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β-(AlxGa1−x)2O3 presents a diverse material characterization exhibiting exceptional electrical and optical properties. Considering the miniaturization of gallium oxide devices, two-dimensional (AlxGa1−x)2O3 alloys, as a critical component in the formation of two-dimensional electron gases, demand an in-depth examination of their carrier transport properties. Herein, we investigate the temperature-dependent carrier mobility and scattering mechanisms of quasi-two-dimensional (2D) (AlxGa1−x)2O3 (x ≤ 5) by solving the Boltzmann transport equation from first-principles. Anisotropic electron mobility of 2D (AlxGa1−x)2O3 is limited to 30−80 cm2/Vs at room temperature, and it finds that the relatively large ion-clamped dielectric tensors (Δɛ) suggest a major scattering role for polar optical phonons. The mobility of 2D (AlxGa1−x)2 is less than that of bulk β-(AlxGa1−x)2O3 and shows no quantum effects attributed to the dangling bonds on the surface. We further demonstrate that the bandgap of 2D (AlxGa1−x)2O3 decreases with the number of layers, and the electron localization function also shows an anisotropy. This work comprehensively interprets the scattering mechanism and unintentional doping intrinsic electron mobility of (AlxGa1−x)2O3 alloys, providing physical elaboration and alternative horizons for experimental synthesis, crystallographic investigations, and power device fabrication of 2D (AlxGa1−x)2O3 atomically thin layered systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piperazine pyrophosphate (PAPP), as a good intumescent flame retardant, is widely used in polyolefin flame retardancy. However, its tendency to agglomerate greatly limits its application in materials. The application of unevenly dispersed PAPP in polypropylene can cause agglomeration, which not only results in white spots in polypropylene products, but also leads to a decrease in flame retardancy. The article combined the analysis of the causes of agglomeration of PAPP and added commonly used dispersants to improve its agglomeration phenomenon. Among them, dispersants included microscale silicides, large-sized silicides, zinc stearate, magnesium stearate, silicone oil, aminosilane, silicone, etc. Firstly, micro-sized silicides, silicones, and silicone oil were screened through heap pressure experiments to have a good effect on improving agglomeration. Furthermore, the influence of dispersants on polypropylene materials was characterized through methods such as thermogravimetric analysis, particle size testing, limited oxygen index testing, UL-94 testing, mechanical properties testing, and melt index testing. The results showed that silicone, silicone oil, and micro sized silicides had a significant improvement effect on the agglomeration of PAPP. Applied in polypropylene, micro sized silicides had the least impact on flame retardant polypropylene and the lowest degree of physical property degradation. Therefore, micro sized silicides were selected as the best additives for improving PAPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose was to establish a characteristic fingerprint of Eucommia ulmoides leaves extract, a feed additive, using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), to provide a reference for its quality control. The HPLC method was used to determine the chemical constituents of 36 batches of Eucommia ulmoides leaves extract on a Sunfire C18 (4.6 mmx250 mm, 5 µm) column, with acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid in water as the mobile phase, at a flow rate of 1.2 mL/min, with an injection volume of 10 µL, a column temperature of 35 °C, and a detection wavelength of 254 nm. Eight peaks with better separation and peak shape in the chromatograms of 36 batches of Eucommia ulmoides leaves extracts were selected as the characteristic peaks to obtain the HPLC chromatograms of Eucommia ulmoides leaves extract. Based on the information of the control product, the precise relative molecular mass and the fragmentation ions, eight characteristic peaks were identified as the constituents of Eucommia ulmoides leaves extract. The results showed that a total of eight characteristic peaks were identified in the HPLC characteristic chromatogram of Eucommia ulmoides leaves extract, and seven chromatographic peaks of aucubin, geniposidic acid, neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, quercetin rutin, and isoquercitrin were identified. The study indicates that the characteristic chromatogram of Eucommia ulmoides leaves extract established in the experiment has achieved stable quality control and can provide reference for the quality evaluation of Eucommia ulmoides leaves extract as a feed additive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Based on typical rural brick-concrete structure buildings in cold rural areas,optimization of various energy-saving measures and local sensitivity analysis are carried out. The economic evaluation and static payback period calculation of various energy-saving measures are carried out using the life cycle cost method and net present value method.The sensitivity of building energy conservation design is in order of building air tightness > exterior wall insulation > roof insulation > heat transfer coeffi cient of exterior window > SHGC of exterior window > floor insulation. The optimal thickness of insulation layer for exterior wall and roof is 110 mm,and the optimal heat transfer coefficient for exterior window is 2.5 W/(m2·K). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inquiring the isotopically engineered carrier transport in polar materials remains an open question. Herein, the phonon-limited drift carrier mobility of single-crystal cubic boron nitride is presented using first-principles calculations. Natural c-BN has the predicted electron mobility of 1230 and 760 cm2/V s by solving the iterative Boltzmann transport equation and self-energy relaxation time approximation, respectively. The hole mobility under the Boltzmann transport equation and self-energy relaxation time approximation is 193 and 105 cm2/Vs, respectively. Subsequently, the electron and hole mobilities at the stable isotope levels of boron and nitride are predicted, and nitride isotopes are found to be more effective than boron for carrier mobility. Those carrier mobilities further decrease with increasing temperature due to the strengthened electron–phonon interactions. Moreover, the phonon-assisted indirect optical absorption of c-BN is investigated by considering the contribution of phonons to the indirect electronic inter-band transitions. The predicted imaginary part of the dielectric function is in better agreement with previous experiments. This work aims to understand the role of phonons in determining the carrier mobility and indirect optical absorption of c-BN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regeneration of demineralized enamel holds great significance in the treatment of dental caries. Amelogenin (Ame), an essential protein for mediating natural enamel growth, is no longer secreted after enamel has fully matured in childhood. Although biomimetic mineralization based on peptides or proteins has made significant progress, easily accessible, low-cost, biocompatible and highly effective Ame mimics are still lacking. Herein, we construct a series of amphiphilic branched polypeptides (CAMPs) by facile coupling of the Ame's C-terminal segment and poly(γ-benzyl- L -glutamate), which serves to simulate the Ame's hydrophobic N-terminal segment. Among them, CAMP15 is the best biomimetic mineralization template with great self-assembly performance to guide the oriented crystallization of hydroxyapatite and is capable of inhibiting the adhesion of Streptococcus mutans and Staphylococcus aureus on the enamel surfaces. This work highlights the potential application of amphiphilic branched polypeptide as Ame mimics in repairing defected enamel, providing a promising strategy for prevention and treatment of dental caries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To screen the risk factors of hydrocephalus after decompressive craniectomy in patients with cerebral hernia after traumatic brain injury (TBI), and construct a Bayesian network model based on the risk factors. Methods A total of 77 patients with cerebral hernia after TBI who underwent decompressive craniotomy in Nanjing Tongren Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University from March 2020 to January 2022 were included. They were divided into hydrocephalus group (n = 25) and non - hydrocephalus group (n = 52) according to whether hydrocephalus was complicated after surgery. The risk factors of hydrocephalus after decompressive craniectomy in patients with cerebral hernia after TBI were analyzed by univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses. The Bayesian network model was constructed based on the risk factors, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration curve were drawn and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test was conducted. Results In hydrocephalus group, the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score at admission (t = 2.178, P = 0.032), the ratio of cerebrospinal fluid replacement after lumbar puncture (χ² = 8.675, P = 0.003), and the level of β2 -microglobulin after operation (t = 11.146, P = 0.000) were lower than those in non-hydrocephalus group, while subarachnoid hemorrhage (χ² = 5.901, P = 0.015), bilateral operation (χ² = 6.441, P = 0.011), the ratio of dural unstitched during operation (χ² = 9.759, P = 0.002), postoperative intraventricular hemorrhage (χ² = 8.938, P = 0.003), postoperative midline displacement > 10 mm (χ² = 7.589, P = 0.006), and intracranial infection (χ² = 4.519, P = 0.034), as well as postoperative coma time (t = 2.709, P = 0.008) were higher than those in non-hydrocephalus group. Logistic regression analysis showed that subarachnoid hemorrhage (OR = 1.885, 95%CI: 1.432-2.240; P = 0.012), dural unstitched during operation (OR = 1.468, 95%CI: 1.215-1.930; P = 0.006), long postoperative coma time (OR = 1.574, 95%CI: 1.358-1.926; P = 0.007), postoperative intraventricular hemorrhage (OR = 1.550, 95%CI: 1.254-1.768; P = 0.010), the level of β2- microglobulin increased after operation (OR = 1.622, 95%CI: 1.165-1.840; P = 0.004) were risk factors for hydrocephalus after decompressive craniectomy in patients with cerebral hernia after TBI. Based on these 5 factors, the Bayesian network model was constructed, and the area under ROC curve was 0.886 (95%CI: 0.823-0.925, P = 0.000). The calibration curve showed that there was a good consistency between the predicted probability and the actual probability, while the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test showed no significant difference (χ² = 8.760, P = 0.232), which indicated that the model had good discrimination, calibration and accuracy. Conclusions Subarachnoid hemorrhage, dural unstitched during operation, long postoperative coma time, postoperative intra ventricular hemorrhage, and elevated β2 - microglobulin level are the risk factors for hydrocephalus after decompressive craniectomy in patients with cerebral hernia after TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain rotation caused by the movement of dislocations is a determinant factor for the mechanical behavior of metals. In general, the grain rotation may be mediated by grain boundary dislocations (GB-dis) and intragranular dislocations (In-dis), which are closely associated with grain size. Few works have investigated how grain size depends on grain rotation, and the competitive mechanism between GB-dis and In-dis remains unclear. The present work investigates the structural evolution and deformation of coarse-grained tungsten under high pressure. The results show that under high pressure, the nano-sized grains preferentially rotate with dislocation climbing in GBs. Under high pressure, In-dis migrate faster across coarse grains and are absorbed by GBs on the other side, resulting in grain rotation. Elevated temperature also facilitates the migration of In-dis to arrive GBs where they can be absorbed by GBs, thus promoting grain rotation. The theoretical results show that grain rotation occurs easily under high pressure and high temperature. With increasing grain size, the stress-induced rotation mechanism goes from being dominated by GB-dis to being dominated by In-dis migration. The competitive relationship between GB-dis and In-dis during grain rotation is elaborated, providing a new strategy for designing materials under high pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water dissociation on TiO2 surfaces has been known for decades and holds great potential in various applications, many of which require a proper understanding of thermal transport across the TiO2–H2O interface. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations play an important role in characterizing complex systems' interfacial thermal transport properties. Nevertheless, due to the imprecision of empirical force field potentials, the interfacial thermal transport mechanism involving water dissociation remains to be determined. To cope with this, a deep potential (DP) model is formulated through the utilization of ab initio datasets. This model successfully simulates interfacial thermal transport accompanied by water dissociation on the TiO2 surfaces. The trained DP achieves a total energy accuracy of ∼238.8 meV and a force accuracy of ∼197.05 meV/Å. The DPMD simulations show that water dissociation induces the formation of hydrogen bonding networks and molecular bridges. Structural modifications further affect interfacial thermal transport. The interfacial thermal conductance estimated by DP is ∼8.54 × 109 W/m2 K, smaller than ∼13.17 × 109 W/m2 K by empirical potentials. The vibrational density of states (VDOS) quantifies the differences between the DP model and empirical potentials. Notably, the VDOS disparity between the adsorbed hydrogen atoms and normal hydrogen atoms demonstrates the influence of water dissociation on heat transfer processes. This work aims to understand the effect of water dissociation on thermal transport at the TiO2–H2O interface. The findings will provide valuable guidance for the thermal management of photocatalytic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to their excellent optoelectronic and electrical properties, β-Ga2O3/4H-SiC heterojunctions have been widely employed to build solar-blind photodetectors. When photodetectors are used in extreme space environments, they suffer from high-energy proton, electron, X-ray, gamma ray and neutron irradiations. Thus, oxygen vacancies are inevitably created inside the heterojunction. In addition, the temperature of photodetectors in satellites rises under harsh operating conditions. Herein, we systematically evaluate the coupling effect of temperature and oxygen vacancies on carrier transport and interface states of β-Ga2O3/4H-SiC heterojunction photodetectors at the atomistic scale using first-principles calculations. Our results show that oxygen vacancies at the boundary considerably affect the bandgap of heterojunctions, while the interface oxygen vacancies would give rise to gap states. For the β-Ga2O3/4H-SiC heterojunction containing boundary oxygen vacancies, the effects of temperature and oxygen vacancies inhibit each other, leading to an increase in the bandgap of the β-Ga2O3 side. The high temperature and the creation of oxygen vacancies both reduce the width of the space charge region. The energy range and density of the interface states in heterojunctions containing interfacial oxygen vacancies increase with temperature. This study aims to understand the electron–phonon-oxygen vacancy coupling effects on β-Ga2O3/4H-SiC heterojunctions, which can benefit the design of high-performance photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atomically dispersed catalysts have gained considerable attention due to their unique properties and high efficiency in various catalytic reactions. Herein, a series of Co/N‐doped carbon (N‐C) catalysts was prepared using a metal‐lignin coordination strategy and employed in formic acid dehydrogenation (FAD) and hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of vanillin. The atomically dispersed Co/N‐C catalysts showed outstanding activity, acid resistance, and long‐term stability in FAD. The improved activity and stability may be attributed to the high dispersion of Co species, increased surface area, and strong Co−N interactions. XPS and XAS characterization revealed the formation of Co‐N3 centers, which are assumed to be the active sites. In addition, DFT calculations demonstrated that the adsorption of formic acid on single‐atom Co was stronger than that on Co13 clusters, which may explain the high catalytic activity. The Co/N‐C catalyst also showed promising performance in the transfer HDO of vanillin with formic acid, without any external additional molecular H2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The opposing effects of interface effect on phonon heat conduction and microwave absorption hinder the integration of thermal conduction with microwave absorption. Reconciling this contradiction by rationally optimizing the material structure remains a challenge. Herein, Fe2N@CNTs with heterogeneous interfaces and multi‐dimensional encapsulated structures are fabricated through in situ chemical vapor deposition (CVD) to realize excellent thermal conductivity and microwave absorption. When the mass fraction of active material is 40 wt.