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With the demand for the miniaturization and integration of wireless power transfer (WPT) systems, higher frequency is gradually becoming the trend; thus, the power electronic device has become one of the main reasons for limiting the development. Therefore, further research on high-frequency inverters and purposeful design according to the characteristics of WPT systems are of great significance to promote the development of high-frequency WPT technology. There is still no literature that summarizes all the inverter circuits that can be applied to WPT systems, which makes it extremely difficult to find an inverter that meets the designer's requirements. This paper reviews the high-frequency inverters for WPT systems, summarizes the derived topologies based on power amplifiers and H-bridge inverters, investigates the main factors restricting the development of high-frequency inverters, and analyzes the research directions for future development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pro-environmental behavior of tourists is an important guarantee for the sustainable development of ecotourism scenic spots. This article is based on 806 tourist survey data from two ecotourism scenic spots, making use of exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and the structural equation model (SEM) to explore the impact of tourist experience quality on tourists' pro-environmental behavior. The research findings indicate that (1) the quality of the tourist experience is an important factor affecting the formation of place attachment; (2) the quality of tourism experience directly and positively affects place dependence, and indirectly affects place identity through the mediating factor of place dependence; and (3) the direct impact of tourist experience quality on tourists' pro-environmental behavior is significant, with place attachment playing a mediating role. This article provides inspiration for scenic spots to encourage tourists to engage in pro-environmental behavior. In the process of stimulating tourists to engage in pro-environmental behaviors, ecotourism scenic spots should pay more attention to the tourist experiences and emotional experiences. Scenic spots should make more efforts to improve the quality of the tourist experience, so that tourists can develop a sense of dependence on ecotourism scenic spots, gradually form self-identification with the scenic spots, and engage in environmentally friendly behavior, helping to achieve the sustainable development of ecotourism scenic spots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooperative and self-enforceable water allocation is a key instrument to manage geopolitical conflict induced by water scarcity, which necessitates the cooperative willingness of the agents and considers their heterogeneity in geography, climate, hydrology, environment and social economy. Based on a multi-indicator system that contains asymmetric information on water volume contribution, current water consumption, water economic efficiency and efforts for eco-environmental protection, this study proposed a water allocation framework by combining the asymmetric power index approach with bankruptcy theory for solving the transboundary water allocation problem under scarcity. The proposed method was applied to the Yellow River Basin in northern China, which is mainly shared by nine provincial districts and frequently suffers from severe water shortages, and its results were compared with six alternative methods. The results highlight the necessity of quantifying agents' willingness to cooperate under the condition of asymmetric negotiation power when making decisions on transboundary water allocations. The proposed method allows for transboundary water allocations through simultaneous consideration of the agent's willingness to cooperate and asymmetric negotiation power, as well as disagreement allocation points, which ensure the stability, fairness and self-enforceability of allocation results. Therefore, it can offer practical and valuable decision-making insights for transboundary water management under water scarcity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piezoelectric materials can actively provide a bioelectric microenvironment by converting mechanical stimulations into electrical signals. Combining the excellent flexibility of piezoelectric polymers and the outstanding piezoelectric properties of piezoelectric ceramics, piezoelectric composites are attractive in tissue repair due to their high response to micromechanical stimulations. However, issues such as agglomeration, dielectric differences, and poor interfacial contact with polymers have limited the role of ceramics in improving the overall properties of the composites. In this work, functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (F-MWCNTs) are applied to disperse zinc oxide (ZnO) in the PVDF–TrFE matrix to prepare electrospun composite fiber films. Through the assistance of hydrogen bonding, F-MWCNTs act as bridges connecting ZnO nanoparticles with PVDF–TrFE, which improves the content and crystallinity of the β phase. Furthermore, this strategy enhances the local electric field and reduces dielectric differences, resulting in improved polarization and piezoelectric properties. Results show that the composite fiber film with 0.35 wt % F-MWCNTs could obtain an open-circuit voltage of up to 8.2 V, a β phase content of 83.36%, and a crystallinity of 57.63%. Meanwhile, due to the synergistic effect of F-MWCNTs and ZnO, the tensile strength and Young's modulus are increased from 3.5 and 11.0 to 6.6 and 19.49 MPa, respectively. Additionally, cellular experiments show that composite fiber films have good bioactivity and promote cell proliferation and adhesion, especially with 0.35 wt % F-MWCNTs. In conclusion, the composite fiber film possesses good piezoelectric and mechanical properties and enhances the cellular activity, making it a good tissue engineering scaffold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A three‐component strategy for the synthesis of β‐perfluoroalkyl allyl alcohols from 1,3‐dienes is developed. A diverse range of synthetically valuable β‐perfluoroalkyl allyl alcohols are obtained in moderate to high yields. Broad substrate scope and good functional group tolerance are observed. This method is also applicable to mono‐olefins and 1,3‐enynes. The control experiment results demonstrate that the hydroxyl group OH in the product comes from TBHP. In addition, the practicality and mild reaction conditions make these synthetic transformations attractive and valuable for organic synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the electric-drive-wheel (EDW) with idler gear. From the perspective of automotive engineering, the EDW is an integrated execution unit that combines the function of powertrain and suspension. As a result, the research on EDW involves the intersection of multiple disciplines. The evolution of idler gear configuration requires some geometric constraints. Under this premise, the longitudinal and vertical dynamic characteristics of the system were studied, respectively. There are several factors that influence the system performance, such as the gear parameters, the position of the electric motor, and the suspension K&C value. The principles of each parameter on the output indicators were studied, with an optimized plan and simulation comparison to check the correctness of theory. In the end, the prototype was equipped with a test bench, covering a wide range of working operations to examine the expected performance of EDW design. The step response test of the EDW result showed a balanced performance in transmission smoothness and responsiveness agility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article develops an event-triggered cooperative robust formation control scheme for nonlinear multi-agent systems with dynamic uncertainties via reinforcement learning. By formulating a modified value function for each agent, the cooperative robust formation control problem of uncertain multi-agent systems is transformed into a cooperative optimal formation control problem of its nominal plant. To save communication and computing resources, a novel triggering condition is developed for each agent, and the controller is renovated only when an event occurs. Subsequently, the event-triggered optimal formation control law of each agent is derived by solving the coupled Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation via single-critic structure. Furthermore, theoretical analysis indicates that the developed event-triggered cooperative robust formation control approach ensures the asymptotic stability of the formation error for