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One of the main pathological features noted in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the presence of plagues of aggregated β-amyloid (Aβ1–42)-peptides. Excess deposition of amyloid-β oligomers (AβO) are known to promote neuroinflammation. Sequentially, following neuroinflammation astrocytes become activated with cellular characteristics to initiate activated astrocytes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether total flavonoids derived from Dracocephalum moldavica L. (TFDM) inhibited Aβ1–42-induced damage attributed to activated C8-D1A astrocytes. Western blotting and ELISA were used to determine the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and complement C3 to establish the activation status of astrocytes following induction from exposure to Aβ1–42. Data demonstrated that stimulation of C8-D1A astrocytes by treatment with 40 μM Aβ1–42 for 24 hr produced significant elevation in protein expression and protein levels of acidic protein (GFAP) and complement C3 accompanied by increased expression and levels of inflammatory cytokines. Treatment with TFDM or the clinically employed drug donepezil in AD therapy reduced production of inflammatory cytokines, and toxicity initiated following activation of C8-D1A astrocytes following exposure to Aβ1–42. Therefore, TFDM similar to donepezil inhibited inflammatory secretion in reactive astrocytes, suggesting that TFDM may be considered as a potential compound to be utilized in AD therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mn–Co–Ni–O ceramics are promising negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor materials. However, the high sintering temperatures and long sintering time of Mn–Co–Ni–O ceramics are not favorable to grain size control which is closely related to the electric properties of the ceramics. In this work, Mn 1.5 Co 1.2 Ni 0.3 O 4 (MCN) ceramics were prepared via reactive flash sintering (RFS) of a mixture of Mn 3 O 4 , Co 2 O 3 and NiO powders at the current density of 0.2–1.6 A mm−2, sintering time of 30–120 s and sintering temperature of 300 °C (far below the conventional sintering temperature of 1450 °C). The average grain size of the fabricated ceramics was 1.71–3.77 μm, being much smaller than that achieved via conventional sintering (10–12 μm). As a result, the room-temperature resistivity of the ceramics (3.6–25.5 kΩ cm) exceeded that reported in other study (1.7 kΩ cm), and B values (2958–4075 K) were in comparable to that reported in literature (3676 K). Moreover, the enhanced grain boundary diffusion was considered as the predominant mechanism for the RFSing of MCN ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sharing experience via social media communication has been examined in psychology, sociology, communication and linguistic studies. While this research has mostly examined consumption experience and health issues, how people make meanings and develop interactions while sharing mundane matters needs more investigation. This paper reports on a pragmatic investigation into individuals sharing their exam experiences in social media groups. Data were collected from two support groups on Douban , a Chinese social networking site that encourages users to share their thoughts, interests and experiences. A total of 400 original posts, 200 each from a group sharing experiences of failure in examinations and a group sharing their success in examinations, were collected and analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The findings showed that the two groups were significantly different in the ways they voluntarily disclosed their identities and in the types of expressions they employed to refer to different participants. In addition, they differed significantly in how they sought or offered support in interactions. Similarities and differences between the two groups' sharing are discussed in relation to the instructions of the two groups, their identity construction, the affordances of social media, and the importance of politeness and face in Chinese culture. • This paper reports on a pragmatic investigation into individuals sharing their exam experiences in social media groups. • The failure and the success groups were significantly different in the ways they voluntarily disclosed their identities. • They were also significantly different in the types of expressions used to refer to different participants. • They differed significantly in how they sought or offered support in interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Osteoporosis is a major global health problem with substantial economic and psychosocial repercussions. Underdiagnosis of osteoporosis is prevalent. The dual-energy absorptiometry (DEXA) scan is the gold standard for bone mineral density (BMD) measurement but its accessibility is limited. Radiographs are ubiquitous in healthcare and represent a promising avenue for opportunistic osteoporosis screening. Historically, this has been associated with high labor and time costs but several recent studies have demonstrated that BMD can be estimated from radiographs in a cost-effective manner utilizing deep learning techniques. This review aims to summarize the existing evidence supporting the utility of artificial intelligence (AI) methods for osteoporosis classification using radiographs. Osteoporosis is a complex endocrine disease characterized by a decline in bone mass and microstructural integrity. It constitutes a major global health problem. Recent progress in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) has opened new avenues for the effective diagnosis of osteoporosis via radiographs. This review investigates the application of AI classification of osteoporosis in radiographs. A comprehensive exploration of electronic repositories (ClinicalTrials.gov, Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE) was carried out in adherence to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 statement (PRISMA). A collection of 31 articles was extracted from these repositories and their significant outcomes were consolidated and outlined. This encompassed insights into anatomical regions, the specific machine learning methods employed, the effectiveness in predicting BMD, and categorizing osteoporosis. Through analyzing the respective studies, we evaluated the effectiveness and limitations of AI osteoporosis classification in radiographs. The pooled reported accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of osteoporosis classification ranges from 66.1% to 97.9%, 67.4% to 100.0%, and 60.0% to 97.5% respectively. This review underscores the potential of AI osteoporosis classification and offers valuable insights for future research endeavors, which should focus on addressing the challenges in technical and clinical integration to facilitate practical implementation of this technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study investigates the impact of DNA methylation on collagen deposition in the skin of Dezhou donkeys, a breed valued for its thick, flexible skin with medicinal properties. Utilizing whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), the research analyzes the epigenetic landscape and gene expression profiles across three developmental stages of Dezhou donkeys. The study identifies numerous differentially methylated genes related to collagen deposition, such as COL1A1, COL1A2, and MMPs, highlighting an inverse relationship between gene expression and DNA methylation near transcription start sites. The findings of our study reveal the significant regulatory role of DNA methylation in skin collagen deposition, offering insights for genetic improvement and selective breeding to enhance skin quality in Dezhou donkeys. Our current research adds to the foundational knowledge of collagen deposition mechanisms, contributing to the fields of molecular biology and animal husbandry. DNA methylation represents a predominant epigenetic modification with broad implications in various biological functions. Its role is particularly significant in the process of collagen deposition, a fundamental aspect of dermal development in donkeys. Despite its critical involvement, the mechanistic insights into how DNA methylation influences collagen deposition in donkey skin remain limited. In this study, we employed whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to investigate the epigenetic landscape and gene expression profiles in the dorsal skin tissues of Dezhou donkeys across three developmental stages: embryonic (YD), juvenile (2-year-old, MD), and mature (8-year-old, OD). Our analysis identified numerous differentially methylated genes that play pivotal roles in skin collagen deposition and overall skin maturation, including but not limited to COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL4A1, COL4A2, GLUL, SFRP2, FOSL1, SERPINE1, MMP1, MMP2, MMP9, and MMP13. Notably, we observed an inverse relationship between gene expression and DNA methylation proximal to transcription start sites (TSSs), whereas a direct correlation was detected in regions close to transcription termination sites (TTSs). Detailed bisulfite sequencing analyses of the COL1A1 promoter region revealed a low methylation status during the embryonic stage, correlating with elevated transcriptional activity and gene expression levels. Collectively, our findings elucidate key genetic markers associated with collagen deposition in the skin of Dezhou donkeys, underscoring the significant regulatory role of DNA methylation. This research work contributes to the foundational knowledge necessary for the genetic improvement and selective breeding of Dezhou donkeys, aiming to enhance skin quality attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi) reflects the trade‐off between photosynthetic carbon gain and water loss through stomatal conductance and is key for understanding dryland plant responses to climate change. Stipa tenacissima is a perennial tussock C3 grass with an opportunistic, drought‐avoiding water use strategy that dominates arid and semiarid steppes across the western Mediterranean region. However, its ecophysiological responses to aridification and woody shrub encroachment, a major land‐use change in drylands worldwide, are not well‐understood.We investigated the variations in leaf stable isotopes (δ18O, δ13C, δ15N), nutrient concentrations (N, P, K), and culm water content and isotopic composition (δ18O, δ2H) of