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Following hydraulic fracturing operations within shale reservoirs, there frequently exists a considerable volume of residual oil that remains encapsulated within the matrix, thereby impeding the singular shale well's productivity from attaining projected yields. In pursuit of augmenting the recovery efficiency of shale oil, the industry has widely adopted a post-fracture shut-in strategy within shale oil wells. This methodology is predicated on the aspiration to escalate both the production output and the recovery factor of the oil well by leveraging the imbibition and displacement mechanisms of the fracturing fluid throughout the shut-in interval. There are many kinds of surfactants, and how to select surfactants suitable for shale reservoirs from these many surfactants has become a key issue in improving shale reservoir recovery. In this study, a new surfactant screening method for improving imbibition recovery in shale reservoirs is proposed. An interfacial tension test, contact angle test, and anti-adsorption test are carried out for the collected surfactant products, and the interfacial tension, contact angle, and anti-adsorption are gradually used as indicators. The type of surfactant is initially screened. On this basis, the static imbibition experiment of shale is made to determine the type and concentration of surfactants suitable for shale oil development. The results show that the surfactants screened by this method have the characteristics of decreasing oil–water interfacial tension, varying rock wettability, and strong anti-adsorption, which can effectively improve imbibition efficiency. The study results herein can provide technical support for optimizing shale oil surfactants and provide a new idea for improving oil exploitation in low-permeability reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three pairs of enantiomers and one achiral molecule that are new ethylated derivatives of sulfur and nitrogen-containing compounds named mantidisamides E–H (1–4), along with twenty known ones (5–24), were derived from the ethanol extract of Tenodera sinensis Saussure. The structures of these new compounds and their absolute configurations were assigned on the basis of spectroscopic analyses and computational methods. The assessment of activities in NRK-52e cells induced by TGF-β1 demonstrated that the previously undescribed compounds 1 and 2 exhibited a significant capacity to inhibit the expression of proteins (fibronectin, collagen I, and α-SMA). Moreover, the biological activity of these compounds was found to increase with rising concentrations. Notably, compounds 1–4 should be artifacts; however, undescribed compounds 1 and 2, which possessed obvious biological activity, might be attractive for chemists and biologists due to the potential for more detailed exploration of their properties. It is worth mentioning that compounds 1 and 2 remain novel structures even in the absence of the ethoxy group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environment in which people live is a complex system influenced by multiple factors interacting with each other, and therefore, it is crucial to deeply explore the influences of various factors on environmental perception. Among the numerous factors affecting the experience of urban forests visits, the thermal–acoustic environment stands out prominently. This study focuses on urban forests located in subtropical regions, with specific research conducted in the Xihu Park in Fuzhou, China. The study explores the thermal–acoustic interaction in urban forest environments. A total of 150 participants evaluated the perception of sound, thermal sensation, and overall perception through laboratory experiments, with 36 of them having their objective physiological indicators monitored. Different levels of sound and temperature were selected for the experiments, with three levels for each type of sound. Our results show that increasing temperature enhanced the perceived loudness of sound, especially when the environment was quiet. Sound type and loudness had a significant impact on thermal sensation, but no interaction was observed with temperature. Moreover, we found that certain sounds could improve overall comfort, and the effect was most evident at moderate loudness. Temperature had a significant influence on both comfort and annoyance, with increasing temperature leading to higher annoyance. These findings provide important insights into how the interplay between sound and heat affects human perception and emotional state, providing scientific guidance for the design of more human-centered environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuclear factor Y (NF-Y) is a heterotrimeric complex composed of three unique subunits: NF-YA, NF-YB, and NF-YC. This transcription factor complex binds to the CCAAT box of eukaryotic promoters, playing a crucial role in various biological processes in plants. Despite its importance, the NF-Y gene family has not been reported in the sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) genome, an important food and energy crop. Understanding the role and function of NF-Y in sweet potatoes could provide valuable insights for genetic improvement and yield enhancement. To address this gap, our research aimed to comprehensively catalog and characterize the NF-Y genes in sweet potatoes, which we refer to as 'IbNF-Y', where 'Ib' denotes Ipomoea batatas. A total of 37 NF-Ys were identified, including 11 NF-YA, 21 NF-YB, and 5 NF-YC members, and their phylogeny, gene structure, chromosomal distribution, and conserved motifs were analyzed. Additionally, we assessed their expression patterns under salt stress in both light and dark conditions using transcriptome sequencing. Notably, we discovered that certain IbNF-Y genes showed significant changes in expression under salt stress, suggesting their potential roles in sweet potato's adaptation to saline environments. Furthermore, our work enriches the genomics and genetic research on sweet potatoes and contributes valuable knowledge to the broader scientific community of the Convolvulaceae family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the wide application of Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks (UWSNs) in various fields, more and more attention has been paid to deploying and adjusting network nodes. A UWSN is composed of nodes with limited mobility. Drift movement leads to the network structure's destruction, communication performance decline, and node life-shortening. Therefore, a Node Adjustment Scheme based on Motion Prediction (NAS-MP) is proposed, which integrates the layered model of the ocean current's uneven depth, the layered ocean current prediction model based on convolutional neural network (CNN)–transformer, the node trajectory prediction model, and the periodic depth adjustment model based on the Seagull Optimization Algorithm (SOA), to improve the network coverage and connectivity. Firstly, the error threshold of the current velocity and direction in the layer was introduced to divide the depth levels, and the regional current data model was constructed according to the measured data. Secondly, the CNN–transformer hybrid network was used to predict stratified ocean currents. Then, the prediction data of layered ocean currents was applied to the nodes' drift model, and the nodes' motion trajectory prediction was obtained. Finally, based on the trajectory prediction of nodes, the SOA obtained the optimal depth of nodes to optimize the coverage and connectivity of the UWSN. Experimental simulation results show that the performance of the proposed scheme is superior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complex fracture technology is key to the successful development of unconventional oil and gas reservoirs, such as shale. Most current studies focus on how to improve the complexity of the fracture network. It is still unclear whether proppant can enter the branch fractures at all levels after the formation of complex fractures. The effects of construction displacement, proppant particle size, proppant density, fracturing fluid viscosity, sand ratio, and other factors on proppant migration in single fractures and complex fractures were studied using an experimental device independently developed by the laboratory. The results show that the lowest point height of the sandbank and the equilibrium height of the sandbank are directly proportional to the particle concentration and density, respectively, and inversely proportional to the displacement and fracturing fluid viscosity. The equilibrium time of the sandbank is inversely proportional to the displacement, particle concentration, and density, respectively, and proportional to the viscosity of the fracturing fluid. Under the same experimental conditions, the larger the branch angle, the smaller the height of the main/secondary fracture sandbank. In the design of the fracturing process, fracturing fluid with varying viscosities and proppant with different densities should be selected according to the formation conditions and fracturing targets. In the face of long fracture lengths, the combination of low-viscosity fracturing fluid with an appropriate viscosity and low-density proppant can meet the goal of placing proppant over long distances and effectively supporting fractures over extended lengths. Subsequently, high-density proppant or reduced construction