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To date, the application of additive manufacturing techniques in fabricating SiAlON ceramics with intricate geometries has been limited. This investigation demonstrates the synthesis of SiAlON ceramics by integrating silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4) powders with variable proportions of aluminum nitride (AlN) utilizing the vat photopolymerization (VPP) approach. The effects of AlN content on the properties of SiAlON ceramic slurries, green bodies, and sintered parts were systematically investigated. Notably, the slurry's viscosity decreases progressively with an increase in AlN, aligning with VPP printing prerequisites. Additionally, the curing depth of the slurry enhanced proportionally with AlN augmentation, elevating from 21 μm to 44 μm at an energy exposure of 800 mJ/cm2, with the pivotal addition being 15 vol% AlN, where optimal properties were achieved. The zeniths of flexural strength, bulk density, relative density, and thermal conductivity were recorded at 385.66 ± 22.63 MPa, 3.34 ± 0.09 g/cm3, 96.22 ± 2.55 %, and 37.4 ± 0.31 W m−1 K−1, respectively. The fabrication of SiAlON ceramics with complex configurations was successfully realized, heralding a novel methodology for future SiAlON ceramic production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrophages play a crucial role in the inflammatory response following sciatic nerve injury. Studies have demonstrated that C-X-C motif chemokine (CXCL) 1 recruit macrophages by binding to C-X-C chemokine receptor (CXCR) 2 and participates in the inflammatory response of various diseases. Based on these findings, we aimed to explore the role of the CXCL1-CXCR2 axis in the repair process after peripheral nerve injury. Initially, we simulated sciatic nerve injury and observed an increased expression of CXCL1 and CXCR2 in the nerves of the injury group. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments confirmed that the heightened CXCL1 expression occurs in Schwann cells and is secreted, while the elevated CXCR2 is expressed by recruited macrophages. In addition, in vitro experiments demonstrated that the binding of CXCL1 to CXCR2 can activate the NLRP3 inflammasome and promote the production of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) in macrophages. However, after mice were subjected to sciatic nerve injury, the number of macrophages and the expression of inflammatory factors in the sciatic nerve were reduced following treatment with the CXCR2 inhibitor SB225002. Simultaneously, we evaluated the sciatic nerve function index, the expression of p75 neurotrophic factor receptor (p75NTR), and myelin proteins, and all of these results were improved with the use of SB225002. Thus, our results suggest that after sciatic nerve injury, the CXCL1-CXCR2 axis mediates the inflammatory response by promoting the recruitment and activation of macrophages, which is detrimental to the repair of the injured nerves. In contrast, treatment with SB225002 promotes the repair of injured sciatic nerves. [Display omitted] • Sciatic nerve injury leads to production and secretion of CXCL1 by Schwann cells. • CXCL1 recruit macrophages to the site of nerve injury by binding to CXCR2 on the surface of macrophages. • CXCL1-CXCR2 promotes IL-1β secretion by activating NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages. • SB225005, an inhibitor of CXCR2, promotes the repair of injured nerves by inhibiting inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advancement of efficient and stable inverted CsPbI 2 Br perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is imperative for their unique advantages of eliminating detrimental dopants and enabling compatible processes with tandem cells in comparison with the regular structures. However, the progress of this structure lags due to its relatively low open circuit voltage (V oc). Herein, we present an effective surface passivation strategy using phenethylammonium iodides with a different side group to ameliorate the aforementioned issues. It has been observed that 4-methyl phenethylammonium iodide (MePEAI) with the –CH 3 side group can effectively reduce the trap density of the perovskite film by forming interactions with the under-coordinated Pb2+ ions, thereby suppressing the nonradiative recombination. Additionally, this approach optimizes the energy-level alignment at the perovskite/PCBM interface. As a result, the optimized device demonstrates a substantially enhanced efficiency from 11.23 to 14.10 %. Furthermore, the MePEAI-treated device exhibits excellent long-term stability. The unencapsulated device retains 81.2 % of its initial power conversion efficiency (PCE) after being stored for over 2900 h in an N 2 atmosphere. [Display omitted] TOC GRAPHICS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed the safety, immunogenicity and antibody persistence of two- and three-dose schedules of the novel bivalent HPV16/18 vaccine (HPV-2, Walrinvax) in the per-protocol target population of initially seronegative 9–14 year-old girls, including a non-inferiority comparison with the three-dose schedule in 18–26 year-old women. This randomized phase 3b trial in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, involved healthy Chinese females in two age cohorts; 600 girls aged 9–14 years and 300 women aged 18–26 years. Girls were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either two (Months 0,6) or three (Months 0,2,6) intramuscular doses of HPV-2. All participants were monitored for immunogenicity as neutralizing antibodies up to 36 months. Primary objectives were non-inferiority analyses of immunogenicity between two- and three-dose girl groups and adult women at Month 7; safety assessments were based on participant-completed diary cards. All groups demonstrated marked increases in neutralizing antibodies against HPV 16 and 18 that persisted above baseline to 36 months. Month 7 responses in both girl groups were non-inferior to those in the women and were statistically higher after two-doses than girls or women who received three doses. GMTs waned after month 7, but then maintained a plateau level until month 36. Vaccination was well tolerated in all groups with no serious adverse events reported. Immune responses to two doses of HPV-2 vaccine in adolescent girls were non-inferior to those after three doses in young women, an age cohort in which clinical efficacy of HPV-2 against cervical cancer has been demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on computational fluid dynamics technology, the effect of hydrogen blending ratio (HBR) on the concentration distribution of leaked gas diffusion in utility tunnels was investigated, and based on this, the explosion characteristics of hydrogen-blended natural gas (HBNG) were studied in an inhomogeneous concentration field. The results showed that the concentration field of HBNG gradually stabilized in the downstream of the leak site, and the peak concentration increased linearly with HBR. When HBR≤5%, a high concentration region above the upper explosive limit is formed inside the gas cloud. This characteristic of the distribution induces secondary combustion in utility tunnels. The maximum flame velocity and steady acceleration distance increase with the increase of HBR. The flame shape is significantly affected by the concentration field distribution. The explosion overpressure induced by the real concentration field created multiple peak structures that exacerbated the explosion disaster complexity. The first overpressure peak at the ends was formed by the superposition of the precursor shock wave and its reflected wave, and those at other locations are caused by the shock waves. However, all maximum overpressure peaks are formed by the superposition of multiple reflections of the explosion wave. The maximum peak overpressure at both ends of the tunnel is higher than that in the middle. The explosion overpressure induced by the inhomogeneous gas cloud is lower than that caused by homogeneous gas cloud under the same volume. The research results can provide an effective reference for the anti-explosion design and risk assessment of utility tunnel. • Characteristics of HBNG leakage and diffusion in utility tunnels were investigated. • Effects of hydrogen blending ratios on leakage and explosion were investigated. • Flame evolution process under real concentration field of HBNG leakage is revealed. • Distribution law of explosion overpressure loads in utility tunnels is revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facing an increasingly hostile ecological environment, the imperative for advancing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles has become more pronounced. This paper establishes a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model of a Roots-type hydrogen circulating pump by utilizing the generalized type line equation of the Roots rotor. Delving deep into the intricate interplay of backflow phenomena on the internal flow dynamics and operational efficiency of the Roots-type hydrogen circulation pump across various scenarios. The results reveal that mass flow rate and velocity vary continuously and with the same pulsation frequency as rotation angle or time during a complete rotation cycle. As the rotational speed increases, the number of backflow occurrences decreases, the frequency of backflow currents in the rotor basin decreases, and