identification of genetic variants that may be associated with the development of the disease. RNA-seq data provide a comprehensive view of the transcriptional changes in IPF patients, while scRNA-seq data offer a more granule view of cell-type-specific alterations. Results In this study, we identified a comprehensive mutational landscape of recurrent genomic and transcriptomic variations, including single-nucleotide polymorphisms, CNVs and differentially expressed genes, in IPF populations, which may play a significant role in the development and progression of IPF. Conclusions Our study provided valuable insights into the genetic and transcriptomic variations associated with IPF, revealing changes in gene expression that may contribute to disease development and progression. These findings highlight the importance of an integrative approach to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying IPF and may pave the way for identifying potential therapeutic targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Femtosecond X-ray Experiments (FXE) instrument at the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser (EuXFEL) provides an optimized platform for investigations of ultrafast physical, chemical and biological processes. It operates in the energy range 4.7-20 keVaccommodating flexible and versatile environments for a wide range of samples using diverse ultrafast X-ray spectroscopic, scattering and diffraction techniques. FXE is particularly suitable for experiments taking advantage of the sub-MHz repetition rates provided by the EuXFEL. In this paper a dedicated setup for studies on ultrafast biological and chemical dynamics in solution phase at sub-MHz rates at FXE is presented. Particular emphasis on the different liquid jet sample delivery options and their performance is given. Our portfolio of high-speed jets compatible with sub- MHz experiments includes cylindrical jets, gas dynamic virtual nozzles and flat jets. The capability to perform multi-color X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) experiments is illustrated by a set of measurements using the dispersive X-ray spectrometer in von Hamos geometry. Static XES data collected using a multicrystal scanning Johann-type spectrometer are also presented. A few examples of experimental results on ultrafast time-resolved X-ray emission spectroscopy and wide-angle X-ray scattering at sub-MHz pulse repetition rates are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orthodontically induced inflammatory root resorption (OIIRR) is the major iatrogenic complication of orthodontic treatment, seriously endangering tooth longevity and impairing masticatory function. Osteoclasts are thought to be the primary effector cells that initiate the pathological process of OIIRR; however, the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for OIIRR remain unclear. Our previous studies revealed that cementocytes, the major mechanically responsive cells in cementum, respond to compressive stress to activate and influence osteoclasts locally. For this study, we hypothesized that the sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) signaling pathway, a key mechanotransduction pathway in cementocytes, may regulate osteoclasts under the different magnitudes of either physiologic compressive stress that causes tooth movement or pathologic stress that causes OIIRR. Here, we show a biphasic effect of higher compression force stimulating the synthesis and secretion of S1P, whereas lower compression force reduced signaling in IDG-CM6 cementocytes. Using conditioned media from force-loaded cementocytes, we verified the cell-to-cell communication between cementocytes and osteoclasts and show that selective knockdown of S1PR1 and Rac1 plays a role in cementocyte-driven osteoclastogenesis via the S1P/S1PR1/Rac1 axis. Most importantly, the use of inhibitors of this axis reduced or prevented the pathological process of OIIRR. The intercellular communication mechanisms between cementocytes and osteoclasts may serve as a promising therapeutic target for OIIRR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendritic cells (DCs) can mediate inflammation-related bone resorption that is crucial in the development of periodontitis. Butyrate is a critical by-product of microbes with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Here, we found that butyrate inhibited the activation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)–induced DCs and generation of inflammatory cytokines by DCs. Moreover, butyrate regulated glycolysis in LPS-induced DCs via the G-protein-coupled receptor/hypoxia-inducible factor–1α pathway. In addition, butyrate inhibited the maturation of CD11c+MHC-II+ DCs in vivo, suppressing local inflammatory infiltration and ultimately alleviating bone resorption in a periodontitis model. Our results imply that butyrate suppresses the activation of LPS-induced DCs by modulating their metabolism, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent for inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high‐resolution stereo camera mounted on the Mars Express (MEX) spacecraft of the European Space Agency is specifically designed for planetary photogrammetry and mapping missions. High‐precision geometric calibration is required to maintain the geometric quality of satellite imaging. This study aimed to develop a Martian geometric calibration model based on the detector look angle and offset matrix to compensate for systematic errors caused by the camera system parameters, Doppler shift measurements, and other parameters of the interior and exterior orientation during positioning. Moreover, the difficulty in identifying high‐precision geometric ground control points from extra‐terrestrial imagery was addressed by proposing an iterative Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter extraction algorithm based on the similarity measure of terrain relief. Using this algorithm, constraint conditions were established, and a calibration model was introduced to achieve in‐orbit geometric calibration of the MEX satellite. The proposed method is effective in reducing the distortion of the camera in calibration images from 12 pixels to <1 pixel, both before and after calibration. Moreover, the plane accuracy of validation images improved from approximately 900 to 200 m, while elevation accuracy improved from 500 to 100 m, verifying the effectiveness of the proposed method. Key Points: A geometric calibration model based on detector look angle and an offset matrix was developed for planetary photogrammetryThe proposed method is effective in reducing camera misalignment in calibration images from 12 pixels to <1 pixelAccuracy of validation images improved from 900 to 200 m, and elevation accuracy improved from 500 to 100 m [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broken symmetry and tilting effects are ubiquitous in Weyl semimetals (WSMs). Therefore, it is crucial to understand their impacts on the materials' electronic and optical properties. Here, using a realistic four-band model for WSMs, which incorporates both the symmetry breaking and tilting effects, we study its Landau quantization and the associated magneto-absorption spectrum. We show that the Landau bands in tilted WSMs can be obtained by considering a non-tilt Hamiltonian through Lorentz boost. However, broken symmetry effects can generate an additional term in the Hamiltonian, which equivalently lead to band reconstruction. Our work provides a more realistic view of the magnetic field response of WSMs that shall be taken into account in relevant future device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]