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This study presents a novel approach to simulating and monitoring the dynamic performance of high-speed bearings, a critical component in automated industrial production for system efficiency and safety. The newly developed theoretical framework allows for detailed analysis of dynamic responses in these bearings, especially under high-speed conditions. The Short-Time Fourier Transform (STFT) is used to capture time-frequency domain characteristics, while real-time condition monitoring is achieved through a deep learning-based Convolutional Neural Network, enhanced by a multi-head attention mechanism. This method enables managing large datasets, real-time surveillance, and accurate prediction of bearing conditions. Ultimately, this approach provides an innovative perspective for fault diagnosis and performance assessment of high-speed bearings in complex production environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to clean and renewable energy, osmotic energy from salinity gradient difference, for example, is central to the sustainability of human civilization. Despite numerous examples of nanofluidic membranes for osmotic energy conversion, one produced from abundant and renewable biomass resources remains largely unexplored. In this work, cotton-derived cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are employed to fabricate a membrane by self-assembly with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and subsequent in situ growth of metal-organic framework (MOF), UiO-66-(COOH) 2 , to provide an example. The composite membrane exhibits excellent mechanical strength and toughness due to the long chains and hydrogen bonding interactions of PVA. The incorporation of UiO-66-(COOH) 2 endows the composite membrane with abundant nano- and subnano-sized ion transport channels, resulting in a 150% increase in ion conductance, while also providing superior cation selectivity through collaboration with the sulfated CNCs. The composite membrane with 27.4% MOF content can achieve an osmotic energy conversion performance of 5.10 W m -2 under a 50-fold KCl gradient condition and a monovalent cation selectivity of ≈16 for K + /Mg 2+ . This work presents a solution for harvesting renewable osmotic energy by constructing nanofluidic membranes using plentiful renewable biomass materials and a simple, low-emission fabrication procedure., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

A concise hydrosilylation of alkynes for synthesizing β-(E)-vinylsilanes catalyzed by dirhodium(II)/XantPhos has been developed. In this reaction, β-(E)-vinylsilanes were generated from the isomerization of β-(Z)-vinylsilanes catalyzed by dirhodium(II) hydride species rather than the direct insertion of triple bond into M-H or M-Si bond (traditional Chalk-Harrod mechanism or modified Chalk-Harrod mechanism). The hydrosilylation displayed a broad substrate scope for alkynes and tertiary silanes, tolerating diverse functional groups including halides, nitriles, amines, esters, and heterocycles., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Alginate (Alg) polymers have received much attention due to the mild conditions required for gel formation and their good bio-acceptability. However, due to limited interactions with cells, many drugs, and biomolecules, chemically modified alginates are of great interest. Sulfated alginate (S-Alg) is a promising heparin-mimetic that continues to be investigated both as a drug molecule and as a component of biomaterials. Herein, the S-Alg literature of the past five years (2017-2023) is reviewed. Several methods used to synthesize S-Alg are described, with a focus on new advances in characterization and stereoselectivity. Material fabrication is another focus and spans bulk materials, particles, scaffolds, coatings, and part of multicomponent biomaterials. The new application of S-Alg as an antitumor agent is highlighted together with studies evaluating safety and biodistribution. The high binding affinity of S-Alg for various drugs and heparin-binding proteins is exploited extensively in biomaterial design to tune the encapsulation and release of these agents and this aspect is covered in detail. Recommondations include publishing key material properties to allow reproducibility, careful selection of appropriate sulfation strategies, the use of cross-linking strategies other than ionic cross-linking for material fabrication, and more detailed toxicity and biodistribution studies to inform future work., (© 2024 The Author(s). Macromolecular Bioscience published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Osmotic energy, often referred to as "blue energy", is the energy generated from the mixing of solutions with different salt concentrations, offering a vast, renewable, and environmentally friendly energy resource. The efficacy of osmotic power production considerably relies on the performance of the transmembrane process, which depends on ionic conductivity and the capability to differentiate between positive and negative ions. Recent advancements have led to the development of membrane materials featuring precisely tailored ion transport nanochannels, enabling high-efficiency osmotic energy harvesting. In this review, ion diffusion in confined nanochannels and the rational design and optimization of membrane architecture are explored. Furthermore, structural optimization of the membrane to mitigate transport resistance and the concentration polarization effect for enhancing osmotic energy harvesting is highlighted. Finally, an outlook on the challenges that lie ahead is provided, and the potential applications of osmotic energy conversion are outlined. This review offers a comprehensive viewpoint on the evolving prospects of osmotic energy conversion., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Materials published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