displacement are adopted to usefully support fractures in the near-wellbore area. The results of this paper can provide theoretical support for proppant selection and fracturing program design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When a bandwagon consumption trend of luxury fashion products appears, potential consumers tend to conform to the trend. The conformity behavior is enhanced by social media because it makes bandwagon trends more visible. However, no research has explored the drivers of fashion trend conformity in the social media age and the underlying mechanisms. Our empirical research demonstrates that fashion trend conformity is a socially directed type of behavior driven by trend perception and reference group pressure, which represent the informational and normative social influence stimuli, respectively. In addition to the direct impact, we also examine the mediating roles of demand amplification and the urge to buy impulsively (UBI). Demand amplification and UBI, respectively, reflect the rational cognitive reaction and irrational emotional reaction to stimuli of fashion bandwagon consumption. However, our results show that only the cognitive reaction path works, but the emotional reaction path does not. Put simply, trend conformity behavior is largely the result of consumers' rational reactions rather than irrational reactions to the social influence stimuli of bandwagon consumption. Our study contributes to the research on luxury fashion consumption by introducing three new concepts, i.e., fashion trend conformity, trend perception, and demand amplification, to describe and theorize the characteristics of consumer behavioral patterns for luxury fashion products and new drivers and novel underlying mechanisms of consumer behaviors in the social media age. Our findings offer practical insights for retailers and manufacturers to promote fashion trend conformity behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to elucidate the overpressure and fire hazard effects of gas explosion in a congested room, the effects of gas concentration and room layout on a gas explosion in a kitchen were studied by CFD. The results showed that the flow field parameters in a kitchen exhibited an initial increase followed by a decrease as the gas concentration increased. The maximum gas flow rate recorded within the chamber was 390 m/s, while the corresponding maximum flame propagation rate and peak pressure reached 289.86 m/s and 30.95 kPa, respectively. The difference in the flow field induced by the concentration was further enhanced by the presence of congested materials. Additionally, the room layout influenced the gas congestion's blowout effect due to variations in turbulence intensity and flammable gas volume caused by significant changes in the congestion within the room. Specifically, when the gas concentration was 10%, the order of indoor gas flow rate and flame combustion rate were II > U > L > I, while the turbulent kinetic energy and explosive overpressure followed the order I > II > L > U. The results are of great significance for the disaster assessment and accident prevention of natural gas explosion in civil kitchens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In array signal processing, the mutual coupling among physical sensors can inevitably affect the estimation of the direction of arrival (DOA). Despite the fact that multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) radar can provide greater degrees of freedom (DOFs), the influence of mutual coupling is largely overlooked in many current MIMO radar designs. To tackle this issue, we propose the utilization of a generalized nested array (GNA) in transmitter array and we introduce an expansion factor into the nested array in the receiver array. Thereby, a novel GNA-MIMO radar is put forward. The proposed MIMO radar offers O (N 4) consecutive DOFs with N sensors and avoids the adverse effects of high mutual coupling caused by closely located sensors. Furthermore, we derive the closed-form expressions for the position of physical sensors and the attainable consecutive DOFs of the proposed MIMO radar. Through simulation experiments, we demonstrate the superior accuracy of the proposed MIMO configuration in DOA estimation and angle resolution under the condition of mutual coupling effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although current policies discourage the use of corporal punishment (CP), its use is still widespread in the US. The objective of this study was to assess the proportion of parents who used CP during the pandemic and identify related risk and protective factors. We analyzed results of a nationwide cross-sectional internet panel survey of 9000 US caregivers who responded in three waves from November 2020 to July 2021. One in six respondents reported having spanked their child in the past week. Spanking was associated with intimate partner violence and the use of multiple discipline strategies and not significantly associated with region or racial self-identification. Parents who spanked sought out more kinds of support, suggesting an opportunity to reduce spanking through more effective parenting resources. Additionally, these results suggest that parents who report using CP may be at risk for concurrent domestic violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep and ultra-deep shale gas resources have great potential, but well drilling faces many challenges. The Polycrystalline Diamond Compact (PDC) bit has become the primary rock-breaking instrument for oil and gas drilling. Reasonable bit structure designs can promote rock-breaking efficiency and extend service life. In this study, reverse modeling technology is used to analyze the structural characteristics of PDC bits collected in the field, and the influence of the structural characteristics of the bit at a specific interval on the rate of penetration (ROP) and drill footage is investigated using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient method. The number of blades, cutting angle of the cutters, crown rotation radius, internal cone angle, and diameter of the cutters are discovered to be the main structural characteristics that affect the ROP and footage of the bits, and the degree of influence varies depending on the formation conditions. The number of blades, crown rotation radius, inner cone angle, and cutting angle of the cutters have a significant impact on the ROP, whereas blade thickness, gauge length, gauge width, nozzle equivalent diameter have a significant impact on the bit footage. In addition, a back propagation (BP) neural network is utilized to build a prediction model of bit footage and ROP over a certain interval based on the structural characteristics of the bit. The goodness of fit of the model is greater than 85%, and its accuracy is high. Based on the usage of the bit, the evaluation and prediction of the bit can provide a reference for the structural design and optimization of the bit in a specific interval, guide the bit selection work, rationally plan the drilling operation, and reduce the drilling cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shale gas reservoirs generally exhibit characteristics such as low porosity, permeability, and pore throat radius, with high airflow resistance. Currently, hydraulic fracturing is a commonly used method for commercial shale gas extraction; however, the hydraulic fracturing method has exhibited a series of issues, including water sensitivity and reservoir pollution in shale reservoirs. Therefore, the development of anhydrous fracturing technology suitable for shale gas reservoirs has become an urgent requirement. The supercritical carbon dioxide fracturing technique has the merits of reducing reservoir damage, improving recovery and backflow rates, and saving water resources. Moreover, this technique has broad application prospects and can achieve the effective extraction of shale gas. To enhance the understanding of the supercritical carbon dioxide fracturing technique, this review summarizes the progress of current research on this technique. Furthermore, this study analyzes the stage control technology of supercritical carbon dioxide during the fracturing process, the interaction characteristics between supercritical carbon dioxide and rocks, and the laws of rock initiation and crack growth in supercritical carbon dioxide fracturing. The outcomes indicate that after SC-CO2 enters the reservoir, CO2 water–rock interaction occurs, which alters the mineral composition and pore throat framework, weakens the mechanical characteristics of shale, reduces the rock fracturing pressure, and increases the complexity of the fracturing network. This article provides a reference for research related to supercritical carbon dioxide fracturing technology and is greatly significant for the development of shale gas reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Speech emotion recognition (SER) aims to recognize human emotions through in-depth analysis of audio signals. However, it remains challenging to encode emotional cues and to fuse the encoded cues effectively. In this study, dual-stream representation is developed, and both full training and fine-tuning of different deep networks are employed for encoding emotion patterns. Specifically, a cross-attention fusion (CAF) module is designed to integrate the dual-stream output for emotion recognition. Using different