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This study investigated the distributions of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in agricultural soils near coal-fired power plants in Taean and Seocheon, South Korea, considering wind direction and distance from the plants. Additionally, pollution assessment for these heavy metals was conducted using the geoaccumulation index (I geo ) and enrichment factor. Results showed that heavy metal concentrations in the studied soil samples were below Korean environmental criteria for agricultural soil (Cd: 4, Cu: 150, Hg: 4, Ni: 100, Pb: 200, and Zn: 300 mg/kg). However, a significant proportion of samples exceeded average levels found in uncontaminated soils. Spatial distribution analysis revealed higher concentrations of Cd and Pb southwest of the Taean plant, influenced by prevailing northeast winds. In Seocheon, soils within 4 km of the plant exhibited elevated levels of Cd and Ni, suggesting coal combustion as a potential contamination source. Pollution assessment indicated that Cd and Pb in soils near both thermal power plants were more enriched by artificial activity compared to agricultural soils in control areas. Sequential extraction results showed that heavy metals in soils within 4 km of the Seocheon plant had higher proportions of exchangeable to organic-associated forms than soils beyond 4 km, indicating a risk of high bioavailability near emission sources. This study highlights the significant impact of coal-fired power plant emissions on soil contamination, emphasizing the need for continuous monitoring and management. Environmental policies should consider wind patterns and proximity to emission sources to effectively mitigate contamination risks., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interests: The authors have no relevant financial or nonfinancial interests to disclose., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

High triplet (T1) energy exciplex hosts show great potential for accelerating high efficiency and a prolonged lifetime for stable blue phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (PhOLEDs). However, achieving high efficiency and device stability simultaneously in PhOLEDs is hard-fought due to the lack of a stable host with high triplet energy and better charge balance ability. To address this issue, herein, we developed two electron transport (ET) n-type host materials, namely 9-(4-(6-cyanodibenzo[b,d]furan-2-yl)pyridin-2-yl)-9H-carbazole-3-carbonitrile (CNCzPyDFCN) and 9-(2-(8-cyanodibenzo[b,d]furan-2-yl)pyridin-4-yl)-9H-carbazole-3-carbonitrile (CNDFPyCzCN). The molecules were designed via quantum chemical/molecular dynamics (QC/MD) simulation methods. As a result, both ET n-type hosts achieved a high T1 of >2.96 eV and appropriate HOMO/LUMO energy level for outstanding electron-transporting properties. Furthermore, it was clarified that an exciplex was formed between our n-type hosts and p-type host 2,2′-di(9H-carbazol-9-yl)-1,1′-biphenyl (oCBP). Consequently, PhOLEDs were fabricated by introducing both exciplex systems and a blue phosphorescent emitter (CN–Ir). In particular, the device using oCBP:CNCzPyDFCN shows a high external quantum efficiency (EQE) of over 29% and a device lifetime of LT50 33.9 h at an initial luminescence of 1000 cd m−2 with a low turn-on voltage. Thus, exciplex study with a high T1 host is a promising technology for long-term stable blue PhOLEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses the impact of process parameters on Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) components produced through conventional drilling on a CNC drilling machine (VMC). GFRP's challenging machinability is due to its high strength-to-weight ratio, durability, and customizable mechanical properties. The study aims to minimize kerf angles in drilled holes, identifying optimal parameter combinations based on Signal-to-Noise ratios. The best combination of parameters that used to reduce the value of the kerf angle was considered at 2,800 RPM spindle speed and 1,200 mm/rev feed rate. The experimental work reveals that the spindle speed significantly affects the kerf angle, while the feed rate and spindle speed both influence the variation in the kerf angle and show the best results at the ideal values of the two parameters. The study details an analysis of the process parameters of drilled holes on kerf angle in multiple holes in the specimen, applying Taguchi's design of experiments and analysis of variance. Comparison of findings was made with existing literature on determination of the importance of spindle speed and feed rate for the determination of kerf angle. The best results were obtained when all these parameters set to the ideal values, where the minimum angular kerf of 0.1145° was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Onion cultivation in South Korea faces a range of interconnected challenges, shaped by fluctuating supply and demand dynamics, the dominance of imported seed varieties, and the growing issue of fungal pathogens affecting stored onions. In recent years, significant shifts occurred within the onion industry, such as export volumes in 2023 declining to 106 tons compared to 99,506 tons in 2022, while import volumes surged to 113,902 tons to meet domestic demand through the Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) system. Concurrently, domestic production onion supply in 2023 estimates a total of 1.347 million tons, a 5.2% increase compared to the previous year, due to a 6.3% rise in domestic production. Despite this growth, South Korea's onion seed market remains heavily dependent on imports, particularly from Japan, underscoring the need for the development of competitive domestic cultivars. Furthermore, environmental conditions such as microclimates in regions like Muan have proven to be critical, as they produce onions with superior nutritional profiles and storability. However, fungal diseases pose persistent threats to storage, resulting in substantial economic losses. However, the country's reliance on imported varieties and the climate's effects on cultivation call for more investment in domestic breeding programs and adaptive farming practices. To address these challenges, this review synthesizes historical data, current trends, and the future prospects of onion production, supply, and demand in South Korea. Comprehensive strategies are proposed, including the promotion of adaptive farming practices, investment in domestic breeding programs, and enhanced storage techniques to mitigate fungal pathogens. This work emphasizes the importance of integrated efforts among policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders to improve productivity, reduce reliance on imports, and secure a sustainable future for the South Korean onion industry. The findings offer actionable insights for enhancing market competitiveness and achieving agricultural sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Racialized Sexual Discrimination (RSD), also referred to as "sexual racism," is widely reported among young sexual minority Black men (YSMBM). Though RSD is driven in part by sexual scripts and racial stereotypes, little is known about YSMBM's experiences with RSD with respect