T-cell immunotherapy offers outstanding advantages in the treatment of various diseases, and with the selection of appropriate targets, efficient disease treatment can be achieved. T-cell immunotherapy has made great progress, but clinical results show that only a small proportion of patients can benefit from T-cell immunotherapy. The extensive mechanistic work outlines a blueprint for using T cells as a new option for immunotherapy, but also presents new challenges, including the balance between different fractions of T cells, the inherent T-cell suppression patterns in the disease microenvironment, the acquired loss of targets, and the decline of T-cell viability. The diversity, flexibility, and intelligence of nanomedicines give them great potential for enhancing T-cell immunotherapy. Here, how T-cell immunotherapy strategies can be adapted with different nanomaterials to enhance therapeutic efficacy is discussed. For two different pathological states, immunosuppression and immune activation, recent advances in nanomedicines for T-cell immunotherapy in diseases such as cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, ulcerative colitis, and diabetes are summarized. With a focus on T-cell immunotherapy, this review highlights the outstanding advantages of nanomedicines in disease treatment, and helps advance one's understanding of the use of nanotechnology to enhance T-cell immunotherapy., (© 2023 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

The purpose of this paper is to enlarge the scope of existing EOQ-type models by incorporating uncertain product returns that may include time or quantity restrictions. In this inventory control problem, the item's demand is deterministic and occurs at a known constant rate over time. Product returns arrive according to a Poisson process. The amount returned to the seller at each return epoch is a random or fixed fraction of the accumulated number of units (net of previous returns) that have been demanded so far within a stock cycle. The ordering policy is a continuous review policy that orders a fixed quantity every time an order is placed. The replenishment lead time is instantaneous, and shortages are not allowed. The objective is to find optimal order quantities by minimising the long-run average total costs per unit time. Costs include a fixed plus proportional cost per order, and a holding cost per unit held in inventory per unit time. A level-crossing approach is used to derive a closed-form expression for the expected ordering and inventory holding costs as a function of the order size and other relevant parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experience-in-store-and-buy-online (ESBO) is a popular omni-channel strategy. This paper studies the effects of inspection service provision on the interactions of a dynamic-pricing retailer and strategic consumers, i.e., the effects of the ESBO initiative on store operations. Selling a seasonal product over two periods, the omni-channel retailer may allow consumers to inspect this product offline only in the first period (first-period inspection) or in both periods (two-period inspection). First, we find that allowing first-period inspection makes the retailer better off. The retailer will price the product higher in the first period but probably lower in the second period. Even so, more consumers will purchase in the first period: that is, allowing first-period inspection can somewhat deter strategic deferral. Meanwhile, the seemingly negative intertemporal showrooming behavior (i.e., inspect the product offline in the first period but defer online purchase to the second period) benefits the retailer. Compared to first-period inspection, allowing two-period inspection increases the retailer's prices in both periods as well as profit, provided that inspection is definitely available in the second period. On the other hand, when inspection is possible in the second period, it may be profitable to allow inspection only in the first period.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous development of artillery, the disadvantages of hydraulic recoil brakes gradually appear. At the same time, the appearance of high-performance NdFeB permanent magnet makes it possible to apply electromagnetic braking technology to recoil mechanism. In this paper, prototype tests of a certain artillery were carried out to verify the feasibility of the electromagnetic brake (EMB) and obtain the electromagnetic braking force. Due to the brittleness of NdFeB, in order to eliminate the worry about the safety of EMB, SHPB experiments of NdFeB were carried out. Then, based on the assumption of uniform crack distribution, the law of crack propagation and damage accumulation was described theoretically, and the damage constitutive model suitable for brittle materials was proposed by combining the Zhu-Wang-Tang (ZWT) equation. Finally, the numerical simulation model of the artillery prototype was established and through calculation, the dynamic mechanical characteristics of NdFeB in the prototype were analyzed. The calculation results show that the strength of NdFeB can meet the requirements of the use in the working process. From the perspective of damage factor, the damage value of the permanent magnet on the far right is larger, and the damage value of the inner ring gradually decreases to the outer ring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructing piezoelectret based on foamed plastic garbage is an advisable strategy for obtaining self-powered flexible electromechanical sensors with good performances. Herein, a self-powered piezoelectret sensor with basic material of low density polyethylene (LDPE) foamed plastic garbage is proposed, with characteristics of easy fabrication, excellent flexibility, and high equivalent piezoelectric coefficient d33 value up to ∼ 1,100 pC/N. The output stability is verified by continuously stimulating a sensor for ∼ 180,000 cycles under low and high applied pressure, and the variations of peak outputs are less than 5.5%. Applications for measuring low- and high-pressure signals from human body are achieved. Assembled with a wristband, a sensor is demonstrated for detecting the human pulse waves. Moreover, real time human sitting information is wirelessly monitored with a smart chair based on 4 pixels sensors array. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A short-wave infrared (SWIR) photodetector requires robust performance and cost-effectiveness due to its utilization in military and civilian applications. Lead sulfide quantum dots (PbS QDs) have gained increasing attention in the field of near-infrared (NIR) detection owing to their heightened sensitivity and adjustable infrared absorption properties. Yet, it remains a great challenge to fabricate large-sized PbS QDs with the expansion of detection capabilities from NIR to SWIR regions. Here, a hot injection method was proposed to successfully synthesize large-sized PbS QDs with a diameter of 12.2 nm. The obtained PbS QDs in the 90s extended the detectable wavelengths to 2220 nm resulting from their large size. Subsequently, a photodetector device operating in the SWIR region was fabricated by employing PbS QDs as the photoactive layer. The specific detectivity of the device at ambient temperature reaches 4.0 × 1011 Jones at 2100 nm, which shows promising applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small-molecule hole-transporting materials (HTMs) containing heteroatoms provide enhanced interface contact and complete passivation effects, which increase the performance of perovskite solar cells (PSC). In this study, we present the synthesis and analysis of two small molecule HTMs, CYH20 and CYH23, based on a novel thienoimidazole-pyridine acceptor core for dopant-free and efficient inverted (p–i–n) PSCs. The two HTMs are structurally similar, except for the end units, 4-(1-cyanovinyl)benzonitrile (acceptor) and 2,2-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)vinyl (donor) moieties. As a result, CYH20 is classed as a donor–acceptor–acceptor (D–A–A) HTM and CYH23 as a donor–acceptor–donor (D–A–D) HTM. These new HTMs have favorable optoelectronic and thermal properties and suitable morphologies, as demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy, photoluminescence (PL) time-resolved PL, and space charge limited current studies. Among both, the D–A–D configured HTM CYH23-based PSC has a high open-circuit voltage of 1.08 V and a high short circuit current density of 21.78 mA cm−2, resulting in the highest power conversion efficiency of 18.77%. The superior performance of CYH23 over CYH20 (17.14%) is attributed to its excellent morphology and charge transfer properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tantalum oxide has emerged as an important electrode material for supercapacitors due to its multiple redox capabilities, high capacitance and structural stability, but the low electrical conductivity prevents its practical applications. This study reports the synthesis of Co- and V-doped Ta1.1O1.05 using tryptophan- and aspartic-acid-functionalized boron-doped graphene quantum dots (DWB-GQD). Ta5+, V5+ and Co3+ were combined with DWB-GQD to form water-soluble complexes. The complex was then soaked in cotton, dried and annealed at 850 °C in an N2 atmosphere. The resulting Ta1.1O1.05 nanocrystals showed a cube-like nanostructure. The self-doping of low-valent Ta, V and Co species induced the production of oxygen vacancies. The presence of oxygen vacancies narrowed the bandgap and created new electron transfer pathways. The graphene surface modification accelerated the electron transfer from Ta1.1O1.05 to graphene and improved the structural stability. The unique structure significantly improved the conductivity and led to a wide safe voltage window of 1.9 V. The symmetrical supercapacitor with Co/V–Ta1.1O1.05@DWB-GQD electrodes and a 1 M Li2SO4/PVA gel electrolyte exhibited high specific capacitance (560.9 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1), high-rate capacitance (365.55 F g−1 at a current density of 10 A g−1), cycling stability (99.5% capacitance retention over 10 000 cycles), and energy density (140.63 W h kg−1 at a power density of 475 W kg−1). Based on these results, the soft supercapacitor shows a wide application prospect in wearable electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relative permeabilities of oil-water two-phase flow in fractures attract increasing attention in reservoir engineering. In this work, two analytical models were developed for the relative permeabilities of oil-water flow in fractures. One of the models, developed without considering oil-water interface slip, demonstrates that the relative permeabilities of oil-water flow are only dependent on saturation and wetted perimeter. The other one, developed from considering oil-water interface slip, implies that the relative permeabilities of oil-water flow are not only related to saturation and wetting perimeter, but also related to interface coefficients. Comparative experiments were conducted to verify. The experimental rectangular fractures, which were made of polymethyl methacrylate, had different hydraulic diameters from 2.06 to 5.71 mm and height-width ratios from 0.115 to 8.696. The oil-water flow was horizontal and laminar in fractures, with oil-water viscosity ratios ranged from 7.3 to 29.6. Stratified flow and dispersed flow were observed in the experiments. The analytical models developed show that oil-water interface slip has little influence on the relative permeability of oil phase, but has significant effect on the relative permeability of water phase. Both analytical models and experimental results indicate that the sum of relative permeabilities can be greater than 1. Highlights: Two permeability models with and without considering oil-water interface are developed. Oil-water interface has little effect on the relative permeability of oil phase. Oil-water interface has significant effect on the relative permeability of water phase. Flow pattern influences the relative permeabilities of oil-water flow in fractures. The sum of relative permeabilities can be greater than 1 for oil-water flow in fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a water-soluble fluorescence/MR dual-modality probe NBD[Gd] for H2S detection. It showed 88.4% of fluorescence quenching and a 36% reduction in r1 upon exposure to H2S. It is readily uptaken by cells to sense the endogenous H2S. Besides providing a bimodal H2S imaging probe, our study also confirms the high H2S level in CT26 cells and its functional consequence in promoting cell growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Leaf Area Index (LAI) is a crucial parameter for evaluating crop growth and informing fertilization management in agricultural fields. Compared to traditional methods, UAV-based hyperspectral imaging technology offers significant advantages for non-destructive, rapid monitoring of crop LAI by simultaneously capturing both spectral information and two-dimensional images of the crop canopy, which reflect changes in its structure. While numerous studies have demonstrated that various texture features, such as the Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM), can be used independently or in combination with crop canopy spectral data for LAI estimation, limited research exists on the application of Haralick textures for evaluating crop LAI