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Functional microstructured surfaces are becoming increasingly important in the fields of optics, microfluidics, and surface engineering. These parts' functional surface roughnesses and microstructure molding accuracies directly affect their final service performance characteristics. To improve the machining qualities of functional microstructured surfaces, subsequent polishing treatment is necessary. This paper discusses the different polishing methods and effects of functional microstructured surface parts. Moreover, the challenges and bottlenecks in polishing functional microstructured surfaces are analyzed and discussed by considering the microstructure feature sizes, shapes, and substrate surface shapes. Then, the advantages, disadvantages, applications, and limitations of functional microstructured surface polishing methods are elucidated. Finally, the development trends of form-preserving polishing methods for functional microstructured surfaces are noted.

We propose an approach to learning sample embedding for analyzing multi-dimensional datasets. The basic idea is to extract rules from the given dataset and learn the embedding for each sample based on the rules it satisfies. The approach can filter out pattern-irrelevant attributes, leading to significant visual structures of samples satisfying the same rules in the projection. In addition, analysts can understand a visual structure based on the rules that the involved samples satisfy, which improves the projection’s pattern interpretability. Our research involves two methods for achieving and applying the approach. First, we give a method to learn rule-based embedding for each sample. Second, we integrate the method into a system to achieve an analytical workflow. Cases on real-world dataset and quantitative experiment results show the usability and effectiveness of our approach.

In this study, micro-nano hybrid SiCp/7075Al composites were successfully prepared for the first time by ultrasonic-assisted semi-solid stirring casting method. The effects of micro-nano hybrid SiCp on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 7075 Al were studied. The results show that the distribution of SiCnp and micron SiCp in the microstructure was uniform. During the extrusion process, most of the micron SiCp were subjected to significant load and broken, which increased the contact area with the matrix and promoted the interface bonding. In addition, the enhanced interfacial interaction promoted the formation of MgAl2O4 phase, which significantly improved the mechanical properties. SiCnp not only had a significant effect on grain refinement, but also promoted the enrichment of Cu, accelerated the formation of GP zone, and promoted the formation of more nano-MgZn2 precipitates. The yield strength and the elastic modulus of micro-nano hybrid SiCp/7075 Al composites reached 450 MPa and 94 GPa, respectively. The synergistic effect of SiCnp and micron SiCp could produce composite strengthening effects such as load transfer strengthening, thermal mismatch strengthening and Orowan strengthening. Moreover, a large number of dislocation pile-ups were observed near the interface between micron and nano SiCp and Al matrix. This leaded to a higher work hardening rate of the composites as the particle content increases. The higher work hardening rate enhanced the strain hardening ability of the material during plastic deformation, thereby significantly improving the tensile strength and elongation of the material.

The deformation behavior of the pure aluminum has been studied at 298 K and 77 K to elucidate the mechanism for dual-enhancement effect at cryogenic temperature. The results reveal that as the deformation temperature decreases from 298 K to 77 K, the tensile strength and elongation increase from 67.9 MPa to 49.1% to 142.4 MPa and 61.9%, respectively. The simultaneous increase in strength and ductility at 77 K is attributed to the higher strain hardening rate and more uniform deformation at cryogenic temperature. Results obtained from quasi in-situ EBSD indicate that at cryogenic temperatures, there is a higher density of dislocations that are uniformly distributed within the grains. It helps alleviate dislocation pile-ups and reduces the likelihood of crack initiation at grain boundaries. Moreover, a significant number of grains align their orientation rotation towards at cryogenic temperature. Multiple fine slip systems initiate within these grains, contributing to improved mechanical properties in pure aluminum. In contrast, samples deformed at 298 K exhibit localized strain during deformation, with the initiation of unfavorable, non-uniform coarse slip bands within the grains. The findings of this study offer insights into the mechanisms of the dual-enhancement effect in pure aluminum at cryogenic temperatures.

Cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) that accumulate in rice grains can enter the human body via ingestion, posing a human health threat. Chelated iron (Fe) fertilizer application is an effective strategy for reducing Cd and As concentrations in grains; however, its mechanism of action is unknown. We investigated effects of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid disodium ferrous (EDTA·Na2Fe) at Fe application rates of 0, 25, 50, and 75 mg kg−1 on Cd and As availability in soil and accumulation in rice grains. EDTA·Na2Fe significantly reduced soil CdAs availability and significantly decreased CaCl2Cd and KH2PO4As concentrations by 27.8–39.2 % and 17.7–28.4 %, respectively. EDTA·Na2Fe facilitated Fe plaque (IP) formation and increased Cd (CdIP) and As (AsIP) sequestration in IP; furthermore, FeIP, CdIP, and AsIP increased significantly by 70.7–125 %, 109–150 %, and 88.1–168 %, respectively. In roots, EDTA·Na2Fe reduced the Cd concentration (CdR) but increased the As concentration (AsR). EDTA·Na2Fe reduced the Cd (CdG) and As (AsG) concentrations in grains by 29.8–46.2 % and 18.5–33.3 %, respectively. The optimal simultaneous reduction effect of CdG and AsG was observed at an EDTA·Na2Fe application rate of 50 mg kg−1 Fe. The results indicated that CdG was mainly affected by Cd availability, translocation factor (TF) CdR/CdIP, and TF CdG/CdR, and AsG was mainly affected by TF AsG/AsR, followed by TF AsR/AsIP and AsIP. In summary, EDTA·Na2Fe reduced CdG and AsG by reducing Cd and As availability in soil, improving Cd and As sequestration in IP, and reducing Cd transport from IP to roots and As transport from roots to grain. Moderate application of EDTA·Na2Fe effectively reduced CdG and AsG in CdAs-contaminated paddy soil.

High dynamic range (HDR) illumination estimation from a single low dynamic range image is a critical task in the fields of computer vision, graphics and augmented reality. However, directly learning the full HDR environment map or parametric lighting information from a single image is extremely difficult and inaccurate. As a result, we propose a two-stage network approach for illumination estimation that integrates spherical gaussian (SG) representation with scene prior knowledge. In the first stage, a convolutional neural network is utilized to generate material and geometric information about the scene, which serves as prior knowledge for lighting prediction. In the second stage, we model indoor environment illumination using 128 SG functions with fixed center direction and bandwidth, allowing only the amplitude to vary. Subsequently, a Transformer-based lighting parameter regressor is employed to capture the complex relationship between the input images with scene prior information and its SG illumination. Additionally, we introduce a hybrid loss function, which combines a masked loss for high-frequency illumination with a rendering loss for improving the visual quality. By training and evaluating the lighting model on the created SG illumination dataset, the proposed method achieves competitive results in both quantitative metrics and visual quality, outperforming state-of-the-art methods.