dual-stream encoders (fully training a text processing network and fine-tuning a pre-trained large language network), the CAF module is compared to other three fusion modules on three databases. The SER performance is quantified with weighted accuracy (WA), unweighted accuracy (UA), and F1-score (F1S). The experimental results suggest that the CAF outperforms the other three modules and leads to promising performance on the databases (EmoDB: WA, 97.20%; UA, 97.21%; F1S, 0.8804; IEMOCAP: WA, 69.65%; UA, 70.88%; F1S, 0.7084; RAVDESS: WA, 81.86%; UA, 82.75.21%; F1S, 0.8284). It is also found that fine-tuning a pre-trained large language network achieves superior representation than fully training a text processing network. In a future study, improved SER performance could be achieved through the development of a multi-stream representation of emotional cues and the incorporation of a multi-branch fusion mechanism for emotion recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban forests are increasingly recognized as vital components of urban ecosystems, offering a plethora of physiological and psychological benefits to residents. However, the existing research has often focused on single dimensions of either visual or auditory experiences, overlooking the combined impact of audio–visual environments on public health and well-being. This study addresses this gap by examining the effects of composite audio–visual settings within three distinct types of urban forests in Fuzhou, China: mountain, mountain–water, and waterfront forests. Through field surveys and quantitative analysis at 24 sample sites, we assessed visual landscape elements, soundscapes, physiological indicators (e.g., heart rate, skin conductance), and psychological responses (e.g., spiritual vitality, stress relief, emotional arousal, attention recovery) among 77 participants. Our findings reveal that different forest types exert varying influences on visitors' physiology and psychology, with waterfront forests generally promoting relaxation and mountain–water forests inducing a higher degree of tension. Specific audio–visual elements, such as plant, water scenes, and natural sounds, positively affect psychological restoration, whereas urban noise is associated with increased physiological stress indicators. In conclusion, the integrated effects of audio–visual landscapes significantly shape the multisensory experiences of the public in urban forests, underscoring the importance of optimal design that incorporates natural elements to create restorative environments beneficial to the health and well-being of urban residents. These insights not only contribute to the scientific understanding of urban forest impact but also inform the design and management of urban green spaces for enhanced public health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The glycocalyx is a proteoglycan–glycoprotein structure lining the luminal surface of the vascular endothelium and is susceptible to damage due to blast overpressure (BOP) exposure. The glycocalyx is essential in maintaining the structural and functional integrity of the vasculature and regulation of cerebral blood flow (CBF). Assessment of alterations in the density of the glycocalyx; its components (heparan sulphate proteoglycan (HSPG/syndecan-2), heparan sulphate (HS), and chondroitin sulphate (CS)); CBF; and the effect of hypercapnia on CBF was conducted at 2–3 h, 1, 3, 14, and 28 days after a high-intensity (18.9 PSI/131 kPa peak pressure, 10.95 ms duration, and 70.26 PSI·ms/484.42 kPa·ms impulse) BOP exposure in rats. A significant reduction in the density of the glycocalyx was observed 2–3 h, 1-, and 3 days after the blast exposure. The glycocalyx recovered by 28 days after exposure and was associated with an increase in HS (14 and 28 days) and in HSPG/syndecan-2 and CS (28 days) in the frontal cortex. In separate experiments, we observed significant decreases in CBF and a diminished response to hypercapnia at all time points with some recovery at 3 days. Given the role of the glycocalyx in regulating physiological function of the cerebral vasculature, damage to the glycocalyx after BOP exposure may result in the onset of pathogenesis and progression of cerebrovascular dysfunction leading to neuropathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A miniature and highly sensitive fiber-optic liquid flowmeter based on Fabry–Perot interferometry (FPI) is proposed and demonstrated for fluid-flow micro-channel testing. The diaphragm deformation and pressure of the proposed sensor for flow rate detection are obtained from numerical and finite element method simulations of the theoretical model. The FPI flowmeter can be applied in real time to measure the ultra-wide dynamic range from 0 mL/min to 90 mL/min, with a response time of hundreds of milliseconds, controlling the flow rate with a resolution of 1.08 mL/min, which is 1.2% of the full scale. The quadratic functional relation between dip wavelength shifts and flow rates is verified by the flow calibration curves of the FPI flowmeter under dynamic pressure conditions. In addition, the effective temperature compensation is realized by connecting an FBG temperature sensor for variable temperature flow detection, and the measured error is reduced by nearly 25-times. The proposed sensor has the potential to measure the liquid flow rate in various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An open-cell metal foam has excellent characteristics such as low density, high porosity, high specific surface area, high thermal conductivity, and low mass due to its unique internal three-dimensional network structure. It has gradually become a new material for enhanced heat transfer in industrial equipment, new compact heat exchangers, microelectronic device cooling, etc. This research established a comprehensive three-dimensional structural model of open-cell metal foams utilizing Laguerre–Voronoi tessellations and employed computational fluid dynamics to investigate its flow dynamics and coupled heat transfer performance. By exploring the impact of foam microstructure on flow resistance and heat transfer characteristics, the study provided insights into the overall convective heat transfer performance across a range of foam configurations with varying pore densities and porosities. The findings revealed a direct correlation between convective heat transfer coefficient (h) and pressure drop (ΔP) with increasing Reynolds number (Re), accompanied by notable changes in fluid turbulence kinetic energy (e) and temperature (T), ultimately influencing heat transfer efficiency. Furthermore, the analysis demonstrated that alterations in porosity (ε) and pore density significantly affected unit pressure drop (ΔP/L) and convective heat transfer coefficient (h). This study identified an optimal configuration, highlighting a metal foam with a pore density of 20 PPI and a porosity of 95% as exhibiting superior overall convective heat transfer performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important irritant trace gas in the atmosphere, ammonia (NH3) significantly impacts human health and environment. Bottom-up emission inventories are widely used to estimate ammonia emissions and their geographical distributions over China. However, high uncertainties are still associated with emission inventories due to inaccurate emission factors used. The Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm is a population-based stochastic optimization algorithm used to solve complicated optimization problems. We quantify NH3 emissions and lifetime from Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) NH3 observations together with MERRA-2 wind fields based on the DE algorithm. Two inland cities, Urumchi and Golmud in China, are chosen to study of the NH3 emissions based on the distributions of NH3 total columns and wind fields. The NH3 emissions rate estimated is about 5.84 × 10−11 and 4.19 × 10−11 kg·m−2s−1 in Urumchi and in the Golmud area from May to September from 2008 to 2023, respectively. The lifetime of NH3 estimated in the two areas is 4.31 and 9.19 h, respectively. We compare the NH3 emissions and lifetime estimated in this study with the values in other studies, and the results show the reliability of the method used. This work is one of few quantitative studies of NH3 emissions from cities using satellite observations in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pressure sensing plays an important role in many industrial fields; conventional electronic pressure sensors struggle to survive in the harsh environment. Recently microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) fiber-optic Fabry–Perot (FP) pressure sensors have attracted great interest. Here we review the basic principles of MEMS fiber-optic FP pressure sensors and then discuss the sensors based on different materials and their industrial applications. We also introduce recent progress, such as two-photon polymerization-based 3D printing technology, and the state-of-the-art in this field, e.g., sapphire-based sensors that work up to 1200 °C. Finally, we discuss the limitations and opportunities for future development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the refinement of two microstructures was controlled in medium carbon 25Cr2Ni3MoV steel via multi-step tempering and partition (MTP) to achieve high cryogenic strength–ductility combinations. Microstructure evolution, the distribution