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Understanding the spatially varying effect mechanism of intermodal connection on metro ridership helps policymakers develop differentiated interventions to promote metro usage, especially for megacities with multiple city sub-centers and ring roads. Using multiple datasets in Shanghai, this study combines Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) with Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) to explore these effects with the consideration of the built environment and metro network topology. Results show that the collective impacts of intermodal connection are positive, not only within the main city but also alongside the main commuting corridors, while negative effects occur in the peripheral area. Specifically, bike sharing trips increase metro ridership within the inner ring of the city, while bus services lower metro usage at stations alongside the elevated ring roads. Parking facilities enable metro usage at city sub-centers, and the small pedestrian catchment area increases metro riders alongside the main commuting corridors. Empirical findings help policymakers understand the effect mechanism of intermodal connection for stations in different regions and prioritize customized planning strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public transport improves mobility and well-being for the rapidly aging population. However, few planning interventions have addressed the urban–rural disparity in bus usage among older adults. Using data from Zhongshan, China, this study adopts the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model to examine urban–rural differences in the nonlinear relationship between built environment and daily bus usage among elderly adults. The results indicate nonlinearities across all built environment variables and stronger effects of the built environment in rural areas. Distance to transit contributes the most in urban neighborhoods but least in rural ones. Furthermore, dwelling unit density and green space accessibility play the biggest roles in the rural context. Additionally, the most effective ranges of intersection density, land use mixture, and CBD accessibility are greater in rural areas. The findings facilitate fine-grained and diversified planning interventions to facilitate bus usage among older adults in both urban and rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiscale virtual environments (MSVEs) allow the integration of elements and environments at different scale levels into a unified space, which facilitates researchers' perception, understanding, and experimental research of complex geospatial spaces. Although there have been several methods for achieving multiscale effects in virtual environments (VEs), they cannot assist users in constructing more complete spatial cognitive maps and presenting multiscale information efficiently. This study proposes a hierarchical-structure-based MSVE construction method, which can effectively integrate multiscale information and ensure that the richness of details of information is gradually enhanced with the progression of the hierarchical structure. In addition, a spatial navigation study is conducted, considering the relationship between users' perspective changes and spatial cognition, and the effects of users' perspective changes on their spatial cognition in an MSVE are explored. A multiscale virtual wetland environment covering four levels is constructed to conduct a case study of a virtual environment of a wetland of Poyang Lake. The research results show that the proposed method is feasible. Moreover, the spatial navigation based on the change in the hierarchical perspective is in line with the spatial cognitive habits of users, which can satisfy the cognitive needs of users from the macro-region to specific wetland landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Internet of Things (IoT) plays an essential role in people's daily lives, such as healthcare, home, traffic, industry, and so on. With the increase in IoT devices, there emerge many security issues of data loss, privacy leakage, and information temper in IoT network applications. Even with the development of quantum computing, most current information systems are weak to quantum attacks with traditional cryptographic algorithms. This paper first establishes a general security model for these IoT network applications, which comprises the blockchain and a post-quantum secure identity-based signature (PQ-IDS) scheme. This model divides these IoT networks into three layers: perceptual, network, and application, which can protect data security and user privacy in the whole data-sharing process. The proposed PQ-IDS scheme is based on lattice cryptography. Bimodal Gaussian distribution and the discrete Gaussian sample algorithm are applied to construct the fundamental difficulty problem of lattice assumption. This assumption can help resist the quantum attack for information exchange among IoT devices. Meanwhile, the signature mechanism with IoT devices' identity can guarantee non-repudiation of information signatures. Then, the security proof shows that the proposed PQ-IDS can obtain the security properties of unforgeability, non-repudiation, and non-transferability. The efficiency comparisons and performance evaluations show that the proposed PQ-IDS has good efficiency and practice in IoT network applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After a fire breaks out, pedestrians simultaneously move towards the exit and quickly form a crowded area near the exit. With the intensification of pedestrians' tendencies towards unfair competition, there is an increase in pushing and collisions within the crowd. The possibility of stampedes within the crowd also gradually increases. Analyzing the causes and psychological tendencies behind pedestrian pushing and collisions has a positive effect on reducing crowd instability and improving evacuation efficiency. This research proposes a modified social force model considering the unfair competition tendency of pedestrians. The model considers factors such as the gap between pedestrians' actual and maximum achievable speed, effective radius, and their distance from the exit. In order to overcome the shortage of "deadlock" in the classical social force model in a high-density environment, this research introduces the feature of variable pedestrian effective radius. The effective radius of pedestrians dynamically changes according to the density of the surrounding crowd and queuing time. Through validation, the evacuation efficiency of this model aligns well with the actual situation and effectively reflects pedestrians' pushing and squeezing behaviors in high-density environments. This research also analyzes how to strategically arrange obstacles to mitigate the exacerbating effect of unfair pedestrian competition on exit congestion. Five experiments were conducted to analyze how the relative position of obstacles and exits, the number of evacuation paths, and the size of the obstacle-free area before the exit affect evacuation efficiency in the presence of unfair pedestrian competition. The results show that evacuation efficiency can be improved when obstacles play a role in guiding or reducing the interaction of pedestrians in different queues. However, when obstacles hinder pedestrians, the evacuation efficiency is reduced to a certain extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AZO-coated ZnO core–shell nanorods were successfully fabricated using the mist chemical vapor deposition method. The influence of coating time on the structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties of zinc oxide nanorods was investigated. It was observed that the surface area of AZO-coated ZnO core–shell nanorods increased with an increase in coating time. The growth orientation along the (0001) crystal plane of the AZO thin film coating was the same as that of zinc oxide nanorods. The crystallinity of AZO-coated ZnO core–shell