to their sexual positioning roles. Using data from a cross-sectional web-survey of YSMBM (N = 726), a multivariate Kruskal Wallis test was conducted comparing YSMBM who identified as mostly bottom, versatile, or mostly top, on the degree to which they were affected by four RSD experiences, as well as the frequency with which they encountered these experiences. Men identifying as mostly bottom reported significantly stronger negative reactions to same-race rejection and encountering sexual role assumptions than men identifying as mostly top. Men identifying as versatile encountered same-race rejection significantly more frequently than men identifying as mostly top. Men identifying as mostly bottom encountered White superiority significantly more frequently than men identifying as mostly top. RSD may impact YSMBM differentially based on sexual position. These findings may have implications for culturally competent clinical practice, as well as analytic implications (e.g., estimating more complex statistical models) for sexual racism research, which remains an important yet underexamined field in the health sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, exciplex-type thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials are emerging as a promising strategy for optimizing organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs). However, achieving highly efficient multi-color OLEDs based on exciplexes remains a formidable challenge. Herein, a deep-blue fluorescent emitter, named BOBTFB, endowed with a benzene (B), 5,9-dioxa-13b-boranaphtho[3,2,1-de]anthracen (BO) and trifluoromethylbenzene (TFB) as the bridged core, electron-acceptor moiety, and π-spacer, respectively, was designed and synthesized. Employing BOBTFB as an identical exciplex acceptor and pairing it with distinct electron donors (TCTA, TAPC and m-MTDATA), blue, green and yellow exciplex-based solution-processed OLEDs have been obtained for the first time with emission peaks located at 470 nm, 510 and 564 nm, respectively. Notably, the yellow device exhibited an exceptionally low turn-on voltage (Von) of 2.2 V, a maximum current efficiency (CEmax) of 38.83 cd A−1, and a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) of 12.18%, respectively, which results from the low non-radiative transition rate and fast radiative transition rate of the BOBTFB:m-MTDATA forming exciplex. Moreover, the combination of TCTA:m-MTDAT:BOBTFB results in an exciplex white OLED with an EQEmax of 1.49%, a maximum color rendering index (CRI) of 82 and CIE coordinates of (0.23, 0.33), respectively. As far as we know, this work is the first reported utilization of an identical electron acceptor for solution-processed multi-color OLEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transcriptional cascade and regulatory loop play crucial roles in regulating plant-specialized metabolite biosynthesis. Capsaicinoids are unique to the genus Capsicum and confer a pungent flavor to its fruits. However, the transcriptional regulation of capsaicinoid biosynthesis remains largely unknown. In this study, two AP2/ERF transcription factors (TFs), CaERF102 and CaERF111, were characterized for their role in the capsaicinoid biosynthesis process. Expression analysis of two ERFs and capsaicinoid biosynthetic genes (CBGs) suggested that they were associated with capsaicinoid biosynthesis. Both ERFs encode nuclear-localized proteins and function as transcriptional activators through their C-terminal activation motifs. The two ERF TFs participated in capsaicinoid biosynthesis by directly activating the promoters of key CBGs, and this activation was significantly enhanced when CaMYC2 was co-expressed. Moreover, CaERF102 and CaERF111 were found to interact with CaMYC2. This study helps elucidate the AP2/ERF TF regulatory network that governs capsaicinoid biosynthesis in Capsicum species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variations in the microstructural morphology with building direction during selective laser melting (SLM) result in the anisotropic mechanical properties of the specimens, while heat treatment effectively reduces this anisotropy. The degree of anisotropy of the material can be assessed by calculating the variance (σ) of the mechanical properties (strength, hardness) at different building directions at different temperatures. In this work, the effects of heat treatment temperatures (450°, 750 °C, and 1050 °C) and building directions (0°, 45°, 60°, and 90°) on the microstructure, hardness, and tensile properties of selective laser melting (SLM) SS316L were investigated. Unheated SLM SS316L specimens exhibit significant anisotropy (σUTS = 16.67, σUE = 9.60, and σHV = 9.60), while heat treatment effectively reduces this anisotropy. As the heat treatment temperature increases, the melt pool boundaries disappear and grains become uniform at 750 °C, significantly reducing the anisotropy of the mechanical properties (σUTS = 14.65, σUE = 4.33, σHV = 6.72). At 1050 °C, the grain size increases slightly, resulting in a minor rise in anisotropy (σUTS = 14.93, σUE = 4.97, σHV = 8.39) compared to that seen at 750 °C. After heat treatment, the SLM SS316L specimen heated at 450 °C shows the lowest anisotropy. Notably, the specimens built in the 0° direction and heated at 450 °C exhibit finer sub-grains and enhanced mechanical properties, achieving a hardness of 244.43 HV, a tensile strength of 655.85 MPa, and an elongation of 21.25%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biogenic amines (BAs), produced in fish and seafood due to microbial contamination, pose significant health risks. This study introduces a novel ratiometric fluorescent probe, synthesized by integrating rhodamine 6G(R6G) and gold nanoparticles (AuNCs), for the sensitive and specific detection of BAs. The probe operates on the principle of BAs hydrolysis, catalyzed by diamine oxidase, to produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which selectively quenches the fluorescence of AuNCs at 620 nm, while the fluorescence of R6Gat 533 nm remains unaffected. The ratio of I620/I553 demonstrated excellent linearity with a wide dynamic range (1–1000 μM) and a low detection limit of 0.1 μM. Validation using grass carp samples showed high recovery rates (97.57% to 104.29%), confirming the probe's efficacy and potential for practical application in food safety monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop a new scattering-based framework for the holographic encryption of analog and digital signals. The proposed methodology, termed 'differential sensing', involves encryption of a wavefield image by means of two hard-to-guess, complex and random scattering media, namely, a background and a total (background plus scatterer) medium. Unlike prior developments in this area, not one but two scattering media are adopted for scrambling of the probing wavefields (as encoded, e.g. in a suitable ciphertext hologram) and, consequently, this method offers enhanced security. In addition, while prior works have addressed methods based on physical imaging in the encryption phase followed by computational imaging in the decryption stage, we examine the complementary modality wherein encryption is done computationally while decryption is done