each uncertain agent. Eventually, two simulation cases are adopted to confirm the effectiveness of the developed control approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and multi-slice spiral computed tomography angiography (MSCTA) characteristics for the diagnosis of infected AAA. Methods: This retrospective comparative study included patients who were diagnosed with AAA at our hospital between January 2014 and May 2023. Results: A total of 40 patients were included, comprising 20 with infected AAA and 20 with non-infected AAA. Patients with infected AAA were more likely to be younger (62.9 ± 10.1 vs. 70.0 ± 4.4 years, P = 0.007) and to present with fever [7 (35%) vs. 1 (5%), P = 0.026], pain [15 (75%) vs. 2 (10%), P < 0.001], higher C-reactive protein levels (60.4 ± 57.0 vs. 4.1 ± 2.9 mg/l, P = 0.005), and higher erythrocyte sedimentation rates (47.7 ± 23.4 vs. 15.2 ± 8.3 mm/h, P < 0.001) compared to those with non-infected AAA. Moreover, those with infected AAA exhibited significantly more eccentric saccular morphology [17 (85%) vs. 1 (5%), P = 0.002], a smaller longitudinal-transverse ratio (1.12 ± 0.33 vs. 2.33 ± 0.54, P = 0.001), thicker peri-aneurysmal soft tissue (2.29 ± 1.48 vs. 0.73 ± 0.55 cm, P < 0.001), more lobulated margins [18 (90%) vs. 1 (5%), P = 0.001], lower aortic calcification scores (49 vs. 56, P < 0.001), more pneumatosis [6 (30%) vs. 0 (0%), P = 0.014], more ruptures [15 (75%) vs. 5 (20%), P = 0.002], more blurred peri-abdominal aortic fat spaces [16 (80%) vs. 2 (10%), P = 0.001], more adjacent bone destruction [5 (25%) vs. 0 (0%), P = 0.025], more involvement of the psoas major muscle [8 (40%) vs. 1 (5%), P = 0.005], more lymphadenectasis [8 (40%) vs. 1 (5%), P = 0.020], and less tortuous aortas [2 (10%) vs. 9 (45%), P = 0.034] compared with those with non-infected AAA. Conclusion: The clinical manifestations and MSCTA characteristics may differ between infected and non-infected AAA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dissolution and bioavailability challenges posed by poorly water-soluble drugs continue to drive innovation in pharmaceutical formulation design. Nintedanib (NDNB) is a typical BCS class II drug that has been utilized to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Due to the low solubility, its oral bioavailability is relatively low, limiting its therapeutical effectiveness. It is crucial to enhance the dissolution and the oral bioavailability of NDNB. In this study, we focused on the preparation of amorphous solid dispersions (ASD) using hot melt extrusion (HME). The formulation employed Kollidon® VA64 (VA64) as the polymer matrix, blended with the NDNB at a ratio of 9:1. HME was conducted at temperatures ranging from 80 °C to 220 °C. The successful preparation of ASD was confirmed through various tests including polarized light microscopy (PLM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The in-vitro cumulative release of NDNB-ASD in 2 h in a pH 6.8 medium was 8.3-fold higher than that of NDNB (p < 0.0001). In a pH 7.4 medium, it was 10 times higher (p < 0.0001). In the in-vivo pharmacokinetic experiments, the area under curve (AUC) of NDNB-ASD was 5.3-fold higher than that of NDNB and 2.2 times higher than that of commercially available soft capsules (Ofev®) (p < 0.0001). There was no recrystallization after 6 months under accelarated storage test. Our study indicated that NDNB-ASD can enhance the absorption of NDNB, thus providing a promising method to improve NDNB bioavailability in oral dosages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fission yeast, a single-cell eukaryotic organism, shares many fundamental cellular processes with higher eukaryotes, including gene transcription and regulation, cell cycle regulation, vesicular transport and membrane trafficking, and cell death resulting from the cellular stress response. As a result, fission yeast has proven to be a versatile model organism for studying human physiology and diseases such as cell cycle dysregulation and cancer, as well as autophagy and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases. Given that viruses are obligate intracellular parasites that rely on host cellular machinery to replicate and produce, fission yeast could serve as a surrogate to identify viral proteins that affect host cellular processes. This approach could facilitate the study of virus–host interactions and help identify potential viral targets for antiviral therapy. Using fission yeast for functional characterization of viral genomes offers several advantages, including a well-characterized and haploid genome, robustness, cost-effectiveness, ease of maintenance, and rapid doubling time. Therefore, fission yeast emerges as a valuable surrogate system for rapid and comprehensive functional characterization of viral proteins, aiding in the identification of therapeutic antiviral targets or viral proteins that impact highly conserved host cellular functions with significant virologic implications. Importantly, this approach has a proven track record of success in studying various human and plant viruses. In this protocol, we present a streamlined and scalable molecular cloning strategy tailored for genome-wide and comprehensive functional characterization of viral proteins in fission yeast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) is an important factor affecting liver regeneration and functional recovery postoperatively. Many studies have suggested that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) contribute to hepatic tissue repair and functional recovery through paracrine mechanisms mediated by exosomes. Minipigs exhibit much more similar characteristics of the liver to those of humans than rodents. This study aimed to explore whether exosomes from adipose-derived MSCs (ADSCs-exo) could actively promote liver regeneration after hepatectomy combined with HIRI in minipigs and the role they play in the cell proliferation process. This study also compared the effects and differences in the role of ADSCs and ADSCs-exo in the inflammatory response and liver regeneration. The results showed that ADSCs-exo suppressed histopathological changes and reduced inflammatory infiltration in the liver; significantly decreased levels of ALT, TBIL, HA, and the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and CRP; increased levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and the pro-regeneration factors Ki67, PCNA, CyclinD1, HGF, STAT3, VEGF, ANG1, ANG2; and decreased levels of the anti-regeneration factors SOCS3 and TGF-β. These indicators above showed similar changes with the ADSCs intervention group. Indicating that ADSCs-exo can exert the same role as ADSCs in regulating inflammatory responses and promoting liver regeneration. Our findings provide experimental evidence for the possibility that ADSCs-exo could be considered a safe and effective cell-free therapy to promote regeneration of injured livers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The stress response of pig herds is a major problem in the pig breeding industry, and exploring methods to solve pig herds stress is of great significance. Probiotics have good anti-stress effects. Therefore, this study intervened in weaned piglets and pregnant sows with a composite probiotic consisting of lactobacillus plantarum, lactobacillus reuteri, and bifidobacterium longum, and found that the composite probiotic can alleviate oxidative stress in weaned piglets and pregnant sows by improving the barrier function of intestinal tissues and altering the structure of fecal microbiota in the pig group. This study investigated the efficacy of a composite probiotics composed of lactobacillus plantarum, lactobacillus reuteri, and bifidobacterium longum in alleviating oxidative stress in weaned piglets and pregnant sows. Evaluations of growth, oxidative stress, inflammation, intestinal barrier, and fecal microbiota were conducted. Results showed that the composite probiotic significantly promoted average daily gain in piglets (p < 0.05). It effectively attenuated inflammatory responses (p < 0.05) and oxidative stress (p < 0.05) while enhancing intestinal barrier function in piglets (p < 0.01). Fecal microbiota analysis revealed an increase in the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as faecalibacterium, parabacteroides, clostridium, blautia, and phascolarctobacterium in piglet feces and lactobacillus, parabacteroides, fibrobacter, and phascolarctobacterium in sow feces, with a decrease in harmful bacteria such as bacteroides and desulfovibrio in sow feces upon probiotic supplementation. Correlation analysis indicated significant negative associations of blautia with inflammation and oxidative stress in piglet feces, while treponema and coprococcus showed significant positive associations. In sow feces, lactobacillus, prevotella, treponema, and CF231 exhibited significant negative associations, while turicibacter showed a significant positive association. Therefore, the composite probiotic alleviated oxidative stress in weaned piglets and pregnant sows by modulating fecal microbiota composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Galileo satellite navigation system now provides initial services. With further satellite launches, the performance of Galileo will gradually improve, and new services will be introduced. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of Galileo Single Point Positioning (SPP) using different broadcast ephemeris data sources. This study investigates the completeness of Galileo navigation message records from different institutions. The results show that IGS provides the best completeness across different data sources (ECR > 70%), while IGN exhibits the lowest completeness. Analyze the proportions of different data sources within the Galileo navigation message in the broadcast ephemeris files provided by IGS during the study period. The proportions of FNAV_258, INAV_513, INAV_516, and INAV_517 during the study period are 25.83%, 24.76%, 23.61%, and 25.80%, respectively, suggesting better data completeness for FNAV_258 and INAV_517 and poorer completeness for INAV_513 and INAV_516. Finally, this study explores SPP solutions for GPS and Galileo systems using different data sources. The results indicate that a higher ECR corresponds to better positioning performance. Although GPS exhibits smaller error fluctuations and smoother positioning results, Galileo's SPP positioning accuracy surpasses that of GPS. The introduction of dual-frequency observations effectively reduces data dispersion and enhances vertical positioning accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stable boundary layer height (SBLH) is an important parameter to characterize the characteristics and vertical structure of the nocturnal lower atmosphere at night. The distribution of SBLH has obvious spatial and temporal differences, and there are many meteorological factors affecting the SBLH, but at present, there are few quantitative studies on the effects of near-surface meteorological factors on the SBLH in the desert hinterland. This study was based on GPS sounding balloon data, near-surface meteorological observation data, and ERA5 data from Tazhong Station (TZ) in the Taklamakan Desert (TD) collected in July 2017, 2019, and 2021. The variation characteristics of the SBLH and its relationship with near-surface meteorological factors are described. We quantitatively analyzed the degree of influence of near-surface meteorological factors affecting the SBLH and verified it using a model. The study also elucidates the possible formation mechanism of the SBLH in the TD hinterland. The SBLH in the TD hinterland trended upward in July 2017, 2019, and 2021, which is consistent with the changes in meteorological factors, according to the near-surface meteorological observation and ERA5 data. Therefore, we think that an inherent connection exists between near-surface meteorological factors and the SBLH. The results of correlation analysis show that complex internal connections and interactions exist among the meteorological factors near the ground; some thermal, dynamic, and other meteorological factors strongly correlate with the SBLH. Having established the change in SBLH (ΔSBLH) and in major thermal, dynamic, and other meteorological factors (Δ), the linear regression equation between them revealed that near-surface meteorological factors can affect the SBLH. The dynamic factors have a stronger influence on the ΔSBLH than thermal and other factors. The results of model validation based on the variable importance projection (VIP) also confirmed that the SBLH in the TD hinterland is jointly affected by dynamic and thermal factors, but the dynamic factors have a stronger impact. The mechanism through which the SBLH forms is relatively complex. At night, surface radiative cooling promotes the formation of a surface inversion layer, and low-level jets strengthen wind shear, reducing atmospheric stability. The combined effects of heat and dynamics play an important role in dynamically shaping the SBLH. This study helps us with accurately predicting and understanding the characteristics of the changes in and the factors influencing the SBLH in the TD hinterland, providing a reference for understanding the mechanism through which the SBLH forms in this area. At the same time, it provides a scientific basis for regional weather and climate simulation, meteorological disaster defense, air quality forecasting, and model parameterization improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sesame is one of the important oil seed crops grown for the high-quality oil. Its growth, development, and yield are significantly affected by the changing climate conditions. Evaluating the sesame climatic suitability is crucial to optimize sesame cultivation patterns and planting distribution, and to aid strategic decision making for future agricultural adaptation. Based on agricultural climatic suitability theory and the fuzzy mathematics method, in this study, we established the temperature, precipitation, sunshine, and comprehensive suitability model. Then, we assessed the spatial distribution and chronological changes in climatic suitability under two periods, 1978–1998 (earlier 21 years) and 1999–2019 (latter 21 years). The results showed that compared with the meteorological data in the earlier 21 years, the mean temperature during the sesame-growing season in the latter 21 years increased from 24.48 °C to 25.05 °C, and the cumulative precipitation increased from 744.38 mm to 754.81 mm; however, the sunshine hours decreased from 6.05 h to 5.55 h. Temperature, precipitation, sunshine, and comprehensive suitability during the sesame-growing season in the main sesame-producing areas of China all had a downward trend. The distribution of temperature and comprehensive suitability in the north is higher than that in the south, while the precipitation and sunshine suitability had an uneven distribution. The area of high-temperature suitability and high-precipitation suitability increased from 43.45 × 106 ha to 46.34 × 106 ha and from 3.20 × 106 ha to 7.97 × 106 ha, respectively, whereas the area of high-sunshine suitability decreased from 4.04 × 106 ha to 2.09 × 106 ha. The climate change was more beneficial to sesame cultivation in northeast Anhui where the area of high climatic suitability clearly expanded, and in eastern Jiangxi where the area of the general climatic suitability increased. In contrast, it is worth noting that the area of high climatic suitability in northern Henan decreased and the area of low climatic suitability in Hubei increased. Our results have important implications for improving agricultural production to cope with ongoing climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has posed unparalleled challenges due to its rapid transmission, ability to mutate, high mortality and morbidity, and enduring health complications. Vaccines have exhibited effectiveness, but their efficacy diminishes over time while new variants continue to emerge. Antiviral medications offer a viable alternative, but their success has been inconsistent. Therefore, there remains an ongoing need to identify innovative antiviral drugs for treating COVID-19 and its post-infection complications. The ORF3a (open reading frame 3a) protein found in SARS-CoV-2, represents a promising target for antiviral treatment due to its multifaceted role in viral pathogenesis, cytokine storms, disease severity, and mortality. ORF3a contributes significantly to viral pathogenesis by facilitating viral assembly and release, essential processes in the viral life cycle, while also suppressing the body's antiviral responses, thus aiding viral replication. ORF3a also has been implicated in triggering excessive inflammation, characterized by NF-κB-mediated cytokine production, ultimately leading to apoptotic cell death and tissue damage in the lungs, kidneys, and the central nervous system. Additionally, ORF3a triggers the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, inciting a cytokine storm, which is a major contributor to the severity of the disease and subsequent mortality. As with the spike protein, ORF3a also undergoes mutations, and certain mutant variants correlate with heightened disease severity in COVID-19. These mutations may influence viral replication and host cellular inflammatory responses. While establishing a direct link between ORF3a and mortality is difficult, its involvement in promoting inflammation and