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Current authentication schemes based on zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) still face issues such as high computation costs, low efficiency, and security assurance difficulty. Therefore, we propose a secure and efficient authentication scheme (SEAS) for large-scale IoT devices based on ZKP. In the initialization phase, the trusted authority creates prerequisites for device traceability and system security. Then, we propose a new registration method to ensure device anonymity. In the identity tracing and revocation phase, we revoke the real identity of abnormal devices by decrypting and updating group public keys, avoiding their access and reducing revocation costs. In the authentication phase, we check the arithmetic relationship between blind certificates, proofs, and other random data. We propose a new anonymous batch authentication method to effectively reduce computation costs, enhance authentication efficiency, and guarantee device authentication security. Security analysis and experimental results show that an SEAS can ensure security and effectively reduce verification time and energy costs. Its security and performance exceed existing schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The manipulation of light has become the focus of various modern optical technologies. The emergence of bound states in the continuum (BICs) offers an alternative platform for controlling light, including the confinement and manipulation of polarization, amplitude, and phase. Currently, research on photonic BICs is maturing, with extensive exploration of methods for achieving BICs and their various applications, including lasing, sensing, and enhanced light‐matter interaction. In this review, an overview of photonic BICs is provided. Specifically, the unique properties of BICs are first presented, followed by their state‐of‐the‐art applications in passive systems, ranging from sensing to waveguiding, beam shaping, and chirality. The paradigm‐shifting developments in active systems resulting from the hybridization of BICs with active and novel materials are then highlighted. Finally, some of the challenges facing photonic BICs are discussed, along with future directions in terms of physics, design, fabrication, engineering, and tunability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, there are various types of microscales and the conventional line detection system usually has only one detection method, which is difficult to adapt to the diverse calibration needs of microscales. This article investigates the high-precision measurement method of a microscale based on optoelectronics and the image integration method to solve the diversified calibration needs of microscales. The automatic measurement and processing system integrates two methods: the photoelectric signal measurement method and the photoelectric image measurement method. This article studies the smooth motion method based on ordinary linear guides, investigates the method of reducing the cosine error of a small-range interference length measurement, proposes an image-based line positioning method, and studies the edge and center recognition algorithms of the line. According to the experimental data, the system's measurement accuracy was analyzed using the photoelectric signal measurement method to measure the 1 mm microscale, the maximum difference from the reference value was 0.105 μm, the standard uncertainty was 0.068 μm, and the absolute value of normalized error was less than 1. The accuracy of the image measurement method to measure the 1 mm microscale was consistent with that of the photoelectric signal method. The results show good consistency in the measurement results between the two methods of the integrated measurement system. The photoelectric signal method has the technical characteristics of high measurement efficiency and high accuracy, while the pixel-based measurement of the image method has two-dimensional measurement characteristics, which can realize measurements that cannot be realized by the photoelectric signal method; therefore, the measurement system of optoelectronics and image integration is characterized by high precision and a wide range of measurement adaptations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liaoning Province, a crucial agricultural region in Northeast China, has endured frequent drought disasters in recent years, significantly affecting both agricultural production and the ecological environment. Conducting drought research is of paramount importance for formulating scientific drought monitoring and prevention strategies, ensuring agricultural production and ecological safety. This study developed a Comprehensive Joint Drought Index (CJDI) using the empirical Copula function to systematically analyze drought events in Liaoning Province from 1981 to 2020. Through the application of MK trend tests, Morlet wavelet analysis, and run theory, the spatiotemporal variation patterns and recurrence characteristics of drought in Liaoning Province were thoroughly investigated. The results show that, compared to the three classic drought indices, Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI), and Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), CJDI has the highest accuracy in monitoring actual drought events. From 1981 to 2020, drought intensity in all regions of Liaoning Province (east, west, south, and north) exhibited an upward trend, with the western region experiencing the most significant increase, as evidenced by an MK test Z-value of −4.53. Drought events in Liaoning Province show clear seasonality, with the most significant periodic fluctuations in spring (main cycles of 5–20 years, longer cycles of 40–57 years), while the frequency and variability of drought events in autumn and winter are lower. Mild droughts frequently occur in Liaoning Province, with joint and co-occurrence recurrence periods ranging from 1.0 to 1.8 years. Moderate droughts have shorter joint recurrence periods in the eastern region (1.2–1.4 years) and longer in the western and southern regions (1.4–2.2 years), with the longest co-occurrence recurrence period in the southern region (3.0–4.0 years). Severe and extreme droughts are less frequent in Liaoning Province. This study provides a scientific foundation for drought monitoring and prevention in Liaoning Province and serves as a valuable reference for developing agricultural production strategies to adapt to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to identify ultrasound and clinicopathological characteristics related to recurrence in HER2‐positive (HER2+) breast cancer, and to develop nomograms for predicting recurrence. Methods: In this dual‐center study, we retrospectively enrolled 570 patients with HER2+ breast cancer. The ultrasound and clinicopathological characteristics of hormone receptor (HR)−/HER2+ patients and HR+/HER2+ patients were analyzed separately according to HR status. Eighty percent of the original samples from HR−/HER2+ and HR+/HER2+ patients were extracted by bootstrap sampling as the training cohorts, while the remaining 20% were used as the external validation cohorts. Informative characteristics were screened through univariate and multivariable Cox regression in the training cohorts and used to develop nomograms for predicting recurrence. The predictive accuracy was calculated using Harrell's C‐index and calibration curves. Results: Three informative characteristics (axillary nodal status, calcification, and Adler degree) were identified in HR−/HER2+ patients, and another three (histological grade, axillary nodal status, and echogenic halo) in HR+/HER2+ patients. Based on these, two separate nomograms were constructed to assess recurrence risk. In the training cohorts, the C‐index was 0.740 (95% CI: 0.667–0.811) for HR−/HER2+ nomogram, and 0.749 (95% CI: 0.679–0.820) for HR+/HER2+ nomogram. In the validation cohorts, the C‐index was 0.708 (95% CI: 0.540–0.877) for HR−/HER2+ group, and 0.705 (95% CI: 0.557–0.853) for HR+/HER2+ group. The calibration curves also indicated the excellent accuracy of the nomograms. Conclusions: Ultrasound performance of HER2+ breast cancers with different HR status was significantly different. Nomograms integrating ultrasound and clinicopathological characteristics exhibited favorable performance and have the potential to serve as a reliable method for predicting recurrence in heterogeneous breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-shading building form has a significant influence on indoor solar gains and energy performance. This paper presented a methodology for quantifying self-shading building forms, which categorized them into three types: inclined, cantilevered, and hybrid (inclined and cantilevered). The prediction model for the quantitative indexes and solar heat gains through windows was established through regression analysis, while the influence of proposed self-shading building forms on energy performance in different climatic regions of China was evaluated and compared. Results suggest that energy-saving potential of the cantilevered type is the highest, followed by the hybrid type. Compared to