of stress concentration, and microcrack formation and propagation during cryogenic Charpy impact testing were investigated. Compared with their performance in the quenching and tempering states (QT), the MTP steels showed a significant improvement in yield strength (1300 MPa), total elongation (25%), and impact toughness (>25 J) at liquid nitrogen temperature (LNT). The strengthening contributions mainly originated from the high dislocation density and refinement cementite (size: 70 nm) in the martensite lath (width: 1.5 μm) introduced by refined reversed austenite and its latter decomposition. The instrumented Charpy impact results indicated that cracks nucleated in the primary austenite grain (PAG) boundary for two steels due to the strain concentration band preferring to appear near PAGs, while cracks in the QT and MTP samples propagated along the PAGs and high-angle grain boundary (HAGB), respectively. The crystallized plasticity finite element simulation revealed that the PAG boundary with cementite precipitates of large size (>200 nm) was less able to dissipate crack propagation energy than the HAGBs by continuously forming a high strain concentration area, thus leading to the low-impact toughness of the QT steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, degenerative joint disease presenting a significant global health threat. While current therapeutic approaches primarily target symptom relief, their efficacy in repairing joint damage remains limited. Recent research has highlighted mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as potential contributors to cartilage repair, anti-inflammatory modulation, and immune regulation in OA patients. Notably, MSCs from different sources and their derivatives exhibit variations in their effectiveness in treating OA. Moreover, pretreatment and gene editing techniques of MSCs can enhance their therapeutic outcomes in OA. Additionally, the combination of novel biomaterials with MSCs has shown promise in facilitating the repair of damaged cartilage. This review summarizes recent studies on the role of MSCs in the treatment of OA, delving into their advantages and exploring potential directions for development, with the aim of providing fresh insights for future research in this critical field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flotation reagents are significant for modifying the interfacial characteristics of mineral grains to achieve the effective separation of minerals. Since the 1960s, when quantum chemistry was first introduced into the study of flotation reagents, many achievements have been made, although some controversial topics remain. The application of quantum chemistry in the research of flotation reagents for the separation of various minerals in the past decade is herein comprehensively and systematically reviewed. The main directions and gaps of current research are pointed out, the theoretical basis for the design and development of novel flotation reagents is summarized, and more importantly, the potential for the targeting design and development of efficient, selective, and environmentally friendly flotation reagent molecules by means of quantum chemistry is explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper mainly investigates the problem of direction of arrival (DOA) estimation for a monostatic MIMO radar. Specifically, the proposed array, which is called a nested–nested sparse array (NNSA), is structurally composed of two nested subarrays, a NA with N 1 + N 2 elements and a sparse NA, respectively, with N 3 + N 4 elements. The design process of NNSA is optimized into two steps and presented in detail. Setting NNSA as transmitter/receiver arrays, we derive the closed-form expression of consecutive DOFs and calculate the mutual coupling coefficient. Eventually, extensive simulations are carried out and the results verify the superiority of the proposed array over the previous arrays in terms of consecutive DOFs, array aperture and mutual coupling effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The settlement drag coefficient of irregular particles in power-law fluids is a crucial parameter in the field of petroleum engineering. However, the irregular shape of the particle and the non-Newtonian rheological properties of the fluid make it challenging to predict the settlement drag coefficient. In this study, the spherical and irregular particle sedimentation processes in power-law fluids have been analyzed using a visual device and a high-speed camera system. A mechanical model dependent on the force balance of settlement particles was adopted to conduct a detailed statistical analysis of 114 spherical particle experimental results, and a prediction model of the drag coefficient of spherical particles in the power-law fluid was established with a mean relative error of 3.85%. On this basis, considering the influence of geometric shape on the law of particle sedimentation, a new irregular particle sedimentation resistance coefficient model in power-law fluid is established via the incorporation of the parameter circularity of 2D shape description c into the spherical particle sedimentation resistance coefficient predictive model. The parameters in the new irregular particle sedimentation resistance coefficient predictive model can be obtained via nonlinear data fitting of the 211 groups of irregular particles using experimental results in the power-law fluid. The model has high prediction accuracy for the drag coefficient of irregular particles in power-law fluid, with a mean relative error of 4.47, and expands the scope of engineering applications, which is of great significance for fracturing scheme design and wellbore cleaning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the drilling process, cuttings settle under the action of gravity, which easily results in the formation of a cuttings bed, which then results in wellbore cleaning problems. The settling law of cuttings in drilling fluid is essentially a problem of solid–liquid two-phase settling. This study analyzes and summarizes the effects of the wall effect, the rheology of the fluid, particle shape irregularity, and particle concentration on the settling rate of particles and clarifies the problems faced by current research on the settling rate of particles and the development direction. Studies have shown that walls exert additional blocking effects on particles, thus reducing their settling velocity. The shear thinning effect of non-Newtonian fluids such as power-law fluids and Herschel–Bulkley fluids will reduce the viscosity of the liquid, thus increasing the settling velocity of the particles. Compared with spherical particles, irregular particles will obtain higher resistance in the fluid, leading to a decline in the particle settling velocity. The mutual interference between particles will result in an increase in the drag force on the particles and a decline in the settling velocity. However, when the particles are aggregated, the settling velocity will increase. This study can provide theoretical guidance for predicting the migration law of cuttings during the drilling of horizontal wells, and it has important significance for enriching the theory of solid–liquid two-phase flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corporate donation is an important business strategy, but not all donations can yield the expected positive outcomes. Thus, it is urgent to know what donation strategies firms should use to obtain positive responses from different stakeholders. By conducting two experimental studies, we explore which donation frequency strategy, one-time or multiple-time donations, drives more positive investor responses and the difference in the mediating roles of altruistic/egoistic bidirectional motive attributions. The results show that for donation projects supporting ongoing causes, a multiple-time strategy leads to investors having more positive judgments of a firm's future earnings prospects and higher investment desirability rather than a one-time strategy because it induces more altruistic attributions. Although investors make both altruistic and egoistic attributions for both strategies, only the mediating role of altruistic attribution exists, whereas that of egoistic attribution does not. Our research contributes to the study of corporate donation strategies and corporate social responsibility (including corporate donation) motive attribution, providing valuable insights for academic research, corporate decision makers, and stakeholders invested in responsible business practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum XZ01 (BLSL1) is a new strain (isolated from the intestines of healthy people and deposited with the preservation number GDMCC 61618). An exopolysaccharide, S-EPS-1, was successfully isolated from the strain and then systematically investigated for the first time. Some structural features of S-EPS-1 were analyzed by chemical component, HPLC, ultraviolet, infrared, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum analyses. These analyses revealed that S-EPS-1 is a neutral heteropolysaccharide with an α-configuration. It contains mainly mannose and glucose, as well as small amounts of rhamnose and galactose. The molecular weight of S-EPS-1 was calculated to be 638 kDa. Several immunoregulatory activity assays indicated that S-EPS-1 could increase proliferation, phagocytosis, and NO production in vitro. In addition, S-EPS-1 