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Tail biting is a multifactorial behavior that causes welfare and economic challenges in swine production. As of 2024, research exploring the influence of pig social structure on the development of tail biting is limited. The objective of this study was to explore whether social structures of pigs from different litter origins can impact tail biting and, ultimately, tail damage. Pigs (n = 96) were grouped (eight pigs/pen) based on their litter origin: non-littermates (NLM), half-littermates, and littermates (LM). Tail injury scores were assessed twice weekly from 10 to 24 weeks of age, with a maximal tail injury score (MTS) over the study period being used to evaluate victimization by tail biting. Pig behavior was video-recorded at 15, 19, and 23 weeks of age. Association networks based on lying behavior and tail biting interaction networks were evaluated at penand pig-levels using social network analysis. Pigs in LM pens experienced higher median MTS compared to pigs in NLM pens (Median = 1.5; Interquartile range = 1-2; p = 0.009). Within association networks, NLM pens had lower degree centralization measures than other pens at both 15 (Estimated marginal mean [EMM] = 0.07; 95% CI = 0.02-0.12; p = 0.003) and 23 weeks (EMM = 0.09; 95% CI = 0.04-0.14; p = 0.01) and pigs in NLM pens had higher weighted degree centrality than those in other pens (EMM = 1.00; 95% CI = 0.90-1.11; p = 0.002), suggesting pigs in NLM pens had more uniform, stronger, and more connections with their pen-mates. In tail biting networks, increased weighted in-degree centrality was associated with increased odds of pigs receiving a more severe MTS (OR = 1.56; 95% CI = 1.08-2.27; p = 0.02). Pigs with increased weighted out-degree centrality tended to have increased odds of receiving a more severe MTS (OR = 1.19; 95% CI = 0.97-1.48; p = 0.09). These preliminary data suggest a potential relationship between social structures and tail biting in growing-finishing pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the results of organic geochemical analyses of 19 crude oil samples from reservoir sandstones in the 4th Member of the Eocene Shahejie Formation from wells in the Minfeng Sag, Dongying Depression, Bohai Bay Basin (NE China). In addition, 42 Shahejie Formation core samples of dark‐coloured mudstones, including 28 extracts, were analysed. Geochemical data included Rock‐Eval measurements, gas chromatography, GC‐MS and diamondoid analyses. Maceral analyses showed that mudstones in the 4th Member of the Shahejie Formation ("Es4") contain Types I and II1 kerogen. The member can be divided into upper (Es4s) and lower (Es4x) intervals. Oil‐prone Es4s rock samples have good to excellent hydrocarbon‐generating potential based on calculated initial TOC values; Rock‐Eval Tmax values indicate that they are sufficiently mature for hydrocarbon generation. Analytical results suggest that both Es4s and Es4x mudrocks are potential source rocks for oils produced at fields in the Minfeng Sag. Analysed crude oils from the Minfeng Sag were classified into three genetic groups. Group I oils are mature to highly mature and have undergone a moderate degree of thermal cracking. They are characterized by a low β‐carotane/nC25 ratio and C30 4‐methylsterane index (4MI); high values of oleanane index (oleanane /C30‐hopane), C27 diasterane/C27 regular sterane (C27Dia/C27), regular sterane/17α hopane and gammacerane/C30 hopane (G/H); and medium pristane/phytane ratios (Pr/Ph). This suggests that Group I oils are mostly derived from source rocks in the upper part of the Es4x unit which are interbedded with evaporites. Group II oils are mature and have high 4MI and Pr/Ph ratios, low oleanane index, regular sterane/17α hopane and C27Dia/C27 ratios, and mediumβ‐carotane/nC25 and G/H. These features are similar to those of Es4s source rocks, indicating their genetic correlation. Group III oils show the lowest maturity and highβ‐carotane/nC25 and regular sterane/17α hopane, and low oleanane index, Pr/Ph and 4MI. Previously‐published data indicates that oils similar to those in Group III were mainly sourced by Es4s mudstones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer is a significant public health issue worldwide, being the most prevalent cancer among women and a leading cause of death related to this disease. The molecular processes that propel breast cancer progression are not fully elucidated, highlighting the intricate nature of the underlying biology and its crucial impact on global health. The objective of this research was to perform bioinformatics analyses on breast cancer-related datasets to gain a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms at play and to identify key genes associated with the disease. Methods: The toolkit analyses involve techniques such as differential gene expression analysis, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), Weighted Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA), and Machine Learning algorithms. Furthermore, in vitro cell experiments have demonstrated the impact of HSPB6 on cell migration, proliferation, and apoptosis. Results: The study identified multiple genes that displayed differential expression in breast cancer, notably FHL1 and HSPB6. A machine learning model was developed in this study and specifically trained for breast cancer diagnosis using these genes, achieving high precision. Furthermore, analysis of immune cell infiltration revealed an enrichment of Tregs and M2 macrophages in the treated group, showcasing its significant impact on the tumor’s immunological context. A temporal analysis of breast cancer cells using single-cell RNA sequencing provided insights into cellular developmental trajectories and highlighted changes in expression patterns across key genes during disease progression. The upregulation of HSPB6 in MCF7 cells significantly inhibited both cell migration and proliferation abilities, suggesting that promoting HSPB6 expression could induce ferroptosis in breast cancer cells. Conclusion: Our findings have identified compelling molecular targets and distinctive diagnostic markers for the clinical management of breast cancer. This data will serve as crucial guidance for further research in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroptosis is a way of cell death mainly due to the imbalance between the production and degradation of lipid reactive oxygen species, which is closely associated with various diseases. Endogenous hypochlorous acid (HOCl) mainly produced in mitochondria is regarded as an important signal molecule of ferroptosis. Therefore, monitoring the fluctuation of endogenous HOCl is beneficial to better understand and treat ferroptosis-related diseases. Inspired by the promising aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties of tetraphenylethene (TPE), herein, we rationally constructed a novel AIE-based fluorescent probe, namely QTrPEP, for HOCl with nice mitochondria-targeting ability and high sensitivity and selectivity. Probe QTrPEP consisted of phenylborate ester and the AIE fluorophore of quinoline-conjugated triphenylethylene (QTrPE). HOCl can brighten the strong fluorescence through a specific HOCl-triggered cleavage of the phenylborate ester bond and release of QTrPE, which has been demonstrated by MS, HPLC, and DLS experiments. In addition, combining QTrPE-doped test strips with a smartphone-based measurement demonstrated the excellent performance of the probe to sense HOCl. The obtained favorable optical properties and negligible cytotoxicity allowed the use of this probe for tracking of HOCl in three different cells. In particular, this work represents the first AIE-based mitochondria-targeting fluorescent probe for monitoring the fluctuation of HOCl in ferroptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing the efficiency of spin–orbit torque (SOT) is of great interest in applications for magnetic random access memory and logic devices due to decreased energy consumption. Here, we present that the SOT efficiency of Pt/Co/Ta films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy can be improved by swift high-energy heavy Fe11+ ion irradiation, which is an effective method to alter crystallinity, interface roughness, and defects in ferromagnet/heavy metal heterostructures. Specifically, the Pt/Co/Ta films show an optimal SOT efficiency at ion fluence around 1.0 × 1013 ions/cm2 with the largest spin Hall angles reaching 0.59, which is the largest improvement of spin Hall angle by ion irradiation compared to previous studies using light ions. We demonstrate that the increase in SOT efficiency arises from structural changes in the Pt layer due to ion irradiation-induced damage effects at proper fluence, while the decrease in SOT efficiency is mainly attributed to the restoration of Pt crystallinity induced by beam-heating effects at high fluence. This work demonstrates that an appropriate ion irradiation process could improve the SOT efficiency and the spin