This study aimed to assess the function of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on growth performance, food intake and glucose homeostasis of Micropterus salmoides fed carbohydrate (CHO)-enriched diets. The intracerebroventricular glucose + GABA co-injected fish had higher cumulative food intake, and expression of orexigenic genes (ghrelin and neuropeptide y (npy)) in the brain than those of the single glucose-injected group. In the feeding trial, M. salmoides (10.35 ± 0.05 g) were fed four feeds containing a control feed (10 % CHO, C) and three GABA contents [0 (HC), 50 (HC-G1), and 100 (HC-G2) mg kg−1, respectively] of high-CHO feed (20 % CHO) for 12 weeks. High CHO prominently (P < 0.05) decreased WGR, SGR, FI, p-Ampk protein content, and expression of ghrelin, npy, fbpase, pparα, cpt1α and aco1 compared with the control group, but the opposite was true for plasma glucose and triglyceride levels, tissue glycogen and lipid contents, and expression of proopiomelanocortin, leptin a, gk, pk, gs, chrebp, srebp1, fas and acc1. HC-G2 diets prominently (P < 0.05) up-regulated WGR, SGR, FI, p-Ampk protein content, and expression of ghrelin, npy, gk, pk, chrebp, srebp1, fas and acc1 compared with the HC group. Also, HC-G2 diets increased glucose tolerance of M. salmoides fed high-CHO diets after glucose loading. Overall, GABA improved the growth performance, food intake and glucose homeostasis of high-CHO-fed fish by the increase of appetite, glycolysis, glycogenesis and lipolysis, as well as the inhibition of gluconeogenesis and lipid synthesis.

This long-term study protocol aims to compare the clinical outcomes of patients with severe lower limb trauma undergoing orthoplastic and orthopedic surgeries, focusing on their physical and psychological status. Patients with lower limb injuries and open fractures have been recruited since October 2019 and will be followed up until October 2024. The patients will be divided into two groups: (1) Orthoplastic group, where single-stage debridement, fixation, and soft tissue repair will be performed, and (2) Orthopedic group, where soft tissue repair will be done in a delayed-stage. The follow-up period will be one year, during which clinical data, limb function recovery, psychological scores, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) will be evaluated to assess postoperative recovery and clinical outcomes. Additional clinical data, such as socio-demographic information, baseline features, Enneking score, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, two-point discrimination score, and blood test parameters will also be collected. The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) will be used to evaluate HRQOL, while the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL) will assess the severity of self-reported post-traumatic stress disorder. The results of this study will provide valuable insights into prognostically relevant targets and contribute to improving the management and outcomes of patients with lower limb injuries and open fractures, who often face challenges related to limb disability and potential amputation postoperatively, significantly impacting their psychological and physical well-being.

Tensile strength is very important in drilling operations. The main objective of this study was to assess petrography, physical, and mechanical properties and predict the Brazilian tensile strength of sedimentary rocks by leveraging key parameters such as Schmidt hardness, compressional wave velocity, density, and porosity. A diverse array of predictive models was employed, encompassing simple regression, multivariate linear and nonlinear regression, backpropagation artificial neural network, gaussian process regression, classification and regression tree, K-nearest neighbor, random forest, and support vector regression. Based on thin section analysis and X-ray diffraction, the samples were identified. The sandstone samples were meticulously categorized into two distinct groups: arenite and litharenite. Additionally, the limestone samples were stratified into the categories of packstone to mudstone based on texture. The highest failure mode frequency of the samples under the Brazilian tensile strength test was identified as central fracturing. Upon meticulous examination, it was discerned that compressional wave velocity exerted the most substantial influence on Brazilian tensile strength estimates, while density exhibited the least impact. Comparing the outcomes derived from the diverse modeling techniques, it was unequivocally established that the support vector regression model showcased the highest level of performance for forecasting Brazilian tensile strength. This was evidenced by the remarkable coefficient of determination of 0.99 along with an impressively low root mean square error of 0.03.

Simulation and prediction of land use cover change (LUCC) in cities can effectively identify trends in land conversion and support the decision-making process regarding future urban development. To identify urban LUCC and the effects of its inherent climatic, geographical, and socioeconomic drivers, this study developed a hybrid method for predicting future land type area based on a Markov chain model and simulating the spatial distribution of land use based on an artificial neural network, the cellular automata approach, and the Land Expansion Analysis Strategy. The proposed method was shown effective in the following aspects: (1) identification of land use variation, (2) simulation of future land use change distribution, and (3) analysis of the contribution of different driving factors to LUCC. The approach was applied to the city of Dongguan. The land use patterns changed in a balanced manner, according to the movement distances of gravity center during 2010–2020. Compared with the land use pattern in 2020, the area of ecological land was projected to diminish by 0.67 %, 1.42 %, and 2.07 % in 2025, 2030, and 2035, respectively. Based on the simulation and prediction of the land-use areas in Dongguan, the area of woodland would reduce by 7.42 %, and the growth rate of building land would be slow. It was recommended that a conservation district should be established, especially in the central mountainous region of Dongguan.

Summary: The inheritance of recurrent patellar dislocation (RPD) is known, but the susceptible gene remains unidentified. Here, we performed the first whole exome sequencing (WES) cohort study to identify the susceptible genes. The results showed eight genes were associated with this disease. Notably, the carboxypeptidase D (CPD) gene showed the highest relevance based on its gene function and tissue expression. Single-cell sequencing results indicate that the CPD gene is involved in the pathophysiological process of RPD through granulocytes. Implicated pathways include nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and Wnt/β-catenin signaling, potentially influencing CPD’s role in RPD pathogenesis. This study identified the susceptible gene and investigates the potential pathogenesis of RPD, which provided a new prospect for the understanding of RPD. Besides, it would offer the theoretical basis for disease prevention and genetic counseling.

Rhenium, a unique engineering material with the second highest melting point of all metals, has significant application potential in harsh service environments, and thus evaluating its mechanical responses under shock loadings is of great importance. Through molecular dynamic simulations, we have systematically investigated the effect of crystallographic orientations on the mechanical responses of single crystalline rhenium under shock compression. We have obtained the P–V/V0, Up-P, P-T, and Us-Up Hugoniot relations, and evaluated their anisotropies. The particle velocity, Pzz, and shear stress show orientation dependent when tracing the shock profiles at different time, and the difference is particularly pronounced for shear stress, resulting from the atomic arrangement in the HCP crystal structure of rhenium. The plastic deformations mechanisms of rhenium single crystal under shock loadings are revealed as the emission of dislocations and the generation of disordered atoms, and the influence of shock intensity on the plastic deformation mechanism has been systematically studied. The results presented in this work not only shed light on the effect of crystallographic orientations on the mechanical responses of monocrystalline rhenium under shock compression, but also offers fundamental insights for understanding the shock induced plastic deformation mechanisms, which could provide a valuable supplement to the investigations of mechanical properties pertaining to rhenium.