the south orientation, energy-saving potentials for east and west orientations are more pronounced. As building location changes from south to north, energy-saving potential is increasingly influenced by orientation. The proposed self-shading building forms have a maximum energy-saving potential of 14%, 23%, and 22% for Jinan, Shanghai, and Guangzhou respectively. Finally, corresponding design strategies were suggested to provide guidance and assistance for designers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precise measurements of the magnetic field are essential for particle accelerators, and the harmonic coil measurement system is especially suitable for the multipole field because of its unique advantages. The accurate placement of magnets is essential for accurate magnetic field measurements. The current positioning technique employed for harmonic coil measurement is inefficient due to its labor-intensive and time-consuming nature. The aim of this study is to automate the positioning of the quadrupole magnet. Therefore, a close-range photogrammetry system is utilized to monitor the position of the magnet due to its non-contact feature, and an electrically driven Stewart platform is utilized to manipulate the magnet. Meanwhile, a control system has been developed to regulate the automatic positioning. The system is capable of receiving measurements from the close-range photogrammetry system in order to ascertain the displacements of the magnet from its current position to the target. Subsequently, it can transmit commands to Stewart platform to regulate its movement. The experiments indicate that the efficiency of the quadrupole magnet positioning has increased significantly by at least 5 times, and the final positioning accuracy was verified by the laser tracker. The study also addresses the potential application of this technology in high radiation environments that are otherwise inaccessible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of underwater bubbles on solid surfaces with a gradient wettability is important for fundamental science and technological applications. Despite progress in the translational motion of underwater bubbles on asymmetric surface, a fundamental dynamic understanding of asymmetrical bounce behavior of the underwater bubble needs to be further improved. Herein, we investigate asymmetrical bounce of underwater bubbles after impacting the wettability gradient copper mesh surface. Asymmetrical bounce of the underwater bubble on the wettability gradient mesh (WGM) surface is composed by asymmetrical spread in the spread process and asymmetrical recoil in the recoil process, which induce the unidirectional movement behavior. Additionally, effective bubble-size manipulation can be easily implemented due to different volumes of bubbles remaining at different locations of WGM surface. We envision that this work will provide a new understanding of asymmetrical bounce behavior of the underwater bubble on the wettability gradient surface, and propose a novel and feasible strategy for constructing the underwater bubble manipulation system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important factor in the development of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is the deficiency of inhibitory immune checkpoint ligands, specifically programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and galectin-9 (Gal-9), in β-cells. Therefore, modulation of pancreas-infiltrated T lymphocytes by exogenous PD-L1 or Gal-9 is an ideal approach for treating new-onset T1D. We genetically engineered macrophage cells to generate artificial extracellular vesicles (aEVs) overexpressing PD-L1 and Gal-9, which could restrict islet autoreactive T lymphocytes and protect β-cells from destruction. Intriguingly, overexpression of Gal-9 stimulated macrophage polarization to the M2 phenotype with immunosuppressive attributes. Alternatively, both PD-L1– and Gal-9–presenting aEVs (PD-L1–Gal-9 aEVs) favorably adhered to T cells via the interaction of programmed cell death protein 1/PD-L1 or T-cell immunoglobulin mucin 3/Gal-9. Moreover, PD-L1–Gal-9 aEVs prominently promoted effector T-cell apoptosis and splenic regulatory T (Treg) cell formation in vitro. Notably, PD-L1–Gal-9 aEVs efficaciously reversed new-onset hyperglycemia in NOD mice, prevented T1D progression, and decreased the proportion and activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells infiltrating the pancreas, which together contributed to the preservation of residual β-cell survival and mitigation of hyperglycemia. Article Highlights: Destruction of pancreatic β-cells by autoreactive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells is the main cause of type 1 diabetes (T1D); therefore, stunting autoreactive T cells is an effective strategy to alleviate T1D. Modulating the infiltration of T lymphocytes in the pancreas with exogenous programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) or galectin-9 (Gal-9) is an optimal treatment strategy for newly diagnosed T1D. PD-L1– and Gal-9–presenting (PD-L1–Gal-9) artificial extracellular vesicles (aEVs) exhibit characteristics of M2-type macrophages and efficaciously declined the proportion and activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells infiltrating the pancreas. PD-L1–Gal-9 aEVs demonstrated immunosuppressive therapeutic effects and effectively alleviated hyperglycemia in NOD mice with new-onset T1D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exosomes, minute vesicles ubiquitously released by diverse cell types, serve as critical mediators in intercellular communication. Their pathophysiological relevance, especially in malignancies, has garnered significant attention. A meticulous exploration of the exosomal impact on cancer development has unveiled avenues for innovative and clinically valuable techniques. The cargo conveyed by exosomes exerts transformative effects on both local and distant microenvironments, thereby influencing a broad spectrum of biological responses in recipient cells. These membrane-bound extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a pivotal role in delivering bioactive molecules among cells and organs. Cellular and biological processes in recipient cells, ranging from stromal cell reprogramming to immunological responses, extracellular matrix formation, and modulation of cancer cell activation, expansion, and metastasis, are subject to exosome-mediated cell-to-cell communication. Moreover, exosomes have been implicated in endowing cancer cells with resistance to treatment. Extensive research has explored the potential of exosomes as therapeutic targets and diagnostic indicators. This comprehensive review seeks to provide an in-depth understanding of the pivotal components and roles of exosomes in tumorigenesis, growth, progression, and therapeutic responses. The insights into the multifaceted involvement of exosomes in malignant cancers are essential for the scientific community, fostering the development of novel therapeutic and diagnostic strategies in the relentless pursuit of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface area of Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China, has decreased substantially in recent decades due to multiple potential factors, including the change in inflow into the lake, flow rate regulation of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), shifts in the Yangtze River stage-discharge relationship, and sand mining in the lake. Here, the daily surface area of Poyang Lake is estimated using Landsat image data and water-level measurements. Multiple regression models are then used to establish the relationship between the surface area and the predictor variables of inflow into the lake, Yangtze River water level, and cumulative sand mining. The contributions of each driving factor to the reduction of Poyang Lake's surface area are quantified by scenario comparison method. The results reveal that the mean annual surface area of Poyang Lake decreased by 388 km2 (approximately 15% of the total surface area), from 2,585 km2 in 1980–2002 to 2,197 km2 in 2003–2016. In terms of overall contribution, sand mining is identified as the most important factor in the surface area reduction, followed by the shift in the Yangtze River stage-discharge relationship and the TGR flow rate regulation. In terms of monthly scale impacts, sand mining reduced the surface area by more than 260 km2 each month. The shift in the Yangtze River stage-discharge relationship reduced the surface area by 16–156 km2 during the dry season (November–May) of the Yangtze River and increased the surface area by 33–84 km2 during the flood season (June–October). The TGR flow rate regulation has the opposite effects: it reduced the surface area by 109–172 km2 during the impoundment period from September to October and increased it by 19–68 km2 during the release period from December to June. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel ternary 2D material Bi2O2Se exhibits numerous unique properties in the optical discipline due to its distinctive structure, rendering it of significant research importance and application potential in the domains of new‐generation microelectronics, optoelectronic sensors, and multidimensional optical recognition. However, the optical anisotropy and multidimensional angular resolution of Bi2O2Se have yet to be investigated under the condition of 3D spatial variation of incidence angle. Herein, the spatial optical sensing of the few‐layer Bi2O2Se is investigated under 3D spatially varying incidence conditions using a combination of polarized Raman spectroscopy and multidimensional angle‐resolved spectroscopy. By manipulating the incident angle conditions and adjusting the sample placement angle, a comprehensive optical characterization of materials from diverse spatial orientations is conducted. It is observed that few‐layer Bi2O2Se exhibits a systematically transformed multidimensional spatial photoresponse within visible and near‐infrared wavelengths. This demonstrates the capability of Bi2O2Se as photosensitive semiconductors for 3D stereo optical detection. Furthermore, finite difference time domain simulations reveal that the spatial optical anisotropy of few‐layer Bi2O2Se can be manifested under 3D variable‐angle incidence conditions. The work serves as a crucial guide for the future of Bi2O2Se in anisotropic integrated optics applications, based on polarization‐based chiral recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the dryland area of the Loess Plateau in northwest China, long-term excessive fertilization has led to soil compaction and nutrient loss, which in turn limits crop yield and soil productivity. To address this issue, we conducted experiments using environmentally friendly organic fertilizer and bacterium fertilizer. Our goal was to investigate the effects of additional organic and bacterium fertilizer inputs on soil water migration, crop root architecture, and yield formation. We implemented six different fertilizer strategies, namely: Nm (mulching, N 30 kg/ha), NPK1m (mulching, N 60 kg/ha; P 30 kg/ha; K 30 kg/ha), NPK2m (mulching, N 90 kg/ha; P 45 kg/ha; K 30 kg/ha), NPKOm (mulching, N 90 kg/ha; P 45 kg/ha; K 30 kg/ha; organic fertilizer 2 t/ha), NPKBm (mulching, N 60 kg/ha; P 30 kg/ha; K 30 kg/ha; bacterium fertilizer 10 kg/ha), and N (N 30 kg/ha; no mulching). The results revealed that the addition of bacterium fertilizer (NPKBm) had a positive impact on soybean root system development. Compared with the other treatments, it significantly increased the total root length, total root surface area, and total root length density by 25.96% ~ 94.89%, -19.63% ~ 36.28%, and 9.36% ~ 28.84%, respectively. Furthermore, NPKBm enhanced soil water consumption. In 2018, water storage during the flowering and podding periods decreased by 12.63% and 19.65%, respectively, while water consumption increased by 0.97% compared to Nm. In 2019, the flowering and harvest periods decreased by 23.49% and 11.51%, respectively, while water consumption increased by 0.65%. Ultimately, NPKBm achieved high grain yield and significantly increased water use efficiency (WUE), surpassing other treatments by 76.79% ~ 78.97% and 71.22% ~ 73.76%, respectively. Subsequently, NPK1m also exhibited significant increases in yield and WUE, with improvements of 35.58% ~ 39.27% and 35.26% ~ 38.16%, respectively. The use of bacterium fertilizer has a profound impact on soybean root architecture, leading to stable and sustainable grain yield production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal experiments are important in trauma-related studies because they simulate in vivo effects. Rodents are a good choice for preparing trauma models; however, contractile healing in rodents results in a healing pattern that differs considerably from that in humans. Therefore, this study developed a new rodent model that avoids contractile healing of the skin around the wound using an anticontraction ring, and the skin in the wound's center remains intact and acts as a source for epithelialized diffusion healing. Cell proliferation, migration, revascularization, and collagen secretion did not differ between the novel and conventional full-skin defect trauma models. However, the healing rate at various stages significantly differed between the 2 groups owing to differences in the healing patterns. And without effective treatment, the experimental group cannot heal. The stabilities of the novel and conventional methods were good regardless of operator or batch. In summary, this new animal trauma model provides a stable experimental environment similar to that in humans, which may promote trauma-related research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In existing global navigation satellite system-interference reflectometry (GNSS-IR) research, only the frequency of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) oscillations has been used to estimate sea-level height. However, the characteristic parameters of SNR oscillations are not isolated from each other, and a single feature cannot accurately and comprehensively capture the environmental changes of reflecting surface. Our simulation results show that for the nonlinear least squares (NLS), when there is a certain difference between the fitting frequency and the actual frequency of SNR oscillations, the deviation of the phase solution obtained is approximately linear with the frequency difference. Consequently, a linear phase correction GNSS-IR sea-level estimation method is constructed in this study. This method integrates the Lomb–Scargle periodogram (LSP) and NLS to process SNR oscillations, using the phase obtained from NLS to correct the retrieval error of LSP. Through processing SNR data from four sites for nearly half a year, we verified the stability of the relationship between phase and frequency-based retrieval error at different sites in continuous monitoring, and established the relationship model between the two. Then, utilizing the relationship model acquired at different sites, we estimated the sea-level variations for the next 6 months at each site through joint frequency and phase versus reflector height relationships. Experimental results show that the phases acquired from NLS can effectively correct the retrieval error of LSP. Compared with the traditional method using only frequency, the root mean square error and mean absolute error of the retrieval results obtained from the linear phase correction GNSS-IR sea-level estimation method based on LSP-NLS are both reduced by about 60%. This multi-feature fusion technique introduces a new perspective and technical approach for GNSS-IR sea-level estimations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ni-based coating, as an excellent anti-corrosion material, is widely used in the petroleum field and has become a research hotspot in recent years. With the continuous progress of the petrochemical industry, especially in the carbon capture, utilization, and storage and enhanced oil recovery (CCUS-EOR) systems, Ni-based coatings face significant challenges. Based on the latest research status, this paper describes the influence factors of Ni-based coatings and the applicability of different Ni-based coatings. Research shows that CO2 and H2S are the key factors affecting corrosion. With the increase in CO2 and H2S content in the environment, the corrosion rate of carbon steel will be accelerated. When the CO2 content reaches a certain critical value, further increasing the CO2 content will reduce the corrosion rate. The corrosion mechanism of carbon steel under the combined action of CO2 and H2S was also analyzed. At a high CO2/H2S partial pressure ratio, the corrosion process is dominated by CO2 corrosion, and with the increase in the H2S/CO2 partial pressure ratio, the corrosion process shifts to H2S corrosion control. The application of Ni-P protective coatings in this corrosive environment has been investigated. A surface Ni-P coating is extremely hard, wear-resistant, and corrosion-resistant. It can withstand the corrosion of CO2, high salinity, and other media while preventing electrolyte penetration. It exhibits strong corrosion resistance in NaCl solution and can help prevent scaling. However, in the presence of CO2-H2s, it has been discovered that due to inherent faults in Ni-P, the corrosion phenomenon may be exacerbated by the action of H2S, and its protection ability has to be further investigated. The mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the coating can be enhanced by adding particles to the coating, and four new coating systems, Ni-Fe-P, Ni-Cu-P, Ni-W-P, and Ni-W-P-nSiO2, were introduced. Finally, the future development focus and prospect of CO2 corrosion protection coatings under harsh conditions are prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To clarify the effects of maize straw retention combined with reduced fertilization and urease/nitrification inhibitors on the accumulation and leaching potential of mineral N in the deep soil profile of no-tillage agroecosystem. Methods: A 15N-tracing micro-plot experiment was conducted with four treatments (NPK, traditional NPK fertilization; NPKS, NPK with maize straw retention; RNPKS, NPKS with 20% fertilizer-N reduction; and RNPKSI, RNPKS with inhibitors application) in the Mollisol of Northeast China. We analyzed fertilizer-N