nanorods was significantly improved as well. The optical transmittance of AZO-coated ZnO core–shell nanorods was greater than 55% in the visible region. The degradation efficiency for methyl red dye solution increased with an increase in coating time. The highest degradation efficiency was achieved by AZO-coated ZnO core–shell nanorods with a coating duration of 20 min, exhibiting a degradation rate of 0.0053 min−1. The photodegradation mechanism of AZO-coated ZnO core–shell nanorods under ultraviolet irradiation was revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With versatile biological functions, microRNAs (miRNAs) participate in the regulation of post-transcriptional gene expression in plants. Tulipa thianschanica Regel is a key wild tulip resource of the Liliaceae; however, it reproduces poorly under natural conditions, and the spreading and expansion of its population rely on the release of its seeds. In this study, T. thianschanica seeds were subjected to stratification at 4 °C for three different durations: 1 d (physiological dormancy), 20 d (dormancy release), and 40 d (non-dormancy). Nine samples were selected, and miRNA databases were established and annotated. This research revealed information on 34 miRNA families, including 14 newly discovered families and 20 families that were previously known. TpmiRNA167 and TpmiRNA395 were observed to be upregulated. Conversely, TpmiRNA166, which targets the key enzymes involved in antioxidant reactions, was downregulated. Notably, PC-5p-84014 and TpmiRNA159 were found to target TpPYL and TpDELLA, respectively, which influenced the abscisic acid/gibberellin (ABA/GA) ratio. Additionally, TpmiRNA160 and TpmiRNA164 were found to participate in the indole-3-acetic acid signal transduction pathway and interact with ABA, thereby contributing to the release of dormancy. In conclusion, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of the mechanism used to release dormancy in T. thianschanica seeds at the molecular level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral metasurfaces have garnered significant interest as an emerging field of metamaterials, primarily due to their exceptional capability to manipulate phase distributions at interfaces. However, the on-demand design of chiral metasurface structures remains a challenging task. To address this challenge, this paper introduces a deep learning-based network model for rapid calculation of chiral metasurface structure parameters. The network achieves a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.025 and enables the design of chiral metasurface structures with a circular dichroism (CD) of 0.41 at a frequency of 1.169 THz. By changing the phase of the chiral metasurface, it is possible to produce not only a monofocal lens but also a multifocal lens. Well-designed chiral metasurface lenses allow us to control the number and position of focal points of the light field. This chiral metasurface, designed using deep learning, demonstrates great multifocal focus characteristics and holds great potential for a wide range of applications in sensing and holography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a key component in fields such as high-precision machine tools, aerospace and weaponry, the thermal deformations in a differential planetary roller screw (DPRS) caused by the changes in ambient temperatures can lead to uneven load distribution and increased wear, which can seriously affect its transmission accuracy, efficiency, and service life. Therefore, the temperature rise of a DPRS at different ambient temperatures was studied using the block thermal network method, and the thermal deformations were calculated. A load distribution model of DPRS considering thermal deformation was developed, and a wear prediction method combined with surface roughness was proposed. The results show that the increase in ambient temperature has an obvious negative effect on the load distribution and wear depth of DPRS. Moreover, the DPRS temperature rise, load distribution and wear depth dramatically change with the variation of parameters such as load, speed and thread pitch. A DPRS durability test device that considers changes in ambient temperature was developed. Experiments with temperature rise and DPRS wear under different ambient temperatures were conducted to validate the theoretical analysis model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical biosensors based on grating-coupled surface plasmon resonance (GCSPR) technology are an important research topic in the field of bio-photonics. This paper presents a high-performance and high-sensitivity nanostructured bimetallic GCSPR sensor based on two-dimensional materials. When designing the sensor, the sensitivity, full width at half peak (FWHM) and dip strength of the absorption peak (DS) were considered comprehensively, and the comprehensive evaluation parameter FOM+ is defined by making improvements on the basis of figure of merit (FOM). The performance of the sensor can be judged more comprehensively. The performance of the sensor was further improved by optimizing the structure of the sensor. An ultra-thin gold layer was added on the surface of the silver-based GCSPR sensor, which solves the problem of the easy oxidation of silver metal. We tried to coat graphene oxide two-dimensional nanomaterials on the surface of the bimetallic sensor, and the sensitivity and FOM+ of the sensor reached 350 deg/RIU and 473.23, respectively. This is a great improvement compared with the GCSPR sensor in a previous study, and it can be improved at least 74.7%. This sensor can measure a variety of biological molecules and biological cells with high sensitivity and performance by detecting the change in the refractive index of the solution to be measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the effect of heat treatment at 80 °C at different times (3, 5, 7, and 9 min) on the structural and functional properties of Phaseolus vulgaris L. protein (PVP, bean protein powder). Surface and structure properties of PVP after heat treatment were analyzed using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), a fluorescence spectrophotometer, a visible light spectrophotometer, a laser particle size analyzer, and other equipment. The secondary structure and surface hydrophobicity (H0) of PVP changed significantly after heat treatment: the β-sheet content decreased from 25.32 ± 0.09% to 24.66 ± 0.09%, the random coil content increased from 23.91 ± 0.11% to 25.68 ± 0.08%, and the H0 rose by 28.96–64.99%. In addition, the functional properties of PVP after heat treatment were analyzed. After heat treatment, the emulsifying activity index (EAI) of PVP increased from 78.52 ± 2.01 m2/g to 98.21 ± 1.33 m2/g, the foaming ability (FA) improved from 87.31 ± 2.56% to 95.82 ± 2.96%, and the foam stability (FS) rose from 53.23 ± 1.72% to 58.71 ± 2.18%. Finally, the degree of hydrolysis (DH) of PVP after gastrointestinal simulated digestion in vitro was detected by the Ortho-Phthal (OPA) method. Heat treatment enhanced the DH of PVP from 62.34 ± 0.31% to 73.64 ± 0.53%. It was confirmed that heat treatment changed the structural properties of PVP and improved its foamability, emulsification, and digestibility. It provides ideas for improving PVP's potential and producing new foods with rich nutrition, multiple functions, and easy absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In clinical practice, Alzheimer's disease (AD), as one of the main neurodegenerative diseases globally, currently has no cure. Recently, the delaying and improving effects of physical exercise on AD have gradually been confirmed; however, the specific mechanism involved needs further clarification. (1) Objective: Explore the mechanism aerobic exercise plays in delaying AD by regulating mitochondrial proteostasis and provide new theoretical bases for improving and delaying AD through aerobic exercise in the future. (2) Methods: Male APP/PS1 mice were randomly divided into a normal group (NG, n = 20), activation group (AG, n = 20), and inhibition group (SG, n = 20). Then, the mice in each group were randomly divided into control group and exercise group (n = 10 mice each), yielding the normal control group (CNG), normal exercise group (ENG), active control group (CAG), active exercise group (EAG), inhibitive control group (CSG), and inhibitive exercise group (ESG). After adaptive training, the mice in the exercise groups were trained on an aerobic treadmill for 12 weeks; we conducted behavioral tests and sampled the results. Then, quantitative real-time PCR (Q-PCR) and Western blot analysis were performed. (3) Results: In the Morris water maze (MWM) test, the latency was significantly reduced and the number of platform crossings was significantly increased in the CAG and ENG compared with the CNG, while the result of the CSG was contrary to this. Compared with the ENG, latency was significantly reduced and the number of platform crossings was significantly increased in the EAG, while the opposite occurred for ESG. Compared with the CAG, the latency was significantly reduced and the number of platform crossings was significantly increased in the EAG, while the results for CSG were contrary. In the step-down test, compared with the CNG, the latency was significantly increased and the number of errors was significantly reduced in the CAG and ENG, respectively, while the results for CSG were contrary. Compared with the ENG, the latency was significantly increased and the number of errors was significantly reduced in the EAG, while the results for ESG were contrary. Compared with the CAG, the latency was significantly increased and the number of errors was significantly reduced in the EAG, while the results for CSG were contrary. Mitochondrial unfolded protein reactions (UPRmt), mitochondrial autophagy, and mitochondrial protein import levels in each group of mice were detected using Q-PCR and Western blot experiments. Compared with the CNG, the UPRmt and mitochondrial autophagy levels in the CAG and ENG were significantly increased and the mitochondrial protein import levels were significantly reduced, while the results for the CSG were contrary. Compared with the ENG, the UPRmt and mitochondrial autophagy levels in the EAG were significantly increased and the mitochondrial protein import levels were significantly reduced, while the results for ESG were contrary. Compared with the CAG, the UPRmt and mitochondrial autophagy levels in the EAG were significantly increased and the mitochondrial protein import levels were significantly reduced, while the results for CSG were contrary. (4) Conclusions: Aerobic exercise can improve cognitive function levels and delay the symptoms of AD in APP/PS1 mice by regulating mitochondrial proteostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a theoretical model of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor based on the insulator-metal-insulator (IMI) structure is proposed. The sensor mainly consists of two IMI structures, MgF2/Au/Al2O3 and Al2O3/Au/sensing medium structure, respectively. Benefits from the symmetrical modes stimulated by the IMI structure, i.e., the electric field strength inside the sensing medium, are reinforced, resulting in a better overall performance in sensitivity and figure of merit (FOM). The influences of the thickness of the metal layers, the parameters of the dielectric layer materials, and the number of structural layers on the performance of this sensor are discussed. When the refractive index (RI) of the analyte varies in the range of 1.3494–1.3495, the optimized sensor could achieve a maximum wavelength sensitivity of 220 μm/RIU (refractive index unit) and a FOM of 3013.70 RIU−1. Compared with the conventional SPR sensor, the sensitivity and FOM of this structure are significantly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnO is a wide band gap semiconductor metal oxide that not only has excellent electrical properties but also shows excellent gas-sensitive properties and is a promising material for the development of NO2 sensors. However, the current ZnO-based gas sensors usually operate at high temperatures, which greatly increases the energy consumption of the sensors and is not conducive to practical applications. Therefore, there is a need to improve the gas sensitivity and practicality of ZnO-based gas sensors. In this study, three-dimensional sheet-flower ZnO was successfully synthesized at 60 °C by a simple water bath method and modulated by different malic acid concentrations. The phase formation, surface morphology, and elemental composition of the prepared samples were studied by various characterization techniques. The gas sensor based on sheet-flower ZnO has a high response value to NO2 without any modification. The optimal operating temperature is 125 °C, and the response value to 1 ppm NO2 is 125. At the same time, the sensor also has a lower detection limit (100 ppb), good selectivity, and good stability, showing excellent sensing performance. In the future, water bath-based methods are expected to prepare other metal oxide materials with unique structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral metasurfaces have great influence on the development of holography. Nonetheless, it is still challenging to design chiral metasurface structures on demand. As a machine learning method, deep learning has been applied to design metasurface in recent years. This work uses a deep neural network with a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.03 to inverse design chiral metasurface. With the help of this approach, a chiral metasurface with circular dichroism (CD) values higher than 0.4 is designed. The static chirality of the metasurface and the hologram with an image distance of 3000 μm are characterized. The imaging results are clearly visible and demonstrate the feasibility of our inverse design approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart City (SC) is a booming model of urban development with great potential, armed to be one of the urban development's most powerful developing weapons. However, the development of SC is far from satisfactory. Therefore, finding new paths for SC becomes imperative. Transit Oriented Development (TOD), which often focuses on the core areas of SC, is believed to be a substantial contributor to the development of SC. Nonetheless, the relationship between SC and TOD and the effects of TOD in promoting SC are rarely studied. In this study, we proposed a conceptual framework of Smart TOD (S-TOD), which could highlight TOD 5.0 but more than that. S-TOD is an integration of SC and TOD, utilizing the deconstructive method and the abductive method. We first defined S-TOD, which integrates SC and TOD as the twin sources. Then, we employed the concept of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) to construct S-TOD in a cross-boundary path as the connection between DNA and its twin subchains can perfectly reflect the inner relationship between S-TOD and its twin sources, SC and TOD. Finally, we built up the structure of S-TOD with three layers, i.e., the cloud layer, the tactile layer, and the land zones layer. The purpose of this paper is to enhance the practical value of SC, from a perspective that has been neglected, that is, the combination with TOD, provide a new perspective for the research and practice of the integration of SC and TOD, and effectively facilitate the advantages of SC and global sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil heavy-metal pollution is one of the most important environmental problems in the world, and seriously endangers plant growth and human health. Microbial remediation has become a key technology in the field of soil heavy-metal remediation due to its advantages of being harmless, green and environmental. In this study, a fungus Penicillium spp. XK10 with high tolerance to cadmium (Cd) and antimony (Sb) was screened from mine slag, and its adsorption characteristics to heavy metals under different