paired pure‐grass and shrub‐encroached S. tenacissima steppes along a 350 km aridity gradient in Spain (10 sites, 160 individuals).Culm water isotopes revealed that S. tenacissima is a shallow‐rooted grass that depends heavily on recent rainwater for water uptake, which may render it vulnerable to increasingly irregular rainfall combined with faster topsoil drying under climate warming and aridification. With increasing aridity, S. tenacissima enhanced leaf‐level WUEi through more stringent stomatal regulation of plant water flux and carbon assimilation (higher δ13C and δ18O), reaching exceptionally high δ13C values (−23‰ to −21‰) at the most arid steppes. Foliar N concentration was remarkably low across sites regardless of woody shrub encroachment, evidencing severe water and N co‐limitation of photosynthesis and productivity. Shrub encroachment decreased leaf P and K but did not affect S. tenacissima water status. Perennial grass cover decreased markedly with both declining winter rainfall and shrub encroachment suggesting population‐level rather than individual‐level responses of S. tenacissima to these changes.The fundamental physiological constraints of photosynthetic C3 metabolism combined with low foliar N content may hamper the ability of S. tenacissima and other drought‐avoider species with shallow roots to achieve further adaptive improvements in WUEi under increasing climatic stress. A drought‐avoiding water use strategy based on early stomatal closure and photosynthesis suppression during prolonged rainless periods may thus compromise the capacity of semiarid S. tenacissima steppes to maintain perennial grass cover, sustain productivity and cope with ongoing climate aridification at the drier parts of their current distribution. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared with conventional displacement modal analysis, the strain modal analysis has remarkable advantages in structural damage detection. Identifying the operational strain modal parameters directly from only dynamic strain time–history response measurements of a structure under operational conditions is a challenging issue. In this paper, the strain power spectrum density transmissibility (SPSDT)-based approach is presented to identify the operational strain modal parameters. The SPSDT is first defined by selecting a strain response measurement point as a reference. It is then theoretically proved that the defined SPSDT converges to the ratio of strain mode amplitudes at the system poles. Based on this unique property, the SPSDT matrix is constructed by selecting different strain response measurement points as the references. Singular value decomposition (SVD) is implemented in the matrix at the system pole. The first left singular vector is used to estimate strain mode shape. A simulated three-span continuous beam, a simply supported beam model tested in the laboratory and a full-size arch bridge tested in field are employed to verify the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed SPSDT-based operational strain modal identification method. The obtained results are compared with those of other available methods. It is found that a good agreement is achieved. It is demonstrated that the proposed SPSDT-based method is capable of identifying the operational strain modal parameters of a structure where only the dynamic strain time–history responses are measured. The proposed SPSDT-based method does not need white noise assumption under a single load condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mandarin Chinese, as the national lingua franca in China, has gained increasing importance in bilingual education in ethnic minority areas in the country. However, little research has explored ethnic minority children’s pragmatic competence. Therefore, this study investigates ethnic Uyghur children’s written pragmatic performance of advice-giving through a brief note in Mandarin and the possible effects of proficiency and gender on their advice-giving. Data were collected from 300 ethnic Uyghur children across three proficiency levels with a balanced gender split. In addition, 100 Han children were also recruited as a comparison group. The advice produced by the children was coded in terms of speech act strategies and supportive moves. The findings showed that the Uyghur children with higher proficiency provided more reasons and fewer affective expressions when giving advice than the two lower proficiency groups, reflecting the performance of the Han children. On the other hand, the results also revealed gender differences in certain advice-giving strategies and supportive moves. The study discusses the findings in relation to national lingua franca and second language pragmatics. Some pedagogical implications for multilingual education in ethnic minority areas are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehension of implicature may be challenging for L2 learners, which may be further influenced for by learners' L2 grit and emotions. However, few studies have endeavored to determine the predictive impact of L2 grit, along with its closely associated emotional factors, such as enjoyment and anxiety, and investigate how these psychological factors jointly influence pragmatic comprehension. Therefore, this study attempts to investigate the relationship between L2 grit and pragmatic comprehension, along with the mediating roles of enjoyment and anxiety in their interactions. The data were collected from 171 Chinese non‐English major postgraduate learners, a population that has been less pronounced in L2 pragmatics. The findings revealed that the perseverance of effort (PE) of L2 grit predicted pragmatic comprehension instead of the consistency of interest of L2 grit. Pragmatic comprehension was positively but weakly linked to enjoyment and shared negative and moderate associations with anxiety. Only anxiety mediated the interaction between PE and pragmatic comprehension. Implications for pragmatic instruction and suggestions for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Furfuryl alcohol as reactant, NaBr as electrolyte and methanol as solvent, 2,5-dimethoxy-2,5-dihydrofuranmethanol, the intermediate of pyromellic acid, was synthesized by electrochemical method. The influence of reaction time, NaBr addition and reaction temperature on the yield was investigated. The results showed that the reaction time and rection temperature had a significant impact on the yield, while the amount of NaBr added had no significant impact on the yield. When furfuryl alcohol 3 g(24 mmol) was added, constant pressure was 15 V, the optimal conditions were reaction time 2.4 h, NaBr addition 1.76 g, reaction temperature - 10 °C, the average current was 0.93 A, and the yield of 2,5-dimethoxy-2, 5-dihydrofuranmethanol is 67.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the stabilization problem of networked control systems (NCSs) with random packet dropouts caused by stochastic channels. To describe the effects of stochastic channels on the information transmission, the transmission times are assumed to be deterministic, whereas the packet transmission is assumed to be random. We first propose a stochastic scheduling protocol to model random packet dropouts, and address the properties of the proposed stochastic scheduling protocol. The proposed scheduling protocol provides a unified modelling framework for a general class of random packet dropouts due to different stochastic channels. Next, the proposed scheduling protocol is embedded into the closed-loop system, which leads to a stochastic hybrid model for NCSs with random packet dropouts. Based on this stochastic hybrid model, we follow the emulation approach to establish sufficient conditions to guarantee uniform global asymptotical stability in probability. In particular, an upper bound on the maximally allowable transmission interval is derived explicitly for all stochastic protocols satisfying Lyapunov conditions that guarantee uniform global asymptotic stability in probability. Finally, two numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the derived results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contamination of agricultural soil with Cadmium (Cd) poses life-threatening risks to human health via the food chain. To alleviate Cd toxicity, biochar is a safe and efficient technique to reduce their availability in soil and subsequently their uptake by roots and translocation towards edible parts of plants. This study provides an in-depth understanding of the biochar underlying mechanisms for Cd-contaminated soils. Biochar improves soil's physicochemical properties and microbial community structure due to its unique properties including large surface area, porosity, aromatic hydrocarbons, diverse functional groups, nutrient potential, and variable pH. Based on its general and specific characteristics, Cd adsorption and immobilization in soil occur by the mechanisms of improving soil pH, ion exchange, electrostatic interactions, complexation, precipitation, surface adsorption, and activation of microorganisms. Simultaneously, biochar regulates several non-selective channels that are responsible for Cd uptake into the roots, distribute it, and redistribute it to the shoots/grains, thereby reducing their accumulation in edible parts of plants. Finally, the use of biochar may reduce the risk of Cd exposure to humans from food crops. Conclusively, this study gives a detailed account of biochar-induced Cd immobilization in soil, its absorption by roots, and accumulation in edible parts of plants. [Display omitted] • The presence of cadmium in agricultural soil poses a serious threat to human health. • Biochar could be a suitable strategy to reduce Cd availability in soil for plants. • Biochar improves soil physical and chemical adsorption of Cd on their surface. • It regulates channels that are responsible for Cd uptake and translocation in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The age-based digital divide is emerging as a major challenge with the integrated development of population aging and digital transformation. This study examines the dynamics of multifaceted age-based digital divides (perceived Internet importance, Internet access, and learning-oriented Internet use) as well as their socioeconomic differentials (urban-rural residence, gender, and education). Using longitudinal data from China Family Panel Survey (CFPS) from 2010 to 2020, the study found that despite increases