Hall angle, thereby providing a way to develop future SOT-based spintronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a widespread contaminant in food and feeds, poses a threat to the health of animals and humans. Consequently, it is significant to develop a rapid, precise and highly sensitive analytical method for the detection of AFB1. Herein, we developed an immunochromatographic strip (ICS) based on a tetrahedral DNA (TDN) immunoprobe for AFB1 determination in rice bran oil. Three sizes of TDN immunoprobes (AuNP-TDN13bp-mAb, AuNP-TDN17bp-mAb, AuNP-TDN26bp-mAb) were constructed, and the performance of these three immunoprobes, including the effective antibody labeling density and immunoaffinity, was measured and compared with that of the immunoprobe (AuNP-mAb) developed using the physical adsorption method. Subsequently, the optimal TDN immunoprobe, namely AuNP-TDN13bp-mAb, was selected to prepare the immunochromatographic strip (ICS) for the qualitative and quantitative detection of AFB1 in rice bran oil. The visual limits of detection (vLODs) of the ICS based on AuNP-TDN13bp-mAb and AuNP-mAb were 0.2 ng/mL and 2 ng/mL, with scanning quantitative limits (sLOQs) of 0.13 ng/mL and 1.4 ng/mL, respectively. The ICS demonstrated a wide linear range from 0.02 ng/mL to 0.5 ng/mL, with good specificity, accuracy, precision, repeatability, and stability. Moreover, a high consistency was observed between the constructed ICS and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) in the quantification of AFB1. The results indicated that the introduction of TDN was beneficial for promoting efficient antibody labeling, protecting the bioactivity of immunoprobes, and increasing the sensitivity of detection, which would provide new perspectives for the achievement of the highly sensitive detection of mycotoxins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) is mainly characterized by progressive limb-girdle muscle weakness and respiratory impairment, whereas stroke and cerebrovascular abnormalities have been insufficiently studied in LOPD. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency and pattern of intracranial artery and brain parenchyma abnormalities in LOPD patients. Results: Neuroimaging data from 30 Chinese adult LOPD patients were collected from our center. Seven patients (7/30) had acute cerebral infarction or hemorrhage. Brain magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) or computed tomography angiography (CTA) revealed artery abnormalities in 23 patients (23/30). Dilative arteriopathy was found in 19 patients (19/30), with vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia found in 17 patients and dilatation of the anterior circulation arteries found in 8 patients. The maximum diameter of the basilar artery was correlated with disease duration (p < 0.05). In addition, aneurysms (7/30) and fenestrations (3/30) were discovered. There were 14 patients with arterial stenosis (14/30), and both anterior and posterior circulation involvement occurred in 9 patients (9/14). Stenosis and dilative arteriopathy simultaneously occurred in 10 patients (10/30). White matter hyperintensities were present in 13 patients (13/28). Microbleeds, predominantly located in the cerebellum and brainstem, were detected in 7 patients (7/22) via susceptibility-weighted imaging. Conclusions: Intracranial vasculopathy involving both large arteries and small vessels is an important organ damage in LOPD patients. LOPD should be considered a key differential diagnosis in young adults with cryptogenic stroke, and a series of imaging evaluations of the brain and intracranial blood vessels is recommended as a routine workup in adult LOPD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON) and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON) belong to type B trichothecenes that are widely detected in agricultural products as one of the most common classes of mycotoxins. In the present study, we aimed to characterize the alteration of lipid metabolism in normal human hepatocytes by poisoning with DON and its acetylated derivatives. After verifying the hepatotoxicity of the three toxins, DON, 15-ADON, and 3-ADON, the mRNA expression was determined by transcriptomics, and the results showed that DON and 15-ADON had a significant regulatory effect on the transcriptome, in which glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway and phospholipase D signaling pathways have not been reported in studies of DON and its acetylated derivatives. For further validation, we explored lipid metabolism in depth and found that PC (15:0/16:0), PC (16:1/18:3), PC (18:1/22:6), PC (16:0/16:0), PC (16:0/16:1), PC (16:1/18:1), PC (14:0/18:2), PE (14:0/16:0) and PE (18:1/18:3) were downregulated for all nine lipids. Combined with the transcriptome results, we found that hepatic steatosis induced by the three toxins, DON, 15-ADON and 3-ADON, was associated with altered expression of genes related to lipid oxidation, lipogenesis and lipolysis, and their effects on lipid metabolism in L-02 cells were mainly realized through the PC-PE cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intangible cultural heritage is a people-centered living cultural heritage. Preservation, promotion, and talent cultivation are important aspects of intangible cultural heritage protection and also crucial guarantees for sustainable development. However, traditional video recordings lack three-dimensional spatial information, and the high cost of digital scanning and reconstruction still leaves no convenient, efficient, accurate, realistic, and low-cost solution for the preservation and dissemination of intangible cultural heritage projects. Here we introduce the binocular 180-degree panoramic display method, through which a platform for recording, showcasing, disseminating, and teaching intangible cultural heritage projects in the Sanlin Old Street of Shanghai was implemented. The platform requires only VR filming without the need for 3D modeling technology. The participants can freely select intangible cultural heritage projects on the map and immerse themselves in watching the Sanlin "Three Excellence" porcelain carving, local cuisine, and embroidery. They can also enjoy the dragon dance, experience the textile craftsmanship of Sanlin's "Three Specialties", and even observe the production process and details of the works from the perspective of the inheritor in the first person. The results show that compared to traditional video recordings and digital scanning reconstruction, the binocular 180-degree panoramic display provides a one-to-one, face-to-face, and low-cost solution for the preservation and dissemination of projects. It allows students to increase their knowledge of intangible cultural heritage and enhance their interest in inheritance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a malignant disease that is difficult to completely cure. Polyphyllin I (PPI), a steroidal saponin isolated from Paris polyphylla, has exhibited multiple biological activities. Here, we discovered the superior cytotoxicity of PPI on AML cells MOLM-13 with an IC50 values of 0.44 ± 0.09 μM. Mechanically, PPI could cause ferroptosis via the accumulation of intracellular iron concentration and triggering lipid peroxidation. Interestingly, PPI could induced stronger ferroptosis in a short time of about 6 h compared to erastin. Furthermore, we demonstrate that PPI-induced rapid ferroptosis is due to the simultaneous targeting PI3K/SREBP-1/SCD1 axis and triggering lipid peroxidation, and PI3K inhibitor Alpelisib can enhance the activity of erastin-induced ferroptosis. Molecular docking simulations and kinase inhibition assays demonstrated that PPI is a PI3K inhibitor. In addition, PPI significantly inhibited tumor progression and prolonged mouse survival at 4 mg/kg with well tolerance. In summary, our study highlights the therapeutic potential of PPI for AML and shows its unique dual mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design and implementation of virtual museums have evolved over decades, broadening the scope of traditional museum exhibitions and serving as an effective complement to physical museums. However, virtual visual effects have consistently fallen short of replicating the authentic exhibition experience and cannot substitute for physical museums. In this paper, we report a dual-mode mixed visualization system combining computational photography and binocular stereo vision techniques, and introduce an innovative virtual museum for Sanxingdui bronzes. This approach enables visitors to engage with the artifacts in a multifaceted manner-allowing for navigation, interaction, auditory guidance, and the examination of textural details as if handling the artifacts directly. Further analysis of participant responses in terms of visual cognition and aesthetic appreciation across different settings demonstrates that this dual-mode mixed visualization delivers not only a spatiotemporal experience consistent with the real world