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Recently, continual learning has received particular attention in machinery remaining useful life (RUL) prediction, which enables prognostics networks to gradually improve performance without laborious retraining. Existing studies, however, have the following limitations: 1) The impacts of variable operating conditions are not explicitly considered during continual learning. 2) The continual learnability of prognostics network is limited by the lack of knowledge compression and de-redundancy. To overcome the abovementioned limitations, a novel continual learning framework is proposed for RUL prediction of machinery under variable operating conditions. First, a multi-kernel swarm convolution block is devised to automatically capture degradation features during continual learning without increasing computational consumption, which combines convolutional operations at various scales and focuses attention on appropriate scales based on operating condition information. Then, core space gradient projection is proposed for continual learning of prognostics networks, which mitigates forgetting by guiding gradient descent along the orthogonal direction of the previously input subspace. This approach also ensures the network learnability during continual learning by knowledge compression and de-redundancy to identify core space. The proposed framework is verified using accelerated degradation datasets of rolling element bearings with variable operating conditions. Experimental results show that the proposed framework is superior to some existing continual learning-based prognostics approaches for RUL prediction under variable operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the performance of the inner wall of the 316L hydraulic cylinder, FeCoNiCrMox (x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6) high entropy alloy coatings were prepared by laser cladding. The effects of the Mo element on the phase, microstructure, hardness, and tribological as well as electrochemical behaviors of the coating were investigated. The results show that the coatings consist of the FCC phase. The FCC phase increases, and the grain orientation becomes more complex with increased Mo element content. The coatings are mainly composed of columnar and equiaxial crystals. Mo0.4 coating has the finest grain structure, resulting in the coating with a maximum hardness of 421.99 HV, 2.11 times that of the substrate. The nanoindentation test shows that the elastic modulus of the HEA coating increases with the increase of Mo content. The dry sliding wear test shows that adding the Mo element improves the wear performance of the coating. The wear volume loss and wear rate of Mo0.4 coating were the lowest, 12.242 mg and 2.88 × 10−4 mm3•N−1•m−1, respectively. In the 3.5 wt% NaCl solution, the polarization curves and EIS results indicated that adding the Mo element improved the corrosion resistance of the coating. The FeCoNiCrMox coatings significantly improved the hardness, tribological, and electrochemical behaviors of the 316L substrate. [Display omitted] • The FeCoNiCrMox coatings on the inwall of 316 L tube were composed of FCC phase. • The addition of Mo element refines the microstructure of the HEA coating. • The addition of Mo element improves the mechanical properties of the HEA coating. • The Mo element improves the tribological and electrochemical behaviors of the HEA coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban stream syndrome, including urban waterlogging, flood risk, water shortage, water pollution and ecological restoration, are major challenges that cause potential risks to human beings. Recently, the sponge city construction (SCC) initiative in China has received extensive attention because it aims to systematically solve all of these urban water-related issues for a city. To date, little research has focused on the life-cycle operations, maintenance requirements and low public awareness of sponge city facilities (SCFs; e.g., rain gardens, green roofs, grass swales, and pavement greenbelts), which are challenges facing the development and sustainability of the SCC initiative. The aim of this study is to explore (i) the willingness to pay (WTP) for the life-cycle maintenance of SCFs and its determinants and (ii) the public's perceptions and attitudes towards the SCC initiative. We conducted a questionnaire-based survey combined with contingent valuation in three pilot sponge cities and then applied a two-phase logistic model and Tobit model to estimate the WTP of the respondents and the factors influencing the WTP. The results show