%, the thermal conductivity (λ//) of Fe2N@CNTs composite films is 6.69 W m−1 K−1. The minimum reflection loss (RLmin) is up to −54.55 dB at a thickness of 3.43 mm, and the effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) is 5.52 GHz at 1.82 mm. The well‐designed Fe2N@CNTs is an ideal model for gaining insight into electron transportation and phonon multi‐dimensional heat transport. Heterogeneous interface improves the dielectric loss and facilitates microwave and phonon absorption and conversion. The multi‐dimensional encapsulation structure increases the electron transport path and phonon heat transport paths making axial and radial co‐transfer possible. The multi‐dimensional encapsulation structure demonstrates extremely high microwave absorption and thermal management capabilities, which open up new possibilities for multifunctional applications in host materials with internal hollows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that asthma is closely associated with bronchiectasis, however, the causal relationship between asthma and bronchiectasis has not been investigated in depth. Therefore, this study aims to explore the causal relationship and to identify potential factors that mediate between these two diseases. Method: All the necessary summarized information were obtained from publicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS). Two-sample Mendelian randomization (two-sample MR) was employed to explore the causal relationship between asthma and bronchiectasis, with an additional dataset used for validation. Heterogeneity and pleiotropy analyses were utilized to verify the robustness of the results. Subsequently, mediation MR analyses were performed to identify potential mediating factors. Lastly, a retrospective observational study was conducted to validate the findings. Result: Preliminary inverse-variance weighted (IVW) results indicated there was a causal effect of asthma on bronchiectasis (odds ratio [OR] = 1.228, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.077–1.400, P = 0.002). Repetition validation yielded a consistent result. Mediation MR analysis demonstrated that the presence of nasal polyps (OR = 1.063, 95% CI: 1.015–1.113, mediation ratio = 30.492%, P = 0.009), acute sinusitis (OR = 1.062, 95% CI: 1.009–1.118, mediation ratio = 30.157%, P = 0.018), chronic sinusitis (OR = 1.085, 95% CI: 1.024–1.150, mediation ratio = 40.677%, P = 0.005), and peripheral eosinophil counts (OR = 1.013, 95% CI: 1.000–1.026, mediation ratio = 6.514%, P = 0.042) served as significant mediators in the occurrence and development of bronchiectasis induced by asthma. Furthermore, a retrospective observational study observed that bronchiectasis patients with asthma had a higher prevalence of sinusitis (5.043% vs 2.971%, P < 0.001), nasal polyps (0.536% vs 0.152%, P < 0.001), and rhinitis (13.197% vs 1.860%, P < 0.001). The ratio (1.950 (0.500, 5.600) vs 1.500 (0.500, 2.600), P = 0.006) and counts (0.125 (0.040, 0.363) vs 0.090 (0.030, 0.160), P < 0.001) of peripheral blood eosinophils were also elevated in bronchiectasis patients with asthma. Conclusion: The MR analysis uncovered a notable genetic association between asthma and bronchiectasis, which was partially mediated by sinusitis, nasal polyps, and eosinophils. A subsequent retrospective study provided further evidence by demonstrating that bronchiectasis patients with asthma had a higher prevalence of sinusitis, nasal polyps, an elevated proportion of eosinophils, and higher eosinophil counts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unusual negative longitudinal piezoelectric effect (NLPE) and electric auxetic effect (EAE) have essential implications for designs of piezoelectric sensors and actuators. The emerging ferroelectric HfO2 is recently discovered to have both effects, while the underlying physical mechanisms remain elusive. To understand and regulate these intriguing effects, it is crucial to investigate the piezoelectricity in ferroelectric HfO2 and related fluorite-structure ferroelectrics. Here, we corroborate using first-principles calculations that all twelve fluorite-structure ferroelectrics covered in this study possess the NLPE. A chemical tendency of piezoelectricity is demonstrated, i.e., the larger the "iconicity," the stronger the NLPE. The structural origin is attributed to the predominant influence of the triple-coordinated anion displacement, namely, the more "ionic" fluorite-structure ferroelectrics exhibit larger anion displacement under a pressure or strain, which gives rise to a more negative internal-strain contribution dominating over the positive clamped-ion contribution and hence a stronger NLPE. Moreover, we confirm several electric auxetic materials in fluorite-structure ferroelectrics with finite electric field calculations. We find that the piezoelectricity of electric auxetic materials is suppressed by the external electric field along the polar direction, since it weakens the bonding heterogeneity. The unraveled fundamental understanding of the NLPE and EAE in this study may profoundly benefit the design and application of fluorite-structure ferroelectrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging reconfigurable metasurfaces offer various possibilities for programmatically manipulating electromagnetic waves across spatial, spectral, and temporal domains, showcasing great potential for enhancing terahertz applications. However, they are hindered by limited tunability, particularly evident in relatively small phase tuning over 270°, due to the design constraints with time‐intensive forward design methodologies. Here, a multi‐bit programmable metasurface is demonstrated capable of terahertz beam steering facilitated by a developed physics‐informed inverse design (PIID) approach. Through integrating a modified coupled mode theory (MCMT) into residual neural networks, the PIID algorithm not only significantly increases the design accuracy compared to conventional neural networks but also elucidates the intricate physical relations between the geometry and the modes. Without decreasing the reflection intensity, the method achieves the enhanced phase tuning as large as 300°. Additionally, the inverse‐designed programmable beam steering metasurface is experimentally validated, which is adaptable across 1‐bit, 2‐bit, and tri‐state coding schemes, yielding a deflection angle up to 68° and broadened steering coverage. The demonstration provides a promising pathway for rapidly exploring advanced metasurface devices, with potentially great impact on communication and imaging technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroelectric (FE) materials are promising for applications in advanced high-power density systems/energy storage and conversion devices. However, the power density of ceramic components is limited by the electrode area and breakdown strength of bulk ceramic, while the multilayer structure is effective in enhancing the breakdown strength and realizing miniaturization. In this work, Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3–BiAlO3–NaNbO3 multilayer ceramic capacitors (BNT–BA–NN MLCCs) were prepared as pulse power energy conversion components. The electrical properties of MLCCs with different layer thicknesses under temperature and pressure fields were investigated. The relaxor phase was observed in thin layer MLCCs, which was beneficial for pressure depolarization but led to a reduction in remnant polarization (Pr) and temperature stability. Therefore, MLCCs with an appropriate layer thickness are needed to satisfy energy conversion application. Results reveal that Pr is up to 39 μC cm−2 and Eb increased to more than 26 kV mm−1 in BNT–BA–NN MLCCs. On this basis, an ultrahigh output power density up to 2.2 × 109 W kg−1 (GW kg−1) with an output voltage up to 9.8 kV mm−1 is achieved in shock wave measurements, which is superior to that of the reported materials applied in high power pulse sources. The design of MLCCs provides an effective method to satisfy miniaturization and integration requirements for high-power applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crush syndrome often occurs after severe crush injury caused by disasters or accidents, and is associated with high mortality and poor prognosis. Cardiovascular complications, such as cardiac arrest, hypovolemic shock, and hyperkalemia-related cardiac dysfunction, are the primary causes of on-site death in crush syndrome. Prehospital evaluation, together with timely and correct treatment, is of great benefit to crush syndrome patients, which is difficult in most cases due to limited conditions. Based on current data and studies, early fluid resuscitation remains the most important on-site treatment for crush syndrome. Novel solutions and drugs used in fluid resuscitation have been investigated for their effectiveness and benefits. Several drugs have proven effective for the prevention or treatment of cardiovascular complications in crush syndrome, such as hypovolemic shock, hyperkalemia-induced cardiac complications, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, ventricular dysfunction, and coagulation disorder experimentally. Moreover, these drugs are beneficial for other complications of crush syndrome, such as renal dysfunction. In this review, we will summarize the existing on-site treatments for crush syndrome and discuss the potential pharmacological interventions for cardiovascular complications to provide clues for clinical therapy of crush syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the innovative application of tannic acid (TA) in the synthesis of nickel-cobalt (Ni-Co) bimetallic compounds for supercapacitor electrodes. It examines the impact of hydrothermal treatment and calcination on the structure and performance of the materials. The results indicate that, due to the chelation of phenolic hydroxyl groups in TA with nickel and cobalt ions, hydrothermal conditions facilitate the formation of needle-like arrays of metal–organic coordination crystals, which can effectively increase the specific surface area of the electrode. The optimally synthesized electrode demonstrates an exceptional specific capacitance of 1337 F·g−1 (668.5 C·g−1) at a current density of 1 A·g−1. Furthermore, when assembled into an asymmetric supercapacitor with activated carbon, it achieves a notably high energy density of 21.4 Wh·kg−1 at a power density of 800 W·kg−1. This superior performance is attributed to the higher specific surface area of the coordination crystals, which provides more active sites. These findings reveal that TA-modified Ni-Co bimetallic electrodes are promising for high-performance supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural materials are widely used in the preparation of Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) because of their degradability, low cost and ease of preparation. Chitosan is one of the important ones. However, the lower dielectric constant of chitosan films affects their output performance. In this study, TiN particles were used to increase the dielectric constant of the films and the effect of different concentrations of TiN on the output performance was investigated. It was proved that at 8 wt %. concentration, the open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current were 67 V, 4.2 μA, and the power was 103.9 μW. In the actual test, it successfully powered the calculator and lit up eight blue LEDs. Finally, the TENG was successfully used to monitor human movement, and this study provides a viable path for TENGs based on degradable materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dental anxiety and odontophobia are common issues, leading to challenges with oral hygiene and dental health. Music distraction offers an effective and side effect-free solution to alleviate pain and increase the acceptability of dental treatments. Our meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficacy of music distraction in reducing patient anxiety during invasive dental procedures in children and adults. Methods: The PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases were searched for clinically controlled trials, using the keywords "music" and "dental anxiety". The main outcome measured was the anxiety score. A meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model to estimate the standardized mean differences (SMDs). The subgroup analyses were conducted based on age groups, music preferences, and music styles. The research protocol has been registered with PROSPERO (Registration ID: CRD42022357961). Results: A total of 24 controlled clinical trials involving 1830 participants met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. Music distraction significantly reduced dental anxiety during invasive procedures under local anesthesia (SMD, −0.50; 95% CI, −0.80 to −0.21; p = 0.0009; I2 = 83%). Our subgroup analysis revealed that music distraction was more effective in adults (SMD, −0.51; p = 0.0007) than in children (SMD, −0.47; p = 0.13) in reducing dental anxiety. Regarding music selection, music chosen by the participant (SMD, −1.01; p = 0.008) demonstrated more anxiolytic effects than by the author (SMD, −0.24; p = 0.02). Regarding music styles, classical music (SMD, −0.69; p = 0.009) was associated with better anxiolytic effects in adults. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis supports the use of music to alleviate dental anxiety during invasive procedures. Listening to classical or customized music can serve as an effective adjunct to outpatient surgical care in dental clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study radiative transfer in participating binary stochastic mixtures in two dimensions (2D) by developing an accurate and efficient simulation tool. For two different sets of physical parameters, 2D benchmark results are presented, and it is found that the influence of the stochastic mixture on radiative transfer is clearly parameter-dependent. Our results confirm that previous multidimensional results obtained in different studies are basically consistent, which is interpreted in terms of the relationship between the photon mean free path lp and the system size L. Nonlinear effects, including those due to scattering and radiation–material coupling, are also discussed. To further understand the particle size effect, we employ a dimensionless parameter lp/L, from which a critical particle size can be derived. On the basis of further 2D simulations, we find that an inhomogeneous mix is obtained for lp/L > 0.1. Furthermore, 2D material temperature distributions reveal that self-shielding and particle–particle shielding of radiation occur, and are enhanced when lp/L is increased. Our work is expected to provide benchmark results to verify proposed homogenized models and/or other codes for stochastic radiative transfer in realistic physical scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Hypertension may result in atrial fibrillation (AF) and lipid metabolism disorders. The Sirtuins3 (SIRT3)/AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway has the capacity to regulate lipid metabolism disorders and the onset of AF. We hypothesize that the SIRT3/AMPK signaling pathway suppresses lipid metabolism