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Bacteria-based self-healing concrete has become an effective approach to mitigate microcracks in the concrete structure. However, there are still doubts about when to use vegetative cells or spores of Bacillus sphaericus as a healing agent. Thus, this research aims to give recommendations regarding this choice. Spores and cells were encapsulated into expanded clay aggregate to protect them from the harsh environment of fresh mortar. The viability of cells and spores after encapsulation was investigated. The 28- and 90-day mortar compressive strength was analysed. The healing performance of the resulting mortar samples that were cracked at the age of 28 and 90 days has also been observed. The results show that both cells and spores were still active after encapsulation. The yeast extract added to mortar containing spores decreased the compressive strength of the mortar compared to the reference sample. From the healing performance result, it seems that the spores are more suitable for mitigating microcracks in aged mortar, while cells are more suitable for mitigating early-age cracks in the mortar.

Micro-crack is the start of concrete deterioration and failure, though it does not decrease the bearing capacity in the beginning. In order to prolong the service life of existing concrete structures, it is important to repair the existing micro-cracks before they develop into large cracks, which are much more harmful. Bio-genic CaCO3 from microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) process is proved to be a promising crack repair material due to its environmental friendliness and super compatibility with cementitious matrix. In this study, MICP based repair technology was applied to repair micro-cracks. The influence of crack environment and repair technique on the precipitation of bio-CaCO3 was investigated. Results shown that moderate alkali pH had limited effect on the properties of bio-CaCO3. Bacteria could still induce the CaCO3 precipitation in crack if it was saturated with Ca2+ containing deposition medium. Crack of a width 0.5mm can be fully sealed within 3 days by use of a controlled injection technique.

Thermally activated delayed fluorescent (TADF) and phosphorescent blue organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) have been developed to overcome the relatively low triplet exciton utilization of traditional fluorescent OLEDs. However, broad emission spectra originating from charge transfer process limits the commercial application of such blue OLEDs. Herein, an effective phosphor‐sensitized fluorescent (PSF) OLED device structure was designed. PSF OLED exhibited a maximum blue index (BI) of 508 cd/A/CIEy with CIEy of 0.060, which has been the highest efficiency result reported for PSF deep‐blue OLEDs. Impressively, the sensitized OLEDs maintained blue index of 407 cd/A/CIEy, narrow emission spectra (FWHM = 17 nm) and high color purity (CIEy = 0.046), revealing the attractive technical advantages and commercial application potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermally activated delayed fluorescent (TADF) and phosphorescent blue organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) have been developed to overcome the relatively low triplet exciton utilization of traditional fluorescent OLEDs. However, broad emission spectra originating from charge transfer process limit the commercial application of such blue OLEDs. Herein, an effective phosphor‐sensitized fluorescent (PSF) OLED device structure was designed. PSF OLED exhibited a maximum blue index (BI) of 508 cd/A/CIEy with CIEy of 0.060, which has been the highest efficiency result reported for PSF deep‐blue OLEDs. A nearly 100% improvement in operational lifetime LT95 (L/L0 = 95%) was achieved successfully by using lower triplet energy (T1) and deuterated host materials. Impressively, the sensitized OLEDs maintained BI of 407 cd/A/CIEy, narrow emission spectra (FWHM = 17 nm), and high color purity (CIEy = 0.046), revealing the attractive technical advantages and commercial application potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we construct a new two-grid algorithm of the finite element method for the Schrödinger equation in backward Euler and Crank–Nicolson fully discrete schemes. On the coarser grid, we solve coupled real and imaginary parts of the Schrödinger equation. On the fine grid, real and imaginary parts of the Schrödinger equation are decoupled, and we solve the elliptic equation about real and imaginary parts, respectively. Then, we obtain error estimates of the exact solution with the two-grid solution in the H 1 -norm and carry out two numerical experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The reduviid genus Sycanus Amyot & Serville, 1843, possesses higher aesthetic value and plays a crucial role as a natural enemy in the control of agricultural and forestry pests. However, Sycanus from China has not undergone a comprehensive review for over four decades. Based on both molecular data and morphological evidence, we conducted a systematic review of the 14 Chinese Sycanus species, including a description of three new species. Due to the variability of body coloration and morphological similarity among closely related species, unresolved issues and debates still persist in the taxonomic study of the genus Sycanus from China. In this study, we conducted phylogenetic analyses and species delimitation for Sycanus in China based on a COI DNA barcoding dataset comprising 81 samples. The results revealed that all the samples could be classified into 12 species by integrating molecular analyses with morphological comparison. This paper provides a comprehensive systematic review of the Sycanus species found in China, including descriptions of three new species: S. taiwanensis Zhao & Cai sp. nov., S. flavicorius Li & Cai sp. nov., and S. hainanensis Wang & Cai sp. nov. Furthermore, it is proposed that S. croceovittatus Dohrn, 1859, S. leucomesus Walker, 1873, and S. villicus Stål, 1863, are three synonyms of S. bifidus (Fabricius, 1787); S. bicolor Hsiao, 1979, is a synonym of S. versicolor Dohrn, 1859; and S. hsiaoi Maldonado-Capriles, 1990, is a synonym of S. marginellus Putshkov, 1987. Additionally, brief biological information is provided for two species, S. falleni Stål, 1863, and S. croceus Hsiao, 1979. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives Background Design Methods Results Conclusion Relevance to Clinical Practice No Patient or Public Contribution Impact Statement This study explores the situation of workload, work–family conflict and job burnout among primary health workers in China in the context of COVID‐19 and identifies the mediating effect of work–family conflict between workload and job burnout.Since the breakout of the COVID‐19 pandemic, primary health workers have been working on the frontline of the epidemic and may experience increasing workload, work–family conflict and job burnout. It is important to focus on the issue of how to alleviate job burnout of primary health workers.A cross‐sectional study (STROBE) was used.Data were collected from 785 primary health workers in China. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the mediating effect of work–family conflict between workload and job burnout.18.7%, 10.4% and 39.5% of respondents had high job burnout in the dimensions of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment, respectively. 34.6% of the respondents had high or very high workload, and 12.8% of the respondents had high or very high work–family conflict. Results of multiple regression analysis indicated that work–family conflict mediated the relationship between workload and job burnout. Workload (β = .163, CI = .207–.549) and work–family conflict (β = .211, CI = .311–.640) positively influenced job burnout, and workload (β = .428, CI = .375–.508) positively influenced work–family conflict.The study indicated that primary health workers experienced a high level of job burnout, especially in the personal accomplishment dimension. Furthermore, this study verified the mediating effect of work–family conflict between workload and job burnout.Some interventions for alleviating workload, work–family conflict and job burnout should be taken, including workplace assistance programmes, family‐friendly policies and a well‐integrated healthcare system.This study does not involve patient or public contribution in any part.Nurses and other primary health workers are health gatekeepers of residents and play a vital role in the healthcare system. Due to the breakout of COVID‐19, they have taken more work and are more vulnerable to work overload, work–family conflict and the consequent job burnout. Some interventions should be taken to effectively alleviate their job burnout and improve their health and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since near room-temperature superconductivity is measured in pressurized H3S and LaH10, H-rich hydrides have served as promising candidates for high-temperature superconductors. Given the remarkable superconductivity stems from the unique H units of these hydrides, the search for new hydrides with novel H units remains a pressing task. Herein, we predicted a metastable structure of Rb2MgH18 at 235 GPa with an intriguing H layer composed of H6 and H12 rings, using the first-principles structure prediction method in conjunction with density functional theory calculations. As a result of electron–phonon coupling simulations, this structure exhibits superconductivity with an estimated critical temperature, Tc, of 278 K at 235 GPa and 261 K at 300 GPa. Our in-depth analysis reveals that the vibrations of atoms in the H layer are the main contributor to the superconducting behavior. The present study largely enriches the fundamental knowledge of the chemistry of hydrogen and superconducting properties in high-pressure hydrides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The millipede assassin bugs are well known for their prey specialization. In this study, we examined the fine structures of the antennae, mouthparts, and legs of four genera and species of ectrichodiines using a scanning electronic microscope and compared them with those in Tribelocephalinae, a lineage closely related to Ectrichodiinae. We found that ectrichodiines possess distinctly more slightly transverse ridges on the mandibles, which probably facilitate stabilizing mandibular stylets in prey tissues. The small papillae on the legs are considered to adapt to immobilize millipedes. Overall, our study illustrates, at a microstructural level, the remarkable morphological adaption of prey manipulation in ectrichodiines, which will facilitate future studies on the adaptive evolution of feeding habits in Reduviidae. Species in Ectrichodiinae are known for their prey specialization on millipedes. However, knowledge of the morphological adaptations to this unique feeding habit was limited. In the current study, we examined the microstructures of the antennae, mouthparts, and legs of four millipede feeding ectrichodiines, Ectrychotes andreae (Thunberg, 1888), Haematoloecha limbata Miller, 1953, Labidocoris pectoralis (Stål, 1863), and Neozirta eidmanni (Taueber, 1930), and compared them with those of three species of tribelocephalines, a group closely related to Ectrichodiinae. On the antennae, we found four types of antennal sensilla. On the mouthparts, we recognized four types of labial sensilla. Sampled ectrichodiines have distinctly more and denser slightly transverse ridges on the external side of mandibles than tribelocephalines. E. andreae and H. limbata possess numerous small papillae fringed with densely arranged finger-print-like grains on the trochanter and femur; these probably facilitate the immobilization of prey. Overall, our study illustrates, at a microstructural level, the remarkable morphological adaption of prey manipulation in ectrichodiine, and has enhanced our understanding about stenophagy in the family Reduviidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]