that 76% of the respondents agreed to pay for life-cycle maintenance of SCFs, and the median amount of WTP was 16.57 CNY (2.53 USD) per month. Important factors influencing WTP include respondents' perceptions of the efficacy of the SCFs, concerns regarding the waterlogging risk and support for the SCF construction plans. The findings of this research extend our knowledge of the public's perceptions of and attitudes towards the SCC initiative and suggest that public contributions could serve as a crucial and feasible funding source for the life-cycle maintenance of SCFs. • WTP for life-cycle maintenance of the sponge city facilities were evaluated. • A two-phased system of logistic and Tobit model analyses was applied for the empirical study. • The estimate median WTP for the sponge city facilities was 16.57 CNY. • Key significant influencing factors were identified. • Policy recommendations on sponge city development were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Cyantraniliprole had stronger bioaccumulation capacity in zebrafish than J9Z38. • Cyantraniliprole had a stronger affinity with the RyR-receptor related proteins. • Cyantraniliprole and J9Z38 degraded in sediment through methane metabolism. • Metabolism reduced the environmental risk of cyantraniliprole to some extent. As a representative variety of diamide insecticides, cyantraniliprole has broad application prospects. In this study, the fate and risk of cyantraniliprole and its main metabolite J9Z38 in a water-sediment system were investigated. The present result showed that more J9Z38 was adsorbed in the sediment at the end of exposure. However, the bioaccumulation capacity of cyantraniliprole in zebrafish was higher than that of J9Z38. Cyantraniliprole had stronger influence on the antioxidant system and detoxification system of zebrafish than J9Z38. Moreover, cyantraniliprole induced more significant oxidative stress effect and more differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in zebrafish. Cyantraniliprole had significantly influence on the expression of RyR-receptor-related genes, which was confirmed by resolving their binding modes with key receptor proteins using AlphaFold2 and molecular docking techniques. In the sediment, both cyantraniliprole and J9Z38 had inhibitory effects on microbial community structure diversity and metabolic function, especially cyantraniliprole. The methane metabolism pathway, mediated by methanogens such as Methanolinea , Methanoregula , and Methanosaeta, may be the main pathway of degradation of cyantraniliprole and J9Z38 in sediments. The present results demonstrated that metabolism can reduce the environmental risk of cyantraniliprole in water-sediment system to a certain extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dinotefuran is a promising neonicotinoid insecticide with chiral structure. In the present study, the stereoselective toxicity of dinotefuran to Daphnia magna (D. magna) was studied. The present result showed that S -dinotefuran inhibited the reproduction of D. magna at 5.0 mg/L. However, both R -dinotefuran and S -dinotefuran had no genotoxicity to D. magna. Additionally, neither R -dinotefuran nor S -dinotefuran had negative influences on the motor behavior of D. magna. However, S -dinotefuran inhibited the feeding behavior of D. magna at 5.0 mg/L. Both R -dinotefuran and S -dinotefuran induced oxidative stress effect in D. magna after exposure. R -dinotefuran significantly activated the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST), while S -dinotefuran showed the opposite effect. S -dinotefuran had more obvious activation effect on the acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity and trypsin activity compared to R -dinotefuran. The transcriptome sequencing results showed that S -dinotefuran induced more DEGs in D. magna , and affected the normal function of ribosome. The DEGs were mainly related to the synthesis and metabolism of biomacromolecules, indicating the binding mode between dinotefuran enantiomer and biomacromolecules were different. Additionally, the present result indicated that the digestive enzyme activity and digestive gene expression levels in D. magna were greatly enhanced to cope with the inhibition of S -dinotefuran on the feeding. [Display omitted] • Both R -dinotefuran and S -dinotefuran had no genotoxicity to D. magna. • S -dinotefuran inhibited the feeding behavior of D. magna at 5.0 mg/L. • S -dinotefuran had stronger influence on ribosome than R -dinotefuran. • S -dinotefuran had activating effect on the digestive capacity of D. magna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of