could upregulate the expression of cytokines at the mRNA level through TLR4-mediated activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway in RAW 264.7 cells. Finally, S-EPS-1 was demonstrated to exhibit antioxidant activity by ABTS+• scavenging, DPPH• scavenging, and ferric-ion reducing power assays. Furthermore, S-EPS-1 can protect cells from oxidative stress and shows no cytotoxicity. These beneficial effects can be partly attributed to its antioxidant ability. Thus, the antioxidant S-EPS-1 may be applied as a functional food in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: The imaging energy range of a typical Compton camera is limited due to the fact that scattered gamma photons are seldom fully absorbed when the incident energies are above 3 MeV. Further improving the upper energy limit of gamma-ray imaging has important application significance in the active interrogation of special nuclear materials and chemical warfare agents, as well as range verification of proton therapy. (2) Methods: To realize gamma-ray imaging in a wide energy range of 0.3~7 MeV, a principle prototype, named a portable three-layer Compton camera, is developed using the scintillation detector that consists of an silicon photomultiplier array coupled with a Gd3Al2Ga3O12:Ce pixelated scintillator array. Implemented in a list-mode maximum likelihood expectation maximization algorithm, a far-field energy-domain imaging method based on the two interaction events is applied to estimate the initial energy and spatial distribution of gamma-ray sources. The simulation model of the detectors is established based on the Monte Carlo simulation toolkit Geant4. The reconstructed images of a 133Ba, a 137Cs and a 60Co point-like sources have been successfully obtained with our prototype in laboratory tests and compared with simulation studies. (3) Results: The proportion of effective imaging events accounts for about 2%, which allows our prototype to realize the reconstruction of the distribution of a 0.05 μSv/h 137Cs source in 10 s. The angular resolution for resolving two 137Cs point-like sources is 15°. Additional simulated imaging of the 6.13 MeV gamma-rays from 14.1 MeV neutron scattering with water preliminarily demonstrates the imaging capability for high incident energy. (4) Conclusions: We conclude that the prototype has a good imaging performance in a wide energy range (0.3~7 MeV), which shows potential in several MeV gamma-ray imaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop implementation research on distributed optical fiber sensing technology, field tests were conducted on municipal roads and railways using a distributed acoustic sensor (DAS). Data were collected by the DAS during a field test for a long time period (more than 20 min), and we conducted short-term (<10 s) and long-term (≥10 s) analyses on these data separately. In the short-term data analysis, the vehicle type, vehicle length, and working status of the vehicle engine or the compressor were identified. In the long-term data analysis, the traffic flow was monitored, and the running distance, acceleration, speed, and braking distance of the vehicle were obtained. The characteristics of the vehicle operation data obtained in these field tests are important in developing the data processing method of DASs, which will help to promote the implementation of DASs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic and recurrent inflammatory disease with an unknown pathogenesis and increasing incidence. The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of prophylactic treatment with Cordyceps militaris on UC. The findings demonstrate that prophylactic supplementation of C. militaris powder effectively mitigates disease symptoms in DSS-injured mice, while also reducing the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, C. militaris powder enhances the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier by up-regulating MUC2 protein expression and improving tight junction proteins (ZO-1, occludin, and claudin 1) in DSS-injured mice. Multiomics integration analyses revealed that C. militaris powder not only reshaped gut microbiota composition, with an increase in Lactobacillus, Odoribacter, and Mucispirillum, but also exerted regulatory effects on various metabolic pathways including amino acid, glyoxylates, dicarboxylates, glycerophospholipids, and arachidonic acid. Subsequent analysis further elucidated the intricate interplay of gut microbiota, the intestinal mucosal barrier, and metabolites, suggesting that the microbiota–metabolite axis may involve the effect of C. militaris on intestinal mucosal barrier repair in UC. Moreover, in vitro experiments demonstrated that peptides and polysaccharides, derived from C. militaris, exerted an ability to change the gut microbiota structure of UC patients' feces, particularly by promoting the growth of Lactobacillus. These findings suggest that regulatory properties of C. militaris on gut microbiota may underlie the potential mechanism responsible for the protective effect of C. militaris in UC. Consequently, our study will provide support for the utilization of C. militaris as a whole food-based ingredient against the occurrence and development of UC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the acceleration of urbanization, urban heat waves have become a major problem affecting the lives of citizens. In this context, the accurate identification of the key patches and nodes of urban heat islands is important for improving the urban environment. This study examined the Landsat image data from Xiamen city in 2001, 2011, and 2021 to analyze the construction of the urban heat island (UHI) network. A morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) and landscape connectivity model were utilized to identify the central thermal landscape patches and key nodes of UHI and their spatial and temporal evolution characteristics in the urban development process. The ultimate goal of this research is to provide valuable insights that can contribute to the enhancement of the urban environment. The results showed that (1) there was a significant increase in the heat island area (HIA) of Xiamen from 2001 to 2021, and the heat island patches show a concentrated trend. The temperature contrast between the urban area and the surrounding countryside was more distinct, indicating the urban construction land has a tendency to gather and spread. (2) The core area of the heat island accounted for the largest proportion of the thermal landscape area during the study period, and its proportion increased significantly. And the rate of increase was first rapid and then slow. The areas of the edge, branch, islet, bridge, loop, and perforation classes all showed different degrees of a decreasing trend. This indicates an increasing degree of aggregation between heat island patches. (3) The top 20 thermal landscape patches with high landscape connectivity importance values were identified. Among them, the importance value and area of the first four patches are relatively large, and belong to the three importance classes of extremely important, important, and generally important heat island core patches, which deserve focused attention and optimization. (4) Cooling measures can be prioritized for core areas of heat islands with high importance values. Connections between hot and cold islands can be interrupted or connected to mitigate the heat island effect throughout the region. The results of this study have important practical guidance for urban planning and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is vital to conduct urban ecosystem service evaluations and demarcate ecological management zoning to preserve regional ecological security and the spatial optimization of urban functions. This study assessed and examined the spatial distribution characteristics of the supply and demand of five typical ecosystem services in Zhengzhou and their matching pattern. Based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs, urban ecological management zoning was demarcated to guide the spatial optimization of urban functions. The results showed that most of the ecological goods and services in Zhengzhou were generally provided in the west and south of the city. High-value areas of ecosystem service demand were mainly found in the urban center. There was a definite circle structure of total ecosystem service demand. Carbon sequestration, grain production, water yield, and habitat maintenance in the urban center area indicated an ecological deficit. Soil conservation in most regions was a surplus trend. Zhengzhou was demarcated into five groups of ecological management zoning. Different preferences had an impact on the ecosystem service supply and demand. The rise in living conditions led to an increase in the demand for high-level ecological services. This study can provide an essential theoretical basis and practical assistance for urban space optimization and ecosystem service management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is of great significance to accurately assess the carbon sink capacity and trend of forest ecosystems on a regional scale, which is a key step to realizing sustainable forest management and carbon sink. Based on several remote sensing datasets, this study analyzes the dynamic characteristics of forest carbon stock in the Yangtze River Basin and its response to environmental factors using the