in perceived importance and physical access, learning-oriented use showed a downward trend. Moreover, the age-based divides regarding importance and access persisted over time while the divides in learning-oriented use by age fluctuated, and these dynamics varied across different social groups. The largest difference was observed between high-educated and low-educated groups: while the age-based divides in perceived importance and access have widened among the low-educated, these gaps have been bridged among the high-educated populations. For the usage gap, this contrasting developmental trend was only observed between middle-aged and young people, but not for the elderly. • The paper focused on the evolution of age-based digital divides among Chinese from 2010 to 2020. • The age-based divides in attitude, access, and learning-oriented use persisted over years. • The dynamics of age-based divides varied across different social groups. • The age-based Internet perception and access divides have widened among the less-educated populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precast concrete segments of wind turbine hybrid towers are usually lifted and installed using the pre-installed lifting anchors with supplementary reinforcements. The lifting anchors are made of steel plate and the supplementary reinforcements are often arranged near the lifting anchors to enhance their anchoring performance. This lifting system including the reinforcement configuration is presented in existing design codes, but the design recommendation and calculation method of ultimate capacity are not provided. It is necessary to explore the pull-out behavior of the lifting anchor considering the effects of reinforcements. Therefore, a comprehensive investigation on the pull-out behavior of the lifting anchor is conducted in this paper, by using the precast concrete segments of hybrid tower as a carrier. Four specimens based on the actual dimension of precast concrete segment of hybrid tower were tested under cyclic pull-out loading, and the failure modes as well as the ultimate capacity were analyzed. The verified finite element (FE) models were established based on the test results, and mechanical analysis were performed to reveal the pull-out mechanism of the lifting anchor. Subsequently, the parametric analysis was conducted to explore the sensitive parameters of the lifting anchor's pull-out performance. The accuracy and applicability of the calculation methods for ultimate pull-out capacity in existing design codes and literatures were evaluated based on the test results. Lastly, a practical calculation method for the ultimate pull-out capacity of lifting anchor was proposed based on theoretical model and regression analysis. The proposed method can provide a reference for the lifting design of precast concrete segments of wind turbine hybrid towers. • 4 specimens with the specialized lifting anchor based on the actual size of precast concrete segment were tested under cyclic pull-out loading. • The verified FE models were established, and mechanical analysis were performed to reveal the pull-out mechanism of the lifting anchor. • The parametric analysis was conducted to explore the sensitive parameters of the lifting anchor's pull-out performance. • The accuracy and applicability of the existing calculation methods for ultimate pull-out capacity were evaluated based on the test results. • A practical calculation method for the pull-out capacity of lifting anchor was proposed based on theoretical model and regression analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to study the adaptability and enhancement methods of ignition chips in complex electromagnetic environments. In this paper, combined with simulation and calculation technology, we first establish the electromagnetic–electrical–thermal coupling simulation model of ignition chips and analyze the influence of two electromagnetic environments, continuous electromagnetic wave and nuclear electromagnetic pulse, on the electrical–thermal coupling in the bridge area of the ignition chip. The results show that a continuous electromagnetic wave field strength of 1200 V/m, irradiated for 5 s, a nuclear electromagnetic pulse with a rise time of 5 ns, a half-height width of 24 ns, and a leg wire length of 350 mm will cause the ignition chip to fire accidently. In order to suppress its accidental firing, the electromagnetic protection is enhanced by using parallel Transient Voltage Suppressor (TVS) diodes. It has been shown that parallel TVS diodes provide good protection against both continuous electromagnetic waves and nuclear electromagnetic pulses. In particular, the peak induced current decreases by more than 64.7% during the action of continuous electromagnetic waves, and the maximum temperature in the bridge area decreases by 54.34% during the action of nuclear electromagnetic pulses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of natural clay minerals for the adsorption of endocrine‐disrupting chemicals (EDCs) presents a cost‐effective and environmentally friendly approach. However, the hydrophilic nature of clay minerals' surface limits their efficacy in removing these hydrophobic pollutants. To overcome these limitations, this study employed two cationic surfactants, cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), to modify kaolin minerals to enhance their capacity to adsorb a specific type of EDCs, bisphenol A (BPA), and its analogs. The experimental results validated that the surfactant‐modified kaolin exhibited remarkable efficiency in removing BPA from water. The equilibrium adsorption capacities of CPC‐K and CTAC‐K for BPA were determined to be 11.4 mg/g (pH = 2.0–8.0) and 13.4 mg/g (pH = 2.0–6.5), respectively. Kinetic analysis revealed that the BPA adsorption followed a pseudo‐second‐order kinetic process, while isotherm analysis suggested that the BPA adsorption was better described by the Freundlich model (R2 = 0.993–0.998). The surfactant‐modified kaolin demonstrated a retention of over 70% of its initial adsorption capacity after five cycles of desorption and regeneration, further confirming its potential for recycling. Additionally, these modified adsorbents exhibited excellent compatibility in removing bisphenol analogs. These findings provide valuable insights into the practical application of surfactant‐modified clay minerals for the elimination of hydrophobic organic pollutants from water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a nutrient-rich multigrain crop, buckwheat is a typical "medicinal food homology" crop that is rich in flavonoids, including rutin and various vitamins. It has positive anti-oxidant and anti-tumour properties and lowers blood pressure. However, due to strict self-crossing characteristics, slow progress has been made in Tartary buckwheat (TB) cross-breeding, resulting in the slow breeding of new varieties of new TB varieties, which has limited the improvement of yield and quality. Therefore, mutant breeding is a rapid and effective technique for broadening and innovating TB breeding. In recent years, improving qualities related to yield, lodging resistance, and stability have become key points in TB breeding. Based on the above findings, excellent, potentially valuable TB lines with rich phenotypes were obtained for the TB mutation library via ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), laying a foundation for creating new TB germplasms. In this study, we systematically investigated more than 10 agronomic traits of JQ2 and JQ4 mutants, including plant type, leaf colour, grain type, grain colour, grain number per plant, grain length, grain width, grain weight per plant, and 1000-grain weight. The results show that the maximum number of grains per plant was 1956, the weight was 32.84 g, and the 1000-grain weight was 30.89 g. The maximum number of grains per JQ4 plant was 2308, and the weight was 44.82 g. The maximum 1000-grain weight was 24.7 g. Among the 295 JQ2 mutants and 153 JQ4 mutants, 10 flavonoids (orientin, morin, quercetin, kaempferol, luteolin, naringin, hesperetin, myricetin, hesperidin, and rutin) were detected with near infrared spectroscopy (NIR). The mutants were divided into five groups according to the flavonoid content of the JQ2 mutants, of which the first group included 31 individual lines. and the second to fifth groups included 70, 69, 72, and 53 lines, respectively. The JQ4 mutants were divided into four classes, of which 41, 50, 32, and 30 were individual lines, respectively, with the highest rutin content being 82.06 mg/g. In summary, through systematic analysis and screening of the agronomic traits and flavonoid contents of JQ2 and JQ4 mutant seeds, we obtained three lines with a high 1000-grain weight, including two JQ2 mutant lines (30.89 g) and one JQ4 mutant line, which reached 24.70 g and ten lines with high grain weight per plant. This included 8 JQ2 mutants and 2 JQ4 mutants, as well as 72 high-rutin mutants (including 31 lines from JQ2 and 41 lines from JQ4 mutants). These elite lines provide the material basis for creating TB germplasms with excellent qualities and cultivation characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the speed-tracking control of permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) systems, fast dynamic response and high reference speed require a large transient current to provide sufficient electromagnetic torque. However, the excessive transient current may damage the drive circuit and threaten the system safety. Besides, it is also important to pay attention to the influence of multiple disturbances including system parameter uncertainties and unknown load torque variation. To solve these problems, we propose a nonlinear speed-tracking control approach for uncertain PMSM systems. More specifically, based on the cascade control structure and by introducing auxiliary smooth function, we first develop a nonlinear current-constrained controller (CCC) to guarantee the speed tracking, disturbance rejection, and overcurrent protection simultaneously. In order to improve the robustness of the desired performances, we further implement extended state observer (ESO) techniques to propose an ESO-based CCC (ESO-CCC). Finally, comparative experiments are implemented in a 5.5 kW PMSM platform to verify the performance of the proposed two controllers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A scheme that combines optoelectronic tweezers (OET) with