Waste-to-Energy treatment in Municipal Solid Waste faces strong protest by local communities, especially in cities with high population densities. This study introduces insight into the public awareness, acceptance and risk perception toward Waste-to-Energy through a structured questionnaire survey around a Waste-to-Energy facility in Shanghai, China. The Dichotomous-Choice contingent valuation method was applied to study the willingness to accept of residents as an indicator of risk perception and tolerance. The factors influencing risk perception and the protest response choice were analyzed. The geographical distributions of the acceptance of Waste-to-Energy facility and protest response were explored using geographical information systems. The findings of the research indicated an encouraging vision of promoting Waste-to-Energy, considering its benefits of renewable energy and the conservation of land. A high percentage of protest willingness to accept (50.94%) was highlighted with the effect of income, opinion about Waste-to-Energy, gender and perceived impact. The fuzzy classification among people with different opinions on compensation (valid 0, positive or protest willingness to accept) revealed the existing yet rejected demand of compensation among protesters. Geographical distribution in the public attitude can also be observed. Finally significant statistical relation between knowledge and risk perception indicates the need of risk communication, as well as involving public into whole management process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-delivered Ca v ∝βlator results in a remarkable ubiquitination and ablation of high voltage-activated calcium channels (HVACCs) in the primary sensory neurons. • Ablation of HVACCs and calcium current in the primary sensory neurons significantly reduces neuronal excitability and neurotransmitter release. • Loss of HVACCs in the sensory neurons also alters the inhibitory inputs to the "pain-transmission" neurons in the spinal dorsal horn. • Subcutaneous application of Ca v ∝βlator provides a novel method for alleviating chronic pain sensation caused by nerve injury. High-voltage-activated calcium channels (HVACCs) are promising targets for developing analgesics given their roles in controlling synaptic transmission, neuronal excitability and neuropeptide release in primary nociceptive neurons. Despite previous efforts in developing HVACCs inhibitors of various drug modalities, it remains undetermined whether targeting HVACCs directly by a gene therapy approach could lead to pain alleviation in vivo. To test this, Sun and colleagues adopted a post-translational ubiquitination-based knockdown method targeting HVACCs in primary sensory neurons. They showed ablation of HVACC currents in a subset of primary sensory neurons, dampened hyperexcitability of sensory neurons after nerve injury and reduced pain behavior with no apparent adverse effects [1]. The results open the possibility of targeting ion channels with ubiquitination-based knockdown as a promising gene therapy candidate for pain treatment in future clinical studies. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute itch can be generated by either chemical or mechanical stimuli, which activate separate pathways in the periphery and spinal cord. While substantial progress has been made in mapping the transmission pathway for chemical itch, the central pathway for mechanical itch remains obscure. Using complementary genetic and pharmacological manipulations, we show that excitatory neurons marked by the expression of the neuropeptide Y1 receptor (Y1Cre neurons) form an essential pathway in the dorsal spinal cord for the transmission of mechanical but not chemical itch. Ablating or silencing the Y1Cre neurons abrogates mechanical itch, while chemogenetic activation induces scratching. Moreover, using Y1 conditional knockout mice, we demonstrate that endogenous neuropeptide Y (NPY) acts via dorsal-horn Y1-expressing neurons to suppress light punctate touch and mechanical itch stimuli. NPY-Y1 signaling thus regulates the transmission of innocuous tactile information by establishing biologically relevant thresholds for touch discrimination and mechanical itch reflexes. • Excitatory NPYR1Cre (Y1Cre) neurons are required for mechanical itch transmission • Spinal Y1Cre neurons receive LTMR input and mediate light punctate touch • NPY::Cre interneurons inhibit Y1-expressing neurons in the dorsal horn • NPY signaling via dorsal horn Y1-expressing neurons gates mechanical itch Acton et al. identify the excitatory neurons in the dorsal spinal cord that drive mechanical itch. These