but also surreal visual effects. This immersive experience allows audiences to experience Sanxingdui art intimately, offering both high-resolution visuals and cost-effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sequence architectures along the margins of rift basins are still poorly documented compared to passive continental margin settings. The Eocene Shahejie Formation on the rift margin of the Dongying Depression records a complex sequence stratigraphic distribution of conglomerate, sandy conglomerate, sandstone and mudstone. These facies have been mainly attributed to fan delta and marginal subaqueous fan depositional settings that developed during segmented fault activity along the rift margin. We utilize three‐dimensional (3D) seismic data, conventional cores, and wireline log data to dissect the overall wedge‐shaped upper sub‐member strata of the Shahejie Formation's fourth member. The study interval is a third‐order sequence formed between 45.4 and 42.5 Ma and contains a lowstand–transgressive systems tract (LST–TST) and a highstand systems tract–falling‐stage systems tract (HST–FSST). We found that the LST–TST developed several huge amalgamated depocenters along the Chennan border fault; whereas, these depocenters gradually diminished or even disappeared during the HST–FSST period, illustrating less significant control by the border fault. Through calculations of strata growth rates, we confirmed that the segmented activity of the border fault influences the stratigraphic distribution and facies evolution during these two periods. Specifically, deep‐water depositional systems, represented by marginal subaqueous fans were widely developed in the LST–TST period and were influenced by overall strong tectonic activity, including retrogradational (R) and aggradational (A) patterns. However, the aggradational to progradational (AP) deltas and progradational to degradational (PD) deltas dominated the generally muted tectonic activity setting during the HST–FSST. Additionally, influenced by localized segmented fault activity, these systems tracts exhibit incomplete vertical development, resulting in spatial variability in stratigraphic stacking patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The language of film shots is an important component of cinematic narrative, as it can visually convey the story, emotions, and themes, making films a highly expressive and engaging art form. In previous methods for analyzing film shot attributes, the focus has mainly been on movements and scale with a lack of interpretable research on the results of shot type analysis. In this study, we have built a new dataset to broaden the scope of existing shot attribute analysis tasks, such as distinguishing film composition, and introduced a new task: recognizing the key objects that determine shot attributes. Specifically, we have proposed a framework that utilizes clues from the Detection Transformer (DETR) to guide the use of segment anything (SAM) for mask segmentation to classify shot attributes. To address the issue of variable quantities of key objects within shots, we have developed an adaptive weight allocation strategy that enhances network training and provides a more effective approach to handling the new task we have introduced. Additionally, we extract optical flow magnitude and angle information from each pair of frames to enhance training effectiveness. Subsequent experimental results on MovieShots and our dataset demonstrate that our proposed method surpasses all prior approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The gene cell division cycle associated 5 (CDCA5), also called sororin, has oncogenic characteristics and is upregulated in various carcinomas. Nevertheless, the involvement of CDCA5 in ovarian cancer (OC), a highly aggressive form of cancer, and the underlying mechanism of metastasis remain inadequately investigated. Results: The bioinformatics data revealed a negative correlation between the patient's survival and CDCA5 expression, which was overexpressed in OC. Functional assays also confirmed high expression levels of CDCA5 in OC tissues and cells. This suggests that CDCA5 may potentially enhance the motility, migration, and proliferation of OC cells invitro. It impedes DNA damage and apoptosis in OC cells, inhibiting xenograft development in nude mice. The RNA sequencing results suggest CDCA5 is majorly associated with biological functions related to the extracellular matrix (ECM) and influences the transforming growth factor (TGF) signaling pathway. Moreover, subsequent functional investigations elucidated that CDCA5 facilitated the migration and invasion of OC cells viathe TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway activation. Conclusions: CDCA5 may be a strong potential therapeutic target for the treatment and management of OC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored whether biofumigation with rapeseed can reduce swine parasite eggs in pasture soil. Pastures were subjected to four treatments: rapeseed or Ladino clover pastures, each with or without biofumigation (i.e., mechanical incorporation of plant residues into the soil). Each pasture was split into four paddocks and eight to nine pigs were given access to each paddock for 1 week. Fecal samples (n = 66) were collected from each pig before grazing for analysis of Ascaris suum, Trichuris suis, and Oesophagostomum spp. egg counts. Soil samples (n = 480) were collected from each paddock before grazing, immediately after pigs were removed from paddocks, and weekly thereafter for 3 weeks for analysis of Ascaris suum and Trichuris suis egg counts. Pasture treatment did not affect egg counts of either parasite species in the soil. Eggs of A. suum and T. suis in pasture soil were reduced (both P < 0.05) 2 weeks after pigs were removed, compared to before grazing and immediately after pigs were removed. Results suggest that biofumigation was not effective in reducing swine parasite eggs in organic pasture soil under conditions of the current study, and parasite contamination was reduced 2 weeks after pigs were removed from pastures regardless of biofumigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contactless manipulation of hard-to-reach objects, especially those behind obstacles, is highly demanded in many applications. In this work, auto-focusing acoustic-vortex (A-FAV) tweezers are developed based on-axis-symmetrically arranged and azimuthally phase-coded Half-Bessel (HB) beams, which can self-bend themselves along an arc-shaped trajectory and, hence, circumvent obstacles that are located on the beam path. To build such tweezers, active phase control and passive binary phase modulation for a simplified ring-array of sectorial planar transducers are integrated to build A-FAV beams of arbitrary order. Both theoretical and experimental results prove that the zero-force of A-FAV tweezers enables the stable object manipulation at the focus with improved axial and radial resolutions. Benefiting from the non-diffracting self-bending of HB beams, the enclosed bullet-shaped cavity whose inside pressure is close-to-zero can be created around the beam axis, defining the upper size limit of obstacles that can be bypassed. Moreover, A-FAV beams are capable of self-healing even parts of the mainlobes that are blocked. More importantly, the A-FAV tweezer with an obstacle-circumvention cavity is easily adjustable, exhibiting prosperous perspectives in obstacle-avoidant ultrasound imaging, ultrasound therapy, acoustic levitation, and object manipulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unexpectedly larger current-induced spin–orbit torque in oxidized Cu (CuO x )/ferromagnet (FM) than heavy-metal/FM has recently attracted intense attention in spintronic studies. Although the two mechanisms, interfacial Rashba Edelstein effect and spin-vorticity coupling, have been put forward based on the two different conductive features of CuO x , i.e. electrical insulator and gradient of electrical mobility, the detailed investigation of transport of CuO x is still lacking. Here we experimentally report the positive and negative anomalous Hall effect (AHE) in naturally oxidized normal-metal Al/Cu double films. We found that the onset temperature of AHE corresponds to magnetic transition temperature of CuO x . Furthermore, by comparing Hall resistance of the crystalline and amorphous Cu/Al double films, we identify that the positive anomalous Hall resistance attributes to magnetic moment of CuO x itself, while the negative anomalous Hall resistance can originate from the spin or orbital currents generated at the CuO x /AlO x interface interact with magnetization of CuO x and its inverse process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a special kind of tweezers, the acoustic-vortex (AV) beam with a bent or inclined trajectory shows its great significance in contactless manipulations, especially for objects behind obstacles. By introducing additional phase delays to the traditional single-side