exacerbating disease severity likely contributes to higher mortality rates in severe COVID-19 cases. This review offers a comprehensive and detailed exploration of ORF3a's potential as an innovative antiviral drug target. Additionally, we outline potential strategies for discovering and developing ORF3a inhibitor drugs to counteract its harmful effects, alleviate tissue damage, and reduce the severity of COVID-19 and its lingering complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A radical‐induced dichloromethylation and concomitant 1,2‐aryl migration of allylic alcohols with CHCl3 is developed for the construction of γ,γ‐dichloroketones in moderate to good yields. We found that, for the para‐substituted unsymmetrical substrates, the more electron‐deficient aryl group migrates preferentially over the more electron‐rich aryl group. Moreover, chlorocyclopropanes could be obtained from allyl alcohols in one‐pot manner through radical‐addition/1,2‐aryl migration/nucleophilic substitution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over 38 million people worldwide are living with HIV/AIDS, and more than half of them are affected by HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Such disorders are characterized by chronic neuroinflammation, neurotoxicity, and central nervous system deterioration, which lead to short- or long-term memory loss, cognitive impairment, and motor skill deficits that may show gender disparities. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Our previous study suggested that HIV-1 infection and viral protein R (Vpr) upregulate the SUR1-TRPM4 channel associated with neuroinflammation, which may contribute to HAND. The present study aimed to explore this relationship in a mouse model of HAND. This study employed the HIV transgenic Tg26 mouse model, comparing Tg26 mice with wildtype mice in various cognitive behavioral and memory tests, including locomotor activity tests, recognition memory tests, and spatial learning and memory tests. The study found that Tg26 mice exhibited impaired cognitive skills and reduced learning abilities compared to wildtype mice, particularly in spatial memory. Interestingly, male Tg26 mice displayed significant differences in spatial memory losses (p < 0.001), while no significant differences were identified in female mice. Consistent with our early results, SUR1-TRPM4 channels were upregulated in Tg26 mice along with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and aquaporin 4 (AQP4), consistent with reactive astrocytosis and neuroinflammation. Corresponding reductions in neurosynaptic responses, as indicated by downregulation of Synapsin-1 (SYN1) and Synaptophysin (SYP), suggested synaptopathy as a possible mechanism underlying cognitive and motor skill deficits. In conclusion, our study suggests a possible relationship between SUR1-TRPM4-mediated neuroinflammation and synaptopathy with impairments of learning and memory in mice with HAND. These findings could help to develop new therapeutic strategies for individuals living with HAND. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric Vehicle (EV) wireless power transfer technology is an excellent solution to propel EVs forward. The existing wireless power transfer technology for EVs based on Inductive Power Transfer (IPT) technology has the drawbacks of large size, high weight, and high eddy current loss, limiting the further application of this technology. Capacitive Power Transfer (CPT) technology, with its advantages of low cost and light weight, has attracted widespread focus in recent years and has great potential in the field of EV wireless power transfer. This paper begins with the principle of CPT, introduces the potential and development history of CPT technology in the field of EV wireless power transfer, and then reviews the coupling mechanism and resonance compensation network of the CPT system to satisfy the requirements of EV wireless power transfer, including the coupling mechanism of EV static power transfer and dynamic power transfer, and the high-performance resonance compensation network to the requirements of EV wireless power transfer. Finally, this paper reviews the existing problems of CPT technology in the field of EV wireless power transfer and summarizes its future development directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A catalyst-free 1,2-difunctionalization of 1,3-dienes with CHCl3 and TBHP in the presence of NEt3 to give the dichloromethylhydroxylation products was developed. Various substituents on the aryl ring of the dienes tolerated the reactions and gave the corresponding products in moderate to good yields. When Na2CO3 was employed as the base, the key intermediate α-amino radical could not be formed; therefore, 1,2-peroxyhydroxylation products were obtained instead. This protocol provides an effective and functional group tolerant strategy for diene 1,2-difunctionalization, thus providing great potential for further functionalization and modification of synthetic molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land–atmosphere interactions are influenced by the earth's complex underlying subsurface, which in turn indirectly affects atmospheric motion and climate change. Human activities are increasingly exerting an influence on desert ecosystems, and artificial green land with clear functional orientation has been established in many desert areas. Consequently, the previously dominant, shifting, sand-covered, underlying surface in these desert regions is gradually transforming. This transformation has significant implications for the characteristics of land–atmosphere interactions, causing them to deviate from their original state. At present, existing studies still have not presented a systematic understanding of this change and have ignored the impact of human activities on land–atmosphere interactions in artificial green land. To address these research gaps, this study specifically targets artificial green land in the Tazhong region of Taklamakan Desert. We carried out observation experiments on land–atmosphere interactions in three different functional units from outside to inside: natural shifting sands, the shelter forest, and the living area. We also analyzed the differences and attribution of land–atmosphere interactions characteristics of different functional units. Compared with the natural shifting sands, the daily average maximum values of wind speed in the shelter forest decreased by 78%, and the daily average maximum air temperature and soil (0 cm) temperature decreased by 2.6 °C and 7 °C, respectively. Additionally, the soil moisture level was significantly increased throughout the green land due to the shelter forest. The surface albedo experienced a decrease, with an annual average of 0.21. Furthermore, the aerodynamic roughness and bulk transport coefficient increased by two orders of magnitude. The daily average maximum values of sensible heat flux and soil heat flux (G05) decreased by 18.7% and 75%, respectively, and the daily average maximum value of latent heat flux increased by 70.3%. This effectively improved the microclimate environment of the green land. The living area was greatly reduced by the shelter forest coverage and influenced by the buildings. Consequently, the environmental improvement was not as large as it was inside the shelter forest. However, it still provided a good shelter for production and living in the desert area. Throughout the year, a total of 4.60 × 105 t water was consumed through evapotranspiration in the artificial green land. The findings of this study have the potential to enhance our comprehension of land–atmosphere interactions in desert regions, thereby offering valuable insights for the establishment and effective management of artificial desert green lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Laminitis is a serious hoof disease in dairy cows, which causes lameness and a reduction in milk production. It causes huge economic loss to dairy industries worldwide. However, its pathogenesis remains with a limited study. Autophagy may play a role in the pathogenesis of laminitis in dairy cows. In this experiment, the autophagy status in the laminar tissue of dairy cows with oligofructose (OF)-induced laminitis was examined at the gene and protein level. Increased gene expression levels of ATG5, ATG12, and Beclin1 were observed in the OF group's laminar tissues in dairy cows. However, gene expression levels of P62 and mTOR were decreased, while the protein expression level of Beclin1 was increased. In addition, the decreased protein expression level of LC3II and P62 were observed in the OF group's laminar tissues in dairy cows. These results indicated that the imbalanced gene and protein level condition