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Tailoring the morphologies and optical properties of the 2D and hierarchical nanostructures self-assembled by the π-conjugated molecules is both interesting and challenging. Herein, a series of 2D ribbon-like nanostructures with single or multiple H-aggregated perylene bisimides (PBI) monolayer and hierarchical nanostructures (including straw-like, dumbbell-shaped, and rod-like nanostructures) are fabricated by solution self-assembly of three chiral alanine-decorated PBI. The influence of the solvent's dissolving capacity, the chirality of alanine, and the preparation methods on the morphologies and optical properties of the nanostructures were extensively studied. It was observed that the hierarchical nanostructures are formed by the reorganization of the 2D ribbon-like nanostructures. The size of the 2D ribbon-like nanostructures and the amount of the hierarchical nanostructures increase with the decrease in the solvent's dissolving capacity. The small chiral alanine moiety is unable to induce chirality in the nanostructures, owing to its low steric hindrance and the dominant strong π-π stacking interaction of the PBI skeleton. A weaker π-π stacking interaction and better H-aggregated arrangement of the PBI skeleton could reduce the low-wavelength fluorescence intensity. The process of heating, cooling, and aging promotes the formation of H-aggregation in the PBI skeleton. The region of spectral overlap of the PBI solutions increases with the decrease in the dissolving capacity of the solvent and the steric hindrance of the chiral alanine. This study supplies a view to tailor the morphologies and optical properties of the nanostructures, which could be used as sensors and photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine carcinoma, accounting for 3.26% of all cancers. The most histologically, well-differentiated thyroid cancer is papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Although PTC is regarded as an indolent tumor, a portion of the cancer cells metastasize to lymph nodes around the thyroid gland. Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is a critical risk factor for tumor recurrence in PTC, which strongly affects disease prognosis and the quality of life. Methods: This study aims to examine how differences in the level of the thyroid profile and other risk factors may influence LNM incidence in patients with PTC in Taiwan. We carried out a single-center retrospective study. These PTC patients were retrospectively reviewed by the Department of Endocrinology from 2016 to 2019. A total of 165 patients were included in our research. Results: The findings revealed a close relationship with the level of free thyroxine (FT4), the level of the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and lymph node metastases. The correlation in terms of FT4 (p = 0.005) and TSH (p = 0.417) with LNM was found as a result of the univariate regression analysis. In the multiple regression analysis, the findings revealed a close relationship between LNM, FT4 (p < 0.001), and TSH (p = 0.008). Conclusions: Although the predictability of the TSH should be examined further, the association between LNM and FT4 or TSH should not be ignored. The results could help guide decision-making and patient counseling, using the level of serum FT4 or the TSH as a possible predictive factor of the LNM in PTC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Avian Leukosis virus (ALV) is a virus that is widespread in poultry and hinders the healthy development of the poultry industry. In this study, we found that inhibition of DF1 cell glycolysis can reduce the replication of ALV-J virus. Next, we performed RNA-seq on ALV-J-infected and ALV-J-infected cells treated with glycolysis inhibition. Then, we analyzed the function of source and target genes of different expressed circular RNAs (DE circRNAs) and constructed a circRNA–miRNA–gene axis. The results of this study reveal the key role of several circRNAs in the replication of the ALV-J virus and lay a foundation for understanding the molecular mechanism of ALV-J virus replication regulation. Avian Leukosis virus (ALV) is a widely spread virus that causes major economic losses to the global poultry industry. This study aims to investigate the effect of glycolysis on the replication of the ALV-J virus and identify the key circular RNAs that regulate the replication of the ALV-J virus. We found that glucose uptake, pyruvate content, and lactate content in DF1 cells were increased after ALV-J infection. Moreover, inhibiting the glycolysis of ALV-J-infected DF1 cells reduced the replication of the ALV-J virus. To further study the mechanism of glycolysis in the replication of the ALV-J virus, we performed RNA-seq on ALV-J-infected and ALV-J-infected cells treated with glycolysis inhibition. RNA-seq results show that a total of 10,375 circular RNAs (circRNAs) were identified, of which the main types were exonic circular RNAs, and 28 circRNAs were differentially expressed between ALV-J-infected and ALV-J-infected cells treated with glycolysis inhibition. Then, we performed functional enrichment analysis of differentially expressed circRNA source and target genes. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that some circRNAs might be involved in regulating the replication of the ALV-J virus by influencing some pathways like glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, p53 signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, Insulin signaling pathway, and Apoptosis. This study revealed the effect of glycolysis on the replication of the ALV-J virus in DF1 cells and its possible regulatory mechanism, which provided a basis for understanding the factors influencing the replication of the ALV-J virus and reducing the rate of infection of the ALV-J virus in poultry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a critical half-reaction in electrochemical overall water splitting and metal–air battery fields; however, the exploitation of the high activity of non-noble metal electrocatalysts to promote the intrinsic slow kinetics of OER is a vital and urgent research topic. Herein, Fe-doped Ni3S2 arrays were derived from MOF precursors and directly grown on nickel foam via the traditional solvothermal way. The arrays integrated into nickel foam can be used as self-supported electrodes directly without any adhesive. Due to the synergistic effect of Fe and Ni elements in the Ni3S2 structure, the optimized Fe2.3%-Ni3S2/NF electrode delivers excellent OER activity in an alkaline medium. The optimized electrode only requires a small overpotential of 233 mV to reach the current density of 10 mA cm−2, and the catalytic activity of the electrode can surpass several related electrodes reported in the literature. In addition, the long-term stability of the Fe2.3%-Ni3S2/NF electrode showed no significant attenuation after 12 h of testing at a current density of 50 mA cm−2. The introduction of Fe ions could modulate the electrical conductivity and morphology of the Ni3S2 structure and thus provide a high electrochemically active area, fast reaction sites, and charge transfer rate for OER activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During maize production and transportation, maize kernels frequently interact with mechanical components. To accurately simulate the interaction process between maize and mechanical components, it is essential to establish a reliable maize kernel model and input precise contact parameters. This study established polyhedral discrete element models of different maize kernels and calibrated the contact parameters between maize kernels and steel plates using the inclined plane method. The coefficients of restitution, static friction, and dynamic friction between maize and steel sheets were measured to be 0.5, 0.545, and 0.213, respectively. Subsequently, the contact parameters between maize kernels were determined through steepest climb tests and central composite design response surface tests. Then, the above parameters were optimized using Design-Expert software. The coefficients of restitution, static friction, and dynamic friction between maize kernels were measured to be 0.318, 0.182, and 0.232, respectively. Finally, the optimized parameters were validated using the angle of repose experiment, which found that the relative error between the experiment and the simulation was only 1.24%. The results indicated that the obtained contact parameters were accurate and reliable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on addressing the constrained attitude stabilization problem for an unmanned helicopter (UH) system subject to disturbances, input delay and actuator saturation. A constrained memory sliding mode is first presented to constrain the flight attitude while handling the input delay. On this basis, an adaptive finite-time nonlinear observer is proposed to estimate the lumped disturbance with unknown upper bound. Moreover, based on the hyperbolic tangent function, a saturated attitude controller is designed to tackle the input saturation problem via the adaptive laws. The finite-time stability of the closed-loop constrained attitude system is proved by Lyapunov synthesis. Finally, the developed scheme can accomplish attitude stabilization and overcome the influence of disturbances, attitude constraint, input delay and actuator saturation in an easy way. Numerical simulations are carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well accepted that the high performance of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) relies on the microbial community in activated sludge (AS). Hence, it is crucial to illuminate the geographic distributions and influencing