the temperature rise in both the suction and exhaust chambers decreases. It becomes evident that the rotational speed wields a more profound influence on the Roots pump's performance than temperature: the volumetric and isentropic efficiencies of the Roots-type hydrogen circulating pump decrease by 3.5% and 4.6%, respectively, with increasing temperature, while the volumetric and isentropic efficiencies of the pump increase by 32.6% and 24.0%, respectively, with increasing rotational speed. • The numerical simulation of hydrogen circulation pump using dynamic mesh technique. • Focus on the occurrence and impacts of backflow of hydrogen circulation pumps. • The influence of backflow on internal flow characteristics at different speeds and temperatures. • The general link between return frequency and flow pulsation is discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of electric vehicles has drawn extensive attention to using rotary engines as small-scale power generation devices. However, their wide application has been limited by drawbacks such as low combustion efficiency and high emissions. Therefore, to obtain rotary engines with high combustion efficiency and low emissions, this study explored the strengthening effect of natural gas/hydrogen hybrid fuel (NHHF) and Triangular Rotor Piston (TRP) structure on the combustion in the turbulent jet ignition rotary engine (TJI-RE) at different ignition advance angles (IAAs). Additionally, an experimental platform and a three-dimensional computational model for TJI-RE fueled by natural gas/hydrogen hybrid fuel (NHHF) were established in this study. The research results indicated that the TRP structure altered the combustion process by affecting the ignition area in the ignition stage and the turbulence kinetic energy during the combustion stroke. Furthermore, the SC-shaped cylinder exhibited the highest peak pressure for any fixed IAA. When the IAA was fixed at 30°CA (BTDC), the TJI-RE with the SC-shaped cylinder experienced a 12.12% increase in peak pressure and a 4.1% increase in indicated work compared to the FP-shaped cylinder. Additionally, the CO emission was reduced by 13.79%, while the NO emission showed a significant increase. • NHHF was used to reduce the carbon emissions of the RE. • A three-dimensional computational model of the TJI-RE was established. • The effect of piston structure on combustion in TJI-RE was systematically studied. • The optimal combination of piston structure and IAA for the TJI-RE was given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the roots hydrogen circulating pump (HCP), different rotor profiles result in variations in flow pulsation, pressure pulsation, and pressure-velocity distribution within the pump. In this study, unsteady numerical simulations were conducted on the HCP with variable trochoid ratio profiles to analyze its flow characteristics. The findings indicate that employing a variable trochoid ratio to design the rotor profile enhances the amplitude of the HCP's inlet and outlet flow rates, with a greater impact on the pulsation of the inlet flow rate. In comparison to an ordinary trochoid profile, the variable trochoid ratio profile exhibits reduced vortex in the suction chamber and is less affected by leakage flow between the rotor and casing. Furthermore, due to the lager area utilization rate of the variable trochoid ratio profile, the volume of the HCP's suction chamber increases, facilitating the full development of inlet flow and generating a high kinetic energy vortex, thereby further augmenting the inlet flow. [Display omitted] • Implementation of variable trochoid ratio profile enhances average flow rate. • Inlet flow pulsation varies in variable and ordinary trochoid profiles. • Inward-tapered profile expands suction chamber, generates high-energy vortex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three coatings including topcoat-free NiCoCrAlYHfZr bond coat and the thermal barrier coating (TBC) system consisting of an 8 wt% Y 2 O 3 stabilized ZrO 2 (8YSZ) topcoat and either a NiCoCrAlYHfZr or a NiCoCrAlY bond coat were prepared in this study. The localized enrichment of Hf-rich precipitations within NiCoCrAlYHfZr bond coat was significantly alleviated after the YSZ deposition, instead, the nano-sized HfO 2 precipitations formed and linearly distributed along the initial thermal grown oxide (TGO)/bond coat interface. Cyclic oxidation behaviors of the three coatings were evaluated at 1100 °C. The results showed that a uniform TGO with fine reactive elements (REs)-rich inclusions was generated in YSZ-NiCoCrAlYHfZr TBC system, alleviating the negative effects resulted from the localized enrichment of Hf-rich precipitations. Besides, co-doping HfZr in NiCoCrAlY bond coat prevented the formation of spinel since HfZr segregating at Al 2 O 3 grain boundaries inhibited the outward diffusion of Ni, Co and Cr from the bond coat, thus significantly improving durability of the TBC system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The calcium fluoride (CaF 2) component has excellent light transmission and a high laser damage threshold in the UV band, and thus is a potentially ideal material for high-power laser facility. However, the low-damage surface is difficult to attain via the existing processing technologies due to its brittleness, especially the dissociation property of the (111) surface. We innovatively propose H 2 O(g) plasma-assisted porous diamond abrasive lapping technology to achieve low-damage and high-precision surface processing of CaF 2 component, which means that the CaF 2 component is modified first and then the softened modified layer is removed by the porous diamond abrasive lapping. The H 2 O(g) plasma modification mechanism was elucidated through a combination of molecular dynamics simulation and experiment and comparison with H 2 O(g) plasma etching. The modification layer including an oxide layer and a phase change layer was produced by adjusting the plasma processing process (power of 25 W and H 2 O(g) content of 10 ml). Then the modified CaF 2 component was lapped by the porous diamond abrasive tool on the ductile domain layer which is more than the modified layer and less than the sum of the modified layer and plastic domain. When the lapping process parameters were 200 rpm platen rotation speed and 20 N lapping pressure, a surface accuracy of 15.34 nm PV, 2.29 nm RMS (φ1 mm) was obtained. This study provides technical support for the low-damage processing of CaF 2 component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite its activity, monometallic Ni-catalyst is highly susceptible to coke deposition and sintering in catalyzing dry reforming of methane (DRM). To counter these, a novel tremella-like monometallic Ni/SiO 2 catalyst was hydrothermally synthesized herein, realizing excellent activity, outstanding coke inhibition and robust structural stability for a durable DRM reaction. Functionality-speaking, the tapered ends of Ni-petals, sized at 8–15 nm, permit high DRM activity with suppressed coke formation while its thicker base spatially prevents Ni-sintering during high temperature reaction. Meanwhile, the open structure of catalyst resulting from such tremella-like structure also enhances the diffusion of reactants/products gas to/from catalytic surface, thus augmenting its activity for DRM. With merely 5 wt% Ni incorporated, CO 2 and CH 4 conversions of ∼90% could be attained with only ∼15% activity drop after 75 h of DRM. Full-restoration of activity could facilely be attained using 90 min in-situ oxidative regeneration. Mechanistic study coupling sorptive investigation, ex-situ XRD, and SEM reveals the pronounced adsorption tendency of CH 4 over those of CO 2 , H 2 and CO, confirming the adherence of DRM to Eley-Rideal reaction model in current study. Significantly, this study provides a new morphological-controlled strategy to conveniently impart excellent coke-inhibiting and sintering-resisting capability to monometallic Ni-catalyst. [Display omitted] • Tremella-like Ni/SiO 2 is highly active toward dry reforming of methane (DRM). • Tapered end of Ni-petal suppresses coke formation during DRM reaction. • Thick Ni base permits robust metal-support interaction for improved stability. • Open structure of Ni/SiO 2 improves the accessibility of reactants and products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most important challenges in the pharmaceutical industry is to produce crystals with desired size and shape distributions, to enhance the critical quality attributes of the drug product, such as efficacy, and to improve manufacturability during downstream processing, such as filtration, drying and granulation. The paper provides a framework for effective crystal shape and size tuning, based on a systematic exploration of standard techniques, such as the linear cooling and supersaturation control (SSC), and novel methods based on the systematic combination of several techniques, namely direct nucleation control (DNC), wet milling, SSC and shape modification additives. The crystallization of lovastatin, which is notorious for its challenging needle-shaped crystals, with an extremely high aspect ratio, was used as a case study, and polypropylene glycol (PPG-4000), at different concentrations, was used as an effective shape modifier from small-scale tests studied previously. The proposed techniques were implemented in the case of seeded and