of autophagy-related markers may be the basic cause for the basement membrane detachment from the epidermal lamellae, which confirmed that autophagy was enhanced in the laminar tissues by OF in treated dairy cows. This study was aimed at determining the autophagy activity in the laminar tissue of dairy cows with oligofructose-induced laminitis. Twelve healthy non-pregnant Holstein cows were randomly divided into two groups of six cows each, entitled the control group and the oligofructose overload group (OF group), respectively. At 0 h, cows in the OF group were gavaged with oligofructose (17 g/kg BW) dissolved in warm deionized water (20 mL/kg BW) through an oral rumen tube, and the dairy cows in the control group were gavaged with the same volume of deionized water by the same method. At −72 h before, as well as 0 h, 6 h, 12 h, 18 h, 24 h, 36 h, 48 h, 60 h, and 72 h after perfusion, clinical evaluations of both groups were monitored. After 72 h, the laminar tissues of the dairy cows in both groups were collected to examine the genes and proteins. The gene expression of ATG5, ATG12, and Beclin1 significantly increased (p < 0.05), whereas that of P62 and mTOR significantly decreased (p < 0.01) in the OF group relative to the control group. The protein expression of Beclin-1 significantly increased (p < 0.05), while that of LC3II significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in the OF group relative to the control group. However, the protein expression of P62 non-significantly reduced (p > 0.05) in the OF group comparative to the control group. Furthermore, the distribution of the Beclin1 protein in the laminar tissue significantly increased (p < 0.01), while that of the P62 protein significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in the OF group than the control group. These findings indicate that the imbalanced gene and protein-level status of autophagy-related markers may be the basic cause for the failure of the epidermal attachment. However, a more detailed gene and protein-level study is needed to further clarify the role of autophagy in the pathogenesis of bovine laminitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bitterness is one of the basic tastes, and sensing bitterness plays a significant role in mammals recognizing toxic substances. The bitter taste of food and oral medicines may decrease consumer compliance. As a result, many efforts have been made to mask or decrease the bitterness in food and oral pharmaceutical products. The detection of bitterness is critical to evaluate how successful the taste-masking technology is, and many novel taste-sensing systems have been developed on the basis of various interaction mechanisms. In this review, we summarize the progress of bitterness response mechanisms and the development of novel sensors in detecting bitterness ranging from commercial electronic devices based on modified electrodes to micro-type sensors functionalized with taste cells, polymeric membranes, and other materials in the last two decades. The challenges and potential solutions to improve the taste sensor quality are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using potentially best available rainfall data sets for the entire country of Japan (spatial scales of 1‐ and 20‐km), we analyze the 1–24 hr and city‐scale (1–400 km2) extreme rainfalls for both current (2006–2020) and future periods (2081–2109) at 1.5 K global warming scenario, complementing previous work that focuses on either coarse spatial and temporal scales or other warming scenarios (e.g., RCP and 2 K warming scenarios). A peak‐over‐threshold (POT)‐based approach is applied to compute areal reduction factor (ARF) for subsequently establishing intensity‐duration‐area‐frequency (IDAF) curves. Our results reveal that ARF values generally decrease with increasing area size and increase with longer duration and are affected by multiple underlying physical phenomena. Moreover, we find a greater increase in the rainfall intensities for shorter durations and higher return periods, ranging from 9.4% (1‐hr) to 6.2% (24‐hr), averaged for all return periods and 8.3% (25‐year) to 7.3% (2‐year), averaged for all rainfall durations. Spatially, extreme rainfall intensities are projected to increase by 8.9% in northern Japan (albeit with a less intense rainfall intensity in the current period), which is greater than the rest of the country (6.8%), underscoring the need to focus more on infrastructure designs in northern Japan. The projected IDAF curves further display an increase in the frequency of extreme events at city‐scale, for example, 25‐year extreme rainfall events in 2006–2020 would likely be 5‐10‐year events in 2081–2109. Our results with the state‐of‐the‐art data and implementable approach can be utilized for policymaking to reduce the warming‐induced risks in Japan and beyond. Key Points: For the first time, we analyze the city‐scale and sub‐daily extreme rainfall for the entire country of Japan by using high‐quality data setsAreal reduction factor values generally decrease with increasing area size and increase with longer duration and are affected by multiple physical phenomenaUnder 1.5 K warming, extreme rainfall will increase more for shorter durations and higher return periods, especially in northern Japan [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the vertical structures of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and ice-nucleating particle (INP) number concentrations in desert source regions is crucial for examining dust-cloud interactions and other related impacts. To explore the vertical profiles of the CCN and INP number concentrations and their possible atmospheric–dynamic influence factors at the center of the Taklimakan Desert, intensive observations were conducted by employing a ground-based polarization Raman lidar, sounding balloons, and a sun photometer in Tazhong (83.39° E, 38.58° N, 1103 m above sea level) during the summer of 2019. Based on the GRASP algorithm, the extinction-to-volume conversion factor of dust aerosols was 0.85 × 10−12 Mmm3 m−3, and the extinction-to-number conversion factor was predicted to be 0.20 Mm cm−3 on the basis of the sun photometer observations. Thus, the vertical CCN and INP number concentration profiles obtained with different parameterization schemes in the presence of various pollution levels were calculated by combining dust extinction coefficients retrieved by lidar and meteorological data observed by sounding balloon observations. The achieved results indicated that the CCN number concentration varied from 10−2 to 102 cm−3 and decreased from ground level to 12 km with an average value of 36.57 cm−3 at the 10–12 km height range, while the INP number concentration based on parameterization schemes D10 and D15 mainly varied from 10−1 to 102 L−1 and from 1 L−1 to 103 L−1, with average values of 3.50 L−1 and 7.80 L−1, respectively. Moreover, we observed a strong relationship between the INP number concentration of scheme D10 and the wind speed, with an R2 value of 0.72, but a weak relationship between the CCN number concentration and the relative humidity in the boundary layer, with a Spearman's rank correlation coefficient R2 value of 0.38. The present study provides original and valuable information regarding the CCN and INP number concentrations and their related influencing factors at the center of the Taklimakan Desert and can improve our understanding of the vertical distributions of dust–cloud–atmosphere dynamic interactions, as well as of the roles of dust aerosols in the desert hydrological cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of agricultural robots and the promotion of agricultural production automation are important means to alleviate the shortage of agricultural labor. Fruit and vegetable detection is a prerequisite for accurate harvesting by robots. It directly determines the efficiency and quality of harvesting operations. In order to meet the requirements of target positioning and recognition of tomato harvesting robots, this paper studies tomato recognition technology based on YOLOv3 convolutional neural network algorithm. And the tomato detection process of the YOLOv3 model is presented. The YOLOv3 model training dataset is constructed based on greenhouse tomato plants. The test results show that the model based on the YOLOv3 convolutional neural network has a better detection effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pine wilt disease (PWD) is one of the most destructive forest diseases in the world. Therefore, timely monitoring of PWD is essential to the preservation of the ecological environment. However, the complex topography of PWD-outbreak locations affords many limitations in the manual detection of the