cells mediate responses to light punctate touch and are inhibited by neuropeptide Y (NPY)::Cre interneurons. Light touch sensitivity and mechanical itch responses are gated by NPY signaling mediated by Y1-expressing neurons in the dorsal horn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additives play a pivotal role in achieving high-quality electrodeposited cobalt films for diverse applications in microelectronics. In this work, 1,4-butynediol (BYD) bearing function groups of C C and -OH, 1,4-butenediol (BED) featuring C = C and -OH, and glycol (EG) with only -OH were studied to reveal the potential underlying mechanism of unsaturated carbon bonds on cobalt electrodeposition. It is found that BYD inhibits both the cobalt deposition and the formation of adsorbed hydrogen, forming compact cobalt film. Furthermore, the surface and cross-section morphology, grain structure, and resistivity of electrodeposited cobalt are characterized to investigate the effects of alkynol additives. It was observed that BYD induces a change in surface morphology from a mixture of elongated ridges and granular shapes to a flattened granular structure. The texture of the electrodeposited cobalt film transformed from hcp(100) and hcp(101) to hcp(002) with the addition of BYD due to the selective absorption of BYD on specific cobalt orientation. This study not only regulates the grains orientations and properties of electrodeposited cobalt, but also enhances the comprehension of the effect and mechanism of unsaturated carbon bonds on cobalt electrodeposition. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for the selection of additives and their practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The connectivity is an important indicator to evaluate the robustness of a network. Many works have focused on connectivity-based reliability analysis for decades. As a generalization of connectivity, H-structure connectivity and H-substructure connectivity were proposed to evaluate the robustness of networks. In the previous works, the H-structure connectivity and H-substructure connectivity for some classical networks have been done when H is isomorphic to K 1 , K 1,1 , K 1,2. In this paper, we investigate the H-structure connectivity and H-substructure connectivity of alternating group graph AG n when H is isomorphic to K 1,t , P l , and C k. And we show that (1) for a star K 1, t (1 ≤ t ≤ 2 n − 6) , k (A G n ; K 1 , t) = k a (A G n ; K 1 , t) = n − 2 ; (2) for a path P l (1 ≤ l ≤ 3 n − 7) , κ (A G n ; P l) = κ s (A G n ; P l) = ⌈ 2 n − 4 l − ⌊ l / 3 ⌋ ⌉ ; (3) for a cycle C k (6 ≤ k ≤ 3 n − 6) , κ s (A G n ; C k) = ⌈ 2 n − 4 k − ⌊ k / 3 ⌋ ⌉ and κ (A G n ; C k) = ⌈ n − 2 ⌊ k / 3 ⌋ ⌉. The connectivity is an important indicator to evaluate the robustness of a network. Many works have focused on connectivity-based reliability analysis for decades. As a generalization of connectivity, H -structure connectivity and H -substructure connectivity were proposed to evaluate the robustness of networks. In this paper, we investigate the H -structure connectivity and H -substructure connectivity of alternating group graph AG n when H is isomorphic to K 1, t , P l and C k , which are generalizations of the previous results for H ∈ { K 1 , K 1,1 , K 1,2 }. And we show that κ (A G n ; K 1 , t) = κ s (A G n ; K 1 , t) = n − 2 (1 ≤ t ≤ 2 n − 6) , κ (A G n ; P l) = κ s (A G n ; P l) = ⌈ 2 n − 4 l − ⌊ l / 3 ⌋ ⌉ (1 ≤ l ≤ 3 n − 7), κ (A G n ; C k) = ⌈ n − 2 ⌊ k / 3 ⌋ ⌉ and κ s (A G n ; C k) = ⌈ 2 n − 4 k − ⌊ k / 3 ⌋ ⌉ (6 ≤ k ≤ 3 n − 6). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the effects of three specific exercise training modes, aerobic exercise (A), resistance training (R) and autonomous climbing (AC), aimed at proposing a cross-training method, on improving the physical, molecular and metabolic characteristics of mice without many side effects. Seven-week-old male mice were randomly divided into four groups: control (C), aerobic exercise (A), resistance training (R), and autonomous climbing (AC) groups. Physical changes in mice were tracked and analysed to explore the similarities and differences of these three exercise modes. Histochemistry, quantitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR), western blot (WB) and metabolomics analysis were performed to identify the underlying relationships among the three training modes. Mice in the AC group showed better body weight control, glucose and energy homeostasis. Molecular markers of myogenesis, hypertrophy, antidegradation and mitochondrial function were highly expressed in the muscle of mice after autonomous climbing. The serum metabolomics landscape