environmental conditions were studied. The results showed that at pH0 = 6, C0 (Cd) = 0.1 mM, and the adsorption time was 4 days, the maximum removal rate of cadmium by XK10 was 32.2%. Under the conditions of pH0 = 4, T = 7d, and the initial antimony concentration of 1 mM, the removal rate of antimony by XK10 was the highest, which was 15.5%. This study provides potential microbial materials for bioremediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study combines surface heat flow, multi-channel seismic reflection profiles, and ocean-bottom seismometer (OBS) profiles to determine the thermo-rheological structure of the Qiongdongnan Basin (QDNB) and Pearl River Mouth Basin (PRMB), with the aim of researching the west–east variation of the passive continental margin rifting. Based on the initial lithospheric rheological model of a jelly sandwich-1 (JS-1) regime, the current architecture of the continental margin is identified to be the result of a non-uniform extension. Due to the decoupled crust–mantle relationship caused by the weak lower crust, the non-uniform extension led to the rupture of the mantle lithosphere before the crust. The central Xisha Trough falls into the JS-2 regime with only one brittle load layer, which is close to the rigid oceanic lithosphere of the Northwest Sub-basin (NSB). The high-velocity layers (HVLs) and detachment faults beneath the Xisha Trough are considered to be the result of the cooling of a thinned lower crust with mantle underplating during the middle stage of continental margin rifting. A seaward-increasing trend of lithospheric rheological strength is exhibited across the PRMB, from the crème brûlée-1 (CB-1) regime at the continental shelf to the JS-2 regime at the NSB. Unlike the HVLs of the Xisha Trough, the lower crustal HVLs beneath the eastern PRMB formed during the late stage of continental margin rifting due to the mantle lateral flow. The absence of HVLs beneath the western PRMB may indicate that the mantle lateral flow demonstrates a limited impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc oxide nanorods were grown on an aluminum-doped zinc oxide seeds layer using the chemical bath deposition method. The effects of growth reaction time on the structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties of zinc oxide nanorods were investigated. It was clearly observed that the growth direction of zinc oxide nanorods were dependent on the crystallinity of the as-deposited aluminum-doped zinc oxide seed layer. The crystallinity of the obtained zinc oxide nanorods was improved with the increase in reaction times during the chemical bath deposition process. The mechanism of zinc oxide nanorod growth revealed that the growth rate of nanorods was influenced by the reaction times. With increasing reaction times, there were much more formed zinc oxide crystalline stacked growth along the c-axis orientation resulting in an increase in the length of nanorods. The longest nanorods and the high crystallinity were obtained from the zinc oxide nanorods grown within 5 h. The optical transmittance of all zinc oxide nanorods was greater than 70% in the visible region. Zinc oxide nanorods grown for 5 h showed the highest degradation efficiency of methyl red under ultraviolet light and had a high first-order degradation rate of 0.0051 min−1. The photocatalytic mechanism was revealed as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, the Ministry of Transport stressed the need to "Strengthen the application of active safety technology". The transportation of hazardous chemicals represented by LNG, LPG, and liquefied hydrocarbons is the weak link in traffic safety. The aim of this study is to apply digital twin (hereinafter referred to as DT) technology to the whole process of handling (including loading and unloading) and transportation of hazardous chemicals to help improve the anti-risk ability of road networks at all levels. The method is intended to design a monitoring system covering operation visualization, information fusion, cargo tracking, and hazard source monitoring that is based on DT technology and multi-source data acquisition technology. First, DT technology in the areas of hazardous chemicals handling and transportation is discussed. Then, the DT system is designed, including the system construction, functions, and the means of achieving these functions. Finally, taking the procedure in LNG road transportation as an example, we illustrate the application of DT in its four stages. This system is used to present the evolutionary path of accidents that occur in different links and assist in testing the rationality of the comprehensive disposal plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current technology of leaching low-grade scheelite with sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate has the disadvantages of large leaching reagent dosage and low leaching efficiency of tungsten. In order to extract scheelite efficiently, the kinetics of low-grade scheelite leaching with a mixture of sodium phosphate and sodium fluoride was investigated. In this study, the effects of temperature, phosphate concentration, and fluoride ion concentration on the leaching rate of tungsten were investigated. Our results showed that the leaching rate of tungsten was greatly influenced by the temperature and less affected by the concentration of phosphate and fluorine ions. The leaching process was controlled by a chemical reaction with an apparent activation energy value of 51 ± 0.2 kJ/mol. The apparent reaction orders with respect to phosphate and fluorine ions were 0.49 and 0.11, respectively. The reaction product calcium fluorophosphate was a loose, rod-like crystal, which would not tightly wrap on the surface of scheelite to prevent the diffusion process. The leaching kinetics of low-grade scheelite was in accordance with the shrinking core model, and the corresponding kinetic equation was also established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the phase transition of vanadium dioxide(VO2), an ultra-broadband tunable terahertz metamaterial absorber is proposed. The absorber consists of bilayer VO2 square ring arrays with different sizes, which are completely wrapped in Topas and placed on gold substrate. The simulation results show that the absorption greater than 90% has frequencies ranging from 1.63 THz to 12.39 THz, which provides an absorption frequency bandwidth of 10.76 THz, and a relative bandwidth of 153.5%. By changing the electrical conductivity of VO2, the absorption intensity can be dynamically adjusted between 4.4% and 99.9%. The physical mechanism of complete absorption is elucidated by the impedance matching theory and field distribution. The proposed absorber has demonstrated its properties of polarization insensitivity and wide-angle absorption, and therefore has a variety of application prospects in the terahertz range, such as stealth, modulation, and sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rocky slopes lack the necessary conditions for plant growth, i.e., soil and water, making vegetation recovery difficult and necessitating artificial soil conditions for vegetation establishment. Water-retaining agents are essential functional substances for constructing artificial soil on rocky slopes. In this study, the effect of water-retaining agents on the growth of artificial vegetation and soil nutrient loss was investigated by setting different application rates of water-retaining agents (10 g/m2, 20 g/m2, 30 g/m2, 40 g/m2, and 50 g/m2). Artificially simulated rocky slope conditions were achieved using the guest soil spraying technology after hanging the net, which provided support for the application of the water-retaining agent. Results showed that the contents of extractable nitrogen (EN), extractable phosphorus (EP), and extractable potassium (EK) in the soil, the number of plant individuals per unit area, plant height, and ground diameter of the water-retaining agent treatment were significantly higher than those of the