unseeded systems. It was demonstrated that the combination of temperature cycling and polymer additive enhances greatly the control over the aspect ratio and crystal size distribution, compared to conventional linear cooling and SSC strategies. The implementation of wet milling at the beginning of the process, or the introduction of seeds, enhances even further the control of the critical quality attributes of the crystalline product. [Display omitted] • Developed and validated a new framework for systematic crystal shape and size tuning. • Standard cooling crystallization with a polymer additive was insufficient to improve the aspect ratio of lovastatin. • Crystal shape successfully modified using additives and Direct Nucleation Control (DNC). • The additive caused inhibition along the longest axis which resulted in an effective control of the aspect ratio. • The lowest aspect ratio was achieved using a combination of seeding, milling, additives and DNC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of the COVID-19, inflammation emerges as a prominent characteristic. C-reactive protein (CRP) serves as a commonly employed marker for the evaluation of inflammation. This study aimed to examine the correlation between CRP levels and antipsychotic drug concentrations in patients diagnosed with SCZ during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 186 SCZ patients were included in this study, which utilized electronic medical records. The collected data encompassed SCZ diagnoses based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria, respiratory symptoms, and treatments. Laboratory assessments involved the measurement of CRP levels and monitoring of blood drug concentrations. The most prevalent symptoms observed in the patient cohort were fever (59.14%), cough (52.15%), fatigue (45.7%), sore throat (46.24%), runny nose (28.49%), and stuffy nose (25.27%). The levels of CRP during the infection period were significantly higher compared to both the prophase and anaphase of infection (all p < 0.001). The serum levels of clozapine, olanzapine, aripiprazole, quetiapine, and risperidone were elevated during the infection period (all p < 0.001). During the anaphase of infection, patients exhibited higher serum levels of clozapine, olanzapine, and risperidone (all p < 0.001) compared to the infection period, but there was no significant change in serum levels of aripiprazole and quetiapine. Multiple regression analysis revealed a statistically significant positive correlation (P < 0.0001) between CRP and clozapine concentration. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to adjust the dosage based on drug serum concentration to prevent intoxication or adverse drug reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of the technical cooperation mode in the field of hydrogen energy is of great importance in guiding technological innovation. Based on the social network analysis (SNA) and spatial network method, this paper constructs the technical cooperation graph of China's industry-university-research (IUR) tripartites in the field of hydrogen technology. Based on the performed graphs, it shows the game and evolution of hydrogen technology innovation in three stages, respectively 2000–2010, 2011–2015 and 2016–2019. Meanwhile, this paper calculates the changes of network indicators and found that: (1) the network density showed a downward trend, from the initial 0.062 to 0.003. (2) The degree centrality of the network decreased from 14.7% to 5.7%. (3) The average path length and clustering coefficient indicate that the internal connections within the network were relatively close from 2000 to 2010, and had small-world characteristics. From 2016 to 2019, although the clustering coefficient increased, the average path length also increased significantly, indicating that the internal connections of the network did not become closer. From the network characteristics, the collaborative innovation network of China's hydrogen energy industry continues to expand in scale and scope, and the cooperation relationship is stable. However, it shows the characteristics of low network density and loose cooperation relationship, gradually developing into a scale-free network. Developed provinces and cities in North and East China occupy core positions in the industry-university-research network, while other regions are gradually expanding their cooperation efficiency; however, the overall cooperation frequency is relatively low in Northeast China, and most provinces and cities in South and Northwest China are in edge positions with poor collaboration capabilities. • Network analysis sheds light on China's hydrogen energy tech cooperation via patent. • Collaborative innovation in hydrogen technology evolves through three stages. • Tight internal connections with small-world properties seen in network (2000–2010). • Network's internal connections didn't become closer (2016–2019). • Network transforms from a stable and expanding structure into a scale-free network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the novel quadrilateral overlapping element incorporated with the harmonic trigonometric functions is presented to reduce the efforts in mesh division for modal analysis. The new partition of unity functions in the overlapping element are cubic polynomials. Therefore, low-order polynomials can be utilized to augment local approximation space without the linear dependence problem. Moreover, the original polynomial approximation spaces are further enriched by the harmonic trigonometric functions without introducing additional rank deficiencies in the system matrices. Thus, the presented enriched overlapping finite element method (EOFEM) provides very precise eigenfrequencies and eigenmodes by using a very coarse mesh. However, the shape functions in the presented EOFEM do not possess the Kronecker delta function property. Hence, a conforming method that modifies the shape functions rather than the variational principle is proposed to impose the essential boundary conditions. Several numerical examples in two dimensions are then investigated to elaborate on the performance of the presented EOFEM in modal analyses. Besides, a block-diagonal lumped mass matrix is presented and further extended to the structure vibration analysis by incorporating the explicit time integration method. It is proven that the enriched overlapping element is computationally more efficient than the quadratic finite element and the original overlapping element. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between afternoon napping and cognitive function in the elderly is very complex and the mechanism is unknown. In the current study, 194 community elders with normal cognitive functions were included. All subjects completed baseline clinical assessment, baseline neuropsychological test as well as baseline structural MRI. Based on their napping status, these 194 participants were divided into the napping group (n = 88) and the non-napping group (n = 106). We then compared the differences in cognitive performance and structural magnetic resonance between the two groups. In the intergroup analysis, we found that the nappers showed poorer cognitive performance on both overall cognitive function and domain specific cognitive function; while on the whole sample, we found a significant negative association (F = 20.27, p<0.001) between afternoon napping and left amygdala volume. However, we did not find any effect of night sleep length or napping frequency on cognitive performance or left amygdala volume. In community elders with normal cognitive functions, afternoon napping is associated with cognitive performance, and left amygdala may play an important role in this process. • In community elders with normal cognitive functions, afternoon napping is associated with cognitive performance. • The amygdala may play an important regulatory role between napping and cognitive function. • Interventions targeting the amygdala may improve patients' sleep quality, but further investigation is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) often have depressive symptoms. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of depressive symptoms on lipid metabolism and future cognitive function in patients with MCI. A total of 1014 patients with MCI were included. Their demographic data, clinical data, and lipid parameters were collected. Meanwhile, they also completed a series of scale assessments, including Geriatric depression scale (GDS), Ability of Daily Living (ADL), Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) and Block Design Test (BDT). Then these patients were also followed for five years. Patients with depressive symptoms had lower serum apolipoprotein B (ApoB) levels, lower BDT scores and higher ADL scale scores. Correlation analysis showed that GDS was significantly associated with BDT and ADL. Moreover, logistic regression analysis found that ApoB was associated with depressive symptoms. Cox regression analysis showed that only baseline MoCA scores could predict the risk of future MCI transition to dementia. Our results suggest low serum ApoB levels may be associated with depressive symptoms in patients with MCI. However, depressive mood or lipids alone may not predict the risk of MCI transition to dementia. • low serum ApoB levels may be associated with depressive symptoms in patients with MCI • Neither mood symptoms nor lipid markers alone were effective in predicting the risk of future dementia transition • Increasing plasma APOB levels may improve depression in patients with MCI [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lanthanum borate-based glass-ceramic has recently received considerable attention in the field of high-frequency communications as a sintering aid, due to the low sintering temperature and the precipitation of crystalline phases with excellent dielectric and mechanical properties. Importantly, the densification and crystallization behaviors of glass-ceramic are not only determined by its composition, but also affected by various processing parameters, such as the initial particle size, which is rarely explored for optimizing the dielectric and mechanical properties of lanthanum borate-based glass-ceramic/ceramic composites. Herein, La 2 O 3 –B 2 O 3 –CaO–P 2 O 5 –SiO 2 (LBCPS) glass-ceramics with a series of initial particle sizes are achieved by ball milling method through controlling the milling time. Employing LBCPS glass-ceramics with different particle sizes as the sintering aid, various LBCPS/Al 2 O 3 composites are fabricated, and the dielectric and mechanical properties of which are further investigated. Notably, the LBCPS/Al 2 O 3 composite with a moderate glass-ceramic particle size of 2.7 μm exhibits the excellent comprehensive performance with a low dielectric loss of 8.6 × 10−4 at 9.8 GHz and a high flexural strength of 199 MPa. Moreover, the influencing mechanisms of the glass-ceramic particle size on the crystallization, microstructure, and densification of the LBCPS/Al 2 O 3 composite have also been systematically explored and proposed. This research work provides an intriguing strategy for optimizing the dielectric and mechanical properties of the glass-ceramic/ceramic as the high-performance low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a fully discrete finite element scheme with two-order temporal accuracy is proposed for the Navier-Stokes/Navier-Stokes equations, which consists of two Navier-Stokes equations coupled by a linear interface condition. The considered scheme includes two steps: In the first step, a fully discrete first-order backward Euler scheme is given based on the mixed finite element method. Then, in the second step, a postprecessing step is designed for the velocity and pressure, which does not increase some computational complexity. Moreover, the stability and error estimates of the fully discrete scheme are established. Finally, numerical experiments are provided to verify both theoretical findings and efficiency of the presented scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-source-precursor derived ceramics exhibit advantages for the preparation of Si-based ceramics with controllable phase composition and adjustable functional/mechanical properties, which has significant potential for (ultra)high temperature ceramic materials. Within the present work, a series of hafnium/boron-containing Si 3 N 4 -based ceramics (SiHfBCN) are prepared upon pyrolysis/annealing of the corresponding single-source-precursors in N 2 atmosphere at different temperatures ranging from 1000 °C to 1700 °C. The high-temperature (micro)structural evolution with respect to the annealing temperatures and boron concentration was studied using X-ray powder diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The results show that the amorphous SiHfBCN ceramics convert upon crystallization into ceramic nanocomposites consisting of a α-Si 3 N 4 matrix with embedded Si, HfB 2 , and HfB x C y N 1– x – y. The formation and stability of HfB x C y N 1– x – y solid solution were discussed in detail. Finally, the oxidation resistance of the obtained α-Si 3 N 4 /HfB 2 /HfB x C y N 1– x – y ceramic nanocomposites was investigated by thermal gravimetric analysis in air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have rarely reported on preoperative predictors of prognosis of patients undergoing liver resection (LR) for HCC ≥10 cm. We developed a simple model to predict overall survival (OS) of these patients. We enrolled 305 patients with HCC ≥10 cm undergoing LR. Cirrhosis and imaging-defined AJCC stage were used to develop a preoperative model. Patients were divided into three groups based on the Kaplan–Meier estimator. Group 1 included patients with AJCC stage 1 and no cirrhosis (n = 86), group 2 those with AJCC stage 1 and cirrhosis plus those with AJCC stage 2 or 3 and no cirrhosis (n = 166), and group 3 those with AJCC stage 2 or 3 and cirrhosis (n = 51). The five-year OS of group 1, 2, and 3 was 55%, 32%, and 25%, respectively (p < 0.001). With group 1 as the reference, multivariate analysis of OS showed that group 2 (HR = 2.043; 95% CI = 1.332–3.134; p = 0.001) and group 3 (HR = 2.740; 95% CI = 1.645–4.564; p < 0.001) were independent predictors of OS. We developed a simple model to predict OS of patients undergoing LR for HCC ≥10 cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The 13 genes (TMPRSS11E, TNNC2, HLF, FOXM1, PKMYT1, TCN1, RGS20, SYT8, CD1B, LY6K, MFSD4A, KLRG2 and APCDD1L) related with prognosis of NSCLC were identified. • The high-risk NSCLC patients had worse overall survival. • The immune cell infiltration and checkpoints were differential between the high-risk and low-risk NSCLC patients. Genomic instability (GI) is an effective prognostic marker of cancer. Thus, in this work, we aimed to explore the impact of GI derived signature on prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients using bioinformatics methods. The data of NSCLC patients were collected from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Totally 1794 immune related genes were downloaded from immport database. The optimal prognosis related genes were identified by univariate and LASSO Cox analyses. The risk score model was built to predict the NSCLC patients' prognosis. The immune cell infiltration was analyzed in CIBERSORT. The 951 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the genomic stability (GS) and GI groups were enriched in 862 Gene ontology terms and 32 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways. Based on the 13 optimal genes, a prognostic risk score mode for NSCLC was established, and the high-risk patients exhibited worse overall survival. Moreover, the nomogram could reliably predict the clinical outcomes. The immune cell infiltration and checkpoints were significantly differential between the two groups (high-risk and low-risk). The GI related 13-gene signature (TMPRSS11E, TNNC2, HLF, FOXM1, PKMYT1, TCN1, RGS20, SYT8, CD1B, LY6K, MFSD4A, KLRG2 APCDD1L) could reliably predict the prognosis of NSCLC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The salt-inducible kinase 1 (SIK1)-CREB-regulated transcription co-activator 1 (CRTC1) system in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus has been demonstrated to participate in not only depression neurobiology but also the antidepressant mechanisms of fluoxetine, paroxetine, venlafaxine, and duloxetine. Like fluoxetine and paroxetine, escitalopram is also a well-known selective serotonin (5-HT) reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). However, recently it has been found that escitalopram can modulate a lot of targets other than the 5-HT system. Here, we speculate that escitalopram produces effects on the SIK1-CRTC1 system in the PVN. Two mice models of depression (chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) and chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)), various behavioral tests, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), western blotting, co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), immunofluorescence, and adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene transfer were used together in the present study. It was found that escitalopram administration not only significantly prevented the hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis induced by CSDS and CUMS, but also notably reversed the effects of CSDS and CUMS on SIK1, CRTC1, and CRTC1-CREB binding in the PVN of mice. AAV-based genetic knock-down of SIK1 in PVN neurons evidently abolished the antidepressant-like effects of escitalopram in mice. A shortage of this study is that only rodent models of depression were used, while human samples were not included. In summary, regulating the SIK1-CRTC1 system in the PVN participates in the antidepressant mechanism of escitalopram, which extends the knowledge of the pharmacological actions of escitalopram. • Escitalopram treatment antagonized the effects of CSDS on SIK1 and CRTC1 in the PVN. • Escitalopram treatment antagonized the effects of CUMS on SIK1 and CRTC1 in the PVN. • Knock-down of SIK1 in the PVN abolished the antidepressant-like effects of escitalopram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, novel highly efficient cyan-emitting Ce3+-activated CaLu 2 HfGaAl 3 O 12 (abbreviated as CLHGAO) garnet-structured phosphors were synthesized using the high-temperature solid-state reaction route. Rietveld refinement results demonstrate the as-prepared samples belong to cubic space group Ia 3 ‾ d. These CLHGAO: x Ce3+ (x = 0.5–8%) phosphors possessed a broad absorption band in the 320–450 nm wavelength range with a maximum at 408 nm. Upon 408 nm excitation, the CLHGAO:0.5%Ce3+ sample showed a broad cyan emission band within 425–750 nm wavelength range (emission peak: 493 nm; bandwidth: 95 