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Human-centric instructional videos provide opportunities for users to learn real-world multistep tasks, such as cooking, makeup, and using professional tools. However, these lengthy videos always lead to a tedious learning experience, making it challenging for learners to catch specific guidance efficiently. In this article, we present a novel approach, named fuzzy multimodal graph reasoning (FMGR), to extract target events in long untrimmed human-centric instructional videos using natural language. Specifically, we devise a fuzzy multimodal graph learning layers in our method, which encompass first contextual graph reasoning that transforms the individual features into contextualized features, second cross-modal relation fuzzifier that models the fine-grained matching relationships between two modalities, and third fuzzy graph reasoning that conducts massage passing among cross-modal matching node pairs. Particularly, we integrate fuzzy theory into the cross-modal relation fuzzifier to amplify potential matching pairs, while simultaneously mitigating the interference from ambiguous matches. To validate our method, we conducted evaluations on two human-centric instructional video datasets, i.e., MedVidQA and YouMakeUp. Moreover, we also take further analysis on the impacts of interrogative and declarative queries. Extensive experimental results and further analysis reveal the effectiveness of our proposed FMGR method.

Temporal language grounding (TLG) is one of the most challenging cross-modal video understanding tasks, which aims at retrieving the most relevant video segment from an untrimmed video according to a natural language sentence. The existing methods can be separated into two dominant types: 1) proposal-based and 2) proposal-free methods, where the former conduct contextual interactions and the latter localizes timestamps flexibly. However, the constant-scale candidates in proposal-based methods limit the localization precision and bring extra computational costs. In contrast, the proposal-free methods perform well on high-precision metrics-based on the fine-grained features but suffer from a lack of coarse-grained interactions, which cause degeneration when the video becomes complex. In this article, we propose a novel framework termed semantic decoupling network (SDN) that combines the advantages of proposal-based and proposal-free methods and overcomes their defects. It contains three key components: 1) semantic decoupling module (SDM); 2) context modeling block (CMB); and 3) semantic cross-level aggregation module (SCAM). By capturing the video-text contexts in multilevel semantics, the SDM and CMB effectively utilize the benefits of proposal-based methods. Meanwhile, the SCAM maintains the merit of proposal-free methods in that it localizes timestamps precisely. The experiments on three challenge datasets, i.e., Charades-STA, TACoS, and ActivityNet-Caption, show that our proposed SDN method significantly outperforms recent state-of-the-art methods, especially the proposal-free methods. Extensive analyses, as well as the implementation code of the proposed SDN method, are provided at https://github.com/CFM-MSG/Code_SDN.

We present a multimodal haptic rendering system that integrates normal force feedback via an airbag and vibration feedback through a piezoelectric vibrator, simulating the hardness and roughness of samples. For hardness rendering, the system utilizes local stiffness (LS) as a critical control parameter of the airbag to enhance user perception of sample hardness during compression. For roughness rendering, we introduce a texture mapping method that extracts roughness from texture images based on Tamura coarseness and maps it to the frequency of the piezoelectric vibrator’s drive voltage, enabling the perception of roughness during horizontal interactions with the sample. User studies are conducted to evaluate the system. Results indicate that the LS effectively mirrors the sample’s transient stiffness, significantly enhancing hardness perception. This multimodal approach demonstrably exceeds single-modal systems in replicating realistic sensory experiences. Moreover, our findings reveal that vibrational stimuli also influence the perception of hardness.

The number of older adults worldwide is growing exponentially. However, while living longer, older individuals are more susceptible to both non-infectious and infectious diseases, at least in part due to alterations of the immune system. Here, we report on a prospective cohort study investigating the influence of age on immune responses and susceptibility to infection. The RESIST Senior Individuals (SI) cohort was established as a general population cohort with a focus on the elderly, enrolling an age- and sex-stratified sample of 650 individuals (n= 100 20-39y, n= 550 61-94y, 2019–2023, Hannover, Germany). It includes clinical, demographic, and lifestyle data and also extensive biomaterial sampling. Initial insights indicate that the SI cohort exhibits characteristics of the aging immune system and the associated susceptibility to infection, thereby providing a suitable platform for the decoding of age-related alterations of the immune system and unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying the impaired immune responsiveness in aging populations by exploring comprehensive, unbiased multi-omics datasets.

In this article, a compact low-sidelobe 2-D monopulse antenna array has been proposed based on mixed gap waveguide (GWG)/hollow waveguide (HW) multilayer feeding network and a GWG monopulse comparator. The proposed antenna array is arranged and divided into multilayers based on the function for miniaturization and low losses. First, slot antenna elements, unequal power divider based on the GWG, and layers transition between different ridge GWGs are proposed. Then, monopulse comparator composed by groove GWG 3 dB 90° coupler and 90° phase shifter is proposed according to the network diagram for forming $\sum $ , $\Delta _{\text {E}}$ , $\Delta _{\text {H}}$ beams. By vertically integrating the above functional elements, the compact low-sidelobe 2-D monopulse antenna array is obtained. The measurement results show its impedance fractional bandwidth (FBW) is 12.6%, antenna gain is greater than 29 dBi, and the efficiency is 35%. Moreover, the levels of the sidelobe and null depth are about −25 and −35 dB, respectively.