factors of the ecological strategies employed by the AS microbial community. Here, we investigated how the ecological strategies of AS microbial communities influenced their ecological characteristics in 60 WWTPs across 15 cities in China. Our study showed that the average rrn copy number of the whole AS microbial community across China was 2.25 ± 0.12. The highest average rrn copy number of the core community indicated that core members tend to be r-strategists with an advantage in rapid pollutant removal and recovery of the community after environmental disturbances. High nutrient availability promoted microorganisms with higher average rrn copy numbers, while long sludge retention time (SRT) was preferred to the microorganisms with lower average rrn copy numbers. Homogenous selection and dispersal limitation were the predominant assembling processes at the city level, with a shift from deterministic to stochastic processes with increasing average rrn copy numbers. Furthermore, more r-strategists participated in chemoheterotrophic functions, while more K-strategists were related to the nitrification processes. Overall, our findings enrich the knowledge of AS microbial ecology and lay the theoretical foundation for the precise regulation of WWTPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The rapid growth of the poultry industry has been accompanied by several challenges, of which excessive fat deposition is a major disadvantage. In this study, we found that a high dietary iron (500 mg/kg) intake reduced fat deposition and could reverse the imbalance of gut microbiota induced by a high-fat diet. These findings revealed the role of iron in regulating fat deposition and the gut microbiota of silky fowl black-bone chickens. Our study suggests that iron may regulate fat deposition by influencing the gut microbiota of chickens and provides a potential avenue to prevent excessive fat deposition in chickens by adding iron to the diet. To meet the demand of consumers for chicken products, poultry breeders have made improvements to chickens. However, this has led to a new problem in the modern poultry industry, namely excessive fat deposition. This study aims to understand the effects of dietary iron supplementation on fat deposition and gut microbiota in chickens. In this study, we investigated the effects of iron on the growth performance, fat deposition, and gut microbiota of silky fowl black-bone chickens. A total of 75 7-week-old silky fowl black-bone chickens were randomly divided into three groups (five replicates per group, five chickens per replicate) and fed them for 28 days using a growing diet (control group), a growing diet + 10% tallow (high-fat diet group, HFD group), and a growing diet + 10% tallow + 500 mg/kg iron (HFDFe500 group), respectively. We detected the effects of iron on the growth performance, fat deposition, and gut microbiota of silky fowl black-bone chickens using the growth performance index test, oil red O staining, and HE staining, and found that the high-fat diet significantly increased liver and serum fat deposition and liver injury, while the addition of iron to the diet could reduce the fat deposition caused by the high-fat diet and alleviate liver injury. In addition, 16S rDNA sequencing was used to compare the relative abundance of gut microbiota in the cecal contents in different feeding groups. The results showed that the high-fat diet could induce gut microbiota imbalance in chickens, while the high-iron diet reversed the gut microbiota imbalance. PICRUSt functional prediction analysis showed that dietary iron supplementation affected amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, cofactors, and vitamin metabolism pathways. In addition, correlation analysis showed that TG was significantly associated with Firmicutes and Actinobacteriota (p < 0.05). Overall, these results revealed high dietary iron (500 mg/kg) could reduce fat deposition and affect the gut microbiota of silky fowl black-bone chickens, suggesting that iron may regulate fat deposition by influencing the gut microbiota of chickens and provides a potential avenue that prevents excessive fat deposition in chickens by adding iron to the diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current building industry is facing challenges of labor shortages and labor-intensive practices. Effectively collaborating with robots will be crucial for industry upgrading. This research introduces a MR iterative design and robot-assisted construction mode based on human–robot collaboration, facilitating an integrated process innovation from design to construction. The development of the ROCOS (Robot Collaboration System) comprises three key aspects: (1) Layout Stage: using MR technology to layout the site, forming a full-scale integrated virtual and physical digital twin design environment. (2) Design Stage: conducting virtual iterative design in the digital twin environment and automatically simulating assembly processes. (3) Assembly Stage: translating simulated results into assembly path commands and driving a robotic arm to perform actual assembly. In the end, this research setup two experiments to examine the feasibility of this iterative design–construction loop script. The results showed that although the presence of obstacles reduced the designer's freedom and increased the number of steps, the designer could still finish both tasks. This means that the ROCOS has value in the prototype of human–robot collaboration. In addition, some valuable findings from users' feedback showed that potential improvements can be addressed in operability, customization, and real construction scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental barrier coatings are critically needed in the future to safeguard SiC-based ceramic matrix composites (SiC CMCs) used in gas turbines. Element doping of rare earth monosilicates could further improve the properties of the coating. The crystal structure, elastic properties, and resistance to water vapor corrosion of Yb2SiO5 and YbRESiO5 (where RE = Sc, Y, Eu, Gd, Ho, Tm, Lu) were examined in this study using first-principles calculations. When RE is Yb, the material is Yb2SiO5. Based on the outcomes of the calculation, we prepared YbRESiO5 (RE = Sc, Yb, Eu) and studied the thermodynamic properties. The findings show that YbReSiO5's resistance to water vapor corrosion is as follows: YbLuSiO5 < YbEuSiO5 < YbGdSiO5 < YbYSiO5 < Yb2SiO5 < YbTmSiO5 < YbHoSiO5 < YbScSiO5. YbScSiO5 has a lower unit cell volume, average Re-O bond length, and thermal expansion coefficient than Yb2SiO5, while YbEuSiO5 has the reverse pattern. Moreover, of the eight materials, YbScSiO5 has the greatest elastic modulus and lattice distortion. After doping with Eu, YbEuSiO5 exhibits a decrease in thermal conductivity by nearly thirty percent compared to Yb2SiO5, due to the formation of oxygen vacancies. The development of environmental barrier coating materials may benefit from these discoveries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) technology to prepare thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) with yttrium-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and Yb2O3-Y2O3-co-stabilized ZrO2 (YbYSZ) materials at different spraying powers. It analyzes the differences and changes in the microstructure, thermodynamic properties, and mechanical properties of the TBCs. The CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 (CMAS) resistance of coatings was tested using thermal cycling-CMAS experiments and isothermal corrosion experiments. Compared to YSZ coatings, YbYSZ coatings have lower thermal conductivity, a higher hardness and elastic modulus, a longer lifetime under thermal cycling-CMAS conditions, and lower penetration and degradation depths. Under thermal cycling-CMAS coupling conditions, the optimal power range for the longest thermal cycling lifetime for both coatings is 39–40 kW. Overall, compared to the YSZ material, the YbYSZ material exhibits superior properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a composite finite-time prescribed performance tracking control scheme is presented for an unmanned helicopter (UH) system subject to performance constraints, model uncertainties and external perturbations. A new finite-time neural network disturbance observer (FTNNDO) with adaptive laws is designed to deal with the external disturbances and model uncertainties, which not only accelerate the convergence rate in finite time but also eliminate the complicated differential calculation in the traditional backstepping scheme. Using the continuous adaptive law, the neural network (NN) approximate errors can be effectively estimated and compensated online without the chattering and gain overestimation caused by traditional methods, thus further enhancing the robustness of the system. To constrain the tracking performance of the transient process and steady-state accuracy, a novel prescribed performance function is designed to preset the tracking errors within prescribed boundaries. Based on the FTNNDO and barrier Lyapunov function (BLF), an improved finite-time tracking controller is designed to achieve fast convergence with prescribed performance. By using Lyapunov synthesis, it is strictly proven that the finite-time convergence of the closed-loop control system can be achieved and tracking errors are always within the prescribed performance bounds. In the end, simulation results for the UH tracking control system are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of developed control scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), as the third leading cause of death worldwide, is a major global health issue. The early detection and grading of COPD are pivotal for