disease. The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and deep learning technology to detect PWD-infected trees has gained popularity in recent years. In this study, we configured the You Only Look Once version 3 (YOLOv3) model according to the characteristics of the three disease stages of PWD and proposed an improved model called Effi_YOLO_v3. The results revealed that the improved model achieved good detection performance. The proposed model yielded a mean average precision (mAP) of 94.39%, and the classification of the different infection stages was relatively accurate. The recall values for the classifications of trees in the early-infection, late-infection, and death stages were 89.15%, 86.13%, and 86.77%, respectively. This indicates that the model offers good applicability in detecting different stages of PWD in trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The technology of cotton defoliation is essential for mechanical cotton harvesting. Agricultural unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spraying has the advantages of low cost, high efficiency and no mechanical damage to cotton and has been favored and widely used by cotton planters in China. However, there are also some problems of low cotton defoliation rates and high impurity rates caused by unclear spraying amounts of cotton defoliants. The chemical rate recommendation and application should be based upon crop canopy volume rather than on land area. Plant height and leaf area index (LAI) is directly connected to plant canopy structure. Accurate dynamic monitoring of plant height and LAI provides important information for evaluating cotton growth and production. The traditional method to obtain plant height and LAI was s a time-consuming and labor-intensive task. It is very difficult and unrealistic to use the traditional measurement method to make the temporal and spatial variation map of plant height and LAI of large cotton fields. With the application of UAV in agriculture, remote sensing by UAV is currently regarded as an effective technology for monitoring and estimating plant height and LAI. Results: In this paper, we used UAV RGB photos to build dense point clouds to estimate cotton plant height and LAI following cotton defoliant spraying. The results indicate that the proposed method was able to dynamically monitor the changes in the LAI of cotton at different times. At 3 days after defoliant spraying, the correlation between the plant height estimated based on the constructed dense point cloud and the measured plant height was strong, with R 2 and RMSE values of 0.962 and 0.913, respectively. At 10 days after defoliant spraying, the correlation became weaker over time, with R 2 and RMSE values of 0.018 and 0.027, respectively. Comparing the actual manually measured LAI with the estimated LAI based on the dense point cloud, the R 2 and RMSE were 0.872 and 0.814 and 0.132 and 0.173 at 3 and 10 days after defoliant spraying, respectively. Conclusions: Dense point cloud construction based on UAV remote sensing is a potential alternative to plant height and LAI estimation. The accuracy of LAI estimation can be improved by considering both plant height and planting density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a reconfigurable double‐sided inductor‐capacitor‐capacitor (LCC)‐based data transfer method for wireless power transfer (WPT) system is proposed. The power and the data are, respectively, transferred through the orthogonal decoupled inductive links, and thus, the interference between the power transfer link and the data transfer link can be eliminated. Dual‐resonant frequency is used to exchange data in the binary frequency‐shift keying (2FSK) modulation. The performance of the reconfigurable LCC compensation topology is explored, and the design method is presented to improve the data transfer rate and to guarantee the similar data transfer characteristics under the two different frequencies. Thus, a stable data transfer can be guaranteed irrespective of the data type. The power transfer link and data transfer link are, separately, analyzed. Together with the well‐designed parameters, 512 W power with 115.2 kbps transfer rate half‐duplex communication is obtained, and the direct current–direct current (DC–DC) efficiency reaches 80.44%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the relationship among summer atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) over the Taklimakan Desert (TD), its land surface parameters and large scale meteorological field, the Urumqi Institute of Desert Meteorology of China Meteorological Administration conducted a comprehensive observation of boundary layer in Tazhong, the hinterland of TD from July 1 to 31, 2016. The correlations between the ABL height and surface sensible heat, latent heat, air temperature, turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and buoyancy term are analyzed by using the observed GPS sounding data, the surface layer micro meteorological data in the hinterland of the TD and ERA5 reanalysis data so as to study the correlation of the ABL height and Eurasian circulation field. The research results indicate: (1) The height of summer ABL over the TD does not fully correspond with the variation tendency of surface sensible heat flux. In addition to surface sensible heat, large scale advection and residual mixed layer (RML) are also crucial factor influencing ABL. (2) The surface TKE over the TD is consistent with ABL height variation, with the correlation coefficient of 0.62. Hence the equation of ABL height and TKE is expressed as: Y = 1609.2X4 – 12,828X3 + 35,617X2 –39,514X + 15,858. (3) When the ABL height over the TD is quite high, 500 hPa altitude in Xinjiang is mostly controlled by anticyclone circulation, and the easterly low level jet (LLJ) tends to be formed at 850 hPa the next night. (4) The high correlation areas of summer ABL height over the TD and Eurasian temperature field are Xinjiang and Balkash Lake region. Significant positive correlation is identified between the ABL height and the temperature field at 850, 700, and 500 hPa of the above regions. The maximum correlation coefficient reaches 0.7. The study deepens the understanding of the relationship among the ABL process over the TD, land surface parameters and Eurasian circulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnetic coupling resonant wireless power transfer (MCR-WPT) system is considered to be the most promising wireless power transfer (WPT) method because of its considerable transmission power, high transmission efficiency, and acceptable transmission distance. For achieving magnetic concentration, magnetic cores made of magnetic materials are usually added to MCR-WPT systems to enhance the coupling performance. However, with the rapid progress of WPT technology, the traditional magnetic materials gradually become the bottleneck that restricts the system power density enhancement. In order to meet the electromagnetic characteristics requirements of WPT systems, high-performance Mn-Zn and Ni-Zn ferrites, amorphous, nanocrystalline, and metamaterials have been developed rapidly in recent years. This paper introduces an extensive review of the magnetic materials of WPT systems, concluding with the state-of-the-art WPT technology and the development and application of high-performance magnetic materials. In addition, this study offers an exclusive reference to researchers and engineers who are interested in learning about the technology and highlights critical issues to be addressed. Finally, the potential challenges and opportunities of WPT magnetic materials are presented, and the future development directions of the technology are foreseen and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes an asymmetric magnetic coupler using the horizontal magnetic field to realize the conformal and lightweight unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) side pickup mechanism and solve the problems of rotation misalignment and horizontal offset of UAVs. The novel structure uses multiple groups of series circular coils as the transmitting coil to construct a uniform near harness horizontal magnetic field. The solenoid structure covered with flexible magnetic material is used as the receiver, which is attached to the UAV landing gear. A 200-W prototype is produced to validate the proposed structure. The system can maintain smooth mutual inductance with a dc–dc efficiency of 90% under a ±20 mm offset and free-rotation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel dynamic adaptive unstructured mesh (DAUM) algorithm is proposed to solve incompressible multi‐object relative motion (MORM). The DAUM algorithm, consisting of exponential function deformation, adaptive edge swapping, and