Polymer dielectrics are crucial for use in electrostatic capacitors, owing to their high voltage resistance, high energy storage density, and ultrahigh reliability. Furthermore, high-temperature-resistant polymer dielectrics are applied in various emerging fields. Herein, poly(ether imide) (PEI)-based polymer dielectrics prepared by adding a low loading of dimethylimidazolium cobalt (ZIF-67) with a narrow bandgaps are investigated. The results show that the composites exhibit considerably increased Young’s modulus, suppressed conductivity loss, and improved breakdown strength compared with pure PEI. Consequently, a stable energy storage performance is realized for ZIF-67/PEI composites. Particularly, at 150 °C, 1 wt % ZIF-67/PEI composite affords an excellent energy storage density of 4.59 J/cm3with a discharge energy efficiency of 80.6%, exhibiting a considerable increase compared with the values obtained for PEI (2.58 J/cm3with a discharge energy efficiency of 68.8%). The results of this study reveal a feasible pathway to design polymer dielectrics with the potential for use in capacitive applications in harsh environments.

Purpose: Network analysis has been widely used in psychometrics over the past decade, yet it is unknown that whether this methodology could be applied in the field of child health assessment such as caregivers’ feeding behavior and child eating behavior. Our study leveraged network psychometrics method to estimating and examining the network structure of Chinese Preschoolers’ Caregivers’ Feeding Behavior Scale (CPCFBS), and compared the applicability of network methods in the feeding behavior scale. Methods: The CPCFBS was previously applied in a sample of 768 preschoolers’ caregivers, used to estimate the structure of feeding behavior networks. Network structure was estimated with Gaussian Graphical Model. Dimensionality was detected using Exploratory Graph Analysis (EGA). The network structural consistency was tested using EGA bootstrap. The network structure was compared with the original structure using model fit indices and reliability. Results: A seven-dimensional EGA network was explored after rearranging four items and deleting one item with unstable structural consistency. The absolute fit and relative fit of EGA structure were better than the original structure. The EGA structure had nearly same values of the reliability with the original structure. Conclusion: Our study presented a novel perspective for feeding behavior analytical strategies, and demonstrated that network analysis was applicable and superior in exploring the structure of feeding behavior scales. Level of evidence: Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.

High-energy density dielectrics for electrostatic capacitors are in urgent demand for advanced electronics and electrical power systems. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) based nanocomposites have attracted remarkable attention by intrinsic high polarization, flexibility, low density, and outstanding processability. However, it is still challenging to achieve significant improvement in energy density due to the common contradictions between electric polarization and breakdown strength. Here, we proposed a novel facile strategy that simultaneously achieves the construction of in-plane oriented BaTiO3nanowires and crystallization modulation of PVDF matrix via an in-situuniaxial stretch process. The polar phase transition and enhanced Young's modulus facilitate the synergetic improvement of electric polarization and voltage endurance capability for PVDF matrix. Additionally, the aligned distribution of nanowires could reduce the contact probability of nanowire tips, thus alleviating electric field concentration and hindering the conductive path. Finally, a record high energy density of 38.3 ​J/cm3and 40.9 ​J/cm3are achieved for single layer and optimized sandwich-structured nanocomposite, respectively. This work provides a unique structural design and universal method for dielectric nanocomposites with ultrahigh energy density, which presents a promising prospect of practical application for modern energy storage systems.

The development of novel porous materials have attracted significant attention owing to its possible application in several fields. In this study, we designed a novel covalent organic framework-metal-organic framework (COF-MOF) material through an in-situligand self-assembly method. The in-situmodified ligands not only act as nucleation sites to form Ti-MOF, but also as a channel to rapidly transfer photogenerated electrons without introducing additional chemical bonds. The photocatalytic hydrogen production rate achieved over B-CTF-Ti-MOF(1:1) was 1975 µmol·g−1·h−1with an apparent quantum efficiency of 4.76%, which is 11.8 times higher than that of the pure CTF-1. In addition, compared with the sample prepared by separating the ligands (CTF-1/Ti-MOF), B-CTF-Ti-MOF shows excellent activity and stability. Finally, a reasonable photocatalytic mechanism was proposed using the results of electrochemical tests and spectral analyses. This study provides a universal method for the construction of highly efficient and stable COF/MOF materials with excellent properties.

Background: Endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy (ERAT) is an emerging endoscopic treatment modality for acute uncomplicated appendicitis (AUA) supported by several case series. However, to date, systematic studies have not been conducted in children and the prospective comparative data are lacking. Moreover, due to a concern for future malignancy risk in children from ionizing radiation, we used contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) instead of endoscopic retrograde appendiceal radiography (ERAR). Therefore, we conducted a prospective, randomized control clinical trial to compare the modified ERAT (mERAT) to antibiotic therapy in children with AUA. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility and of mERAT in the treatment of hospitalized children with AUA. Methods: Children with AUA, confirmed by ultrasonography and or abdominal computed tomography, were consecutively enrolled from October 2018 to February, 2020. They were randomly assigned to receive mERAT or routine antibiotic treatment. Patients were followed until May, 2020. Th primary outcome variable was the duration of relief of the abdominal pain after treatment. We collected patient’s demographics, ultrasonic imaging findings, colonoscopy findings, and treatment outcomes of the mERAT and adverse even associated with mERAT. Results: A total of 83 children were enrolled. 36 were randomized to mERAT and 47 to antibiotics treatment. All children in the mERAT group had endoscopic confirmed acute uncomplicated appendicitis, and there were no significant complications. However, 9 of patients in antibiotic group were poor responsive to treatment and switched to mERAT. The overall success rate of treatment with mERAT (100%) was significantly higher than that of antibiotics (80.9%) (P= 0.004). The median time to discharge was significantly shorter in mERAT group than in antibiotics treatment group [6.0 ± 1.76 days] (P= 0.004). Conclusions: mERAT provide a new alternative therapeutic option for childhood with AUA, especially for families who are reluctant to undergo an appendectomy.

