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Purpose: It is desired to provide a diversified iterative scheme for solving the constrained solutions of the generalized coupled discrete-time periodic (GCDTP) matrix equations from the perspective of optimization. Design/methodology/approach: The paper considers generalized reflexive solutions of the GCDTP matrix equations by applying the Jacobi gradient-based iterative (JGI) algorithm, which is an extended variant of the gradient-based iterative (GI) algorithm. Findings: Through numerical simulation, it is verified that the efficiency and accuracy of the JGI algorithm are better than some existing algorithms, such as the GI algorithm in Hajarian, the RGI algorithm in Sheng and the AGI algorithm in Xie and Ma. Originality/value: It is the first instance in which the GCDTP matrix equations are solved applying the JGI algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient electrical control of magnetic property is critical for the development of various spintronics. However, traditional magnetoelectric devices require adoption of piezoelectric component, resulting in complicated device architecture and complex conditioning circuit. More importantly, traditional strain-mediated magnetoelectric structures could not be developed in flexible form due to the existence of magnetostrictive component, which could be easily affected by mechanical deformation in flexible devices. Here we have systematically investigated pure current control of the magnetic properties of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 thin films. Ferromagnetic to paramagnetic phase transition has been realized with a small current density of 5.2 × 103 A/cm2, which is three orders smaller than the working current density of spintronics based on spin-orbit torque and spin-transfer torque. The effective tuning of magnetic property has been attributed to the current induced Joule heating effect. For La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 film grown on flexible Mica with a smaller thermal conductivity, dramatic change of ferromagnetic resonance field of 1340 Oe and nonvolatile magnetization switching have been achieved with an ultra-small current density of 7.4 × 102 A/cm2. These results represent a crucial step towards effective electrical control of both static and dynamic magnetic properties in flexible magnetic thin films and open a new avenue for exploring electrical controlled flexible spintronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking the data of 61 small and medium-sized commercial banks in China from 2014 to 2021 as a research sample, this paper conducts an empirical study on the relationship between market competition and the risk-taking of small and medium-sized banks, and further considers the moderating role of economic policy uncertainty and non-interest business income. The results show that the intensification of market competition increases the risk-taking of small and medium-sized banks. Meanwhile, economic policy uncertainty dampens the positive effect of market competition on bank risk-taking, and commission income and other non-interest income have important mediating effects in the relationship between market competition and bank risk-taking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/Introduction: Women with gestational diabetes mellitus are at high risk for adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. The study aimed to evaluate the performance of the triglyceride‐glucose index in predicting the risk of developing adverse outcomes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods: This retrospective multicenter cohort study included 8,808 pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus in two grade‐A tertiary hospitals in China during 2018–2022. The triglyceride‐glucose index was defined as ln [triglyceride (mg/dL) × fasting blood glucose (mg/dL)/2]. Significant adverse gestational diabetes mellitus outcomes were chosen by generalized linear models as the main outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression models evaluated their association with the triglyceride‐glucose index. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves predicted adverse pregnancy outcomes. The prediction efficiency was validated in the sensitivity analysis dataset and validation cohort. Results: The triglyceride‐glucose index was associated with preeclampsia, severe preeclampsia, preterm birth, placenta accreta spectrum, and macrosomia before and after adjusting for confounding factors (P < 0.05). The predictive performance of the triglyceride‐glucose index was relatively moderate. Incorporating the triglyceride‐glucose index into the baseline clinical risk model improved the area under curves for the diagnosis of preeclampsia (0.749 [0.714–0.784] vs 0.766 [0.734–0.798], P = 0.033) and macrosomia (0.664 [0.644–0.685] vs 0.676 [0.656–0.697], P = 0.002). These predictive models exhibited good calibration and robustness. Conclusions: The triglyceride‐glucose index is positively associated with preeclampsia, severe preeclampsia, preterm birth, placenta accreta spectrum, and macrosomia and is useful for the early prediction and prevention of adverse outcomes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ultrasound-stimulated microbubble (USMB) therapy has proven efficacy of targeting tumor vasculature and enhancing the effect of radiation in tumor xenografts. In this investigation, we studied whether this treatment enhances the sensitivity of cervical cancer to radiation. Methods: Human cervical cancer (ME-180 and SiHa) cells were treated with USMB or exposed to radiation (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 Gy) or radiation (8 Gy) in combination with USMB. Clone formation assay and CCK-8 assay were used to analyze the proliferation capacity of cells. Apoptosis and DNA double-strand breaks were detected using flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining of gamma-H2AX (γ-H2AX), respectively. Matrigel tubule formation was performed to evaluate the angiogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. In xenograft model of SiHa cells, tumor tissue expression of CD31 was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: USMB and radiation synergistically restrained the growth of ME-180 and SiHa cells. USMB promoted radiation-induced apoptosis by enhancing the levels of proapoptotic proteins. Furthermore, USMB enhanced radiation-induced γ-H2AX foci to induce DNA double-strand breaks in cervical cancer cells. USMB in combination with radiation reduced the angiogenic capacity of endothelial cells in vitro. Moreover, USMB strengthened the inhibitory effect of radiation on tumor growth and angiogenesis in xenograft models. Conclusion: In conclusion, USMB exposure effectively enhanced the destructive effect of radiation on cervical cancer, suggesting that USMB might be a promising sensitizer of radiotherapy to treat cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we establish sufficient conditions for some existence results for nonlinear impulsive differential equations involving causal operators. Our method is based on the monotone iterative technique, a new differential inequality, and the Schauder fixed point theorem. Moreover, we consider three impulsive differential equations as applications to verify our theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mianning ham is a traditional meat product in China. In this experiment, solid-phase microextraction–gas chromatography (SPME-GC-MS) and high-throughput sequencing were used to study the effects of adding Penicillium lanosum and adding the mixture of Penicillium lanosum and Staphylococcus equorum on the flavor and microbiology of Mianning ham. The results showed that the addition of the ferments resulted in an increase in the abundance of both the dominant bacterial phylum (Thick-walled Bacteria) and the dominant fungal phylum (Ascomycota). The variety of volatile flavor substances and key flavor substances increased after adding fermentation agents. A free amino acid analysis showed that hams from the Penicillium lanosum and Staphylococcus equorum group had significantly higher umami flavor amino acids than the control group and Penicillium lanosum group. Therefore, inoculation with Penicillium lanosum and Staphylococcus equorum favored the dominant bacteria and flavor of Mianning ham. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oxylipins including lipoxin A4 (LXA4) facilitate the resolution of inflammation and possess analgesic properties by inhibiting macrophage infiltration and transient receptor potential (TRP) protein expression. Yu-Xue-Bi Tablet (YXB) is a traditional Chinese patent medicine used to relieve inflammatory pain. Our previous research has shown that the analgesic effect of YXB is related to inhibiting peripheral inflammation and regulating macrophage infiltration, but the mechanism is not yet clear. The purpose of this study is to explore the mechanisms of YXB on mice models with Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA)-induced inflammatory pain from the perspective at the resolution of inflammation. Methods: Mechanical allodynia thresholds and heat hypersensitivity were measured using the Von Frey test and the hot plate test respectively. The open field test and the tail suspension test were employed to measure anxiety and depressive behaviors respectively. The expression of CD68+ and the proportion of F4/80+CD11b+ cells were measured by immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry. The expression of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1(TRPA1) was measured by immunofluorescence staining and western blotting. Oxylipins omics analysis provided quantitative data on oxylipins in the paws, and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the levels of LXA4 there. Immunofluorescence staining was used to perform the expression of Leukotriene A4 hydroxylase (LTA4H) in the paws of mice. The impact of injecting the formyl peptide receptor 2(FPR2) antagonist WRW4 and the TRPA1 agonist AITC into the left paws was observed, focusing on the expression of mechanical allodynia thresholds, the expression of CD68+, TRPA1 in the paws, and Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the L5 spinal dorsal horn. Results: YXB elevated mechanical allodynia thresholds, alleviated heat hypersensitivity and anxiety and depressive behaviors in CFA mice. It significantly reduced the number of CD68+ and proportion of F4/80+CD11b+ within the paws, thereby decreasing macrophage infiltration. Additionally, it diminished the expression of TRPA1 in the paws and TRPV1 in the DRG, leading to an inhibition of peripheral sensitization. Through quantitative analysis, it was found that YXB could modulate DHA-derived oxylipins and LXA4. ELISA results indicated that YXB elevated the levels of LXA4 and inhibited the expression of LAT4H in the paws. Furthermore, the pro-resolution and analgesic effects of YXB were hindered after administration of the FPR2 antagonist. Compared with the AITC group, YXB showed no significant improvement in anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Conclusions: YXB can regulate the oxylipins of paws in CFA mice to promote the resolution of inflammation. The LXA4-FPR2-TRPA1 pathway is a key mechanism for the resolution of inflammation and analgesic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computer tomography (CT), combined with advanced image processing techniques, can be used to visualize the complex internal structures of living and non-living media in a non-destructive, intuitive, and precise manner in both two and three-dimensional spaces. Beyond its clinical uses, CT has been extensively employed within the field of geotechnical engineering to provide both qualitative and quantitative analyses of the microstructural properties of loess. This technology has been successfully applied in many fields. However, with the rapid development of CT technology and the expansion of its application scope, a reassessment is necessary. In recent years, only a few documents have attempted to organize and review the application cases of CT in the field of loess microstructure research. Therefore, the objectives of this work are as follows: (1) to briefly introduce the development process of CT equipment and the basic principles of CT and image processing; (2) to determine the current state and hotspots of CT technology research based on a bibliometric analysis of the literature from the past three decades in the Web of Science Core Collection and CNKI databases; and (3) to comprehensively review the application of CT to explore the microstructural characteristics (such as particle size, shape, arrangement, and the connectivity, orientation, and pore throats of pores, etc.) and the evolution of structural damage in loess within geotechnical science. In addition, the progress and deficiencies of CT applications in the field of loess microstructure are summarized, and future prospects are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromatin regulation in eukaryotes plays pivotal roles in controlling the developmental regulatory gene network. This review explores the intricate interplay between chromatin regulators and environmental signals, elucidating their roles in shaping plant development. As sessile organisms, plants have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to perceive and respond to environmental cues, orchestrating developmental programs that ensure adaptability and survival. A central aspect of this dynamic response lies in the modulation of versatile gene regulatory networks, mediated in part by various chromatin regulators. Here, we summarized current understanding of the molecular mechanisms through which chromatin regulators integrate environmental signals, influencing key aspects of plant development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carboxymethyl cellulose and β-cyclodextrin stabilized water-wrapped tea seed oil Pickering emulsion was prepared using the high-speed shearing method. The particle size test and microstructure observation showed that the average particle size of the emulsion droplet decreased while the apparent viscosity, viscoelasticity, and stability increased with the increase in the concentration of carboxymethyl cellulose, β-cyclodextrin, and oil fraction. The droplet size of the emulsion increased slightly after heating from 50 °C to 90 °C, and the thermal stability of the emulsion increased after 50 °C treatment. pH exhibited little effect on emulsion stability. Carboxymethyl cellulose enhanced the adsorption of cyclodextrin colloidal particles on the water-oil interface via non-covalent interaction, steric hindrance, and drainage, which improved the viscosity of the emulsion. Therefore, it can be seen that the combination of carboxymethyl cellulose and β-cyclodextrin can significantly