Objectives: The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant has spread rapidly and has been the dominant variant since 2022. The course of acute infection, in a vaccinated population, with Omicron is milder compared with earlier variants. However, little is known about how the occurrence of long-term symptoms after Omicron infection compared with other variants is modulated by previous infections and/or vaccinations. Methods: Participants of the DigiHero study provided information about their SARS-CoV-2 infections, vaccinations, and symptoms 12 or more weeks after infection (post-COVID-19 condition - PCC). Results: Participants infected with wildtype SARS-CoV-2 had the highest PCC risk (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 6.44, 95% confidence interval (CI): 5.49; 7.56), followed by participants infected with Alpha and Delta compared with the reference group (individuals infected with Omicron having received three or more vaccinations). Among those infected with a specific variant, the number of preceding vaccinations was not associated with a risk reduction for PCC, whereas previous infection was strongly associated with a lower PCC risk (aOR 0.14, 95% CI 0.07; 0.25). Conclusions: While infection with Omicron is less likely to result in PCC compared with previous variants, lack of protection by vaccination suggests a substantial challenge for the healthcare system during the early endemic period. In the midterm, the protective effects of previous infections can reduce the burden of PCC.

In the context of the in-depth advancement of the power system reform and the increasingly stringent supervision of state-owned assets and state-owned enterprises, it is urgent to clarify the balance between investment demand and investment capacity of the power grid. First, the investment capacity and investment demand estimation models are established respectively, and then a dynamic balance optimization model between investment capacity and investment demand is established. By adjusting the range of adjustable indicators of the investment ability and demand calculation model, the objective is set to be the smallest difference between the investment ability and the investment need, the Quantum Genetic Algorithm is used to solve the problem. And consider future development scenarios to achieve a dynamic balance between investment ability and the investment need. Through the analysis of calculation examples, it is known that the investment capacity of a certain place is 630 million yuan, and the investment demand is 661 million yuan. Combined with the development of related factors affecting the investment in the future, when the relevant factors are at a certain value, the two reach a balance, and the investment scale after the balance is 649 million yuan, which verifies the feasibility of investment optimization of the investment scale, so as to support the investment decision of power grid.

Blocking androgen receptor signaling is the mainstay of therapy for advanced prostate cancer (PCa). However, acquired resistance to single agents targeting this pathway results in the development of lethal castration-resistant PCa. Combination therapy approaches represent a promising strategy for the treatment of advanced disease. Here, we explore a therapeutic strategy for PCa based on the ability of shRNAs/siRNAs to function essentially as miRNAs and, via seed sequence complementarity, induce RNA interference of numerous targets simultaneously. We developed a library that contained shRNAs with all possible seed sequence combinations to identify those ones that most potently reduce cell growth and viability when expressed in PCa cells. Validation of some of these RNAi sequences indicated that the toxic effect is associated with seed sequence complementarity to the 3′ UTR of AR coregulatory and essential genes. In fact, expression of siRNAs containing the identified toxic seed sequences led to global inhibition of AR-mediated gene expression and reduced expression of cell-cycle genes. When tested in mice, the toxic shRNAs also inhibited castration-resistant PCa and exhibited therapeutic efficacy in pre-established tumors. Our findings highlight RNAi of androgen signaling networks as a promising therapeutic strategy for PCa.

Additive manufactured bimetallic structures provide site-specific functions by joining two metallic materials in the designed area, offering customized solutions for biomedical and engineering applications. However, cracking, delamination, or cross-contamination frequently occurs at the joint between two dissimilar metallic materials due to their different thermal properties. In the paper, porous bimetallic structures made of biomedical materials (Fe, Ti6Al4V, and Inconel 718) for bone implants are fabricated via direct ink writing (DIW) with a dual syringe system. After subsequent heat treatment, the original shapes of the bimetallic structures are well-preserved, and the shrinkages of the two materials are equalized by adjusting the sintering temperature. All joints are free of cracks and delamination, and the material deposition sequence has no impact on them, according to microstructural analyses of the interface. The pores created by binder pyrolysis and metallic powder sintering are necessary for bone growth, cell migration, body fluid flow, etc. The Fe–Ti6Al4V and Fe-Inconel 718 bimetallic structures have better mechanical properties than the Fe structures and can perform multiple functions that are challenging for monometallic implants.

Existing research suggested 300∼600 μm as the optimal pore size range for metallic bone implants. The human bones, however, have numerous pores smaller than 300 μm for bone ingrowth, cell growth and migration, fluid flow, and so forth. The bone implant with such small-sized pores has been rarely manufactured and its property is unclear. In the paper, biodegradable Fe scaffolds of different pore sizes (50 μm, 100 μm, 150 μm, 200 μm, and 300 μm) were fabricated by direct ink writing (DIW) with subsequent sintering. The interconnected pores of all scaffolds are highly precise and have no residual powders. The in-vitro degradation and compression tests were conducted on the scaffolds to evaluate the effect of pore size on degradation and mechanical behaviors, respectively. The results indicate that a decrease in pore size leads to an increase in degradation rate, from 0.0423 ± 0.0014 to 0.0433 ± 0.0035 mm/year, with the exception of the 50 μm scaffolds which exhibit the lowest value of 0.0052 ± 0.0018 mm/year due to clogging by degradation products; meanwhile, both elastic modulus and yield strength rise from 344.8 ± 18.6 MPa to 625.0 ± 52.5 MPa and from 9.5 ± 0.9 MPa to 15.1 ± 0.8 MPa, respectively. The pore size of 100 μm shows the most significant potential for use in Fe bone implants regarding its good degradation and mechanical behaviors. Our work provides new insight into the preferable pore size of metallic bone implants produced by additive manufacturing.

Optimizing the structure of the carbon metabolic network is essential for enhancing network performance. However, a knowledge gap remains in systematically evaluating the network structure and comprehensively identifying the key nodes and paths, particularly in a carbon metabolism system that involves the frequent transition of carbon element across the air, water, and soil mediums. Hence, taking Guangzhou, China, as a case study, we constructed a cross-media metabolism network model based on material flow analysis. Subsequently, the general structural characteristics and key nodes/paths of the network were investigated through the integration of trophic structure analysis, contribution analysis, and stability analysis in ecological network analysis. The results primarily suggest that the connections among nodes in the carbon metabolism network have become looser, and the metabolic system structure was in a medium state with some defects from 2010 to 2020. Sectors of construction and transportation, as well as carbon flows from the agriculture sector to the construction sector and the energy conversion sector to the transportation sector, were identified as the key nodes and paths influencing the structural characteristics. Subsequently, twenty-one optimization scenarios were developed, with the results suggesting the advantage of collaborative regulation of key nodes/paths (e.g., increasing the carbon flows both from the agriculture sector to the construction sector and from the energy conversion sector to the transportation sector by 50%). This work may provide useful guidance for the structure optimization of the carbon metabolism system.