Fe-CN/NTE improved degradation of 4-NP coupled with simultaneous photocatalytic H2evolution under visible light irradiation.

Background: In patients with ultralow rectal cancer, surgical resection of the tumor without impairing sphincter function remains a technical challenge. The purpose of this study was to describe a new technique of transanal natural orifice specimen extraction (NOSE) surgery using our independently developed devices, aiming to achieve precise cancer resection and preserve sphincter function in patients with ultralow rectal cancer. Methods: Precision functional sphincter-preserving surgery (PPS) was performed on nineteen patients with ultralow rectal cancer between June 2019 and April 2020. With the help of our independently developed devices, surgeons directly and accurately removed the lower edge of the tumor and retained healthy rectal tissue on the nontumorous side. Hand-sewn anastomosis with a mattress suture was used to achieve sturdy anastomosis. Preoperative baseline characteristics, operative details, 90-day postoperative complications, costs, and anal function score at 6 months after surgery were documented. Results: Nineteen ultralow rectal cancer patients with a median distance to the dentate line of 2.0 cm successfully underwent PPS without serious postoperative complications. Six out of nineteen patients (31.6%) received a prophylactic stoma. The average cost was 62164.1 yuan. At 6 months after surgery, the average Wexner anal function score and the average Vaizey score were both 3 points. Conclusions: PPS can be employed to precisely resect rectal tumors and preserve sphincter function in ultralow rectal cancer patients. The use of our devices enhanced surgical efficiency, reduced the need for prophylactic stoma, reduced surgery-related costs, and prevented abdominal surgical incisions.

Graphic abstract:

Object detection models based on convolutional neural networks (CNN) have achieved state-of-the-art performance by heavily rely on large-scale training samples. They are insufficient when used in specific applications, such as the detection of military objects, as in these instances, a large number of samples is hard to obtain. In order to solve this problem, this paper proposes the use of Gabor-CNN for object detection based on a small number of samples. First of all, a feature extraction convolution kernel library composed of multi-shape Gabor and color Gabor is constructed, and the optimal Gabor convolution kernel group is obtained by means of training and screening, which is convolved with the input image to obtain feature information of objects with strong auxiliary function. Then, the k-means clustering algorithm is adopted to construct several different sizes of anchor boxes, which improves the quality of the regional proposals. We call this regional proposal process the Gabor-assisted Region Proposal Network (Gabor-assisted RPN). Finally, the Deeply-Utilized Feature Pyramid Network (DU-FPN) method is proposed to strengthen the feature expression of objects in the image. A bottom-up and a top-down feature pyramid is constructed in ResNet-50 and feature information of objects is deeply utilized through the transverse connection and integration of features at various scales. Experimental results show that the method proposed in this paper achieves better results than the state-of-art contrast models on data sets with small samples in terms of accuracy and recall rate, and thus has a strong application prospect.

The Cassini Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) 5‐μm images are used to derive Saturn's global zonal winds around the 2,000‐hPa level. The comparison of zonal winds between 2,000 and 300–500 hPa shows a general consistency of wind structure between the two pressure levels on a global scale. However at some latitudes, the magnitude of the zonal winds differs between these levels. The equatorial zonal winds are stronger downward, while the zonal winds in the middle and high latitudes are generally weaker downward. These new wind measurements also imply that barotropic and baroclinic instabilities probably exist through the relatively deep atmosphere at some latitudes. Finally, our analysis reveals that the VIMS winds in the two polar regions are basically constant with time except for a westerly jet centered at ~88°N, which decreased from 135 ± 7 m/s in 2008 to 91 ± 12 m/s in 2017. Images of giant planets at the visible wavelengths are widely used to track visible clouds and hence estimate the atmospheric winds at the pressure levels of the visible clouds. On the other hand, images at the infrared wavelengths (e.g., 5 μm), which are sensitive to the pressure levels below the visible clouds, can be used to measure the relatively deep winds. Here we use the infrared images recorded by the Cassini spacecraft to measure Saturn's zonal winds (i.e., atmospheric wind in the longitudinal direction) at the relatively deep pressure levels around 2,000 mbar. We provide the global profile of the zonal winds around 2,000 mbar for the first time. The comparison of the global profile of zonal winds between 2,000 mbar and 300–500 mbar reveals interesting characteristics of the vertical shear of zonal winds and the related stabilities on Saturn. In addition, the comparison of the 2,000‐mbar zonal winds among different years suggests important temporal characteristics of zonal winds in the polar region of Saturn. This observational study will not only provide key information about the large‐scale atmospheric dynamics but also help us develop the theories and models of the general circulation on the giant planets. The global profile of zonal winds around 2,000 mbar is generated for the first time; the new profile suggests vertical wind shearThe vertical shear of zonal winds helps better understand the atmospheric dynamics (e.g., stability)Measurements of zonal winds in multiple years suggest the temporal variations of zonal winds in the polar region of Saturn

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) bears heterogeneous cells that can consequently offset killing by single-CAR-based therapy, which results in disease relapse. Leukemic stem cells (LSCs) associated with CD123 expression comprise a rare population that also plays an important role in disease progression and relapse. Here, we report on the robust anti-tumor activity of a compound CAR (cCAR) T-cell possessing discrete scFv domains targeting two different AML antigens, CD123, and CD33, simultaneously. We determined that the resulting cCAR T-cells possessed consistent, potent, and directed cytotoxicity against each target antigen population. Using four leukemia mouse models, we found superior in vivo survival after cCAR treatment. We also designed an alemtuzumab safety-switch that allowed for rapid cCAR therapy termination in vivo. These findings indicate that targeting both CD123 and CD33 on AML cells may be an effective strategy for eliminating both AML bulk disease and LSCs, and potentially prevent relapse due to antigen escape or LSC persistence.