analogically, i.e. via the materialization of the required physical imaging system comprising the ciphertext hologram and the two unique (background and total) media. The practical feasibility of the proposed differential sensing approach is examined with the help of computer simulations incorporating multiple scattering. The advantages of this method relative to the conventional single-medium approach are discussed for both analog and digital signals. The paper also develops algorithms for the required in situ holography as well as a new wavefield-nulling-based approach for scattering-based encryption with envisioned applications in real-time customer validation and secure communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The operation of large reservoirs significantly modifies flow–sediment regimes, and the reaches immediately downstream of the dams are the first to undergo responsive channel adjustments. Considering that the geomorphological responses are directly related to the flood control safety, channel stability and other sustainable functions of rivers, this paper explores the similarities and dissimilarities of the channel adjustments in the two reaches with gravel–sand beds immediately downstream of the Xiangjiaba reservoir and the Three Gorges Dam, respectively. The results show that major erosion primarily occurred during the initial years of reservoir impoundment. And then with the prominent reduction in washable sediment on the riverbed, the erosion intensity further weakened. It takes 6 to 13 years for the two reaches to reach a new state of relative equilibrium. In comparison, after the equilibrium state has been achieved, the reach with significant tributary sediment inflows exhibits alternating erosion and deposition dynamics, while the other remains relatively stable. The tributaries that transport a large amount of sediment during floods are the main sources of sediment deposition in the downstream reaches of the Xiangjiaba reservoir. However, the tributary inflow of the Qing River with low sediment concentrations has little impact on the riverbed evolution of the reaches from Yichang to Zhicheng immediately downstream of the Three Gorges Dam. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of geomorphic adjustments near dams in response to upstream damming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence (MR-TADF) emitters have broad applications in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). However, their device performance is often limited by the large conjugated planarity that makes them easily aggregate in the form of π–π stacking, resulting in aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) and the formation of excimers, which reduce exciton utilization efficiency and color purity. To address these issues, large shielding units can be incorporated to prevent interchromophore interactions. In this study, we introduced 10,10-diphenyl-5,10-dihydro-dibenzo[b,e][1,4]azasiline (DPPASi), which contains a silicon atom, at the para-carbon position of a B-substituted phenyl ring as a steric group to synthesize the emitter BNSi. This modification successfully achieved a narrow-band blue emission at high doping ratios with a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) of 34.8% in the corresponding OLED device. Even at luminance levels of 1000 cd m−2, an impressive EQE of nearly 20% was maintained. This study provides valuable insights for designing efficient narrow band blue emitters by utilizing the steric effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-accuracy gully erosion susceptibility maps play a crucial role in erosion vulnerability assessment and risk management. The principal purpose of the present research is to evaluate the predictive power of individual machine learning models such as random forest (RF), decision tree (DT), and support vector machine (SVM), and ensemble machine learning approaches such as stacking, voting, bagging, and boosting with k-fold cross validation resampling techniques for modeling gully erosion susceptibility in the Oued El Abid watershed in the Moroccan High Atlas. A dataset comprising 200 gully points, identified through field observations and high-resolution Google Earth imagery, was used, alongside 21 gully erosion conditioning factors selected based on their importance, information gain, and multi-collinearity analysis. The exploratory results indicate that all derived gully erosion susceptibility maps had a good accuracy for both individual and ensemble models. Based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC), the RF and the SVM models had better predictive performances, with AUC = 0.82, than the DT model. However, ensemble models significantly outperformed individual models. Among the ensembles, the RF-DT-SVM stacking model achieved the highest predictive accuracy, with an AUC value of 0.86, highlighting its robustness and superior predictive capability. The prioritization results also confirmed the RF-DT-SVM ensemble model as the best. These findings highlight the superiority of ensemble learning models over individual ones and underscore their potential for application in similar geo-environmental contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While geobotanists have long used plant occurrence to locate subsurface resources, none have utilised floristic surveys as evidence in models of mineral potential. Here, we combine plant species distributions with terrain metrics to produce predictive models showing the probability of bauxite presence. We identified nineteen taxa with statistically significant associations with known bauxite deposits and identified eleven terrain metrics from previous studies. We grouped variables into three variable sets (floristic, topographic, and topo-flora) and produced mineral potential models for each using four algorithms or approaches: (a) a generalised linear model (GLM); (b) random forest (RF); (c) maxent (ME); and (d) a heterogenous stacking ensemble (GLM-RF-ME). Overall, the random forest model outperformed all algorithms including the ensemble based on the area under the curve (AUC) metric. The floristic set of variables outperformed the topographic set (AUC: 0.86 v 0.82). However, together they had the greatest predictive capacity (AUC: 0.89). Six taxa, including Banksia grandis, Leucopogon verticillatus, and Persoonia longifolia, were indicators of bauxite presence, while five other taxa, including Xanthorrhoea preissii and Hypocalymma angustifolium, were associated with bauxite absence. Important topographic variables were topographic wetness, landscape position, and valley depth, which characterised bauxite locations as being well drained, in the upper slope positions of subdued hills, and at some distance from valleys. The addition of floristic surveys provides a new line of evidence about the overlying botanical life that tolerates, accumulates, or avoids bauxite or associated minerals. As opposed to drilling, both datasets can be collected and interrogated at low cost and without impact to the surrounding environment. These data are valuable additions to future applications of mineral potential modelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the field of cascaded metasurfaces, which