effective treatment. Traditional spirometry tests, requiring considerable physical effort and strict adherence to quality standards, pose challenges in COPD diagnosis. Volumetric capnography (VCap), which can be performed during natural breathing without requiring additional compliance, presents a promising alternative tool. In this study, the dataset comprised 279 subjects with normal pulmonary function and 148 patients diagnosed with COPD. We introduced a novel quantitative analysis method for VCap. Volumetric capnograms were converted into two-dimensional grayscale images through the application of Gramian Angular Field (GAF) transformation. Subsequently, a multi-scale convolutional neural network, CapnoNet, was conducted to extract features and facilitate classification. To improve CapnoNet's performance, two data augmentation techniques were implemented. The proposed model exhibited a detection accuracy for COPD of 95.83%, with precision, recall, and F1 measures of 95.21%, 95.70%, and 95.45%, respectively. In the task of grading the severity of COPD, the model attained an accuracy of 96.36%, complemented by precision, recall, and F1 scores of 88.49%, 89.99%, and 89.15%, respectively. This work provides a new perspective for the quantitative analysis of volumetric capnography and demonstrates the strong performance of the proposed CapnoNet in the diagnosis and grading of COPD. It offers direction and an effective solution for the clinical application of capnography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the biocontrol effect of isolated epiphytic yeasts (Papiliotrema terrestris, Hanseniaspora uvarum, and Rhodosporidium glutinis) against Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria alternata in blueberry fruits and its possible mechanisms. Our findings indicated that the three tested yeasts exerted a good biocontrol effect on postharvest diseases in blueberry, and that H. uvarum was the most effective. In addition, the three tested yeasts could improve the postharvest storage quality of blueberry fruits to some extent. H. uvarum demonstrated the strongest direct inhibitory effect on pathogens by suppressing spore germination, mycelial growth, and antifungal volatile organic compound (VOC) production. P. terrestris showed the highest extracellular lytic enzymes activities. It also had better adaptation to low temperature in fruit wounds at 4 °C. The biofilm formation capacity was suggested to be the main action mechanism of R. glutinis, which rapidly colonized fruit wounds at 20 °C. Several action mechanisms are employed by the superb biocontrol yeasts, while yeast strains possess distinctive characteristics and have substantially different action mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power systems with a high proportion of inverter-based sources like photovoltaics require a substantial short-circuit current ratio to ensure strong voltage support capabilities. However, this also increases the system's short-circuit current capacity and levels, which may potentially affect the safe operation of system equipment and current-carrying conductors. To evaluate the operational risks, this paper proposes a quantitative calculation model for the critical integration proportion of grid-connected inverter-interfaced power sources based on short-circuit current over-limit probability. Firstly, according to the verification criterion about short-circuit current during the selection of the switching equipment and conductors in the power system, the short-circuit current over-limit probability evaluation system with five indices is established. Secondly, considering the impact of the increased grid integration proportion of inverter-based power sources on short-circuit currents, an evaluation process for operational risk probabilities is proposed. Based on this, the critical access proportion for inverter-based power source integration in the power grid can be calculated. Finally, the proposed model is used to assess the operational risk probability for a 220 kV system which includes a high proportion of inverter-based power sources in the Anhui area, China. Through the analysis of cumulative probability distribution curves, the critical grid integration proportion interval for the transition from normal to high proportion stages of inverter-based power sources is determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports a self-temperature compensation barometer based on a quartz resonant pressure sensor. A novel sensor chip that contains a double-ended tuning fork (DETF) resonator and a single-ended tuning fork (SETF) resonator is designed and fabricated. The two resonators are designed on the same diaphragm. The DETF resonator works as a pressure sensor. To reduce the influence of the temperature drift, the SETF resonator works as a temperature compensation sensor, which senses the instantaneous temperature of the DETF resonator. The temperature compensation method based on polynomial fitting is studied. The experimental results show that the accuracy is 0.019% F.S. in a pressure range of 200~1200 hPa over a temperature range of −20 °C~+60 °C. The absolute errors of the barometer are within ±23 Pa. To verify its actual performance, a drone flight test was conducted. The test results are consistent with the actual flight trajectory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underwater wireless power transfer (UWPT) systems are appropriate for battery charging of compact, submerged devices without a complicated and expensive sealing structure or human contact because the power source and load are not physically connected. For the shore-based power supply situation, the underwater power conversion and junction technology should be required to drop down shore-based voltage to the target voltage for the underwater energy supply of the UWPT system. This paper proposes a lightweight, high efficiency and power density underwater power conversion connector system for the UWPT system, in which the LLC resonant converter is constructed with SiC transistors. The full load range zero-voltage switching (ZVS) and load adaptive characteristics have been achieved. The optimized RC level shift driver is adopted to highly reduce the switching loss of SiC transistors. Shore-based voltage of 1000 V was converted to the target voltage of 375 V for the UWPT system. The highest measured efficiency is over 98% at a load power level of 1500 W underwater conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon fiber fabric-reinforced poly(ether ether ketone) (CFF-PEEK) composites exhibit exceptional mechanical properties, and their flexibility and conformability make them a promising alternative to traditional prepregs. However, the formation of the CFF-PEEK composite is trapped in the high viscosity of PEEK, the smooth surface, and tightly interwoven bundles of CFF. It is more difficult for the resin to flow through the fibers of complex textile structures. Here, a simple film stacking method using the hot-pressing process of plain-woven CFF-PEEK thermoplastic composites is discussed. The uniform distribution of PEEK resin between each layer of CFF reduces the flow distance during the molding process, preventing defects in the composite material effectively. Four process parameters, including molding temperature (370, 385, 400, and 415 °C), molding pressure (1, 2, 4, 8, and 10 MPa), molding time (10, 20, 30, 40, 60, and 90 min), and pre-compaction process, are considered. Interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), tensile strength, and flexural strength of CFF/PEEK composites are evaluated to optimize the process parameters. Moreover, ultrasonic scanning microscopy and scanning electron microscopy are employed to observe the formation quality and microscopic failure modes of CFF/PEEK composites, respectively. The ultimate process parameters are a molding temperature of 410 °C, molding pressure of 10 MPa, molding time of 60 min, and the need for the pre-compaction process. Under the best process parameters, the ILSS is 62.5 MPa, the flexural strength is 754.4 MPa, and the tensile strength is 796.1 MPa. This work provides valuable insight for studying the process parameters of fiber fabric-reinforced thermoplastic polymer composites and revealing their impact on mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magmatism on continental lithospheres induced by mantle plumes is more complex compared to oceanic intraplate volcanism owing to the heterogeneous nature of continental crustal and lithospheric structures. Substantial evidence points to the deep-oriented Hainan mantle plume beneath the Lei–Qiong region, the southernmost of the South China block. In this study, we present a detailed shear wave velocity model of the crust and uppermost mantle in the Lei–Qiong volcanic region, derived from 3-year seismic data (2016–2018) from 34 stations and the use of the ambient noise tomography method. An evident columnar low-velocity anomaly was imaged in the crust and uppermost mantle beneath the Wushi Sag (WSS), Beibu Gulf, potentially suggesting that the center of either one branch or the entirety of the Hainan mantle plume impacts the crust here. This low-velocity anomaly is overlaid by a local Moho deepening, indicative of underplating beneath the existing crust. The Maanling–Leihuling Volcanic Field (MLVF) in northern Hainan Island, previously considered the center of the hotspot, does not exhibit such distinct velocity anomalies. Instead, subtle lower crustal anomalies beneath the MLVF are linked with the upper mantle low-velocity zone beneath the WSS. Additionally, the high-conductivity bodies beneath the MLVF indicate lateral magma transport. Earthquake swarms and deep-seated seismic events