across multiple growth stages. In this study, experiments were conducted on two early-maturing potato varieties, subjected to different treatments (e.g., planting density and nitrogen levels) at the Xiaotangshan base in Beijing, during three key growth stages. Crop canopy spectral reflectance and Haralick textures were extracted from ultra-low-altitude UAV hyperspectral imagery, while LAI was measured using ground-based methods. Three types of spectral data—original spectral reflectance (OSR), first-order differential spectral reflectance (FDSR), and vegetation indices (VIs)—along with three types of Haralick textures—simple, advanced, and higher-order—were analyzed for their correlation with LAI across multiple growth stages. A model for LAI estimation in potato at multiple growth stages based on spectral and textural features screened by the successive projection algorithm (SPA) was constructed using partial least squares regression (PLSR), random forest regression (RFR) and gaussian process regression (GPR) machine learning methods. The results indicated that: (1) Spectral data demonstrate greater sensitivity to LAI than Haralick textures, with sensitivity decreasing in the order of VIs, FDSR and OSR; (2) spectral data alone provide more accurate LAI estimates than Haralick textures, with VIs achieving an accuracy of R² = 0.63, RMSE = 0.38, NRMSE = 28.36%; and (3) although Haralick textures alone were not effective for LAI estimation, they can enhance LAI prediction when combined with spectral data, with the GPR method achieving R ² = 0.70, RMSE = 0.30, NRMSE = 20.28%. These findings offer a valuable reference for large-scale, accurate monitoring of potato LAI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate affinity assessments play an important role in drug discovery, screening, and efficacy evaluation. Label‐free affinity biosensors are recognized as a dependable and standard technology for addressing this challenge. This study constructs a free electron density gradient‐enhanced meta‐surface plasmon resonance (FED‐MSPR) biosensor through a finite‐difference time‐domain simulation model, the biosensor demonstrates superior detection performance in accurately determining affinity and kinetic rate constants. By controlling the dielectric properties of the metal on the surface of the nanocup arrays, the plasmon resonance effects are easily tuned without changing the nanostructure design. Compared with the single‐layer gold chip, the triple‐layer FED‐MSPR chip demonstrated a four‐fold improvement in resolution at the optimal resonance peak. Additionally, the sensitivity and figure of merit (FOM) of the multi‐layer chip increased by 3.5 and 7.99 times, respectively. Following modification with high‐ and low‐staggered carboxylation, the noise‐signal ratio and baseline stability of the real‐time kinetic curves based on these chips are significantly enhanced. The developed carboxylation FED‐MSPR platform is successfully used to perform affinity assays for Adalimumab and TNF‐α protein, resulting in favorable dynamic curves. These findings validate the proposed FED‐MSPR biosensor platform as cost‐effective, rapid, sensitive, and label‐free, facilitating real‐time quality control in drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of wearable neural interfaces (WNIs) with the human nervous system has marked a significant progression, enabling progress in medical treatments and technology integration. Hydrogels, distinguished by their high-water content, low interfacial impedance, conductivity, adhesion, and mechanical compliance, effectively address the rigidity and biocompatibility issues common in traditional materials. This review highlights their important parameters—biocompatibility, interfacial impedance, conductivity, and adhesiveness—that are integral to their function in WNIs. The applications of hydrogels in wearable neural recording and neurostimulation are discussed in detail. Finally, the opportunities and challenges faced by hydrogels for WNIs are summarized and prospected. This review aims to offer a thorough examination of hydrogel technology's present landscape and to encourage continued exploration and innovation. As developments progress, hydrogels are poised to revolutionize wearable neural interfaces, offering significant enhancements in healthcare and technological applications. Highlights: • The biocompatibility, interfacial impedance and conductivity, and adhesion of hydrogel are critical to the functionality of hydrogels in wearable neural interfaces. • Hydrogels can effectively support the requirements for wearable neural recording and neurostimulation applications. • This review discusses the opportunities and challenges of using hydrogels in wearable neural interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thrombosis and intimal hyperplasia (IH) are the main factors affecting the long-term patency of small-diameter vascular grafts (SDVGs). Fabricating a confluent endothelial cell (EC) layer on surfaces with physiological elasticity to mimic vascular endothelium should be an effective strategy to prevent restenosis that is caused by thrombosis and IH. However, the vascular endothelialization process is time-consuming and always constrained by hemocompatibility of the vascular grafts, since excellent hemocompatibility could guarantee a sufficient time window for the endothelialization process. Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP)-derived polyurethane (PU) with improved hemocompatibility and accelerated endothelialization ability is synthesized by incorporating TMP moieties into PU backbones. Results show that TMP-contained PU films possess improved hemocompatibility by down-regulating platelet adhesion/activation and increasing the clotting time. Furthermore, the in vitro human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) test demonstrates that the introduction of TMP can significantly promote HUVEC adhesion and proliferation, and thus accelerate luminal endothelialization of vascular grafts. Moreover, the TMP-containing PU films exhibit excellent biocompatibility especially for HUVECs, and their excellent, adjustable elasticity (1123%) guarantees compliance accommodation of vascular grafts. This newly synthesized TMP-containing material with multiple biological functions is expected to make up for the shortcomings of available SDVGs in clinical practice, and has significant potential in improving the long-term patency of SDVGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genome-wide CRISPR library screening technology is a gene function research tool developed based on the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing system. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated genes (CRISPR/Cas) system, considered the third generation of gene editing after zinc finger nucleases (ZFN) and transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALEN), is widely used for screening various viral host factors. CRISPR libraries are classified into three main categories based on the different functions of Cas9 enzymes: CRISPR knockout (CRISPR KO) library screening, CRISPR transcriptional activation (CRISPRa) library screening, and CRISPR transcriptional interference (CRISPRi) library screening. Recently, genome-wide CRISPR library screening technology has been used to identify host factors that interact with viruses at various stages, including adsorption, endocytosis, and replication. By specifically modulating the expression of these host factors, it becomes possible to cultivate disease-resistant varieties, establish disease models, and design and develop vaccines, among other applications. This review provides an overview of the development and technical processes of genome-wide CRISPR library screening, as well as its applications in identifying viral host factors in livestock and poultry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depending on specific environmental conditions, Robinia pseudoacacia plantations can have a positive or negative impact on ecosystem function. Numerous studies have demonstrated that R. pseudoacacia plantations on the Loess Plateau has decreased the water levels in this area, increasing the risks of water resource security. Understanding the ecosystem function of the R. pseudoacacia plantations is thought to be critical to vegetation restoration in the Loess Plateau. However, no consensus exists on the mechanism by which afforestation affects moisture regulation under varying environmental conditions nor on how to manage R. pseudoacacia plantations to maintain the ecosystem function. In this study, we used the response–effect trait approach to examine the evolving relationship between community functional composition and water regulation by collecting community samples from R. pseudoacacia plantations and natural ecosystems across three vegetation zones (steppe, forest–steppe, and forest). Our goal was to clarify how the afforestation of R. pseudoacacia impacts functional composition and, consequently, moisture regulation. The findings indicated that R. pseudoacacia negatively impacts community structure and moisture regulation in the drier steppe and forest-steppe (P <0.05). Afforestation of R. pseudoacacia increases specific leaf area (SLA), leaf nitrogen content (LNC), and plant height (H), while weakening the trait correlations within the community, which is the main cause of the negative effect. Furthermore, we discovered that response and effect traits overlapped (leaf tissue density, LTD) in natural ecosystems but not in afforested ecosystems within the response–effect traits framework. In conclusion, our findings indicated that the functional structure of communities and moisture regulation are impacted R. pseudoacacia plantations in drier habitats. Additionally, because response–effect traits do not overlap and trait coordination declines, afforestation increases instability in the moisture regulation maintenance. The introduction of R. pseudoacacia weakens the coordination and coupling relationships between traits. We advise giving preference to native species over R. pseudoacacia for restoration in the dry steppe and forest-steppe zones. Trait-based restoration approaches can enhance the efficacy of restoration measure in achieving desired ecosystem functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An inductive combination of plant growth regulators, inorganic salts, and fungi is essential for the formation of aromatic components in the xylem of Aquilaria sinensis. However, the dynamics of xylem physiology and the relationships between physiological properties and aromatic components after artificial induction remain unclear. In this study, the changes in physiological properties of A. sinensis xylem during induction were determined and analyzed under four induction treatments and a control group. The defense hormone contents of jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, and abscisic acid obtained from the four induction treatments increased significantly. However, the concentrations of gibberellin and indoleacetic acid were decreased compared to the control group. An initially upward and then downward trend was observed in the main antioxidant enzyme activities. Additionally, malonaldehyde content decreased obviously, while proline content tended to increase and then decrease as induction continued. The total and soluble sugar content was evidently reduced after treatment, and the soluble sugar content recovered more rapidly with time. Thirty-three aromatic components were identified in all treatments, and the primary aromatic components were terpenes, aromatics and chromones, the relative contents of which varied among treatments. These results provide new insights for optimization and innovation of agarwood induction techniques by exploring the formation of aromatics in the xylem of A. sinensis and its physiological responses following induction with exogenous substances (ethephon, NaCl, CaCl2 and fungal mixed solution). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing low-cost, efficient alternatives to catalysts for bifunctional oxygen electrode catalysis in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is critical for advancing the practical applications of alkaline fuel cells. In this study, Co particles and single atoms co-loaded on nitrogen-doped carbon (CoNC) were synthesized via pyrolysis of a C3N4 and cobalt nitrate mixture at varying temperatures (900, 950, and 1000 °C). The pyrolysis temperature and precursor ratios were found to significantly influence the ORR/OER performance of the resulting catalysts. The optimized CoNC-950 catalyst demonstrated exceptional ORR (E1/2 = 0.85 V) and OER (Ej10 = 320 mV) activities, surpassing commercial Pt/C + RuO2-based devices when used in a rechargeable zinc–air battery. This work presents an effective strategy for designing high-performance non-precious metal bifunctional electrocatalysts for alkaline environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four mononuclear bioefficient zinc coordination complexes [Zn(NN)3](ClO4)2 (A–D) involving chiral bidentate Schiff base ligands have been synthesized and characterized by IR, 1H, and 13C NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. X-ray crystal structures of three of the zinc complexes revealed that the zinc metal ion is hexacoordinated, exhibiting a distorted octahedral geometry where both the nitrogen atoms (NN = pyridyl and imine) of imines are coordinated to the central zinc ion. The isolated zinc complexes were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity in vitro against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus, displaying varying levels of growth inhibition. An acute toxicity test conducted using Artemia salina and Swiss albino mice showed that the zinc complexes A–D were non-toxic towards A. salina at concentrations below 414, 564, 350, and 385 µM, respectively, and did not affect liver biochemical parameters, although pyknosis was induced in hepatocytes of the treated mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gonadotropins and progestins are the primary regulators of follicle maturation and ovulation in fish, and they require complex communication among the oocyte and somatic cells of the follicle. The major progestin and the maturation-inducing hormone in salmonids is 17α,20β-dihdroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20βP), and traditional nuclear receptors and membrane steroid receptors for the progestin have been identified within the follicle. Herein, RNA-seq was used to conduct a comprehensive survey of changes in gene expression throughout the intact follicle in response to in vitro treatment with these hormones to provide a foundation for understanding the coordination of their actions in regulating follicle maturation and preparation for ovulation. A total of 5292 differentially expressed genes were identified from our transcriptome sequencing datasets comparing four treatments: fresh tissue; untreated control; 17,20βP-treated; and salmon pituitary homogenate-treated follicles. Extensive overlap in affected genes suggests many gonadotropin actions leading to the acquisition of maturational and ovulatory competence are mediated in part by gonadotropin induction of 17,20βP synthesis. KEGG analysis identified signaling pathways, including MAPK, TGFβ, FoxO, and Wnt signaling pathways, among the most significantly enriched pathways altered by 17,20βP treatment, suggesting pervasive influences of 17,20βP on actions of other endocrine and paracrine factors in the follicle complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Hydrofoil trailing edge shape directly influences its downstream flow state. Due to the non-streamlined shape, alternating vortices will form downstream, resulting in complex pressure pulsations. Different shapes of the trailing edge lead to varying pressure pulsations downstream. In this paper, four different trailing edge shapes were selected for numerical simulation based on the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics 0009 hydrofoil. The main difference lies in trimming one side of the trailing edge to different degrees, making it asymmetrical. Large Eddy Simulation was used and the results were accurate. The optimized multivariate variational mode decomposition was used to extract and reconstruct effective components of pressure pulsation in the flow, and satisfactory reconstruction results were obtained. This combined method effectively identifies key components influencing flow field and enables reasonable reconstruction. Results show that shedding vortices on both sides of an asymmetric hydrofoil's tailing edge exhibit noticeable differences in morphology. Pressure pulsation distribution in the trailing-edge flow field was primarily influenced by components near vortex-shedding frequency. With the deepening of the asymmetric trimming degree, the pressure pulsation influenced by this component on that side is gradually weakened, but the energy peak of pressure pulsation in the flow field is less reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction safety accidents have become increasingly frequent in recent years, leading to numerous casualties and substantial property losses. These incidents are often attributed to inadequate supervision on construction sites and workers' low safety awareness. Traditional manual management methods, which are labor-intensive and resource-consuming, are no longer effective. Therefore, this study proposes a novel single-stage model based on YOLOv8s, designed for two primary purposes: detecting workers' personal protective equipment and monitoring and recognizing when workers enter hazardous areas. The model provides real-time feedback on detection results to reduce the incidence of construction accidents. Additionally, a brief design for distance calculation was introduced. The model was trained for 200 iterations on a Roboflow dataset comprising 103,500 annotated images. Experimental results showed that YOLOv8s outperformed YOLOv8n, YOLOv5s, and YOLOv5n in detection performance, achieving a mean average precision with the intersection over union (IoU) threshold set to 50% (mAP50) of 84.0%, precision of 85.0%, and recall of 60.5% across 9 detection classes. By leveraging artificial intelligence technology, this study aims to offer an effective method for enhancing construction site safety, which can be further improved with additional images and a more robust network architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emitters are widely used in drip irrigation technology. The clogging problem caused by emitters shortens the service life and affects the popularization of drip irrigation technology. Using fluctuating water pressure irrigation and flushing drip line can prevent the emitter from clogging. In order to explore the clogging characteristics and the mechanism of water and sediment movement of emitters under fluctuated pressure flushing, the authors selected the patch-type pressure compensation emitter as the research object and chose two flushing water modes (fluctuated pressure, constant pressure) and three flushing frequencies (4, 8, and 12 days) for anticlogging performance testing in this paper. The change of clogging characteristics (Dra , Cu) under different flushing treatments was studied, and