The sinusoidal plate heat exchangers (SCPHEs) using ice slurry as coolant have a critical role for building air conditioning. However, the thermal-hydraulic properties of ice slurry in SCPHEs are still unclear. Therefore, its flow and heat transfer performances in SCPHEs are studied using Euler-Euler model in this paper. The results show that with increasing corrugation pitch (P), the velocity of the mainstream direction and the flow dead zone decrease. As enlarging the corrugation amplitude (H), the low-velocity flow zone and flow dead zone increase. The average resistance coefficient (fave) of ice slurry reduces with increasing P and volume flow rate. When volume flow rate is between 0.144 m3/h and 1.44 m3/h, fave decreases more significantly than other stages. In addition, fave increases with increasing H and ice concentration (αin). The mass transfer of ice particles is increased at higher H and smaller P. The average Nusselt number (Nuave) of ice slurry, heat transfer rate (Qw) and total heat transfer coefficient (U) of SCPHEs increase as enlarging H, αin and volume flow rate, and decrease with increasing P. While the U and Qw are less affected by ice particle concentration. In addition, the empirical correlations of fave and Nuave in SCPHEs are developed.

Liming has been widely taken to remediate Cd-contaminated acidic paddy soils, whereas liming mode involving in the relevant optimal soil pH, model and efficacies remain unclear. Both soil and field liming experiments were conducted to improve liming mode for precise remediation of Cd-contaminated acidic paddy soils. Soil batch liming experiments indicated soil DTPA-Cd and CaCl2-Cd were piecewise linearly correlated to soil pH with nodes of 6.8–8.0, and decreased respectively by 15.3%37.7% and 80.7%93.8% (P

Background: Neglected congenital clubfoot (NCCF) is a birth deformity that remains untreated until the child begins to walk. Irrespective of the treatment protocols employed, children with NCCF face an elevated risk of recurrence following the initial correction. Predicting this recurrence could enable early intervention for high-risk children, ultimately diminishing the likelihood of invasive surgery. Methods: From January 2006 to January 2022, a total of 33 unilateral NCCF patients were enrolled in this study at Xijing Hospital. Pedobarographic tests were performed at three distinct time points: after the initial Ponseti treatment, before recurrence treatment, and after recurrence treatment. Four derivative parameters were developed for predicting recurrence, namely the difference of the contact time% (DCT%), difference of the contact area% (DCA%), difference of the peak pressure (DPP), and difference of the pressure-time integral (DPTI) between the two feet. ROC curves, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and Cox regression were employed to identify potential prognostic factors. Results: Out of the 33 unilateral NCCF patients, recurrence occurred in 8 individuals, with an average follow-up period of 109.8 months. The predictive parameter for recurrence is the midfoot (MF) zone's DCT% (MF-DCT%). When the contact time (CT)% of the affected side was 20.69% higher than that of the unaffected side, the hazard ratio (HR) of recurrence increased by 7.404 times. Another predictive plantar pressure parameter is the DPP in the MF zone (MF-DPP). If the PP of the affected side was 159% higher than that of the unaffected side, the HR of recurrence increased by 9.229 times. The MF-DCT% and MF-DPP of recurrence patients were assessed at three time points for comparisons, further validating their predictive ability for recurrence. Conclusion: Although satisfactory clinical outcomes were achieved in patients with unilateral NCCF after the initial Ponseti treatment, the plantar pressure distribution does not return to normal levels, which may indicate future recurrence. DCT% and DPP in the MF zone can be used as plantar pressure predictors of recurrence in patients with NCCF.

Background: In recent decades, there have been notable advancements in the field of analgesia and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study aims to employ bibliometric analysis to elucidate the prevailing research focal points and trends within analgesia and TKA from 1990 to 2022. Material and methods: Relevant publications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Scimago Graphica were used for visualization and bibliometric analysis of countries, institutions, authors, journals, references, and keywords. Results: A total of 2776 publications on analgesia and TKA were identified, with the United States having the highest number of publications. The University of Copenhagen was the most productive institution, and Kehlet, Henrik was the most prolific author. The Journal of Arthroplasty had the most publications and citations. The most common keywords were “TKA,” “pain management,” “postoperative pain,” “Total hip arthroplasty (THA),” and “postoperative management.” Keyword burst detection demonstrated that adductor canal block (ACB) was a recent research hotspot. Conclusion: Our study revealed a sharp increase in global publications on analgesia and TKA, and this trend is expected to continue. Further research is necessary to determine the optimal regimen for multimodal analgesia, the ideal location and volume of ACB, and their clinical significance.

Glued laminated timber stands as an increasingly favored engineered wood product in low-rise modern timber structures due to its commendable structural performance and carbon sequestration potential. Chinese standards presently fail to differentiate the effects of distinct wood species on the fire resistance of glulam. This study examined the charring rate and residual bearing capacity of glulam columns made from six commonly used wood species in China: poplar, Chinese fir, Douglas fir, hemlock, larch, and spruce. These materials exhibited densities ranging between 390 and 645 kg·m−³. ISO standard fire tests were conducted employing one- and two-adjacent-side fire exposures. Notably, the findings unveiled that high-density glulam columns demonstrated lower charring rates and slower rates of heat penetration. The two-adjacent-side fire configuration induced a corner effect, consequently amplifying the effective charring depth. The results showed a linear relationship between the ratio of diagonal to horizontal charring rate of the columns exposed to the two-adjacent-side fire and wood density. To enhance practical application, a formula was developed, employing the residual section method, to calculate the column's residual bearing capacity post two-adjacent-side fire exposure. This formula incorporates an adjustment depth to accommodate the corner effect, effectively mitigating the reduced wood strength within the pyrolysis zone.

Study region: China. Study focus: Accurate estimation of potential evapotranspiration (PET) is essential for understanding climate change. Using ground-based pan evaporation measurements over continental China, the monthly scale PET data during 2000–2017 of ERA5, ERA5-Land, GLDAS-2.1/Noah, and GLEAM V3.8a are evaluated, from the perspectives of their consistency in spatiotemporal variation, and performance measures. Factors controlling the data quality of the four datasets are investigated from the perspective of their PET calculation models and meteorologically input data. New hydrological insights for the region: PETERA5 performs the best in mainland China among four gridded PET datasets with higher correlation coefficients (r) and smaller biases, which can well capture the temporal variation of Epan. The outstanding performance of PETERA5 in China mainly results from the utilization of the Penman-Monteith (P-M) equation which performs the best among several competing formulas for PET computation, as well as its better meteorological inputs for computing PET than other datasets. Although the PETERA5-Land is a replay of the land component of the ERA5 climate reanalysis, it exhibits substantial overestimation of PET values and temporal trends, particularly in coastal areas of Southern China and the eastern side of Northeastern China, mainly caused by the overestimation of its net radiation. The PETGLDAS shows significant overestimation, partly due to its overestimation of wind speed, but mostly due to its modified P-M equation with its parameterization of land surface conditions for computing PETGLDAS. The PETGLEAM underestimated PET generally mainly due to the joint effect of the use of the Priestley-Taylor equation with small P-T parameter α, and the underestimation of the net radiation input from ERA-Interim, especially in Northwest and Qinghai Tibet.