beneath the WSS further support the presence of magmatic processes. This study indicates that in the Lei–Qiong region, the interaction of the continental crust with the mantle plume centered in the WSS results in magma exhibiting both vertical ascent and lateral migration, leading to a dual low-velocity shear wave pattern in the upper crust, which significantly influences the surface volcanic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature is a key factor affecting the insulation performance and operation safety of cable joints. Accurate acquisition of hot spot temperatures of cable joints is a difficult issue in cable operation and maintenance. Three-core cables may have unbalanced three-phase loads in actual operation. This paper takes a 10 kV three-core cable joint as the research object; based on the temperature field numerical simulation method, it analyzes the diffusion path of the main heat flow inside the joint and establishes an inversion model that fits the hot spot temperature of the joint through the surface temperature of the cable body. At the same time, considering the special situation of the unbalanced three-phase load of a three-core cable, the joint hot spot temperature inversion model of a three-core cable under an unbalanced three-phase load is further established. This paper further uses the cable joint multi-step unbalanced load temperature rise test to verify the accuracy of the cable joint hot spot temperature inversion model. The maximum error of the transient hot spot temperature inversion does not exceed 4.5 °C, and the steady-state error is within 3 °C. A higher inversion accuracy was achieved. The research results of this article can provide a reference for real-time monitoring of the hot spot temperature of cable joints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mass rearing of high-quality queen bees is an essential beekeeping practice for producing new queens to maintain colony productivity. A strain of high royal-jelly-producing bees (RJBs; Apis mellifera ligustica) in China exhibits high potential for the rapid mass rearing of queens. To explore the potential changes in the quality of mass-reared queens, a set of morphometric traits and the sealed brood area were compared between the queens reared from 64 and 320 queen cells in RJB colonies. The increase in the queen cell number was found to induce a slightly but significantly reduced body weight and smaller wing length and thorax width in the reared queens at emergence. However, the ovariole number and sealed brood area, an indicator of the queen fecundity, were not observed to be significantly influenced. With respect to body weight and ovariole number, all the reared queens satisfied the current criteria for high-quality queens. Our findings provide evidence for the efficient mass production of high-quality queens using RJB colonies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of gas turbine technology has led to an increase in the complexity of the geometric shape of the sprayed workpiece. Consequently, it has become more difficult to maintain the perpendicularity of the spraying angle during the spraying process, thereby impacting the structure and performance of the coating. This study uses the atmospheric plasma spraying method to simultaneously spray two types of powder for the preparation of embedded micro-agglomerated particle (EMAP) coatings. The spraying process is conducted at four different angles, ranging from 90° to 30°, in order to analyze the influence of the spray angle on the particle deposition and coating performance. The experimental results demonstrate that the relative deposition efficiency, hardness, and elastic modulus of the EMAP coatings decreased as the spray angle decreased. The porosity exhibited a reduction when the spraying angle dropped from 90° to 50°, followed by a significant rise at 30°. The greatest relative amount of second phase particles embedded in the coating appeared at a spraying angle of 90°, amounting to 10.8%. The smallest amount was found at a spraying angle of 30°, with a relative quantity of 2.2%. Furthermore, the molten droplets of the first phase matrix powder underwent extension and fragmentation along the angular direction at low angles. At an angle of 90°, the maximum average thermal shock life was 40.6 cycles, with the best stability of thermal shock life. The decrease in the spraying angle resulted in a deterioration in both the thermal shock life and its stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excellent physicochemical properties of two-dimensional transition-metal dichalcogenides (2D TMDCs) such as WS2 and WSe2 provide potential benefits for biomedical applications, such as drug delivery, photothermal therapy, and bioimaging. WS2 and WSe2 have recently been used as chemosensitizers; however, the detailed molecular basis underlying WS2- and WSe2-induced sensitization remains elusive. Our recent findings showed that 2D TMDCs with different thicknesses and different element compositions induced autophagy in normal human bronchial epithelial cells and mouse alveolar macrophages at sublethal concentrations. Here, we explored the mechanism by which WS2 and WSe2 act as sensitizers to increase lung cancer cell susceptibility to chemotherapeutic agents. The results showed that WS2 and WSe2 enhanced autophagy flux in A549 lung cancer cells at sublethal concentrations without causing significant cell death. Through the autophagy-specific RT2 Profiler PCR Array, we identified the genes significantly affected by WS2 and WSe2 treatment. Furthermore, the key genes that play central roles in regulating autophagy were identified by constructing a molecular interaction network. A mechanism investigation uncovered that WS2 and WSe2 activated autophagy-related signaling pathways by interacting with different cell surface proteins or cytoplasmic proteins. By utilizing this mechanism, the efficacy of the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin was enhanced by WS2 and WSe2 pre-treatment in A549 lung cancer cells. This study revealed a feature of WS2 and WSe2 in cancer therapy, in which they eliminate the resistance of A549 lung cancer cells against doxorubicin, at least partially, by inducing autophagy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A substantial body of evidence suggests that indoor mold exposure is a cause of allergic and respiratory diseases in humans. While models exist for assessing the risk of mold growth on building materials, few study the characteristics of mold growth after germination. This study conducted mold growth experiments in a constant temperature chamber, using four temperature settings of 15, 20, 25 and 30 °C, and three relative humidities of 56 to 61%, 75 to 76% and 83 to 86%. A mold growth prediction model was established using temperature and relative humidity. The accuracy of the model was verified by comparing the sampling and the predicted values in a laboratory environment. The results indicated that reducing the environmental temperature and relative humidity could significantly inhibit the growth of mold, although the inhibitory effects varied. Temperature might play a more critical role. At higher temperatures (25 °C and 30 °C), the growth rate and lag time of mold tended to be consistent and there were differences in the maximum diameter. In the predictive model, the polynomial secondary model for the maximum growth rate and lag time and the Arrhenius–Davey secondary model for the maximum diameter (A) had good predictive effects (Adj.R2 > 0.850). It is speculated that temperature is the key factor affecting the maximum growth diameter of mold. The mold growth prediction model could better predict the growth of mold in actual environments without wind Adj.R2 > 0.800), but the accuracy of the model decreased under windy conditions (wind velocity < 1 m/s). The mold growth predictive model we established could be used to predict the growth characteristics of mold in windless environments. It also provides control suggestions for the regulation of temperature and relative humidity in indoor environments, supporting indoor thermal environment management and pollutant control, and ensuring indoor human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residual stress plays an important role in the formation and growth of cracks in thermal barrier coatings and single-crystal superalloy substrates. In this study, a finite element model for a planar double-layer thermal barrier coating and a crystal plasticity finite element model based on dislocation slip-induced plastic deformation of single-crystal materials were established to analyze the residual stress in the coatings and the substrate, considering the creep and crystal plasticity of the substrate materials. The simulation results show that the thermal barrier coatings bear most of the stress generated by high temperatures, and the residual stress of the substrate is small. By comparing the two material properties to calculate the interface stress when the amplitude of the interface between the substrate and the coating is 30 μm and the thickness of the thermal grown oxide layer is 5 µm, the interfacial stress of the substrate at the macro scale was found to be similar to the interfacial stress at the micro slip system scale. Based on the cumulative shear strain, it was determined that the [001]-, [011]-, and [111]-oriented alloys activated the 12, 8, and 4 groups, respectively, under the combined action of thermal stress and centrifugal force of the coating. Comparing the activation of different initial orientation slip systems and the magnitude of the yield stress provides a theoretical foundation to study the structural integrity of single-crystal alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flotation machines and flotation columns are widely used as separation equipment for coal sludge. In order to obtain better flotation results for different particle sizes, the bubble distribution and size in the flow field need to be studied. In this paper, a novel three-phase fluidized bed flotation column (TFC) was designed, and the shear effect of liquid velocity (0.198 m/s, 0.226 m/s, and 0.254 m/s) and static bed height (0.1 m, 0.2 m, and 0.3 m) on the bubbles in the mineralized flow field region was investigated and evaluated for the formation of bubbles by shear in laboratory and semi-industrial experiments. The results show that the increase in filling bed height has a very obvious strengthening effect on the reduction of bubble diameter, and after the filling bed height reaches a certain value, the filling bed height will weaken the effect of apparent gas velocity on bubble diameter. The apparent gas velocity has different influencing effects on bubble diameter, and under conditions of low water velocity, the increase in the apparent gas velocity contributes to the reduction of bubble diameter. The conclusions of this study are expected to optimize the operating parameters of the flotation mineralization process and enrich the study of TFC, which can provide a reference for the design of future TFC studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Necrotic enteritis is an enterotoxemic disease caused by Clostridium perfringens, leading to diarrhea or necrotizing lesions in the intestines of animals, with severe cases leading to death. The butyrate attenuated the inflammatory response and improved intestinal health in piglets challenged with pathogenic bacteria, but it was absorbed by the anterior segment of the gastrointestinal tract. Microencapsulation is a simple and effective method to prevent butyrate from absorption. Thus, we evaluate the effectiveness to two butyrate alleviates clostridium perfringens infections. Our results indicate that dietary supplementation with sodium butyrate or microencapsulated sodium butyrate improves the immune status and morphology of intestinal villi, increases the production of VFAs, and modulates cecal microbiota in chickens challenged with Clostridium perfringens. Moreover, microencapsulated sodium butyrate contains less butyrate than sodium butyrate. These findings indicate that microencapsulated sodium butyrate was more effective than sodium butyrate with the same butyrate supplemental amount. Microencapsulated sodium butyrate (MS-SB) is an effective sodium butyrate additive which can reduce the release of sodium butyrate (SB) in the fore gastrointestinal tract. In this study, we assess the protective effects and mechanisms of MS-SB in Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens)-challenged broilers. Broiler chickens were pre-treated with SB or MS-SB for 56 days and then challenged with C. perfringens three times. Our results indicate that the addition of MS-SB or SB before C. perfringens infection significantly decreased the thymus index (p < 0.05). Serum IgA, IgY, and IgM concentrations were significantly increased (p < 0.05), while pro-inflammatory IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) under MS-SB or SB supplementation. Compared with SB, MS-SB presented a stronger performance, with higher IgA content, as well as a lower IL-1β level when normal or C. perfringens-challenged. While C. perfringens challenge significantly decreased the villus height (p < 0.05), MS-SB or SB administration significantly increased the villus height and villus height/crypt depth (V/C ratio) (p < 0.05). Varying degrees of SB or MS-SB increased the concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) during C. perfringens challenge, where MS-SB presented a stronger performance, as evidenced by the higher content of isovaleric acid and valeric acid. Microbial analysis demonstrated that both SB or MS-SB addition and C. perfringens infection increase variation in the microbiota community. The results also indicate that the proportions of Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, Clostridia, Ruminococcaceae, Alistipes, and Clostridia were significantly higher in the MS-SB addition group while, at same time, C. perfringens infection increased the abundance of Bacteroides and Alistipes. In summary, dietary supplementation with SB or MS-SB improves the immune status and morphology of intestinal villi, increases the production of VFAs, and modulates cecal microbiota in chickens challenged with C. perfringens. Moreover, MS-SB was more effective than SB with the same supplemental amount. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment syndrome, primarily affecting women between the ages of 40 and 70, and conservative treatments are the first option for mild-to-moderate CTS. However, the comparisons between extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and other non-surgical methods in the treatment of mild-to-moderate CTS remain controversial, and an updated systematic review is needed. Methods: An electronic search was performed, and all available articles until August 2023 were included in the analysis. The overall quality of evidence was assessed by the GRADE approach. Meta-analyses were conducted using Manager V.5.3.3. Pooled effect sizes were expressed as the weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: A total of 19 RCTs were included. Low-level quality evidence showed that ESWT outperformed the control intervention in terms of functional improvements, pain relief, electrodiagnostic parameters, and cross-sectional area of the median nerve at any time point of follow-up. Compared to local corticosteroid injection (LCI), there were statistically better improvements in functional improvements, pain relief, and electrodiagnostic parameters at 3 and 6 months of follow-up. Conclusions: There is low-level quality evidence to show that both fESWT and rESWT are more clinically effective than controls in symptom relief, functional enhancement, and electrophysiologic parameters' improvement for patients with mild-to-moderate CTS at any time point of follow-up. Compared with LCI, ESWT yielded similar short-term (<1 month) but better medium- (1–6 months) and long-term (>6 months) improvements in pain relief and functional recovery with fewer potential complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium–sulfur (Li-S) batteries are the most attractive candidates for next-generation large-scale energy storage because of their high theoretical energy density and the affordability of sulfur. However, most of the reported research primarily concentrates on low sulfur loading (below 2 mgs cm−2) cathodes using binders and traditional collectors, thus undermining the expected energy density. Herein, a N, O co-doped carbon nanotube (N, O-CNT) decorated wood framework (WF), denoted as WF-CNT, was designed as a free-standing sulfur host, achieving high sulfur loading of 10 mgs cm−2. This unique cathode featured low tortuosity microchannels and a conductive framework, reducing the diffusion paths for both ions and electrons and accommodating the volume changes associated with sulfur. Moreover, the internal CNT forests effectively captured soluble lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and catalyze their redox kinetic. Consequently, the S@WF-CNT-800 sample exhibited a high initial discharge capacity of 1438.2 mAh g−1 at a high current density of 0.5 A g−1. Furthermore, a reversible capacity of 404.5 mAh g−1 was obtained after 500 cycles with sulfur loading of 5 mgs cm−2 at 0.5 A g−1. This work may support the development of high sulfur loading cathodes utilizing cost-effective and sustainable biomass materials for Li-S batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addressing the morphing problem in vehicle flight, some scholars have primarily employed reinforcement learning methods to make morphing decisions based on task. However, they have not considered the constraints associated with the task process. The innovation of this article is that it proposes an intelligent morphing decision method based on deep neural networks (DNNs) for the autonomous morphing decision problem of hypersonic boost-glide morphing vehicles under process constraints. Firstly, we established a dynamic model of a hypersonic boost-glide morphing vehicle with a continuously variable sweep angle. Then, in order to address the decision optimality problem considering errors and the heat flux density constraint problem during the gliding process, interference was introduced to the datum trajectory in segments. Subsequently, re-optimization was performed to generate a trajectory sample library, which was used to train an intelligent decision-maker using a DNN. The simulation results demonstrated that, compared with the conventional programmatic morphing approach, the intelligent morphing decision maker could dynamically determine the sweep angle based on the current flight state, leading to improved range while still adhering to the heat flux density constraint. This validates the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed intelligent decision-maker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS), a publicly accessible spaceborne Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry (GNSS-R) data, provides a new alternative opportunity for large-scale soil moisture (SM) retrieval, but with interference from complex environmental conditions (i.e., vegetation cover and ground roughness). This study aims to develop a high-accuracy model for CYGNSS SM retrieval. The normalized surface reflectivity calculated by CYGNSS is fused with variables that are highly related to the SM