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Enhancing the robustness of vision algorithms in real-world scenarios is challenging. One reason is that existing robustness benchmarks are limited, as they either rely on synthetic data or ignore the effects of individual nuisance factors. We introduce OOD-CV-v2, a benchmark dataset that includes out-of-distribution examples of 10 object categories in terms of pose, shape, texture, context and the weather conditions, and enables benchmarking of models for image classification, object detection, and 3D pose estimation. In addition to this novel dataset, we contribute extensive experiments using popular baseline methods, which reveal that: 1) Some nuisance factors have a much stronger negative effect on the performance compared to others, also depending on the vision task. 2) Current approaches to enhance robustness have only marginal effects, and can even reduce robustness. 3) We do not observe significant differences between convolutional and transformer architectures. We believe our dataset provides a rich test bed to study robustness and will help push forward research in this area.

The demands for highly miniaturized and multifunctional electronics are rapidly increasing. As scaling-down processes of transistors are restricted by physical limits, reconfigurable electronics with switchable operation functions for different tasks are developed for higher function integration based on split- or vertical-dual-gate structures. To promote the present reconfigurable electronics and exceed the function integration limit, the critical issue is to integrate complex operations into simple circuit forms by establishing more control dimensions. This work proposes a multibarrier collaborative (MBC) modulation architecture to increase the control dimension by multiple forms of potential barriers and achieves combinational and reconfigurable logic operations by a single MBC device. The MBC architecture exhibits ultrahigh logic operation density, including 58.8% area reduction for multiplexer operations and 71.4% area reduction for 4-logic reconfigurable operations. Besides, a hardware security module composed of 4 MBC devices implementing 8 types of logic operations is demonstrated. This work reveals an effective design of function integration for next-generation electronics.

The human–machine interface (HMI) previously relied on a single perception interface that cannot realize three-dimensional (3D) interaction and convenient and accurate interaction in multiple scenes. Here, we propose a collaborative interface including electrooculography (EOG) and tactile perception for fast and accurate 3D human–machine interaction. The EOG signals are mainly used for fast, convenient, and contactless 2D (XY-axis) interaction, and the tactile sensing interface is mainly utilized for complex 2D movement control and Z-axis control in the 3D interaction. The honeycomb graphene electrodes for the EOG signal acquisition and tactile sensing array are prepared by a laser-induced process. Two pairs of ultrathin and breathable honeycomb graphene electrodes are attached around the eyes for monitoring nine different eye movements. A machine learning algorithm is designed to train and classify the nine different eye movements with an average prediction accuracy of 92.6%. Furthermore, an ultrathin (90 μm), stretchable (∼1000%), and flexible tactile sensing interface assembled by a pair of 4 × 4 planar electrode arrays is attached to the arm for 2D movement control and Z-axis interaction, which can realize single-point, multipoint and sliding touch functions. Consequently, the tactile sensing interface can achieve eight directions control and even more complex movement trajectory control. Meanwhile, the flexible and ultrathin tactile sensor exhibits an ultrahigh sensitivity of 1.428 kPa–1in the pressure range 0–300 Pa with long-term response stability and repeatability. Therefore, the collaboration between EOG and the tactile perception interface will play an important role in rapid and accurate 3D human–machine interaction.

High-performance electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials with ultralow density, excellent flexibility, and good mechanical properties are highly desirable for aerospace and wearable electronics. Herein, honeycomb porous graphene (HPG) fabricated by laser scribing technology is reported for EMI shielding and wearable applications. Due to the honeycomb structure, the HPG exhibits an EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) up to 45 dB at a thickness of 48.3 μm. The single-piece HPG exhibits an ultrahigh absolute shielding effectiveness (SSE/t) of 240 123 dB cm2/g with an ultralow density of 0.0388 g/cm3, which is significantly superior to the reported materials such as carbon-based, MXene, and metal materials. Furthermore, MXene and AgNWs are employed to cover the honeycomb holes of the HPG to enhance surface reflection; thus, the SSE/t of the HPG/AgNWs composite membrane can reach up to 292 754 dB cm2/g. More importantly, the HPG exhibits excellent mechanical stability and durability in cyclic stretching and bending, which can be used to monitor weak physiological signals such as pulse, respiration, and laryngeal movement of humans. Therefore, the lightweight and flexible HPG exhibits excellent EMI shielding performance and mechanical properties, along with its low cost and ease of mass production, which is promising for practical applications in EMI shielding and wearable electronics.

Steroid estrogens are emerging environmental contaminants that have been frequently detected in the effluent of wastewater treatment plants, posing potential threats to the aquatic ecosystem and human health. In this study, the effect of different influent carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratios (2, 5, 8, 11) on estrogens removal was investigated in sequencing batch reactors. In addition, microbial diversity, community structure and functional microbes in activated sludge were analyzed by MiSeq high-throughput sequencing. The results indicated that the removal efficiency of chemical oxygen demand risen with the increase of C/N ratios, and the values of effluent NH4+–N and NO2––N improved, but the values of effluent NO3––N reduced with the increase of C/N ratios. The removal efficiency of estrone (E1) and 17β-estradiol (E2) was both far higher than that of 17a-ethinylestradiol (EE2) regardless of influent C/N ratios. The removal efficiency of EE2gradually enhanced with the rise of C/N, and only reached 75.69% when the C/N ratio was 8. The microbial richness in sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) with C/N ratios of 5 and 8 was higher than that of SBRs with C/N ratios of 2 and 11 but had a rather lower proportion of dominant microorganisms. Illumina sequencing showed that Thauera, Tetrasphaera, Tessaracoccus became dominant genera in four reactors, and the kinds of functional bacteria followed the order of E2> E1> EE2. It is likely to produce the stronger synergistic elimination of estrogens by heterotrophic and autotrophic bacteria when the C/N ratio was 8. The study promotes an understanding of the impacts of influent C/N ratios on bacterial communities and estrogens removal in SBR.