area Laplace smoothing, can greatly improve dynamic mesh robustness and perfectly overcome mesh skewness. The core of DAUM is the adaptive edge swapping inspired by Delaunay triangulation, which is distinguished from traditional edge swapping. The adaptive edge swapping can fully consider the relationship of neighbor elements only using Delaunay triangulation. Meanwhile, the implementation and reliability of adaptive edge swapping are better than the traditional edge swapping method due to eliminating the interference of the non‐convex polygon, so more code remedies can be avoided. Using the DAUM, none of the vertices is inserted or deleted so that the manipulation of the dynamic mesh is easily implemented and maintains computational efficiency in the process of mesh motion. Three representative geometries are used to assess the performance of the DAUM in MORM. To systematically analyze the advantages of DAUM, two relatively moving cylinders have been numerically investigated in incompressible flow. The inline force and lift force profiles on two cylinders are obtained and analyzed by using the flow field information. Three interaction stages are divided based on the parameter G and the interactional intensity of two inner anticlockwise vortices is considered as the division criteria. At the running process of the DAUM algorithm, the dynamic mesh quality is well controlled and remains in the high‐quality range based on the aspect ratio (AR) criterion. The results indicate that the proposed DAUM algorithm can properly solve the difficulties caused by MORM, especially for period oscillation motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy is an emerging and effective approach to the treatment of gastric cancer (GC). However, the low response rate of GC patients to ICI therapy is a major limitation of ICI therapy. We investigated the transcriptomic signature of immune genes in GC could provide a comprehensive understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and identify a valuable biomarker to predict the response of GC patients receiving immunotherapy. We performed the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to determine immune-related hub genes that differentially expressed in the GC dataset based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). After that, univariate and multivariate Cox regression was performed to recognize prognostic genes associated with overall survival and to develop an immune-related gene prognostic index (IRGPI). Furthermore, we explored the possible correlation between IRGPI and immune cell infiltration and immunotherapy efficacy. Notably, IRGPI can predict the prognosis of GC patients, as well as the response to immunotherapy. IRGPI as an immune-related prognostic biomarker might bring some potential implications for immunotherapy strategies in GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a detailed analysis of the safety of human bodies in the electromagnetic field generated by inductive power transfer (IPT) systems designed for kitchen appliances. Comparisons of basic and reference limit values of various safety standards are investigated through theoretical circuit analysis and extensive simulation studies. Simulation models of human bodies along with an IPT system for kitchen appliances are established to reveal the effect of the electromagnetic field on the human body. Corresponding experiments are conducted via constructing a configuration of the designed IPT system and simulating the standing position. Both experimental and analytical results indicate that it is easier to fulfill international safety standards by increasing the operating frequency of the IPT system for kitchen appliances, and hence, the safety of human bodies can be effectively improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fission yeast can be used as a cell-based system for high-throughput drug screening. However, higher drug concentrations are often needed to achieve the same effect as in mammalian cells. Our goal here was to improve drug sensitivity so reduced drugs could be used. Three different methods affecting drug uptakes were tested using an FDA-approved HIV-1 protease inhibitor (PI) drug Darunavir (DRV). First, we tested whether spheroplasts without cell walls increase the drug sensitivity. Second, we examined whether electroporation could be used. Although small improvements were observed, neither of these two methods showed significant increase in the EC50 values of DRV compared with the traditional method. In contrast, when DRV was tested in a mutant strain PR836 that lacks key proteins regulating cellular efflux, a significant increase in the EC50 was observed. A comparison of nine FDA-approved HIV-1 PI drugs between the wild-type RE294 strain and the mutant PR836 strain showed marked enhancement of the drug sensitivities ranging from an increase of 0.56 log to 2.48 logs. Therefore, restricting cellular efflux through the adaption of the described fission yeast mutant strain enhances the drug sensitivity, reduces the amount of drug used, and increases the chance of success in future drug discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the design of inductive power transfer (IPT) systems for multi-load applications, the versatility of the coupling structure and the choice of parameter values are crucial due to the diversity of load appliance types and operating conditions. In this paper, based on the features of various coupling structures, the equivalent circuit models of four topologies, namely single-input single-output (SISO), single-input multiple-output (SIMO), multiple-input single-output (MISO) and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), are established, from which general transfer characteristics are obtained and analyzed. Based on the series–series (S/S) compensation topology, a set of design principles for IPT circuits satisfying various output requirements in a multi-load environment is presented. Moreover, a control strategy to address the impedance matching issue and to facilitate communication between the primary and secondary sides is proposed. The proposed control strategy is experimentally validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vertical structure of dust properties in desert sources is crucial for evaluating their long-range transportation and radiative forcing. To investigate vertical profiles of dust optical properties in the Taklimakan Desert, we conducted ground-based polarization Raman lidar measurements in Tazhong (83.39°E, 38.58°N, 1103 m above sea level), located at the center of the Taklimakan Desert in the summer of 2019. The lidar system developed by Lanzhou University for continuous network observation is capable of measuring polarization at 532 and 355 nm and detecting Raman signals at 387, 407, and 607 nm. The results indicate that dust aerosols in the central Taklimakan Desert were regularly lifted over 6 km during the summer with a mass concentration of 400–1000 µg m−3, while the majority of the dust remained restricted within 2 km. Moreover, the height of the boundary layer can reach 5–6 km in the afternoon under the strong convention. Above 3 km, dust is composed of finer particles with an effective radius (Reff.) less than 3 μm and a Ångström exponent (AE) related to the extinction coefficient (AEE)532,355 greater than 4; below 3 km, however, dust is dominated by coarser particles. In addition, the particle depolarization ratios (PDR) of Taklimakan dust are 0.32 ± 0.06 at 532 nm and 0.27 ± 0.04 at 355 nm, while the lidar ratios (LRs) are 49 ± 19 sr at 532 nm and 43 ± 12 sr at 355 nm. This study firstly provides information on dust vertical structure and its optical properties in the center of the desert, which may aid in further evaluating their associated impacts on the climate and ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient Tf2O‐mediated regioselective C(sp2)−H sulfenylation of enaminones has been described. Methyl sulfoxides are employed as sulfur sources to react with different types of enaminones under mild reaction conditions, providing a straightforward approach for the synthesis of β‐amino sulfides in up to 97% yield via one‐pot manner. Moreover, this sulfenylation proceeded smoothly with oxidant‐free and metal‐free. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has shocked the world due to its persistence, COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality, and the high mutability of the virus. One of the major concerns is the emergence of new viral variants that may increase viral transmission and disease severity. In addition to mutations of spike protein, mutations of viral proteins that affect virulence, such as ORF3a, also must be considered. The purpose of this article is to review the current literature on ORF3a, to summarize the molecular actions of SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a, and its role in viral pathogenesis and COVID-19. ORF3a is a polymorphic, multifunctional viral protein that is specific to SARS-CoV/SARS-CoV-2. It was acquired from β-CoV lineage and likely originated from bats through viral evolution. SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a is a viroporin that interferes with ion channel activities in host plasma and endomembranes. It is likely a virion-associated protein that exerts its effect on the viral life cycle during viral entry through endocytosis, endomembrane-associated viral transcription and replication, and viral release through exocytosis. ORF3a induces cellular innate and pro-inflammatory immune responses that can trigger a cytokine storm, especially under hypoxic conditions, by activating NLRP3 inflammasomes, HMGB1, and HIF-1α to promote the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. ORF3a induces cell death through apoptosis, necrosis, and pyroptosis, which leads to tissue damage that affects the severity of COVID-19. ORF3a continues to evolve along with spike and other viral proteins to adapt in the human cellular environment. How the emerging ORF3a mutations alter the function of SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a and its role in viral pathogenesis and COVID-19 is largely unknown. This review provides an in-depth analysis of ORF3a protein's structure, origin, evolution, and mutant variants, and how these characteristics affect its functional role in viral pathogenesis and COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although osteoarthritis (OA) significantly affects the quality of life of the elderly, there is still no effective treatment strategy. The standardized Ginkgo biloba L. extract preparation has been shown to have a wide range of therapeutic effects. Bilobalide, a unique ingredient of Ginkgo biloba , has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant pharmacological properties, but its mechanism of action on OA remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of bilobalide on the development of OA through in vivo and in vitro experiments, as well as its potential anti-inflammatory mechanisms. The in vitro experiments demonstrated that bilobalide significantly inhibited the production of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13) in ATDC5 chondrocytes induced by Interleukin-1β (IL-1β). At the molecular level, bilobalide induced chondrocyte autophagy by activating the AMPK/SIRT1/mTOR signaling pathway, which increased the expression of autophagy-related Atg genes, up-regulated the expression of LC3 protein, and reduced the expression of the p62 protein. In vivo , bilobalide exerted significant anti-inflammatory and anti-extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation effects in a rat model of post-traumatic OA (PTOA) induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT). Bilobalide could relieve joint pain in PTOA rats, inhibit the expression of iNOS and COX-2 protein in cartilage via the AMPK/SIRT1/mTOR pathway, and reduce the level of ECM degradation biomarkers in serum. In conclusion, bilobalide exhibits vigorous anti-inflammatory activity, presenting it as an interesting potential therapeutic agent for OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual windings parallel (DWP) coils are often used in high‐power wireless charging applications to reduce current stress and internal resistance. Due to the inconsistent self‐inductance and strong coupling of the two windings, the advantages of the DWP coils cannot be fully utilized. In particular, the current stresses of the two windings are different, which will cause one of the stress to exceed the limit, and the temperature rise is too high. The reason for the current imbalance in the two windings is analysed in this work, and a distributed capacitor compensation method is proposed to balance the current stress in the two windings. Finally, a WPT system with the DWP transmitting coil was built as an example to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The experimental results show that the current ratio in two windings decreased from 1.70 to 1.05 after using the proposed compensation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ultra-shallow buried excavation technology, utilizing pipe-roof steel arches as main supporting structure, has broad application prospects. Current mainstream pipe-roof design schemes often adopt simple beam theory or engineering analogy methods, which do not take into account the cumulative deformation and have high engineering disaster risk. Based on the beam Winkler model of elastic foundation, this paper studies the method on interactive effects among pipe-roof, steel bracing and foundation soil. The calculation model of the ultra-shallow buried pipe-roof and steel bracing is established with theoretical derivation. And a new supporting design method of ultra-shallow buried excavation under interactive effects is proposed. Firstly, an optimal method for determining the elasticity coefficient of steel arch and foundation soil is put forward on interactive effects among pipe-roof, steel bracing and foundation. Secondly, considering the enhancement effect of concrete wall, a procedure of determining the elasticity coefficient of fulcrum is described. That is, the first steel arch, which is adjacent to underground passage tunnel face, returns to the 1.5H (H is the height of the hole) range as an enhanced transition section, and the elasticity coefficient of fulcrum varies linearly with its position. Furthermore, the key issue is the deformation of the inlet section increases to a stable level in a certain range, while the ground settlement does not exceed the threshold. The selection of pipe-roof is controlled by calculated deformation. If the deformation meets the requirements, the internal force will be far enough to meet the requirements. Only two sections need to be considered when calculating the ultra-shallow buried underground passage, the entrances 2.0H and the central across section. Finally, the accuracy of the interactive effects calculated method is validated by using the measured data of a practical example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study robust variable selection problem by combining the idea of quantile regression and random LASSO. A two-step algorithm is proposed to solve the proposed optimization problem. In the first step, we use bootstrap samples and variable subsets to estimate the importance of each variable. In the second step, the importance measures are used in generating variable subsets and then the adaptive quantile LASSO is applied to reduce the bias of estimators. The proposed method is robust and can handle the situation of highly-correlated variables. Meanwhile, the number of selected variables is no longer limited by the sample size. Simulation studies indicate that the proposed method has good robustness and better performance when the error term is heavy-tailed and there are highly correlated variables. Finally, we apply the proposed methodology to analyze a real data. The results reveal that the propose has better the predictive ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The underwater wireless power transfer (UWPT) technology provides a feasible way to solve the problems of the traditional power supply method of the autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). The magnetic coupler is the most essential component in the wireless power transfer system. Its configuration determines its applicable scenarios, and its parameter design and optimization will directly affect the system's overall output power and efficiency. In this article, an arc-shaped underwater wireless power transfer magnetic coupler is proposed, which is suitable for AUV's curved shell. Especially, the proposed novel magnetic coupler utilizes Fe-based nanocrystalline alloy soft magnetic material as the magnetic core. Both volume and weight of the receiver are reduced compared with the traditional Mn-Zn ferrite material. Fe-based nanocrystalline alloy material provides a novel design idea for the magnetic coupler on electrical equipment with special-shaped shell due to its flexibility. A prototype of the UWPT system for 320 mm diameter AUV is built, and it can transfer 3 kW power in the experiment with a dc–dc efficiency of 91.9% at the forward maximum output power point. Compared with the structure with ferrite core, the volume of the proposed structure is reduced by 41.1%, and the weight is reduced by 42.6%, so that the expected effect has been achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]