When compounded by climate change, ecosystem degradation puts coastal communities at increased vulnerability to hazards. However, there have been few quantitative assessments of coastal vulnerability to multiple hazards that synthesize climate scenarios and ecological and demographic characteristics to inform adaptive strategies. This study presents such a framework for assessing coastal vulnerability to sea level rise, storm waves and winds under present and future climate scenarios. As a case study, we applied it to Macao, one of the most densely populated and highly urbanized coastal area in the world. We found 19% of the coastline hosting 349,000 people – distributed primarily along the Macao Peninsula coast – are highly exposed to coastal hazards at present. Almost half of Macao's total coastline with about 121,000 people are protected by natural habitats. The proportion of highly-exposed coastline was estimated to double, and that of highly-threatened population was estimated to increase by 26.9–44.1%, by 2100. Our findings provide insights into the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of coastal vulnerability to multiple hazards and highlight the role played by habitats in shielding coastal communities. The results can inform prioritizing coastal areas for conservative and adaptive strategies, thereby minimizing deleterious development pressures and enhancing the resilience of coastal communities.

Nomex® honeycomb composites (NHCs) with circular arc features are a challenging issue in the machining of aviation curved structural components. Compared to linear feature machining, arc feature machining involves six-axis coordinated motion, introducing additional variables. Directly referencing the linear feature machining process will lead to the deterioration of contour accuracy and surface quality in arc-trajectory machining (ATM). To further explore the influence of process variables on ATM, this study developed an error model for straight blade tool (SBT) ATM and investigated the influence of cutting-edge lead angles (γ) on contour accuracy and surface quality. A vertical cutting process was proposed, and experiments proved it provided the optimal machining quality (the defect rate of core cells was only 3.93 %) compared to forward and backward inclination cutting (7.23 %∼34.3 % and 9.71 %∼17.36 %, respectively). Additionally, it was revealed that the main reason for the deterioration of surface quality on ATM was the excessive angle between the cutting edge direction and the feed direction. Based on the results above, the influence and optimization of cutting-edge lead angles were revealed, and the advantage of vertical cutting process for machining NHCs with arc-trajectory was demonstrated. This research provides a feasible method for the machining of NHCs with arc-trajectory using SBT.

The impacts of the availability and spatial configuration of urban green spaces (UGS) on their cooling effects can vary with background climate conditions. However, large-scale studies that assess the potential heterogeneous relationships of UGS availability and spatial configuration with urban thermal environment are still lacking. In this study, we investigated the impacts of UGS availability and spatial configuration on urban land surface temperature (LST) taking 306 cities in China as a case study covering a multi-biome-scale. We first calculated the availability of surrounding UGS for urban built-up pixels in each city using a distance-weighted approach, and its spatial configuration was quantified through the Gini coefficient. Then, we employed various regression models to explore how the impacts of UGS availability and the Gini coefficient on LST varies across different LST quantiles and between day- and nighttime. The results revealed that UGS availability was negatively associated with both daytime and nighttime LST, while the Gini coefficient showed a positive impact solely on daytime LST, indicating that an adequate and equally distributed UGS contributes to lower environmental temperatures during the daytime. Furthermore, the impact of UGS availability on LST decreased during both day- and nighttime with increased background LST quantiles. Whereas the impact of the Gini coefficient increased only with daytime LST quantile levels, with its effect remaining almost insignificant during the night. Our findings provide new insights into the impacts of UGS on urban thermal environment, offering significant implications for urban green infrastructure planning aiming at lowering the urban heat island.

The contamination of arable land with heavy metals, such as Cd, is a serious concern worldwide. Intercropping with Cd accumulators can be used for efficient safe crop production and phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soil. However, the effect of intercropping on Cd uptake by main crops and accumulators varies among plant combinations. Rhizosphere interaction may mediate Cd uptake by intercropped plants, but the mechanism is unclear. Thus, in the present study, we aimed to examine the effect of rhizosphere interaction on Cd uptake by intercropping rice (Oryza sativa L.) with mugwort (Artemisia argyi Levl. et Vant.) in Cd-contaminated paddy soil. We grew O. sativa and A. argyi in pots designed to allow different levels of interaction: complete root interaction (no barrier), partial root interaction (nylon mesh barrier), and no root interaction (plastic film barrier). Our results indicated that both complete and partial root interaction increased the shoot and root mass of A. argyi, but did not decrease the shoot, root, and grain mass of O. sativa. Interspecific root interaction significantly increased the Cd content in the shoots, roots, and grains of O. sativa and the shoots of A. argyi. Increased content of total organic acids in the rhizosphere, which increased the content of available Cd, was a possible mechanism of increased Cd uptake in both plants under interspecific root interaction. Our findings demonstrate that an intercropping system can extract more Cd from contaminated soil than a monocropping system of either A. argyi or O. sativa. However, the intercropping system did not facilitate safe crop production because it substantially increased grain Cd content in O. sativa.

Astrocytic dysfunction is central to age-related neurodegenerative diseases. However, the mechanisms leading to astrocytic dysfunction are not well understood. We identify that among the diverse cellular constituents of the brain, murine and human astrocytes are enriched in the expression of CBS. Depleting CBS in astrocytes causes mitochondrial dysfunction, increases the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreases cellular bioenergetics that can be partially rescued by exogenous H2S supplementation or by re-expressing CBS. Conversely, the CBS/H2S axis, associated protein persulfidation and proliferation are decreased in astrocytes upon oxidative stress which can be rescued by exogenous H2S supplementation. Here we reveal that in the aging brain, the CBS/H2S axis is downregulated leading to decreased protein persulfidation, together augmenting oxidative stress. Our findings uncover an important protective role of the CBS/H2S axis in astrocytes that may be disrupted in the aged brain.

The mechanical characteristics of wood members in a fire are reduced as a result of strength loss of the outermost charring layer and strength reduction of the secondary outer layer in high temperature zones. The charring layer has strong oxygen isolation effects. The main mechanical characteristics of larch wood, including modulus of elasticity (MOE), parallel-to-grain compressive (fc), tensile (ft), bending strengths (fb), and ductility coefficient, were determined under oxygen-free conditions at higher temperatures. Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopies (SEM) were used to analyze chemical composition and microscopic changes of wood. The results suggested that hemicellulose softening resulted in decreases in mechanical properties of wood between 20 and 70 °C. From 70 to 190 °C, FT-IR spectroscopy provided evidence that increases in MOE and fc, with relatively minor changes in fb and ft, were associated with cellulose crystallinity and lignin cross-linking/condensation. The use of SEM further indicated degradation of wood composition.