ring-array of planar transducers, directional off-axis acoustic-vortex (OA-AV) beams passing through a preassigned point are constructed. Numerical simulations and experimental measurements of the axial and cross-sectional profiles for OA-AV beams of different orders with various radial offsets are conducted for transducers of various radiation patterns. An approximately linear trajectory of OA-AV beams with the slope determined by the preassigned point is demonstrated. The axial distribution of OA-AV beams formed by the main-lobes and side-lobes with corresponding zero-pressure nodes is decided by the directivity of the sources, while the vortex radius can be adjusted by the topological charge. By combining with the technologies of ultrasonic imaging, acoustic treatment, particle assembly, and targeted drug delivery, the precise positioning and flexible regulation of tilted OA-AV beams can be applied to accurately route acoustic packets along a predictable trajectory in three dimensions, suggesting more promising potentials of obstacle-avoidant object manipulation in biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trapping capability of focused acoustic vortex (FAV) beams along the radial and axial directions has significant potential in biomedical applications. However, analyses based on the acoustic gradient force are only applicable to tiny particles when acoustic scattering is neglected, and the ideal Bessel beams are still difficult to implement in experiments. In the present work, the axial acoustic radiation force (A-ARF) exerted on objects at the focus for FAV beams is calculated based on an annular spherical transducer with a continuous phase spiral. Through a partial wave series expansion, a recursive algorithm based on acoustic scattering is proposed to calculate the acoustic field for FAV beams with arbitrary order. The A-ARF distributions exerted on rigid spheres with respect to k0a (the product of the wave number and the sphere radius) are simulated. The results demonstrate that the A-ARF created by on-axis acoustic reflection is mainly manifested as a pushing force for FAV beams of all orders. The pulling force produced by off-axis scattering is more likely to be exerted on spheres with a smaller k0a in higher-order FAV beams constructed by narrower transducers. The A-ARF generated by a ring-array of sectorial transducers with more than 16 sources can be estimated from the equivalent result produced by the continuous model. The favorable results demonstrate the validity of the recursive algorithm for solving the A-ARF of FAV beams and the feasibility of experimental ring-arrays of spherical sources, suggesting the potential for the application of dual-directional object manipulation in biomedical fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shot is one of the fundamental unit in the content structure of a film, which can provide insights into the film-director's ideas. By analyzing the properties and types of shots, we can gain a better understanding of a film's visual language. In this paper, we delve deeply into the task of shot type classification, proposing that utilizing multimodal video inputs can effectively improve the accuracy of the task, and that shot type classification is closely related to low-level spatiotemporal semantic features. To this end, we propose a Lightweight Weak Semantic Relevance Framework (LWSRNet) for classifying cinematographic shot types. Our framework comprises two modules: a Linear Modalities Fusion module (LMF Module) capable of fusing an arbitrary number of video modalities, and a Weak Semantic 3D-CNN based Feature Extraction Backbone (WSFE Module) for classifying shot movement and scale, respectively. Moreover, to support practical cinematographic analysis, we collect FullShots, a large film shot dataset containing 27K shots from 19 movies with professionally annotations for movement and scale information. Following experimental results validate the correctness of our proposed hypotheses, while our framework also outperforms previous methods in terms of accuracy with fewer parameters and computations, on both FullShots and MovieShots datasets. Our code is available at (https://github.com/litchiar/ShotClassification). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peer drinking norms are crucial predictors of college students' alcohol use problems. Yet, little is known about the factors underlying this link among students who are in the first- and second-year of college. This study examined the indirect relationships between perceived peer drinking norms and alcohol use problems via drinking motives and binge drinking among the first- and second-year college students. Five hundred and nineteen (Mage = 19.19, SD = 0.98, 49.3% female) first- and second-year Chinese college students who had at least a heavy drinking occasion in the past year were surveyed. Participants completed measures of perceived peer drinking norms, drinking motives, binge drinking, and alcohol-related problems. Results revealed that stronger perceived peer drinking norms were associated with higher levels of binge drinking and alcohol-related problems. Both drinking for coping motives and binge drinking frequency mediated the effects of perceived peer drinking norms on alcohol-related problems respectively. The enhancement drinking motives and binge drinking frequency served as serial mediators in the association between perceived peer drinking norms and alcohol-related problems. Overall, drinking motives and binge drinking provide fruitful insight into the effects of perceived peer drinking norms on alcohol use problems among lowerclassmen. Implications for prevention and intervention strategies and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cinematic Shot Attribute Analysis aims to analyze the intrinsic attributes of movie shots, such as movement and scale. In previous methods, specialized architectures were designed for each specific task and relied on the use of optical flow maps. In this paper, we consider shot attribute analysis as a unified task of motion–static weight allocation, and propose a motion–static dual-path architecture for recognizing various shot attributes. In this architecture, we design a new action cue generation module for adapting the end-to-end training process instead of a pre-trained optical flow network; and, to address the issue of limited samples in movie shot datasets, we design a fixed-size adjustment strategy to enable the network to directly utilize pre-trained vision transformer models while adapting to shot data inputs at arbitrary sample rates. In addition, we quantitatively analyze the sensitivity of different shot attributes to motion and static features for the first time. Subsequent experimental results on two datasets, MovieShots and AVE, demonstrate that our proposed method outperforms all previous approaches without increasing computational cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The massive use of acetaminophen (APAP) poses a potential crisis for humans and the environment. In this paper, the degradation of APAP in aqueous solution was carried out using photocatalytic synergistic persulfate oxidation. To enhance the photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4 and thus activate the persulfate (K2S2O8, PS) more effectively, the heterojunction photocatalyst TiO2/g-C3N4 (TCN) was prepared by a hydrothermal method. The TCN-PS catalytic system showed a high efficiency for APAP degradation. When the amount of TCN and PS added was 0.6 g/L, the degradation rate of APAP at 10 mg/L was 78.3% after 60 min of illumination. Moreover, the TCN-PS catalytic system was effective in removing organic pollutants in acidic, neutral, and weakly alkaline environments. The radical quenching experiment results indicate that both sulfate radicals (SO4−•) and hydroxyl radicals (•OH) are involved in the degradation reaction. After five cycles, the TCN-PS catalytic system still has stable catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shot is one of the fundamental unit in the content structure of a film, which can provide insights into the film-director's ideas. By analyzing the properties and types of shots, we can gain a better understanding of a film's visual language. In this paper, we delve deeply into the task of shot type classification, proposing that utilizing multimodal video inputs can effectively improve the accuracy of the task, and that shot type classification is closely related to low-level spatiotemporal semantic features. To this end, we propose a Lightweight Weak Semantic Relevance Framework (LWSRNet) for classifying cinematographic shot types. Our framework comprises two modules: a Linear Modalities Fusion module (LMF Module) capable of fusing an arbitrary number of video modalities, and a Weak Semantic 3D-CNN based Feature Extraction Backbone (WSFE Module) for classifying shot movement and scale, respectively. Moreover, to support practical cinematographic analysis, we collect FullShots, a large film shot dataset containing 27K shots from 19 movies with professionally annotations for movement and scale information. Following experimental results validate the correctness of our proposed hypotheses, while our framework also outperforms previous methods in terms of accuracy with fewer parameters and computations, on both FullShots and MovieShots datasets. Our code is available at (https://github.com/litchiar/ShotClassification). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we performed systematic electrical characterization and analysis of indium–gallium–zinc oxide (IGZO) Schottky-barrier thin-film transistors (SBTFTs) with different Cu-based Schottky contact structures. It was found that the Schottky barrier height (ΦB) between the IGZO layer and the Cu electrode could be modulated notably by changing the thickness of the AlOx tunnel layer, and the variation in ΦB significantly changed the saturation drain current (Idsat) of the IGZO SBTFTs based on the Schottky contacts but only had a minor influence on the saturation voltage (Vdsat) of the devices. Furthermore, Cu/Al stacked source/drain electrodes and silicon nitride (SiNx) passivation were employed to tailor the contact resistance and channel resistance of the IGZO SBTFTs, which led to an increase in Idsat and a variation in Vdsat. A universal resistance–capacitance network model was proposed to explain the observed evolution of Vdsat of the SBTFTs with different device structures. This work provides meaningful insight into developing low-cost metal oxide SBTFTs with tailored device performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For enhanced energy utilization with improved flexibility and capability for object manipulation, a focused acoustic vortex (FAV) is devised by installing a spherical acoustic lens on a circular array of planar sector transducers. Based on the acoustic refraction of a concave spherical acoustic lens, numerical simulations show that an FAV with considerable pressure gain and strengthened acoustic gradient force (AGF) can be produced by the effective concentration of acoustic waves. The performance of rotational object trapping is shown by the axial and radial distributions of the AGF for FAVs of different orders. Elastic objects of nanometer, micrometer, millimeter, and even larger-than-wavelength size can be captured with the trapping radius determined by the topological charge. With the established 16-channel experimental system, FAVs of different orders are verified by their clear pressure circles and phase spirals. The trapping radius and rotation speed of object capture are demonstrated using polyethylene particles of various sizes and FAVs of different orders. The favorable results provide an experimentally applicable method of FAV generation using the simplified circular transducer array to accomplish more accurate, stable, and flexible object manipulations with strengthened AGFs. Also, FAVs could offer an efficient means of high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy to improve the therapeutic effect of tumor treatments by accumulating drug particles, thereby enabling more potential applications in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the main way of underwater data transmission, acoustic communication is still limited by the low-level signal-to-noise ratio and channel capacity. The orbital angular momentum (OAM) based acoustic communication of acoustic vortex (AV) provides a new dimension to data transmission with an expanded channel capacity. Theoretical analyses and experimental measurements for the OAM communication of AV beams based on single-ring transceiver arrays are studied in air. Coaxial multi-OAM AV beams are generated with multiple topological charges encoded by the binary ASCII codes of various letters. The OAM modes of the AV beams are decoded with limited acoustic pressures detected by the single-ring receiver array around the vortex center based on the orthogonal property. It is proven that the channel capacity of the communication system can be increased effectively by the OAM modes of AVs, which are beneficial to data encryption and transmission without mutual interference of AVs of different orders. The favorable results provide theoretical bases and technical support to data transmission and OAM decoding for the OAM communication of AV beams using simplified single-ring transceiver arrays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high recycling regime of a divertor is characterized by high plasma particle fluxes and low temperature at the target, where a strong hydrogen recirculation loop exists. Atomic processes in the high recycling regime, such as ion–neutral friction and radiation, can affect the plasma momentum and energy transport in the sheath transition region. Here, the plasma–sheath transition near a high recycling wall is investigated. The Bohm speed, which constraints the ion exit flow speed, is evaluated from a transport model that accounts for the effect of the anisotropic transport and atomic collisions in the transition layer. A first principles kinetic code vector particle-in-cell with the atomic collision package is used to investigate a 1D self-consistent slab plasma with a high recycling boundary for the tungsten and carbon divertors. The results demonstrate the accuracy of the Bohm speed model in predicting the ion exit flow speed in the transition region, as well as the reduction of the Bohm speed due to the ion–neutral friction. The effect of different wall materials, tungsten, and carbon, on the Bohm speed and near-wall plasma profile is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unmanned fully line-controlled distributed drive electric vehicles with four-wheel independent drive, dependent braking and dependent steering have significant advantages over conventional vehicles in terms of dynamic control, but at the same time multiple actuators with multiple degrees of freedom also pose the risk of failure in the steering system, which is studied in this paper for trajectory tracking control. Rational control of multiple systems such as drive, braking, steering and fault tolerance of the unmanned fully line-controlled distributed drive electric vehicles are carried out. For longitudinal control, a fuzzy PI algorithm is used to input velocity error and velocity error rate of change, and to solve the required drive torque of the vehicle based on fuzzy rules; for lateral control, according to model prediction control theory, the exact model is predicted and an optimized search is performed to reasonably allocate the forward and backward wheels turning corners ensuring the accuracy and roadholding of trajectory tracking; for fault-tolerant control, differential drive and other methods of control, when a fault is detected, the number and position information of the faulty steering motor is transmitted to the fault-tolerant decision module, which outputs control commands according to the decision. The outcomes demonstrate that the presented trajectory following the control policy enhances the precision, roadholding and safety of trajectory following in an effective way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formaldehyde (FA) and viscosity play multiple roles in human health and diseases, and viscosity has great regional differences due to the diversity of subcellular organelles. However, it is challenging to achieve dual detection of viscosity and FA in subcellular organelles. Herein, we developed a near infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe FA-Cy, which can simultaneously monitor the viscosity and FA concentration of mitochondria in living cells. The probe could detect mitochondrial viscosity and exogenous and endogenous FA in living cells and zebrafish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen) has been widely used to treat cancer and cardiovascular diseases in Chinese traditional medicine. Here, we found that Neoprzewaquinone A (NEO), an active component of S. miltiorrhiza, selectively inhibits PIM1. We showed that NEO potently inhibits PIM1 kinase at nanomolar concentrations and significantly suppresses the growth, migration, and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in the triple-negative breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231 in vitro. Molecular docking simulations revealed that NEO enters the PIM1 pocket, thereby triggering multiple interaction effects. Western blot analysis revealed that both NEO and SGI-1776 (a specific PIM1 inhibitor), inhibited ROCK2/STAT3 signaling in MDA-MB-231 cells, indicating that PIM1 kinase modulates cell migration and EMT via ROCK2 signaling. Recent studies indicated that ROCK2 plays a key role in smooth muscle contraction, and that ROCK2 inhibitors effectively control the symptoms of high intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucoma patients. Here, we showed that NEO and SGI-1776 significantly reduce IOP in normal rabbits and relax pre-restrained thoracic aortic rings in