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The integration of distributed generation brings in new challenges for the operation of distribution networks, including out-of-limit voltage and power flow control. Soft open points (SOP) are new power electronic devices that can flexibly control active and reactive power flows. With the exception of active power output, photovoltaic (PV) devices can provide reactive power compensation through an inverter. Thus, a synergetic optimization operation method for SOP and PV in a distribution network is proposed. A synergetic optimization model was developed. The voltage deviation, network loss, and ratio of photovoltaic abandonment were selected as the objective functions. The PV model was improved by considering the three reactive power output modes of the PV inverter. Both the load fluctuation and loss of the SOP were considered. Three multi-objective optimization algorithms were used, and a compromise optimal solution was calculated. Case studies were conducted using an IEEE 33-node system. The simulation results indicated that the SOP and PVs complemented each other in terms of active power transmission and reactive power compensation. Synergetic optimization improves power control capability and flexibility, providing better power quality and PV consumption rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct laser writing is promising for fabrication of functional structures due to its high speed, low cost, and facile operation. However, high resolution is difficult to be implemented due to wet development-induced structural collapse. Ag-doped Sb4Te thin film is proposed for high-resolution direct laser writing dry lithography. The crystalline structures and binding environment of AgSb4Te thin films are investigated. The dry lithographic characteristics suggest that the developing selectivity of exposed to as-deposited film is as high as 17 under CHF3/O2 gas and the minimum linewidth of patterns can reach 80 nm via adjusting grating period. Developing selectivity mechanism is ascribed to exposure induced phase separation along with generation of Sb component and Ag7Te4 phases. The Sb component can be readily etched due to the lack of Ag atom protection and then etching of residual Ag7Te4 phase is further promoted while the uniformly distributed Ag atoms in as-deposited film restrain its etching. In addition, nanohole array is fabricated onto AgSb4Te thin films and tunable absorbance can be realized by adjusting pattern period and phase-change process. This work may provide a useful guide for the investigation of direct laser writing lithography mechanism and functional device fabrication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presented research introduces a novel hybrid deep learning approach for the dynamic prediction of the attitude and position of super-large diameter shields - a critical consideration for construction safety and tunnel lining quality. This study proposes a hybrid deep learning approach for predicting dynamic attitude and position prediction of super-large diameter shield. The approach consists of principal component analysis (PCA) and temporal convolutional network (TCN). The former is used for employing feature level fusion based on features of the shield data to reduce uncertainty, improve accuracy and the data effect, and 9 sets of required principal component characteristic data are obtained. The latter is adopted to process sequence data in predicting the dynamic attitude and position for the advantages and potential of convolution network. The approach's effectiveness is exemplified using data from a tunnel construction project in China. The obtained results show remarkable accuracy in predicting the global attitude and position, with an average error ratio of less than 2 mm on four shield outputs in 97.30% of cases. Moreover, the approach displays strong performance in accurately predicting sudden fluctuations in shield attitude and position, with an average prediction accuracy of 89.68%. The proposed hybrid model demonstrates superiority over TCN, long short-term memory (LSTM), and recurrent neural network (RNN) in multiple indexes. Shapley additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis is also performed to investigate the significance of different data features in the prediction process. This study provides a real-time warning for the shield driver to adjust the attitude and position of super-large diameter shields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • 113 members of the AP2/ERF family were identified for the first time in mango. • Transient overexpression of MiERF4 in tobacco and mango improves defense against bacteria. • MiERF4 increases ETH and MeJA content and enhances plant resistance. An important regulatory role for ethylene-responsive transcription factors (ERFs) is in plant growth and development, stress response, and hormone signaling. However, AP2/ERF family genes in mango have not been systematically studied. In this study, a total of 113 AP2/ERF family genes were identified from the mango genome and phylogenetically classified into five subfamilies: AP2 (28 genes), DREB (42 genes), ERF (33 genes), RAV (6 genes), and Soloist (4 genes). Of these, the ERF family, in conjunction with Arabidopsis and rice, forms a phylogenetic tree divided into seven groups, five of which have MiERF members. Analysis of gene structure and cis -elements showed that each MiERF gene contains only one AP2 structural domain, and that MiERF genes contain a large number of cis -elements associated with hormone signaling and stress response. Collinearity tests revealed a high degree of homology between MiERF s and CsERF s. Tissue-specific and stress-responsive expression profiling revealed that MiERF genes are primarily involved in the regulation of reproductive growth and are differentially and positively expressed in response to external hormones and pathogenic bacteria. Physiological results from a gain-of-function analysis of MiERF4 transiently overexpressed in tobacco and mango showed that transient expression of MiERF4 resulted in decreased colony count and callose deposition, as well as varying degrees of response to hormonal signals such as ETH, JA, and SA. Thus, MiERF4 may be involved in the JA/ETH signaling pathway to enhance plant defense against pathogenic bacteria. This study provides a basis for further research on the function and regulation of MiERF genes and lays a foundation for the selection of disease-resistant genes in mango. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of large-scale photovoltaic plants will inevitably change the local environment. We consider that the influences of such increasing large-scale photovoltaic installations on radiation, temperature, wind profile and other factors within the region can be described in a layer of photovoltaic canopy. This paper improves the UCRC-Solar model for photovoltaic plants, with reference to the calculation of sensible heat flux of the underlying forest surface. Model verification was done with measured data from the Red Rock photovoltaic plant, Arizona, USA. In this study, it indicates that photovoltaic plant has locally generated heat island effects in daytime. The calculation of local microclimate changes before and after the construction of the photovoltaic plants and, the impact of photovoltaic coverage finds an increase in the temperature daily range and a reduction in the ground temperature by about 5 °C. Furthermore, a 15 % increase in photovoltaic coverage increased the daily 3 m air temperature difference by 0.55 °C and reduced the ground temperature by 3.6 °C in the day and 1.1 °C at night, respectively. In the future, rain and snow processes would be considered to further explore the microclimate impact of photovoltaic plants. • Improved energy balance model under the definition of photovoltaic canopy. • Quantitatively studied influences of photovoltaic plants on local microclimate. • Photovoltaic power plant has locally generated heat island effects in daytime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emerging field of direct recycling for spent Li-ion batteries offers significant advantages, such as reduced energy expenses and minimized secondary pollution, when compared to traditional pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical methods. This is due to its direct utilization of the spent cathodes as raw materials. However, efficient harvesting of spent cathode particles remains a challenge. To address this issue, this technical brief is the first to incorporate resonant acoustic vibration technology (RAV) as an efficient method for stripping cathode powders from spent Li-ion batteries. Our findings indicate that RAV-based techniques can achieve a stripping efficiency of up to 92%. A comparative analysis with conventional stripping methods, such as magnetic stirring, sonication, and curling-uncurling, reveals that RAV coupled with heat treatment provides unparalleled scalability and efficiency, eliminating the need for post-processing. Furthermore, the resulting cathode powders retain their original polycrystalline particle structures, with no impurities, such as carbon black or small aluminum fragments detected. These findings highlight the promise of RAV technology for large-scale recovery of electrode powders and its potential role in direct recycling of spent Li-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early and precise diagnosis of a-synucleinopathies is challenging but critical. In this study, we developed a molecular beacon-based assay to evaluate microRNA-containing extracellular vesicles (EVs) in plasma. We recruited 1203 participants including healthy controls (HCs) and patients with isolated REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD), a-synucleinopathies, or non-a-synucleinopathies from eight centers across China. Plasma miR-44438-containing EV levels were significantly increased in a-synucleinopathies, including those in the prodromal stage (e.g., iRBD), compared to both non-a-synucleinopathy patients and HCs. However, there are no significant differences between Parkinson's disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy. The miR-44438-containing EV levels negatively correlated with age and the Hoehn and Yahr stage of PD patients, suggesting a potential association with disease progression. Furthermore, a longitudinal analysis over 16.3 months demonstrated a significant decline in miR-44438-containing EV levels in patients with PD. These results highlight the potential of plasma miR-44438-containing EV as a biomarker for early detection and progress monitoring of a-synucleinopathies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are widely used in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) therapy. The impact of SGLT2 inhibitors on bone metabolism has been widely taken into consideration. But there are controversial results in the study on the effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on bone metabolism in patients with T2DM. Therefore, we aimed to examine whether and to what extent SGLT2 inhibitors affect bone metabolism in patients with T2DM. Methods: A literature search of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted through PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane databases, and Scopus from inception until 15 April 2023. Eligible RCTs compared the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors versus placebo on bone mineral density and bone metabolism in patients with T2DM. To evaluate the differences between groups, a meta-analysis was conducted using the random effects inverse-variance model by utilizing standardized mean differences (SMD). Results: Through screening, 25 articles were finally included, covering 22,828 patients. The results showed that, compared with placebo, SGLT2 inhibitors significantly increased parathyroid hormone (PTH, SMD = 0.13; 95%CI: 0.06, 0.20), and cross-linked C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen (CTX, SMD = 0.11; 95%CI: 0.01, 0.21) in patients with T2DM, decreased serum alkaline phosphatase levels (ALP, SMD = -0.06; 95%CI: -0.10, -0.03), and had no significant effect on bone mineral density (BMD), procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), 25-hydroxy vitamin D, tartrate resistant acid phosphatase-5b (TRACP-5b) and osteocalcin. Conclusions: SGLT2 inhibitors may negatively affect bone metabolism by increasing serum PTH, CTX, and decreasing serum ALP. This conclusion needs to be verified by more studies due to the limited number and quality of included studies. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO, identifier CRD42023410701 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adoptive transfer of T cell receptor-engineered T cells (TCR-T) is a promising strategy for immunotherapy against solid tumors. However, the potential of CD4+ T cells in mediating tumor regression has been neglected. Nasopharyngeal cancer is consistently associated with EBV. Here, to evaluate the therapeutic potential of CD4 TCR-T in nasopharyngeal cancer, we screened for CD4 TCRs recognizing EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) presented by HLA-DP5. Using mass spectrometry, we identified EBNA1567-581, a peptide naturally processed and presented by HLA-DP5. We isolated TCR135, a CD4 TCR with high functional avidity, that can function in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and recognizes HLA-DP5-restricted EBNA1567-581. TCR135- transduced T cells functioned in two ways: directly killing HLA-DP5+EBNA1+ tumor cells after recognizing EBNA1 presented by tumor cells and indirectly killing HLA-DP5-negative tumor cells after recognizing EBNA1 presented by antigen-presenting cells. TCR135-transduced T cells preferentially infiltrated into the tumor microenvironment and significantly inhibited tumor growth in xenograft nasopharyngeal tumor models. Additionally, we found that 62% of nasopharyngeal cancer patients showed 50%-100% expression of HLA-DP on tumor cells, indicating that nasopharyngeal cancer is well suited for CD4 TCR-T therapy. These findings suggest that TCR135 may provide a new strategy for EBV-related nasopharyngeal cancer immunotherapy in HLA-DP5+ patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance the ductility of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites, a variety of nacre-inspired structures with discontinuities were constructed based on the ratio of overlapping length to CFRP laminate thickness. The damage mechanisms and tensile characteristics of discontinuous laminates were elucidated using finite element analysis and experimental investigation. To anticipate the mechanical behavior of the CFRP laminate, an improved Chang-Chang failure criteria was devised. Moreover, a model adopts the Benzeggagh-Kenane criterion on cohesive surfaces for delamination initiation and propagation. The predicted stress-strain values are validated using experimental data under tensile stress. Furthermore, a mathematical model accurately predicted the relationship between the tensile performance of nacre-inspired laminate and overlapping length. According to the findings, the longer the overlapping length (more than 19.5 mm) is, the lower the pseudo-ductility. Meanwhile, the shorter the overlapping length (less than 17.5 mm) is, the lower the tensile strength. Furthermore, the laminate exhibits some pseudo-ductility as well as little decrease in tensile strength when the overlapping length is approximately 18.5 mm. Highlights • A mathematical model for predicting the tensile properties of various nacreinspired laminates was established. • The relationship between the discontinuous structure and the pseudoductility of the nacre-inspired laminate was revealed. Compared with other similar structural laminates, the laminate with an overlapping length of 17.5 mm has better overall performance. • Proposed an improved Chang-Chang progressive failure criterion that was utilized to simulate and analyze the mechanical response and damage of the nacre-inspired laminates under tension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT) participates in various physiological activities in plants, such as positive responses to abiotic stresses and the signal transduction of phytohormones. In this study, 18 COMT genes were identified in the chromosome-level reference genome of mango, named MiCOMTs. A phylogenetic tree containing nine groups (I-IX) was constructed based on the amino acid sequences of the 71 COMT proteins from seven species. The phylogenetic tree indicated that the members of the MiCOMTs could be divided into four groups. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that all MiCOMT genes have particularly high expression levels during flowering. The expression levels of MiCOMTs were different under abiotic and biotic stresses, including salt and stimulated drought stresses, ABA and SA treatment, as well as Xanthomonas campestris pv. mangiferaeindicae and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides infection, respectively. Among them, the expression level of MiCOMT1 was significantly up-regulated at 6–72 h after salt and stimulated drought stresses. The results of gene function analysis via the transient overexpression of the MiCOMT1 gene in Nicotiana benthamiana showed that the MiCOMT1 gene can promote the accumulation of ABA and MeJA, and improve the salt tolerance of mango. These results are beneficial to future researchers aiming to understand the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of MiCOMT genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) participate in chemo-resistance among different cancers, containing breast cancer (BC). Herein, this project aimed to investigate the role of circ_0011385 on cisplatin (DDP) resistance in BC cells. Methods: circ_0011385 and microRNA (miR)-615-5p content in DDP-resistant BC cells and their parent cells (MCF-7) was calculated by RT-qPCR. CCK-8 assessed inhibition rate, and further to calculate half inhibitory concentration (IC50). Clone formation and flow cytometry experiments detected clone numbers and apoptosis rate. Dual-luciferase reporter system validated targeting between circ_0011385 and miR-615-5p. Results: circ_0011385 was upregulated, whereas miR-615-5p was decreased in MCF-7/DDP cells. Silencing circ_0011385 or miR-615-5p overexpression enhanced BC cell sensitivity to DDP, repress proliferation, and expedite apoptosis rate. Circ_0011385 directly targeted miR-615-5p. CONCLUSION: Silencing circ_0011385 increases DDP sensitivity by targeting and up-regulating miR-615-5p expression in MCF-7/DDP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]