Summary: Patients with HNF1A variants may develop liver steatosis, while the underlying mechanism is still unclear. Here, we established a mouse model carrying the dominant-negative HNF1α P291fsinsC mutation (hHNF1Amut/-) and found that the mutant mice developed liver steatosis spontaneously under the normal chow diet. Transcriptome analysis showed significant upregulation of Cfd and other genes related to innate immune response in the liver of hHNF1Amut/- mice. The changes in lipid metabolism and complement pathways were also confirmed by proteomics. We demonstrated that HNF1α inhibited CFD expression in hepatocytes, and the P291fsinsC mutant could reverse this inhibitory effect. Furthermore, the suppression of CFD with specific inhibitor or siRNAs reduced triglyceride levels in hepatocytes, suggesting that CFD regulated hepatocyte lipid deposition. Our results demonstrate that the HNF1α P291fsinsC mutant promotes hepatic steatosis and inflammation by upregulating CFD expression, and targeting CFD may delay the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

The contamination of uranium in aquatic ecosystems has raised growing global concern. However, the understanding of its chronic effects on aquatic organisms is limited, particularly with regards to transgenerational toxicity. In this study, we evaluated the maternal transfer risk of uranium using zebrafish. Sexually mature female zebrafish were exposed to 2 and 20 ng/g of uranium-spiked food for 28 days. The induced bioconcentration, thyroid disruption, and oxidative stress in both the adults (F0) and their embryos (F1) were further investigated. Element analysis showed that uranium was present in both F0 and F1, with higher concentrations observed in F1, indicating significant maternal offloading to the offspring. Meanwhile, an increased malformation and decreased swim speed were observed in the F1. Thyroid hormone analysis revealed significant decreases in the levels of triiodothyronine (T3) in both the F0 adults and F1 embryos, but thyroxine (T4) was not significantly affected. Additionally, the activities of antioxidant defenses, including catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the expression of glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly altered in the F0 and F1 larvae at 120 hpf. The hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, oxidative stress, and apoptosis-related gene transcription expression were also significantly affected in both generations. Taken together, these findings highlight the importance of considering maternal transfer in uranium risk assessments.

Excessive Cd in rice grains produced with acidic paddy soil is receiving increasingly widespread attention because it endangers human health. Applying organic materials (OM) and lime (L) is a common technique used to reduce Cd concentration in grains (CdG). Nevertheless, the mechanism by which their simultaneous application affects the Cd phytoavailability in soilrice systems remains ambiguous. In the current study, we adopted a rhizobag pot culture test to explore the influences of single application of OM [rice straw (RS), milk vetch (MV)], L, and their co-utilization on Cd phytoavailability and the associated mechanisms. The results showed that the application of RS, MV, L, L + RS (LRS), and L + MV (LMV) significantly decreased CdG by 26.9%, 38.2%, 48.6%, 50.0%, and 53.0%, respectively. Fe plaque (IP) formation was not affected by these treatments; however, Cd sequestration in IP (CdIP) was significantly reduced. CdIP was significantly reduced by 18.3%, 23.6%, 43.8%, 33.1%, and 41.4%, after RS, MV, L, LRS, and LMV treatments, respectively. Additionally, available Cd concentrations in rhizospheric soil (RHS) were significantly reduced by 11.5%, 14.8%, 15.1%, and 18.4%, after MV, L, LRS, and LMV treatments, respectively. Cd availability in RHS was significantly influenced by pH, dissolved organic carbon concentration, and Zn, Fe, and Mn availability. The results of the structure equation mode showed that CdG was mainly affected by CdIP, followed by Cd availability and the pH of RHS. In conclusion, the reduction of CdG by OM, L, and their co-utilization was the results of their combined effects of reducing Cd availability in RHS, CdIP, and Cd uptake by the roots. This study emphasizes that the reduction of CdG is a result of the dual effects of reducing Cd availability in RHS and CdIP after amendments application. L application alone or in conjunction with OM is an efficient practice to reduce CdG in acidic Cd-contaminated paddy fields.

The n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFA) play important roles in the normal growth and metabolism of fish . In order to explore the appropriate requiremnts of n-3 LC-PUFA in juvenile largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, a freshwater carnivorous teleost, four isoproteic (50 %) and isolipidic (11 %) diets were formulated. The control diet used fish oil (FO) as the sole lipid source, and the other three diets used mixed vegetable oil as the main lipid source and supplemented with 0.50 %, 0.80 % and 1.10 % n-3 LC-PUFA, respectively. After the juvenile largemouth bass (initial weight 12.11 ± 0.01 g) fed with the four diets for 75 days, the growth, serum and heptic biochemical indices, as well as hepatic lipid metabolism were investigated. The results showed that the growth performance of 0.50 %-1.10 % groups were high that of control group; comparing to the 1.10 % group, high weight gain, specific growth rate and daily gain, as well as muscle hardness, chewiness and gumminess were detected in the 0.80 % group (P

Rock bridges control the stability of rock slopes with intermittent joints. To better understand the evolution of water-induced damage in rock bridges, we developed new, water-sensitive similar materials and investigated their physical, mechanical, and hydraulic properties. The reasonable proportions of the material components required to simulate a rock bridge were systematically determined based on deformation failure modes, shear creep characteristics, deterioration degree, and the brittleness characteristics after water-rock interaction. Sensitivity analysis and contribution rates were used to characterize the effects of different influencing factors on the mechanical properties of similar materials. We found that one similar material specimen, SM-24, exhibited the analogous characteristics of natural rock bridge in shear creep behavior, crack propagation, and ruptured surfaces. Such similar material for modeling rock bridges has the following mechanical characteristics: reproducing the volume-expansion point, showing high deterioration degree and specific brittle failure characteristics after water-rock interaction, and reproducing the identifiable precursor of accelerated creep and stepped fracture morphology subjected to shear creep loading. The bone-binder ratio dominated mechanical properties of similar materials, while physical and hydraulic properties depended mainly on the bentonite content. These findings provide guidelines for reliably producing similar materials that meet the requirements of different geomechanical model tests in solving geotechnical engineering problems considering the water-rock interactions.

The aim of this study was to explore the associations of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) time and sedentary (SED) time with a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and multifactorial (i.e., blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)) control status among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in China. A cross-sectional analysis of 9152 people with type 2 diabetes from the Multifactorial Intervention on Type 2 Diabetes (MIDiab) study was performed. Patients were grouped according to their self-reported MVPA time (low, < 150 min·week−1; moderate, 150 to < 450 min·week−1; high, ≥ 450 min·week−1) and SED time (low, < 4 h·d–1; moderate, 4 to < 8 h·d–1; high, ≥ 8 h·d–1). Participants who self-reported a history of CVD were identified as having a CVD risk. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of CVD risk and multifactorial control status associated with MVPA time and SED time were estimated using mixed-effect logistic regression models, adjusting for China’s geographical region characteristics. The participants had a mean ± standard deviation (SD) age of (60.87 ± 8.44) years, 44.5% were women, and 25.1% had CVD. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, an inverse association between high MVPA time and CVD risk that was independent of SED time was found, whereas this association was not observed in the moderate-MVPA group. A higher MVPA time was more likely to have a positive effect on the control of BMI. Compared with the reference group (i.e., those with MVPA time ≥ 450 min·week−1 and SED time

Endothelial cells (ECs) play an important role in tumor progression. Currently, the main target of anti-angiogenic therapy is the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway. Some patients do benefit from anti-VEGF/VEGFR therapy; however, a large number of patients do not have response or acquire drug resistance after treatment. Moreover, anti-VEGF/VEGFR therapy may lead to nephrotoxicity and cardiovascular-related side effects due to its action on normal ECs. Therefore, it is necessary to identify targets that are specific to tumor ECs and could be applied to various cancer types. We integrated single-cell RNA sequencing data from six cancer types and constructed a multi-cancer EC atlas to decode the characteristic of tumor ECs. We found that tip-like ECs mainly exist in tumor tissues but barely exist in normal tissues. Tip-like ECs are involved in the promotion of tumor angiogenesis and inhibition on anti-tumor immune responses. Moreover, tumor cells, myeloid cells, and pericytes are the main sources of pro-angiogenic factors. High proportion of tip-like ECs is associated with poor prognosis in multiple cancer types. We also identified that prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a specific marker for tip-like ECs in all the cancer types we studied. In summary, we demonstrate that tip-like ECs are the main differential EC subcluster between tumors and normal tissues. Tip-like ECs may promote tumor progression through promoting angiogenesis while inhibiting anti-tumor immune responses. PSMA was a specific marker for tip-like ECs, which could be used as a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment of non-prostate cancers.