disorders, thereby mitigating salt-sensitive hypertension (SSHT)-induced susceptibility to AF. METHODS The study involved 7-week-old male Dahl salt-sensitive that were fed either a high-salt diet (8% NaCl; DSH group) or a normal diet (0.3% NaCl; DSN group). Then DSH group was administered either oral metformin (MET, an AMPK agonist) or intraperitoneal injection of Honokiol (HK, a SIRT3 agonist). This experimental model allowed for the measurement of Systolic blood pressure (SBP), the expression levels of lipid metabolism-related biomarkers, pathological examination of atrial fibrosis, and lipid accumulation, as well as AF inducibility and AF duration. RESULTS DSH decrease SIRT3, phosphorylation-AMPK, and very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, (VLCAD) expression, increased FASN and FABP4 expression and concentrations of free fatty acid and triglyceride, atrial fibrosis and lipid accumulation in atrial tissue, enhanced level of SBP, promoted AF induction rate and prolonged AF duration, which are blocked by MET and HK. Our results also showed that the degree of atrial fibrosis was negatively correlated with VLCAD expression, but positively correlated with the expression of FASN and FABP4. CONCLUSIONS We have confirmed that a high-salt diet can result in hypertension, and associated atrial tissue lipid metabolism dysfunction. This condition is linked to the inhibition of the SIRT3/AMPK signaling pathway, which plays a significant role in the progression of susceptibility to AF in SSHT rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new prenylated C6–C3 compounds (1–3), together with two known prenylated C6–C3 compounds (4–5) and one known C6–C3 derivative (6), were isolated from the roots of Illicium brevistylum A. C. Smith. The structures of 1–3 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS, CD experiments and ECD calculations. The structure of illibrefunone A (1) was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. All compounds were evaluated in terms of their anti-inflammatory potential on nitric oxide (NO) generation in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated murine RAW264.7 macrophages and murine BV2 microglial cells, antiviral activity against Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) and influenza virus A/Hanfang/359/95 (H3N2). Compounds 3 and 4 exhibited potent inhibitory effects on the production of NO in RAW 264.7 cells with IC50 values of 20.57 and 12.87 μM respectively, which were greater than those of dexamethasone (positive control). Compounds 1 and 4–6 exhibited weak activity against Coxsackievirus B3, with IC50 values ranging from 25.87 to 33.33 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Substantial evidence indicates that measuring leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is a useful tool that may be considered as a valuable biomarker of individual biological age, correlating with numerous chronic disorders. However, to date, there has been a lack of in-depth understanding regarding the current landscape and forthcoming developments in the LTL field. Therefore, this study aimed to utilize bibliometric methods to summarize the knowledge structure, current focus, and emerging directions in this field. Method: Scientific publications on LTL spanning the period from 2000 to 2022 were acquired from the Web of Science Core Collection database. Several bibliometric tools including CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and an online website were utilized for bibliometric analysis. The primary evaluations encompassed investigating the major contributors and their collaborative relationships among countries/regions, institutions, and authors, conducting co-citation analyses of authors, journals, as well as reference, examining reference bursts, as well as performing co-occurrence analyses of keywords. Results: There are 1818 papers with 66,668 citations identified. Both the annual publication and citation counts on LTL exhibited significant upward trends. The United States emerged as the most prominent contributor, as evidenced by the greatest volume of papers and the highest H-index value. University of California San Francisco and Aviv A were identified as the most productive institution and author in this domain, respectively. Reference analysis revealed that longitudinal study and mendelian randomization study are the most concerned research method in this field recently. Keywords analysis showed that the most concerned diseases in LTL fields were aging, inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, endocrine diseases, neurological and psychiatric diseases, and cancers. In addition, the following research directions such as "COPD", "mendelian randomization", "adiposity", "colorectal cancer", "National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHNES)", "telomerase reverse transcriptase", "pregnancy" have garnered increasing attention in recent times and hold the potential to evolve into research foci in the foreseeable future. Conclusion: This is the first bibliometric study that provides comprehensive overview of LTL research. The findings of this study could become valuable references for investigators to explore and address the current and emerging challenges in LTL research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardia gastric cancer (CGC) is prevalent in East Asia, and noninvasive, cost-effective screening methods are needed. This study investigated the diagnostic value of serum pepsinogen (PG), gastrin-17 (G-17), Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) antibodies, and proteomic profiling for CGC and precancerous lesions. We conducted a case-control study involving biopsy-confirmed patients with CGC (n = 60), low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (CLGD, n = 60), high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (CHGD, n = 64), and healthy controls (n = 120) matched for age and sex from high-incidence areas in China. Serological markers including PGI, PGII, G-17, and H. pylori were measured using ELISA and Western blot, while plasma protein markers were assessed using Olink® technology. The VSOLassoBag algorithm and nine machine learning (ML) algorithms were employed to identify crucial features and construct predictive models. Various evaluation metrics, including the area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve (AUC), were utilized to compare predictive performance. Elevated PGII levels, decreased PGR, and H. pylori infection were significantly associated with an increased risk of CGC and precancerous lesions (P for trend < 0.05). The eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model performed best in discriminative ability among the 9 ML models. Following feature reduction based on predictive performance, a final explainable XGBoost model was developed, incorporating five protein biomarkers (CDHR2, ICAM4, PTPRM, CDC27, and FLT1). This model exhibited excellent performance in distinguishing individuals with CGC and precancerous lesions from healthy controls (AUC = 0.931 for CGC, 0.867 for CHGD, and 0.763 for CLGD), surpassing the traditional serological marker-based model. This study underscores the diagnostic potential of serological markers and proteomic profiling in the detection of CGC. Further validation and exploration of combined biomarker approaches are warranted to enhance early diagnosis and improve outcomes in high-risk populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A ladder‐type rigid‐coplanar polymer with highly ordered molecular arrangement has been designed via a covalent cycloconjugation conformational strategy. Benefitting from the extended π‐electron delocalization in the highly aromatic ladder‐type polymeric backbone, the prepared polymer exhibits fast intra‐chain charge transport along the polymeric chain, realizing extraordinary proton‐storage capability in aqueous proton batteries.Affordable and safe aqueous proton batteries (APBs) with unique "Grotthuss mechanism," are very significant for advancing carbon neutrality initiatives. While organic polymers offer a robust and adaptable framework that is well‐suited for APB electrodes, the limited proton‐storage redox capacity has