are advanced optical devices formed by stacking or serially arranging multiple metasurface layers. These structures leverage near-field and far-field electromagnetic (EM) coupling mechanisms to enhance functionalities beyond single-layer metasurfaces. This review comprehensively discusses the physical principles, design methodologies, and applications of cascaded metasurfaces, focusing on both static and dynamic configurations. Near-field-coupled structures create new resonant modes through strong EM interactions, allowing for efficient control of light properties like phase, polarization, and wave propagation. Far-field coupling, achieved through greater interlayer spacing, enables traditional optical methods for design, expanding applications to aberration correction, spectrometers, and retroreflectors. Dynamic configurations include tunable devices that adjust their optical characteristics through mechanical motion, making them valuable for applications in beam steering, varifocal lenses, and holography. This paper concludes with insights into the potential of cascaded metasurfaces to create multifunctional, compact optical systems, setting the stage for future innovations in miniaturized and integrated optical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evaluation and diagnosis of altered mental status in the pregnant or postpartum patient largely parallels the approach used for any other patient; however, there are several critical differences including that some neuroobstetric diagnoses require emergent delivery of the fetus. Being familiar with the physiological changes and medical complications of pregnancy and delivery is therefore essential. This review first addresses pregnancy-specific disorders that may result in altered mental status, such as the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and pregnancy-related metabolic and endocrinopathies. The focus then shifts to the complex physiologic changes in pregnancy and how these changes contribute to the distinct epidemiology of pregnancy-related cerebrovascular complications like intracranial hemorrhage, ischemic stroke, and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome. Medical disorders that are not unique to pregnancy, such as infections and autoimmune conditions, may present de novo or worsen during pregnancy and the peripartum period and require a thoughtful approach to diagnosis and management. Finally, the unique nervous system complications of obstetric anesthesia are explored. In each section, there is a focus not only on diagnosis and syndrome recognition but also on the emergent treatment needed to reverse these complications, bearing in mind the unique physiology of the pregnant patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-temperature (15-37°C) aging can shorten the tenderizing time of beef; however, the use of constant temperature heating can lead to microbial spoilage. This study tested radiofrequency (RF) tenderization (RF-T) to find the appropriate conditions for the aging-like effect of beef without microbial spoilage. After subjecting beef to 22 h RF-T with four different cooling temperatures (15, 5, -10, and -20°C), the proliferated aerobic bacteria on the surface showed a concentration of 6-6.2 log CFU/g at -10 and -20°C, lower than 7-7.5 log CFU/g at 15 and 5°C. When beef was treated with 25 W/kg RF heating power for 48 h RF-T, the estimated reduction rate of the sliced shear force (SSF) and the increase rate of glutamic acid based on the weight before RF-T were 22.6% and 1.51-fold, which were greater than 19.6% and 1.37-fold with 20 W/kg, and 11.0% and 1.11-fold with 15 W/kg. The optimal specific RF heating power was calculated as 30 W/kg from the results' extrapolation. When processed for 48 h under optimal conditions (30 W/kg specific RF heating power, -20°C cooling air), the tenderization rate and the increased rates of free amino acids based on the weight before RF-T of beef reached over 20% and 1.5-fold with 5.22 log CFU/g aerobic bacteria, which was lesser than the Korean regulation value of 6.7 log CFU/g (5 × 10 6  CFU/g). Therefore, RF-T could be proposed as a promising high-temperature tenderization method with lowered risk of microbial spoilage. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: We showed that lowering the chamber temperature during RF-T was effective in surface drying and inhibiting aerobic bacteria. RF-T for 24-48 h with 30 W/kg specific RF heating power had an aging-like effect given tenderization and increase in FAAs. Moreover, by providing the matching circuit and impedance during RF-T, this method could be industrially reproducible., (© 2023 Institute of Food Technologists.)

This review outlines problems and progress in development of solution-processed organic light-emitting diodes (SOLEDs) in industry and academia. Solution processing has several advantages such as low consumption of materials, low-cost processing, and large-area manufacturing. However, use of a solution process entails complications, such as the need for solvent resistivity and solution-processable materials, and yields SOLEDs that have limited luminous efficiency, severe roll-off characteristics, and short lifetime compared to OLEDs fabricated using thermal evaporation. These demerits impede production of practical SOLED displays. This review outlines the industrial demands for commercial SOLEDs and the current status of SOLED development in industries and academia, and presents research guidelines for the development of SOLEDs that have high efficiency, long lifetime, and good processability to achieve commercialization., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Bioscaffolds with characteristics of the tumor microenvironment is an important substrate to support the formation of multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS). Conventional biomaterials promote MCTS formation using tumor extracellular matrix (ECM) components and exogenous growth factors, but lack individualized tumor cell niche construction which may restricts cell biology and drug discovery research. Herein, an ECM mimicked fiber composite dual-network hydrogel (FCDNG) was constructed. The 3D nanofibrous framework was introduced into the hydrogel by a "dispersion-swelling" method and an alginate/platelet-rich plasma (PRP) dual-network hydrogel was constructed by a simple "one-step" activation process. The scaffold can well control the physicochemical conditions that mimic the ECM structure and biomimetic mechanical properties. The fibrin formed by PRP can promote tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis and cancer stem cell enrichment. Meanwhile, FCDNG has suitable degradation properties to meet the matrix remodeling requirements during the formation of MCTS. Tumor cells cultured in FCDNG had enhanced tumor stemness, proliferation, and resistance to chemotherapeutic agents, and thus providing an effective strategy for clinical drug evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two lignin model compounds, eugenol (Eu) or 2-methoxy-4-propylphenol (MPP), were esterified with a protonating acetic acid (AcA), H2SO4 catalyst and water. Initial product analysis showed a high related number of the unspecific process species of Eu