spectroscopic analysis is presented. Referred to as spectral tweezers, the approach uses a single focused light beam that acts both as the trapping beam for OET and the probe beam for spectroscopy. Having simultaneous manipulation and spectral characterization ability, the method is used to isolate single micro-samples from clusters and perform spectral measurements. Experimental results show that a characteristic spectral signature can be obtained for a given sample. The proposed approach can be easily integrated into the optical setups used for conventional OETs with only a few additional optical components, making it a convenient tool for bio-analytical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While extensive research has explored translanguaging practices online in relation to named languages, written signs, such as punctuation, are under-researched despite their creative, multifunctional, and playful potential. This study investigates the use of parentheses on a Chinese micro-blogging site, Weibo with a translanguaging lens. We explore how online users exploited parentheses for innovative meanings and functions and how creative adoptions of parentheses facilitate the translanguaging practices featured with trans-boundary communication. Data were collected using Python with keywords “parenthesis literature” – a cyberliteracy in which parentheses are often used in ways that deviate from its conventional usages, along with manual data cleaning. We identified four types of trans-semiotic practices, including trans-scenarios, trans-semiotizing for new punctuation marks, trans-modality for stylizing emoticons, and conventionalizing parentheses for indicating speech acts. We argue that online users engage in trans-semiotic practices via fluid controls of parentheses, during which they turn a conventional punctuation into translanguaging cues, rendering extra-linguistic resources important components in meaning-making in digital communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biometric-based authentication methods have been widely used, for example on portable devices (e.g., Android and iOS devices). However, there are several known limitations in existing authentication methods based on biometrics (e.g., those using facial, iris, and fingerprint). For example, in a healthcare context, a user may be physically incapable of completing the authentication due to his/her medical conditions. Hence, as a complementary authentication mechanism, there have been attempts to also utilize electrocardiogram (ECG). In this work, we propose an ECG authentication system that leverages deep learning. Specifically, to achieve generalization ability, complementary ensemble empirical decomposition (CEEMD) is introduced in our design. Moreover, a 1-D Multi-scale Convolutional Neural Network (1-D MCNN) is implemented to achieve accurate authentication. To evaluate the usability of our proposed approach, we have performed extensive experiments on eight databases, and the findings show that our proposed approach achieves good performance even on abnormal databases and can be adapted for different application environments. In addition, our adopted data from eight public databases requires theoretical statistical treatment for practical applications in real authentication scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports a modified Haldane model that supports transitions between valley and Chern topological phases in photonic crystals. Berry curvatures of this system can be flexibly diffused, converged, or flipped by endowing different model parameters, thus exhibiting exotic topological interface/edge behaviors, such as topological bound states with ideally zero dispersion. Importantly, the coexistence of chiral and antichiral edge states preserved simultaneously by valley and Chern topological phases is achieved by splicing together two kinds of topological structures as an entirety. It further employs a honeycomb lattice comprising gyromagnetic and ceramic cylinders at microwave frequencies, where inversion and time‐reversal symmetries can be flexibly manipulated. Topological interface transport is demonstrated, including two opposite signs of group velocities jointly protected by topologically distinct regimes. These results bridge the gap between valley and Chern topological physics and shed light on developing reconfigurable integrated device applications for classical (quantum) information processing and photonic computing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The orientation and rearrangement of water on a gold electrode significantly influences its physicochemical heterogeneous performance. Despite numerous experimental and theoretical studies aimed at uncovering the structural characteristics of interfacial water, the orientational behavior resulting from electrode-induced rearrangements remains a subject of ongoing debate. Here, we employed molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the adaptive structure and dynamics properties of interfacial water on Au(111) and Au(100) surfaces by considering a polarizable model for Au atoms in comparison with the non-polarizable model. Compared to the nonpolarizable systems, the polarization effect can enhance the interaction between water molecules and the gold surface. Unexpectedly, the rotational dynamics directly associated with the orientational behavior of water adjacent to the gold surface is accelerated, thereby reducing the hydrogen bond lifetime. The underlying mechanism for this anomalous phenomenon originates from the polarization effect, which induces the attraction of the positive hydrogen atoms to the surface by the negative image charge. This leads to a change in orientation that disrupts the hydrogen bonds in the first water layer and subsequently accelerates reorientation dynamics of water molecules adjacent to the gold surface. These results shed light on the intricate interplay between polarization effects and water molecule dynamics on metal surfaces, establishing the foundation for the rational regulation of the orientation of interfacial water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recognizing the strong potential of cold cathodes for important commercial applications in fields such as electronics, there is a growing interest in the exploration of novel 1D nanomaterials. Among various cold cathode materials, TaSi2 is of great interest for its outstanding field emission performance. In this work, the Si‐TaSi2 eutectic composite with nano‐sized highly oriented TaSi2 fibers and semi‐coherent phase interfaces is prepared by the laser floating zone melting technique with a very high‐temperature gradient of 6000 K cm−1 at a solidification rate of 200 µm s−1. On the basis of directionally solidified Si‐TaSi2 eutectic composite, well‐aligned TaSi2 nanorod and nanotip arrays are fabricated by inductively coupling plasma (ICP) etching process and HNO3/HF wet etching process, respectively. The field emission measurements show that the field enhancement factor, turn‐on electric field, and effective work function are strongly affected by tip morphologies. The TaSi2 array with regular nanotip structure possesses the best field emission characteristic among all TaSi2 nanostructures, with a relatively low turn‐on field of 4.8 V µm−1 and a high current density of 733 µA cm−2. These findings preliminarily establish a clear relationship between the performance and structure of the array, providing technical guidance for the application of this material in electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structured light systems (SLSs) are commonly used for precision dimensional measurements. These are active systems in that the projected structured light pattern is used to establish correspondence between the projector and the camera(s) to provide more accurate 3D reconstruction as opposed to passive camera-based systems that rely on the user or features in images to identify corresponding points between the cameras. Errors in the calibration of the model parameters of an SLS can lead to systematic errors in dimensional measurements. In this paper, we explore the topic of performance testing of an SLS, specifically, the sensitivity of the length tests described in the VDI/VDE 2634-2 guideline and the ISO 10360-13 standard to the model parameters (such as intrinsic parameters of the camera and the projector, and camera-projector geometry parameters) of an SLS. The results are based on a hybrid approach of simulations performed using data obtained experimentally from an SLS mounted on a Cartesian coordinate measuring machine (CMM) which is used primarily to position the target at different points within the measurement volume. The results show that the length tests described in the ISO 10360-13 standard provide better sensitivity to the model parameters than the VDI/VDE 2634-2 guideline. However, even the ISO 10360-13 length tests do not detect all parameters with high sensitivity. A model-based approach in identifying length tests (i.e., the position and orientation of reference lengths) such as described in this paper provides better sensitivity to model parameters and therefore is more likely to detect systematic errors in SLSs. • Built a structured light system on a CMM and determined the length errors between points in a rectangular grid. • Assessed the sensitivity of lines defined in the VDI/VDE 2634-2 and ISO 10360-13 documents to systematic errors in SLSs. • Identified position/orientation of lines in the measurement volume that provides maximum sensitivity to systematic errors. • Demonstrated the superiority of our sensitivity analysis-based approach in detecting SLS systematic errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipids are crucial substances for the formation and retention of volatile compounds (VOCs). The lipid and VOC profiles of boiled donkey meat were investigated by lipidomics and volatilomics. In total, 4277 lipids belonging to 39 subclasses were identified, comprising 26.93% triglycerides (TGs), 15.74% phosphatidylcholins (PCs), and 9.40% phosphatidylethanolamines. The relative percentage of TG in the meat significantly decreases (p < 0.001) from 0 to 40 min, after which there is no significant change, whereas PCs, sphingomyelins, and methyl phosphatidylcholines (MePCs) show the opposite trend. TG(16:1_18:1_18:2) and TG(16:0_16:1_18:2) appear to be key lipids for retaining VOCs in boiled donkey meat. Furthermore, PC(18:3e_16:0) and