Effective battery thermal management (BTM) is critical to ensure fast charging/discharging, safe, and efficient operation of batteries by regulating their working temperatures within an optimal range. However, the existing BTM methods not only are limited by a large space, weight, and energy consumption but also hardly overcome the contradiction of battery cooling at high temperatures and battery heating at low temperatures. Here we propose a near-zero-energy smart battery thermal management (SBTM) strategy for both passive heating and cooling based on sorption energy harvesting from air. The sorption-induced reversible thermal effects due to metal–organic framework water vapor desorption/sorption automatically enable battery cooling and heating depending on the local battery temperature. We demonstrate that a self-adaptive SBTM device with MIL-101(Cr)@carbon foam can control the battery temperature below 45 °C, even at high charge/discharge rates in hot environments, and realize self-preheating to ∼15 °C in cold environments, with an increase in the battery capacity of 9.2%. Our approach offers a promising route to achieving compact, liquid-free, high-energy/power-density, low-energy consumption, and self-adaptive smart thermal management for thermo-related devices.

This work conducts a thermal performance investigation on an industrial-scale low-temperature latent heat storage unit based on thermal behavior identification and parametric analysis of the storage unit. The thermal performance of thermal power-driven and heat transfer fluid temperature-driven charges and discharges are investigated. Two groups of parametric analyses are conducted to reveal the effects of different operating conditions and heat transfer structures on the power rate and thermal efficiency of the storage unit. Two practical application scenarios including a space heating system and a domestic hot water supply system using the storage unit are designed and simulated. The results show that the charging/discharging thermal power and charging/discharging efficiency are always inversely correlated. Using densified fin structures can effectively improve the charging rate and discharging efficiency of the storage unit at specific operating conditions. In addition, a single storage unit with a storage capacity around 100 kWh can meet a 16-h heating demand of space heating with a base heating load of 30 W m−2and a minimum heating temperature of 40 °C for an area of 195.7 m2,and can provide 2500 L of domestic hot water above 45 °C for the daily use of 25 residents within 6 h.

The effect of recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) on the fresh and hardened properties of C40 self-compacting concrete (SCC) was investigated in this paper. The slump, T500(the time needed for SCC to spread into a round configuration with a nominal diameter of 500 mm), the slump flow and the flow time of fresh C40 SCC as well as the compressive strength and modulus of elasticity of hardened C40 SCC were studied. The modulus of elasticity of C40 SCC was calculated by theoretical formula, and the calculated values were compared with the experimental values. Mechanisms that effect on the C40 SCC properties at fresh and hardened states were also explored. The experimental results showed that the slump values of the C40 SCC are beyond 250 mm. The C40 SCC with RCA replacement content of 50% showed the highest slump value of 275 mm. All T500values of the C40 SCC are within 5 s. The slump flow of the C40 SCC slightly increases with the increase of replacement content of the RCA. In contrast, the compressive strength and modulus of elasticity of the C40 SCC slightly decrease with the increase of replacement content. The experimental values of modulus of elasticity are lower than that of the calculated values. Submerged in water before mixing of RCA leading to the slump flow of the C40 SCC increases with the increasing replacement content of the RCA. The old cement mortar attached to the RCA surface is the main reason that weakens the mechanical properties. The lower amount of coarse aggregate and the higher amount of cement paste attribute to the lower values of modulus of elasticity. This study implied that RCA can be effectively used in the production of C40 SCC without any significant sacrifice on workability and mechanical properties.

Keywords: Bioengineering; Biotechnology; CRISPR; Cancer; Cancer Gene Therapy; Carcinomas; Drugs and Therapies; Gene Editing; Gene Therapy; Genetics; Genome Editing; Health and Medicine; Liver Cancer; Oncology; Pharmaceuticals; Technology EN Bioengineering Biotechnology CRISPR Cancer Cancer Gene Therapy Carcinomas Drugs and Therapies Gene Editing Gene Therapy Genetics Genome Editing Health and Medicine Liver Cancer Oncology Pharmaceuticals Technology 16 16 1 08/21/23 20230824 NES 230824 2023 AUG 21 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Cancer Gene Therapy Week -- Investigators publish new report on cancer gene therapy. The emerging gene therapy of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat/CRISPR-associated nuclease 9-based (CRISPR/Cas9), as an alternative to traditional treatment methods, has attracted considerable attention for eradicating resistant malignant tumors and regulating multiple crucial events of target gene-editing. [Extracted from the article]

2021 SEP 4 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Investigators publish new report on Oncology - Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. According [...]