reactions. Therefore, research was continued only with MPP. Temperature, equivalent MPP/AA molar ratio and quantified H2SO4 mass amount were varied, reactants were monitored, and it was determined that the functionalisation's best conditions were 130 °C, indicated total contained MPP/AA 1:3 and 1 mol% rate-increasing H2SO4. Yields exceed 15 mol%. Other H+ donors, HCl or p-toluene-sulfonic acid, were used, but resulted in lower yields (2 mol% or less). Afterwards, MPP esterification was attempted with five bio-based molecules, but only levulinic acid produced a measurable ester value (4 mol%). Two enzymes, lipase from Rhyzopus oryzae or immobilized lipase B from Candida antarctica, were also applied, not forming products. A micro-kinetic system representation was developed, based on a proposed elementary mechanism, which revealed the comparable activation energy of MPP substitution, catalysed by H2SO4. Barrier (24 kJ mol–1) was less than that with H-beta (zeolite) (39 kJ mol–1), while higher than that with AmberLite XAD 16 (resin) (10 kJ mol–1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies on top‐emitting structure, which is designed to enhance the color purity and outcoupling efficiency of quantum‐dot light‐emitting diodes (QLEDs), employ commercially unviable methods owing to limited options for applying the hole injection layer through solution processes on the bottom electrode. In this study, all‐solution‐processable conventional top‐emitting QLEDs (TQLEDs) are successfully fabricated by introducing a polyethylenimine (PEI) interlayer, doping isopropyl alcohol (IPA) into the hole‐injection layer (poly (3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(4‐styrenesulfonate), PEDOT:PSS), and using the dynamic spin‐coating method. The increased hole injection resulting from the tuned anode‐HIL interface by the PEI and IPA‐doped HIL, coupled with the enhanced outcoupling efficiency and full width at half maximum (FWHM) derived from the optimized cavity length through simulation, realizes a red InP QLED with high efficiency and color purity. The optimized TQLED exhibits a maximum current efficiency and FWHM of 28.04 cd A−1 and 36 nm, respectively, which are threefold higher and 8 nm narrower than those of bottom‐emitting QLEDs, marking the highest current efficiency ever reported for top‐emitting red InP QLEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The applications of nanotechnology in the field of water treatment are rapidly expanding and have harvested significant attention from researchers, governments, and industries across the globe. This great interest stems from the numerous benefits, properties, and capabilities that nanotechnology offers in addressing the ever-growing challenges related to water quality, availability, and sustainability. This review paper extensively studies the applications of several nanomaterials including: graphene and its derivative-based adsorbents, CNTs, TiO2 NPs, ZnO NPs, Ag NPs, Fe NPs, and membrane-based nanomaterials in the purification of drinking water. This, it is hoped, will provide the water treatment sector with efficient materials that can be applied successfully in the water purification process to help in addressing the worldwide water scarcity issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To further evaluate the effect of water stress on soil respiration (RS), reveal the influencing factors of daily and seasonal RS, and systematically evaluate and compare the sensibility of different machine learning algorithms (multiple nonlinear regression [MNR], support vector machine regression [SVR], backpropagation artificial neural network [BPNN]) to estimate RS from a maize field under water stress condition, the field experiments were conducted within a maize field in Inner Mongolia, China, during the entire 2019 growing season. Various levels of deficit irrigation were conducted in the vegetative, reproductive, and mature stages. Our research indicated that soil CO2 fluxes from 100% evapotranspiration treatment (Tr1) were significantly greater than various deficit irrigation treatments (Tr2, Tr3, Tr4) during each growth stage of summer maize. The cumulative soil CO2 fluxes of Tr2, Tr3, and Tr4 decreased 24.8%, 30.3%, and 43.7% compared with Tr1, respectively. We determined that the drivers affecting the daily RS were soil temperature at 5 cm depth (TS,5) and soil surface temperature (TSF), followed by water‐filled porosity (WFPS) at 5 cm depth, but no significant correlations were observed at 25 cm depths. TS,5 and TSF also performed similar correlation with seasonal RS with R greater than 0.753 among all water treatments, followed by chlorophyll content with R greater than 0.726. During the whole growing season, the BPNN model exhibited the best predicting result, and could explain the 60%–80% and 87.8% of the variations of RS at the daily and seasonal scales, with root mean square error of 48.7–100.9 mg m−2 h−1 and 91.5 mg m−2 h−1, respectively. The SVR and MNR models could estimate the 47.9%–57% and 39.9%–52.1% of the daily RS and 81.4% and 78.6% of the seasonal RS, respectively. Overall, our study indicated the machine learning algorithms could be successfully applied to estimate RS at daily and seasonal scales from a maize field under water stress condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Banqiao area in the Bohai Bay Basin has experienced three stages of extensional deformation, leading to the formation of numerous fault-bound traps. Faults, acting as boundary conditions for these traps, play a crucial role in hydrocarbon accumulation. In this study, we conducted a 3D structural modeling of the area using high-resolution 3D seismic data and established a fault-reservoir database based on previous research. Our findings reveal four levels of faults in the Banqiao area: basin-controlling faults, boundary faults, derivative master faults, and secondary adjusting faults. The structural units can be categorized into subsag areas, slope areas, stress tran-sition zones, bifurcation and main incised fault zones, and southern block areas. The segmented growth of the main boundary faults controls the evolution of the subsags, with the subsidence center gradually shifting eastward from Rift Phase I to Rift Phase II, aligning with the distribution of source rocks. Fault-bound traps in the Banqiao area include single faults, intersecting faults, and side faults. Faults primarily act as barriers to lateral hydrocarbon migration during the process of hydrocarbon accumulation, while also providing pathways to a lesser extent. By integrating the fault-reservoir database with the fault system classification, we identified four types of fault-controlled hydro-carbon accumulation models: like-dipping fault barrier model, oppositely-dipping fault barrier model, intersecting fault barrier model, and reactivation-controlled secondary hydrocarbon ac-cumulation model. This structural geological model effectively demonstrates the spatial configura-tion of faults and their role in hydrocarbon accumulation in the Banqiao area. The fault control mechanisms presented in the model can also be applied to other blocks in the Bohai Bay Basin, laying a foundation for future petroleum exploration in continental rifted basins