rats. Taken together, our findings indicated that NEO inhibits TNBC cell migration and relaxes smooth muscles mainly by targeting PIM1 and inhibiting ROCK2/STAT3 signaling, and that PIM1 may be an effective target for IOP and other circulatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acoustic power (AP) of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) shows great potential for ensuring the efficacy and safety of tumor treatment. By considering the energy of the harmonics, an easily applicable nonlinear AP measurement method for HIFU based on the fundamental focal axial vibration velocity (F-FAVV) is proposed. The focal pressures of the harmonics with respect to the surface vibration velocity are simulated, and a piecewise function of the required harmonic order is developed based on the 40-dB attenuation criterion of the harmonic-to-fundamental ratio. With the relationships between the power gain and the FAVVs of the harmonics, the dependence of AP on the F-FAVV is achieved by summing the harmonic powers. The APs of HIFU under various surface vibration velocities are verified by experimental measurements of the F-FAVV using a laser vibrometer and the corresponding integration results over the transducer surface. Good agreement between the numerical and experimental results demonstrates the feasibility of accurate AP measurement for HIFU using the F-FAVV and suggests the potential for applications in biomedical engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, new energy power generation has been widely used. As household energy storage will be widely promoted in the future, many households' energy storage will soon need to be replaced. It is of great significance to study the recycling of household energy storage to reduce environmental pollution and promote the sustainable development of the household energy storage market. However, the lack of research on the design of household energy storage and recovery network from the perspective of manufacturing enterprises hinders the sustainable development of household energy storage. Based on the above, a household energy storage recycling model considering carbon emissions was established in this paper. This model evaluated the recovery status of household energy storage online through a big data platform and proposed three different recovery schemes based on the evaluation results. Through a case study of Sichuan and Chongqing, the overall profit of the household energy storage and recycling system could be increased by about CNY 1.61 million, while reducing about 1.04 hundred tons of carbon emissions, thus verifying the feasibility and effectiveness of the model. In addition, the results of scenario analysis showed that the processing cost and demand are the main factors affecting the optimal design of the recycling network, and they can change the configuration of the network. Appropriate processing methods, locations, and transportation schemes would decrease the cost of production and carbon emissions. Household energy storage is possible for recycling residual values that decrease carbon emissions during storage. At the same time, further improving more efficient recycling technology is an important idea to increase the profits of household energy storage manufacturers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organophosphorus compounds have toxic effects on organisms and the ecosystem. Therefore, it is vital to monitor and control the effluent organophosphorus levels of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This study analyzed the composition and concentration of organophosphorus compounds from the upstream enterprises of a WWTP and conducted ecological risk and toxicity assessments using ECOSAR (ecological structure activity relationship model), T.E.S.T (Toxicity Estimation Software Tool), and risk quotient (RQ) methods. A total of 14 organic phosphorus pollutants were detected in the effluent of the upstream enterprises and WWTP. The concentration of influent total organic phosphorus from the WWTP was 39.5 mg/L, and the effluent total organic phosphorus was merely 0.301 mg/L, indicating that good phosphorus removal was achieved in the WWTP. According to the acute and chronic toxicity analysis, the ECOSAR ecotoxicity assessment showed that 11 kinds of organophosphorus compounds were hazardous to fish, daphnia, and algae in different degrees. Among them, triphenyl phosphine (TPP) had a 96 hr LC50 of 1.00 mg/L for fish and is a substance with high acute toxicity. T.E.S.T evaluates the acute toxicity of each organophosphorus component and the bioconcentration factor (BCF). The evaluation results showed that the LC50 of TPP and octicizer were 0.39 and 0.098 mg/L, respectively, and the concentrations of these two organophosphorus compounds from the effluent of an environmental protection enterprise were as high as 30.4 mg/L and 0.735 mg/L, which exceeded the acute toxicity values and has led to serious hazards to aquatic organisms. The BCF values of each organophosphorus component in the upstream enterprises and the effluent of the WWTP were less than 2000, implying that there was no bioaccumulation effect on aquatic organisms. The developmental toxicity assessment demonstrated that there were nine types of organophosphorus compounds belonging to developmental toxicants, that the presence of developmental toxicants was found in the effluent of each upstream enterprise, and that triethyl phosphate (TEP) was the most common organophosphorus compound. Comparing the RQ of the effluent from various enterprises, it was found that the effluent from the environmental protection enterprise presented the highest degree of environmental hazard, mainly due to the higher toxicity of TEP and octicizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious animal diseases can cause severe mortality on infected farms. An outbreak challenges the system and forces difficult decisions to stop the disease progression. We propose an 'all-in-one' concept of a mobile system for on-farm swine depopulation and pathogen inactivation. The system uses vaporized CO2 followed by heat treatment, broadening options for off-site carcass disposal and cleanup. A direct-fired heater supplies heat into the insulated trailer to reach and maintain the inactivation temperature for targeted pathogens. We developed a user-friendly model based on engineering principles for estimating site- and scenario-specific CO2 amounts and times required to inactivate targeted pathogens. Multipoint CO2 injection and improved distribution to animals follow the plug-flow reactor air replacement model. The model illustrates the depopulation and inactivation of two diseases, African swine fever (ASF) and the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) viruses. The model allows for dump trailer size, pig number, weights, and environmental conditions input. Model outputs provide users with practical information about the required CO2 injection rate, temperature setpoints, and times to effectively depopulate and inactivate pathogens in carcasses. The concept could be adopted for a routine or a mass depopulation/treatment/disposal with a single or fleet of 'all-in-one' units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In treating a circular point-source array using the phase-coded method, a composite acoustic field of multiple off-axis acoustic vortices (AVs) with a centered quasi-plane wave is proposed which is superimposed by an AV beam and a co-axial non-AV beam generated by the even- and odd-numbered source arrays, respectively. The acoustic pressure and the phase of the composite acoustic field are derived using explicit formulae and demonstrated by numerical simulations. Off-axis sub-AVs (SAVs) are shown to be formed at the intersections of the radial pressure distributions of the AV and non-AV beams for the same pressure amplitude and opposite phases. Off-axis SAVs can be generated on a circumference centered with a regular polygon of quasi-plane waves. The radii and azimuthal angles of the off-axis AVs and the radius of the centered quasi-plane wave are determined by the topological charge and the initial phase difference of the acoustic beams. With the established 16-source experimental system, the generation of multiple off-axis SAVs with a centered quasi-plane wave is demonstrated by scanning measurements of the composite field with a topological charge of 1, 2, or 3, which is also proved by the qualitatively consistent simulations for N = 16. The proposed model may be applied to multi-point vortex trapping with homogeneous particle dispersion within a finite area around the central axis. These favorable results provide the feasibility of controllable manipulation for drug particles or cells and suggest wide potential applications in the fields of sonochemistry and biomedical engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the capability of particle trapping close to the source plane, theoretical and experimental studies on near-field multiple