increased the stability of emulsions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Gliomas are primary malignant tumors of the central nervous system. The TEA domain transcription factor (TEAD) family proteins are the ultimate effector molecules of the Hippo pathway. However, their expression and function in gliomas have not been further studied. Methods. This study employed R software as the primary analysis tool. Public databases were used to analyze the expression and prognostic significance of TEADs. Functional enrichment analyses were conducted to determine the functions of the TEADs. We then explored their interaction with tumor‐infiltrating immune cells and immune checkpoint proteins (ICPs). A Cox regression model was used to estimate the prognostic value of the TEADs. Finally, we conducted experiments to confirm TEAD3's function in vitro. Results. TEAD expression was frequently increased in glioma and other malignant tumors. High TEAD expression was found to be substantially linked with isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) wild type, noncodeletion of 1p/19q, high WHO grade, and poor prognosis in glioma patients. Functional analyses revealed TEAD involvement in cancer cell transcription. The high expression of TEADs was greatly related to the myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and regulatory T‐cells (Tregs) infiltration. TEADs also showed significant correlations with ICP expression in glioma tissues. The Cox regression model demonstrated significant diagnostic and prognostic efficacy in glioma patients. The reduction in TEAD3 affects tumor cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and immune regulation. RNA sequencing disclosed that TEAD3 regulates immune‐related pathways, including negative regulation of the CTLA4 inhibitory pathway. Higher TEAD3 expression portended shorter overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) in patients with gliomas based on clinical samples. Conclusions. TEADs are overexpressed in gliomas and are associated with a poor prognosis. Importantly, this study discovered that TEADs influence the immunological milieu of glioma by modulating genes associated with immune infiltration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the role of corporate governance structures as mediators between external supervision, credit appraisal measurement, capital adequacy, and the performance of commercial banks in Nepal. This research sheds light on the significance of effective corporate governance practices within Nepali commercial banks and how certain governance mechanisms may impact bank performance. A quantitative research design was employed, using data from commercial banks in Nepal for this study. Surveys were utilized to collect quantitative data. Structural equation modeling was used as a primary tool to assess the data. The findings add to existing literature about corporate governance and its effects on bank performance in emerging economies such as Nepal. The study's findings offer valuable insights into the significance of corporate governance structures, external supervision, credit appraisal measurement systems, and capital adequacy for commercial banks' performance in Nepal. The research methodology adds value to the existing literature using quantitative data collection methods. Its results may have practical ramifications for banks, regulators, and policymakers, suggesting effective governance practices as essential measures for increasing stability and performance at commercial banks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic fields provide a valuable method to manipulate atomic energy levels and interactions in quantum precision measurements, but achieving precise measurements requires collaboration between the magnetic field system and the optical detection system. We propose a magnetic field system that incorporates a fast-switching magnetic field and an alternating magnetic field. Specifically, we enhance the switching speed by making structural improvements during the switching operation. An independent control approach is employed to reduce the switching time caused by electromagnetic induction across the coil using multilayer coils. The results demonstrate an inverse correlation between the rise and fall times of the magnetic field switch and the number of independently stacked coil layers, indicating the possibility of achieving further improvements in switching speed through structural enhancements. The system developed here has considerable potential for application to diverse quantum systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel, highly efficient terahertz fully polarized transmission line is designed by two-dimensional tellurium photonic crystals consisting of square lattice rod arrays with a complete photonic bandgap. The TE and TM photonic bandgaps of the tellurium photonic crystals, which are computed by plane wave expansion, happen to coincide, and the complete photonic bandgap covers from 2.894 to 3.025 THz. The function of the designed waveguide is simulated by the finite element method, and the transmission characteristics are optimized by accurately adjusting its structural parameters. The transmission efficiency of the waveguide for TE mode achieves a peak value of −0.34 dB at a central frequency of 2.950 THz and keeps above −3 dB from 2.82 THz to 3.02 THz, obtaining a broad relative bandwidth of about 6.84 percent. The operating bandwidth of the tellurium photonic crystals' waveguide for TM mode is narrower than that of TE mode, whose relative bandwidth is about 4.39 percent or around 2.936 THz above −5 dB. The designed terahertz photonic crystals' waveguide can transmit both TE and TM waves, and not only can it be used as a high-efficiency transmission line, but it also provides a promising approach for implementing fully polarized THz devices for future 6G communication systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Executive compensation is an important part of the internal governance of commercial banks, and the rationality of the compensation mechanism directly affects the bank’s risk-taking. Based on the panel data of 34 listed small- and medium-sized banks in China from 2012 to 2020, this paper empirically examines the impact and mechanism between executive compensation and the risk-taking level of small- and medium-sized banks. We find that executives’ short-term executive compensation significantly and positively affects the risk-taking level of small- and medium-sized banks, while executives’ long-term executive compensation significantly and negatively affects the risk-taking. Furthermore, considering the specificity of the capital structure of small- and medium-sized banks, we analyse the moderating effect of the capital structure on the above roles and find that there is a partial moderating effect of the capital structure on the relationship between executive short-term compensation and risk-taking in small- and medium-sized banks. This study provides theoretical foundations and countermeasures for improving the executive compensation mechanism and optimising the equity structure to reduce the risk-taking of small- and medium-sized banks and maintain the stability of the financial system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) increasingly precipitates severe heart failure, with diagnoses now extending to progressively younger demographics. The focus of this study was to pinpoint critical genes linked to both AMI and anoikis, thereby unveiling potential novel biomarkers for AMI detection and intervention. Differential analysis was performed to identify significant differences in expression, and gene functionality was explored. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to construct gene coexpression networks. Immunoinfiltration analysis quantified immune cell abundance. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) analysis identified the proteins that interact with theanoikis. MCODE identified key functional modules. Drug enrichment analysis identified relevant compounds explored in the DsigDB. Through WGCNA, 13 key genes associated with anoikis and differentially expressed genes were identified. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment revealed the regulation of apoptotic signalling pathways and negative regulation of anoikis. PPI network analysis was also conducted, and 10 hub genes, such as IL1B, ZAP70, LCK, FASLG, CD4, LRP1, CDH2, MERTK, APOE and VTN were identified. IL1B were correlated with macrophages, mast cells, neutrophils and Tcells in MI, and the most common predicted medications were roxithromycin, NSC267099 and alsterpaullone. This study identified key genes associated with AMI and anoikis, highlighting their role in immune infiltration, diagnosis and medication prediction. These findings provide valuable insights into potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for AMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the product life cycle progresses, the impact of product design change gradually extends from design to production and supply. Companies must minimise the impact of design change dissemination to improve delivery speed and enhance corporate competitiveness. Considering that design change will causes change in other links of product, enterprises need to establish an evaluation index system to explore the influence of multiple fields on the change propagation intensity. Therefore, this paper proposes an optimisation model of design change propagation routing based on multi-domain network collaboration for enterprises to evaluate intensity of change propagation. Firstly, component, production and supply networks are constructed based on complex network theory and mapped to multi-domain networks. Secondly, the optimisation model of change propagation routing is established. By quantifying the change propagation probability, node crucial, change cost and change time, the minimum value of change propagation intensity of multi-domain network collaborative design is calculated. Finally, taking the medical call system as an example, the hybrid genetic ant colony algorithm is used to find the optimal change propagation routing of multi-domain network collaboration, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed method and provides a reference for enterprises to minimise the impact of product design change propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability, interest, and prior accomplishments of students with varying proficiency levels all impact how they learn English. Exact validation is essential for facilitating efficient evaluation and training models. The research's innovative significance resides in incorporating personal attributes, progressive appraisal, and Fuzzy Logic-based appraisal in English language learning. The PA2M model, which addresses the shortcomings of existing models, offers a thorough and accurate assessment, enabling personalized recommendations and enhanced teaching tactics for students with varied skill levels. This research proposes the Fuzzy Logic System (FLS)-based Persistent Appraisal Assessment Model (PA2M). Based on the students' evolving performance and accumulated data, this model evaluates the students' English learning capabilities. The model assesses the student's ability using fuzzification approaches to reduce variations in appraisal verification by linking personal attributes with performance. Mamdani FIS offers a clear and thorough evaluation of student's English learning capacity within the framework of the appraisal methodology. The inputs are updated utilizing performance and accumulated ability data to improve validation consistently and reduce converge errors. During the fuzzification process, pre-convergence from unavailable appraisal sequences is eliminated. The PA2M approach determines precise improvements and evaluations depending on student ability by merging prior and current data. Several appraisal validations and verifications result in clear fresh suggestions. According to experimental data, the suggested model enhances 9.79% of recommendation rates, 8.79% of appraisal verification, 8.25% of convergence factor, 12.56% error ratio, and verification time with 8.77% over a range of inputs. The PA2M model provides a fresh and useful way to evaluate English learning potential, filling in some gaps in the body of knowledge and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of many firms' lack of collateral, banks have imposed loan limits as a form of risk-control regulations of bank financing. In response, loan insurance has emerged as a useful instrument to lift loan limits. To study the joint value of bank loans and loan insurance, this article investigates a supply chain composed of one supplier and one capital-constrained buyer who takes out a bank loan and potentially purchases loan insurance. The analysis reveals that both the supplier and the buyer can benefit from the bank financing with loan insurance in an insurance-cooperation region wherein the supplier is willing to reduce the wholesale price to entice the buyer to purchase insurance. Further still, in the insurance-cooperation region, worse contract terms of the bank loan benefit the supplier, whereas worse policy terms of loan insurance help the buyer. Such benefits can lead to a higher order quantity than the capital-abundant one and partially coordinate the entire supply chain. However, when production cost is low, the supplier and the buyer can encounter a Stackelberg prisoner's dilemma, in which both firms no longer cooperate with each other, and both are worse off. Nevertheless, a government subsidy for the insurance premium can not only reduce the Stackelberg prisoner's dilemma, but also improve the social welfare although it is not always optimal for the government to provide that subsidy. The main qualitative results are robust in a variety of extensions. This paper was accepted by Jayashankar Swaminathan, operations management. Funding: The first author acknowledges support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) [Grant 72171162] and the Humanity and Social Science Youth Foundation of Ministry of Education of China [Grant 20YJC630148], and the second author acknowledges support from the NSFC [Grant 72232001]. Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4827. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Half-metallic NiCo2O4 with high spin polarizability has great potential applications in spintronics. The manipulation of magnetic anisotropy is crucial for spintronics based on spin-transfer or spin–orbit torques, as it is directly related to the critical switching current density. Here, we report epitaxial growth of metallic NiCo2O4 film with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy on MgAl2O4 single crystal substrates. The modulation of the magnetic anisotropy was achieved by changing the growth conditions (deposition temperature and thickness) of NiCo2O4 films and by means of protonation. Strong dependence of magnetic coercivity on deposition temperature (350–500 °C) has been observed due to variable phase configuration. Furthermore, the magnetic coercive field can also be effectively controlled by the film thickness (3–78 nm) through strain relaxation. More importantly, spin reorientation transition has been achieved by proton and electron doping in the NiCo2O4 films, resulting in reconfigured valence states of Ni and Co cations and a magnetic easy axis rotation from out-of-plane to in-plane. The effective modulation of the magnetic anisotropy provides important insights into the functional design of NiCo2O4-based spintronics with ultralow energy dissipation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A modified plastic Burgers model considering cohesion decay is proposed for frozen soils. A series of triaxial compression and creep tests were conducted on a kind of frozen silty clay for obtaining the model parameters. According to typical triaxial creep strain curves with only a decaying creep stage, a deformation parameter calibration method for a plastic Burgers model is proposed, and the validity of the method was further verified. When the original plastic Burgers model was incorporated with a cohesion decay function, it was shown that the successive development process of frozen soil creep strain from the decaying to non-decaying stage could be described reasonably. The modified model is applicable to frozen ground engineering cases with non-decaying creep involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: In the contemporary food industry, accurate and rapid differentiation of oolong tea varieties holds paramount importance for traceability and quality control. However, achieving this remains a formidable challenge. This study addresses this lacuna by employing machine learning algorithms – namely support vector machines (SVMs) and convolutional neural networks (CNNs) – alongside computer vision techniques for the automated classification of oolong tea leaves based on visual attributes. RESULTS: An array of 13 distinct characteristics, encompassing color and texture, were identified from five unique oolong tea varieties. To fortify the robustness of the predictive models, data augmentation and image cropping methods were employed. A comparative analysis of SVM‐ and CNN‐based models revealed that the ResNet50 model achieved a high Top‐1 accuracy rate exceeding 93%. This robust performance substantiates the efficacy of the implemented methodology for rapid and precise oolong tea classification. CONCLUSION: The study elucidates that the integration of computer vision with machine learning algorithms constitutes a promising, non‐invasive approach for the quick and accurate categorization of oolong tea varieties. The findings have significant ramifications for process monitoring, quality assurance, authenticity validation and adulteration detection within the tea industry. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The appropriate use of obstetric blood transfusion is crucial for patients with placenta previa and prenatal anemia. This retrospective study aims to explore the correlation between prenatal anemia and blood transfusion-related parameters in this population. Methods: We retrieved the medical records of consecutive participants who were diagnosed with placenta previa and underwent cesarean section in our hospital. We compared the baseline demographics and clinical characteristics of patients with and without anemia. The correlation between prenatal anemia and obstetric blood transfusion-related parameters was evaluated using multivariate regression analysis. Results: A total of 749 patients were enrolled, with a mean prenatal hemoglobin level of 10.87 ± 1.37 g/dL. Among them, 54.87% (391/749) were diagnosed with anemia. The rate of obstetric blood transfusion was significantly higher in the anemia group (79.54%) compared to the normal group (44.41%). The median allogeneic red blood cell transfusion volume in the anemia group was 4.00 U (IQR 2.00–6.00), while in the normal group, it was 0.00 U (IQR 0.00–4.00). The prenatal hemoglobin levels had a non-linear relationship with intraoperative allogeneic blood transfusion rate, massive blood transfusion rate, red blood cell transfusion units, and fresh plasma transfusion volume in patients with placenta previa, with a threshold of 12 g/dL. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that prenatal anemia is associated with a higher rate of blood transfusion-related parameters in women with placenta previa when the hemoglobin level is < 12 g/dL. These results highlight the importance of promoting prenatal care in placenta previa patients with a high requirement for blood transfusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant polysaccharides are important for anti-aging research. Polysaccharides from Hemerocallis citrina Baroni (H. citrina) have been reported to have antioxidant activity; however, their anti-aging roles and mechanisms are not clear. In this study, we extracted polysaccharides from H. citrina by an ultrasonic-assisted water extraction–alcohol precipitation method and chemically determined the physicochemical properties such as extraction yield, content, and in vitro antioxidant properties of H. citrina polysaccharide-rich extract (HCPRE). Using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as a model animal, the anti-aging effect of HCPRE was investigated, and the mechanism of action of HCPRE was explored by the in vivo antioxidant level assay of C. elegans and the related gene expression assay. The extraction yield of HCPRE was 11.26%, the total polysaccharide content was 77.96%, and the main monosaccharide components were glucose and galactose. In addition, HCPRE exhibited good antioxidant activity both in vitro and in vivo. Under normal thermal stress and oxidative stress conditions, being fed 1200 µg/mL of HCPRE significantly prolonged the life span of C. elegans by 32.65%, 17.71%, and 32.59%, respectively. Our study showed that HCPRE exerted an anti-aging effect on C. elegans, and its mechanism involves increasing the activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), reducing the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and regulating the expression of related genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unidirectional magnetic anisotropy induced by exchange bias (EB) between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic layers is of paramount importance in various spintronic devices. Traditional setting and optimization of EB involve cooling through the Néel temperature of the antiferromagnets under biasing field in vacuum furnace which takes hours of time and cannot realize localized control of EB. Herein, an alternative process to configure EB by injection of microsecond current impulse for locally heating of the heterostructure is reported. 