obtained from optical/microwave remote sensing to solve the problem of the influence of complicated environmental conditions. The Gradient Boost Regression Tree (GBRT) model aided by land-type data is then used to construct a multi-variables SM retrieval model with six different land types of multiple models. The methodology is tested in southeastern China, and the results correlate very well with the existing satellite remote sensing products and in situ SM data (R = 0.765, ubRMSE = 0.054 m3m−3 vs. SMAP; R = 0.653, ubRMSE = 0.057 m3 m−3 vs. ERA5 SM; R = 0.691, ubRMSE = 0.057 m3m−3 vs. in situ SM). This study makes contributions from two aspects: (1) improves the accuracy of the CYGNSS retrieval of SM based on fusion with other auxiliary data; (2) constructs the SM retrieval model with multi-layer multiple models, which is suitable for different land properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytochemical investigation of the leaves of Camellia ptilosperma S. Y. Liang et Q. D. Chen led to the isolation of ten undescribed compounds, including six new triterpenes (1–6) and four new pheophorbide-related compounds (7–10). Meanwhile, the cytotoxic activity of the six triterpenes against six cancer cell lines was evaluated by MTT assay. Compound 2 showed potent cytotoxicity toward HepG2 cells with an IC50 value of 2.57 μM. Compounds 4 and 5 exhibited cytotoxicity against MDA-MB231 cells, with IC50 values of 11.31 and 5.52 μM, respectively. Additionally, the cytotoxicity of four new pheophorbides against these cancer cells was evaluated both in the presence and absence of light treatment. Compound 7 exhibited exceptional photocytotoxicity against Hela, MCF-7, and A549 cells, with IC50 values of 0.43 μM, 0.28 μM, and 0.92 μM, respectively. Compound 10 demonstrated significant photodynamic cytotoxic activity against BEL-7402 and HepG2 cells with IC50 values of 0.77 μM and 0.33 μM, respectively. The photodynamic antibacterial activity of 7–10 was also tested for S. aureus, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and P. aeruginosa under direct illumination. Compounds 8 and 10 exhibited sensitivity to E. coli and demonstrated a photodynamic antibacterial effect, with a MIC value of 0.625 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL), also known as presbycusis, is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders in elderly individuals and has a prevalence of approximately 70–80% among individuals aged 65 and older. As ARHL is an intricate and multifactorial disease, the exact pathogenesis of ARHL is not fully understood. There is evidence that transcriptional dysregulation mediated by epigenetic modifications is widespread in ARHL. However, the potential role of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, as a crucial component of epigenetics, in ARHL progression remains unclear. In this study, we confirmed that the downregulation of m6A modification in cochlear tissues is related to ARHL and found that the expression of the m6A methylation regulators Wilms tumour suppressor-1-associated protein (WTAP), methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3), ALKB homologous protein 5 (ALKBH5) and fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) is decreased significantly at the mRNA and protein levels in ARHL mice. Then, we used methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-Seq) and RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) to identify the differentially m6A-methylated genes in the cochlear tissues of ARHL mice. A total of 3438 genes with differential m6A methylation were identified, of which 1332 genes were m6A-hypermethylated and 2106 genes were m6A-hypomethylated in the ARHL group compared to the control group according to MeRIP-seq. Further joint analysis of RNA-Seq and MeRIP-Seq data showed that 262 genes had significant differences in both mRNA expression and m6A methylation. GO and KEGG analyses indicated that 262 unique genes were enriched mainly in the PI3K-AKT signalling pathway. In conclusion, the results of this study reveal differential m6A methylation patterns in the cochlear tissues of ARHL mice, providing a theoretical basis for further study of the pathogenesis of ARHL and potential therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of the aerospace industry, the close exploration of the Sun has become a human demand. However, close-range exploration means that the detection satellite needs to accept the test of high temperatures above 1400 °C, so a thermal protective coating is a necessary part of the detection satellite to isolate heat and reflected light. Al2O3 coating has the characteristics of high emissivity and low absorptivity, and it is the best choice for thermal protection coating. However, the coating is subjected to thermal cycles, including heating and cooling, as the satellite rotates around the Sun, which could result in a change in the structure and properties of the coating. Therefore, thermal shock experiments were carried out, and the influence of microstructure on the absorption rate of the Al2O3 coating was investigated. In this study, an Al2O3 coating was prepared by atmospheric plasma spraying (APS). The coating was subjected to a thermal shock (TS) test at 1400 °C using a self-made flame shock device, and coating samples under different thermal shock degrees were obtained. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to characterize the coating pores, and the effects of the coating pore size, aspect ratio (A/R) and cracks in the coating on the optical properties of the coating under different thermal shock degrees were analyzed. In order to clarify the influence of coating microstructure changes on the optical properties of the coating under different thermal shock degrees, not only relevant experiments were carried out, but also the solar reflectivity of Al2O3 coatings with different pore structures was analyzed by the finite element method using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD). The results show that increasing the porosity and aspect ratio of the pores can improve the partial solar absorption of the coating. It was also found that the transverse crack propagation improves the solar reflectance of the coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) material has excellent high-temperature resistance and heat insulation performance, which plays a vital role in improving the working efficiency and running life of the engine. During the flight, the engine will inhale dust particles in the air. These particles are mostly from siliceous debris, which are usually called calcium magnesium aluminum silicate (CMAS). At present, CMAS corrosion has become one of the important problems affecting the service life of thermal barrier coatings. In this study, conventional yttrium oxide stabilized zirconia (YSZ) coatings and ytterbium oxide and yttrium oxide co-stabilized zirconia (YbYSZ) coatings were prepared by atmospheric plasma spraying. The two coatings were examined under thermal cycling-CMAS coupling conditions and divided into six life stages. The failure modes, CMAS permeation behavior, crack characteristics and mechanical properties of the two coatings at different life stages were evaluated systematically. The experimental results show that the YbYSZ coating has a longer life than YSZ coating under the thermal cycling and CMAS coupling condition, which increases by about 83% compared with the conventional YSZ coating. In the whole life stage, the porosity of YbYSZ coating is always higher than that of YSZ coating. The phase transition is not the reason for the failure and spalling of the coatings. The crack length of the two coatings showed an increasing trend, but the crack length of the YSZ coating was higher than that of the YbYSZ coating, and the crack density of the two coatings showed a "saddle shape", which was more obvious for the YSZ coating. The YbYSZ coating shows better mechanical properties under the thermal cycling-CMAS coupling condition with the evolution of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ground-based microwave radiometer (GMWR) data with high spatial and temporal resolution can improve the accuracy of weather forecasts when effectively assimilated into numerical weather prediction. Nowadays, the major method to assimilate these data is via indirect assimilation by assimilating the retrieved profiles, which introduces large retrieval errors and cannot easily be represented by an error covariance matrix. Direct assimilation, on the other hand, can avoid this issue. In this study, the ground-based version of the Radiative Transfer for the TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (RTTOV-gb) was selected as the observation operator, and a direct assimilation module for GMWR radiance data was established in the Weather Research and Forecasting Model Data Assimilation (WRFDA). Then, this direct assimilation module was applied to assimilate GMWR data. The results were compared to the indirect assimilation experiment and demonstrated that direct assimilation can more effectively improve the model's initial fields in terms of temperature and humidity than indirect assimilation while avoiding the influence of retrieval errors. In addition, direct assimilation performed better in the precipitation forecast than indirect assimilation, making the main precipitation center closer to the observation. In particular, the improvement in the precipitation forecast with a threshold of 60 mm/6 h was obvious, and the corresponding TS score was significantly enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown that hyperthyroidism is associated with heightened insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. Therefore, in this study, we