Mid‐tropospheric Carbonyl sulfide (OCS) retrievals from the Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES) are utilized to study OCS distributions during the dry/wet seasons over the Amazon rainforest. TES OCS retrievals reveal positive OCS anomalies (∼16 ppt) over the central and southern parts of the Amazon during August–October (dry season) compared to January–March (wet season). There is less OCS taken up by vegetation and soil and more OCS released from biomass burning during the dry season, which causes an increase in OCS concentrations. Strong sinking air during the dry season also helps to trap OCS and this contributes to positive OCS anomalies. MOZART‐4 model captures positive OCS anomalies over the central and southern regions of the Amazon and negative OCS anomalies over the northern part of the Amazon, which are similar to those from TES mid‐tropospheric OCS retrievals. Our studies can help us better understand OCS variations and photosynthetic activities. As a photosynthetic tracer, OCS can help us better understand photosynthetic activities, the biosphere‐atmosphere interaction, and the carbon sink. There are positive OCS anomalies (∼16 ppt) over the central and southern parts of the Amazon during August–October (dry season), which is related to reduced OCS uptake from vegetation and soil, enhanced OCS emission from biomass burning, and strengthened sinking air. MOZART‐4 is used to simulate the OCS variations during dry/wet seasons. Model results are similar to those from Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer OCS retrievals. However, there are some differences between the spatial distributions of OCS in the MOZART‐4 model and the satellite retrievals. Results in this study can help us better understand the variability of OCS and photosynthetic activities over the Amazon rainforest, which is the biggest rainforest and one of the largest sinks of OCS. Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer OCS concentrations are higher over the central and southern parts of the Amazon during the dry season than the wet seasonHigh OCS concentrations are related to reduced vegetation uptake, enhanced biomass burning, and increased sinking airMOZART‐4 captures the observed positive OCS anomalies over the central and southern Amazon during August–October (dry season) Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer OCS concentrations are higher over the central and southern parts of the Amazon during the dry season than the wet season High OCS concentrations are related to reduced vegetation uptake, enhanced biomass burning, and increased sinking air MOZART‐4 captures the observed positive OCS anomalies over the central and southern Amazon during August–October (dry season)

With the current increased longevity in elderly population, surgeons can expect to operate more frequently on elderly patients with both malignancies and comorbid medical conditions. This study aimed to compare the surgical and early postoperative outcomes of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) with those of open distal gastrectomy (ODG) for gastric cancer in patients 70 years of age or older. Retrospective analysis based on a prospectively collected database of elderly patients who underwent laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy or ODG from February 2013 to January 2014. Preoperative patient baseline parameters, surgical and oncological outcomes, postoperative complications and pathologic results were analyzed in this report. Distal gastrectomy was performed for 50 patients with the age of 70 years or older, using laparoscopic surgery for 23 patients (LADG group) and open surgery for 27 patients (ODG group). The mean age of LADG group was 76.6 years and ODG group 80.0 years. The comparison between the two groups revealed statistically similar results regarding age, gender, BMI, ASA class, history of previous surgeries, CCI and pathologic characteristics. The LADG group was characterized by less intraoperative blood loss (LADG group 100 mL vs. ODG group 250 mL, P< 0.001), less narcotic use (LADG group 1 day vs. ODG group 3 days, P< 0.001), faster bowel function recovery (time to first flatus: LADG group 51.6 h vs. ODG group 67.2 h, P< 0.001; days to oral intake: LADG group 6.1 days vs. ODG group 7.9 days, P= 0.002) and shorter postoperative hospital stay (LADG group 12 days vs. ODG group 16 days, P< 0.001). There was no significant difference in postoperative complication rate (overall complication rate: LADG group 21.7 % vs. ODG group 25.9 %, P= 0.730), survival rate (P= 0.719), postoperative recurrence and metastasis rate between the patients who underwent LADG and ODG. LADG for gastric cancer is feasible, efficacious and safe in elderly patients and may be superior to conventional open resection as regards some surgical outcomes.

We use observations from the Imaging Science Subsystem on Cassini to create maps of Saturn's Northern Hemisphere (NH) from 2008 to 2015, a time period including a seasonal transition (i.e., spring equinox in 2009) and the 2010 giant storm. The processed maps are used to investigate vortices in the NH during the period of 2008–2015. All recorded vortices have diameters (east‐west) smaller than 6000 km except for the largest vortex that developed from the 2010 giant storm. The largest vortex decreased its diameter from ~11,000 km in 2011 to ~5000 km in 2015, and its average diameter is ~6500 km during the period of 2011–2015. The largest vortex lasts at least 4 years, which is much longer than the lifetimes of most vortices (less than 1 year). The largest vortex drifts to north, which can be explained by the beta drift effect. The number of vortices displays varying behaviors in the meridional direction, in which the 2010 giant storm significantly affects the generation and development of vortices in the middle latitudes (25–45°N). In the higher latitudes (45–90°N), the number of vortices also displays strong temporal variations. The solar flux and the internal heat do not directly contribute to the vortex activities, leaving the temporal variations of vortices in the higher latitudes (45–90°N) unexplained. Hemispheric maps (2008–2015) are processed to explore Saturn's vortices.Spatio-temporal variations of Saturn's vortices are revealed.Physics behind the variability of Saturn's vortices needs more studies.