nm), along with CIE color coordinates of (0.1939, 0.3533) and a high internal quantum efficiency of 81.9%. It is observed that, with increasing Ce3+ doping concentration from 0.5% to 8%, the emission peak position of CLHGAO: x Ce3+ moves from 493 nm to 527 nm, and the corresponding emission color changes from cyan to green. Besides, the thermal stability and color stability of CLHGAO:0.5%Ce3+ phosphor at high temperature are also studied. A white LED device was fabricated by utilizing a 395 nm LED chip with as-prepared CLHGAO:0.5%Ce3+ cyan-emitting phosphor and commercial (Ba,Sr) 2 SiO 4 :Eu2+ green-emitting phosphor and commercial CaAlSiN 3 :Eu2+ red-emitting phosphor, and it demonstrates a high-color-quality white light with high color rendering index of 91, low color correlated temperature of 3547 K and good luminous efficacy of 58.71 lmW−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence has shown a rapid antidepressant and antisuicidal effects of low-dose ketamine infusion among patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and prominent suicidal ideation (SI). The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) plays a crucial role in the TRD pathomechanisms. Whether the structural and functional changes of the DLPFC, particularly Brodmann area 46, are associated with the antidepressant and antisuicidal effects of ketamine infusion among such patients is unknown. We randomized 48 patients with TRD and SI into groups receiving a single infusion of 0.5 mg/kg ketamine or 0.045 mg/kg midazolam. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale were used to assess symptoms. Positron emission tomography (PET)–magnetic resonance imaging was conducted prior to infusion and on Day 3 postinfusion. We performed longitudinal voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis to evaluate the gray matter (GM) volume changes of the DLPFC. The standardized uptake value ratio (SUVr) of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET images was calculated using the SUV of the cerebellum as a reference region. The VBM analysis revealed a small but significant volumetric reduction in the right DLPFC in the ketamine group compared with that in the midazolam group. A greater reduction in depressive symptoms was associated with a smaller decrease in right DLPFC volumes (p = 0.025). However, we found no SUVr changes of the DLPFC between baseline and post-Day 3 ketamine infusion. The optimal modulation of the right DLPFC GM volumes may play an essential role in the antidepressant neuromechanisms of low-dose ketamine. • Low-dose ketamine reduced the gray matter volume of right DLPFC on Day 3 postinfusion among patients with TRD and SI. • There was a negative correlation between the changes in depression symptoms and the volumetric changes in the right DLPFC. • Optimal modulation of right DLPFC gray matter volumes may play a role in the antidepressant effect of low-dose ketamine [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their exceptional and distinctive qualities, 3D C/C-SiC composites are widely utilized in producing high-end equipment and the aerospace national defense industries. However, the hard and pseudo plastic nature of the material and its anisotropies make it challenging to process. To improve the processing quality of 3D C/C-SiC composites, laser-assisted precision grinding technology is introduced in this paper, which innovatively controls the depth of the thermally induced damage layer by adjusting the laser process parameters to reduce the hard brittleness of the material, and then the surface is created by precision grinding with a grinding wheel on this basis. Experiments on laser-induced damage, laser-assisted grinding, and diamond scratching were carried out to investigate the effect of laser parameters on material damage and the effect of laser-assisted grinding processes, with an emphasis on revealing the mechanism of material removal. The results show that laser irradiation causes complex reactions such as sublimation, decomposition, and oxidation of 3D C/C-SiC composites, resulting in SiO2 and Si and recondensed SiC, causing surface/subsurface damage. A maximum reduction in normal grinding force, tangential grinding force, specific grinding energy, and surface roughness of 35.6%, 43.6%, 43.58%, and 24.22%, respectively, compared to conventional grinding processes with laser-assisted grinding. After laser irradiation, the degree of brittle fracture in the precision grinding of workpieces is significantly reduced due to the degradation of matrix and fiber damage caused by laser irradiation, which reduces the hard and pseudo plastic properties of the material. The removal mechanism shows a trend of ductile domain removal in the grinding of thermally damaged layers, which reduces the grinding force and improves the surface quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pressure ratio has an important influence on the performance and internal flow characteristics of the positive displacement pump. In this paper, the influence of the four pressure ratios 1.1/1.2/1.3/1.4 on the internal flow characteristics of the hydrogen circulating pump is studied, the internal relationship between the change of pressure ratio and the flow pattern in the pump are clarified, and the leakage flow pattern and its coupling mechanism in each gap are revealed. The results show that the gap leakage flow induced by pressure difference is an important reason for flow disorder in the pump, however, the generation and growth of gap leakage flow will be affected not only by the pressure difference, but also by the shear drive. The scale and influence of axial gap leakage are far greater than the other two types of gap leakage. The existence of gap leakage flow makes the rate of flow and pressure presents a large amplitude high-frequency pulsation characteristic. The research results of this paper provide a reference for the efficient and stable operation of hydrogen circulating pump in fuel cell system. [Display omitted] • The internal relationship between the pressure ratio and flow pattern is clarified. • The leakage flow pattern and its coupling mechanism in each gap are revealed. • The evolution and propagation law of leakage flow in each gap are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the spatially inhomogeneous Landau equations with hard potential in the perturbation setting, and establish the analytic smoothing effect in both spatial and velocity variables for a class of low-regularity weak solutions. This shows the Landau equations behave essentially as the hypoelliptic Fokker-Planck operators. The spatial analyticity relies on a new time-average operator, and the proof is based on a straightforward energy estimate with a careful estimate on the derivatives with respect to the new time-average operator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The green leaf area index (LAI) is an important structural parameter that can be used for monitoring plant transpiration and carbon cycling over large spatial extents. LAI is also critical for understanding biophysical processes and predicting crop productivity. However, the retrieval of wheat green LAI based on canopy reflectance is always affected by the background material. For example, in the Yangtze River Basin of China, rice residues are typically returned to rice–wheat rotation fields. Thus the background for observing wheat canopy varies from a mixture of traditional wheat-soil components to wheat-residue or wheat-residue-soil, posing a significant challenge for accurate LAI estimation at the early stages of crop growth. Furthermore, when current vegetation indices (VIs) are used to estimate LAI, leaf chlorophyll content (LCC) and field moisture are two additional confounding factors. To resolve these issues, we propose a novel residue-soil adjusted red edge difference index (RSARE), which draws on concepts from a simple physical algorithm, i.e., linear spectral mixture analysis (LSMA). The results of field, satellite and modeling experiments demonstrate that the RSARE-LAI model is generally not sensitive to LCC, or to variations in residue-soil and traditional soil backgrounds, and estimates LAI with high accuracy ( RMSE val = 0.55, RRMSE val =20.71%). In comparison to traditional VI-LAI maps, RASRE-LAI maps are less sensitive to confounding factors associated with the background components, field moisture, LCC, and both inter-annual and geographical differences. This novel residue-soil background-resistant RSARE particularly improves the accuracy of wheat LAI estimation at low LAI levels, thus facilitating large-scale mapping of LAI in the early growing season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Is ART associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcome in 12-month-old offspring compared with those conceived through natural conception? In this prospective cohort study, 488 infertile women undergoing ART and 1397 women with natural conception were recruited and followed until their offspring were 12 months old. The primary outcome was the neurodevelopment in the offspring. The association between exposure to ART and Gesell developmental scale scores was investigated using multiple linear regression models after adjusting for confounders. Propensity score matching (PSM) and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) were used to verify the results. In total, 18 (3.7%) and 40 (2.9%) children in the ART and natural conception groups, respectively, had been diagnosed with neurodevelopmental delay at 12 months of age. It was found that gross motor, adaptive behaviour, language and total development quotient scores were comparable between the groups. Following multivariate linear regression and IPTW, social behaviour development quotient scores were found to be slightly higher in the ART group than the natural conception group. Higher social behaviour development quotient scores in the ART group were also observed in the male and the singleton subgroups. At 12 months, offspring born after ART appeared to have similar motor, language and adaptive behaviour skills, and total development quotient scores, to those born after natural conception. However, social behaviour development in 12-month-old infants was slightly higher in those conceived using ART than in naturally conceived offspring, especially in male or singleton infants. These findings may provide new information in evaluating the potential benefits and risks of ART. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Niobium carbide composite coatings with Nb 2 C, NbC, Nb 3 Si as the main phases were prepared in situ on the surface of TC4 titanium alloy by plasma spraying Nb–SiC composite powder. The microstructure of the coating was characterized in detail by TEM, and the reaction mechanism of Nb–SiC was revealed. Sub-micron and nano-scale NbC grains dispersed in Nb 3 Si region, nano-Nb/Nb 3 Si cellular eutectic region, and equiaxed Nb 2 C nanograins region were formed in the coating. The research results show that Nb and SiC reacted firstly to form cubic NbC and Nb 3 Si phases during the plasma spraying process. Then, NbC with a higher melting point took the lead in crystallization during the cooling process of the coating, forming sub-micron and nano-scale NbC granular fine grains. Nb 3 Si with a lower melting point crystallized around the sub-micron and nano-scale NbC granular fine grains in the subsequent cooling process. In the plasma spraying process, the molten droplets formed Nb/Nb 3 Si cellular eutectic structure under large temperature gradient and extremely fast cooling rate. The remaining Nb in the raw material powder formed a diffusion couple with NbC to generate fine and dispersed nano-equiaxed Nb 2 C with cubic structure. The present investigation provides a reference for the reaction synthesis of advanced nanocomposites using Nb–SiC system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Low or high doses of VLP HPV vaccine were well tolerated in 9–45 year-old females. • Three HPV vaccinations elicited protective immune responses in 100% of vaccinees. • HPV vaccination did not result in any severe or serious adverse event. • Reactogenicity and immunogenicity were not affected by increasing dosage of HPV vaccine. We evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of high and low doses of a novel pichia pastoris-expressed bivalent (types 16 and 18) human papillomavirus (HPV) virus-like particle vaccine. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 1 trial, we enrolled 160 healthy females aged 9–45 years in Guangxi, China who were randomized (1:1:2) to receive either low (0.5 mL) or high (1.0 mL) dosages of bivalent HPV vaccine, or placebo (aluminum adjuvant) in a 0, 2, 6 months schedule. Adverse events and other significant conditions that occurred within 30 days after each vaccination were recorded throughout the trial. Sera were collected at days 0, 60, 180 and 210 to measure anti-HPV 16/18 neutralizing antibodies. A total of 160 participants received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine and 152 completed the three dose vaccination series. Reporting rates of adverse events in placebo, low dose (0.5 mL) and high dose (1.0 mL) groups were 47.5 %, 55.0 % and 55.0 %, respectively. No serious adverse events occurred during this trial. 100 % of the participants who received three doses of the HPV vaccine produced neutralizing antibodies against HPV 16/18 vaccine. For HPV 16 and HPV 18, the geometric mean titers (GMTs) were similar between the low dose group (GMT HPV 16 = 10816 [95 % CI: 7824–14953]), GMT HPV 18 = 3966 [95 % CI: 2693–5841]) and high dose group (GMT HPV 16 = 14482 [95 % CI: 10848–19333], GMT HPV 18 = 3428 [95 % CI: 2533–4639]). The pichia pastoris-expressed bivalent HPV vaccine was safe and immunogenic in Chinese females aged 9–45 years. The low dosage (0.5 mL) was selected for further immunogenicity and efficacy study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As 5G technology advances, so does the prevalence of harmful electromagnetic waves, and as a result, researchers have been progressively interested in developing materials that can absorb microwaves. So, it's become desirable to fabricate unique microwave absorbent materials (MAMs) to mitigate the negative effects of electromagnetic radiation and offer protection to biological beings and electronic data. Herein, we fabricated a novel HoFeO 3 @WSe 2 @SiO 2 composite via the co-precipitation method. The microwave absorption properties of the HoFeO 3 ,WSe 2 , SiO 2 and HoFeO 3 @WSe 2 @SiO 2 (with 25, 35 and 45 wt% loading) were examined in the X-band frequency range. 35 wt% filler loading shows reasonable reflection loss values with the broadest effective absorption bandwidth (EAB). The optimum impedance matching is responsible for the enhanced microwave absorption performance of the HoFeO 3 @WSe 2 @SiO 2 with 35 wt% filler loading. In addition, the best sample is measured using both waveguide and free-space techniques and the results have been compared. The free-space method has been demonstrated to be an effective alternative testing strategy due to its contact-free and non-destructive features. Furthermore, the technique described in this study to design innovative HoFeO 3 @WSe 2 @SiO 2 microwave absorbers can offer significant assistance with a wider absorption band. In this context, HoFeO 3 @WSe 2 @SiO 2 is expected to be used as a highly efficient microwave absorbent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrogen circulating pump (HCP) used for hydrogen recovery and utilization, affects the performance of the hydrogen fuel cell system. In this paper, aiming at the measurement research blank of the output pressure and flow high-frequency pulsation curve of the HCP, a pressure-based flow measurement method and an overlapping grid-based simulation calculation method are proposed and then compared in multiple directions for mutual verification. The research results show that the waveform errors of the pressure pulsation curves are under 2.4%, and that of the flow pulsation curves are 6.2% and 8.3%, comparing the experimental data and simulation data when the average outlet pressure is 9 kpa and 27 kpa respectively. Further study of the internal fluid characteristics, the pressure and the density change the same and produce the lowest value before the meshing point, the leakage flow rate at the rotor-rotor gap is greater than that at the rotor-pump casing gap, and the vortices show cyclical change of co-evolution and co-growth in the low-pressure area and the high-pressure area. The research results can optimize the structural design of the HCP itself, and can also refine the input conditions of the fuel cell system and contribute to performance improvement. • An indirect method for measuring real-time flow is proposed. • Overlapping grid simulation method is verified reliability by experimental data. • Compare and analyze the real-time flow curves of experiment and simulation. • The periodic variation law of fluid parameters in the pump chamber is revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CFST columns using high-strength concrete and high-strength steel are at risk of brittle failure after reaching peak load. The placement of internal spiral reinforcement is a promising technique to improve the strength and ductility of columns. This study devotes efforts to the eccentric performance of spirally reinforced high-strength circular concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns. Experiments were conducted on spirally reinforced high-strength CFST columns and CFST counterparts. The strengths of concrete, steel tube, and spiral reinforcement were 108.5 MPa, 771.7 MPa, and 1597.6 MPa, respectively. Results demonstrated that the eccentric load-bearing capacity increased by up to 19.2% owing to the presence of spiral reinforcement, and the ductility was also enhanced. A finite element model was established for spirally reinforced CFST columns. Analysis verified that the increase in strength and ductility was attributed to higher material strength and larger high-stress region of concrete confined by spiral reinforcement. The load-bearing capacity of spirally reinforced CFST columns dropped slightly steeper than conventional CFST columns with the increase of the load eccentricity ratio. A design-oriented formula was proposed in this study, which provided conservative yet reasonably accurate strength predictions for spirally reinforced high-strength circular CFST columns. • Performance of spirally reinforced high-strength circular CFST column subjected to eccentric compression was investigated. • Effectiveness of high-strength spiral reinforcement in improving the strength and ductility of column was validated. • Performance of spirally reinforced CFST column was compared with equivalent