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In cation–anion co-doping, rare earth elements excel at regulating the electronic structure of perovskites, leading to their improved photocatalytic performance. In this regard, the impact of co-doping rare earth elements at the Ba and Ti sites in BaTiO3 on its electronic and photocatalytic properties was thoroughly investigated based on 2 × 2 × 2 supercell structures of BaTiO3 with different La concentrations of 12.5% and 25% using DFT calculations. The band structure, density of states, charge density difference, optical properties, and the redox band edge of the co-doped models mentioned above were analyzed. The results indicated that the BaTiO3 structure co-doped with 25% La at the Ti site exhibited higher absorption in the visible range and displayed a remarkable photocatalytic water-splitting performance. The introduced La dopant at the Ti site effectively reduced the energy required for electronic transitions by introducing intermediate energy levels within the bandgap. Our calculations and findings of this study provide theoretical support and reliable predictions for the exploration of BaTiO3 perovskites with superior photocatalytic performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple-input multiple-output orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MIMO-OFDM) technology is widely used in integrated radar and communication systems (IRCSs). Moreover, index modulation (IM) is a reliable OFDM transmission scheme in the field of communication, which transmits information by arranging several distinguishable constellations. In this paper, we propose a sparse reconstruction-based joint signal processing scheme for integrated MIMO-OFDM-IM systems. Combining the advantages of MIMO and OFDM-IM technologies, the integrated MIMO-OFDM-IM signal design is realized through the reasonable allocation of bits and subcarriers, resulting in better intercarrier interference (ICI) resistance and a higher transmission efficiency. Taking advantage of the sparseness of OFDM-IM, an improved target parameter estimation method based on sparse signal reconstruction is explored to eliminate the influence of empty subcarriers on the matched filtering at the receiver side. In addition, an improved sequential Monte Carlo signal detection method is introduced to realize the efficient detection of communication signals. The simulation results show that the proposed integrated system is 5 dB lower in the peak sidelobe ratio (PSLR) and 1.5 × 10 5 lower in the number of complex multiplications than the latest MIMO-OFDM system and can achieve almost the same parameter estimation performance. With the same spectral efficiency, it has a lower bit error rate (BER) than existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the interaction of accumulated charges on the surface of a test mass with the surrounding electric and magnetic fields, the performance of inertial sensors is affected, necessitating charge management for the test mass. Discharge technology based on Ultraviolet LEDs is internationally recognized as the optimal solution for charge management. Precision driving of Ultraviolet LEDs is considered a key technology in charge management. This paper presents the driving control system used for Ultraviolet LEDs, achieving precision pulse-width-modulation-type current output with controllable pulse width and amplitude. The system generates the pulse-width-controllable pulse voltage signal via analog pulse-width modulation, and subsequently regulates the amplitude of the PWM signal through range switching. To convert the voltage into the pulse-width-modulation-type driving current, the improved Howland current source is employed. The test results demonstrate that the driving control system can output controllable current in the range of 0.01 mA to 10 mA, with a minimum step of 0.01 mA. The accuracy of the current reaches 1%, the stability within 1 h is better than 1%, and the load regulation is better than 2%. The driving control system provides an important reference for the integration of charge management system and the precision drive control method for LEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shales of the Taiyuan Formation and Shanxi Formation in the North China Basin have good prospects for shale gas exploration and development. In this study, Well KP1 at the northern margin of the North China Basin was used as the research object for rock mineral, organic geochemical, and elemental geochemical analyses. The results show that brittle minerals in the shales of the Taiyuan Formation and Shanxi Formation are relatively rare (<40%) and that the clay mineral content is high (>50%). The average TOC content is 3.68%. The organic matter is mainly mixed and sapropelic. The source rocks of the Taiyuan Formation and Shanxi Formation are mainly felsic, and the tectonic background lies in the continental island arc area. The primary variables that influenced the enrichment of organic materials during the sedimentary stage of the Taiyuan Formation were paleosalinity and paleoproductivity. Paleosalinity acted as the primary regulator of organic matter enrichment during the sedimentary stage of the Shanxi Formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the fast development of the cold chain transportation industry, the traditional refrigeration method results in significant energy consumption. To address the national call for energy saving and emission reduction, the search for a new type of energy storage material has already become a future development trend. According to the national standard GB/T28577 for the classification and basic requirements of cold chain logistics, the temperature in frozen logistics is typically below −18 °C. In this study, n-undecane with a phase change temperature of −26 °C is chosen as the core material of microcapsules. Poly(methyl methacrylate) is applied as the shell material, with n-undecane microcapsules being prepared through suspension polymerization for phase change cold storage materials (MEPCM). Using characterization techniques including SEM, DSC, FTIR, and laser particle size analysis, the effects of three types of emulsifiers (SMA, Tween-80, Tween-80/span-80 (70/30)), SMA emulsifier dosage, core–shell ratio, and emulsification rate on the thermal performance and micro-surface morphology of n-undecane/PMMA microcapsules were studied. The results indicate that when comparing SMA, Tween-80, and Tween-80/span-80 (70/30) as emulsifiers, the dodecane/PMMA microcapsules prepared with SMA emulsifier exhibit superior thermal performance and micro-surface morphology, possessing a complete core–shell structure. The optimal microstructure and the highest enthalpy of phase change, measuring 120.3 kJ/kg, are achieved when SMA is used as the emulsifier with a quantity of 7%, a core-to-wall ratio of 2.5:1, and an emulsification speed of 2000 rpm. After 200 hot and cold cycles, the enthalpy of phase change decreased by only 18.6 kJ/kg, indicating the MEPCM thermal performance and cycle life. In addition, these optimized microcapsules exhibit favorable microstructure, uniform particle size, and efficient energy storage, making them an excellent choice for the refrigeration and freezing sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As reversible fluorescent probes, HTP-1 and HTP-2 have favourable applications for the detection of Zn2+ and H2S. Herein, the impact of solvent on the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) of HTP-1 and HTP-2 was comprehensively investigated. The obtained geometric parameters and infrared (IR) vibrational analysis associated with the intramolecular hydrogen bond (IHB) indicated that the strength of IHB for HTP-1 was weakened in the excited state. Moreover, structural torsion and almost no ICT behaviour indicated that the ESIPT process did not occur in HTP-1. Nevertheless, when the 7-nitro-1,2,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD) group replaced the H atom, the IHB strength of HTP-2 was enhanced after photoexcitation, which inhibited the twisting of tetraphenylethylene, thereby opening the ESIPT channel. Notably, hole-electron analysis and frontier molecular orbitals revealed that the charge decoupling effect was the reason for the fluorescence quenching of HTP-2. Furthermore, the potential energy curves (PECs) revealed that HTP-2 was more inclined to the ESIPT process in polar solvents than in nonpolar solvents. With a decrease in solvent polarity, it was more conducive to the ESIPT process. Our study systematically presents the ESIPT process and different detection mechanisms of the two reversible probe molecules regulated by solvent polarity, providing new insights into the design and development of novel fluorescent probes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf morphology is a crucial aspect of plant architecture, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying leaf development remain incompletely understood. In this study, a narrow leaf mutant, m625, was identified in rice (Oryza sativa L.), exhibiting pleiotropic developmental defects. Pigment measurement revealed reduced levels of photochromic pigments in m625. Cytological analysis demonstrated that the m625 gene affected vascular patterns and cell division. Specifically, the narrowing of the leaf was attributed