and facilitating the ap-plication of big data algorithms in various geoscientific research fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decrease in dynamic elastic modulus is a primary indicator of quantitative damage in concrete. To quantitatively assess depth-by-depth damage within a concrete structure, cylindrical specimens obtained through coring can be cut into disk specimens to measure the dynamic elastic modulus of concrete at each depth. To minimize external damage during coring, it is essential to extract cylinders with the smallest possible diameter. In addition, for higher resolution in depth-based damage assessment, creating disk specimens with the smallest possible thickness is necessary. However, there is no information available in the literature on experimental limitation of smallest possible diameter and thickness for dynamic elastic modulus of disk-shaped specimens. This study evaluated whether the dynamic modulus measured from various sizes of concrete disk specimens provided sufficient reliability compared to reference values obtained from cylinders. Moreover, the study examined how the presence of coarse aggregate and variation in the water–cement ratio significantly influenced the dynamic modulus measurement. In addition, test results from impulse excitation technique (IET) and impact resonance (IR) were compared to find a more reliable test method for dynamic elastic modulus of disk specimen. The experimental findings revealed that as the thickness-to-radius ratio of the disk specimens decreased, measured data variation increased. Mortar specimens without coarse aggregates showed less variability compared to concrete specimens, and the variation in dynamic modulus measured by IR was lower than that measured by IET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of experiments with a model of an optically pumped rare-gas laser are presented. Laser generation was produced simultaneously at three wavelengths (912.3, 893.1, and 877.7 nm) using a gas mixture consisting of 98% He (buffer gas), 1.5% Ar, and 0.5% Kr. Dependence of generation power and of the ratio of the intensities of individual lines in total generation on consumption of the gas mixture, on cuvette pressure, and on the discharge pulse repetition rate has been studied experimentally. The maximum laser power (the sum of all the wavelengths) was ~8 mW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize is a staple crop important for food security that millions globally depend upon as an energy source, primarily due to its high starch and fat content. For growth and disease resistance, maize production requires a balanced intake of essential nutrients, including nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). This study investigated the relationship between soil nutrient levels and maize disease occurrences in the Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Soil and maize leaves were collected using a systematic sampling approach. Grids of 10 × 10 m were created, covering a maize field. Forty soil samples were collected a day before the planting date and sent to the laboratory for analysis of N, P and K. During the tasseling stage of the maize plant, 40 maize leaf samples were collected and sent to the laboratory for disease identification. Maize leaves were classified as healthy, southern corn leaf blight (Bipolaris maydis), northern corn leaf blight (Exserohilum turcicum), maize streak disease (Maize streak virus), nitrogen-deficient or phosphorus-deficient. Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) with a corrected Akaike Information Criterion (AICc) showed a significant relationship between low soil nutrient levels of N, P and K and maize disease occurrence (p < 0.0001). The interaction of the N*P*K model had the lowest AIC value (AICc = 28.53), indicating the necessity of considering synergistic effects in maize disease management. All the model performances had a delta AICc = 0. These findings highlight the significance of comprehensive soil management strategies in enhancing the disease resistance, well-being and yields of maize crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslides have become a common global concern because of their widespread nature and destructive power. The Gaizi Valley section of the Karakorum Highway is located in an alpine mountainous area with a high degree of geological structure development, steep terrain, and severe regional soil erosion, and landslide disasters occur frequently along this section, which severely affects the smooth flow of traffic through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). In this study, 118 views of Sentinel-1 ascending- and descending-orbit data of this highway section are collected, and two time-series interferometric synthetic aperture radar (TS-InSAR) methods, distributed scatter InSAR (DS-InSAR) and small baseline subset InSAR (SBAS-InSAR), are used to jointly determine the surface deformation in this section and identify unstable slopes from 2021 to 2023. Combining these data with data on sites of historical landslide hazards in this section from 1970 to 2020, we constructed 13 disaster-inducing factors affecting the occurrence of landslides as evaluation indices of susceptibility, carried out an evaluation of regional landslide susceptibility, and identified high-susceptibility unstable slopes (i.e., potential landslides). The results show that DS-InSAR and SBAS-InSAR have good agreement in terms of deformation distribution and deformation magnitude and that compared with single-orbit data, double-track SAR data can better identify unstable slopes in steep mountainous areas, providing a spatial advantage. The landslide susceptibility results show that the area under the curve (AUC) value of the artificial neural network (ANN) model (0.987) is larger than that of the logistic regression (LR) model (0.883) and that the ANN model has a higher classification accuracy than the LR model. A total of 116 unstable slopes were identified in the study, 14 of which were determined to be potential landslides after the landslide susceptibility results were combined with optical images and field surveys. These 14 potential landslides were mapped in detail, and the effects of regional natural disturbances (e.g., snowmelt) and anthropogenic disturbances (e.g., mining projects) on the identification of potential landslides using only SAR data were assessed. The results of this research can be directly applied to landslide hazard mitigation and prevention in the Gaizi Valley section of the Karakorum Highway. In addition, our proposed method can also be used to map potential landslides in other areas with the same complex topography and harsh environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the subjectivity of traditional factor attribute grading methods and the weak predictive capabilities of single-model classifications, this study focused on Yulong County; the Contribution Degree Clustering Method (CDCM) utilizes the Certainty Factor (CF) as the contribution index to partition continuous factor attribute intervals. Additionally, the Sparrow Search Optimization Algorithm (SSA) is employed for hyperparameter tuning. The CF is incorporated into Support Vector Machine (SVM), Back Propagation Neural Network (BPNN), and Random Forest (RF) models to form the CF-SSA-SVM, CF-SSA-BPNN, and CF-SSA-RF coupling models, respectively. These basic coupling models are further integrated using the Stacking algorithm to create the CF-SSA-Stacking integrated coupling model for constructing a landslide susceptibility assessment system. The results indicate that the CF-SSA-Stacking integrated coupling model achieves the highest accuracy, F1 score, Kappa coefficient, and AUC value, with values of 0.89375, 0.89172, 0.787500, and 0.9522, respectively. These metrics are significantly superior to those of the three basic coupling models, demonstrating better generalization capability and reliability. This suggests that the model can identify more historical landslide occurrences using fewer grid areas classified as extremely-high- or high-susceptibility zones. It is suitable as an effective regional landslide susceptibility assessment method for practical disaster prevention and mitigation applications. Further studies could explore the model's performance across varying geological settings or with different datasets, providing a roadmap for future research and development in landslide susceptibility assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current life prediction methods of Electromechanical equipment bearings have issues of low accuracy and lack of stability. To address these problems, firstly, indicators based on life degradation characteristics of bearings are selected. Then, a deep neural network-based life prediction model is constructed. Finally, the K-nearest neighbor algorithm is introduced to correct the deviation of the deep neural network prediction model, and a hybrid life prediction model is designed. Results show that effectiveness of the designed model was better, which was of great practical significance for detecting bearing failures in advance, reducing equipment losses and improving equipment reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Survival for patients with biliary tract cancer (BTC) is poor, especially in the advanced stage, where curative treatments are not available. While chemotherapy and immunotherapy are used in standard practice, antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) have emerged as a novel therapy option. ADCs potentially enhance cancer cell death and reduce side effects. The anti-HER2 ADC Trastuzumab Deruxtecan (T-Dxd) has shown survival benefit for patients whose tumours are HER2-positive, including a subgroup of BTCs. In April 2024, the regulatory authority FDA approved T-Dxd for adults with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive solid tumours, including BTCs, lacking other treatment options. Ongoing trials are exploring other potentially actionable BTC molecular alterations. This review will discuss the current evidence and ongoing research in this subject area. Background: Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) are aggressive in nature, often presenting asymptomatically until they are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Surgical resection or liver transplantation are potential curative options. However, a large proportion of patients present with incurable locally advanced or metastatic disease and most of these patients are only eligible for palliative chemotherapy or best supportive care. More recently, targeted therapies have proven beneficial in a molecularly selected subgroup of patients with cholangiocarcinoma who have progressed on previous lines of systemic treatment. However, only a minority of patients with BTCs whose tumours harbour specific molecular alterations can access these therapies. Methods: In relation to ADCs, studies regarding use of antibody–drug conjugates in cancer, particularly in BTCs, were searched in Embase (1974 to 2024) and Ovid MEDLINE(R) (1946 to 2024) to obtain relevant articles. Examples of current clinical trials utilising ADC treatment in BTCs were extracted from the ClinicalTrials.gov trial registry. Conclusions: Overall, this review has highlighted that ADCs have shown encouraging outcomes in cancer therapy, and this should lead to further research including in BTCs, where treatment options are often limited. The promising results observed with ADCs in various cancers underscore their potential as a transformative approach in oncology, warranting continued exploration and development and the need for education on the management of their specific toxicities. By addressing current challenges and optimising ADC design and application, future studies could potentially improve treatment outcomes for patients with BTCs and beyond, potentially in both early and advanced stage settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rational design and synthesis of a novel contorted calix[2]phyrin(2.2.1.1.1) structure has been achieved, utilizing a terphenyl unit as a key building component. This terphenyl unit serves as a segment of the armchair periphery in a π-extended two-dimensional architecture. The resulting molecule exhibits remarkable properties, including the ability to self-assemble into solid-state supramolecular nanotubes. Additionally, it has demonstrated an affinity for complexation with fluoride anions, highlighting its potential for applications in molecular recognition and sensor technology. The incorporation of the terphenyl unit not only enhances the structural rigidity but also contributes to the unique electronic characteristics of the calix[2]phyrin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new visible-light-mediated non-directed oxidative annulation between 2-arylindazoles and electron-deficient olefins using commercially available piperidine-1-sulfonyl chloride as the radical precursor to afford fused 5,6-dihydroindazolo[2,3-a]quinolines has been developed under mild reaction conditions. This transformation occurs via two consecutive C–H bond functionalizations. The mechanistic investigation results indicate that the reaction progresses through a radical pathway forming a 2-(2-aryl-2H-indazol-3-yl)-3-piperidin-1-ylsulfonyl derivative as an intermediate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for deep-red (DR) or near-infrared (NIR) emitters has grown markedly owing to their essential roles in optical telecommunications, night vision technologies, flat panel displays, bioimaging, photodynamic therapy, and sensors, among other applications. However, achieving highly efficient DR/NIR organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) is challenging, primarily due to the inherent limitations of the energy gap law. In this study, we propose a novel molecular design for a thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitter, tBuTPA-Qx4CN , based on the 2,3-bis(4-cyanophenyl)quinoxaline-6,7-dicarbonitrile (Qx4CN) acceptor, shifting the emission wavelength toward the DR/NIR region. The tBuTPA-Qx4CN design involves a para-directed connection between the donor moieties and the Qx4CN acceptor unit. Unlike conventional peripheral attachment of donors, two identical 4-(tert-butyl)-N-(4-(tert-butyl)phenyl)-N-phenylaniline donor units were attached at the 5,8-position of the central Qx4CN unit. Using the advantageous H-bonding effect between the donor