control group (set up with no water retention as the control group, hereafter "CK"). By contrast, the nutrient content in the runoff fluid was significantly lower than that of CK. The application of the water-retaining agent significantly enhanced the soil's ability to retain water and fertilizer, thus improving the growing environment and plant growth. Under the conditions of this experiment, the application rate of a 40 g/m2 water-retaining agent is reasonable from the perspectives of economic cost, soil nutrients, and plant growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crankshaft bearing is the key component of a rotate vector (RV) reducer. However, owing to the harsh working load and restricted available space, the bearing often suffers from fatigue failure. Therefore, this study proposes a novel optimization method for RV reducer crankshaft bearings. A nonlinear constraint optimization model for the design of the bearing considering the crowned roller profile is formulated and is solved by using a crow search algorithm. The goal of the optimization is to maximize the fatigue life of the bearing. The design variables corresponding to the bearing geometry and crowned roller profile are considered. The load working conditions of the bearing and structure of the RV reducer are analyzed. Various constraints, including geometry, lubrication, strength of the bearing, and structure of the RV reducer, are established. Through the optimization design, the optimum crowned roller profile suitable for the working load of the bearing is obtained, and the stress concentration between the roller and raceway is eliminated. Taking the crankshaft bearing of RV-20E and RV-110E type reducers as examples, the bearings were optimized by the proposed method. After optimization, the bearing life of the RV-20E type reducer is increased by 196%, and the bearing life of the RV-110E type reducer is increased by 168%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pedestrian dead reckoning (PDR) positioning algorithms can be used to obtain a target's location only for movement with step features and not for driving, for which the trilateral Bluetooth indoor positioning method can be used. In this study, to obtain the precise locations of different states (pedestrian/car) using the corresponding positioning algorithms, we propose an adaptive method for switching between the PDR and car indoor positioning algorithms based on multilayer time sequences (MTSs). MTSs, which consider the behavior context, comprise two main aspects: filtering of noisy data in small-scale time sequences and using a state chain to reduce the time delay of algorithm switching in large-scale time sequences. The proposed method can be expected to realize the recognition of stationary, walking, driving, or other states; switch to the correct indoor positioning algorithm; and improve the accuracy of localization compared to using a single positioning algorithm. Our experiments show that the recognition of static, walking, driving, and other states improves by 5.5%, 45.47%, 26.23%, and 21% on average, respectively, compared with convolutional neural network (CNN) method. The time delay decreases by approximately 0.5-8.5 s for the transition between states and by approximately 24 s for the entire process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Soybean agroecosystems in the Midsouth support an assorted insect community. Louisiana soybean is heavily managed by growers, and the subsequent effect on residing arthropod populations is not well understood. For sustainable management of soybean, evaluations need not only focus on problematic pests, but also the resident natural enemies. This study addresses the compositional and temporal abundance of prominent insects in Louisiana soybean, both pest and beneficial. Pest and natural enemy populations were monitored to delineate potential associations. We found that the pest community was dominated by those that fed on soybean through piercing-sucking mouthparts. Predator populations were comprised mainly of spiders and big-eyed bugs. Pest and predator populations were similarly more abundant later in the soybean reproductive period. A moderate positive linear relationship was observed between pest and predator communities indicating a temporal correlation. Here we present essential information about the pest and natural enemy communities residing in Louisiana. Over the past two decades, management practices within Louisiana soybean production have shifted. Successful application of an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy requires an understanding of how these changes have affected predator-pest dynamics. Surveys monitoring foliage-foraging arthropod populations in soybean took place across six locations within Louisiana over six years (2012–2014 and 2015–2018). Temporal associations of pest groups, defoliating and piercing-sucking, and predator groups relating to soybean phenology were observed. Additionally, soybean maturity groups (III, IV, and V) were also evaluated to delineate potential differences. Results indicated higher abundances of piercing-sucking pests compared to defoliating pests across both datasets (2012–2014 and 2015–2018). Pest groups were more abundant in later soybean reproductive periods, mainly attributed to Chrysodeixis includens and Piezodorus guildinii. Predator populations were mainly comprised of Araneae and Geocoridae throughout the survey periods. From 2015 to 2018, soybean growth had a significant effect on total predator abundance with more predators present at the pod-fill and soybean maturity stage. Correlations between total pest abundance and total predators exhibited a moderate positive linear relationship. Soybean maturity groups only influenced piercing-sucking pest abundance, with later maturing groups (IV and V) having higher numbers. Thus, control tools and tactics aimed at controlling late season pests should be modified to avoid reducing predator populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the tectonic–magmatic history, crustal structure and crustal accretion mode of the Eurasian Basin in the Arctic, we calculated the crustal thickness, residual bathymetry (RB) and non-isostatic topography of the Eurasian Basin by using the latest bathymetry, free-air gravity anomaly, crustal age and sediment thickness data. The tectonic–magmatic process of the Eurasian Basin can be divided into two stages. During magnetic isochrons 24-13 (C24-C13), the crustal structure of the basin was characterized by regional variations, while the crustal structure of the basin was characterized by local variations during magnetic isochrons 13-0 (C13-0). On the whole, the western part of the basin had a thicker crustal thickness and higher RB than the eastern part of the basin during C24-C13, which should result from the northward movement of Greenland. During magnetic isochrons 24-20 (C24-C20), the crustal structure of the eastern part of the basin had abnormally strong asymmetry. We speculate that there may be mantle upwelling beneath the Kara Sea Shelf in the south of the Eastern Eurasian Basin, which provides a large amount of melt for the crustal accretion of the southern part of the Eastern Eurasian Basin. The melt focusing supply could generate abnormally thick crust (>7 km) during magma enhancement period. The Western Eurasian Basin had stronger spatial variability and more frequency asymmetric polarity reversal than the Eastern Eurasian Basin during magnetic isochrons 6-0 (C6-0). We attribute this to the inflow of the North Atlantic mantle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum-doped zinc oxide film was deposited on a glass substrate by mist chemical vapor deposition method. The influence of different aluminum doping ratios on the structural and optical properties of zinc oxide film was investigated. The XRD results revealed that the diffraction peak of (101) crystal plane was the dominant peak for the deposited AZO films with the Al doping ratios