MePC(31:0e) were found to be potential markers for discriminating donkey meat. A total of 83 VOCs were detected, including 25.30% aldehydes, 18.07% hydrocarbons, 14.46% ketones, and 13.25% alcohols. Eleven characteristic VOCs with relative odor activity values >1 were identified as the predominant flavor compounds in boiled donkey meat, mainly hexanal and 1‐octen‐3‐ol. Of the 258 differential lipids, 72 of them, especially polyunsaturated‐fatty acid–rich lipids, are the main contributors to the formation of VOCs. Together, the key lipids for retention and formation of VOCs in donkey meat were revealed, providing a theoretical basis for VOC regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • CoWO 4 /Zn 0.3 Cd 0.7 S heterojunction was prepared by self-assembly method. • Zn vacancies are the capture centers of photogenerated holes. • p-n heterojunction improves the transfer of photogenerated charge carriers. • Photocatalytic H 2 evolution is promoted by 4-Chlorobenzyl alcohol oxidation. To enhance the efficiency of photocatalytic H 2 evolution, numerous methods are employed by increasing the utilization of photogenerated charge carriers (PCCs), including catalyst design, defect regulation, and selection of suitable H+ resources. Using self-assembly method, CoWO 4 /Zn x Cd 1−x S with p–n heterojunction was synthesized. Although CoWO 4 (CW) cannot produce H 2 under visible light irradiation, it can provide photogenerated electrons (e−) to Zn 0.3 Cd 0.7 S (ZCS), and largely increase the photocatalytic activity of ZCS. The optimal CW/ZCS composite can reach 15.58 mmol·g−1·h−1, which is 45.8 and 24.3 times higher than the values of the pure CdS and ZCS, respectively. The largely enhanced photocatalytic H 2 production is attributed to the Zn vacancies (V Zn), p–n heterojunction, and p-chlorobenzyl alcohol (Cl–PhCH 2 OH) as the H+ source of H 2 production. V Zn on the ZCS surface as the capture center of photogenerated holes (h+), can regulate the carrier distribution, which results in more photogenerated e− and less generated h+. The combination of p–n heterojunction and V Zn can enhance the separation and transfer efficiency of PCCs, and effectively inhibit the recombination of charge carriers. To further improve the utilization rate of PCCs, the photocatalytic H 2 evolution is proceeded by Cl–PhCH 2 OH oxidation in N , N -dimethylformamide solution, with 4-chlorobenzaldehyde (Cl–PhCHO) generated. The separated photogenerated e− and h+ both participated in the redox reaction of H+ reduction and Cl–PhCH 2 OH oxidation, considering that the amount of H 2 and Cl–PhCHO products are close to 1:1. This work not only facilitates the separation and transfer of PCCs, but also provides directions for the design of efficient photocatalysts and H 2 evolution in the organic phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of nitrogen‐containing functional groups to chiral polymer backbones enables the tailoring of physical properties and offers opportunities for further post‐polymerization modification. However, the substrate scope of such polymers is extremely limited because monomers having nitrogen‐containing groups can change coordination state with respect to the metal centers, thus decreasing the activity and enantioselectivity and even poisoning the catalyst completely. In this paper, we report our attempts to carry out the asymmetric copolymerization of meso‐epoxide with highly reactive isocyanates. In particular, we found that biphenol‐linked bimetallic Co(III) complexes with multiple chiral centers are very efficient in catalyzing this asymmetric copolymerization reaction, affording optically active polyurethanes with a completely alternating nature and a high enantioselectivity of up to 94 % ee. Crucially, we identified that the steric hindrance at the phenolate ortho position of the ligand strongly influences the catalytic activity and product enantioselectivity. In addition, density functional theory calculations revealed that the highly sterically bulky substituents change the mechanism from bimetallic to monometallic, and result in the unexpected inversion of the chiral induction direction. Moreover, the high stereoregularity of the produced polyurethanes enhances their thermal stability, and they can be selectively decomposed into oxazolidinones. This study offers a versatile methodology for the synthesis of chiral polymers containing nitrogen functionalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic coatings were obtained by micro‐arc oxidation (MAO) on the surface of AA1060 pure aluminum in alkaline silicate electrolyte with the addition of graphene. The effects of graphene contents in the range of 0–.30 g/L in the electrolyte on surface morphology, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance of the ceramic coatings were investigated. The outer surface structure, outer surface element content, coating cross‐section structure, coating cross‐section element content, coating/substrate interface structure, and coating phase were characterized by scanning electron microscope and X‐ray diffraction. Potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to evaluate the corrosion behavior of MAO samples in a 3.5‐wt% NaCl solution. In addition, the resistance to sliding and abrasive wear of the oxide coating were studied experimentally. The results show that the alkaline silicate electrolyte with the addition of graphene has a significant effect on the characteristics of MAO coating. The performance of micro‐arc oxide coatings is best when the graphene content in the electrolyte is.15 g/L, the average thickness of the film is 7.24 μm, the average pore size is 6.07 μm, the impedance value is approximately 4.01 × 106 Ω, and its friction coefficient is.55. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Block copolymers, comprising polyether and polyolefin segments, are an important and promising category of functional materials. However, the lack of efficient strategies for the construction of polyether‐b‐polyolefin block copolymers have hindered the development of these materials. Herein, we propose a simple and efficient method to obtain various block copolymers through the copolymerization of epoxides and acrylates via bimetallic synergistic catalysis. The copolymerization of epoxides and acrylates proceeds in a sequence‐controlled manner, where the epoxides‐involved homo‐ or copolymerization occurs first, followed by the homopolymerization of acrylates initiated by the alkoxide species from the propagating polymer chain, thus yielding copolymers with a block structure. Notably, the high monomer compatibility of this powerful strategy provides a platform for synthesizing various polyacrylate‐based block copolymers comprising polyether, polycarbonate, polythiocarbonate, polyester, and polyurethane segments, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Block copolymers, comprising polyether and polyolefin segments, are an important and promising category of functional materials. However, the lack of efficient strategies for the construction of polyether‐b‐polyolefin block copolymers have hindered the development of these materials. Herein, we propose a simple and efficient method to obtain various block copolymers through the copolymerization of epoxides and acrylates via bimetallic synergistic catalysis. The copolymerization of epoxides and acrylates proceeds in a sequence‐controlled manner, where the epoxides‐involved homo‐ or copolymerization occurs first, followed by the homopolymerization of acrylates initiated by the alkoxide species from the propagating polymer chain, thus yielding copolymers with a block structure. Notably, the high monomer compatibility of this powerful strategy provides a platform for synthesizing various polyacrylate‐based block copolymers comprising polyether, polycarbonate, polythiocarbonate, polyester, and polyurethane segments, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at rapid and economical damage detection of a large number of simple supported bridges, a new structural damage identification method under moving load based on variational mode decomposition (VMD) and deep learning is proposed. Firstly, a moving vehicle is used as an exciting load to invoke structural damage feature and enhance the signal-to-noise ratio, and the structural vertical acceleration response is extracted by a finite element simulating analysis under various damage cases. In order to simulate the influence of noise and expand the samples, Gaussian white noise is added to the extracted data, and then the response signal is decomposed into a series of intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) using VMD, and the optimal IMF component is selected as the damage sample of the structure. Then, a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (CNN) model is built and trained by the various samples of damage. The vibration response of the practical bridge is processed and inputted by the trained CNN model to identify the location of the damage and degree of the structure. Finally, the effectiveness and anti-noise performance of the proposed method are verified through numerical analysis and a simply supported beam bridge model experiment. The results show that the average identification accuracy of the numerical simulations and experimental is 93.4% and 86.8% with 20% Gaussian white noise, respectively. Sensors at different locations have almost the same identification effect for various cases of damage, so it is possible to identify structural damage only using a small amount of accelerometer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic degradation by biological systems emerges as a prospective avenue for addressing the pressing global concern of plastic waste accumulation. The intricate chemical compositions and diverse structural facets inherent to polyurethanes (PU) substantially increase the complexity associated with PU waste management. Despite the extensive research endeavors spanning over decades, most known enzymes exhibit a propensity for hydrolyzing waterborne PU dispersion (i.e., the commercial Impranil DLN-SD), with only a limited capacity for the degradation of bulky PU materials. Here, we report a novel cutinase (CpCut1) derived from Cladosporium sp. P7, which demonstrates remarkable efficiency in the degrading of various polyester-PU materials. After 12-h incubation at 55°C, CpCut1 was capable of degrading 40.5% and 20.6% of thermoplastic PU film and