traps of paraxial acoustic vortices (AVs) with a strengthened acoustic gradient force (AGF) generated by a sector transducer array were conducted. By applying the integration of point source radiation, numerical simulations for the acoustic fields generated by the sector transducer array were conducted and compared with those produced by the circular transducer array. It was proved that strengthened AGFs of near-field multiple AVs with higher peak pressures and smaller vortex radii could be produced by the sector transducer array with a small topological charge. The axial distributions of the equivalent potential gradient indicated that the AGFs of paraxial AVs in the near field were much higher than those in the far field, and the distances at the near-field vortex antinodes were also proved to be the ideal trapping positions with relatively higher AGFs. With the established 8-channel AV generation system, theoretical studies were also verified by the experimental measurements of pressure and phase for AVs with various topological charges. The formation of near-field multiple paraxial AVs was verified by the cross-sectional circular pressure distributions with perfect phase spirals around central pressure nulls, and was also proved by the vortex nodes and antinodes along the center axis. The favorable results demonstrated the feasibility of generating near-field multiple traps of paraxial AVs with strengthened AGF using the sector transducer array, and suggested the potential applications of close-range particle trapping in biomedical engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of a lysosome-targeting fluorescent probe to visualize endogenous and exogenous methylglyoxal (MGO) in live cells has important implications for associated diseases. Herein, a lysosome-targeting fluorescent probe MGO-Naph-A was designed and synthesized to detect MGO with high selectivity. The probe contained naphthalimide as the fluorescent group, o-phenylenediamine as the MGO recognition group, and morpholine as the lysosome targeting group. This fluorescent probe could detect endogenous and exogenous MGO in living cells by precisely targeting and staining lysosomes. It could also detect MGO in living zebrafish. The results showed that the probe MGO-Naph-A has the potential to visualize MGO in lysosomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ibrutinib has potential therapeutic or protective effects against viral- and bacterial-induced acute lung injury (ALI), likely by modulating the Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) signaling pathway. However, ibrutinib has multi-target effects. Moreover, immunity and inflammation targets in ALI treatment are poorly defined. We investigated whether the BTK-, FLT3-, and EGFR-related signaling pathways mediated the protective effects of ibrutinib on ALI. The intratracheal administration of poly I:C or LPS after ibrutinib administration in mice was performed by gavage. The pathological conditions of the lungs were assessed by micro-CT and HE staining. The levels of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and related inflammatory factors in the lungs were evaluated by ELISA, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence. Finally, the expression of proteins associated with the BTK-, FLT3-, and EGFR-related signaling pathways were evaluated by Western blotting. Ibrutinib (10 mg/kg) protected against poly I:C-induced (5 mg/kg) and LPS-induced (5 mg/kg) lung inflammation. The wet/dry weight ratio (W/D) and total proteins in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were markedly reduced after ibrutinib (10 mg/kg) treatment, relative to the poly I:C- and LPS-treated groups. The levels of ALI indicators (NFκB, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, neutrophils, and lymphocytes) were significantly reduced after treatment. Accordingly, ibrutinib inhibited the poly I:C- and LPS-induced BTK-, FLT3-, and EGFR-related pathway activations. Ibrutinib inhibited poly I:C- and LPS-induced acute lung injury, and this may be due to its ability to suppress the BTK-, FLT3-, and EGFR-related signaling pathways. Therefore, ibrutinib is a potential protective agent for regulating immunity and inflammation in poly I:C- and LPS-induced ALI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ion exit flow speed at the sheath entrance is constrained by the Bohm criterion, which is used as a boundary condition for simulations that do not resolve the sheath region. Traditional Bohm criterion analysis invokes the equation of state and, thus, ignores transport physics in the sheath transition problem. An expression for the Bohm speed away from the asymptotic limit is derived from a set of anisotropic plasma transport equations. The thermal force, collisional temperature isotropization, and heat flux enter into the evaluation of the Bohm speed. By comparison with kinetic simulation results, this expression is shown to be accurate in the presheath–sheath transition region rather than a single point at the sheath entrance over a broad range of collisionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we proposed a simple method for fabricating Schottky-barrier thin-film transistors (TFTs) with tailorable device characteristics. Through a simple post annealing process, an AlOx interlayer was formed between Cu/Al source/drain electrodes and the amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) layer, which induced the formation of a Schottky-barrier between Cu and the IGZO layer at the edge of the electrodes to modulate the carrier injection. Consequently, we found TFTs with different IGZO thicknesses presented notably different operation characteristics. When the thickness of the IGZO layer was 30 nm, the fabricated TFT behaved like a high mobility Ohmic-contact device, with an apparent field effect mobility as high as 82.9 cm2 V−1 s−1. After the thickness of the IGZO layer was reduced to 10 nm, the TFT worked like a Schottky-contact TFT, which exhibited a low saturation voltage of 2.3 V and a high output current of up to $80~\mu \text{A}$ at ${V}_{{\mathrm {GS}}} =20$ V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed acute pain in piglets during castration through behavioral indicators. Piglets (n=88) were randomly allocated to one of two treatments: surgical castration and sham-castration. Within 24 hours after birth, identical castration procedures were followed for both treatment groups, except sham piglets were not castrated. Struggle behavior (curl ups, leg kicks, and body flailing) and vocalization (duration and peak frequency) were analyzed during the castration procedure. Castrated piglets kicked more frequently than sham piglets (28.8 vs. 21.3 kicks/min, SE = 0.09; P = 0.02). Additionally, 51.2% of castrated piglets displayed body flailing, whereas only 4.4% of sham piglets displayed the same behavior (P = 0.03). Castrated piglets responded with more high frequency (≥1,000 Hz) calls than sham piglets (23.6 vs. 18.6 calls/min, SE = 0.26; P = 0.04) and high frequency calls tended to be of longer duration for castrated piglets (0.45 vs. 0.27 sec/call, SE = 0.04; P = 0.08). Results indicate that surgical castration increased the frequency of leg kicks, body flailing, and high frequency calls compared to sham-castration, suggesting these may be useful behavioral indicators of acute pain in piglets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Piglet welfare on commercial farms is negatively affected by the routine husbandry procedure of surgical castration. Objective identification of pain is necessary to improve on-farm piglet welfare and for the development of proper pain management. The Piglet Grimace Scale (PGS) is a method of pain assessment using an ordinal scale that quantifies changes in facial expression induced by acute pain. This study evaluated the application of 3D landmark geometric morphometrics in refining existing PGS methods. To determine if these methods could objectively identify alterations in pig facial shape through landmark analysis, piglet images were taken using a multi-camera rig. Images were then used to construct 3D facial models using photogrammetry (structure from motion). Neither established nor refined PGS methods were able to detect pain-induced facial expressions. Further research is warranted to refine the PGS. Proper methods of assessment to objectively identify pain are essential for welfare improvements of piglets undergoing surgical castration on commercial farms. The Piglet Grimace Scale (PGS) is used to identify changes in facial expressions caused by acute pain in piglets undergoing tail docking and castration. However, subjective scoring methods are a concern for the validation of the PGS. The objectives of this study were to evaluate and refine the PGS through 3D landmark geometric morphometrics. Male piglets (n = 88) were randomly allocated to one of two treatments: castration and sham-castration. Piglet facial images were taken at four time points (before treatment, immediately