constrained their broader application. Herein, a ladder‐type polymer (PNMZ) has been designed via a covalent cycloconjugation conformational strategy that exhibits optimized electronic structure and fast intra‐chain charge transport within the high‐aromaticity polymeric skeleton. As a result, the polymer exhibits exceptional proton‐storage redox kinetics, which are evidenced by in‐operando monitoring techniques and theoretical calculations. It achieves a remarkable proton‐storage capacity of 189 mAh g−1 at 2 A g−1 and excellent long‐term cycling stability, with approximately 97.8 % capacity retention over 10,000 cycles. Finally, a high‐performance all‐polymer APB device has been successfully constructed with a desirable capacity retention of 99.7 % after 6,000 cycles and high energy density of 56.3 Wh kg−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A ladder‐type rigid‐coplanar polymer with highly ordered molecular arrangement has been designed via a covalent cycloconjugation conformational strategy. Benefitting from the extended π‐electron delocalization in the highly aromatic ladder‐type polymeric backbone, the prepared polymer exhibits fast intra‐chain charge transport along the polymeric chain, realizing extraordinary proton‐storage capability in aqueous proton batteries.Affordable and safe aqueous proton batteries (APBs) with unique "Grotthuss mechanism," are very significant for advancing carbon neutrality initiatives. While organic polymers offer a robust and adaptable framework that is well‐suited for APB electrodes, the limited proton‐storage redox capacity has constrained their broader application. Herein, a ladder‐type polymer (PNMZ) has been designed via a covalent cycloconjugation conformational strategy that exhibits optimized electronic structure and fast intra‐chain charge transport within the high‐aromaticity polymeric skeleton. As a result, the polymer exhibits exceptional proton‐storage redox kinetics, which are evidenced by in‐operando monitoring techniques and theoretical calculations. It achieves a remarkable proton‐storage capacity of 189 mAh g−1 at 2 A g−1 and excellent long‐term cycling stability, with approximately 97.8 % capacity retention over 10,000 cycles. Finally, a high‐performance all‐polymer APB device has been successfully constructed with a desirable capacity retention of 99.7 % after 6,000 cycles and high energy density of 56.3 Wh kg−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial distribution and data quality of curve number (CN) values determine the performance of hydrological estimations. However, existing CN datasets are constrained by universal-applicability hypothesis, medium resolution, and imbalance between specificity CN tables to generalized land use/land cover (LULC) maps, which hinder their applicability and predictive accuracy. A new annual CN dataset named CUSCN30, featuring an enhanced resolution of 30 meters and accounting for temporal variations in climate and LULC in the continental United States (CONUS) between 2008 and 2021, was developed in this study. CUSCN30 demonstrated good performance in surface runoff estimation using CN method when compared to observed surface runoff for the selected watersheds. Compared with existing CN datasets, CUSCN30 exhibits the highest accuracy in runoff estimation for both normal and extreme rainfall events. In addition, CUSCN30, with its high spatial resolution, better captures the spatial heterogeneity of watersheds. This developed CN dataset can be used as input for hydrological models or machine learning algorithms to simulate rainfall-runoff across multiple spatiotemporal scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Anji salamander (Hynobius amjiensis) is an endangered amphibian native primarily to China. Artificial breeding is crucial for its population growth, yet research on its reproduction remains limited. This study identified 25 early embryo stages and observed that these embryos contain less yolk compared to those of other salamanders or frogs. The Anji salamander employs a "mass escape" reproductive strategy, producing fewer but higher-quality offspring due to intense competition within its restricted breeding habitats. This research offers new insights into these salamnders' breeding biology and proposes methods to enhance breeding practices for conservation. Hynobius amjiensis, also known as the Anji salamander, is an amphibian species currently categorized as endangered due to its limited geographical distribution, primarily in China. To address the critical conservation status of this species, artificial breeding is essential for population expansion. However, progress in artificial breeding efforts has been hindered by the scarcity of research on the reproductive biology of the Anji salamander. In this study, we identified 25 distinct early stages of embryo development. Additionally, we observed that Anji salamander embryos contain a lesser amount of yolk compared to other salamanders or frogs. We further discovered that the Anji salamander employs a highly competitive reproductive strategy, producing a smaller number of high-quality offspring. This strategy aims to generate adaptive individuals through intense intraspecific competition, driven by three factors: extremely confined breeding habitats, a substantial number of eggs, and a reduced yolk content. We introduce the term "mass escape" to describe this strategy, which provides a novel perspective on cannibalization, focusing on the consumption of specific body parts rather than a single-individual activity. This study offers valuable insights into artificial breeding techniques designed to mitigate inherent intraspecific competitive pressure, thereby improving metamorphosis and survival rates. Additionally, it provides a comprehensive table detailing the pre-embryonic developmental stages of the Anji salamander. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Glioma classification affects treatment and prognosis. Reliable imaging methods for preoperatively evaluating gliomas are essential. Purpose: To evaluate tumor multiregional mean apparent propagator (MAP) features in glioma diagnosis and to compare those with diffusion‐kurtosis imaging (DKI). Study Type: Retrospective study. Subjects: 70 untreated glioma patients (31 LGGs (low‐grade gliomas), 34 women; mean age, 47 ± 12 years, training (60%, n = 42) and testing cohorts (40%, n = 28)). Field Strength/Sequence: 3‐T, diffusion‐MRI using q‐space Cartesian grid sampling with 11 different b‐values. Assessment: Tumor multiregional MAP (mean squared displacement (MSD); q‐space inverse variance (QIV); non‐Gaussianity (NG); axial/radial non‐Gaussianity (NGAx, NGRad); return‐to‐origin/axis/plane probability (RTOP, RTAP, and RTPP)); and DKI metrics (axial/mean/radial kurtosis (AK, MK, and RK)) on tumor parenchyma (TP) and peritumoral areas (PT) in histopathologically gliomas grading and genotyping were assessed. Statistical Tests: Mann–Whitney U; Kruskal–Wallis; Benjamini–Hochberg; Bonferroni‐correction; receiver operating curve (ROC) and area under curve (AUC); DeLong's test; Random Forest (RF). P value<0.05 was considered statistically significant after multiple comparisons correction. Results: Compared with LGGs, MSD, and QIV were significantly lower in TP, whereas NG, NGAx, NGRad, RTOP, RTAP, RTPP, and DKI metrics were significantly higher in HGGs (high‐grade gliomas) (P ≤ 0.007), as well as in isocitrate‐dehydrogenase (IDH)‐mutated than IDH‐wildtype gliomas (P ≤ 0.039). These trends were reversed for PT (tumor grades, P ≤ 0.011; IDH‐mutation status, P ≤ 0.012). ROC analysis showed that, in TP, DKI metrics performed best in TP (AUC 0.83), whereas in PT, RTPP performed best (AUC 0.77) in glioma grading. AK performed best in TP (AUC 0.77), whereas MSD and RTPP performed best in PT (AUC 0.73) in IDH genotyping. Further RF analysis with DKI and MAP demonstrated good performance in grading (AUC 0.91, Accuracy 82%) and IDH genotyping (AUC 0.87, Accuracy 79%). Data Conclusion: Tumor multiregional MAP features could effectively evaluate gliomas. The performance of MAP may be similar to DKI in TP, while in PT, MAP may outperform DKI. Level of Evidence: 4 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Vlasov