to a decrease in small vein number, shorter vein spacing, and an abnormal V-shaped arrangement of bulliform cells, while the thickening was caused by longer leaf veins, thicker mesophyll cells, and an increased number of parenchyma cell layers. The dwarf stature and thickened internode were primarily due to shortened internodes and an increase in cell layers, respectively. Positional cloning and complementation assays indicated that the m625 gene is a novel allele of NAL1. In the m625 mutant, a nucleotide deletion at position 1103 in the coding sequence of NAL1 led to premature termination of protein translation. Further RNA-Seq and qRT-PCR analyses revealed that the m625 gene significantly impacted regulatory pathways related to IAA and ABA signal transduction, photosynthesis, and lignin biosynthesis. Moreover, the m625 mutant displayed thinner sclerenchyma and cell walls in both the leaf and stem, particularly showing reduced lignified cell walls in the midrib of the leaf. In conclusion, our study suggests that NAL1, in addition to its known roles in IAA transport and leaf photosynthesis, may also participate in ABA signal transduction, as well as regulate secondary cell wall formation and sclerenchyma thickness through lignification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Static-voltage stability has become one of the most significant risks faced by large-scale renewable energy integration. However, traditional methods for static-voltage-stability analysis are often overly complex. This paper constructs an equivalent impedance model for renewable energy-integrated distribution power systems, proposing a static-voltage analysis method for renewable energy-integrated distribution power systems based on an impedance model index. This method has been verified to be applicable not only to a renewable energy single-infeed system but also to a multi-infeed system. Furthermore, an analysis is conducted on the influence of the integration capacity, location of renewable energy, and the topology of networks on the impedance model index, indicating that a higher impedance model index corresponds to greater static-voltage-stability margins in the system. Hence, during the planning of renewable energy integration, the plan with the highest impedance model index should be selected. Finally, the accuracy of the analysis method and conclusions in this paper was validated based on the IEEE 14-node system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yellow seed breeding is an effective method to improve oil yield and quality in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). However, naturally occurring yellow-seeded genotypes have not been identified in B. napus. Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) has some natural, yellow-seeded germplasms, yet the molecular mechanism underlying this trait remains unclear. In this study, a BC9 population derived from the cross of yellow seed mustard "Wuqi" and brown seed mustard "Wugong" was used to analyze the candidate genes controlling the yellow seed color of B. juncea. Subsequently, yellow-seeded (BY) and brown-seeded (BB) bulks were constructed in the BC9 population and subjected to bulked segregant RNA sequencing (BSR-Seq). A total of 511 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the brown and yellow seed bulks. Enrichment analysis revealed that these DEGs were involved in the phenylpropanoid biosynthetic process and flavonoid biosynthetic process, including key genes such as 4CL, C4H, LDOX/TT18, PAL1, PAL2, PAL4, TT10, TT12, TT4, TT8, BAN, DFR/TT3, F3H/TT6, TT19, and CHI/TT5. In addition, 111,540 credible single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 86,319 INDELs were obtained and used for quantitative trait locus (QTL) identification. Subsequently, two significant QTLs on chromosome A09, namely, qSCA09-3 and qSCA09-7, were identified by G' analysis, and five DEGs (BjuA09PAL2, BjuA09TT5, BjuA09TT6, BjuA09TT4, BjuA09TT3) involved in the flavonoid pathway were identified as hub genes based on the protein-to-protein network. Among these five genes, only BjuA09PAL2 and BjuA09F3H had SNPs between BY and BB bulks. Interestingly, the majority of SNPs in BjuA09PAL2 were consistent with the SNPs identified between the high-quality assembled B. juncea reference genome "T84-66" (brown-seed) and "AU213" (yellow-seed). Therefore, BjuA09PAL2, which encodes phenylalanine lyase, was considered as the candidate gene associated with yellow seed color of B. juncea. The identification of a novel gene associated with the yellow seed coloration of B. juncea through this study may play a significant role in enhancing yellow seed breeding in rapeseed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modular multilevel converters (MMCs) with integrated battery energy storage systems (BESSs) are becoming crucial for modern power grids. This paper investigates the modeling and control of a grid-connected MMC-BESS, with a specific emphasis on state-of-charge (SoC) balancing. Compared to conventional hard arm SoC balancing control (HASBC), this paper proposes an alternative soft arm SoC balancing control (SASBC). The simulation results and analysis indicate the following: 1. SASBC provides superior performance in achieving SoC balance both between and within the arms, as compared to HASBC. 2. The MMC-BESS power fluctuates between phases, arms, and individual submodules to balance the SoC of batteries. After the accomplishment of SoC equalization, the power is equally distributed, and the circulating current is well eliminated. 3. MMC-BESS can operate in both the charging and discharging modes, and the total harmonic distortion (THD) of the output current is reduced from 6.80% to 1.13% after SoC balancing is achieved. 4. A robustness test shows the control system's effective performance in handling component variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of geospatial-analysis models is crucial for simulating complex geographic processes and phenomena. However, compared to non-geospatial models and traditional geospatial models, geospatial-analysis models face more challenges owing to extensive geographic data processing and complex computations involved. One core issue is how to eliminate model heterogeneity to facilitate model combination and capability integration. In this study, we propose a containerized service-based integration framework named GeoCSIF, specifically designed for heterogeneous-geospatial-analysis models. Firstly, by designing the model-servicized structure, we shield the heterogeneity of model structures so that different types of geospatial-analysis models can be effectively described and integrated based on standardized constraints. Then, to tackle the heterogeneity in model dependencies, we devise a prioritization-based orchestration method, facilitating optimized combinations of large-scale geospatial-analysis models. Lastly, considering the heterogeneity in execution modes, we design a heuristic scheduling method that establishes optimal mappings between models and underlying computational resources, enhancing both model stability and service performance. To validate the effectiveness and progressiveness of GeoCSIF, a prototype system was developed, and its integration process for flood disaster models was compared with mainstream methods. Experimental results indicate that GeoCSIF possesses superior performance in model management and service efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the co-combustion of coal and biomass, and the tri-combustion of coal, biomass, and oil sludge in a 130 t h−1 circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler are investigated via the computational particle fluid dynamics (CPFD) approach. Furthermore, the effect of biomass feeding position is also comprehensively evaluated. The results show that for the co-combustion of coal and biomass, the O2 mole fraction at the furnace outlet rises from 0.0541 to 0.0640 as the biomass blending ratio enhances from 40% to 100%, while the CO2 mole fraction reduces from 0.1357 to 0.1267. The mole fraction of NOx and SO2 at the furnace outlet decreases from 4.5867 × 10−5 to 3.9096 × 10−5 and 2.8253 × 10−4 to 4.6635 × 10−5, respectively. For the tri-combustion of three fuels, the average NOx mole fraction initially grows quickly and then declines gradually, ranging from 4.1173 × 10−5 to 4.2556 × 10−5. The mole fraction of SO2 at the furnace outlet increases from 3.5176 × 10−4 to 4.7043 × 10−4 when the ratio of oil sludge rises from 10% to 20%. The uniformity of temperature and gas components distribution is "new inlet > secondary air inlet > feed inlet". As for the three inlet positions, the mole fractions of NOx at the furnace outlet are between 3.9096 × 10−5 and 5.1537 × 10−5, while those for SO2 are between 2.5978 × 10−4 and 2.5278 × 10−4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schizophrenia is a highly heritable neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by cognitive and social dysfunction. Genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors are together implicated in the pathogenesis and development of schizophrenia. DNA methylation, 5-methycytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxylcytosine (5hmC) have been recognized as key epigenetic elements in neurodevelopment, ageing, and neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, distinctive 5mC and 5hmC pattern and expression changes of related genes have been discovered in schizophrenia. Antipsychotic drugs that affect 5mC status can alleviate symptoms in patients with schizophrenia, suggesting a critical role for DNA methylation in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Further exploring the signatures of 5mC and 5hmC in schizophrenia and developing precision-targeted epigenetic drugs based on this will provide new insights into the diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate climate data at fine spatial resolution are essential for scientific research and the development and planning of crucial social systems, such as energy and agriculture. Among them, sea surface temperature plays a critical role as the associated El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is considered a significant signal of the global interannual climate system. In this paper, we propose an implicit neural representation-based interpolation method with temporal information ( T _ I N R I ) to reconstruct climate data of high spatial resolution, with sea surface temperature as the research object. Traditional deep learning models for generating high-resolution climate data are only applicable to fixed-resolution enhancement scales. In contrast, the proposed T _ I N R I method is not limited to the enhancement scale provided during the training process and its results indicate that it can enhance low-resolution input by arbitrary scale. Additionally, we discuss the impact of temporal information on the generation of high-resolution climate data, specifically, the influence of the month from which the low-resolution sea surface temperature data are obtained. Our experimental results indicate that T _ I N R I is advantageous over traditional interpolation methods under different enhancement scales, and the temporal information can improve T _ I N R I performance for a different calendar month. We also examined the potential capability of T _ I N R I in recovering missing grid value. These results demonstrate that the proposed T _ I N R I is a promising method for generating high-resolution climate data and has significant implications for climate research and related applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional vehicular ad hoc network (VANET), which is evolving into the internet of vehicles (IoV), has drawn great attention for its enormous potential in road safety improvement, traffic management, infotainment service support, and even autonomous driving. IEEE 802.11p, as the vital standard for wireless access in vehicular environments, has been released for more than one decade and its evolution, IEEE 802.11bd, has also been released for a few months. Since the analytical models for the IEEE 802.11p/bd medium access control (MAC) play important roles in terms of performance evaluation and MAC protocol optimization, a lot of analytical models have been proposed. However, the existing analytical models are still not accurate as a result of ignoring some important factors of the MAC itself and real communication scenarios. Motivated by this, a novel analytical model is proposed, based on a novel two-dimensional (2-D) Markov chain model. In contrast to the existing studies, all the important factors are considered in this proposed model, such as the backoff freezing mechanism, retry limit, post-backoff states, differentiated packet arrival probabilities for empty buffer queue, and queue model of packets in the buffer. In addition, the influence of the capture effect under a Nakagami-m fading channel has also been considered. Then, the expressions of successful transmission, collided transmission, normalized unsaturated throughput, and average packet delay are all meticulously derived, respectively. At last, the accuracy of the proposed analytical model is verified via the simulation results, which show that it is more accurate than the existing analytical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The DNA origami method has revolutionized the field of DNA nanotechnology since its introduction. These nanostructures, with their customizable shape and size, addressability, nontoxicity, and capacity to carry bioactive molecules, are promising vehicles for therapeutic delivery. Different approaches have been developed for manipulating and folding DNA origami, resulting in compact lattice-based and wireframe designs. Platinum-based complexes, such as cisplatin and phenanthriplatin, have gained attention for their potential in cancer and antiviral treatments. Phenanthriplatin, in particular, has shown significant antitumor properties by binding to DNA at a single site and inhibiting transcription. The present work aims to study wireframe DNA origami nanostructures as possible carriers for platinum compounds in cancer therapy, employing both cisplatin and phenanthriplatin as model compounds. This research explores the assembly, platinum loading capacity, stability, and modulation of cytotoxicity in cancer cell lines. The findings indicate that nanomolar quantities of the ball-like origami nanostructure, obtained in the presence of phenanthriplatin and therefore loaded with that specific drug, reduced cell viability in MCF-7 (cisplatin-resistant breast adenocarcinoma cell line) to 33%, while being ineffective on the other tested cancer cell lines. The overall results provide valuable insights into using wireframe DNA origami as a highly stable possible carrier of Pt species for very long time-release purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the use of Li-ion batteries, Li-ion batteries will experience unavoidable aging, which can cause battery safety issues, performance degradation, and inaccurate SOC estimation, so it is necessary to predict the state of health (SOH) of Li-ion batteries. Existing methods for Li-ion battery state of health assessment mainly focus on parameters such as constant voltage charging time, constant current charging time, and discharging time, with little consideration of the impact of changes in Li-ion battery temperature on the state of health of Li-ion batteries. In this paper, a new prediction method for Li-ion battery health state based on the surface difference temperature (DT), incremental capacity analysis (ICA), and differential voltage analysis (DVA) is proposed. Five health factors are extracted from each of the three curves as input features to the model, respectively, and the weights, thresholds, and number of hidden layers of the Elman neural network are optimized using the Whale of a Whale Algorithm (WOA), which results in an average decrease of 43%, 49%, and 46% in MAE, RMSE, and MAPE compared to the Elman neural network. For the problem where the three predictions depend on different sources, the features of the three curves are fused using the weighted average method and predicted using the WOA–Elman neural network, whose MAE, RMSE, and MAPE are 0.00054, 0.0007897, and 0.06547% on average. The results show that the proposed method has an overall error of less than 2% in SOH prediction, improves the accuracy and robustness of the overall SOH estimation, and reduces the computational burden to some extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cation-anion co-doping has proven to be an effective method of improving the photocatalytic performances of CaTiO3 perovskites. In this regard, (La/Ce-N/S) co-doped CaTiO3 models were investigated for the first time using first-principles calculations based on a supercell of 2 × 2 × 2 with La/Ce concentrations of 0.125, 0.25, and 0.375. The energy band structure, density of states, charge differential density, electron-hole effective masses, optical properties, and the water redox potential were calculated for various models. According to our results, (La-S)-doped CaTiO3 with a doping ratio of 0.25 (LCOS1-0.25) has superior photocatalytic hydrolysis properties due to the synergistic performances of its narrow band gap, fast carrier mobility, and superb ability to absorb visible light. Apart from the reduction of the band gap, the introduction of intermediate energy levels by La and Ce within the band gap also facilitates the transition of excited electrons from valence to the conduction band. Our calculations and findings provide theoretical insights and solid predictions for discovering CaTiO3 perovskites with excellent photocatalysis performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous construction of large-scale Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations, their potential for Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) applications has been emphasized. This study aims to derive an optimal positioning configuration formula based on the ratio of high-elevation and low-elevation satellites, which can improve the positioning accuracy and overcome the accuracy loss due to signal occlusion. A genetic algorithm is used to solve the optimal positioning configuration problem for large-scale satellite selection. Through a simulation using Starlink satellites currently in orbit, it is verified that the traditional recursive algorithm cannot be applied to satellite selection for large-scale constellations. The proposed formula has a similar accuracy to the Quasi-Optimal algorithm when there is no signal occlusion and the satellites are