transformation dynamics in different soil N pools, quantified the fertilizer N use efficiency in crops, and evaluated fertilizer-derived nitrate leaching losses throughout the complete maize growing period. Results: Our analyses revealed that, compared to the NPK treatment, NPKS, RNPKS, and RNPKSI remarkably reduced the accumulation of urea-derived mineral-N during maize seedling stage by enhancing the transformation of urea-N into fixed NH4+-N and organic-N pools, both of which could be quickly released for maize uptake following the extension of crop growth periods. At the maize ripening stage, soil NO3−-N and 15N-labeled urea-derived NO3−-N, which migrated vertically to a depth of 80–100 cm, were significantly reduced by treatments of RNPKS and RNPKSI without minimizing crop yields when compared with NPK. Conclusion: Our results suggest that combining maize straw retention with reduced fertilization and the application of urease/nitrification inhibitors can be efficient management practices for lowering urea N leaching risk, improving N use efficiency, and maintaining or even increasing crop yields by enhancing soil N retention and supply in the croplands of Northeast China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphides with high theoretical capacity are considered ideal anode materials for lithium‐ion capacitors (LICs), but poor electronic conductivity as well as unsatisfied cyclic stability limits the performance of the phosphides. Here a covalently bonded CoP@C heterostructure is reported, which consists of 5 nm CoP quantum dots (QDs) like pomegranate seeds pinned in carbon polyhedron through interfacial Co─P─C bonding. The ultrafine size of CoP QDs provides more reactive sites and a shorten electrons/ions diffusion path, boosting the specific capacity. The Co─P─C bond induces the energy band variation of CoP and increases the interfacial charge density, bringing about fast kinetics. Besides, the Co─P─C bond introduces a robust pining effect among CoP QDs and carbon polyhedra, greatly improving the structure stability of 5 nm CoP QDs. The CoP@C heterostructure electrode exhibits high capacity (nearly 1000 mAh g−1) and superior cycling stability. It is worth noting that a prototyped LIC full‐cell of YP80//CoP@C presents an impressive high energy density of 172 Wh kg−1 and a power density of 10.8 kW kg−1. Moreover, the LIC possesses an ultra‐long life, retaining 80% after 20,000 cycles. This study offers an effective design for phosphides achieving fast kinetics and superior structure stability through an interfacial bonding approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste cooking oil's (WCO's) potential as a rejuvenator of aged asphalt has received attention in recent years, with the acid value of WCO affecting its rejuvenation effect. This study explored the rejuvenation effect of WCO with a high acid value on aged asphalt by using molecular dynamics simulation. First, the representative molecules of WCO with a high acid value and asphalt were determined. The rejuvenation effect of WCO on aged asphalt was analyzed by adding different contents of WCO to an aged asphalt model. The effect of WCO on the thermodynamic properties of the aged asphalt was analyzed. The results show that WCO can restore the thermodynamic properties of aged asphalt binder to a certain extent. Regarding the microstructure of rejuvenated asphalt, WCO molecules dispersed around asphaltenes weakened the latter's aggregation and improved the colloidal structure of the aged asphalt. In terms of interface adhesion properties, WCO can improve the adhesion properties between asphalt binder and SiO2, but it has limited influence on water sensitivity. The results allowed us to comprehensively evaluate the rejuvenation effect of WCO with a high acid value on aged asphalt and to explore its rejuvenation mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CFIRL is a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), we previously identified as the most significantly upregulated lncRNA in the failing hearts of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). In this study, we determined the function of CFIRL and its role in DCM. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization assays revealed that CFIRL was primarily localized in the nucleus of cardiac fibroblasts and robustly increased in failing hearts. Global knockdown or fibroblast-specific knockout of CFIRL attenuated transverse aortic constriction (TAC)-induced cardiac dysfunction and fibrosis in vivo. Overexpression of CFIRL in vitro promoted fibroblast proliferation and aggravated angiotensin II-induced differentiation to myofibroblasts. CFIRL knockdown attenuated these effects. Mechanistically, RNA pull-down assay and gene expression profiling revealed that CFIRL recruited ENO1, a newly identified noncanonical transcriptional factor, to activate IL-6 transcription. IL-6 exerted a paracrine effect on cardiomyocytes to promote cardiac hypertrophy, which can be prevented by CFIRL knockdown. These findings uncover the critical role of CFIRL, a fibroblast-associated lncRNA, in heart failure by facilitating crosstalk between fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes. CFIRL knockdown might be a potent strategy to prevent cardiac remodeling in heart failure, particularly in DCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ANSYS software was used for numerical simulation of stone wool melt in electric melting furnace. Under stable voltage 130 V, stable melt height 1 600 mm and stable inlet and outlet state, the insertion depth of cathode electrode was changed to study the temperature distribution, flow field distribution and current density distribution of the melting in electric melting furnace. The results show that the melt forms a high temperature zone between the cathode and anode and around the electrode, The temperature decreases from anode to cathode and from top to bottom on the symmetrical side of the inlet, while the temperature increases from top to bottom on the inlet side. With the increase of cathode insertion depth, the overall temperature and corresponding current density of the melt increase. The deeper the cathode insertion depth is, the greater the temperature rise of the whole temperature field is. At the inlet side and the outlet side, the melt forms a circulation due to natural convection, and the self-stirring and self-homogenization of the circulation have important technological significance for melt homogenization. Changing the cathode insertion depth can improve the melt control ability and improve the subsequent fiber forming effect and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive brain development disease. Recently, the incidence rate of ASD has increased year by year and posed a great threat to the lives and families of individuals with ASD. Therefore, the study of ASD has become very important. A suitable feature representation that preserves the data intrinsic information and also reduces data complexity is very vital to the performance of established models. Topological data analysis (TDA) is an emerging and powerful mathematical tool for characterizing shapes and describing intrinsic information in complex data. In TDA, persistence barcodes or diagrams are usually regarded as visual representations of topological features of data. In this paper, the Regional Homogeneity (ReHo) data of subjects obtained from Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) database were used to extract features by using TDA. The average accuracy of cross validation on ABIDE I database was 95.6% that was higher than any other existing methods (the highest accuracy among existing methods was 93.59%). The average accuracy for sampling with the same resolutions with the ABIDE I on the ABIDE II database was 96.5% that was also higher than any other existing methods (the highest accuracy among existing methods was 75.17%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data information security on wearable devices has emerged as a significant concern among users, so it becomes urgent to explore authentication methods based on wearable devices. Using PhotoPlethysmoGraphy (PPG) signals for identity authentication has been proven effective in biometric authentication. This paper proposes a convolutional neural network authentication method based on 2D PPG signals applied to wearable devices. This method uses Markov Transition Field technology to convert one-dimensional PPG signal data into two-dimensional image data, which not only retains the characteristics of the signal but also enriches the spatial information. Afterward, considering that wearable devices usually have limited resources, a lightweight convolutional neural network model is also designed in this method, which reduces resource consumption and computational complexity while ensuring high performance. It is proved experimentally that this method achieves 98.62% and 96.17% accuracy on the training set and test set, respectively, an undeniable advantage compared to the traditional one-dimensional deep learning method and the classical two-dimensional deep learning method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black phosphorus (BP) has been recognized as an alluring fast‐charging anode for batteries/supercapacitors due to its substantial theoretical capacity, propitious lithiation potential, and large interlayer spacing. Nonetheless, it is encumbered by challenges of low electronic conductivity, momentous volume expansion (≈300%), and pernicious shuttle effect induced by soluble polyphosphides. Here a BP heterostructure covalent bonded by metallic antimony (Sb) is showed, which can promote the reaction dynamics of BP and greatly ameliorate the cycling performance. Robust P─Sb covalent bonds are methodically engineered to regulate the Femi level, endowing enhanced electronic conductivity. The in situ generated Li7SbO6 ionic conductor in the P/Sb interface during the lithiation process ensures the fast Li+ transport. Furthermore, Sb offers strong anchoring and chemical adsorption capability on soluble lithium polyphosphides, preventing the shuttle issue. As a result, a lithium‐ion capacitor (LIC) full‐cell based on Sb@BP/C anode demonstrates a superior energy density of 174.3 W h kg−1 and a power density of 23.7 kW kg−1, as well as exceptional reversible capacity retention. This work provides insights into the regulation of reaction kinetics and chemical adsorption capability of BP, offering guidance for designing high‐capacity and stable BP‐based anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce the volume of landfill sludge, a more environmentally friendly technology is used to study the effects of different freeze–thaw–vacuum pretreatment modes. In addition to the cumulative effect of cooling time within different temperature bands, we analyse the temperature difference loss rate of shallow sludge over the period of cooling. During the annular freezing process, the mechanism of ice front formation is revealed by exploring the energy transfer process of landfill sludge. When repeated freeze–thaw–vacuums are performed, the pretreatment modes of a single pre-freeze–thaw and two consecutive pre-freeze–thaws are compared. The superiority of two modes is discussed in the light of local differences in dewatering performance and overall settlement trend characteristics. Furthermore, the final micromorphological structure indicates that the repeated freeze–thaw–vacuum pretreatment mode of sludge is affected by its depth to a certain extent. It is found that factors such as sludge depth and radial water migration have a significant impact on the time accumulative effect and energy transfer of frozen sludge. The sludge treatment mode of two consecutive pre-freeze–thaws has a better effect on the overall dewatering and reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internal solitary waves (ISW), characterized by large amplitude and long propagation distance, are widespread in global oceans. While remote sensing images have played an essential role in studying ISWs, they mainly exploit two-dimensional image information. However, with the launch of the surface water ocean topography (SWOT) satellite on December 16, 2022, a unique opportunity has emerged to capture wide-swath three-dimensional ISW-induced sea surface information. In this study, we examine ISWs in the Andaman Sea using data from the Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIN), a crucial sensor onboard SWOT. KaRIN not only provides backscattering satellite images but also employs synthetic aperture interferometry techniques to retrieve wide-swath two-dimensional sea surface height measurements. Our observations in the Andaman Sea revealed the presence of ISWs characterized by dark-bright strips and surface elevation solitons. The surface soliton has an amplitude of 0.32 m, resulting in an estimation of ISW amplitude of approximately 60 m. In contrast to traditional two-dimensional satellite images or nadir-looking altimetry data, the SWOT mission's capability to capture three-dimensional sea surface information represents a significant advancement. This breakthrough holds substantial promise for ISW studies, particularly in the context of ISW amplitude inversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer therapeutic resistance remains a significant challenge in the pursuit of effective treatment strategies. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a class of non-coding RNAs, have recently emerged as key regulators of various biological processes, including cancer progression and drug resistance. This review highlights the emerging role of circRNAs-mediated autophagy in cancer therapeutic resistance, a cellular process that plays a dual role in cancer by promoting both cell survival and death. Increasing evidence suggests that circRNAs can modulate autophagy pathways, thereby influencing the response of cancer cells to therapeutic agents. In this context, the intricate interplay between circRNAs, autophagy, and therapeutic resistance is explored. Various mechanisms are discussed through which circRNAs can impact autophagy, including direct interactions with autophagy-related genes, modulation of signaling pathways, and cross-talk with other non-coding RNAs. Furthermore, the review delves into specific examples of how circRNA-mediated autophagy regulation can contribute to resistance against chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Understanding these intricate molecular interactions provides valuable insights into potential strategies for overcoming therapeutic resistance in cancer. Exploiting circRNAs as therapeutic targets or utilizing them as diagnostic and predictive biomarkers opens new avenues for developing personalized treatment approaches. In summary, this review underscores the importance of circRNA-mediated autophagy in cancer therapeutic resistance and proposes future directions for research in this exciting and rapidly evolving field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene/metal oxide (rGO/MOx) heterostructures hold great promise for energy storage, yet a full understanding of their synthesis remains elusive. Herein, a general, efficient, and scalable synthesis strategy is designed for the preparation of various rGO/MOx heterostructure materials featuring robust interfacial interactions. The heterogeneous nucleation growth mechanism of metal oxides on graphene is elucidated through ex situ characterization and theoretical simulation. The surface of graphene oxide (GO) is enriched with reactive oxygen‐containing functional groups, serving as potent nucleation sites that facilitate the rapid and heterogeneous nucleation of MOx grains. Simultaneously, a stable interface (C−O−M bond) is in situ formed between graphene and adsorbed metal ions during heat treatment, producing rGO/MOx heterostructure materials. Notably, the resultant rGO/CoO heterostructure material is employed as an anode and LiCoO2 as a cathode to assemble a soft packaging quasi‐solid‐state battery, which has demonstrated an impressive energy density of 341.4 Wh kg−1 and maintains outstanding capacity retention at 93.4% after 300 cycles at a 1C current. These findings provide valuable insights into the preparation and potential applications of rGO/MOx heterostructure materials for energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) tungsten selenide (WSe2) is promising candidate material for future electronic applications, owing to its potential for ultimate device scaling. For improving the electronic performance of WSe2-based field-effect transistors (FETs), the modification of surface properties is essential. In this study, the seamless structural phase transition in WSe2 lattice is achieved by soft oxygen plasma, regulating the electrical conductance of WSe2-based FETs. We found that during the soft oxygen plasma treatment with optimal processing time, the generated oxygen ions can substitute some selenium atoms and thus locally modify the bond length, inducing 2H → 1T phase transition in WSe2 with seamless interfaces. The mosaic structures have been proven to tailor the electronic structure and increase the hole carrier concentration inside WSe2, significantly increasing the channel conductance of WSe2 FETs. With the further increase of the oxygen plasma treatment time, the creation of more selenium vacancy defects leads to the electronic doping, resulting in the reduction of conductance. Benefiting from the hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) encapsulation to interrupt the partial structural relaxation from 1T to 2H phase, our WSe2 FET exhibits high electronic stability with conductance of 6.8 × 10−4 S, which is about four orders of magnitude higher than 2H WSe2 (5.8 × 10−8 S). This study could further broaden the WSe2 FETs in applications for functionalization and integration in electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the incidence of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) after emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and preoperative systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and to further analyze the predictive value of the combination of SII and NT-proBNP for CI-AKI. Methods: The clinical data of 1543 patients with STEMI who underwent emergency PCI in our hospital from February 2019 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were divided into training cohort (n = 1085) and validation cohort (n = 287) according to chronological order. The training cohort was divided into CI-AKI (n = 95) and non-CI-AKI (n = 990) groups according to the 2018 European Society of Urogenital Radiology definition of CI-AKI. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent risk factors for CI-AKI. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) was used to explore the relationship between SII, NT-proBNP, and the risk of CI-AKI. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of SII, NT-proBNP, and their combination in CI-AKI. Results: The incidence of CI-AKI was 8.8% (95/1085). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that SII, NT-proBNP, age, baseline creatinine, fasting blood glucose, and diuretics were independent risk factors for CI-AKI. RCS analysis showed that SII > 1084.97 × 109/L and NT-proBNP > 296.12 pg/mL were positively associated with the incidence of CI-AKI. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of SII and NT-proBNP combined detection in predicting CI-AKI was 0.726 (95% CI 0.698–0.752, P < 0.001), the sensitivity was 60.0%, and the specificity was 77.7%, which were superior to the detection of SII or NT-proBNP alone. Conclusion: Preprocedural high SII and NT-proBNP are independent risk factors for CI-AKI after emergency PCI in patients with STEMI. The combined detection of SII and NT-proBNP can more accurately predict CI-AKI risk than the single detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the main organic materials, straw and manure play a critical role in soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and crop yield in China. This meta-analysis evaluated the impact of straw and manure amendments, both individually and combined, on crop yield, SOC, and soil nutrients in China by collecting 173 studies. The findings of this study revealed that straw return and manure application increased crop yields by 14.4% and 70.4%, respectively, overall. Combined straw and manure application gained a better improvement effect than straw alone but was less effective than manure alone. Regarding the straw return results, rice straw and a 3000–6000 kg ha−1 returning quantity improved crop yield, SOC, available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK), and total nitrogen (TN) the most; regarding the straw return form, straw incorporated into soil and biochar increased crop yield and SOC more, respectively; and <5 years and ≥5 years of straw return treatment increased crop yield and TN more, respectively. Regarding manure application, pig and chicken manure increased crop yield and TN more, respectively; a 50–80% substitution ratio and 10–20 years of duration were best for improving crop yield, SOC, AP, AK, and TN. This study highlights the importance of optimal organic amendment through straw or manure applications to achieve a win–win between crop yield and soil fertility under the requirement of sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modernization and industrialization have significantly increased energy consumption, causing environmental problems. Given that China is the largest energy user, the rise in building energy consumption necessitates clean energy alternatives. The purpose of this study is to summarize typical building models for primary and secondary schools in Hainan Province, and to use software to simulate and calculate the photovoltaic utilization potential of primary and secondary school buildings. In China, the government is usually the manager of primary and secondary schools, and due to their architectural characteristics, these buildings can be used to assess photovoltaic applications. The aim is to drive the application of photovoltaic systems in all types of buildings and promote urban energy reform. This study summarizes the types of primary and secondary school buildings in Hainan Province and analyzes them. It evaluates rooftop photovoltaic projects at the Second Middle School and the Siyuan School in Wanning City, Hainan Province, and uses PVsyst 7.2 software to assess the photovoltaic utilization potential. The results show that the optimal orientation in Hainan Province is south-facing, and the optimal inclination angle is 10° to 20°. The most favorable orientations of facade photovoltaic systems are 20° southeast or southwest. The longest dynamic investment payback period is approximately 15 years, and the environmental benefits are $0.012/kWh. The findings indicate significant potential for photovoltaic applications in primary and secondary school buildings. A combination of facade and rooftop photovoltaics can result in the zero-energy consumption of these buildings, reducing the pressure on urban power grids and achieving sustainable utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existence of structural strength in undisturbed soil results in its distinct characteristics compared to remolded soil. Under the influence of freeze–thaw cycles, this difference may easily cause geotechnical disasters in cold regions. This study aimed to analyze and discuss the expression degree and influencing factors of the structural strength of expansive soil. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS) test, high-pressure consolidation test, and microscopic test were performed on expansive soil retrieved from a seasonally frozen region. Moreover, sensitivity parameters, including stress sensitivity (St.qu, St.σk) and strain sensitivity (St.ɛu, St.Cc), were applied to explore the expression degree and influencing factors of structural strength in a seasonally frozen region. The results reveal that the undisturbed samples have better structural connection and particle arrangement than the remolded samples. However, the primary fractures have a certain degrading effect on the strength of the undisturbed soil as influenced by a seasonally frozen region. With the increase in water content and the decrease in density, the expression degree of the structural strength in terms of compressive strength and the ability to resist deformation enhances under the unconfined condition. By contrast, the expression degree increases in strength and decreases in ability under the confined condition. Furthermore, the effect mechanisms of the basic property, particle composition, structural linkage, lateral confinement, and historical role on the structural expression were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microscale structural phase transition in TMDs from 2H to 1T or 1T′ phases offers a distinct approach for modulating the electronic properties of these materials. Although phase engineering for contacts has been partially investigated, the effect of embedding 1T domains in the semiconductor channel on electronic transport has rarely been studied. Here, we investigate the electronic performance of few-layer MoS2 FETs with a local 1T structural phase transition. Through a mild oxygen plasma treatment, we successfully incorporated the 1T phase into the 2H-MoS2 host and observed a significant improvement in the electron mobility of the MoS2 FETs. On the contact side, the local 1T domain serves as a conductive bridge connecting the Au electrode and MoS2 channel, which substantially improves the carrier-injection efficiency. On the channel side, 1T embedded 2H-MoS2 can effectively tailor the electronic structure of the MoS2 channel, significantly increasing channel conductivity. Compared with that before the oxygen plasma treatment, the MoS2 FET demonstrated a higher maximum electron mobility of about two orders of magnitude (up to 237 cm2 V−1 s−1). This study could further promote the development of advanced two-dimensional electronic devices with improved performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robust bacterial metabolism and the immunosuppression on peripheral immune cells cause biofilm‐associated infections (BAIs) extremely refractory to be eradicated via antibiotics alone. Herein, hierarchical mesoporous UiO‐66 metal–organic framework is decorated with selenite, polypyrrole, and macrophage membrane (MM) to develop a biomimetic nanosphere (USPM). Following the recruitment of USPM to the biofilm microenvironment (BME) via the pathogen‐targeting ability derived from MM. The BME‐responsive USPM can precisely release selenite to penetrate the loosened biofilm in synergy with near‐infrared‐induced mild photothermal therapy (mPTT). Selenite can quickly react with reducing substances to generate hydrogen selenide (H2Se) inside the biofilm. H2Se can competitively inhibit bacterial metabolic processes and disrupt biofilm metabolic homeostasis by cascade amplification effects. Furthermore, H2Se inside the biofilm further sensitizes photothermia to exert a precise local photothermal effect. Outside the biofilm, USPM can simultaneously promote the phagocytosis and autophagy of macrophages to kill and decompose the phagocytosed bacteria. Finally, the well‐decomposed bacterial antigens in macrophages can be presented to antigen‐presenting cells to arouse adaptive immune responses and enhance anti‐biofilm effectiveness further. Such powerful mPTT‐enhanced bacterial metabolic disruption and macrophagic autophagy‐promoted adaptive immune activation suggest an alternative therapeutic strategy to cure refractory BAIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sapphire is often used as a semiconductor substrate to build complex structural components for connections to magnesium alloys. In this study, a Zn-12Al alloy was treated with ultrasound at 420 °C for 30 s, successfully producing a metallized layer on a sapphire surface. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the joints were investigated. Under the action of ultrasound, epitaxially grown alumina formed on the sapphire surface. The amount of amorphous alumina covering the sapphire surface grew as the ultrasonication time increased, and the sapphire surface was completely covered by ultrasonication for 120 s. Reliable sapphire/Mg joints were obtained by ultrasonic-assisted brazing of metallized sapphire and magnesium alloys at 420 °C. The brazing seam formed an α-Mg solid solution and an α-Mg + MgZn eutectoid structure. The seam gradually filled with eutectoid structure as the duration of the ultrasonication times increased. The joint average shear strength reached a maximum of 27 MPa when the ultrasonication time was 30 s. The fracture primarily occurred inside the α-Mg + MgZn eutectoid structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The session-based recommendation system aims to predict the user's next click based on their previous session sequence. The current studies generally learn user preferences according to the transitions of items in the user's session sequence. However, other effective information in the session sequence, such as user profiles, is largely ignored which may lead to the model unable to learn the user's specific preferences. In this paper, we propose SR-HetGNN, a novel session recommendation method that uses a heterogeneous graph neural network (HetGNN) to learn session embeddings and capture the specific preferences of anonymous users. Specifically, SR-HetGNN first constructs heterogeneous graphs containing various types of nodes according to the session sequence, which can capture the dependencies among items, users, and sessions. Second, HetGNN captures the complex transitions between items and learns the item embeddings containing user information. Finally, local and global session embeddings are combined with the attentional network to obtain the final session embedding, considering the influence of users' long and short-term preferences. SR-HetGNN is shown to be superior to the existing state-of-the-art session-based recommendation methods through extensive experiments over two real large datasets Diginetica and Tmall. The code and datasets can be found in our GitHub repository https://github.com/LeeHY1996/SR-HetGNN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to establish an ambulatory field-friendly system based on miniaturised wireless flexible sensors for studying the biomechanics of human-exoskeleton interactions. Twelve healthy adults performed symmetric lifting with and without a passive low-back exoskeleton, while their movements were tracked using both a flexible sensor system and a conventional motion capture (MoCap) system synchronously. Novel algorithms were developed to convert the raw acceleration, gyroscope, and biopotential signals from the flexible sensors into kinematic and dynamic measures. Results showed that these measures were highly correlated with those obtained from the MoCap system and discerned the effects of the exoskeleton, including increased peak lumbar flexion, decreased peak hip flexion, and decreased lumbar flexion moment and back muscle activities. The study demonstrated the promise of an integrated flexible sensor-based system for biomechanics and ergonomics field studies as well as the efficacy of exoskeleton in relieving the low-back stress associated with manual lifting. This study established and tested a flexible sensor-based ambulatory system for biomechanical evaluation of human-exoskeleton interactions and as a promising new tool for field ergonomics studies in practical or naturalistic settings. Abbreviations: MoCap: motion capture; WMSD: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders; EMG: electromyography; IMU: inertial measurement unit; TES: thoracic erector spinae; LES: lumbar erector spinae; WITH: tasks performed with wearing the exoskeleton; WITHOUT: tasks performed without wearing the exoskeleton; RMS: root mean square; RMSE: root-mean-square error; r: Pearson's correlation coefficient; ASIS: anterior superior iliac spine [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Point cloud completion, the issue of estimating the complete geometry of objects from partially-scanned point cloud data, becomes a fundamental task in many 3d vision and robotics applications. To address the limitations on inadequate prediction of shape details for traditional methods, a novel coarse-to-fine point completion network (DCSE-PCN) is introduced in this work using the modules of local details compensation and shape structure enhancement for effective geometric learning. The coarse completion stage of our network consists of two branches—a shape structure recovery branch and a local details compensation branch, which can recover the overall shape of the underlying model and the shape details of incomplete point cloud through feature learning and hierarchical feature fusion. The fine completion stage of our network employs the structure enhancement module to reinforce the correlated shape structures of the coarse repaired shape (such as regular arrangement or symmetry), thus obtaining the completed geometric shape with finer-grained details. Extensive experimental results on ShapeNet dataset and ModelNet dataset validate the effectiveness of our completion network, which can recover the shape details of the underlying point cloud whilst maintaining its overall shape. Compared to the existing methods, our coarse-to-fine completion network has shown its competitive performance on both chamfer distance (CD) and earth mover distance (EMD) errors. Such as, the repairing results on the ShapeNet dataset of our completion network are reduced by an average of 35.62 % , 33.31 % , 29.62 % , and 23.62 % in terms of CD error, comparing with PCN, FoldingNet, Atlas, and CRN methods, respectively; and also reduced by an average of 15.63 % , 1.29 % , 64.52 % , and 62.87 % in terms of EMD error, respectively. Meanwhile, the completion results on the ModelNet dataset of our network have an average reduction of 28.41 % , 26.57 % , 20.65 % , and 18.55 % in terms of CD error, comparing to PCN, FoldingNet, Atlas, and CRN methods, respectively; and also an average reduction of 21.91 % , 19.59 % , 43.51 % , and 21.49 % in terms of EMD error, respectively. Our proposed point completion network is also robust to different degrees of data incompleteness and model noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Identifying precise biomarkers of immunotherapy response for non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) before treatment is challenging. This study aimed to construct and investigate the potential performance of a sub-regional radiomics model (SRRM) as a novel tumor biomarker in predicting the response of patients with NSCLC treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors, and test whether its predictive performance is superior to that of conventional radiomics, tumor mutational burden (TMB) score and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression. Methods: We categorized 264 patients from retrospective databases of two centers into training (n = 159) and validation (n = 105) cohorts. Radiomic features were extracted from three sub-regions of the tumor region of interest using the K-means method. We extracted 1,896 features from each sub-region, resulting in 5688 features per sample. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression method was used to select sub-regional radiomic features. The SRRM was constructed and validated using the support vector machine algorithm. We used next-generation sequencing to classify patients from the two cohorts into high TMB (≥ 10 muts/Mb) and low TMB (< 10 muts/Mb) groups; immunohistochemistry was performed to assess PD-L1 expression in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor sections, with high expression defined as ≥ 50% of tumor cells being positive. Associations between the SRRM and progression-free survival (PFS) and variant genes were assessed. Results: Eleven sub-regional radiomic features were employed to develop the SRRM. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) of the proposed SRRM were 0.90 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.84−0.96) and 0.86 (95% CI 0.76−0.95) in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. The SRRM (low vs. high; cutoff value = 0.936) was significantly associated with PFS in the training (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.35 [0.24−0.50], P < 0.001) and validation (HR = 0.42 [0.26−0.67], P = 0.001) cohorts. A significant correlation between the SRRM and three variant genes (H3C4, PAX5, and EGFR) was observed. In the validation cohort, the SRRM demonstrated a higher AUC (0.86, P < 0.001) than that for PD-L1 expression (0.66, P = 0.034) and TMB score (0.54, P = 0.552). Conclusions: The SRRM had better predictive performance and was superior to conventional radiomics, PD-L1 expression, and TMB score. The SRRM effectively stratified the progression-free survival (PFS) risk among patients with NSCLC receiving immunotherapy. Key message: What is already known on this topic: The relationship between sub-regional radiomics and genomic alterations in the context of immunotherapy for lung cancer has not been reported. What this study adds: The sub-regional radiomics model (SRRM) showed better performance in predicting immunotherapy response for non-small cell lung carcinoma than conventional radiomics, tumor mutational burden score, and programmed death ligand-1 biomarkers. H3C4 and PAX5 mutations were associated with the immunotherapy-responsive SRRM-low group, while EGFR mutation was significantly associated with SRRM-high group, especially the L858R mutation sub-type. SRRM-low group showed longer progression-free survival than the SRRM-high group in the training and validation cohorts. How this study might affect research, practice or policy: This approach is generalizable to any medical imaging analysis, including immunotherapy, offering a novel noninvasive way to tailor cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately forecasting regional distributed photovoltaic (DPV) power is crucial in mitigating the negative impact of high DPV penetration on the reliability and resilience of the distribution network. However, most of the current photovoltaic power forecasting methods suffer from two key problems: (1) ignoring the asymmetric influence relationship among DPV sites; (2) lack of consideration of dynamic spatiotemporal correlation among DPV sites. As a result, these methods are unable to fully adapt to the characteristics of DPV, making it challenging to directly apply the existing forecasting methods to improve the accuracy of DPV power forecasting. To conquer this limitation, a dynamic directed Graph Convolution Neural Network (DDGCN) is applied to regional DPV ultra‐short‐term power forecasting. Unlike the conventional Graph Convolution Neural Network (GCN) based forecasting methods, the proposed method improves GCN to process the directed graph. On this basis, to capture the dynamic and directed adjacency relationship among graph nodes, a temporal attention mechanism is proposed and combined with the directed GCN model. In this way, the dynamic and asymmetric/directed relationships among DPV sites can be taken into account. It is worth noting that the DPVs' adjacency relationship can be constructed without any prior knowledge by end‐to‐end model training. The simulation experiment proves that the prediction accuracy can be further improved by taking into account the dynamic directed relationship among the sites via a real DPV power dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clogging of a stream bed has a significant impact on the exchange of water between a river and groundwater, known as hyporheic exchange. Clogging issues in orifices influenced by fluid flow have long been a concern, particularly in understanding clogging mechanisms and particle dynamics. This study focuses on investigating the behavior of poly-dispersed particle systems in the Shanghai soft soil using a coupled lattice Boltzmann method and a discrete element method (LBM-DEM). A particle-orifice model was developed based on LBM-DEM to study the clogging problem. Three different orifice diameters with the same particle size distribution were set at a microscopic scale. The simulation results indicate that the primary form of clogging is the formation of particle domes, exhibiting distinct characteristics depending on orifice size. As the orifice size increases, clogging becomes more challenging. Interestingly, the flow rate of fluid passing through clogged orifices is quite complex, as it does not decrease significantly. The formation process of the particle structure shows significant randomness, posing challenges for quantitative analysis and experimental validation. This study provides insights into the initial stages of clogging formation, leading to a better understanding of hyporheic exchange phenomena in stream bed ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, the treatment method for urban sludge is mainly sludge landfill, which requires the water content of sludge to be less than 60%. Therefore, many researchers have proposed different methods to reduce sludge water content. Freeze–thaw (F/T) and chemical conditioning of sludge, combined with vacuum pressure and vertically inserted drainage board, has been proven to be an effective method to reduce the moisture content of landfill sludge (LS). Based on the consolidation theory of radial drainage, the characteristics of LS in the process of vacuum preloading were studied. A method of instantaneous multistage loading was proposed. The concept of free drainage stage before consolidation drainage is proposed, and the correction of the consolidation coefficient is introduced. Finally, the rationality of the theory was verified by experimental data. The results showed that the consolidation theory is rational for deep dewatering of LS in the vacuum preloading method. The difference between sludge dewatering after F/T pretreatment and chemical pretreatment was mainly reflected in the consolidation coefficient and the free drainage stage. The sludge after F/T pretreatment has higher permeability, more water precipitation, and low moisture content after vacuum preloading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells have been proven to be an effective way of treating B cell malignancies, a lot of patients could not benefit from it because of failure in CAR-T cell manufacturing, disease progression, and unaffordable price. The study aimed to explore universal CAR-T cell products to extend the clinical accessibility. Methods: The antitumor activity of CRISPR/Cas9-edited allogeneic anti-CD19 CAR-T (CAR-T19) cells was assessed in vitro, in animal models, and in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute B cell lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) or diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Results: B2M−/TRAC− universal CAR-T19 (U-CAR-T19) cells exhibited powerful anti-leukemia abilities both in vitro and in animal models, as did primary CD19+ leukemia cells from leukemia patients. However, expansion, antitumor efficacy, or graft-versus-host-disease (GvHD) was not observed in six patients with R/R B cell malignancies after U-CAR-T19 cell infusion. Accordingly, significant activation of natural killer (NK) cells by U-CAR-T19 cells was proven both clinically and in vitro. HLA-A−/B−/TRAC− novel CAR-T19 (nU-CAR-T19) cells were constructed with similar tumoricidal capacity but resistance to NK cells in vitro. Surprisingly, robust expansion of nU-CAR-T19 cells, along with rapid eradication of CD19+ abnormal B cells, was observed in the peripheral blood and bone marrow of another three patients with R/R B-ALL. The patients achieved complete remission with no detectable minimal residual disease 14 days after the infusion of nU-CAR-T19 cells. Two of the three patients had grade 2 cytokine release syndrome, which were managed using an IL-6 receptor blocker. Most importantly, GvHD was not observed in any patient, suggesting the safety of TRAC-disrupted CAR-T cells generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 method for clinical application. Conclusions: The nU-CAR-T19 cells showed a strong response in R/R B-ALL. nU-CAR-T19 cells have the potential to be a promising new approach for treating R/R B cell malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin‐derived porous carbon (LPC) shows great potential as electrode material for supercapacitors. However, precise control over the pore structure during the conventional carbonization–activation process remains challenging. Here, a molecular‐level strategy to tailor the pore structure through tuning inter‐/intra‐molecular bonding of lignin in a pre‐carbonization process is shown. Based on operando pyrolysis analysis, a molecular evolution model is proposed to elucidate the relationship between pre‐carbonization and the resulting porosity of LPC. Lignin undergoes a condensation process with an increase of sp2‐hybridized carbon bonding during pre‐carbonization, causing the extension of polycyclic aromatic structure and leading to an increased mesopore volume in the final porous carbon. The variation in the content ratio of sp2‐ and sp3‐hybridized carbon bonding provides insights into the spatial structure evolution of pre‐carbonized lignin, which correlates well with changes in the porous structure of LPC. The LPCs show ultrahigh specific surface area up to 3219 m2 g−1 and tailored meso‐/micropore distribution. The lithium‐ion capacitor full‐cell tests demonstrate the great potential of LPCs in energy storage applications with superior energy density and power density. This work provides a feasible strategy to precisely design the microstructure of LPC, offering promising prospects for energy storage technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]