post-consumer foam, respectively, while achieving complete depolymerization of Impranil DLN-SD. Further analysis of the degradation intermediates suggested that the activity of CpCut1 primarily targeted the ester bonds within the PU soft segments. The versatile performance of CpCut1 against a spectrum of polyester-PU materials positions it as a promising candidate for the bio-recycling of waste plastics. IMPORTANCE Polyurethane (PU) has a complex chemical composition that frequently incorporates a variety of additives, which poses significant obstacles to biodegradability and recyclability. Recent advances have unveiled microbial degradation and enzymatic depolymerization as promising waste PU disposal strategies. In this study, we ident ified a gene encoding a cutinase from the PU-degrading fungus Cladosporium sp. P7, which allowed the expression, purification, and characterization of the recombinant enzyme CpCut1. Furthermore, this study identified the products derived from the CpCut1 catalyzed PU degradation and proposed its underlying mechanism. These findings highlight the potential of this newly discovered fungal cutinase as a remarkably efficient tool in the degradation of PU materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, porous single-crystal diamond with boron doping were synthesized by adding TiB 2 to the Fe–Ni–C system at a pressure of 5.6 GPa and a temperature of 1360 °C. The boron and nitrogen impurities were investigated in depth along with the surface defects of the diamonds. The results indicate that when the TiB 2 content was within the range of 0–10 wt%, an increase in the doping concentration of TiB 2 can lead to a decrease in the nitrogen content and an increase in the boron content in the diamond, causing the crystal color to transition from yellow to pale yellow, pale yellow-blue, and black. When the TiB 2 content was within the range of 20–40 wt%, several triangular concave porous structures appeared on the crystal surface. With an increase in the TiB 2 addition, the side length of these triangular pits decreased from 2.85 μm to 1.09 μm, while their depth decreased from 590 nm to 50 nm. The roughness of the crystal surface measured by Rq demonstrated values up to 145.302 nm. The results indicate that the size, depth, and density of the triangular defects can be adjusted by the amount of additive TiB 2. Our findings provide insights into the surface regulation and functionalization of boron-doped diamond single crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) by thermal power plants is the main factor leading to the greenhouse effect. The measurement of CO2 is of great significance to carbon emission data statistics. In this paper, a measurement system based on tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) was built to measure the spectrum of CO2 near 1579 nm. To simplify the experimental system, a direct absorption signal fitting method is proposed to replace etalons for time‐frequency conversion. The method was applied to the measurement of four different concentrations of CO2 in the range of 7%–16%, and the measurement results were compared with the multipeak method, another etalon‐free method. The results show that the mean relative error of the measurement results is 4.23%, which is 1.76% lower than the measurement results of the multipeak method. The experimental research provides a feasible idea to simplify the CO2 measurement system based on TDLAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inclination toward natural products has led to the onset of the discovery of new bioactive metabolites that could be targeted for specific therapeutic or agronomic applications. Despite increasing knowledge coming to light of plant-derived materials as leads for new herbicides, relatively little is known about the mode of action on herbicide-resistant weeds. Cyanamide (CA) is a naturally occurring herbicide synthesized by hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.). However, it has not been experimentally verified whether CA suppresses target plants via sustained discharge at low concentrations, as is often the case with most plant-derived materials. This study aimed to detect the toxicity and the mode of action of CA to alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.). The toxicity of CA toward the alfalfa and redroot pigweed by three different exposure patterns was compared: low-concentration repeated exposure with 0.3 g/L CA (LRE), high-concentration single exposure with 1.2 g/L CA (HSE), and distilled water spray as control. The results showed that CA had a stronger inhibitory effect on redroot pigweed growth compared to alfalfa under both LRE and HSE exposure modes, with leaves gradually turning yellow and finally wilting. Beyond that, field trials were conducted to corroborate the toxicity of CA to alfalfa and redroot pigweed. The results have also shown that CA could inhibit the growth of redroot pigweed without significant adverse effects on alfalfa. The outcomes concerning electrolyte permeability, root activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content indicated that CA suppressed the growth of redroot pigweed by interfering with the structure of the cell membrane and impacting cellular osmotic potential. CA could destroy the cell membrane structure to inhibit the growth of the redroot pigweed by both LRE and HSE exposure modes, which provides a theoretical basis for preventing and controlling redroot pigweed in alfalfa fields. [Display omitted] • Cyanamide (CA) is a naturally occurring herbicide synthesized by hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.). CA restrained the growth of redroot pigweed by targeting the cell membrane structure in both low-concentration repeated exposure (LRE) and high-concentration single exposure (HSE) modes, without impacting the nutrient growth of alfalfa. • The field trial demonstrated that CA effectively controlled the growth of redroot pigweed in alfalfa fields, with the highest efficacy observed at a CA concentration of 4 g/L, which is crucial for alfalfa field production to prevent and control redroot pigweed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During a snowfall, the surfaces of the snow beds on roofs change dynamically with time and wind conditions. The generation of body-fitted computational fluid dynamics grids for simulating dynamic snow surfaces using the moving-grid method remains challenging. Therefore, a numerical method was developed to simulate the fluid–solid transition based on the volume of the fluid model and solidification and melting models. The snowfall process was divided into n stable steps, and a stable state calculation method was adopted to calculate the air and snow phases. The dynamic snow boundary was simulated at each stage by converting the fluid or solid characteristics of the domain in which the grids resided. Based on the results of the (n −1)th stage, the fluid domain grids buried by the snow were filled with liquid and frozen into the solid domain. Instead, the fluid in the frozen grids, where snow was about to be eroded, was evacuated and converted into fluid-domain grids. Thus, a complex and changeable snow boundary could be adapted without re-meshing. A modified wall friction velocity equation was derived to correct the wall friction velocity at the snow boundary owing to the serrated boundary of the solidified grids, thereby improving calculation accuracy. The numerical simulation results were verified via field observations of snow distribution on the stepped flat and gable roof models. The snow variation on a full-scale, three-span, suspended cable roof under snow-fall conditions was predicted using the proposed method. • A new method of fluid-solid transition was proposed to simulate snowdrift on roofs. • The new method of fluid-solid transition based on VOF and SAM models. • Solidified liquid grids are used to simulate the building and snow boundary • This method can adapt to complex and changeable snow boundary without re-meshing. • Good agreement between numerical simulations and measured results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroelectric field effect transistors (FeFETs), characterized by their low power consumption and polarization effect, can be employed in photodetectors based on 2D materials. In this paper, a MoS2 phototransistor with epitaxial ferroelectric (Hf0.5Zr0.5)O2 (HZO) is reported as a gate dielectric layer. Gate‐dielectric‐polarization‐dependent ambipolar behavior is observed in the FET, and relatively low power consumption and hysteresis‐free loop are achieved in the FeFET. The anomalous negative photoconductivity (NPC) is observed as well. Possible reasons for such phenomenon are clarified including the photogating effect originating from the interface traps and the polarization‐dependent electric‐field control through ferroelectric gating. The high responsivity of −8.44 × 103 A W−1 in the negative photoconductivity as well as the response time of 500 ms are reported. The demonstrated Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) FeFET photodetectors show great potential in the on‐chip complementary metal‐oxide semiconductor (CMOS)‐compatible circuits for multifunctional devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The micro-actuator is a key element of the MEMS-based initiator. In order to ensure safety and achieve the function of detonation energy isolation and transmission of the micro-pyrotechnic sequence, it is necessary to set up a safety and arming device between the micro-heater and energetic materials on the next level in the initiator. In this paper, the MEMS safety and arming device was simulated and analyzed, and the actuator chip was made based on MEMS technology and then tested. The results showed that the maximum temperature and displacement generated by the silicon-based micro-actuator increased with increasing actuation voltage. When the actuation voltage was larger than 16 V, the device could not work normally because the maximum temperature of the device was higher than the melting point of silicon. Furthermore, the influence factors on the state-recoverable property of the device were studied by changing the actuation voltage, length, width, and thickness of the V-shaped beam in a single way. The results showed that when the actuation voltage remained unchanged and the other factors were changed in a single way, the smaller structural parameters resulted in the shorter