uniformly selected. However, the accuracy of the latter deteriorates significantly under signal occlusion. Our algorithm can effectively overcome this problem. Moreover, we discuss the effect of different types of obstructions on the accuracy loss. We find that the Quasi-Optimal algorithm is more sensitive to a single large-angle obstruction than multiple small-angle obstructions. Our proposed formula can reduce the localization accuracy degradation caused by signal occlusions in both scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) plays a crucial role in the field of intelligent mobile robots. However, the traditional Visual SLAM (VSLAM) framework is based on strong assumptions about static environments, which are not applicable to dynamic real-world environments. The correctness of re-localization and recall of loop closure detection are both lower when the mobile robot loses frames in a dynamic environment. Thus, in this paper, the re-localization and loop closure detection method with a semantic topology graph based on ORB-SLAM2 is proposed. First, we use YOLOv5 for object detection and label the recognized dynamic and static objects. Secondly, the topology graph is constructed using the position information of static objects in space. Then, we propose a weight expression for the topology graph to calculate the similarity of topology in different keyframes. Finally, the re-localization and loop closure detection are determined based on the value of topology similarity. Experiments on public datasets show that the semantic topology graph is effective in improving the correct rate of re-localization and the accuracy of loop closure detection in a dynamic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xinjiang is located in arid northwest China, which is a key area for promoting the high-quality development of the regional ecological environment. In recent years, against a background of increasing human activities and rapid natural changes, Xinjiang has faced enormous ecological challenges. This paper utilizes land-use data from 2000 to 2020 to verify the region's current state of the ecosystem. Additionally, it uses the value equivalent factor per unit area, ecosystem service value (ESV) loss and gain matrix, and double-factor spatial autocorrelation analysis to study the spatial and temporal variabilities of ESV in Xinjiang and its attribution to spatial correlation. The results show that (1) the ESV in Xinjiang exhibits an overall increasing trend during 2000–2020, with a total increase of about CNY 18.202 billion. Regulation-service ESV takes the main position in the single-service function, accounting for about 67.18% of the total ESV. In northern Xinjiang, the ESV demonstrates a decreasing trend, dropping by about CNY 16.885 billion, while in southern Xinjiang, the ESV shows an increasing trend, rising by CNY 35.086 billion. (2) For the study period, the main loss of ESV in Xinjiang is the conversion of ecological land with a high ESV into cropland or barren land with a low ESV. The conversion of bare land to grassland led to the largest increase in ESV (about CNY 209.308 billion), whereas the conversion of grassland to barren land led to the largest loss (about CNY 183.046 billion). (3) There are positive correlations among ESV, net primary productivity (NPP), and human activity intensity (HAI). However, all of the relationships weaken year by year. The spatial agglomeration of ESV ∩ NPP is significantly greater than that of ESV ∩ HAI, so NPP is the dominant factor in the spatial correlation of ESV in Xinjiang. The findings of this study provide a scientific basis for promoting high-quality regional ecological development in China's arid northwest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Members of the WRKY transcription factor (TF) family are unique to plants and serve as important regulators of diverse physiological processes, including the ability of plants to manage biotic and abiotic stressors. However, the functions of specific WRKY family members in the context of maize responses to fungal pathogens remain poorly understood, particularly in response to Ustilago maydis (DC.) Corda (U. maydis), which is responsible for the devastating disease known as corn smut. A systematic bioinformatic approach was herein employed for the characterization of the maize WRKY TF family, leading to the identification of 120 ZmWRKY genes encoded on 10 chromosomes. Further structural and phylogenetic analyses of these TFs enabled their classification into seven different subgroups. Segmental duplication was established as a major driver of ZmWRKY family expansion in gene duplication analyses, while the Ka/Ks ratio suggested that these ZmWRKY genes had experienced strong purifying selection. When the transcriptional responses of these genes to pathogen inoculation were evaluated, seven U. maydis-inducible ZmWRKY genes were identified, as validated using a quantitative real-time PCR approach. All seven of these WKRY proteins were subsequently tested using a yeast one-hybrid assay approach, which revealed their ability to directly bind the ZmSWEET4b W-box element, thereby controlling the U. maydis-inducible upregulation of ZmSWEET4b. These results suggest that these WRKY TFs can control sugar transport in the context of fungal infection. Overall, these data offer novel insight into the evolution, transcriptional regulation, and functional characteristics of the maize WRKY family, providing a basis for future research aimed at exploring the mechanisms through which these TFs control host plant responses to common smut and other fungal pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A household consumption and optimal portfolio problem pertinent to life insurance (LI) in a continuous time setting is examined. The family receives a random income before the parents' retirement date. The price of the risky asset is driven by the exponential Ornstein–Uhlenbeck (O-U) process, which can better reflect the state of the financial market. If the parents pass away prior to their retirement time, the children do not have any work income and LI can be purchased to hedge the loss of wealth due to the parents' accidental death. Meanwhile, utility functions (UFs) of the parents and children are individually taken into account in relation to the uncertain lifetime. The purpose of the family is to appropriately maximize the weighted average of the corresponding utilities of the parents and children. The optimal strategies of the problem are achieved using a dynamic programming approach to solve the associated Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman (HJB) equation by employing the convex dual theory and Legendre transform (LT). Finally, we aim to examine how variations in the weight of the parents' UF and the coefficient of risk aversion affect the optimal policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Satellite aerosol products are pivotal in studies of regional air quality and global climate change. Compared with accurate in situ observations, satellite measurements provide valuable large-scale atmospheric information. However, limitations such as clouds and retrieval assumptions result in a significant number of missing values in satellite aerosol optical depth (AOD) products, which severely hampers the representativeness. To address this issue, spatial interpolation of the AOD data is necessary to improve data coverage. In this study, one year of AOD observation data from the MODIS C6.1 version was applied to analyze the spatiotemporal correlated characteristics. The statistical parameters were used as dynamic interpolation weights to develop a novel interpolation method called empirical correlation weighting (ECW) based on MODIS AOD over Northern China in 2016. The ECW interpolation results were obtained at a 0.05° resolution (~5 km). The results showed that the spatial coverage of the Deep Blue (DB) and Dark Target (DT) products increased from 43.88% to 70.65% and from 15.04% to 32.62%, respectively. The reconstruction of the ECW method illustrated good agreement with original values in three cases and in two experimental areas. The mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) in the two experiments were 0.1171 and 0.0809, and 0.1212 and 0.0838, respectively, indicating that the ECW exhibited the better accuracy than ordinary Kriging (OK) and Thin Plate Spline (TPS). The AERONET validation results indicated that the values of RMSE and MAE were slightly higher after interpolation compared with those before interpolation, maintaining relatively low values, 0.241 and 0.257, 0.140 and 0.150, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to traditional single orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) radar and OFDM communication systems, integrated OFDM radar and communication systems have the advantages of improved sharing of scarce spectrum resources, a simple hardware structure and a reduced interference between signals. In this paper, a constraint relaxation-based robust OFDM multiplexing waveform (ROW-CR) design method for integrated radar and communication systems is proposed. Considering the influence of correlated clutter and jamming signals, transmission and reception models of different system platforms are established by allocating subcarrier complex weights of different antenna signals so as to determine radar conditional mutual information and communication channel capacity parameters. Meanwhile, a restricted closed model is introduced through the limit range of the target frequency response. Then, a robust OFDM waveform optimization problem for integrated radar and communication systems is constructed by the minimax criterion, and the closed-form solution is obtained by adopting an improved method based on trace function properties and constraint relaxation, resulting in a better radar and communication performance trade-off. In addition, a parameter hierarchical optimization-based robust OFDM waveform (ROW-PHO) design method is further explored to reduce the computational complexity, and this method can also ensure a low system performance loss. Finally, the numerical simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uncertain delay characteristic of actuators is a critical factor that affects the control effectiveness of the active suspension system. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a control algorithm that takes into account this uncertain delay in order to ensure stable control performance. This study presents a novel active suspension control algorithm based on deep reinforcement learning (DRL) that specifically addresses the issue of uncertain delay. In this approach, a twin-delayed deep deterministic policy gradient (TD3) algorithm with system delay is employed to obtain the optimal control policy by iteratively solving the dynamic model of the active suspension system, considering the delay. Furthermore, three different operating conditions were designed for simulation to evaluate the control performance: deterministic delay, semi-regular delay, and uncertain delay. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm achieves excellent control performance under various operating conditions. Compared to passive suspension, the optimization of body vertical acceleration is improved by more than 30%, and the proposed algorithm effectively mitigates body vibration in the low frequency range. It consistently maintains a more than 30% improvement in ride comfort optimization even under the most severe operating conditions and at different speeds, demonstrating the algorithm's potential for practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Both the lack of bird object detection datasets and the scarcity of technical references for evaluating the performance of object detection models and model lightweighting present challenges in the application of bird object detection technology. In this study, we have not only constructed the largest known bird object detection dataset, but also compared the performance of eight mainstream detection models on bird object detection tasks and proposed a feasible approach for model lightweighting in bird object detection. Our research results not only provide more accurate and comprehensive data for the field of bird detection, but also serve as a technical reference for users in selecting appropriate object detection models. The application of object detection technology has a positive auxiliary role in advancing the intelligence of bird recognition and enhancing the convenience of bird field surveys. However, challenges arise due to the absence of dedicated bird datasets and evaluation benchmarks. To address this, we have not only constructed the largest known bird object detection dataset, but also compared the performances of eight mainstream detection models on bird object detection tasks and proposed feasible approaches for model lightweighting in bird object detection. Our constructed bird detection dataset of GBDD1433-2023, includes 1433 globally common bird species and 148,000 manually annotated bird images. Based on this dataset, two-stage detection models like Faster R-CNN and Cascade R-CNN demonstrated superior performances, achieving a Mean Average Precision (mAP) of 73.7% compared to one-stage models. In addition, compared to one-stage object detection models, two-stage object detection models have a stronger robustness to variations in foreground image scaling and background interference in bird images. On bird counting tasks, the accuracy ranged between 60.8% to 77.2% for up to five birds in an image, but this decreased sharply beyond that count, suggesting limitations of object detection models in multi-bird counting tasks. Finally, we proposed an adaptive localization distillation method for one-stage lightweight object detection models that are suitable for offline deployment, which improved the performance of the relevant models. Overall, our work furnishes an enriched dataset and practice guidelines for selecting suitable bird detection models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a dual-member bacterial consortium with the ability to oxidize deoxynivalenol (DON) to 3-keto-DON, designated SD, was first screened from the feces of Tenebrio molitor larvae. This consortium consisted of Pseudomonas sp. SD17-1 and Devosia sp. SD17-2, as determined by 16S rRNA-based phylogenetic analysis. A temperature of 30 °C, a pH of 8.0–9.0, and an initial inoculum concentration ratio of Devosia to Pseudomonas of 0.1 were optimal single-factor parameters for the DON oxidation activity of the bacterial consortium SD. Genome-based bioinformatics analysis revealed the presence of an intact PQQ biosynthesis operon (pqqFABCDEG) and four putative pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) genes in the genomes of Pseudomonas strain SD17-1 and Devosia strain SD17-2, respectively. Biochemical analyses further confirmed the PQQ-producing phenotype of Pseudomonas and the DON-oxidizing enzymatic activities of two of four PQQ-dependent ADHs in Devosia. The addition of PQQ-containing a cell-free fermentation supernatant from Pseudomonas activated DON-oxidizing activity of Devosia. In summary, as members of the bacterial consortium SD, Pseudomonas and Devosia play indispensable and complementary roles in SD's oxidation of DON. Specifically, Pseudomonas is responsible for producing the necessary PQQ cofactor, whereas Devosia expresses the PQQ-dependent DON dehydrogenase, together facilitating the oxidation of DON. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigation of the swelling pressure of buffer/backfill materials is a critical aspect in the design of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) disposal repositories. In this study, to clarify the swelling pressure–suction relation for compacted bentonite upon the hydration path, constant-volume swelling pressure tests with suction control were conducted. The swelling pressure–suction curves indicated that the swelling pressure of the specimens increased significantly with increasing dry density, while the shape of the curves during hydration depended on the dry density. Moreover, the swelling pressure–suction curves exhibited a distinction between unsaturated and saturated segments divided by the critical saturated state (CSS) curve, which proves the unique existence of a CSS curve in the stress space independent of the stress path. With the introduction of the CSS curve into the s–p space, the conventional stress space of unsaturated soil could expand to that of unsaturated expansive soil. The results obtained in this study could provide the mechanical parameters for the construction of disposal repositories. In addition, the stress space with CSS curve proposed in this study provides a new approach to building constitutive models of bentonite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate is closely related to human life, food security and ecosystems. Forecasting future climate provides important information for agricultural production, water resources management and so on. In this paper, historical climate data from 1962–2001 was used at three sites in Tianjin Baodi, Tianjin and Tanggu districts as baseline and the model parameters were calibrated by the Long Ashton Research Station Weather Generator (LARS-WG). 