the content of silted sediment in the drip line was also analyzed. The gradation comparison and particle size analysis of the discharged sediment and clogged sediment from the emitter were carried out by using the laser particle size analyzer. The results show that (1) using fluctuated water pressure under high-frequency flushing treatment can significantly improve the service life of emitters. Under the coupling effect of the two, the service life of the emitter increases by 105.96%. (2) Different flushing treatments significantly impact the specific surface area blockage content (p<0.05), with M2 decreasing by a maximum of 55.54%. (3) Fluctuated water pressure flushing treatment acts on the sediment in the stagnant area of the flow channel, enabling it to return to the mainstream zone quickly and discharge from the body. Moreover, it promotes the discharge of sand particles and sensitive sediment (30–38 μm, 75–100 μm) and significantly reduces blocked sediment's upper limit particle size. The research results provide an experimental basis for fluctuated pressure flushing treatment of emitters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies an event-triggered fault-tolerant tracking control strategy design of multiple quadrotor UAVs (MQUAVs) formation subject to the composite influence of external disturbance, tracking error constraints and actuator faults. A prescribed time prescribed performance function is employed to solve tracking error constraints and it ensures the tracking error enters into the constraint boundary in the prescribed time. A first-order filter is designed to solve the problem of computational explosion caused by reference trajectory and unknown external disturbance. The adaptive method is used to deal with the unknown parameters and the comprehensive uncertainty which contains actuator faults and external disturbance. Furthermore, the event-triggered controller is designed to achieve the formation tracking with the reduction of update number of controller to save resources. The bounded stability of the tracking error is proved via the Lyapunov theory. At last, the effectiveness of the control strategy is verified by simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scaling of galaxy properties with halo mass suggests that feedback loops regulate star formation, but there is no consensus yet about how those feedback loops work. To help clarify discussions of galaxy-scale feedback, Paper I presented a very simple model for supernova feedback that it called the minimalist regulator model. This follow-up paper interprets that model and discusses its implications. The model itself is an accounting system that tracks all of the mass and energy associated with a halo's circumgalactic baryons—the central galaxy's atmosphere. Algebraic solutions for the equilibrium states of that model reveal that star formation in low-mass halos self-regulates primarily by expanding the atmospheres of those halos, ultimately resulting in stellar masses that are insensitive to the mass-loading properties of galactic winds. What matters most is the proportion of supernova energy that couples with circumgalactic gas. However, supernova feedback alone fails to expand galactic atmospheres in higher-mass halos. According to the minimalist regulator model, an atmospheric contraction crisis ensues, which may be what triggers strong black hole feedback. The model also predicts that circumgalactic medium properties emerging from cosmological simulations should depend largely on the specific energy of the outflows they produce, and we interpret the qualitative properties of several numerical simulations in light of that prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new framework for understanding the relationship between a galaxy and its circumgalactic medium (CGM). It focuses on how imbalances between heating and cooling cause either expansion or contraction of the CGM. It does this by tracking all of the mass and energy associated with a halo's baryons, including their gravitational potential energy, even if feedback has pushed some of those baryons beyond the halo's virial radius. We show how a star-forming galaxy's equilibrium state can be algebraically derived within the context of this framework, and we analyze how the equilibrium star formation rate depends on supernova feedback. We consider the consequences of varying the mass loading parameter η M ≡ M ̇ wind / M ̇ * relating a galaxy's gas mass outflow rate ( M ̇ wind ) to its star formation rate ( M ̇ * ) and obtain results that challenge common assumptions. In particular, we find that equilibrium star formation rates in low-mass galaxies are generally insensitive to mass loading, and when mass loading does matter, increasing it actually results in more star formation because more supernova energy is needed to resist atmospheric contraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this discussion paper, we aim to examine the key issues of logistics management in the Industry 4.0 era by addressing various major challenges. To be specific, we first establish an amended definition of logistics management, highlighting the new elements of cash flow, in both the cyber and physical worlds. We then review the highly relevant selected literature and propose a framework for future logistics management. Our proposed framework includes five critical areas, namely Industry 5.0, Joint-venture, Legal-concerns, Risk management, Automation and artificial intelligence (AI), and hence we call it the 'IJLRA' framework. For each area, we identify the major challenges that deserve further analyses. We believe that with proper logistics management under the IJLRA framework, organisations in the supply chain can achieve the crucial goals of logistics – achieving the right time, right place, right quality, and everything right – to satisfy customer needs. Finally, we also propose a future research agenda for logistics management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water masses are carriers of anthropogenic fingerprints in the ocean interior, with their property changes manifesting oceanic thermodynamic responses to climate change. Yet, delimiting ocean water masses remains challenging in either observational atlas or climate models. This study analyzes the distribution of Indian Ocean seawater in the density–spicity space and uses volumetric maxima and minima between σ = 27.1 and 27.4 kg m−3 to track the cores and