increasing from 1 wt % to 3 wt %. It was found that the variation of AZO film structures was strongly dependent on the Al/Zn ratios. The intertwined nanosheet structures were obtained when Zn/O ratios were greater than Al/O ratios with the deposition temperature of 400 °C. The optical transmittance of all AZO films was greater than 80% in the visible region. The AZO film deposited with Al doping ratio of 2 wt % showed the highest photocatalytic efficiency between the wavelength of 475 nm and 700 nm, with the high first-order reaction rate of 0.004 min−1 under ultraviolet radiation. The mechanism of the AZO film influenced by aluminum doping ratio during mist chemical vapor deposition process was revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cycling is a form of active transport that can improve the level of health among the elderly population. However, little is known about the environmental correlates of bicycle use among older adults. This study investigated the relationship between the built and social environment and the gender differences in cycling frequency among older urban adults in China. The data were derived from a household travel survey in 2012 and covered thirty-three urban neighborhoods in Zhongshan. The results suggest that denser intersections are negatively related to cycling trips among both older men and women. Reverse associations for either gender, however, are observed between the average income in a neighborhood and cycling frequency. For older women, living far from a bus stop is positively correlated to an increase in daily cycling trips. For older men, social environment, including the proportions of employed or elderly people in a neighborhood, is significantly associated with cycling activity. The findings facilitate the understanding of the gender gap in cycling activity among older urban adults, and help towards designing effective planning strategies as health interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a Fabry–Perot pressure sensor based on AB epoxy adhesive with ultra-high sensitivity under low pressure. Fabry–Perot interference, located between single-mode fiber (SMF) and hollow-core fiber (HCF), is an ultra-thin AB epoxy film formed by capillary action. Then the thick HCF was used to fix the HCF and SMF at both ends with AB epoxy adhesive. Experimental results show that when the thickness of AB epoxy film is 8.74 μm, and the cavity length is 30 μm, the sensor has the highest sensitivity. The sensitivity is 257.79 nm/MPa within the pressure range of 0–70 kPa. It also investigated the influence of the curing time of AB epoxy on the interference spectrum. Experiments showed that the interference spectrum peak is blue-shifted with the increase of curing time. Our study also demonstrated the humidity stability of this pressure sensor. These characteristics mean that our sensor has potential applications in the biomedical field and ocean exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent decade has witnessed a tremendous growth of Internet traffic, which is expected to continue climbing for the foreseeable future. As a new paradigm, Spectrum-sliced Elastic Optical Path (SLICE) networks promise abundant (elastic) bandwidth to address the traffic explosion, while bearing other inherent advantages including enhanced signal quality and extended reachability. The fundamental problem in SLICE networks is to route each traffic demand along a lightpath with continuously and consecutively available sub-carriers, which is known as the Routing and Spectrum Allocation (RSA) problem. Given its NP-Hardness, the solutions to the RSA problem can be classified into two categories: optimal solutions using link-based, path-based, and channel-based Integer Linear Programming (ILP) models, which require extensive computational time; and sub-optimal heuristic and meta-heuristic algorithms, which have no guarantee on the solution quality. In this work, inspired by a channel-based ILP model, we propose a novel primal-dual framework to address the RSA problem, which can obtain a near-optimal solution with guaranteed per-instance closeness to the optimal solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic traffic flow, which can facilitate the efficient operation of traffic road networks, is an important prerequisite for the application of reasonable assignment of traffic demands in an urban road network. In order to improve the accuracy of dynamic traffic flow assignment, this paper proposes a dynamic traffic flow assignment model based on GPS trajectory data and the influence of POI. First, this paper explores the impact patterns of POI on regional road network congestion during peak hours through qualitative and quantitative analysis. Then, based on the user equilibrium theory, a dynamic traffic flow assignment model, in which the effect of POI on links is reflected using the link-node impedance function, is proposed. Finally, the accuracy of the model is validated by the GPS trajectory data and origin–destination (OD) traffic data of motor vehicles in Xuhui District, Shanghai, China. The results show that the model can be used to coordinate and optimize the traffic assignment of the regional road network under the influence of POI during peak hours and alleviate the congestion of the road network. The findings can provide a powerful reference for developing scientific and rational traffic assignment decisions and management strategies for urban road network traffic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metamaterials and their related research have had a profound impact on many fields, including optics, but designing metamaterial structures on demand is still a challenging task. In recent years, deep learning has been widely used to guide the design of metamaterials, and has achieved outstanding performance. In this work, a metamaterial structure reverse multiple prediction method based on semisupervised learning was proposed, named the partially Conditional Generative Adversarial Network (pCGAN). It could reversely predict multiple sets of metamaterial structures that can meet the needs by inputting the required target spectrum. This model could reach a mean average error (MAE) of 0.03 and showed good generality. Compared with the previous metamaterial design methods, this method could realize reverse design and multiple design at the same time, which opens up a new method for the design of new metamaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optical Vernier effect is a powerful tool for improving the sensitivity of an optical sensor, which relies on the use of two sensor units with slightly detuned frequencies. However, an improper amount of detuning can easily cause the Vernier effect to be unusable. In this work, the effective generation range of the Vernier effect and the corresponding interferometer configuration are suggested and experimentally demonstrated through a tunable cascaded Fabry–Perot interferometer structure. We further demonstrate a practical method to increase the magnification factor of the Vernier effect based on the device bandwidth. Only the optical path length of an interferometer probe and the sensitivity of the measurement parameters are needed to design this practical interferometer based on the Vernier effect. Our results provide potential insights for the sensing applications of the Vernier effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we reported a theoretical study of a novel Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor composed of BK7 prism, gold (Au)/silver (Ag) bimetallic layer, silicon and two-dimensional (2D) materials. The bimetallic layer combines the advantages of Au and Ag and the high refractive index silicon layer enhances the electric field on the surface of the sensor, so that the sensor has a better overall performance in terms of sensitivity and figure of merit (FOM). Compared with ordinary dielectrics, 2D materials have excellent photoelectric properties, such as larger specific surface