2m-temperatures in 2011–2020 were verified under two scenarios, representative concentration pathway (RCP) 4.5 and RCP8.5 in different atmospheric circulation models with optimal minimum 2m-temperatures at the three sites. From 2031–2050, Tianjin will be using more moderate minimum 2m-temperatures in future simulations. Support vector machines (SVM) were used to optimize the simulated data to obtain more accurate future maximum and minimum 2m-temperatures for the three sites. The results showed that the determinant coefficient of LARS-WG simulation was 0.8 and SVM optimized determinant coefficient was 0.9 which greatly improved the prediction accuracy. The minimum and maximum future 2m-temperatures optimized under European Community Earth System Model (EC-EARTH) were relatively low and the same future 2m-temperatures optimized under Hadley Centre Global Environment Model Earth System (Had-GEM2-ES4) were high especially in the RCP8.5 scenario which simulated 2051–2070 climate. The SVM optimization showed that the maximum and minimum 2m-temperatures were in general agreement with the original simulation values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The developmental plasticity of the maize inflorescence depends on meristems, which directly affect reproductive potential and yield. However, the molecular roles of upper floral meristem (UFM) and lower floral meristem (LFM) in inflorescence and kernel development have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we characterized the reversed kernel1 (rk1) novel mutant, which contains kernels with giant embryos but shows normal vegetative growth like the wild type (WT). Total RNA was extracted from the inflorescence at three stages for transcriptomic analysis. A total of 250.16-Gb clean reads were generated, and 26,248 unigenes were assembled and annotated. Gene ontology analyses of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) detected in the sexual organ formation stage revealed that cell differentiation, organ development, phytohormonal responses and carbohydrate metabolism were enriched. The DEGs associated with the regulation of phytohormone levels and signaling were mainly expressed, including auxin (IAA), jasmonic acid (JA), gibberellins (GA), and abscisic acid (ABA). The transcriptome, hormone evaluation and immunohistochemistry observation revealed that phytohormone homeostasis were affected in rk1. BSA-Seq and transcriptomic analysis also provide candidate genes to regulate UFM and LFM development. These results provide novel insights for understanding the regulatory mechanism of UFM and LFM development in maize and other plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To elucidate the reservoir characteristics of organic-rich siliceous shale of the Upper Permian Dalong Formation in western Hubei, this study focused on the drilling cores of Well ED-2. Various techniques, including a mineral composition analysis, an organic carbon content analysis, a vitrinite reflectance measurement, a total porosity determination, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and low-pressure CO2 and N2 physical adsorption tests, were employed to analyze the mineralogy, organic geochemistry, total porosity, and pore structure characteristics. Additionally, the factors influencing the reservoir performance of the Dalong Formation shale were investigated. The results indicated that the Dalong Formation's shale was characterized as an organic-rich siliceous shale. Organic matter was mainly of sapropelic type, with a relatively high thermal evolution degree and Ro ranging from 2.59% to 2.76%. The total porosity of the Dalong Formation's siliceous shale was low, indicating poor reservoir properties. Organic matter pores were highly developed, mainly the ones formed after the hydrocarbon generation of solid asphalt. Micropores and mesopores were the dominant pore types in the shale, with macropores being significantly less abundant. The study further revealed that the pore volume and specific surface area exhibited a significantly positive correlation with total organic carbon (TOC) content and clay minerals, while demonstrating a weak negative correlation with quartz content. The comprehensive analysis revealed that there were two factors contributing to the poor physical properties of organic-rich siliceous shale in the Dalong Formation. Firstly, in siliceous shale with a high quartz content, the siliceous component was partly derived from the siliceous cementation of hydrothermal fluids. This process led to the formation of secondary quartz that filled intergranular pores, resulting in a decrease in macropore volume, total porosity, and a weak negative correlation with quartz content. Secondly, in siliceous shale with a relatively high clay mineral content, the organic matter was subjected to stronger compaction due to the relatively low content of brittle minerals. This compaction caused the destruction of most macropores, leaving behind primarily micropores and mesopores. Consequently, the average pore size decreased, leading to poor physical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) is a promising technology for the Internet of Things (IoT) because it can increase connectivity and provide considerable energy efficiency (EE) and spectral efficiency (SE). However, pilot contamination caused by pilot reuse severely limits the performance of the system. In this paper, we propose a left-null-space-based massive access method that can significantly reduce interference among users. The proposed method includes three stages: initial orthogonal access, left-null-space-based opportunistic access and data detection of all accessed users. The simulation results show that the proposed method can achieve much higher spectral efficiency than the existing massive access methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals often measure their performance through social comparison. With the increase in the deviation degree between the self and others, the outcome evaluation of individuals' abilities in the social comparison context is still unknown. In the current study, we used a two self-outcomes × three others' outcomes within-participant design to investigate the effect of the deviation degree of the self versus others in the social comparison context. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were measured while participants performed a three-person dot estimation task with two other people. When participants received positive results, the amplitudes of feedback-related negativity (FRN) and P300 showed a significant gradient change in the degree of deviation between the self and others (even win vs. better win vs. best win conditions). However, we did not find a similar progressive effect when participants received negative results (even loss vs. worse loss vs. worst loss conditions). These findings suggest that the deviation degree affects the primary and later processing stages of social comparison outcomes only when individuals received positive outcomes, which may reflect how people develop an empathic response to others. In contrast, people tended to avoid deeper social comparison that threatened their self-esteem when they received negative outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is frequently detected in cereals and cereal-based products and has a negative impact on human and animal health. In this study, an unprecedented DON-degrading bacterial isolate D3_3 was isolated from a sample of Tenebrio molitor larva feces. A 16S rRNA-based phylogenetic analysis and genome-based average nucleotide identity comparison clearly revealed that strain D3_3 belonged to the species Ketogulonicigenium vulgare. This isolate D3_3 could efficiently degrade 50 mg/L of DON under a broad range of conditions, such as pHs of 7.0–9.0 and temperatures of 18–30 °C, as well as during aerobic or anaerobic cultivation. 3-keto-DON was identified as the sole and finished DON metabolite using mass spectrometry. In vitro toxicity tests revealed that 3-keto-DON had lower cytotoxicity to human gastric epithelial cells and higher phytotoxicity to Lemna minor than its parent mycotoxin DON. Additionally, four genes encoding pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)-dependent alcohol dehydrogenases in the genome of isolate D3_3 were identified as being responsible for the DON oxidation reaction. Overall, as a highly potent DON-degrading microbe, a member of the genus Ketogulonicigenium is reported for the first time in this study. The discovery of this DON-degrading isolate D3_3 and its four dehydrogenases will allow microbial strains and enzyme resources to become available for the future development of DON-detoxifying agents for food and animal feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the creep properties of ZK60 alloy and a ZK60/SiCp composite at 200 °C and 250 °C in the 10–80 MPa stress range after the KOBO extrusion and precipitation hardening process. The true stress exponent was obtained in the range of 1.6–2.3 for both the unreinforced alloy and the composite. The apparent activation energy of the unreinforced alloy was found to be in the range of 80.91–88.09 kJ/mol, and that of the composite was found to be in the range of 47.15–81.60 kJ/mol, and this indicated the grain boundary sliding (GBS) mechanism. An investigation of crept microstructures using an optical microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that at 200 °C, the predominant strengthening mechanisms at low stresses were the formation of twin, double twin, and shear bands, and that by increasing the stress, kink bands were activated. At 250 °C, it was found that a slip band was created in the microstructure, and this effectively delayed GBS. The failure surfaces and adjacent regions were examined using SEM, and it was discovered that the primary cause of failure was cavity nucleation around precipitations and reinforcement particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance the operational dependability of renewable energy power systems with high proportions, this study proposes a multi-timescale optimization strategy based on the inertia evaluation model. Firstly, the inertia evaluation model is established based on the factors influencing the inertia demand of the power system, and the concept of the inertia margin coefficient is introduced. Secondly, to address the uncertainties associated with sustainable energy output and the cost of carbon emissions, a multi-timescale optimization operation model is formulated for day-ahead, intraday, and real-time operations, aimed at economic optimization. The output status of each unit is obtained and adjusted in a timely manner in the next stage, while