Mann–Kendall nonparametric test, correlation analysis, and BP neural network during 2005–2020. The results show that forest carbon stock in the Yangtze River Basin shows a fluctuating upward trend, with an average annual growth rate of 0.91%. Forest carbon stock in western high-altitude areas and areas with high human activity in the east showed a downward trend, while the central plains showed a stable growth trend. In the vast plains of the Yangtze River Basin, a suitable drought degree (−0.5 < SPEI < 0.5) is helpful to the accumulation of forest carbon reserves. In the future, rich forest resources should be fully developed to promote synergy between environmental protection and economic development from the perspective of developing green carbon trading, such as the carbon-sink forestry projects of CCER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As urbanization accelerates, parks, as vital urban public open spaces, and their acoustic and thermal ambience directly impact visitors' comfort and the sustainability of parks. Selecting Xihu Park in Fuzhou, China located in the subtropical region as a typical example, this study utilizes covert observational experiments with different typical sounds (grass cutting, music, and no sound source) across temperature levels to examine the influence of thermal–acoustic interactions on crowd behaviors in the park. The findings are as follows: (1) melodious music can attract more tourists, while strong stimulating grass cutting noises under high temperatures reduce crowd flow. Excluding unpleasant audio sources, park soundscapes across temperatures have a relatively limited influence on attractiveness to people flow. (2) High temperatures diminish tourists' interest in landscape experiences and persons staying, especially when the soundscape quality is poorer. Under non-high temperatures, audio environments have a minor impact on the staying time. (3) The soundscape quality plays a role by affecting people's path choices of approaching or avoiding sound sources, where grass cutting noise has the most negative influence. Music, grass cutting sounds, and natural sounds demonstrate conspicuous differences in their effects under varied temperatures. (4) Comfortable acoustic environments can draw larger crowds and decrease the walking pace. High temperatures make crowds take slower steps. Different sound types have significant influences on crowd movement velocity under three typical temperature levels. This study comprehensively investigates the mechanisms of typical thermal–acoustic environments' impacts on park crowd behaviors, providing important references for optimizing the acoustic and thermal environments of urban parks, while also enriching related research on landscape design and environmental psychology. Future studies can conduct in-depth explorations by creating more abundant thermal–acoustic combinations and probe differences across diverse populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Material innovation plays a very important role in technological progress and industrial development. Traditional experimental exploration and numerical simulation often require considerable time and resources. A new approach is urgently needed to accelerate the discovery and exploration of new materials. Machine learning can greatly reduce computational costs, shorten the development cycle, and improve computational accuracy. It has become one of the most promising research approaches in the process of novel material screening and material property prediction. In recent years, machine learning has been widely used in many fields of research, such as superconductivity, thermoelectrics, photovoltaics, catalysis, and high-entropy alloys. In this review, the basic principles of machine learning are briefly outlined. Several commonly used algorithms in machine learning models and their primary applications are then introduced. The research progress of machine learning in predicting material properties and guiding material synthesis is discussed. Finally, a future outlook on machine learning in the materials science field is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In aviation fire extinguishing systems, the extinguishing agent is stored in a bottle, which is pressurized by nitrogen. When fire occurs, the agent is discharged via pipe and nozzle to the target compartment. The geometry of the pipe has a significant impact on the discharge process, and merits study. In this study of the discharge process of halon1301 using pipes of different diameters, the pressure distribution was significantly influenced by varying pipe diameter. Contributions to pressure drops through the valve/pipe/nozzle were approximately 2%, 8%, and 90%, respectively, when the pipe diameter was larger than the nozzle diameter. The contribution through the pipe increased, and the contribution through the nozzle decreased, as the pipe diameter became smaller. When the pipe diameter was decreased to the nozzle diameter, pressure drops through the valve/pipe/nozzle were 10%, 45%, and 45%, respectively; there was an increased pressure drop through the pipe. Distinctions in pressure distribution led to temperature differences; when there were more pressure drops through the nozzle, the temperature in the pipe was lower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metschnikowia bicuspidata causes a "milky disease" in Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis, which inflicts significant damage on the breeding industry, but there are no effective drugs for this disease. Precise detection technologies and clarification of transmission routes are now essential to prevent its occurrence. A real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qPCR) detection method targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit VIA (COX6A) of M. bicuspidata was developed and its sensitivity, specificity, repeatability, and application effectiveness evaluated. There was a robust linear relationship between the qPCR threshold cycle value (Ct) and copy number of the standard with a wide dynamic range. The standard curve had a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.996, amplification efficiency of 103.092%, and a lower limit of detection sensitivity of 7.6 × 101 copies/µL. The COX6A-qPCR method exhibited high specificity for the detection of M. bicuspidata, with no cross-reactivity. The intra- and inter-group variation coefficients were <1% and 2%, respectively. The qPCR exhibited superior sensitivity compared to existing detection methods, with a positivity rate of 76.67%. The M. bicuspidata content ranged from 1.0 × 101–2.7 × 106 copies/µL. The COX6A-qPCR detection technology exhibited high sensitivity, strong specificity, and excellent repeatability, enabling the accurate quantification of M. bicuspidata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the complex asymmetric deformation characteristics of inclined coal seam roadways and the tensed shear failure of anchor cable supports, the asymmetric support scheme of an anchor cable with a C-shaped tube is proposed. In order to study its supporting effect on an inclined coal seam roadway, this paper first explores the difference in shear performance between an anchor cable with a C-shaped tube and an anchor cable through double shear tests. Then, based on the asymmetric deformation characteristics of an inclined coal seam roadway in the Pangpangta Mine, a numerical simulation is used to study the asymmetric support effect of an anchor cable with a C-shaped tube in an inclined coal seam roadway. The results of the double shear test show that the anchor cable with the C-shaped tube has stronger resistance to shear load than that of the anchor cable. Through the results of the numerical simulation, the original stress field distribution on both sides of the roadway was found to be uneven due to the influence of the coal seam dip angle, and after the excavation of the inclined coal seam roadway, the displacement and plastic zone distribution on both sides showed obvious asymmetric characteristics. Compared with the symmetric support, the asymmetric support can obviously alleviate the asymmetric deformation characteristics of the two sides and effectively control the deformation and plastic failure zone of the roadway. The anchor cable with the C-shaped tube has better resistance to shear deformation than that of the anchor cable. The anchor cable with the C-shaped tube can reduce the deformation and plastic area of the roadway more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The various industries, sectors, and citizens' daily lives have undergone significant changes after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers collected and analyzed PM2.5 samples including secondary inorganic ions (SO42−, NO3−, and NH4+, namely SNA), organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and other 16 metal elements in Beijing in 2019 (before the pandemic) and 2020 (after the pandemic). The particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration in the autumn and winter of 2020 is 21.16 µg/m3 and 14.05 µg/m3 lower than in 2019, respectively. The contribution of six sources of pollution, including coal combustion, secondary sources, transportation-related sources, dust, Industrial I, and Industrial II, were analyzed using the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model. Due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more