and enriched pathway comparison indicated that the aerobic oxidation pathway (pentose phosphate pathway, galactose metabolism and fatty acid degradation) and amino acid metabolism pathway (tyrosine, arginine and proline metabolism) were significantly enriched in group AC, suggesting an increased muscle mitochondrial function and protein balance ability of mice after autonomous climbing. We propose a new exercise mode, autonomous climbing, as a convenient but effective training method that combines the beneficial effects of aerobic exercise and resistance training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to establish a more accurate analytical model and method for grip strength test of mice and to investigate the beneficial effects of lifelong exercise training to prevent functional decline of muscle during aging. Fifty randomly selected adult male BALB/c mice (24–56 week age) were used in grip strength testing periodically with short periods (3 s). Such method was used to detect a modified grip strength test. Then sixty-four male BALB/c mice (6 week age) were assigned into groups Sedentary (n = 32), Exercise (n = 32, lifelong treadmill training 3 days per week and 30 min per day). The muscle strength and morphology parameters were measured at the ages of 6, 12, 30 and 64 weeks, respectively. The grip strength (peak value and endurance) of sedentary group monotonically decreased in adult BALB/c mice during aging, while that of exercise group remained a relatively high level even slightly increased at aged period. Meanwhile, lifelong exercise training could slow down the loss of gastrocnemius muscle mass, myofiber cross-sectional area, myonuclear number and myonuclear domain. The number of myofibers was relatively stable in adult mice. Modified analytical method for grip strength testing, with improved accuracy and reliability, may be an efficient substitute for conventional method in measuring the strength and endurance of mice and investigating the effect of lifelong exercise on muscle loss. Lifelong exercise training helps prevent muscle loss and muscle defunctionalization while aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatiotemporal distribution of PM 2.5 during heavy pollution is a short-term dynamic change process, and quantifying the dynamic change process of PM 2.5 is the premise and guarantee for short-term PM 2.5 exposure research. However, given the low temporal resolution of polar-orbiting satellites and late launch time of geostationary satellites, the application of remote sensing aerosol optical depth (AOD) data in hourly PM 2.5 spatial distribution prediction is greatly limited, which brings uncertainty to short-term PM 2.5 exposure research. This study introduces the PM 2.5 concentration predicted by Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) 3 km AOD data and the PM 2.5 concentration of monitoring stations into a spatiotemporal autoregressive (STAR) model to generate hourly PM 2.5 spatial distribution and quantify the short-term dynamic change process of PM 2.5. The monitoring data in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (JingJinJi) region of 2014 were used to test the model performance. Time-based 10-fold cross-validation (CV) R2 was 0.82, and the root-mean-square prediction error (RMSE) was 37.37 μg/m3. The CV R2 and RMSE were higher by 0.04 and lower by 3.4 μg/m3 than the STAR model without monitoring station PM 2.5 concentration as predictors, which indicated that the monitoring station PM 2.5 concentration could improve the performance of the model. Hourly performance statistics results showed that the model's accuracy increased when the time was closer to the MODIS transit time compared with that at other hours. The farther away from the MODIS transit time, the greater the monitoring stations' PM 2.5 concentration improved the performance of the model. The predicted results of the spatial distribution of PM 2.5 showed that the spatial distribution of the average PM 2.5 concentration in each hour varied greatly in JingJinJi, and the maximum difference reached 30 μg/m3. The model in this paper not only demonstrates high prediction accuracy but also provides high spatiotemporal resolution of PM 2.5 for short-term PM 2.5 exposure studies. Image 1 • A STAR model was established to generate hourly spatial distribution of PM 2.5. • The influence of monitoring sites' PM 2.5 on prediction results was considered. • The effects of linear and non-linear functions on model accuracy were explored. • We can provide PM 2.5 spatial distribution data with high spatiotemporal resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]