boundaries of intermediate water masses, respectively. In addition to the well-known Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) and Red Sea–Persian Gulf Intermediate Water (RS-PGIW), two other water masses are identified by the new approach. One is the Indian-AAIW (I-AAIW), as a mixture of the AAIW and the Indonesian Throughflow water, existing in the South Equatorial Current and the Agulhas Current system. The other [equatorial Indian Intermediate Water (EIIW)] exits in the equatorial Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal, sourced from the RS-PGIW and overlying fresh waters. These waters are corroborated by nutrient and dissolved oxygen data. Around half (26 out of 51) of phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) models can reasonably simulate these intermediate water masses. Compared with the observed water masses, the intermediate water masses in models are of a smaller thickness and the RS-PGIW is colder and fresher. The former arises from a warm bias in the thermocline, whereas the latter is likely linked to insufficient ventilation in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf in models owing to coarse grid resolution and a surface cold bias. Significance Statement: Oceanic water masses are important for understanding climate change. Yet, the definition of water masses is controversial. Here, we use volumetric minima in the density–spicity space to track the boundaries of intermediate (27.1–27.4 kg m−3) water masses in the Indian Ocean. We identify four water masses: AAIW, I-AAIW, EIIW, and RS-PGIW. We delineate the geographical location of each water mass, including two newly identified water masses (I-AAIW and EIIW). We also examined the performance of 51 CMIP6 models in simulating these water masses and found that 26 models can reasonably simulate the distribution of these water masses. There are two systematic model biases emerging from these models. The intermediate water masses in models are of a thinner thickness arising from a warm bias in the thermocline, and the RS-PGIW is colder and fresher owing to insufficient ventilation in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf. These results provide a useful benchmark for understanding water masses in a changing climate and constraining climate models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In bearing fault diagnosis, traditional deep learning methods often fall short of achieving satisfactory diagnostic accuracy under variable operating conditions. A critical phase in this process is data acquisition, which heavily relies on high-precision sensors to accurately capture the real-time operational state of the bearing ring. To address this, a diversified sensor fusion strategy has been proposed, encompassing various sensor types such as temperature, and acoustic sensors. The strategy allows for comprehensive monitoring of the bearing's state from multiple dimensions. Vibration sensors are responsible for detecting minute vibrations and abnormal vibration patterns during the bearing's operation. Temperature sensors monitor changes in the bearing ring's temperature to identify potential overheating issues, whereas acoustic sensors capture unusual noises that may indicate faults. From the collective data gathered by these sensors, a comprehensive view of the bearing's operational state can be obtained, significantly enhancing the accuracy of fault diagnosis. To tackle the issue of low diagnostic accuracy under variable working conditions, an algorithm combining the advantages of data reconstruction and discriminative space optimization, data deconstruction and metalearning discriminative space optimization (DR-MLDSO), has been utilized. Additionally, by integrating a hybrid dual-channel attention mechanism into the feature extraction network, challenges arising from variable application scenarios and data quality issues have been effectively addressed. Faced with the challenge of insufficient sample size, a similarity-based meta-learning algorithm was employed to train the encoder. Furthermore, the introduction of new constraints in the loss function leads to an improved sparse denoising autoencoder that optimizes data reconstruction, effectively reducing noise while preserving key features. Finally, incorporating a self-attention mechanism enhances the model's diagnostic capabilities in noisy environments, achieving superior diagnostic performance under variable working conditions, even with small sample sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rockburst is a major challenge to hard rock engineering at great depth. Accurate and timely assessment of rockburst risk can avoid unnecessary casualties and property losses. Despite the existence of various methods for rockburst assessment, there remains an urgent need for a comprehensive and reliable criterion that is easy to both apply and interpret. Developing a new rockburst criterion based on simple parameters can potentially fill this gap. With its advantages, this criterion can facilitate a more effective and efficient prediction of rockburst potential, thereby contributing significantly to enhancing safety measures. In this paper, combined with the internal and external factors of rockburst, four control variables (i.e., integrity index, stress index, brittleness index, and elastic energy index) were selected to be incorporated into a comprehensive rockburstability index (RBSI). Based on 116 sets of rockburst cases, the rockburst potential was accurately quantified and predicted using the categorical boosting (CatBoost) model and the nature-inspired metaheuristic African vultures optimization algorithm (AVOA). In its performance validation, the criterion achieved the highest accuracy of 90.48%, verifying the reliability and effectiveness of the proposed RBSI criterion. Additionally, an interpretive method was applied to analyze the variable influence on the criterion, facilitating the explanation of predictions and the analysis of the formula's robustness under different conditions. In general, compared with existing criterion methods involving relevant indicators, the newly proposed RBSI criterion enhances the accuracy of rockburst potential prediction, and it can effectively and swiftly evaluate the preliminary risk of rockburst. Lastly, a graphical user interface was developed to provide a clear visualization of the assessment of rockburst potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]