foundation model and its variations belong to two-parameter elastic foundation beam models that can rationally reflect the displacement decrease law with increasing depth within the compressible elasticity layer. They are, however, only applicable for foundation beams resting on a single bearing stratum or horizontally layered soils. To meet the need to calculate slope anchor frames resting on nonsingle bearing strata or nonhorizontally layered soils that may often be encountered in practical engineering, a refined Vlasov model was presented in this paper. In this model, a general expression of the weighted thickness of the elasticity layer was established, and the corresponding expressions of the two parameters of soil resistance, as well as coefficient γ, were deduced. Meanwhile, it was found that by dividing the relative stiffness of beam–soil into two variables expressed with a logarithm, the calibration factor χP can be formulated by fitting its relationship with the two variables so that the problem of determining the thickness of the elasticity layer of the Vlasov model can be resolved. Based on the aforementioned, the finite-difference method was established considering the conditions of static equilibrium and compatible deformation of slope anchor frames. A corresponding computer program that can perform all operations was developed using Matlab (version 2019a). The three-dimensional finite-element method can truthfully simulate the slope anchor frame resting on nonsingle strata and obtain a high-precision numerical solution to this elastic mechanics problem. The example shows that the results by the finite-difference method based on the refined Vlasov model agreed well with those by the finite-element method, demonstrating the reliability of the finite-difference method. Furthermore, comparisons show that if a slope anchor frame resting on nonsingle bearing strata is simplified as a frame resting on a single bearing stratum like people used to do, it will lead to an overconservative or unsafe design result. The significance of this study lies in providing a valid and reliable approach for calculating the displacement and internal forces of slope anchor frames resting on nonsingle bearing strata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic patients often experience delayed wound healing due to impaired functioning of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) under high glucose (HG) conditions. This is because HG conditions trigger uncontrolled lipid peroxidation, leading to iron‐dependent ferroptosis, which is caused by glucolipotoxicity. However, natural flavonoid compound Orientin (Ori) possesses anti‐inflammatory bioactive properties and is a promising treatment for a range of diseases. The current study aimed to investigate the function and mechanism of Ori in HG‐mediated ferroptosis. A diabetic wound model was established in mice by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ), and HUVECs were cultured under HG to create an in vitro diabetic environment. The results demonstrated that Ori inhibited HG‐mediated ferroptosis, reducing levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), lipid peroxidation, and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS), while increasing decreased levels of malondialdehyde, lipid peroxidation, and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, as well as increased levels of glutathione (GSH). Ori treatment also improved the wound expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and angiogenesis markers, reversing the delayed wound healing caused by diabetes mellitus (DM). Additional investigations into the mechanism revealed that Ori may stimulate the nuclear factor‐erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2)/GPX4 signaling pathway. Silencing Nrf2 in HG‐cultured HUVECs negated the beneficial impact mediated by Ori. By stimulating the Nrf2/GPX4 signaling pathway, Ori may expedite diabetic wound healing by decreasing ferroptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium sulfide was produced in a plasma system by the reaction of plasma-ionized sulfur with lithium metal. Thermodynamic calculations and optical emission spectroscopy were used to investigate the chemical behavior and reaction mechanism of lithium metal in sulfur plasma atmosphere. The effects of radiofrequency (RF) power and radiofrequency (RF) time on the properties of lithium sulfide prepared by the cold plasma method were investigated. The macroscopic morphology, microscopic morphology, elemental distribution and phase of the sulfide product (lithium sulfide) were further tested and analyzed. The results show that under the conditions of power ≥ 210 W and time ≥ 15 min, Li2S2-free lithium sulfide with high purity is generated; with the enhancement of power, lithium oxide is transformed into lithium sulfide. Subsequently, its electrochemical performance as a battery anode was tested. The test obtained: the specific capacity of charging is up to 216.9 mAh/g, and the specific capacity of discharging is up to 182.8 mAh/g; the impedance has a double capacitance to resist arcing, which can be carried out normally in the charging and discharging process, and it has a certain degree of electrochemical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to analyze the effect of temperature changes on the shock initiation performance of HMX–based booster explosive, which consists of 95% HMX and 5% FPM2602 by weight, a temperature calibration test of acceptor was designed. The temperature changes in the booster at low and elevated temperatures under the constraint of steel sleeve were obtained. Based on the temperature calibration results, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) was selected as gap material to conduct a small scale gap test (SSGT) of HMX–based booster under different temperature conditions. The corresponding critical gap thickness was tested. Based on SSGT results at different temperatures, the shock initiation processes were simulated by adjusting parameters of ignition and growth reactive rate model. The critical gap thickness and critical initiation pressure of HMX–based booster at different temperatures were numerically predicted. By combining SSGT experimental data and simulation results, the attenuation law and fitting prediction formula of the critical initiation pressure of HMX–based booster were proposed. The mechanism of temperature effect on the shock sensitivity of HMX–based booster explosive was analyzed. The research results indicate that the critical gap thickness of HMX–based booster gradually increases with the rise in temperature, and the critical initiation pressure gradually decreases during the shock initiation process under the heating temperature conditions. In addition, the simulation results show that the heated HMX–based booster under steel constraints becomes more sensitive at high temperatures (>120 °C), while the cooled booster is more insensitive, but its critical initial pressure does not change significantly between 88 °C and 120 °C. The experimental and numerical prediction results are important for the shock initiation safety and design of an insensitive booster explosive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To describe how patients choose between primary care institutions (PCIs) and non-PCIs using rational choice theory from the perspective of survival rationality, economic rationality, and social rationality. Methods Multi-stage stratified sampling and convenience sampling were applied to select 1723 patients to conduct the questionnaire survey. Chi-square test and binary logistic regression were performed to analyze the factors associated with patients' choice of PCIs. Results In total 55.83% of 1723 patients would attend a PCIs for healthcare. The results of the univariate analysis revealed that patients who are female (58.46%, P  = .015), suffering from chronic diseases (56.26%, P  = .047), inpatients (67.58%, P  < .001), Beijing (59.62%, P  = .002), partial understanding of the family doctor contracting system (62.30%, P  < .001), and not understanding of the medical alliance policy (58.04%, P  = .031) had significantly higher