area, higher carrier density and stronger adsorption capacity, which improve the detection ability of the sensor. The sensitivity of the optimized sensor achieves 297.2°/RIU, 274°/RIU and 246°/RIU when the silicon layer is covered with graphene, MXene (Ti3T2Cx) and MoS2, respectively. Compared with the traditional SPR sensor, the sensitivity of the structure has been significantly improved, and its excellent performance has broad application prospects in biosensing and other fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The placental tissue, due to its angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antimicrobial, and anti-fibrotic properties, has become a compelling source towards a solution for several indications in regenerative medicine. However, methods to enhance and capture the therapeutic properties with formulations that can further the applications of viable placental tissue have not been explored. In this study, we investigated the regenerative effects of a hypoxia primed flowable placental formulation (FPF), composed of amnion/chorion and umbilical tissue, in two in vivo injury models. Laser Doppler data from rodent ischemia hindlimbs treated with FPF revealed significant tissue perfusion improvements compared to control ischemic hindlimbs. To further corroborate FPF's effects, we used a rodent ischemic bipedicle skin flap wound model. FPF treatment significantly increased the rate of wound closure and the quality of wound healing. FPF-treated wounds displayed reduced inflammation and an increase in angiogenesis. Furthermore, quantitative PCR and next-generation sequencing analysis confirmed these changes in the FPF-treated group at both the gene and transcriptional level. The observed modulation in miRNAs was associated with angiogenesis, regulation of inflammatory microenvironment, cell migration and apoptosis, reactive oxygen species generation, and restoring epithelial barrier function, all processes involved in impaired tissue healing. Taken together, these data validate the tissue regenerative properties of the flowable placental formulation configuration tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesenchymal stromal cells derived from the fetal placenta, composed of an amnion membrane, chorion membrane, and umbilical cord, have emerged as promising sources for regenerative medicine. Here, we used next-generation sequencing technology to comprehensively compare amniotic stromal cells (ASCs) with chorionic stromal cells (CSCs) at the molecular and signaling levels. Principal component analysis showed a clear dichotomy of gene expression profiles between ASCs and CSCs. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering confirmed that the biological repeats of ASCs and CSCs were able to respectively group together. Supervised analysis identified differentially expressed genes, such as LMO3, HOXA11, and HOXA13, and differentially expressed isoforms, such as CXCL6 and HGF. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis showed that the GO terms of the extracellular matrix, angiogenesis, and cell adhesion were significantly enriched in CSCs. We further explored the factors associated with inflammation and angiogenesis using a multiplex assay. In comparison with ASCs, CSCs secreted higher levels of angiogenic factors, including angiogenin, VEGFA, HGF, and bFGF. The results of a tube formation assay proved that CSCs exhibited a strong angiogenic function. However, ASCs secreted two-fold more of an anti-inflammatory factor, TSG-6, than CSCs. In conclusion, our study demonstrated the differential gene expression patterns between ASCs and CSCs. CSCs have superior angiogenic potential, whereas ASCs exhibit increased anti-inflammatory properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amniotic membranes (AM) have anti-fibrotic activity. Exosomes (nano-sized vesicles) function as conduits for intercellular transfer and contain all the necessary components to induce the resolution of fibrosis. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the anti-fibrotic activity of AM is mediated by exosomes. AM-derived exosomes or amniotic stromal cell-derived exosomes were isolated and characterized. Anti-fibrotic activity of exosomes was evaluated using human hepatic stellate cells (LX-2), an in vitro model of fibrosis. Exosomes isolated from AM tissue-conditioned media had an average size of 75 nm. Exosomes significantly inhibited the proliferation of TGFβ1-activated LX-2 but had no effect on the proliferation of non-activated LX-2 cells. Exosomes also reduced the migration of LX-2 in a scratch wound assay. Furthermore, exosomes reduced the gene expression of pro-fibrotic markers such as COL1A1, ACTA, and TGFβ1 in LX-2 cells. Interestingly, exosomes isolated from AM tissue under hypoxic conditions seemed to show a stronger anti-fibrotic activity than exosomes isolated from tissue under normoxic conditions. Exosomes released by in vitro cultured AM stromal cells were smaller in size compared with tissue exosomes and also showed anti-fibrotic activity on LX-2 cells. In conclusion, AM-tissue-released exosomes contribute to the anti-fibrotic activity of AM. This is the first report of isolation, characterization, and functional evaluation of exosomes derived from amniotic tissues with the direct comparison between tissue-derived exosomes and cultured cell-derived exosomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microstructure evolution of AA2060 Al alloy containing Li during two-stage homogenization treatment was investigated by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), mechanical properties and Vickers micro-hardness test methods. The results demonstrate that severe precipitation of θ(Al2Cu) and S(Al2CuMg) phase existed in the as-cast alloy, especially in the center position. Cu elements were concentrated at grain boundary and gradually decreased from the boundary to the interior. Numerous eutectic phases of θ(Al2Cu) and S (Al2CuMg) containing Zn and Ag elements were segregated at grain boundaries. The overheating temperature of the as-cast alloy is 497 °C. After two-stage homogenization treatment, the θ(Al2Cu) and S (Al2CuMg) in the surface, middle and center positions were completely dissolved into the matrix, thus achieved uniform homogenization effect. Moreover, water cooling could prevent the precipitation after homogenization, which provided good performance of the studied alloy. The optimum two-stage homogenization treatment of AA2060 alloy was 460 °C/4 h + 490 °C/2 4 h. The homogenization kinetic analysis was discussed as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Well-arrayed zinc oxide nanorods applied as photoelectrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells were synthesized on an aluminum-doped zinc oxide substrate by the multi-annealing method. In order to improve the chemical stability and surface-to-volume ratio of photoanodes in dye-sensitized solar cells, the synthesized zinc oxide nanorods were coated with pure anatase phase titanium dioxide film using a novel mist chemical vapor deposition method. The effects of the titanium dioxide film on the morphological, structural, optical, and photovoltaic properties of zinc oxide–titanium dioxide core–shell nanorods were investigated. It was found that the diameter and surface-to-volume ratio of zinc oxide nanorods were significantly increased by coating them with titanium dioxide thin film. The power conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells was improved from 1.31% to 2.68% by coating titanium dioxide film onto the surface of zinc oxide nanorods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the most common malignant and aggressive hematologic tumors, and its pathogenesis is associated with abnormal post-transcriptional regulation. Unbalanced competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) promotes tumorigenesis and progression, and greatly contributes to tumor risk classification and prognosis. However, the comprehensive analysis of the circular