Highly porous, three-dimensional (3D) nanostructured composite adsorbents of reduced graphene oxides/Mn3O4(RGO/Mn3O4) were fabricated by a facile method of a combination of reflux condensation and solvothermal reactions and systemically characterized. The as-prepared RGO/Mn3O4possesses a mesoporous 3D structure, in which Mn3O4nanoparticles are uniformly deposited on the surface of the reduced graphene oxide. The adsorption properties of RGO/Mn3O4to antimonite (Sb(III)) and antimonate (Sb(V)) were investigated using batch experiments of adsorption isotherms and kinetics. Experimental results show that the RGO/Mn3O4composite has fast liquid transport and superior adsorption capacity toward antimony (Sb) species in comparison to six recent adsorbents reported in the literature and summarized in a table in this paper. Theoretical maximum adsorption capacities of RGO/Mn3O4toward Sb(III) and Sb(V) are 151.84 and 105.50 mg/g, respectively, modeled by Langmuir isotherms. The application of RGO/Mn3O4was demonstrated by using drinking water spiked with Sb (320 μg/L). Fixed-bed column adsorption experiments indicate that the effective breakthrough volumes were 859 and 633 mL bed volumes (BVs) for the Sb(III) and Sb(V), respectively, until the maximum contaminant level of 5 ppb was reached, which is below the maximum limits allowed in drinking water according to the most stringent regulations. The advantages of being nontoxic, highly stable, and resistant to acid and alkali and having high adsorption capacity toward Sb(III) and Sb(V) confirm the great potential application of RGO/Mn3O4in Sb-spiked water treatment.

Theoretical capacity of silicon is 4200mAhg-1, but pure silicon had huge volume change during lithium insertion, which reduces the cycle life of silicon. In this paper, pure silicon was replaced of metallic silicon to relieve volume effect. Metallic silicon contains some alloying elements which improve the conductivity of the electrode material. The elements in metallic silicon will relief the volume change of silicon substrate during lithium insertion/ de-lithiation process. Metallic silicon was treated by mechanical alloying (MA) which is an effective method to reduce particle sizes of metallic silicon. The results show that MA can improve cycle performance of metallic silicon. Metallic silicon treated by MA performs a better cycling performance compared with the unsettled materials and a higher discharge capacity in the first cycle.

We analyze the relationship between Saturn's radiant energies and the 2010 giant storm with the Cassini observations. The storm increased the emitted power in a wide latitudinal band (20–55°N) with a maximum change of 9.2 ± 0.1% around 45°N from 2010 to 2011. Such a regional change caused the global‐average emitted power to increase by ~2.0 ± 0.2%. Saturn's giant storm occurs quasiperiodically (i.e., period approximately one Saturnian year), so it is possible that giant storms continuously modify the emitted power if the storm modification has a lifetime close to one Saturnian year. The hemispheric‐average emitted power in the southern hemisphere, which was mainly affected by the seasonal change, decreased by 8.5 ± 0.3% from 2004 to 2013. Our estimates also imply that the 2010 giant storm significantly modified the absorbed solar power of Saturn. The significant temporal variations of radiant powers should be considered in reexamining the value of Saturn's internal heat flux. The giant storm significantly modified Saturn's global radiant energiesOur results suggest that Saturn's internal heat should be reexaminedWe also suggest a mechanism to trigger giant storms on Saturn

Nickel titanium is a near-equiatomic intermetallic that possesses distinctive and desirable thermomechanical properties. Micro-arc oxidation (MAO) treatment of NiTi can effectively prevent the release of Ni ions from NiTi. In this paper, NiTi is treated with MAO method in Na2SiO3 electrolyte. MAO process of NiTi in Na2SiO3 electrolyte contains two stages: “growth period”, “jumped period”. During the process of MAO, Ni in NiTi is oxidized to Ni ion, and the Ni ions are dissociated in electrolyte. Ti was left in NiTi, which generate much Ti content appearing on the surface of the sample, and contribute to prerequisites for the reaction. After the applied voltage reaches a certain value, Na2SiO3 electrolyte participate in the reaction and form insulating amorphous silicon oxide layer. With the increase of thickness of insulating layer on NiTi, the anodic voltage increase. When applied voltage excess certain threshold, discharge spark appear on the surface of NiTi.

In this study, graphite doped silicon was prepared by mechanical alloying (MA). MA is an effective method to manufacture silicon-carbon composite. The results show that the capacity retention ability of the graphite doped silicon by MA anode is better than silicon. The fellow result shows that LiaCb appears at the middle of lithiation process and disappear with the production of LixSiy, LixSiy produce and disappears at the end of lithiation process and beginning of delithiation process respectively. The SEI film enhanced with the increasing amount of lithium and silicon-carbon composite material was severely decomposed with the cycles increase.

Graphite is the widely used material as anode materials for Li-ion cells with a low theoretical capacity of 372 mAhg-1. Silicon has a high theoretical capacity of 4212 mAhg-1, but has a low intrinsic conductivity and its lower cycling life makes it unpractical. In this paper, silicon/artificial graphite composite was prepared by mechanical alloying to improve the cycle property of Si. On one hand, a new kind of alloy SiC was composited and composed as a coacervate, and the particle sizes of the silicon was reduced settled by mechanical alloying but the size of the new material become larger and larger with the proportion of artificial graphite increasing. On the other hand, the new material exhibits a better electrochemical performance, with the rate of its cyclic discharge capacity decreasing slowly.