probability of choosing PCIs. Logistic regression analysis showed that females were more unwilling to attend PCIs (odds ratio (OR) = 0.822, 95%CI: 0.676–0.999). Following survival rationality, patients without chronic diseases were more likely to attend PCIs (OR = 1.834, 95%CI: 1.029–3.268), and inpatients were more unlikely to attend PCIs (OR = 0.581, 95%CI: 0.437–0.774). From an economic rationality perspective, patients from the Fujian province were more likely to attend PCIs (OR = 1.424, 95%CI: 1.081–1.876). From a social rationality perspective, patients who partial understanding of the family doctor contracting system were more unlikely to attend PCIs (OR = 0.701, 95%CI: 0.551–0.892), and patients who partial and complete understanding of the medical alliance policy were more likely to attend PCIs (OR = 1.340, 95%CI: 1.064–1.687; OR = 1.485, 95%CI: 1.086–2.030). Conclusions Survival, economic, and social rationality are involved in patients' choice to attend PCIs. Compared to survival rationality and social rationality, economic rationality showed a lower association with patients' choice to attend PCIs. Medical institutions are recommended to adopt a "patient health-centered" approach when providing medical services and further optimize the family doctor contracting system and construction of medical alliances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For reservoir landslide, in addition to hydrological conditions, creep properties of soils play an important role in explaining the mechanisms behind landslide movement. When studying the creep characteristics of geotechnical materials in reservoir area, most of them only consider the influence of a single factor (i.e. confining pressure, water content or osmotic pressure) on the creep behavior at present. In order to better describe the creep behavior of clay–gravel composite, this paper considers the effects of the initial water content and the saturation-undersaturation cycle together on the creep properties, and introduces the time-damage function to establish a novel creep-damage constitutive model. Compared with the classical Burgers model, this model can well characterize the creep experimental data with high accuracy, especially in the accelerated creep stage. Then, FLAC3D software is used as a platform to realize the proposed model applied to the long-term stability analysis of Woshaxi landslide by using C + + language. Comparing the Burgers model by the calculation, the proposed model shows a better reflection of the effect of initial water content and the number of saturation-undersaturation cycles on creep as well as being able to describe the accelerated creep phase. It is hoped that this research can provide scientific and engineering application value for the mitigation of the disasters on the reservoir bank slope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) is a widely recognized and effective tool for monitoring meteorological droughts. However, existing SPEI datasets suffer from spatial discontinuity or coarse spatial resolution problems, which limits their applications at the local level for drought monitoring research. Therefore, we calculated the SPEI index at meteorological stations, combined with the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Precipitation (Pre), Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Land Surface Temperature (LST), ERA5‐Land Shortwave Radiation (SR), Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) Digital Elevation Model (DEM) datasets and Random Forest Regression (RFR) model, developed a high spatial resolution (1 km) SPEI (HSPEI) datasets with multiple time scales in mainland China from 2001 to 2022. Compared to other SPEI datasets, the HSPEI datasets have higher spatial resolution and can effectively identify the detailed characteristics of drought in mainland China from 2001 to 2022. Overall, the HSPEI datasets can be effectively applied to the research of different droughts in China from 2001 to 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental justice is an important safeguard for pollution control, and this paper is interested in its ability to promote carbon emission reduction. One unique facet of reinforcing local environmental justice involves the establishment of environmental courts by Intermediate People's Courts. Taking this as the starting point, this study constructs a quasi-natural experiment to investigate the strengthening of urban environmental justice. Analyzing empirical data from 283 prefecture-level cities in China spanning 2006 to 2019, we employ multi-period and spatial difference-in-differences approaches to probe the impact of environmental justice strengthening on carbon reduction. Our results indicate a substantial contribution of strengthened environmental justice to reducing carbon emissions. Specifically, the establishment of environmental courts can curtail carbon emissions by an estimated range of 11.7 to 12.9%. Also, the mechanism analysis underscores that the carbon reduction effect primarily arises from enhanced efficiency in processing environmental cases. Moreover, this effect is notably pronounced in regions with robust governmental environmental regulations. Notably, in areas with limited public environmental concern, environmental courts effectively complement existing environmental regulations. Furthermore, a significant positive spillover effect of environmental courts on carbon emission reduction is observed in geographically adjacent economic zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study integrates pharmacology databases with bulk RNA-seq and scRNA-seq to reveal the latent anti-PDAC capacities of BBR. Target genes of BBR were sifted through TargetNet, CTD, SwissTargetPrediction, and Binding Database. Based on the GSE183795 dataset, DEG analysis, GSEA, and WGCNA were sequentially run to build a disease network. Through sub-network filtration acquired PDAC-related hub genes. A PPI network was established using the shared genes. Degree algorithm from cytoHubba screened the key cluster in the network. Analysis of differential mRNA expression and ROC curves gauged the diagnostic performance of clustered genes. CYBERSORT uncovered the potential role of the key cluster on PDAC immunomodulation. ScRNA-seq analysis evaluated the distribution and expression profile of the key cluster at the single-cell level, assessing enrichment within annotated cell subpopulations to delineate the target distribution of BBR in PDAC. We identified 425 drug target genes and 771 disease target genes, using 57 intersecting genes to construct the PPI network. CytoHubba anchored the top 10 highest contributing genes to be the key cluster. mRNA expression levels and ROC curves confirmed that these genes showed good robustness for PDAC. CYBERSORT revealed that the key cluster influenced immune pathways predominantly associated with Macrophages M0, CD8 T cells, and naïve B cells. ScRNA-seq analysis clarified that BBR mainly acted on epithelial cells and macrophages in PDAC tissues. BBR potentially targets CDK1, CCNB1, CTNNB1, CDK2, TOP2A, MCM2, RUNX2, MYC, PLK1, and AURKA to exert therapeutic effects on PDAC. The mechanisms of action appear to significantly involve macrophage polarization-related immunological responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our work, serine-modified β-cyclodextrin (Ser-β-CD) was synthesized and a berberine hydrochloride (BBH)/Ser-β-CD inclusion complex (IC) was prepared using the freeze-drying method. Phase solubility studies showed that BBH and Ser-β-CD formed stable inclusion complexes in a stoichiometric ratio of 1 : 1. The IC was characterized using SEM and FT-IR analyses. The results of molecular docking showed that BBH was completely contained in the Ser-β-CD cavity and the binding energy was −7.87 kcal mol−1. The results of in vitro release studies indicated that BBH could be released slowly from the IC. In addition, the prepared Ser-β-CD and IC had good biocompatibility. The IC demonstrated excellent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Therefore, the BBH/Ser-β-CD IC has potential application prospects in biomedicine and food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]