people are choosing private transportation, such as private cars, instead of public transportation. As a result, the contribution of PM2.5 pollution related to transportation increased after the pandemic. The metal elements measured during the sampling period represent only a very small fraction (1%) of PM2.5. However, their health risk to humans cannot be ignored because of the toxicity of some metallic elements, and the carcinogenic risks induced by metal elements in PM2.5 exceeded the safety threshold (>10−6) during the autumn and winter of 2019 and 2020. Arsenic (As) contributes the most to carcinogenic risk, so controlling arsenic emissions is the primary approach to reducing cancer risk in Beijing. Considering the contribution to the health risk from various sources obtained in PMF, coal combustion is the most significant contributor to cancer risk. Therefore, serious consideration should be given to controlling coal combustion at the local and regional levels to reduce health risks in Beijing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past two decades, there has been a surge in digital innovation. China is the world's second-largest digital economy entity and the national strategy to build a digital China is in full swing. Chinese enterprises have received great support while pursuing digital transformation. This study aims to explore the impact of digital transformation on firm dynamic capital structure adjustment by taking evidence from Chinese listed firms. Based on the data of 3855 Chinese A-share listed firm-year observations during 2011–2021, this study employed a panel data fixed effects model to ascertain the association between the proposed variables. The results indicate that digital transformation has a significant positive effect on accelerating capital structure adjustment speed. Furthermore, we show that digital transformation promotes dynamic capital structure adjustment through financial flexibility. The impact of digital transformation on dynamic capital structure adjustment is characterized by heterogeneity in the ownership type, asset size, and credit cycle. In addition, reduced financing constraints and growing economic policy uncertainty will moderate the relationship between digital transformation and dynamic capital structure adjustment. Our findings provide insights into how digital transformation is driving companies to accelerate their capital structure adjustment speed to the optimal, and supplements the existing literature on the determinants of dynamic capital structure adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of recycling, dismantling, and reusing household appliances, implementing extended producer responsibility (EPR) has become increasingly important. Designing a reasonable pricing mechanism for waste household appliance recycling is critical for the implementation of EPR. To address the problem of labor-intensive and experience-dependent traditional manual methods for assessing the value of waste household appliances, in this paper, we propose an evaluation method based on the subtractive clustering method and an adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system (SCM–ANFIS), which outperforms traditional neural networks such as LSTM, BP neural network, random forest and Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy neural network (T–S FNN). Moreover, in this paper, we combine the five aforementioned algorithms to design a combination evaluation model based on maximum ratio combination (CEM–MRC), which can achieve a performance improvement of 0.1% in terms of mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) compared to the suboptimal BP neural network. Furthermore, an enhanced evaluation model based on classification selection (EEM–CS) is designed to automatically select the evaluation results between the optimal SCM–ANFIS and the suboptimal CEM–MRC, resulting in a 0.73% reduction in MAPE compared to the optimal SCM–ANFIS and a 1.42% reduction compared to the suboptimal CEM–MRC. In this paper, we also validate the performance of the proposed algorithms using a dataset of waste television recycling, which demonstrates the high accuracy of the proposed value assessment mechanisms achieved without human intervention and a significant improvement in evaluation accuracy as compared to conventional neural-network-based algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UASNs are widely used in underwater communications and monitoring, and many applications require accurate information regarding the position of nodes. However, intentional attacks against devices or information transmission may exist in the network, and the localization process is periodic, so it is necessary to quickly address attacks and optimize the network structure. This paper proposed an anchor node self-adaptive adjustment localization scheme (ASAL), in which the anchor node can adjust the state and depth of its participation. Two filters were used to adjust the states of referable nodes. The first filter was based on the distance difference of reverse information transmission after direct localization based on anchor nodes. The second was based on the error of the anchor node's reverse localization after network localization was completed. In addition, a depth-adjustment mechanism of anchor nodes was proposed to optimize the network structure, the virtual force vector was introduced to describe the cost of depth adjustment, and the whale optimization algorithm was used to converge to the depth with the minimum total cost. The simulation results showed that the scheme can ensure localization accuracy and coverage in attack scenarios and reduce localization energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distinctive constraints and opportunities present in rural China underscore the importance of exploring sustainable architectural construction models in such areas. Architects engaged in rural projects have contributed design thinking that incorporates construction operations in response to local elements, resulting in significant benefits for the sustainability of rural construction. This study investigates these design approaches as locally based architectural construction strategies and seeks to identify their latent wisdom as a reference for future practices through the textual analysis of 63 articles showcasing outstanding architectural design in rural China. By organizing related design thinking with respect to three key elements, extracting these elements, and analyzing their correlations from the textual descriptions, 14 types of locally based architectural construction strategies are identified. Via analysis and discussions of these types, this research identifies the paramount concerns in Chinese rural architectural practices as revolving around fundamental issues of technology, livability, and aesthetics. These fundamental issues emphasize different kinds of sustainability—the pursuit of sustainability in local-based rural construction activity through diverse technological explorations, environmental sustainability through special building envelope designs, and cultural sustainability through the establishment of new local rural aesthetics with material and other visible expressions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, three emerging cell deaths, ferroptosis, necroptosis and pyroptosis, have gradually attracted everyone's attention, and they also play an important role in the occurrence and development of various diseases. Ferroptosis is an idiographic iron-dependent form regulated cell death with the hallmark of accumulation of the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Necroptosis is a form of regulated necrotic cell death mediated by the receptor-interacting protein kinase 1(RIPK1) and receptor-interacting protein kinase 3RIPK3. Pyroptosis, also known as cell inflammatory necrosis, is a programmed cell necrosis mediated by Gasdermin D (GSDMD). It is manifested by the continuous swelling of the cells until the cell membrane ruptures, resulting in the release of the cell contents and the activation of a strong inflammatory response. Neurological disorders remain a clinical challenge and patients do not respond well to conventional treatments. Nerve cell death can aggravate the occurrence and development of neurological diseases. This article reviews the specific mechanisms of these three types of cell death and their relationship with neurological diseases and the evidence for the role of the three types of cell death in neurological diseases; understanding these pathways and their mechanisms is helpful for the treatment of neurological diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimating the gamma dose rate at one meter above ground level and determining the distribution of radioactive pollution from aerial radiation monitoring data are the core technical issues of unmanned aerial vehicle nuclear radiation monitoring. In this paper, a reconstruction algorithm of the ground radioactivity distribution based on spectral deconvolution was proposed for the problem of regional surface source radioactivity distribution reconstruction and dose rate estimation. The algorithm estimates unknown radioactive nuclide types and their distributions using spectrum deconvolution and introduces energy windows to improve the accuracy of the deconvolution results, achieving accurate reconstruction of multiple continuous distribution