Black ceramic membranes are made on the surface of AZ31B magnesium alloy to further study the micro-arc oxidation coloring ceramic membranes with more colors.In the system of sodium silicate - copper sulfate, black ceramic membrane with good compactness and uniform color can be made while the concentration of sodium silicate is 20g/L and the concentration of copper sulfate is 1.0g/L. Experimental results show that the chroma of the membrane varies from light color system to deep color system with the increasing content of copper aluminum compounds.

MoS2 is a candidate for new generation lithium ion battery anode. In this paper, two groups of materials, pure MoS2 and MoS2/graphite composite, were treated by mechanical alloying (MA). The results showed that MA treatment did not change the phase structure of MoS2, but MA will reduce the particle size of MoS2. For MoS2/graphite composite, MA makes graphite distributing homogeneous on the surface of MoS2. After MA, MoS2 keeps the character of 100% columbic efficiency during charging and discharging process. With the increase in cycle number, capacity of MoS2 decays. MA treatment on MoS2 accelerates the decay of capacity. The addition of graphite in MoS2 reduces the harmful effect of MA treatment on cycling property.

The monitor terminal (Single Chip Microcomputer 89c51) can be used as the portable device, also can be fixed at the farm to form the monitor terminal internet. It can be connected with the control center (the upper computer) by wired and wireless transmission. It can be functioned as the monitor by PCB design, the perceptual layer module design and the electric equipment controller design.

In this paper, MoS2 nanoflakes was prepared by a vacuum freeze-drying method. Electrochemical performance of MoS2 nanoflakes has been investigated through cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analyzer. The results demonstrated that the new electrode maintains a relatively high power density and a good cycle performance in 6 M KOH electrolyte. A maximum specific capacitance of 0.11 F g-1 in an aqueous electrolyte solution has been obtained. The supercapacitor devices exhibit excellent long cycle life along with ~ 40% specific capacitance retained after 500 cycle at scan rates of 500 mV s1.

Based on the dispersive feature of the dielectric function of noble metals and the wave vector conservation in physics, both the plasma effect and the complex refractive index, which are profoundly correlated to the complex dielectric function and permeability, have been studied and analyzed. The condition to induce a bulk or a surface plasma in the visible region will not be satisfied, and there will be one solution for the real and the imaginary parts of the refractive index, restricting it only to region I of the complex plane. The results given in this work will aid in understanding the properties of light transmission at the metal/dielectric interface as characterized by the law of refraction in nature.

In multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO), the selection of global guides for all partials is vital to improve the convergence and diversity of solutions. In this paper, the related work of global guides searching in MOPSO is introduced, and a new Pareto–based selecting strategy is proposed. Basing on the analysis of the structure and mapping relation of the particle swarm and the nondominated solutions archive, considering the density information, the global guides selecting frequency and other factors, a new gbest selecting strategy for each particle in the swam is presented. Experimental results of contrasting experiments of two typical MOPSO functions demonstrate that the proposed strategy is satisfying.

In this research, metallic silicon was used as anode material of lithium ion batteries. Electrochemical lithium storage property of metallic silicon was studied which is compared with pure silicon. The results show that for different content of electrical conductors in electrode, the first discharging and charging specific capacity of metallic silicon is similar to pure silicon. The attenuation on capacity of metallic silicon is slower than pure silicon. The lithium storage mechanism of metallic silicon is similar with pure silicon. The testing results of metallic silicon under different charging and discharging rate show that the lithium storage property of metallic silicon is better under lower charging and discharging rate.

Light transmission at the Cu/air interface was measured in the visible region for a series of wedge-shaped Cu film samples. It is found that light refraction at the Cu/air interface changes from negative in the Drude region, passing through zero at about $E_{\text{g}}$, to positive in the interband-transition region. Detailed discussion is given to exclude those mechanisms which have been arguably assigned as the cause of negative refraction at a metal/dielectric interface. Based on the spectra of the measured refractive index and modeled in the Drude region, the positive and negative refraction analyzed in this work are qualitatively in agreement with dispersion of the group refractive index, and may aid in understanding light transmission at the metal/dielectric interface as characterized by the law of refraction.

The objective of this study was to find the specific expressed genes in chicken sperm storage tubules. One hundred and fifty dual-purpose hens at 30 weeks of age were inseminated with 1 × 108spermatozoa on two consecutive days. Eggs were collected and set daily during the 24 days following the latter of two inseminations. Five hens with fertility below 60% were inseminated with fresh semen. Fifteen hens with fertility above 80% were divided into three groups. Fresh semen, frozen dead semen and 0.9% NaCl, respectively, were injected into the vagina of five hens in each group. RNA from the utero-vaginal junction (UVJ) of the hens was reverse transcribed and differentially displayed. Four bands of interest which were expressed in UVJ from hens inseminated with fresh semen or frozen semen but not from hens inseminated with saline were selected, re-amplified, cloned and sequenced. BLAST search showed that band A is similar to part of chromosome 3 (the homology is 9–8%) and the nearest gene to the fragment is 1,722 base pairs up-stream whose product is mitogen- activated kinase. Band B is similar to phosphatidyl inositol glycan anchor biosynthesis gene (PIGK) and the homology is 98%. PIGK is a subunit of glycosylphosphatidylinositol transamidase (GPI8). GPI-linked proteins participate in the release of membrane proteins. Band F is similar to a hypothetical protein gene and the homology is 9–7%. This hypothetical protein belongs to chicken neurexophilin. Band G is similar to fat3 and the homology is 97%. Neurexophilin and fat3 are proteins that function in the nervous system. Taken together these data indicate that hens may regulate sperm storage in UVJ through the nervous system and may release sperm from the UVJ through GPI8.