thick-tube CFST column. • A design-oriented method was developed to predict the eccentric compressive strength of spirally reinforced CFST columns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, two different extraction methods, enzymatic-assisted extraction (EAE) and ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE), were used to extraction of polysaccharides from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum (PGR), and the preliminary characterization of the purified polysaccharide (PGP1 extracted with EAE and PGP2 extracted with UAE) were analyzed. The data implied that the yield of the polysaccharide obtained by UAE (12.01 ± 0.11%) was significantly higher than that of EAE (9.06 ± 0.07%). Meanwhile, Chemical composition analysis revealed that both PGP1 (6.6 kDa) and PGP2 (5.4 kDa) were comprised of eight monosaccharides with different molar ratios. Preliminary characterization analysis including FT-IR spectra, NMR analysis, X-ray diffraction, Congo red experiment, and thermogravimetric analysis were investigated. The result illustrated that PGP1 and PGP2 have similar chemical composition and functional groups, and both have crystalline and triple helix structure. Moreover, PGP2 demonstrated better water (4.94 ± 0.14 g/g) and oil (2.69 ± 0.016 g/g) retention capacity than PGP1, and also showed higher bile binding ability and pancreatic lipase inhibition activity. However, PGP1 presented higher inhibitory activities against α -amylase and α -glucosidase. Based on the above, these findings indicated that the two novel polysaccharides are worthy being developed as natural hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic agents. [Display omitted] • Two different methods were used to extract polysaccharides from Platycodon grandiflorum roots. • The physicochemical and structural properties of two novel low-molecular-weight polysaccharides were revealed. • Both polysaccharides exhibited desirable hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced high-performance microwave absorber development now revolves around achieving better microwave absorption performance and intelligent electromagnetic property control. Effectively adjusting electromagnetic microwave dissipation qualities throughout a wide frequency range has been mostly unexplored, particularly for manufactured absorbers. Innovative and high-performance absorber materials are produced and analyzed in this study. Solvothermal preparation is used to synthesize polygonal-shaped CuCo 2 S 4 particles that are embellished with Cu 2 S particles. The permittivity and permeability of polygonal CuCo 2 S 4 particles decorated with Cu 2 S particles are significantly altered, which further affects the nanocomposite's performance in terms of microwave absorption. At a filler loading of 40 wt percent, the composite exhibits exceptional microwave absorption capabilities, and at a thin thickness of 1.5 mm, its effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) approaches 4.5 GHz, covering the whole X-band frequency range. The produced composite has outstanding dissipation qualities owing to the synergistic effects of numerous attenuation mechanisms and hetero-interfaces, where the ideal microwave dissipation strength is up to −32 dB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar-to-hydrogen (STH) conversion can synchronously implement the utilization of renewable energy and production of clean value-added fuel. However, the existing challenges for actual application of light-driven hydrogen production are the limited STH conversion efficiency, complex catalyst structure and high cost. Herein, the glucose here served as the precursor of carbon (C)-heteroatom was doped into the cadmium sulfide (CdS) body structure to promote its carriers separation and establish the interaction between C-heteroatoms and CdS via a one-step hydrothermal method. The semiconductor-to-heteroatom electron transfer significantly accelerated the migration of photoinduced electrons to catalyst surface, resulting highly increased light-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency. Up to 5.7 times HER rate of bare CdS was achieved by the optimized C 0.2 -CdS nanocatalyst in alkaline condition (pH = 14) at the absence of Pt cocatalyst, and about 21.78% of apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) was reached at 500 nm of light irradiation, which remarkably outperformed the performances reported in literatures. More importantly, the C-heteroatom doping significantly enhanced the photocatalytic stability of CdS. The first-principle calculations revealed that C-heteroatom doping dramatically reduced the activation energy (E a) of H 2 O-to-H* conversion and barrier of H*-to-H 2 conversion on CdS, which provided the theoretical evidence for the improved HER photoactivity. This study proposes a simple and eco-friendly procedure to improve the performance of CdS photocatalyst in an inexpensive mode. Synergetic semiconductor (CdS)-to-heteroatom (C) electron transfer for improved alkaline water-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates key drivers of renewable energy transition in China using the quarterly data from Q1-2000 to Q4-2020. We employed the Bootstrap Autoregressive Distributed Lag method for long-run and short-run parameters. The results exhibit that financial development and research and development expenditures are the most prominent factors that encourage energy transition. In addition, human resources and information and communication technology (ICT) also contribute to stimulating the renewable energy transition in China. The overall long-run estimates have pronounced impact than the short-run results, except for the ICT, which has an insignificant effect in the short run. Moreover, the significant negative value of the error correction term converges the model by a 32.9% adjustment rate in case of any deviation. The empirical outcome recommends that the government of China should promote financial development resources and R&D spending to spur the energy transition. • Bootstrap ARDL applies to China's quarterly data. • Drivers of Renewable Energy Transition (RET) are explored. • Financial development and R&D expenditures are the most prominent drivers of RET. • Human development and ICT stimulate RET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ir-based synergistic interaction with transition metal alloys for catalytic overall water splitting holds great promise for application. However, the role of the transition metal in the alloy for the catalytic reaction is not well understood. Here, we report new IrNi porous miscible alloy nanoparticles (IrNi PMAN) for overall water splitting in 1 M KOH. IrNi PMAN exhibits excellent bifunctional electrocatalytic activity with overpotentials of only 14 mV and 245 mV for HER and OER at 10 mA cm−2, respectively. What's more, it only requires 43 mV and 324 mV for HER and OER at high current densities of 100 mA cm−2, respectively. In addition, IrNi PMAN as two-electrode electrolyzer produces a current density of 100 mA cm−2 at 1.69 V. The synergistic effect of the alloys is the main factor for the high catalytic efficiency. Notably, DFT calculations indicate that Ni adsorbs OH- more rapidly and accelerates Ir adsorption and conversion of OER intermediates, thus improving the stability and activity of overall water splitting. [Display omitted] • IrNi PMAN requires 43 mV and 324 mV at 100 mA cm−2 for HER and OER, respectively. • A cell voltage of only 1.69 V is required to achieve 100 mA cm−2. • Ni adsorbs OH− more readily, accelerating the adsorption of Ir to OER intermediates. • In-depth understanding of alloy synergy from the elemental reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is characterized by choroidal neovascularization (CNV), which leads to severe vision loss in middle-aged and elderly patients. Current treatments for CNV show weak, transient efficacy, and they can cause several adverse effects. A potential new treatment is to use microRNA-150 (mR150), which regulates physiological and pathological angiogenesis by modulating the expression of CXCR4 at the post-transcriptional level. Here, we developed solid lipid nanoparticles that we modified with an Asp-Gly-Arg peptide to target endothelial cells during abnormal angiogenesis, then we co-loaded them with mR150 and the anti-angiogenic drug quercetin. The resulting nanoparticles had an average size around 200 nm and showed strong ability to target the fundus and inhibit CNV for up to two weeks in a mouse model without causing retinal toxicity. They significantly enhanced the uptake of mR150 in vitro compared to free mR150 or nanoparticles without peptide. Our study suggests that co-administration of mR150 and quercetin has potential for treating age-related macular degeneration and that nanoparticles modified with Asp-Gly-Arg peptide are an effective platform for the co-delivery of small-molecule and nucleic acid drugs via intravitreal injection. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adversarial training is a method for enhancing neural networks to improve the robustness against adversarial examples. Besides the security concerns of potential adversarial examples, adversarial training can also improve the generalization ability of neural networks, train robust neural networks, and provide interpretability for neural networks. In this work, we introduce adversarial training in time series analysis to enhance the neural networks for better generalization ability by taking the finance field as an example. Rethinking existing research on adversarial training, we propose the adaptively scaled adversarial training (ASAT) in time series analysis, by rescaling data at different time slots with adaptive scales. Experimental results show that the proposed ASAT can improve both the generalization ability and the adversarial robustness of neural networks compared to the baselines. Compared to the traditional adversarial training algorithm, ASAT can achieve better generalization ability and similar adversarial robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Theoretical analysis on the selection of collection approaches for performance enhancement in transfer learning is provided. • Whether collaboration in a two-party scenario can achieve the promotion of transfer learning performance is demonstrated. • Rigorous comparison between collection and collaboration is done to show their effectiveness difference. • Deep insight into data sharing strategies in collaborative transfer learning is proposed. Transfer learning has become a prevailing machine learning technique thanks to its superiority in learning knowledge from limited training data for prediction. In the existing works, collection and collaboration are two major approaches to realize the improvement of transfer learning performance. Even though the effectiveness of these approaches has been validated in extensive experiments, there lacks the support of theoretical analysis. Consequently, how to enhance transfer learning effectively is an open problem. In light of this, in this paper, we thoroughly and deeply study the methods of improving transfer learning performance in order to provide the guidelines for applying transfer learning in real applications. Through our proof process, critical conclusions are drawn to help learn the motivation of implementing collection and collaboration, the performance gap between collection and collaboration, and the impacts of data sharing strategies on transfer learning in collaboration. These conclusions can further build a theoretical foundation for future research on transfer learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the relative potency (REP) of Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (XPAHs) exhibit more complex structures and higher toxicities than their parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PPAHs) and thus may pose a greater threat to food safety and human health. The present review focuses on the publications of XPAHs in food materials and products including drinking water, unprocessed food materials, and processed foods. We summarized the profiles of XPAHs in foods and evaluated the health risks of XPAH exposure to humans via dietary intake. Moreover, the formation mechanism and prevention advice related to foods were summarized and proposed. Based on existing publications, the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) of XPAH exposure for humans through the dietary intake of the individual food matrix, including cereal, pork, seafood, vegetables, milk, oil, and drinking water, were all below the unacceptable risk (10−4) level. However, the maximum cumulative risks in terms of the combined of XPAHs and PPAHs exhibited unacceptable risk (2.1 × 10−4) for humans via dietary intake of multiple food matrices. XPAH contamination in food not only can originate from the environment directly but also may derive from the reaction between PPAHs and Cl− during food processing and storage. Moreover, risks can be reduced both by inhibiting XPAH generation during processing and by reducing the amount of the aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) that induces CYP1A1. These findings can provide a reference for the control and inhibition of XPAH generation during food processing, and therefore reduce the associated risks. [Display omitted] • The combined ILCR of XPAHs and PPAHs reaches an unacceptable risk level (>10−4). • Halogenation of PPAHs in foods can be initiated by PAH.•, Cl•, and •OH pathways. • XPAHs with higher MW and halogenation tend to be more bioaccumulative. • Temperature, light, and salt are dominant contributors to XPAH formation during food processing. • Antioxidants can inhibit the formation of XPAHs and protect cells from DNA damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores an integrated control technique for a dual-armed space robot that has captured a tumbling satellite. The compliant behavior for safe manipulation in-orbit is achieved using the external impedance at the target level. First, considering the control moment constraints imposed on the target body, a fast detumbling strategy is proposed using dynamic movement primitives method with normalized time. Following the capturing of a non-cooperative target, a coordinated hierarchical control scheme is developed with multi-arm space robotic dynamics modeling to direct the space robot in carrying out the pre-planned detumbling strategy. The proposed control scheme incorporates external impedance, internal force control and load sharing. Finally, numerical simulation with a sample case of two collaborative seven-degree-of-freedom space robotic arms capturing a tumbling target satellite verifies the viability and efficacy of the presented control strategy. • A dynamic movement primitives based detumbling strategy was derived. • Distinct load sharing policies were developed for sharing parts of the load among the dual-arm. • A coordinated hierarchical control scheme incorporated multiple subtasks was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carotid atherosclerosis is an important cause of ischemic stroke. Lipids play a key role in the progression of atherosclerosis. To date, the spatial lipid profile of carotid atherosclerotic plaques related to histology has not been systematically investigated. Carotid atherosclerosis samples from 12 patients were obtained and classified into four classical pathological stages (preatheroma, atheroma, fibroatheroma and complicated lesion) by histological staining. Desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry imaging (DESI-MSI) was used to investigate the lipid profile of carotid atherosclerosis, and correlated it with histological information. Bioinformatics technology was used to process MSI data among different pathological stages of atherosclerosis lesions. A total of 55 lipids (26 throughout cross-section regions [TCSRs], 13 in lipid-rich regions [LRRs], and 16 in collagen-rich regions [CRRs]) were initially identified in carotid plaque from one patient. Subsequently, 32 of 55 lipids (12 in TCSRs, eight in LRRs, and 12 in CRRs) were further screened in 11 patients. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that multiple metabolic pathways, such as fat digestion and absorption, cholesterol metabolism, lipid and atherosclerosis, were enriched in TCSRs; sphingolipid signaling pathway, necroptosis pathway were enriched in LRRs; and glycerophospholipid metabolism, ether lipid metabolism pathway were mainly enriched in CRRs. This study comprehensively showed the spatial lipid metabolism footprint in human carotid atherosclerotic plaques. The lipid profiles and related metabolism pathways in three regions of plaque with disease progression were different markedly, suggesting that the different metabolic mechanisms in these regions of carotid plaque may be critical in atherosclerosis progression. [Display omitted] • Specific lipids located in lipid-rich regions and collagen-rich regions were identified. • The spatial dynamic lipid metabolism footprint of atherosclerosis was delineated. • Different metabolic pathways between lipid-rich regions and collagen-rich regions with atherosclerosis progression were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the neurogenic niches of the adult hippocampus, new functional neurons are continuously generated throughout life, and generation of these neurons has been implicated in learning and memory. Astrocytes, as components of the neurogenic niches, are critical in the regulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN). However, little is known about how astrocytes receive and respond to extrinsic cues to regulate AHN. By using a transgenic strategy to conditionally delete astrocytic CRHM1 in mice and AAV (adeno-associated virus)–mediated overexpression of astrocytic CHRM1 specifically in the hippocampal dentate gyrus, we systematically investigated the role of astrocytic CHRM1 in the regulation of AHN and the underlying mechanisms using the combined approaches of immunohistochemistry, retrovirus labeling, electrophysiology, primary astrocyte cultures, immunoblotting, and behavioral assays. We report that genetic ablation of CHRM1 in astrocytes led to defects in neural stem cell survival, neuronal differentiation, and maturation and integration of newborn neurons in the dentate gyrus. Astrocytic CHRM1-mediated modulation of AHN was mediated by BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) signaling. Furthermore, CHRM1 ablation in astrocytes impaired contextual fear memory. These impairments in both AHN and memory were rescued by overexpression of astrocytic CHRM1 in the dentate gyrus. Our findings reveal a critical role for astrocytes in mediating cholinergic regulation of AHN and memory through CHRM1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]