Mg-Gd-Y-Mn-Sc alloys with different Mn + Sc contents were prepared by hot extrusion and ageing treatment. The effect of Mn + Sc additions on the microstructures, tensile properties, and corresponding strengthening mechanisms of the as-extruded and peak-aged Mg-Gd-Y-Mn-Sc alloys were systematically investigated. Mn + Sc additions had outstanding grain refinement effect on the homogenized alloy and promoted the supersaturation of the Gd and Y atoms in α-Mg matrix, facilitating the dynamic recrystallization (DRX) and dynamic precipitation during hot extrusion. The DRX mainly occurs via discontinuous DRX (D-DRX) and continuous DRX (C-DRX) mechanisms. The as-extruded alloy with higher Mn + Sc contents exhibits better strength-ductility balance with a tensile yield strength of 337 MPa, ultimate tensile strength of 406 MPa and elongation to failure of 10.8%, which is mainly attributed to higher DRX fraction and denser dynamically precipitated particles. The Mn + Sc additions benefits the age-hardening response and notably improves the tensile yield strength to be 484 MPa for the peak-aged alloys by ageing precipitation and GB solute segregation, which is superior than previously reported Mg-RE-Mn alloys.

Asia contains 58 % of the global population and approximately 39 % of the world’s cropland, making evaluation of the spatiotemporal variability patterns in cropland fire critical for understanding the interplay between crop residue burning and human activity in Asia. Although agricultural expansion and intensification have contributed to an overall decline in vegetation fires worldwide since the late 1990s, burned area by cropland fires in Asia has expanded by more than 19 % over the past two decades. India accounts for about 32 % of cropland fires in Asia, and the burned area has increased by more than two-thirds since 2003, particularly increased around 80 % during the two major cereal harvest seasons of March-May and October-November. In comparison, cropland fires have increased by

As a vital component of urban green infrastructures, urban green space (UGS) provides essential ecological, recreational, and social-cultural services to urban residents. Ensuring adequate and equitable accessibility to UGS for all urban residents has become an integral aspect of promoting social justice. However, studies that comprehensively investigate the long-term changes in urban green space accessibility (UGSA) and its equity under rapid urbanization are scarce, thereby limiting the potential guidance for implementing nature-based solutions to enhance ecosystem services that benefit urban residents. In this study, taking Guangzhou, China, as the empirical study area, the UGSA and its equity during 2000–2015 were evaluated at the district level by combining the Gaussian-based two-step floating catchment area method (Gaussian-based 2SFCA) and the Gini coefficient. Meanwhile, the changes in land cover and land use (LULC) were also investigated to reveal the dynamics of the UGS. Moreover, the long-term synchronous changes between UGSA and its equity were explored through a grouping analysis based on the four-quadrant method. The results revealed spatial heterogeneity in UGSA, with peri-urban districts having more accessibility to UGS compared to core-urban districts. The equity of UGSA exhibited an uneven spatial pattern, with most districts displaying consistently low levels of equality. The results of grouping analysis underscored the significance of considering both the improvements of UGSA and its equity in policy-making, leading to specific policy implications for each district. Our study provides valuable insights that can inform future urban spatial greening strategies and contribute to the promotion of sustainable urban development.

The widely used devices (e.g. smartphones, recorders) equipped with microphones have posed a severe threat to confidential conversations. In this paper, we design an inaudible anti-eavesdropping method: UltraJam, to reduce the risk of unwanted and secret recordings. UltraJam uses the ultrasonic signal to mask conversation. By leveraging the nonlinear effect of microphone circuits, the adaptive ultrasonic signal can be recorded and demodulated into low-frequency which can effectively squash the sound. Based on the characteristics of the attenuation coefficient and frequency response, we construct a number of jamming signals with different bandwidths and designed a wideband signal injection array, meanwhile adaptively adjust the power at each bandwidth signal to cover more frequency bands and increase usage scenarios. To verify the security of the microphone jamming system, we also utilize several audio recovery methods to recover the raw signal from jamming noise. The experimental results show that less than 1% of the words are recognized in the jamming recording, and even with the audio recovery method, 99% of the words still cannot be recognized in the recovered jamming recording.

At present, the traditional machine learning diagnosis method has some problems, such as the imbalance of various fault types and the great difference of recognition effect between different fault types. In order to solve the problem of low accuracy of traditional machine learning diagnosis methods, a multilevel fault diagnosis model of transformer based on hierarchical classification, generalized learning and ensemble learning is established. According to the imbalanced degree of each category sample, the method established the corresponding classifier, and carried on the diagnosis step by step. At the first level, the broad learning system was selected to extract three generalized feature labels—normal, discharge and overheat, which were fused with the original parameter input to guide the nine more detailed state types. In the second-level classifier, EasyEnsemble learning method is used to generate multiple data-balanced training subsets through under-sampling, fully balancing the fault information of most classes and a few classes, and then synthesized the final classifier through parallel training sub-classifiers, avoiding the problem of missing data information due to under-sampling. Experimental results show that, compared with the traditional diagnosis methods, the proposed method improved the generalization characteristics of a few types of faults, improved the overall accuracy rate, and had a more accurate and balanced fault diagnosis effect of power transformer.

Summary: Photocatalytic microplastics (MPs) conversion into valuable products is a promising approach to alleviate MPs pollution in aquatic environments. Herein, we developed an amorphous alloy/photocatalyst composite (FeB/TiO2) that can successfully convert polystyrene (PS) MPs to clean H2 fuel and valuable organic compounds (92.3% particle size reduction of PS-MPs and 103.5 μmol H2 production in 12 h). FeB effectively enhanced the light-absorption and carrier separation of TiO2, thereby promoting more reactive oxygen species generation (especially ‧OH) and combination of photoelectrons with protons. The main products (e.g., benzaldehyde, benzoic acid, etc.) were identified. Additionally, the dominant PS-MPs photoconversion pathway was elucidated based on density functional theory calculations, by which the significant role of ‧OH was demonstrated in combination with radical quenching data. This study provides a prospective approach to mitigate MPs pollution in aquatic environments and reveals the synergistic mechanism governing the photocatalytic conversion of MPs and generation of H2 fuel.