180‐degree exchange bias switching has been realized in both anisotropic magnetoresistance and giant magnetoresistance units, resulting in tunable magnetic field sensing functionalities. This mechanism for pinpoint control of EB provides more freedom for the design and optimization of various sensing and logic spintronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two structured ytterbium monosilicate environmental barrier coatings (Si/Yb2SiO5 and Si/mullite/Yb2SiO5) were prepared on SiC/SiC composites and their performance in wet oxygen at 1350°C was investigated. After 300 h of corrosion, coating peeling occurred for Si/Yb2SiO5–SiC/SiC, while it was intact for Si/mullite/Yb2SiO5–SiC/SiC system due to the mullite intermediate coating well alleviating the thermal expansion mismatched stress. During the assessment, Yb2SiO5 and mullite gradually densified, and a thin layer of ytterbium disilicates (Yb2Si2O7) was formed at their junction as a new protective layer, which pinned into the mullite layer and significantly improved their interface bonding strength and resistance against wet oxygen. The strength retention of SiC/SiC, Si/Yb2SiO5–SiC/SiC, and Si/mullite/Yb2SiO5–SiC/SiC was 64%, 72%, and 97%, respectively, after corrosion in wet oxygen at 1350°C/300 h. Their corrosion mechanism was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the impact of the application of blockchain technology on enterprise performance, as well as the mechanism of enterprise risk and the information disclosure quality on this impact process, and taking the data of A-share listed companies in China's manufacturing industry from 2015 to 2022 as a research sample, this paper adopts methods such as multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) modeling to conduct an empirical investigation. Findings: The application of blockchain technology can improve enterprise performance. Enterprise risk plays a partial mediating effect, because blockchain technology can reduce enterprise risk and thereby improve enterprise performance. Information disclosure quality has an inhibitory influence on the process by which blockchain technology affects enterprise risk and a facilitating influence on the process by which enterprise risk affects enterprise performance. The results show that manufacturing enterprises with low information disclosure quality can reduce enterprise risk by combining with blockchain technology in production, management, and other aspects, thus improving enterprise performance and promoting sustainable development of enterprise economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrodynamic problem of a curved foil entering into water obliquely with varying speed is investigated through the boundary element method in time domain, and fully nonlinear boundary conditions on the deforming free surface are adopted. The process of foil entry begins with a single point at the lower edge; posing numerical challenges due to the extremely small wetted area, we utilize the stretched co-ordinate system method to address this. An auxiliary method is adopted to solve for pressure distribution. The whole process of the attached flow forming along the curved body and then detaching from the top edge is considered. We engage in extensive discussions on the effects of curvature, gravity, and acceleration, exploring their physical significance and potential applications, particularly within the context of surface-piercing propellers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing global apprehension towards multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria necessitates the development of innovative strategies to combat these infections. Berberine (BER), an isoquinoline quaternary alkaloid derived from various medicinal plants, has surfaced as a promising antibiotic adjuvant due to its ability to enhance the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics against drug-resistant bacterial strains. Here, we overview the augmenting properties and mechanisms of BER as an adjunctive antibiotic against MDR bacteria. BER has been observed to exhibit synergistic effects when co-administered with a range of antibiotics, including β-lactams, quinolones, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, macrolides, lincosamides and fusidic acid. The adjunctive properties of BER led to an increase in antimicrobial effectiveness for these antibiotics against the corresponding bacteria, a decrease in minimal inhibitory concentrations, and even the reversal from resistance to susceptibility sometimes. The potential mechanisms responsible for these effects included the inhibition of antibiotic efflux, the disruption of biofilm formation, the modulation of host immune responses, and the restoration of gut microbiota homeostasis. In brief, BER demonstrated significant potential as an antibiotic adjuvant against MDR bacteria and is a promising candidate for combination therapy. Further research is necessary to fully elucidate its mechanism of action and address the challenges associated with its clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lactoferrin is an active protein in breast milk that plays an important role in the growth and development of infants and is implicated as a neuroprotective agent. The incidence of depression is currently increasing, and it is unclear whether the lack of lactoferrin during lactation affects the incidence of depressive-like behavior in adulthood. Results: Lack of lactoferrin feeding during lactation affected the barrier and innate immune functions of the intestine, disrupted the intestinal microflora, and led to neuroimmune dysfunction and neurodevelopmental delay in the hippocampus. When exposed to external stimulation, adult lactoferrin feeding-deficient mice presented with worse depression-like symptoms; the mechanisms involved were activation of the LPS–TLR4 signalling pathway in the intestine and hippocampus, reduced BDNF-CREB signaling pathway in hippocampus, increased abundance of depression-related bacteria, and decreased abundance of beneficial bacteria. Conclusions: Overall, our findings reveal that lactoferrin feeding deficient during lactation can increase the risk of depressive-like behavior in adults. The mechanism is related to the regulatory effect of lactoferrin on the development of the "microbial–intestinal–brain" axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, intelligent packaging has become very popular. It can quickly detect problems that arise during food production or circulation by monitoring the quality and safety of food. Anthocyanins have attracted widespread attention as a material for manufacturing smart food packaging, as they are sensitive to changes in pH, and small changes in pH can cause changes in the color of anthocyanins. The incorporation of anthocyanins often causes different changes in the properties of the films. The effects of anthocyanins on different properties of the films, including barrier, stability, mechanical properties, antioxidant, antibacterial and pH-sensitive were reviewed. We suggest that anthocyanins have the potential to extend the shelf life and monitor the food's freshness and quality in intelligent packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant roots can sense the nitrogen level in the environment and change the expression of related genes to maintain normal life activities. However, their regulatory mechanism in Chrysanthemum has not been fully clarified. In this study, an R2R3-MYB transcription factor CmMYB42 was isolated from Chrysanthemum 'Jinba.' Tissue expression analysis showed that the gene was mainly expressed in the root and could rapidly up-regulate the expression of CmMYB42 under low-nitrogen conditions. Subcellular localization analysis showed that CmMYB42 was located in the nucleus. Under low-nitrogen stress, overexpressing CmMYB42 Chrysanthemum's total root length, lateral root number, plant height, and biomass accumulation were significantly higher than wild type and slowed down the damage to photosynthetic system and improved NO3− content and nitrogen metabolism assimilation enzyme activity. In addition, we also found that CmMYB42 increased the expression of nitrogen stress-related genes. These results indicated that CmMYB42 acts as a positive regulator to improve the tolerance of Chrysanthemum to low-nitrogen stress, providing a theoretical basis for further exploring the molecular mechanism of low-nitrogen tolerance in Chrysanthemum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lung has raised significant concerns because of its radiosensitivity. Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) has a serious impact on the quality of patients' lives and limits the effect of radiotherapy on chest tumors. In clinical practice, effective drug intervention for RILI remains to be fully elucidated. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the biological characteristics is essential to reveal the mechanisms underlying the complex biological processes and discover novel therapeutic targets in RILI. In this study, Wistar rats received 0, 10, 20 or 35 Gy whole-thorax irradiation (WTI). Lung and plasma samples were collected within 5 days post-irradiation. Then, these samples were processed using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS). A panel of potential plasma metabolic markers was selected by correlation analysis between the lung tissue and plasma metabolic features, followed by the evaluation of radiation injury levels within 5 days following whole-thorax irradiation (WTI). In addition, the multiple metabolic dysregulations primarily involved amino acids, bile acids and lipid and fatty acid β-oxidation-related metabolites, implying disturbances in the urea cycle, intestinal flora metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction. In particular, the accumulation of long-chain acylcarnitines (ACs) was observed as early as 2 d post-WTI by dynamic plasma metabolic data analysis. Our findings indicate that plasma metabolic markers have the potential for RILI assessment. These results reveal metabolic characteristics following WTI and provide new insights into therapeutic interventions for RILI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the biotransformation of asiatic acid by Cunninghamella echinulata CGMCC 3.970 and Circinella muscae CGMCC 3.2695 was investigated. Scaled-up biotransformation reactions yielded eight metabolites. Their structures were established based on extensive NMR and HR-ESI-MS data analyses and four of them are new compounds. C. echinulata could catalyze the regioselecitve hydroxylation, carbonylation and lactonization to yield five metabolites. C. muscae could selectively catalyze hydroxylation, acetylation and glycosylation to yield four products. Furthermore, all the identified metabolites were evaluated for their anti-neuroinflammatory activities in LPS-induced BV-2 cells. Most metabolites displayed pronounced inhibitory effect on nitric oxide (NO) production. The results suggested that biotransformed derivatives of asiatic acid might be served as potential neuroinflammatory inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polarimetry, which seeks to measure the vectorial information of light modulated by objects, has facilitated bionic geolocation and navigation applications. It is a novel and promising field that provides humans with a remote sensing tool to exploit polarized skylight in a similar way to polarization-sensitive animals, and yet few in-depth reviews of the field exist. Beginning with biological inspirations, this review mainly focuses on the characterization, measurement, and analysis of vectorial information in polarimetry for bionic geolocation and navigation applications, with an emphasis on Stokes–Mueller formalism. Several recent breakthroughs and development trends are summarized in this paper, and potential prospects in conjunction with some cutting-edge techniques are also presented. The goal of this review is to offer a comprehensive overview of the exploitation of vectorial information for geolocation and navigation applications as well as to stimulate new explorations and breakthroughs in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenological synchronicity of different tree parts and habitats can provide valuable insights into the physiological relationships and regulatory factors of different phenologies. The earlywood (EW) to latewood (LW) transition of the xylem is a critical process closely related to the key functions and physiological processes of trees. This study investigated the phenology phase of the EW–LW transition in branches and stems of Smith fir (Abies forrestii var. smithii Viguié & Gaussen) along an altitude gradient (3600 m, 3800 m, and 4000 m) in Jiaozi Mountain, Yunnan, China, in 2021. The study aimed to test the hypothesis that branches transition earlier than stems, but the elevation does not affect the transition time. We monitored the EW–LW transition dates weekly using microcores and then correlated them to the climatic conditions and developmental processes. Our findings revealed that the EW–LW transition timing varied among the different parts of the tree but was synchronized across the different elevations. Furthermore, the transition always occurred earlier in branches than in the stem, but the difference narrowed with increasing altitude. The EW–LW transition was mainly influenced by photoperiod, which plays a crucial role as a signaling factor. Additionally, the tree crown was more sensitive to environmental changes than the stem. The transition time of stems was less sensitive to environmental factors than that of branches. Therefore, our results suggest that the earlywood to latewood transition is regulated by developmental factors, and the photoperiod may indirectly regulate the developmental process of trees as a signaling factor, thus regulating the earlywood to latewood transition time. Our study provides new insights into the developmental regulation and climate sensitivity of tree ring formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe wildfires have increased and threaten Southwest Sichuan Province China, causing serious death and damage to this region. The local government launched a series of strict policies on wildfire management in 2014, including control of anthropogenic ignition sources and quick response on wildfire suppression when a fire is detected. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of these policies in containing wildfire in this region based on multiple remotely sensed observation data. We examined the fire event count (FEC) change between 2001 and 2021 based on multiple satellite-based fire products and found the FEC markedly decreased since 2015. Since wildfire occurrence is a non-linear process resulting from interactions between weather, topography, fuel, and anthropogenic factors, to explore which factor led to such FEC decline, we examined three wildfire weather-related variables—the vapor pressure deficit (VPD), Canada forest fire weather index (FWI), synthetical wildfire danger index (WDI), and three fuel load-related variables—foliage fuel load (FFL), aboveground biomass (AGB), and solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF). We found no significant ($p>0.05$) increase or decline in wildfire weather trend was observed, whereas a significant fuel load accumulation trend ($p < 0.05$) was identified across this region between 2001 and 2021. As the topography factor is stable, this study, with the lengths of remote sensing observation, demonstrated the effectiveness of the management paradigm containing wildfire over Southwest China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using tools like the Kronecker product and the vector operator, various Sylvester matrix equations can always be converted into the form A x = f , motivating us to investigate the algorithm for solving the linear matrix equation A x = f . By dividing the coefficient matrix A into row blocks or column blocks, a block-row iterative (BRI) algorithm, a block-column iterative (BCI) algorithm and an accelerated block-column iterative (ABCI) algorithm are developed to solve A x = f . It is successfully proved that the numerical solution produced by the proposed algorithms can converge to the exact solution for any given initial vector under appropriate conditions. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Gefitinib resistance remains a major problem in the treatment of lung cancer. However, the underlying mechanisms involved in gefitinib resistance are largely unclear. Methods. Open-accessed data of lung cancer patients were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas Program and Gene Expression Omnibus databases. CCK8, colony formation, and 5-ethynyl-2 ′ -deoxyuridine assays were utilized to evaluate the cell proliferation ability. Transwell and wound-healing assays were utilized to evaluate the cell invasion and migration ability. Quantitative real-time PCR was utilized to detect the RNA level of specific genes. Results. Here, we obtained the expression profile data of wild and gefitinib-resistant cells. Combined with the data from the TCGA and GDSC databases, we identified six genes, RNF150, FAT3, ANKRD33, AFF3, CDH2, and BEX1, that were involved in gefitinib resistance in both cell and tissue levels. We found that most of these genes were expressed in the fibroblast of the NSCLC microenvironment. Hence, we also comprehensively investigated the role of fibroblast in the NSCLC microenvironment, including its biological effect and cell interaction. Ultimately, CDH2 was selected for further analysis for its prognosis correlation. In vitro experiments presented the cancer-promoting role of CDH2 in NSCLC. Moreover, cell viability detection showed that the inhibition of CDH2 could significantly decrease the IC50 of gefitinib in NSCLC cells. GSEA showed that CDH2 could significantly affect the pathway activity of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling. Conclusions. This study is aimed at investigating the underlying mechanism involved in gefitinib resistance to lung cancer. Our research has improved researchers' understanding of gefitinib resistance. Meanwhile, we found that CDH2 could lead to gefitinib resistance through PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuroinflammation is one of the three important pathological features in neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD). The regulation of neuroinflammation can reduce the severity of neurological damage to alleviate diseases. Numerous studies have shown that the phenotype switch of microglia is tightly associated with the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB)-mediated inflammatory pathway. Therefore, the small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapy for downregulating the expression of NF-κB, provides a promising therapeutic strategy for Parkinson's disease treatments. Considering the brain delivery challenges of siRNA, a sequential targeting inflammation regulation (STIR) delivery system based on poly(amino acid)s is developed to improve the therapeutic effects of Parkinson's disease treatments. The STIR system sequentially targets the blood-brain barrier and the microglia to enhance the effective concentration of siRNA in the targeted microglia. The results demonstrate that the STIR nanoparticles can transform microglial phenotypes and regulate brain inflammation, thus achieving neuronal recovery and abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein protein (α-syn) reduction in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Herein, this STIR delivery system provides a promising therapeutic platform in PD treatments and has great potential for other neurodegenerative diseases' therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Memristors are of great significance for the construction of memory devices and neuromorphological computing, which need a fast response time for ultrahigh data storage, ultrafast information processing, and efficient neuromorphic computing. Currently, memristors based on perovskite oxide materials generally have a long response time. In this paper, the electroforming‐free memristive behavior based on Ar+ irradiating induced oxygen vacancy modulation in SrTiO3 (STO) has been investigated. The Ag/STO/(Ta/Pt) device shows a stable bipolar resistive switching (RS) characteristic and can realize ultrafast multi‐resistance switching behavior. More importantly, its conductance can be continuously controlled with short pulse on the nanosecond scale to simulate potentiation and depression of synapse, promising potential application in ultra‐fast biological synapse and high‐efficiency training of neural networks. More importantly, the defect engineering strategy used in this work provides more freedom for the design and optimization of versatile memristor devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrared single-pixel sensing with the two most representative modes, bright-field imaging and edge-enhanced imaging, has great application potential in biomedical diagnosis and defect inspection. Building a multifunctional and miniature optical computing device for infrared single-pixel sensing is extremely intriguing. Here, we propose and validate a dual-modal device based on a well-designed metasurface, which enables near-infrared bright-field and edge-enhanced single-pixel imaging. By changing the polarization of the incident beam, these two different modes can be switched. Simulations validate that our device can achieve high-fidelity dual-modal single-pixel sensing at 0.9 μ m with certain noise robustness. We also investigate the generalization of our metasurface-based device and validate that different illumination patterns are applied to our device. Moreover, these output images by our device can be efficiently utilized for biomedical image segmentation. We envision this novel device may open a vista in dual-modal infrared single-pixel sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Future 6G communication systems will require wideband nonreciprocal devices in the terahertz frequency domain. A novel ultra-wideband terahertz circulator is implemented by inserting a NixZn1−xFe2O4 ferrite sphere into the Al2O3 dielectric rod-array. The operating bandwidth of the circulator is broadened to 40 GHz via the external matching method through two hexagonal aluminum sheets. The three-dimensional numerical simulation suggests that the designed circulator also has an excellent insertion loss and isolation of 49.37 dB and 0.56 dB, respectively, via the finite element method. The low loss, high isolation and ultra-wideband show that the proposed scheme provides an effective path for realizing high-performance THz devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]