aim to explore the relationship between elevated thyroid hormone levels and the lipid profile in insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with hyperthyroidism. A total of 177 participants were included and grouped according to diagnosis. The serum test results demonstrated that free thyroxine (FT4) increased the insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) by positively correlating with triglyceride (TG) levels (p = 0.005, r2 = 0.35). In patients with T2DM with hyperthyroidism, the decreasing high-density lipoprotein levels showed an association with HOMA-IR (p = 0.005). Among all the patients, with different levels of FT4, the areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) of the TG level, TG/high-density lipoprotein ratio, and HOMA-IR were 0.620 (95% CI: 0.536 to 0.698), 0.614 (95% CI: 0.530 to 0.692), and 0.722 (95% CI: 0.645 to 0.791), respectively. Our results suggest that elevated FT4 levels due to hyperthyroidism could alter the association with the lipid profile and insulin resistance in patients with T2DM. We also suggest that among all the included patients with T2DM, irrespective of the presence of hyperthyroidism, FT4 levels are positively correlated with insulin resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forecasts on transportation meteorology, such as pavement temperature, are becoming increasingly important in the face of global warming and frequent disruptions from extreme weather and climate events. In this study, we propose a pavement temperature forecast model based on stepwise regression—model output statistics (SRMOS) at the short-term timescale, using highways in Jiangsu, China, as examples. Experiments demonstrate that the SRMOS model effectively calibrates against the benchmark of the linear regression model based on surface air temperature (LRT). The SRMOS model shows a reduction in mean absolute errors by 0.7–1.6 °C, with larger magnitudes observed for larger biases in the LRT forecasts. Both forecasts exhibit higher accuracy in predicting minimum nighttime temperatures compared to maximum daytime temperatures. Additionally, it overall shows increasing biases from the north to the south, and the SRMOS superiority is greater over the south with larger initial LRT biases. Predictor importance analysis indicates that temperature, moisture, and larger-scale background are basically the key predictors in the SRMOS model for pavement temperature forecasts, of which the air temperature is the most crucial factor in the model's construction. Although larger-scale circulation backgrounds are generally characterized by relatively low importance, their significance increases with longer lead times. The presented results demonstrate the considerable skill of the SRMOS model in predicting pavement temperatures, highlighting its potential in disaster prevention for extreme transportation meteorology events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: It was found that the melanin of black-bone chicken has various effects such as scavenging DPPH free radicals and anti-oxidation, and the synthesis of melanin is affected by various factors including hormones. In addition, several studies have found that melatonin affects the melanoma cell synthesis of melanin, which has not been reported in chicken primary melanocytes; so, relevant studies were conducted. (2) Methods: In this study, chicken primary melanocytes were isolated and characterized, and then melanocytes were treated with different concentrations of melatonin to investigate the effects of melatonin on melanin synthesis in chicken melanocytes in terms of melanin synthesis-related genes, melanin content, and tyrosinase activity, and combined with RNA seq to detect the change in gene expression level of chicken melanocytes after melatonin treatment. (3) Results: We isolated and characterized primary melanocytes, and indirect immunofluorescence assay results showed positive melanocyte marker genes. RT-qPCR results showed that melatonin decreased the expression of melanin synthesis-related genes. In addition, melatonin reduced the melanin content and decreased the tyrosinase activity of melanocytes in the treated group. A total of 1703 differentially expressed genes were screened by RNA-seq, and in addition, in the KEGG results, the signaling pathway associated with melanin synthesis, and the mTOR signaling pathway were enriched. (4) Conclusions: Melatonin could decrease the synthesis of melanin in chicken primary melanocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human hematopoietic prostaglandin D2 synthase (HPGDS) is involved in the production of prostaglandin D2, which participates in various physiological processes, including inflammation, allergic reactions, and sleep regulation. Inhibitors of HPGDS have been investigated as potential anti-inflammatory agents. For the investigation of potent HPGDS inhibitors, we carried out a computational modeling study combining molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation for selecting and virtual confirming the designed binders. We selected the structure of HPGDS (PDB ID: 2CVD) carrying its native inhibitor compound HQL as our research target. The random 5-mer peptide library was created by building the 3-D structure of random peptides using Rosetta Buildpeptide and performing conformational optimization. Molecular docking was carried out by accommodating the peptides into the location of their native binder and then conducting docking using FlexPepDock. The two peptides RMYYY and VMYMI, which display the lowest binding energy against HPGDS, were selected to perform a comparative study. The interaction of RMYYY and VMYMI against HPGDS was further confirmed using molecular dynamics simulation and aligned with its native binder, HQL. We show the selected binders to have stronger binding energy and more frequent interactions against HPGDS than HQL. In addition, we analyzed the solubility, hydrophobicity, charge, and bioactivity of the generated peptides, and we show that the selected strong binder may be further used as therapeutic drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the most abundant catecholamine neurotransmitter in the brain, dopamine plays an important role in the normal physiological process, and its level in urine also changes during human pathological processes. In clinic, the detection of dopamine in urine is a potential marker for the diagnosis and the treatment of endocrine-related diseases. In this work, a copper metal organic framework with catecholase-like activity was prepared via the precipitation of Cu2+ and imidazole, simulating the N-Cu coordination environment in the active site of catecholase. Cu-MOF (the copper–metal organic framework) can catalyze the oxidation of DA (dopamine) to dopaquinone using O2 in the air. The oxidation product can further react with 1,3-dihydroxynaphthalene to produce a fluorophore product. Based on the above reaction, a multimodal sensing platform with three signal outputs, including ratio-metric fluorescence, absorbance and digital information extracted from smartphone images for simple and sensitive determination of DA, was proposed, with detection limits of 0.0679, 0.3206, and 0.3718 μM, respectively. This multimodal sensing platform was able to detect DA in body fluid in a self-correcting way, as demonstrated by the successful determination of DA in normal human urine samples, and samples with a high level of interference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the most influential industries in public health and the global economy, the pharmaceutical industry is facing multiple challenges in drug research, development and manufacturing. With recent developments in artificial intelligence and machine learning, data-driven modeling methods and techniques have enabled fast and accurate modeling for drug molecular design, retrosynthetic analysis, chemical reaction outcome prediction, manufacturing process optimization, and many other aspects in the pharmaceutical industry. This article provides a review of data-driven methods applied in pharmaceutical processes, based on the mathematical and algorithmic principles behind the modeling methods. Different statistical tools, such as multivariate tools, Bayesian inferences, and machine learning approaches, i.e., unsupervised learning, supervised learning (including deep learning) and reinforcement learning, are presented. Various applications in the pharmaceutical processes, as well as the connections from statistics and machine learning methods, are discussed in the narrative procedures of introducing different types of data-driven models. Afterwards, two case studies, including dynamic reaction data modeling and catalyst-kinetics prediction of cross-coupling reactions, are presented to illustrate the power and advantages of different data-driven models. We also discussed current challenges and future perspectives of data-driven modeling methods, emphasizing the integration of data-driven and mechanistic models, as well as multi-scale modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new broadband ocean bottom seismograph (OBS) developed by the SUSTech OBS lab for passive-source seafloor seismic observations. This instrument, called Pankun, has several key features that set it apart from traditional OBS instruments. In addition to the seismometer-separated scheme, these features include a unique shielding structure to minimize current-induced noise, a compact gimbal for accurate leveling, and low power consumption for extended operation on the seafloor. The design and testing of Pankun's primary components are thoroughly described in this paper. The instrument has been successfully tested in the South China Sea, demonstrating its ability to record high-quality seismic data. The anti-current shielding structure of Pankun OBS has the potential to improve low-frequency signals, particularly on the horizontal components, in seafloor seismic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavonoids are considered to be critical metabolites in regulating plant responses to abiotic stress. Chalcone synthase (CHS) catalyzes the first key step in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. However, there is no in-depth information on the sequence and functional analysis of CHS genes in Dendrobium catenatum. In this study, a total of 14 DcCHS genes were identified, encoding proteins of 349–504 amino acids in length, a protein molecular weight ranging between 39.08 and 56.56 kDa, and isoelectric points from 5.64 to 9.63. The DcCHS proteins were then divided into three groups according to their phylogenetic relationships. The members of each group had similar conserved motifs and gene structures. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis revealed that the DcCHS genes exhibited variable expression patterns in the different plant tissues evaluated. Furthermore, six genes were differentially expressed following exposure to abiotic stresses: DcCHS-6, DcCHS-5/-6, DcCHS-13/-14, and DcCHS-6/-8/-9/-13, which were specifically expressed in response to drought, heat, cold, and salt stress, respectively. This is the first genome-wide analysis of the CHS genes in D. catenatum, and our findings can provide essential information for a better understanding of the function of DcCHS genes, thus facilitating further research on D. catenatum stress tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: circRNAs are closed circular molecules with covalent bonds generated by reverse shearing, which have high stability and have different manifestations in different tissues, cells, or physiological conditions and play important roles in various disease processes and physiological processes. In addition, circ_PIAS1 has been screened out and verified, and the bioinformatics analyzed in previous studies. In this study, we investigated the function of circ_PIAS1 and studied its role in ALV-J infection to provide a basis for the role of circRNA in ALV-J infection. (2) Methods: the effect of circ_PIAS1 on apoptosis during ALV-J infection was studied by flow cytometry and detection of apoptotic gene expression, and miR-183 was screened by a biotin-labeled RNA pull-down technique. After overexpression and inhibition of miR-183, the effect of miR-183 on apoptosis in the process of ALV-J infection was studied by flow cytometry and detection of apoptotic gene expression. (3) Results: after overexpression of circ_PIAS1, flow cytometry and apoptotic gene expression showed that circ_PIAS1 promoted apoptosis. The results of RNA pull-down showed that 173 miRNAs could bind to circ_PIAS1, and circ_PIAS1 up-regulated the expression of miR-183. On the other hand, the same results were obtained whether miR-183 was overexpressed or inhibited that miR-183 affected ALV-J infection by promoting cell apoptosis. (4) Conclusions: circ_PIAS1 up-regulated the expression of miR-183 and influenced ALV-J infection by promoting cell apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by reduced social interactions, impaired communication, and stereotyped behavior. The aim of this research is to investigate the changes in serotonin (5-HT) in the medial prefrontal cortex (PFC) of autism-like offspring induced by maternal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were intraperitoneally injected with LPS to establish an autism-like model in their offspring. Offspring prenatally exposed to LPS showed autism-like behavior. The serotonin level in the mPFC of 2-week-old offspring was noticeably increased after maternal LPS exposure. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched in pathways related to tryptophan metabolism and the serotonin system, as shown in RNA-seq findings. Consistently, tryptophan and serotonin metabolisms were altered in 2-week-old LPS-exposed offspring. The mRNA expression levels of 5-HT catabolic enzymes were remarkably reduced or tended to decrease. Moreover, maternal LPS exposure resulted in a higher serotonin 1B receptor (5-HT1BR) expression level in the mPFC but no difference in tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) or serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT). The concentrations of 5-HT in serum and colon were increased in LPS-exposed offspring. Meanwhile, the expression level of tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1) in the colon was increased after maternal LPS treatment, whereas SERT was reduced. Furthermore, Golgi-Cox staining showed that neuronal dendritic length and spine density were significantly reduced in the mPFC of LPS-exposed offspring. The current study reveals that maternal LPS treatment resulted in an exaltation of the 5-HT of mPFC in ASD-like young rats, which may partly be caused by the abnormal elevation of 5-HT metabolism in its colon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In applications involving fretting wear damage, surfaces with high yield strength and wear resistance are required. In this study, the mechanical responses of materials with graded nanostructured surfaces during fretting sliding are investigated and compared to homogeneous materials through a systematic computational study. A three-dimensional finite element model is developed to characterize the fretting sliding characteristics and shakedown behavior with varying degrees of contact friction and gradient layer thicknesses. Results obtained using a representative model material (i.e., 304 stainless steel) demonstrate that metallic materials with a graded nanostructured surface could exhibit a more than 80% reduction in plastically deformed surface areas and volumes, resulting in superior fretting damage resistance in comparison to homogeneous coarse-grained metals. In particular, a graded nanostructured material can exhibit elastic or plastic shakedown, depending on the contact friction coefficient. Optimal fretting resistance can be achieved for the graded nanostructured material by decreasing the friction coefficient (e.g., from 0.6 to 0.4 in 304 stainless steel), resulting in an elastic shakedown behavior, where the plastically deformed volume and area exhibit zero increment in the accumulated plastic strain during further sliding. These findings in the graded nanostructured materials using 304 stainless steel as a model system can be further tailored for engineering optimal fretting damage resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective household and individual disaster preparedness can minimize physical harm and property damage during catastrophic events. To assess the risk and vulnerability of affected areas, it is crucial for relief agencies to understand the level of public preparedness. Traditionally, government agencies have employed nationwide random telephone surveys to gauge the public's attitudes and actions towards disaster preparedness. However, these surveys may lack generalizability in certain affected locations due to low response rates or areas not covered by the survey. To address this issue and enhance the comprehensiveness of disaster preparedness assessments, we develop a framework that seamlessly integrates machine learning and simulation. Our approach leverages machine learning algorithms to establish relationships between public attitudes towards disaster preparedness and demographic characteristics. Using Monte Carlo simulation, we generate datasets that incorporate demographic information of the affected location based on government-provided demographic distribution data. The generated dataset is then input into the machine learning model to predict the disaster preparedness attitudes of the affected population. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our framework by applying it to Miami-Dade County, where it accurately predicts the level of disaster preparedness. With this innovative approach, relief agencies can have a clearer and more comprehensive understanding of public disaster preparedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neuron loss caused by the progressive damage to the nervous system is proposed to be the main pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Ependyma is a layer of ciliated ependymal cells that participates in the formation of the brain-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCB). It functions to promotes the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the material exchange between CSF and brain interstitial fluid. Radiation-induced brain injury (RIBI) shows obvious impairments of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). In the neuroinflammatory processes after acute brain injury, a large amount of complement proteins and infiltrated immune cells are circulated in the CSF to resist brain damage and promote substance exchange through the BCB. However, as the protective barrier lining the brain ventricles, the ependyma is extremely vulnerable to cytotoxic and cytolytic immune responses. When the ependyma is damaged, the integrity of BCB is destroyed, and the CSF flow and material exchange is affected, leading to brain microenvironment imbalance, which plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and other neurotrophic factors promote the differentiation and maturation of ependymal cells to maintain the integrity of the ependyma and the activity of ependymal cilia, and may have therapeutic potential in restoring the homeostasis of the brain microenvironment after RIBI or during the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]