and acceptor units, the tBuTPA-Qx4CN emitter achieved a high oscillator strength, resulting in a substantial radiative rate. The strong Qx4CN acceptor unit facilitated a marked red shift in the emission wavelength of tBuTPA-Qx4CN toward the NIR region. OLEDs incorporating tBuTPA-Qx4CN as the TADF emitter achieved enhanced external quantum efficiency of up to 16.3%, peaking at 674 nm. A new synthetic route, starting from 4,5-diamino-3,6-dibromophthalonitrile, was developed for tBuTPA-Qx4CN synthesis. This route may be useful for future designs of highly efficient DR/NIR TADF emitters for OLED applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique features of bio-coke include higher density and mechanical strength than conventional solid biofuel such as pellet and briquette. These features underscore its potential application to substitute the usage of coal coke in a cupola furnace. However, to ensure its physical and mechanical performances, the optimization process prior to the bio-coke production and the knowledge of chemical structural transformation are essential. In this study, Japanese cedar (JC) bio-coke produced at the optimum condition via formation temperature (FT): 190 °C and initial moisture content (MC): 5 wt% has better physical and mechanical properties. The higher lignin content in JC biomass and the chemical transformation during bio-coke production, such as demethoxylation of lignin and increase in cellulose crystallinity, also influenced the improvement of JC's structural performance in bio-coke. This suggests that utilizing JC biomass into bio-coke can be a possible strategy for reducing GHG emissions and having a lower production cost than other wood biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, the vibration damping characteristics of the laminated aluminum sheets (LAS) were evaluated in a sheet specimen and an automotive dash panel and compared with those of the monolithic aluminum sheet (MAS). The LAS was fabricated with two 5xxx series aluminum alloy (AA) sheets (AA5052-O) with a thickness of 0.7 mm by inserting an acryl-based adhesive in between. The automotive dash panels were manufactured by multi-step stamping processes for the LAS and the MAS with a similar thickness. The shaker vibration test in a sheet specimen and the impact hammer test in an automotive dash panel were conducted to measure the frequency response function (FRF) of LAS, compared with those of MAS. The results show that the frequency response function made by the LAS has less noise and fluctuation than that of the MAS in a sheet specimen and an automotive dash panel. The damping ratios in a sheet specimen and an automotive dash panel made by the LAS have higher values than those of the MAS. This proves that the LAS has better vibration damping characteristics and a larger damping effect than the MAS in a sheet specimen and an automotive dash panel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: OsHV-1 is one of two herpesviruses known to infect invertebrates; this pathogen has emerged as the primary etiology responsible for mass mortalities in the species. The pathological characteristics, tissue and cellular tropisms of OsHV-1 in Anadara broughtonii (A. broughtonii) remain unknown. The objective of this study was to characterize the pathological changes and tissue tropism during the development of an OsHV-1 infection in A. broughtonii. The results demonstrated that hemocytes and fibroblastic-like cells were the primary cellular targets of OsHV-1. Additionally, lesions, infiltrated hemocytes, and co-localized ISH signals were identified in the muscular tissues of the foot and adductor muscle. These findings contribute to the understanding of OsHV-1 pathogenesis in Arcidae mollusks. OsHV-1 caused detrimental infections in a variety of bivalve species of major importance to aquaculture worldwide. Since 2012, there has been a notable increase in the frequency of mass mortality events of the blood clam associated with OsHV-1 infection. The pathological characteristics, tissue and cellular tropisms of OsHV-1 in A. broughtonii remain unknown. In this study, we sought to investigate the distribution of OsHV-1 in five different organs (mantle, hepatopancreas, gill, foot, and adductor muscle) of A. broughtonii by quantitative PCR, histopathology and in situ hybridization (ISH), to obtain insight into the progression of the viral infection. Our results indicated a continuous increase in viral loads with the progression of OsHV-1 infection, reaching a peak at 48 h or 72 h post-infection according to different tissues. Tissue damage and necrosis, as well as colocalized OsHV-1 ISH signals, were observed primarily in the connective tissues of various organs and gills. Additionally, minor tissue damage accompanied by relatively weak ISH signals was detected in the foot and adductor muscle, which were filled with muscle tissue. The predominant cell types labeled by ISH signals were infiltrated hemocytes, fibroblastic-like cells, and flat cells in the gill filaments. These results collectively illustrated the progressive alterations in pathological confusion and OsHV-1 distribution in A. broughtonii, which represent most of the possible responses of cells and tissues to the virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Previous studies revealed an inconclusive association between dyslipidemia and decreased vitamin D levels. This study aims to investigate the association between dyslipidemia parameters and decreased serum vitamin D levels among the southern Taiwanese population during a health examination. Patients and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2020 to December 2020, enrolling 2430 subjects in a southern Taiwanese medical center. We performed logistic regression to examine the association between lipid profiles and vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency. Results: The prevalence of vitamin D sufficiency was higher in males (65.9%). Compared to individuals with total cholesterol (TC) < 200 mg/dL, those with TC ≥ 200 mg/dL exhibited vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency (OR, 1.46; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 1.10– 1.94) after adjustment for age, gender, waist circumference (WC), fasting blood glucose, and uric acid levels. Compared to triglyceride (TG) levels of < 150 mg/dL, TG levels ≥ 150 mg/dL had a higher association with vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.17– 1.86) after adjustment for the same covariates. Post-gender stratification, we found female individuals with TC ≥ 200 mg/dL had a significantly higher association with vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency (OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.36– 3.27), whereas TG ≥ 150 mg/dL in males exhibited a significantly higher association with vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.29– 2.24) after adjustment for the same covariates. Conclusion: The study revealed a negative association between decreased serum vitamin D levels and TC and TG levels. However, no significant association was observed with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Further studies are needed to understand the mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]