meeting the system's inertia demand, to derive the final scheduling strategy. Lastly, a sensitivity analysis of the inertia margin coefficient is conducted through simulations to validate the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of the proposed scheduling strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop novel 2-cyanoacrylate derivatives with potential bioactivity, a number of 2-cyanoacrylate compounds, including substituted pyrazole or 1,2,3-triazole ring, were designed, prepared, and structurally detected by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and elemental analysis. The biological assessment displayed that some designed compounds had significant herbicidal activities against Brassica juncea, Chenopodium serotinum, Rumex acetosa, Alopecurus aequalis, Polypogon fugax, and Poa annua at a dosage of 1500 g/ha. Furthermore, some derivatives still expressed satisfactory herbicidal activities against Brassica juncea, Chenopodium serotinum, and Rumex acetosa when the dosage was lowered to 150 g/ha, especially the inhibitory effects of compounds 9a, 9d, 9f, 9i, 10a, 10b, 10e, and 10n against Brassica juncea were all over 80%, compounds 9d, 9f, 9g, 9h, 9i, 10h, 10i, 10m, 10n, and 10o possessed more than 70% inhibition rates against Chenopodium serotinum, and compound 9d indicated 70% herbicidal activity against Rumex acetosa. These results provided an important basis for further design and discovery of biologically active 2-cyanoacrylate compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve the non-destructive detection of peanut defects, a multi-target identification method based on the multispectral system and improved Faster RCNN is proposed in this paper. In terms of the system, the root-mean-square contrast method was employed to select the characteristic wavelengths for defects, such as mildew spots, mechanical damage, and the germ of peanuts. Then, a multispectral light source system based on a symmetric integrating sphere was designed with 2% nonuniformity illumination. In terms of Faster RCNN improvement, a texture-based attention and a feature enhancement module were designed to enhance the performance of its backbone. In the experiments, a peanut-deficient multispectral dataset with 1300 sets was collected to verify the detection performance. The results show that the evaluation metrics of all improved compared with the original network, especially in the VGG16 backbone network, where the mean average precision (mAP) reached 99.97%. In addition, the ablation experiments also verify the effectiveness of the proposed texture module and texture enhancement module in peanut defects detection. In conclusion, texture imaging enhancement and efficient extraction are effective methods to improve the network performance for multi-target peanut defect detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of urbanization and industrialization, water contamination has gradually become a big problem. Relevant studies show that adsorption is an efficient strategy to treat pollutants in water. MOFs are a class of porous materials with a three-dimensional frame structure shaped by the self-assembly of metal centers and organic ligands. Because of its unique performance advantages, it has become a promising adsorbent. At present, single MOFs cannot meet the needs, but the introduction of familiar functional groups on MOFs can promote the adsorption performance of MOFs on the target. In this review, the main advantages, adsorption mechanism, and specific applications of various functional MOF adsorbents for pollutants in water are reviewed. At the end of the article, we summarize and discuss the future development direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Gastric cancer (GC) is the world's third greatest cause of cancer-related death. Since the underlying pathogenic mechanisms are still unclear and only a limited number of specialized drugs have been developed, treating GC patients in clinical practice remains challenging. We observed that ATF4 was markedly upregulated in gastric cancer (GC) using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting assays in 80 paraffin-embedded GC samples and 4 fresh samples and para-cancerous tissues. The mechanism of ATF4 as a transcription factor in gastric cancer remains unclear. ATF4 knockdown using lentiviral vectors strongly inhibited the proliferation and invasion of GC cells. ATF4 upregulation using lentiviral vectors promoted the proliferation and invasion of GC cells. We observed that transcription factor ATF4 is bound to the promoter region of SHH to activate the Sonic Hedgehog pathway. Mechanistically, rescue assays showed that ATF4 regulated gastric cancer cells' proliferation and invasive ability through SHH. Activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) is a DNA-binding protein widely generated in mammals, which has two biological characteristics that bind the cAMP response element (CRE). The mechanism of ATF4 as a transcription factor in gastric cancer affecting the Hedgehog pathway remains unclear. Here, we observed that ATF4 was markedly upregulated in gastric cancer (GC) using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting assays in 80 paraffin-embedded GC samples and 4 fresh samples and para-cancerous tissues. ATF4 knockdown using lentiviral vectors strongly inhibited the proliferation and invasion of GC cells. ATF4 upregulation using lentiviral vectors promoted the proliferation and invasion of GC cells. We predicted that the transcription factor ATF4 is bound to the SHH promoter via the JASPA database. Transcription factor ATF4 is bound to the promoter region of SHH to activate the Sonic Hedgehog pathway. Mechanistically, rescue assays showed that ATF4 regulated gastric cancer cells' proliferation and invasive ability through SHH. Similarly, ATF4 enhanced the tumor formation of GC cells in a xenograft model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of climate change and the intensification of population activities, differences in regional water resources are the main drivers leading to these resources' unbalanced development. This problem can be addressed by exploring spatial differences and spatio-temporal patterns. Based on the spatio-temporal trends of grain production, social economy, population, and water resources in the Tarim River Basin from 2005 to 2020, this paper uses the barycenter model coupling situation model to analyze the evolutionary trend of the barycenter, spatial overlap and spatio-temporal coupling degree for each index. The results show the following: (1) The spatio-temporal distribution of grain production was larger in the east than in the west. Grain production increased by 18.10% across the basin, and the migration rate of the grain center of gravity (CG) was 16.61 km/a. (2) The spatio-temporal distribution of the economy was greater in the south than in the north, with a cumulative migration of 323.10 km to the southwest. During the study period, the population remained concentrated in the western portion of the basin, increasing 25.18% compared to the population prior to 2005. The spatial variation range of total water resources was small, showing a trend of slow increase from west to east. (3) The overlap between GDP and population was enhanced, with the coupling showing a slow rising trend. The overlap of water resources and grain space also increased and the consistency index was high. From 2011 to 2020, the average consistency index was 0.594 and the coupling degree of the two factors was enhanced. By combining grain production, economy, population, and water resources with the center of gravity model, this paper reveals the spatial differences of relevant factors in the Tarim River Basin, providing an important reference value for regional socio-economic development and the rational allocation of water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNA-23a (miR-23a) is an endogenous small activating RNA (saRNA) involved in ovarian granulosa cell (GC) apoptosis and sow fertility by activating lncRNA NORHA transcription. Here, we reported that both miR-23a and NORHA were repressed by a common transcription factor MEIS1, which forms a small network regulating sow GC apoptosis. We characterized the pig miR-23a core promoter, and the putative binding sites of 26 common transcription factors were detected in the core promoters of both miR-23a and NORHA. Of them, transcription factor MEIS1 expression was the highest in the ovary, and widely distributed in various ovarian cells, including GCs. Functionally, MEIS1 is involved in follicular atresia by inhibiting GC apoptosis. Luciferase reporter and ChIP assays showed that transcription factor MEIS1 represses the transcription activity of miR-23a and NORHA through direct binding to their core promoters. Furthermore, MEIS1 represses miR-23a and NORHA expression in GCs. Additionally, MEIS1 inhibits the expression of FoxO1, a downstream of the miR-23a/NORHA axis, and GC apoptosis by repressing the miR-23a/NORHA axis. Overall, our findings point to MEIS1 as a common transcription repressor of miR-23a and NORHA, and develop the miR-23a/NORHA axis into a small regulatory network regulating GC apoptosis and female fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium–sulfur batteries have emerged as one of the promising