radioactive nuclides and their distributions, as well as dose rate estimation of one meter above ground level. The feasibility and effectiveness of the method were verified through cases of single-nuclide (137Cs) and multi-nuclide (137Cs and 60Co) surface sources by modeling and solving them. The results showed that the cosine similarities between the estimated ground radioactivity distribution and dose rate distribution with the true value were 0.9950 and 0.9965, respectively, which could prove that the proposed reconstruction algorithm would effectively distinguish multiple radioactive nuclides and accurately restore their radioactivity distribution. Finally, the influences of statistical fluctuation levels and the number of energy windows on the deconvolution results were analyzed, showing that the lower the statistical fluctuation level and the more energy window divisions, the better the deconvolution results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the impact of various factors on environmental perception is crucial because humans live in an environment where these factors interact and blend. The thermal-acoustic environment is the major factor that affects the overall perception of urban parks. This study focuses on urban parks in the subtropical region, with Xihu Park in Fuzhou, China, as the research area. Through measurements and questionnaires, this study explores the effects of the thermal-acoustic environment in urban parks on subjective evaluation (thermal assessment, acoustic assessment, and overall environmental assessment). The results reveal that: (1) a higher temperature significantly increases the sensation of heat and lowers thermal comfort, heat acceptance, and overall thermal environment evaluation scores. The type of sound source has a significant positive impact on thermal assessment, and the higher the ranking of the sound source type, the greater its positive impact on thermal assessment. (2) Regarding acoustic evaluation, higher sound pressure level is associated with more negative subjective ratings of loudness, harshness, intensity, and excitement. In contrast, positive sound sources can enhance comfort, preference, disorder, coordination, and overall soundscape evaluation. Additionally, temperature increases tend to result in more negative harshness, intensity, and coordination ratings. The interaction between temperature and sound pressure level also significantly affects subjective loudness, harshness, and intensity. (3) Overall environmental evaluation is also affected by temperature, with increasing temperatures leading to decreased comfort and satisfaction while increasing irritation. High sound pressure environments result in worse overall irritation ratings, while positive sound sources can significantly enhance overall comfort, irritation, and satisfaction ratings. Furthermore, the interaction between temperature and sound pressure level significantly impacts overall irritation and satisfaction ratings. These findings are significant for managing and improving the park's thermal environment and soundscape, providing a practical framework for landscape architects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outlet pressure box culvert is often used as the drainage building of a pumping station. Because of its compact structure, it produces transverse flow velocity and then forms poor flow patterns, such as bias flow, reflux, and flow separation, which affect the discharge efficiency of the pumping station. Based on the combination of a physical model test and numerical simulation, the hydraulic characteristics of an eccentric tapering outlet pressure box culvert were analyzed. Focusing on the poor flow pattern in the box culvert, different optimization schemes were proposed to adjust the flow pattern. The flow pattern, transverse velocity distribution ratio (which represents the proportion of transverse velocity in velocity), average angle of the axial velocity, axial velocity uniformity, and pressure distribution of each scheme were compared to obtain the best scheme. The results show that the combination scheme of "diversion pier position and angle with deflecting flow baseplate" has the best optimization effect on the flow pattern. This scheme can effectively improve the bad flow pattern, significantly reduce the transverse velocity distribution ratio, and make the pressure distribution on both sides of the long diversion pier uniform. The axial velocity uniformity was increased by 17.45%, and the average angle of the axial velocity was increased by 8.23°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gaseous fire suppressants are usually stored in a vessel via pressurization, and then discharged out through pipelines. The flow behaviors of the agents in pipes greatly affect its dispersion in space, as well as the fire extinguishing results. Here, an experimental study was carried out on the transportation characteristics of perfluoro(2-methyl-3-pentanone) (C6F12O) in a horizontal straight pipe with the temperature and pressure recorded synchronously. At a filling pressure of 1800 kPa and a filling density of 517 kg·m−3, the agent release was completed in 2.0 s with the pipeline pressure peak of 1145 kPa and the pipeline temperature nadir of −10.6 °C. In comparison to that of bromotrifluoromethane (CF3Br) under the same conditions, the temperature and pressure curves of C6F12O exhibited similar varying trajectories but a much smaller amplitude, which could be ascribed to their different thermophysical properties. When keeping the other conditions unchanged, raising the filling pressure C6F12O reduces the discharge duration and the pipeline temperatures. Increasing the filling density extends the discharge duration, but shows little influence on the pipeline temperatures. The results were expected to provide useful information for the model validation and engineering design of a C6F12O fire-suppressing system with a predictable performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between 9 July and 19 August 2016, the air concentrations of 57 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured in Shandong Province, eastern China. Seven sampling sites representing urban, coastal and background sites were selected for sampling. The measured data were employed to investigate the VOCs' characteristics, ozone formation potential, and main sources. During the sampling period, the concentrations of the VOCs ranged between 15.3 and 883 ppbv, with a mean of 139 ppbv. The most severely polluted city was Zibo (833 ppbv), followed by Jinan (33.5 ppbv) and Qingdao (32.8 ppbv). Propane was the most abundant species in all of the sampling sites, with a concentration range of 1.05–9.86 ppbv. Ethene, i-butane, 1-butene, cis-2-butene, n-butane, i-pentane, n-pentane, benzene and toluene were the predominant species in both the urban and coastal sites. Propylene equivalent concentrations (Pro-Equiv) and maximum incremental reactivity (MIR) were employed to assess the reactivity and contribution of each species to the photochemical ozone formation. The results showed that alkenes and aromatics were the most active species performing a key function in the ozone formation, accounting for 43.9–90.7% of the Pro-Equiv and 41.0–93% of the ozone formation potential (OFP). The ratios of ethylbenzene and m/p-xylene were calculated, and the results showed that local emissions were the main sources. Gasoline exhaust/fuel evaporation, industry process/solvent usage, diesel exhaust/petrochemical emission and coal burning were the dominant sources of VOCs in Shandong Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (CI/R) injury causes high disability and mortality. Hydrogen (H2) enhances tolerance to an announced ischemic event; however, the therapeutic targets for the effective treatment of CI/R injury remain uncertain. Long non-coding RNA lincRNA-erythroid prosurvival (EPS) (lincRNA-EPS) regulate various biological processes, but their involvement in the effects of H2 and their associated underlying mechanisms still needs clarification. Herein, we examine the function of the lincRNA-EPS/Sirt1/autophagy pathway in the neuroprotection of H2 against CI/R injury. HT22 cells and an oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) model were used to mimic CI/R injury in vitro. H2, 3-MA (an autophagy inhibitor), and RAPA (an autophagy agonist) were then administered, respectively. Autophagy, neuro-proinflammation, and apoptosis were evaluated by Western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunofluorescence staining, real-time PCR, and flow cytometry. The results demonstrated that H2 attenuated HT22 cell injury, which would be confirmed by the improved cell survival rate and decreased levels of lactate dehydrogenase. Furthermore, H2 remarkably improved cell injury after OGD/R insult via decreasing pro-inflammatory factors, as well as suppressing apoptosis. Intriguingly, the protection of H2 against neuronal OGD/R injury was abolished by rapamycin. Importantly, the ability of H2 to promote lincRNA-EPS and Sirt1 expression and inhibit autophagy were abrogated by the siRNA-lincRNA-EPS. Taken together, the findings proved that neuronal cell injury caused by OGD/R is efficiently prevented by H2 via modulating lincRNA-EPS/Sirt1/autophagy-dependent pathway. It was hinted that lincRNA-EPS might be a potential target for the H2 treatment of CI/R injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]