post-treatment, 1 h post-treatment, and 4 h post-treatment) using a photogrammetry rig. Images were scored by four raters using five facial action units (FAUs): orbital tightening, ear position, temporal tension, lip contraction, and nose bulge/cheek tension. Three-dimensional facial models were generated and landmarked denoting 3 FAUs (orbital tightening, lip contraction, and nose bulge/cheek tension). Results suggest that orbital tightening and ear position may be reliable FAUs for the PGS. However, neither the PGS nor 3D landmark-based geometric morphometrics were able (both p > 0.10) to reliably identify facial indicators of pain in piglets undergoing castration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The inefficient application of fossil energy is one of the fundamental factors leading to global warming. Bioenergy is a renewable energy and also a carbon‐neutral energy, with advantages of extensive sources, diverse products, and environmental friendliness. Direct carbon solid oxide fuel cell (DC‐SOFC) is a novel high‐efficient bioenergy technology, which is able to directly convert the chemical energy of biochar into power. A biochar derived from rice husk is applied to power an electrolyte‐supported DC‐SOFC. The maximum power density of the cell with pure rice husk biochar is 135 mW cm−2 at 850°C, which enhances to 214 mW cm−2 after using a Boudouard reaction catalyst. The microstructures, components and thermochemical parameters of the biochar are characterized and analyzed. The results show that the microstructure of the rice husk biochar is rough and porous. Na, K, Mg, Al, and other elements are found to present in the biochar. The physicochemical properties of the biochar and the enhanced electrical output of the DC‐SOFCs are demonstrated and discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nodular roundworms (Oesophagostomum spp.) are frequent parasites of the large intestine in several mammal species including humans and pigs, and their study often requires the use of infective larvae produced using several coproculture techniques. However, there is no published comparison of techniques to determine which yields the highest number of larvae. This study compares the number of larvae recovered from coprocultures made with charcoal, sawdust, vermiculite, and water in an experiment repeated twice using feces from a sow naturally infected with Oesophagostomum spp. at an organic farm. A higher number of larvae were recovered from coprocultures using sawdust relative to other types of media used, and this was consistent across the two trials. The use of sawdust to culture Oesophagostomum spp. larvae is rarely reported and our study suggests it can yield higher numbers relative to other media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of providing drinking water of differing qualities on growth performance and health of nursery pigs. Weanling pigs (n  = 450; 150 pigs/group; 10 pigs/pen) were assigned randomly to one of three experimental groups consisting of three water sources of varying qualities: 1) Water source A containing 1,410 ppm hardness (CaCO3 equivalent), 1,120 ppm sulfates, and 1,500 ppm total dissolved solids (TDS); 2) Water source B containing 909 ppm hardness (CaCO3 equivalent), 617 ppm sulfates, and 1,050 ppm TDS; and 3) Water source C containing 235 ppm hardness (CaCO3 equivalent), 2 ppm sulfates, and 348 ppm TDS. Pigs were provided ad libitum access to their respective water sources for the duration of the study which began at weaning (21 d of age) and ended 40 d later (61 d of age). Individual pig weights were recorded weekly along with feed intake on a pen basis. Occurrences of morbidity and mortality were recorded daily. Subjective fecal scores were assigned on a pen basis and blood samples were used to evaluate blood chemistry, cytokine concentrations, and phagocytic activity. A differential sugar absorption test was used to assess intestinal permeability. Fecal grab samples were used to establish diet digestibility, and drinking behavior was video-recorded to assess pigs' acceptance of water sources provided. The statistical model considered fixed effects of water source, room, and their interaction with the random effect of pen. A repeated measures analysis was conducted to determine the effects of water quality over time. There were no differences (P  > 0.440) among water sources in average daily gain (A, 0.46 kg/d; B, 0.46 kg/d; C, 0.47 kg/d) or average daily feed intake (A, 0.68 kg/d; B, 0.69 kg/d; C, 0.71 kg/d). Overall mortality of pigs was 0.44% and did not differ across the three water sources. There were no differences in apparent total tract digestibility of the diet, intestinal permeability, immune parameters, or blood chemistry attributable to quality of water consumed by pigs. Pigs did not show an aversion to the water sources provided, because total time pigs spent at the drinker did not differ (P  > 0.750) among water sources on days 1 through 3 of the experiment. These data indicate that the water sources of differing quality studied did not affect growth performance or health of nursery pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acoustic Bessel beams are commonly used as ideal sources to study the characteristics for acoustic-vortex (AV) beams, exhibiting prosperous perspectives in contactless object manipulations and acoustic communications. However, accurate Bessel beams are difficult to construct using 2-D arrays in practical applications. By integrating active phase control and passive phase modulation to a ring array of sectorial planar transducers, quasi-Bessel AV (QB-AV) beams of arbitrary order are built by the line focus of AV fields in the current study. Based on Snell’s refraction law, a circular sawtooth lens of phase modulation is designed to converge incident waves toward the beam axis at the same deflection angle. QB-AV beams constructed by the main lobes of the sectorial sources are demonstrated by theoretical derivations, numerical simulations, and quality evaluations, while those created by the sidelobes are neglected to avoid the pressure fluctuations in the near field. Experimental measurements for AV beams of different orders coincide basically with the simulations, demonstrating that line-focused QB-AV beams can be generated along the beam axis across the pressure peak. With the increase of the topological charge, the peak pressure of the beam decreases accordingly with a reduced effective axial range. The favorable results prove that, as a special kind of diffraction sources, the adjustable QB-AV beams may enable more important biomedical applications where Bessel beams are necessary, especially for the line-focused manipulation of biological and drug particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fast and excellent unimodular waveform with good autocorrelation and cross-correlation design method for the multiple-input multiple-output radar is devised. Unlike the existing methods that only optimize partial metrics or only optimize the short sequence in acceptable time, we propose a comprehensive waveform design method to minimize the weighted sum of almost entirely metrics under the constant modulus constraint. Then, a deep learning framework, named as the comprehensive optimization network, is derived to handle the problem. Numerical results show that the proposed method has superior performance and acceptable optimization time compared with the existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The orbital angular momentum (OAM)-based acoustic vortex (AV) communication has been proven to provide a topological spinning characteristics for data transmission with an improved channel capacity, exhibiting good application prospects in underwater acoustic communications. To improve the accuracy and efficiency of data communication, the spectrum decomposition of OAM modes for OAM-multiplexed AV beams is studied with a simplified structure of single-ring transceiver arrays. The principle of spectrum decomposition for the single-OAM or OAM-multiplexed AV beams is derived based on the phase-coded approach and the orthogonal property of AVs. With the single-ring arrays of 16 transducers and 16 receivers, numerical studies and experimental measurements of eight-OAM-multiplexed AV beams transmitting ASCII codes are conducted. The formation of OAM-multiplexed AV beams is demonstrated by the cross-sectional scanning measurements, and the OAM modes are decoded successfully with a 16-point circular sampling. Compared with the traditional orthogonality-based decoding algorithm, the spectrum decomposition can be realized using a rotational measurement without the multiple premeasurements of single-OAM AV beams. The favorable results demonstrate the feasibility of the spectrum decomposition-based OAM communication for AV beams using a simplified structure of single-ring transceiver arrays, which would facilitate the practical application in underwater communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]