RNA (circRNA)-long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network in the prognosis of AML is still rarely reported. Method: We obtained transcriptome data of AML and normal samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype-tissue Expression (GTEx), and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, and identified differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs. Then, the targeting relationships among lncRNA-miRNA, circRNA-miRNA, and miRNA-mRNA were predicted, and the survival related hub mRNAs were further screened by univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression. Finally, the AML prognostic circRNA-lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA regulatory network was established. Results: We identified prognostic 6 hub mRNAs (TM6SF1, ZMAT1, MANSC1, PYCARD, SLC38A1, and LRRC4) through Cox regression model, and divided the AML samples into high and low risk groups according to the risk score obtained by multivariate Cox regression. Survival analysis verified that the survival rate of the high-risk group was significantly reduced (p < 0.0001). The prognostic ceRNA network of 6 circRNAs, 32 lncRNAs, 8 miRNAs, and 6 mRNAs was established according to the targeting relationship between 6 hub mRNAs and other RNAs. Conclusion: In this study, ceRNA network jointly participated by circRNAs and lncRNAs was established for the first time. It comprehensively elucidated the post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism of AML, and identified novel AML prognostic biomarkers, which has important guiding significance for the clinical diagnosis, treatment, and further scientific research of AML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Well-designed wayfinding signs play an important role in improving the service level of metro stations, ensuring the safety of passengers in evacuation, and promoting the sustainable development of public transport. This study explored the effects of ambient illumination, color combination, sign height, and observation angle on wayfinding signs' legibility in metro stations. In the experiment, simulated metro-wayfinding signs were made to test legibility. As designed, the legibility was measured based on the following independent variables: two levels of ambient illumination (70 lux and 273 lux), two target/background color combinations (achromatic-white target on black background, chromatic-yellow target on black background), two sign heights (1.5 m and 2 m), and three observation angles (0°, 45°, 70°). The results showed that brighter ambient illumination provided passengers with higher legibility. Achromatic color combination was more legible than chromatic color combination, but not significantly. Different types of signs, set at different height, did not directly affect legibility. Observation angle had significant effects on legibility. Visibility catchment area of wayfinding signs was like an ellipse, with its short axis nearly equal to the legibility distance of the sign at 0 degrees. The findings will facilitate the layout and setting location of wayfinding signs in metro stations and improve the level of wayfinding service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pure anatase-phase titanium dioxide films stable up to high temperatures were successfully fabricated by the mist chemical vapor deposition method. A post-annealing treatment of the synthesized films was carried out in oxygen atmosphere in the temperature range from 600 to 1100 °C and no anatase to rutile transformation was observed up to 1000 °C. Based on the grazing incidence X-ray diffraction data, the average crystallite size of the titanium dioxide films increased gradually with increasing annealing temperature. The structural analysis revealed that the high thermal stability of the anatase phase can be attributed to the small crystallite size and a sheet-like grain structure. An incomplete anatase to rutile transformation was observed after annealing at 1100 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flow behavior of an Al-Cu-Li-Mg-Ag alloy was studied by thermal simulation tests at deformation temperatures between 350 °C and 470 °C and strain rates between 0.01–10 s−1. The microstructures of the deformed materials were characterized by electron backscattered diffraction. Constitutive equations were developed after considering compensation for strains. The processing maps were established and the optimum processing window was identified. The experimental data and predicted values of flow stresses were in a good agreement with each other. The influence of deformation temperature and strain rates on the microstructure were discussed. The relationship between the recrystallization mechanism and the Zener–Hollomon parameter was investigated as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a mist chemical vapor deposition method was applied to create a coating of titanium dioxide particles in order to fabricate ZnO/TiO2 core–shell nanostructures. The thin layers of titanium dioxide on the zinc oxide nanorods were uniform and confirmed as pure anatase phase. The morphological, structural, optical and photoluminescence properties of the ZnO/TiO2 core–shell structures were influenced by coating time. For instance, the crystallinity of the titanium dioxide increased in accordance with an increase in the duration of the coating time. Additionally, the thickness of the titanium dioxide layer gradually increased with the coating time, resulting in an increased surface area. The transmittance of the arrayed ZnO/TiO2 core–shell structures was 65% after 15 min of coating. The obtained ZnO/TiO2 core–shell nanostructures demonstrated high potentiality to serve as photoanodes for application in dye-sensitized solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, pure anatase phase titanium dioxide thin films were successfully fabricated for the first time using the mist chemical vapor deposition method, and optional values for deposition temperature and concentration of titanium tetraisopropoxide were established. It was found that the crystallinity of the titanium dioxide film was significantly improved by increasing the deposition temperature. The best crystallinity of titanium dioxide film was obtained at 400 °C. It was confirmed that pure anatase phase titanium dioxide films could be obtained using different concentrations of titanium tetraisopropoxide. The lower concentration of titanium tetraisopropoxide produced better crystallinity in the resultant titanium dioxide film. The morphologies of the titanium dioxide thin films were also significantly influenced by the concentration of titanium tetraisopropoxide in the precursor solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internet of Things (IoT) applications have been increasingly developed. Authenticated key agreement (AKA) plays an essential role in secure communication in IoT applications. Without the PKI certificate and high time-complexity bilinear pairing operations, identity-based AKA (ID-AKA) protocols without pairings are more suitable for protecting the keys in IoT applications. In recent years, many pairing-free ID-AKA protocols have been proposed. Moreover, these protocols have some security flaws or relatively extensive computation and communication efficiency. Focusing on these problems, the security analyses of some recently proposed protocols have been provided first. We then proposed a family of eCK secure ID-AKA protocols without pairings to solve these security problems, which can be applied in IoT applications to guarantee communication security. Meanwhile, the security proofs of these proposed ID-AKA protocols are provided, which show they can hold provable eCK security. Some more efficient instantiations have been provided, which show the efficient performance of these proposed ID-AKA protocols. Moreover, comparisons with similar schemes have shown that these protocols have the least computation and communication efficiency at the same time.