Radiant energies of planets and moons are of wide interest in the fields of geoscience and planetary science. Based on long‐term multiinstrument observations from the Cassini spacecraft, we provide here the first observational study of Titan's global radiant energy budget and its seasonal variations. Our results show that Titan's radiant energy budget is not balanced over the Cassini era (2004–2017) with the absorbed solar energy (1.208 ± 0.008) × 1023J larger than the emitted thermal energy (1.174 ± 0.005) × 1023J. The energy imbalance is 2.9 ± 0.8% of the emitted thermal energy. Titan's global radiant energy budget is not balanced either at the timescales of Earth's years and Titan's seasons. In particular, the energy imbalance can be beyond 10% of the emitted thermal energy at the timescale of an Earth year. The energy imbalance revealed in this study has important impacts on Titan, which should be examined further by theories and models. The radiant energy budget is a fundamental metric for planets and moons. Using the observations from the Cassini spacecraft, we first look at Titan's global radiant energy budget and its seasonal variations. Our study suggests Titan's global radiant energy budget is not balanced at the timescales of Earth years and Titan's seasons. The energy imbalance can help us better understand the characteristics of Titan (e.g., seasonal variations). Titan's energy imbalance also suggests that it is possible that there are more terrestrial planets and moons having unbalanced radiation budgets. Finally, Titan's time‐varying radiant energies imply that the internal heat of the giant planets needs to be reexamined by considering the temporal variations of radiant energies. With Cassini multiinstrument observations (CIRS, ISS, and VMIS), we provide measurements of the seasonal variations of Titan's Bond albedoOur measurements suggest a net energy excess (2.9 ± 0.8% of the emitted energy) over the Cassini era (2004–2017) on TitanThe energy imbalance changes from an energy excess (10.7 ± 0.7%) in 2004–2005 to an energy deficit (−3.4 ± 0.6%) in 2017 With Cassini multiinstrument observations (CIRS, ISS, and VMIS), we provide measurements of the seasonal variations of Titan's Bond albedo Our measurements suggest a net energy excess (2.9 ± 0.8% of the emitted energy) over the Cassini era (2004–2017) on Titan The energy imbalance changes from an energy excess (10.7 ± 0.7%) in 2004–2005 to an energy deficit (−3.4 ± 0.6%) in 2017

Background: The objective of this study was to develop a scale to assess eating behaviors of school-aged children (6–12 years old) in China. Methods: To develop the scale, a literature review and qualitative interviews were conducted. The draft scale contained 115 items and went through three evaluations among three groups of caregivers (n= 140, 400, 700) selected from suburban and urban kindergartens in Xi’an, Hanzhong, and Yanan, China, from March 2017 to October 2018. The psychometric properties of the scale were assessed using exploratory, confirmatory factor analysis, and variability analysis. Results: The final scale consisted of 46 items across eight dimensions including food fussiness, satiety responsiveness, food responsiveness, bad eating habits, susceptible diet, restrained eating, enjoyment of food, and junk food addiction. The total cumulative variance contribution rate was 52.16%. The scale and dimensions' Cronbach’s α coefficients, Guttman split-half reliability, and test- retest reliability were all above 0.65. The fitting indices for the confirmatory factor analysis were all close to 1. The scores for education of caregiver, family structure, and the body mass index of children were different among dimensions and groups, thus suggesting good discriminative utility. Conclusions: All of the results indicated that the scale has good reliability and construct validity for evaluating the eating behaviors of school-aged children in China.

i.e.: plastid and mitochondrial DNA in the plant cells such as the sperm cell of Jasminum nudiflorum, the generative cell of Pharbitis lim-bata, the cultured cell of Nicotiana tabacum and the root cell of Vicia faba with epifluorescence microscopy and laser confocal microscopy using YO-PRO-1 as a fluorescent dye. The excitation for YO-PRO-1 was blue light in epifluorescence microscopy and 488 nm Kr/Ar ion laser in confocal microscopy. Dimorphic epifluorescent spots that corresponded plastid DNA and mitochondrial DNA were distinctly detected in the cells of each species examined. In this report, we introduce YO-PRO-1 as a new epifluorescent dye for successful in situ detection of small amount DNA in plant live cells and cell sections with perticular emphasis on the importance of sample preparation.

Summary.: An elliptic obstacle problem is approximated by piecewise linear finite elements with numerical integration on the penalty and forcing terms. This leads to diagonal nonlinearities and thereby to a practical scheme. Optimal error estimates in the maximum norm are derived. The proof is based on constructing suitable super and subsolutions that exploit the special structure of the penalization, and using quite precise pointwise error estimates for an associated linear elliptic problem with quadrature via the discrete maximum principle.