response time and recovery time, while the displacement generated was smaller. Meanwhile, the larger structural parameters resulted in larger displacements, while the response time and recovery time were larger. In addition, the state-recoverable characteristics of the device were affected by the working environmental temperature. It is of great significance to the design of the MEMS-based initiator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Negative information selection is an approach to protect the privacy by using negative information to replace original information. In this paper, we prove some bounds for negative information selection. Those bounds reveal the privacy protection strength of quantitative probability analysis. We also analyzed the reconstruction probability of original information from available negative information. The formal analysis can specify the bound on the strength of security and utility for negative information selection. Besides, we simulate brute force attacks under different data leakage ratios. Specifically, we calculate the attacker's guess times before and after the data leakage. Experimental results indicate that the data leakage of over 30% can put the original information in a dangerous situation. Furthermore, we found that the leakage possibility has little relevance to the number of elements in the full set, but it is influenced by the ratio of the leaked information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrotechnic device is the key initiating component of weapon system, and its function reliability will directly affect the triggering of detonation and actuation mechanism. In order to enhance the survival ability of pyrotechnic device in intricate electromagnetic interference environment, it is necessary to carry out in-depth research on the electromagnetic protection technique of pyrotechnic device. In this paper, a new electromagnetic protection circuit based on vertical punch through PN junction device is proposed, which monolithically integrates the circuit with polysilicon semiconductor bridge on a single chip. The Electro-static Discharge (ESD) test was carried out according to the method specified by standard electrostatic standard 500 pF/500 Ω/25 kV, and the ESD capability of the proposed new chip was not less than 25 kV. Compared with the electromagnetic protection circuit by transient voltage suppressor diode based on lateral punch through junction device structure, the new chip increases the effective junction area of PN junction, reduces the current density, and increases the current conduction ability and electrostatic roughness of the diode. The new chip has a larger diode effective junction capacitance, which not only improves the ESD capability but also improves the RF protection capability at the same time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomographic absorption spectroscopy (TAS) is important for the combustion diagnostics of hydrogen and hydrocarbon fuels in various flow fields. In this study, we proposed and conducted time-averaged TAS for the reconstructions of mean H 2 O mole fraction X H2O in a dry, axisymmetric, turbulent jet flow with a Reynolds number of 5670 to reveal the effect of turbulence on absorption spectroscopy measurement. The absorption line of H 2 O near 1368.598 nm was selected and scanned at 1 kHz. The effect of turbulence on TAS, which is positively related to the turbulent intensity along the optical path, has been confirmed and can be effectively alleviated by conducting time averaging. It is shown that the proper selections of scan rate and the number of time steps for statistical convergence are required for time-averaged TAS. With time averaging and smoothing operations on the integrated absorbance, the two-dimensional mean X H2O distributions were reconstructed with the present method and the result showed a good agreement with CFD simulation. The mean deviation of the measured results can be reduced by over 25% when the number of time steps for average is 30000. The present study highlights the potential of TAS for the visualization and diagnostics of complex flows such as turbulent non-reactive flow and turbulent combustion. • Time-averaged tomographic absorption spectroscopy for isothermal flow is proposed and conducted in a turbulent jet. • The effect of turbulence on TDLAS is confirmed to be positively related to local turbulent intensity. • Time-averaging and smoothing on the integrated absorbance improves the tomographic reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prostate is a vital accessory gonad in the mammalian male reproductive system. With the ever-increasing proportion of the population over 60 years of age worldwide, the incidence of prostate diseases, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa), is on the rise and is gradually becoming a significant medical problem globally. The notch signaling pathway is essential in regulating prostate early development. However, the potential regulatory mechanism of Notch signaling in prostatic enlargement and hyperplasia remains unclear. In this study, we proved that overactivation of Notch1 signaling in mouse prostatic epithelial cells (OEx) led to prostatic enlargement via enhancing proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis of prostatic epithelial cells. Further study showed that N1ICD/RBPJ directly up-regulated the androgen receptor (AR) and enhanced prostatic sensitivity to androgens. Hyper-proliferation was not found in orchidectomized OEx mice without androgen supply but was observed after Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) supplementation. Our data showed that the number of mitochondrion in prostatic epithelial cells of OEx mice was increased, but the mitochondrial function was impaired, and the essential activity of the mitochondrial respiratory electron transport chain was significantly weakened. Disordered mitochondrial number and metabolic function further resulted in excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Importantly, anti-oxidant N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC) therapy could alleviate prostatic hyperplasia caused by the over-activation of Notch1 signaling. Furthermore, we observed the incremental Notch signaling activity in progenitor-like club cells in the scRNA-seq data set of human BPH patients. Moreover, the increased number of TROP2+ progenitors and Club cells was also confirmed in our OEx mice. In conclusion, our study revealed that over-activated Notch1 signaling induces prostatic enlargement by increasing androgen receptor sensitivity, disrupting cellular mitochondrial metabolism, increasing ROS, and a higher number of progenitor cells, all of which can be effectively rescued by NAC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The introduction of the anti-PD-1 antibody has greatly improved the clinical outcomes of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the efficacy of PD-1 antibody-based therapy in patients with locally advanced inoperable or metastatic NSCLC and reported an association between peripheral blood biomarkers and clinical response in these patients. Methods: This single-center study included medical record data of patients with NSCLC treated with the PD-1 antibody as a first-line or subsequent line of treatment, either as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy. The patients were enrolled from 2020 to 2022. We dynamically evaluated multiple Th1 and Th2 cytokines in the blood serum and analyzed the phenotype of T cells from the peripheral blood to explore the correlation between cytokine levels, T cell phenotypes, and clinical response. Results: A total of 88 patients with stage IIIA-IV NSCLC were enrolled, out of which 60 (68.18%) achieved a partial response (PR), 13 (14.77%) had stable disease (SD), and 15 (17.05%) experienced disease progression (PD). The disease control rate was 82.95%. Our results suggested a significant reduction (P = 0.002, P < 0.005) in lymphocyte absolute counts after treatment in patients with PD. Higher levels of IFN-γ (P = 0.023, P < 0.05), TNF-α (P = 0.00098, P < 0.005), IL-4 (P = 0.0031, P < 0.005), IL-5 (P = 0.0015, P < 0.005), and IL-10 (P = 0.036, P < 0.05) were detected in the peripheral blood before treatment in the PR group compared to the PD group. Moreover, patients with high levels of IL-5, IL-13, IL-4, IL-6, IFN-γ, and TNF-α (> 10 ng/mL) had superior progression-free survival compared to those with low levels (< 10 ng/mL). Furthermore, PD-1 expression on CD8+ T cells was higher in patients who showed a PR than in those who did not show a response (SD + PD; P = 0.042, P < 0.05). Conclusions: The findings of this study imply that the decrease in absolute blood lymphocyte counts after treatment is correlated with disease progression. Serum cytokine levels may predict the effectiveness and survival rates of anti-PD-1 blockade therapy in patients with NSCLC. In addition, PD-1 expression on CD8+ T cells was positively associated with better clinical response. Our findings highlight the potential of peripheral blood biomarkers to predict the effectiveness of PD-1-targeted treatments in patients with NSCLC. Larger prospective studies are warranted to further clarify the value of these biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a mid-infrared quartz-enhanced photoacoustic sensor for highly sensitive nitrous oxide (N2O) detection using a 4.56 µm quantum cascade laser (QCL) with a butterfly package type. This new type of QCL features a compact size (30 mm × 12.7 mm × 13 mm), low threshold current (< 120 mA) at room temperature, and relatively high emission power (> 100 mW), which are suitable for portable trace gas sensor development. In this work, the QCL beam is directly coupled to the QEPAS detection module by using only one focusing lens. By measuring N2O mixtures with different concentrations (120 ppb to 3.16 ppm), the developed sensor shows a good linearity (R-square value of 0.999) and a minimum detection limit of below 1 ppb. The sensor has been successfully deployed for ambient air measurement, demonstrating the applicability and promising potential of using this QCL with butterfly package for various gas sensing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new eutectic high-entropy alloy (EHEA) of Cr 41 CoFeNi was prepared by arc melting technique. The microstructure and corrosion resistance of the Cr 41 CoFeNi EHEA were systematically investigated by