Urban flooding can seriously threaten urban ecological security and human life, and therefore urban flood resilience (UFR) is important for urban safety and stability. To comprehensively evaluate urban system performance during the entire process of rainfall, runoff, flooding, and drainage, we developed a systematic framework for UFR assessment covering runoff simulation, flood estimation, and resilience assessment, which broadly corresponded to the phases of resistance, adaptation, and recovery. The UFR in the phases of resistance, adaptation, and recovery was simulated and assessed using a system performance curve (SPC) and technically combining with the hybrid flood model while mainly considering the total simulation time and inundated urban proportion in SPC. Because the extent of urban flooding can be influenced by climate change and the rate of urbanization, we chose the corresponding representative factors of precipitation and infiltration rate and considered 21 simulation scenarios (seven rainfall return periods and three infiltration rates) for which UFR was quantified according to urban system performance. The effectiveness of this framework was demonstrated in application to a typical highly urbanized area (i.e., Dongguan, China). The following results were derived: (1) The inundated area under the pessimistic scenario (i.e., S19) would be nearly four times greater than that under the optimistic scenario (i.e., S3); (2) The values of UFR in Dongguan were 0.9494–0.9863, locating at the high and very high level; (3) The lowest UFR value was 0.6552 in the Shuixiang New City district; and (4) The rainfall return period was the main factor influencing UFR under relatively short rainfall return periods (i.e., S1–S9), while infiltration rate was the principal influencing factor under relatively long rainfall return periods (i.e., S10–S21). The proposed systematic framework could be applied in other cities and large-scale regions like urban agglomerations and provinces.

Hematite, as an extensive natural mineral with multiple crystal facets, profoundly affects the migration and transformation of pollutants in the natural environment. However, little is known about the photochemical behavior of microplastics on different facets of hematite in the aquatic environment. In this work, the photoaging of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) on different crystal planes ({001}, {100}, and {012} facets) and related mechanisms were studied. Two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy analysis illustrated that the reaction pathways of PS-MPs photoaging on hematite tended to preferential chemical oxidization. The stronger performance of PS-MPs photoaging, expressed by particle size reduction and surface oxidation, was observed on the {012} crystal facet. Under irradiation, {012} facet-dominated hematite with a narrower bandgap (1.93 eV) reinforced the photogenerated charge carrier separation, and the lower activation energy barrier (1.41 eV calculated from density functional theory) led to effective •OH formation from water oxidation. These findings elucidate the underlying photoaging mechanism of MPs on hematite with different mineralogical phases.

Summary: As wildfire risks have elevated due to climate change, the health risks that toxicants from fire smoke pose to wildland firefighters have been exacerbated. Recently, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has reclassified wildland firefighters’ occupational exposure as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1). Wildfire smoke contributes to an increased risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease, yet wildland firefighters have inadequate respiratory protection. The economic cost of wildland fires has risen concurrently, as illustrated by the appropriation of $45 billion for wildfire management over FYs 2011–2020 by the U.S. Congress. Occupational epidemiological studies of wildland firefighters are crucial for minimizing health risks; however, they must account for the mixture of exposures in wildfire smoke. This review focuses on four aspects of wildland firefighters’ health risks at the wildland-urban interface: 1) economic costs and health impact, 2) respiratory protection, 3) multipollutant mixtures, and 4) proactive management of wildfires.

Summary: Incorporating graphite/graphene into a Mg alloy matrix is a promising approach for developing lightweight heat dissipation materials. However, carbon material is inherently incompatible with Mg because of their distinctly different surface characteristics, resulting in the challenge of composite fabricating and interface controlling. Herein, a new strategy of in situ interfacial modification was proposed to achieve excellent thermal conductivity and mechanical properties in graphite/Mg composites. A super-nano CaCO3 interfacial layer was reported in this paper. The detailed interfacial structure, reaction thermodynamics and kinetics, and interface strengthening mechanisms were analyzed and discussed. Several preferential epitaxial relationships of the Mg/CaCO3 interface were revealed, which are conducive to minimize the interfacial energy, stabilize and strengthen the interface. Moreover, strong ionic bond of graphite/CaCO3 interface was demonstrated. The strong chemical interface bonding of graphite-Mg via in situ interface modification facilitates both the interfacial cohesion and interfacial thermal conduction, which endows the graphite/Mg composites with superior strength–thermal conductivity synergy.

The water depth bias of LiDAR point cloud data has to be corrected. The previous models, which used the fixed parameters for an entire water area, cannot efficiently correct the bias due to the different water environments. Therefore, this paper develops an adaptive model for the correction of the water depth bias. A coordinate system, in which the water depth is taken as the X-axis and the water depth bias is taken as the Y-axis, is defined. All of the sample points are normalized, and then projected into the defined coordinate system according to their water depths and water depth biases. Second, the scatter points are clustered into several different clusters using the developed subdivision algorithm. With the clusters, an entire water area is subdivided into several sub-regions. Finally, each sub-region is fitted using a model, which is used to correct the water depth bias. Experimental verification and comparison analysis are conducted in three different environments: an indoor tank, an outdoor pond and the Beihai sea. The experimental results demonstrate that the Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and the Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) from the adaptive model are reduced by approximately 61% and 59%, respectively, relative to those from the traditional models. Therefore, it can be concluded that the proposed model can adapt to changes of the different water environments and achieve a higher accuracy for water depth bias correction than traditional methods do.

Exserohilum turcicum and E. rostratum, two closely related fungal species, are both economically important pathogens but have quite different target hosts (specific to plants and cross-kingdom infection, respectively). In the present study, complete circular mitochondrial genomes of the two Exserohilum species were sequenced and de novo assembled, which mainly comprised the same set of 13 core protein-coding genes (PCGs), two rRNAs, and a certain number of tRNAs and unidentified open reading frames (ORFs). Comparative analyses indicated that these two fungi had significant mitogenomic collinearity and consistent mitochondrial gene arrangement, yet with vastly different mitogenome sizes, 264,948 bp and 64,620 bp, respectively. By contrast with the 17 introns containing 17 intronic ORFs (one-to-one) in the E. rostratum mitogenome, E. turcicum involved far more introns (70) and intronic ORFs (126), which was considered as the main contributing factors of their mitogenome expansion/contraction. Within the generally intron-rich gene cox1, a total of 18 and 10 intron position classes (Pcls) were identified separately in the two mitogenomes. Moreover, 16.16% and 10.85% ratios of intra-mitogenomic repetitive regions were detected in E. turcicum and E. rostratum, respectively. Based on the combined mitochondrial gene dataset, we established a well-supported topology of phylogeny tree of 98 ascomycetes, implying that mitogenomes may act as an effective molecular marker for fungal phylogenetic reconstruction. Our results served as the first report on mitogenomes in the genus Exserohilum, and would have significant implications in understanding the origin, evolution and pathogenic mechanisms of this fungal lineage.