next-generation energy storage devices. However, the dissolution and shuttling of polysulfides in the electrolyte leads to a rapid decrease in capacity, severe self-discharge, and poor high-temperature performance. Here, we demonstrate the design and preparation of a Mo2C nanoparticle-embedded carbon nanosheet matrix material (Mo2C/C) and its application in lithium–sulfur battery separator modification. As a polar catalyst, Mo2C/C can effectively adsorb and promote the reversible conversion of lithium polysulfides, suppress the shuttle effect, and improve the electrochemical performance of the battery. The lithium–sulfur battery with the Mo2C/C =-modified separator showed a good rate of performance with high specific capacities of 1470 and 799 mAh g−1 at 0.1 and 2 C, respectively. In addition, the long-cycle performance of only 0.09% decay per cycle for 400 cycles and the stable cycling under high sulfur loading indicate that the Mo2C/C-modified separator holds great promise for the development of high-energy-density lithium–sulfur batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is one of the most common complications of cardiac surgery. However, the underlying mechanism is not well understood. Alterations in the gut microbiota are associated with the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between gut microbiota and POAF. Methods: Fecal samples were collected before surgery from 45 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with POAF and 90 matched patients without POAF (1:2). 16S rRNA sequencing was used to detect the microbiome profiles of 45 POAF patients and 89 matched patients (one sample in the no-POAF group was deleted owing to low quality after sequencing). Plasma 25-hydroxy vitamin D level was measured by ELISA. Results: Compared to the patients without POAF, gut microbiota composition was remarkably changed in the patients with POAF, with an increase in Lachnospira, Acinetobacter, Veillonella and Aeromonas, and a decrease in Escherichia–Shigella, Klebsiella, Streptococcus, Brevundimonas and Citrobacter. Furthermore, plasma 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels were decreased in POAF patients and negatively correlated with an abundance of Lachnospira. Conclusions: The gut microbiota composition between patients with and without POAF is significantly different, implying that gut microbiota may play a role in the pathogenesis of POAF. Further studies are needed to fully clarify the role of gut microbiota in the initiation of AF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oceanic temperature fluctuations are one of the leading factors affecting marine fish populations. Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), characterized as the sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly change, is an ocean–atmosphere interactive process causing interannual climate variability in the Indian Ocean. Influences of the IOD on the tuna catch rates are supported by previous research. Yet, there remains limited information about the impacts on the abundance of tuna stocks. In this study, we used the standardized Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) index to present the stock abundance and compared the effects of the IOD on the bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) among different management areas of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC). Results show significant correlations between IOD events on both species' abundance in the tropical western Indian Ocean. However, in the tropical eastern Indian Ocean and the southern Indian Ocean, neither bigeye nor yellowfin tuna abundances were significantly correlated by the IOD. For the whole Indian Ocean, IOD was significantly correlated uniquely with the yellowfin tuna abundance. Our results emphasized the importance of evaluating the climate variability effects over fisheries abundance species by species and per fishing areas analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) have recently drawn a large amount of attention because of their enormous potential in road safety improvement and traffic management as well as infotainment service support. As the standard of medium access control (MAC) and physical (PHY) layers for VANETs, IEEE 802.11p has been proposed for more than a decade. Though performance analyses of IEEE 802.11p MAC have been performed, the existing analytical methods still need to be improved. In this paper, to assess the saturated throughput and the average packet delay of IEEE 802.11p MAC in VANETs, a two-dimensional (2-D) Markov model is introduced by considering the capture effect under Nakagami-m fading channel. Moreover, the closed-form expressions of successful transmission, collided transmission, saturated throughput, and average packet delay are carefully derived. Finally, the simulation results are demonstrated to verify the accuracy of the proposed analytical model, which also proves that this analytical model is more precise than the existing ones in terms of saturated throughput and average packet delay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine whether stage 1 hypertension and elevated blood pressure (BP), as defined by the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines, prior to pregnancy contributes to adverse pregnancy outcomes in females who conceived by in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF–ET). Methods: This retrospective cohort study involved 2239 females who conceived by IVF–ET and delivered live neonates. BPs recorded before IVF–ET were collected. Elevated BP was defined as at least two systolic BPs of 120 to 129 mmHg. Stage 1 hypertension was defined as at least two systolic BPs of 130 to 139 mmHg or diastolic BPs of 80 to 89 mmHg. Results: Among the females included in this study, 18.5% (415/2239) had elevated BP and 10.0% (223/2239) had stage 1 hypertension. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that females with stage 1 hypertension had higher risks of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP) [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.65; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.16–2.35] and preeclampsia (aOR 1.52; 95% CI 1.02–2.26) than normotensive females. However, the risks of HDP (aOR 0.88; 95% CI 0.64–1.21) and preeclampsia (aOR 0.83; 95% CI, 0.57–1.20) in females with elevated BP were not significantly different from those in normotensive females. The females were then categorized into five groups by systolic and diastolic BP; females with systolic BP of 130 to 139 mmHg or diastolic BP of 85 to 89 mmHg had significantly increased risks of HDP and preeclampsia. Conclusion: Stage 1 hypertension before IVF–ET was an independent risk factor for HDP and preeclampsia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camptothecin (CPT) and its derivatives from Camptotheca acuminata have antitumor effects as a DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor. Previous studies have shown that application of exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) significantly promoted the accumulation level of CPT and induced the expression of CPT biosynthetic genes, which revealed that ABA signaling is effectively involved in regulating CPT biosynthesis in C. acuminata. In this study, an ABA transporter, CaABAT, which encodes a plasma membrane protein belonging to the ABCG subfamily, was identified in C. acuminata, and its ABA import activity was confirmed by transport assay in yeast cells. Real-time PCR analysis showed that CaABAT was predominately expressed in C. acuminata leaves and its expression could be significantly upregulated by exogenous ABA treatment. Silencing of CaABAT down-regulated the expression of ABA response genes, which indicated that translocation of ABA by CaABAT should initiate changes in plant physiological status in response to ABA signaling, thus leading to decreased expression of CPT biosynthesis pathway genes and low accumulation levels of CPT in C. acuminata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limestone calcination is an important part of calcium looping (CaL) technology and is critical to the design and operation optimization of fluidized bed reactors. However, obtaining a method of measuring the fast calcination kinetics in a fluidizing environment with isothermal conditions is still a challenge in the field of calcium looping. We address this challenge in this work and develop a new method of obtaining limestone calcination kinetics by injecting limestone particles into the hot fluidizing sands in a microfluidized bed thermogravimetric analysis (MFB-TGA) with a mass measurement resolution of 1 mg. The calcination characteristics of limestone are investigated at different particle sizes (150–1250 μm), temperatures (750–920 °C), and CO2 concentrations (0–30 vol.%). The experimental data measured from MFB-TGA were analyzed using a detailed model including surface reaction and intraparticle and external diffusion. The results show that the kinetics of limestone calcination measured by MFB-TGA are faster than those measured via regular TGA. This particle-injecting method of MFB-TGA provides a new experimental idea for measuring fast calcination kinetics occurring inside fluidized bed reactors and provides guidance on the application of CaL technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]