Amazon rainforest fires have significant environmental and societal impacts, but the mechanism and impact of the fires on the regional and global carbon cycles have not been fully understood. Over the rainforest, less precipitation, higher surface temperature, and enhanced mid‐tropospheric sinking air over the eastern part of the Amazon characterized the fire/dry season. These meteorological conditions will facilitate more fires in the Amazon rainforest. Using the Orbiting Carbon Observatory‐2 column CO2, we notice that there are ∼2 ppm more CO2over the Amazon compared with the surrounding area during the fire season. The higher concentrations of atmospheric CO2are related to the surface biomass burning, enhanced sinking air over the eastern part of the Amazon, and surface winds. Results from this study can help us better understand the carbon sources and sinks over the Amazon during the fire/dry season. In this study, we explore the influence of fires on atmospheric CO2over the whole Amazon region using satellite CO2data. Our analysis not only reveals an increase in the CO2concentration (∼2 ppm) over the Amazon during the fire season but also provides a possible mechanism to explain the increase. Our study further suggests that the Amazon forest changes from a CO2sink to a CO2source during the fire season. The increase in the CO2can lead to a warmer climate and produce more fires. It is still a challenge for current models to simulate the impact of fires on atmospheric CO2correctly, especially the interannual variability. Results in this study can help us better constrain models in the future. CO2concentrations are higher over the Amazon than the surrounding region during the fire/dry seasonHigh concentrations of CO2are related to the biomass burning, enhanced sinking air, and surface windsAmazon forest changes from a CO2sink to a CO2source during the fire season CO2concentrations are higher over the Amazon than the surrounding region during the fire/dry season High concentrations of CO2are related to the biomass burning, enhanced sinking air, and surface winds Amazon forest changes from a CO2sink to a CO2source during the fire season

SINS/GPS integrated navigation has received great attention recently due to its impressive navigation accuracy on missile-borne platforms. However, it remains an ongoing challenge to address the problem of GPS signal loss. Furthermore, the limited space and power consumption of a projectile have made it challenging to carry out time-consuming iterative calculations. In this paper, ELM is proposed for the first time to predict the navigation information on the missile-borne platform for its simpler neural network structure and no iterative calculation. Comparing it with the algorithms of BP and GABP, the simulation results reveal that the ELM algorithm is more time-saving with higher prediction accuracy than the others. More importantly, the number of parameters needed to be set is much less than those of the other two algorithms, which is beneficial for its practical application.

Two primary challenges in simulating hydraulic fracturing are the hydro–mechanical coupling and fracture propagation. The material point method (MPM) has advantages over conventional numerical methods by combining the advantages of particle- and mesh-based approaches in handling highly non-linear hydraulic fracturing problems. However, as MPM is primarily utilized for continuous solid simulations, therefore, to realize hydraulic fracturing simulation, a new MPM is proposed considering the discontinuous fields and seepage fields. The two-phase double-point MPM is used to simulate hydro–mechanical coupling within porous medium and fractures. Additionally, it employs the phantom-node method in conjunction with classical fracture mechanics to simulate fracture propagation, with the effect of fracture propagation on the seepage field considered by introducing an transition function. Subsequently, a comprehensive calculation process is presented. The accuracy of the proposed MPM is validated through comparison with finite element method results in two instances involving hydro–mechanical coupling and fracture propagation. Lastly, the MPM algorithm is deployed for simulating hydraulic fracturing within single and multiple fractures, followed by a detailed analysis of the hydraulic fracturing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using in situ measurements, we find a semiannual oscillation (SAO) in the midtropospheric and surface CO2. Chemistry transport models (2‐D Caltech/JPL model, 3‐D GEOS‐Chem, and 3‐D MOZART‐2) are used to investigate possible sources for the SAO signal in the midtropospheric and surface CO2. From model sensitivity studies, it is revealed that the SAO signal in the midtropospheric CO2originates mainly from surface CO2with a small contribution from transport fields. It is also found that the source for the SAO signal in surface CO2is mostly related to the CO2exchange between the biosphere and the atmosphere. By comparing model CO2with in situ CO2measurements at the surface, we find that models are able to capture both annual and semiannual cycles well at the surface. Model simulations of the annual and semiannual cycles of CO2in the tropical middle troposphere agree reasonably well with aircraft measurements. Semiannual oscillation (SAO) was found in the midtropospheric and surface CO2The SAO signal in the midtropospheric CO2 mainly originates from surface CO2The SAO signal in the surface CO2 is mostly related to the biosphere

We carried out a systematic study of the seasonal cycle and its latitudinal variation in the nitrous oxide (N2O) data collected by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration–Global Monitoring Division (NOAA‐GMD) and the Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment (AGAGE). In order to confirm the weak seasonal signal in the observations, we applied the multitaper method for the spectrum analysis and studied the stations with significant seasonal cycle. In addition, the measurement errors must be small compared with the seasonal cycle. The N2O seasonal cycles from seven stations satisfied these criteria and were analyzed in detail. The stations are Alert (82°N, 62°W), Barrow (71°N, 157°W), Mace Head (53°N, 10°W), Cape Kumukahi (19°N, 155°W), Cape Matatula (14°S, 171°W), Cape Grim (41°S, 145°E) and South Pole (90°S, 102°W). The amplitude (peak to peak) of the seasonal cycle of N2O varies from 0.29 ppb (parts‐per‐billion by mole fraction in dry air) at the South Pole to 1.15 ppb at Alert. The month at which the seasonal cycle is at a minimum varies monotonically from April (South Pole) to September (Alert). The seasonal cycle in the Northern Hemisphere shows the influence of the stratosphere; the seasonal cycle of N2O in the Southern Hemisphere suggests greater influence from surface sources. Preliminary estimates are obtained for the magnitude of the seasonally varying sources needed to account for the observations.