EBSD, TEM, EIS and XPS analyses. The results revealed that the Cr 41 CoFeNi EHEA showed a dual-phase structure consisting of BCC phase and FCC phase, and the morphologies displayed the lamellar eutectic and network-shaped eutectic. Compared with 316 L stainless steel, the Cr 41 CoFeNi EHEA exhibited a better anti-corrosion property in 0.5 M H 2 SO 4 solution. This was mainly attributed to the formation of a dense and stable Cr-oxide layer on the surface of Cr 41 CoFeNi EHEA, which retarded further dissolution of the matrix. Moreover, bound water could adsorb metal ions to form a new protective film, which played an important role in improving the corrosion resistance of the Cr 41 CoFeNi EHEA. However, the elemental segregation and chemical potential difference between phases increased the defects in the passive film and accelerated its pitting corrosion of low potential phase. Moreover, the (Co, Fe, and Ni)-enriched FCC structured phase was preferentially eroded. • A novel eutectic high-entropy alloy of Cr 41 CoFeNi(EHEA) was designed and fabricated • The corrosion mechanisms of EHEA and 316 L stainless steel(316 L SS) were clarified • The passive film thickness of EHEA was about 5.3 times greater than that of 316 L SS • The main constituents of passive film on EHEA were Cr-oxide and bound water [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing attention to deep neural network (DNN) models, attacks are also upcoming for such models. For example, an attacker may carefully construct images in specific ways (also referred to as adversarial examples) aiming to mislead the DNN models to output incorrect classification results. Similarly, many efforts are proposed to detect and mitigate adversarial examples, usually for certain dedicated attacks. In this paper, we propose a novel framework called AdvEWM based on embedding digital watermark to generate image adversarial examples for fooling DNN models. Specifically, partial main features of the watermark image are embedded into the host image almost invisibly, aiming to tamper with and damage the recognition capabilities of the DNN models. We devise an efficient mechanism to select host images and watermark images and utilize the improved discrete wavelet transform (DWT) based Patchwork watermarking algorithm with a set of valid hyperparameters to embed digital watermarks from the watermark image dataset into original images for generating image adversarial examples. The experimental results illustrate that the attack success rate on common DNN models can reach an average of 95.47% on the CIFAR-10 dataset and the highest at 98.71%. Besides, our scheme is able to generate a large number of adversarial examples efficiently, concretely, an average of 1.17 s for completing the attacks on each image on the CIFAR-10 dataset. In addition, we design a baseline experiment using the watermark images generated by Gaussian noise as the watermark image dataset that also displays the effectiveness of our scheme. Similarly, we also propose the modified discrete cosine transform (DCT) based Patchwork watermarking algorithm. To ensure repeatability and reproducibility, the source code is available on GitHub. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and hypothesis: Urinary incontinence (UI) is relatively common among middle-aged and elderly women and can have significant impacts on patients' physiological, psychological, and quality-of-life aspects. A higher level of autonomy can encourage better health behaviors in patients, so as to promote rehabilitation of the disease and improve their quality of life. The study is aimed at exploring the level of autonomy and influencing factors among middle-aged and elderly women with UI.A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Shenzhen, China. Middle-aged and elderly women were asked to complete the Index of Autonomous Functioning scale (IAF), the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire—Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF), and the Urinary Incontinence Quality of Life (I-QOL) scale. Data were collected in January 2024 to March 2024. Descriptive statistics, univariate analysis, bivariate correlation and multivariate linear regression were used to analyze data.A total of 646 women completed the questionnaire. The means and standard deviations (SD) of the IAF section were 45.40 ± 8.92, those of the ICIQ-UI SF section were 11.54 ± 3.67, and those of the I-QOL section were 43.95 ± 9.83. Multivariate linear regression models for the IAF revealed that questionnaire scores were independently associated with family's monthly income, education level, regular exercise, UI severity, and I-QOL score (p < 0.05).The factors influencing the level of autonomy among middle-aged and elderly women with UI include family's monthly income, education level, regular exercise, UI severity, and I-QOL score. Higher levels of autonomy were observed among women with high family income, high education level, regular exercise habits, mild to moderate UI, and high quality of life.Methods: Urinary incontinence (UI) is relatively common among middle-aged and elderly women and can have significant impacts on patients' physiological, psychological, and quality-of-life aspects. A higher level of autonomy can encourage better health behaviors in patients, so as to promote rehabilitation of the disease and improve their quality of life. The study is aimed at exploring the level of autonomy and influencing factors among middle-aged and elderly women with UI.A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Shenzhen, China. Middle-aged and elderly women were asked to complete the Index of Autonomous Functioning scale (IAF), the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire—Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF), and the Urinary Incontinence Quality of Life (I-QOL) scale. Data were collected in January 2024 to March 2024. Descriptive statistics, univariate analysis, bivariate correlation and multivariate linear regression were used to analyze data.A total of 646 women completed the questionnaire. The means and standard deviations (SD) of the IAF section were 45.40 ± 8.92, those of the ICIQ-UI SF section were 11.54 ± 3.67, and those of the I-QOL section were 43.95 ± 9.83. Multivariate linear regression models for the IAF revealed that questionnaire scores were independently associated with family's monthly income, education level, regular exercise, UI severity, and I-QOL score (p < 0.05).The factors influencing the level of autonomy among middle-aged and elderly women with UI include family's monthly income, education level, regular exercise, UI severity, and I-QOL score. Higher levels of autonomy were observed among women with high family income, high education level, regular exercise habits, mild to moderate UI, and high quality of life.Results: Urinary incontinence (UI) is relatively common among middle-aged and elderly women and can have significant impacts on patients' physiological, psychological, and quality-of-life aspects. A higher level of autonomy can encourage better health behaviors in patients, so as to promote rehabilitation of the disease and improve their quality of life. The study is aimed at exploring the level of autonomy and influencing factors among middle-aged and elderly women with UI.A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Shenzhen, China. Middle-aged and elderly women were asked to complete the Index of Autonomous Functioning scale (IAF), the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire—Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF), and the Urinary Incontinence Quality of Life (I-QOL) scale. Data were collected in January 2024 to March 2024. Descriptive statistics, univariate analysis, bivariate correlation and multivariate linear regression were used to analyze data.A total of 646 women completed the questionnaire. The means and standard deviations (SD) of the IAF section were 45.40 ± 8.92, those of the ICIQ-UI SF section were 11.54 ± 3.67, and those of the I-QOL section were 43.95 ± 9.83. Multivariate linear regression models for the IAF revealed that questionnaire scores were independently associated with family's monthly income, education level, regular exercise, UI severity, and I-QOL score (p < 0.05).The factors influencing the level of autonomy among middle-aged and elderly women with UI include family's monthly income, education level, regular exercise, UI severity, and I-QOL score. Higher levels of autonomy were observed among women with high family income, high education level, regular exercise habits, mild to moderate UI, and high quality of life.Conclusions: Urinary incontinence (UI) is relatively common among middle-aged and elderly women and can have significant impacts on patients' physiological, psychological, and quality-of-life aspects. A higher level of autonomy can encourage better health behaviors in patients, so as to promote rehabilitation of the disease and improve their quality of life. The study is aimed at exploring the level of autonomy and influencing factors among middle-aged and elderly women with UI.A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Shenzhen, China. Middle-aged and elderly women were asked to complete the Index of Autonomous Functioning scale (IAF), the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire—Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF), and the Urinary Incontinence Quality of Life (I-QOL) scale. Data were collected in January 2024 to March 2024. Descriptive statistics, univariate analysis, bivariate correlation and multivariate linear regression were used to analyze data.A total of 646 women completed the questionnaire. The means and standard deviations (SD) of the IAF section were 45.40 ± 8.92, those of the ICIQ-UI SF section were 11.54 ± 3.67, and those of the I-QOL section were 43.95 ± 9.83. Multivariate linear regression models for the IAF revealed that questionnaire scores were independently associated with family's monthly income, education level, regular exercise, UI severity, and I-QOL score (p < 0.05).The factors influencing the level of autonomy among middle-aged and elderly women with UI include family's monthly income, education level, regular exercise, UI severity, and I-QOL score. Higher levels of autonomy were observed among women with high family income, high education level, regular exercise habits, mild to moderate UI, and high quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]