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When wind generation systems operate under weak grid conditions, synchronization stability issues may arise, restricting the wind farms' power transfer capacity. This paper aims to address these challenges on the grid side. Firstly, a clear exposition of the coupling mechanism between the grid-connected inverters (GCI) of wind generations and the weak grid is provided. Then, an equivalent parallel compensation method integrated into the PLL to enhance synchronization stability is proposed. The method changes the reference of the PLL and equivalently parallels the virtual resistance with the grid impedance, which alters the strength of the grid. It reshapes the inverter qq-axis impedance at the impedance level. And the proper design of the virtual resistance will enhance the system's stability without compromising the dynamic performance of PLL. In addition, the proposed method is robust to the parameter changes of the grid-connected system and the grid impedance measurement error. Experimental results are presented to validate the effectiveness of the compensation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multimodal knowledge graph completion necessitates the integration of information from multiple modalities (such as images and text) into the structural representation of entities to improve link prediction. However, most existing studies have overlooked the interaction between different modalities and the symmetry in the modal fusion process. To address this issue, this paper proposed a Transformer-based knowledge graph link prediction model (MM-Transformer) that fuses multimodal features. Different modal encoders are employed to extract structural, visual, and textual features, and symmetrical hybrid key-value calculations are performed on features from different modalities based on the Transformer architecture. The similarities of textual tags to structural tags and visual tags are calculated and aggregated, respectively, and multimodal entity representations are modeled and optimized to reduce the heterogeneity of the representations. The experimental results show that compared with the current multimodal SOTA method, MKGformer, MM-Transformer improves the Hits@1 and Hits@10 evaluation indicators by 1.17% and 1.39%, respectively, proving that the proposed method can effectively solve the problem of multimodal feature fusion in the knowledge graph link prediction task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inonotus obliquus, a medicinal fungus, has garnered significant attention in scientific research and medical applications. In this study, protoplasts of the I. obliquus HS819 strain were prepared using an enzymatic method and achieved a regeneration rate of 5.83%. To enhance polysaccharide production of I. obliquus HS819, atmospheric and room temperature plasma (ARTP) technology was employed for mutagenesis of the protoplasts. Through liquid fermentation, 32 mutant strains exhibiting diverse characteristics in morphology, color of the fermentation broth, mycelial pellet size, and biomass were screened. Secondary screening identified mutant strain A27, which showed a significant increase in polysaccharide production up to 1.67 g/L and a mycelial dry weight of 17.6 g/L, representing 137.67% and 15% increases compared to the HS819 strain, respectively. Furthermore, the fermentation period was reduced by 2 days, and subsequent subculture cultivation demonstrated stable polysaccharide production and mycelial dry weight. The genome resequencing analysis of the HS819 strain and mutant strain A27 revealed 3790 InDel sites and mutations affecting 612 functional genes associated with polysaccharide synthesis. We predict that our findings will be helpful for high polysaccharide production through genetic engineering of I. obliquus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, multi-functional lecture halls have developed rapidly and become a symbol of contemporary public spaces and places. This kind of spatial facility that brings together the advantages of land intensiveness and multi-functional integration also faces feedback such as poor acoustic effects. However, current research rarely involves the architectural design perspective, which is actually the root consideration of this problem; that is, how to set up corresponding spatial layout measures to optimize acoustic performance in a relatively economical and simple way. This study uses the academic lecture hall of the School of Architecture and Planning of Yunnan University as a case to try to solve these problems. The research is based on holistic considerations, starting from site selection, architectural design, aesthetic considerations, and environmental noise assessment, and combining simulation results with actual measurement results. Using a prediction–comparison–verification method, key acoustic parameters such as speech intelligibility, loudness, and reverberation time were calculated and evaluated to understand the acoustic design problems of the hall. The study found that the out-of-control reverberation time was the main cause of poor acoustic feedback, and based on this, optimization and transformation were carried out from an architectural perspective. Finally, a renovation suggestion was made that the application of sound-absorbing materials on the rear wall can achieve better acoustic effects inside the hall. Among the space combination methods, the combination of "rear wall, central ceiling, and front ceiling" has the best effect. Practical insights are provided for improving the acoustic performance of the multi-functional lecture halls while taking into account the acoustic design and feasible requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The causal effect and pathways of gut microbiota and plasma metabolome on lung cancer have been important topics for personalized medicine; however, the heterogeneity of lung cancer subtypes has not gained enough attention in previous studies. This study sought to employ a Mendelian randomization analysis to screen the specific gut microbiota and plasma metabolome, which may have a causal effect on lung cancer. We further extended our analysis to estimate the effects of these exposures on various pathological subtypes of lung cancer. Furthermore, a mediation analysis was performed to identify the potential pathway underlying the influence of microbiota and metabolites. Our study identified 13 taxa and 15 metabolites with a causal association with the overall risk of lung cancer. Furthermore, we found 8 taxa and 14 plasma metabolites with a causal effect on lung adenocarcinoma, 4 taxa and 10 metabolites with a causal effect on squamous cell lung carcinoma, and 7 taxa and 16 metabolites with a causal effect on SCLC. We also identified seven mediation pathways that could potentially elucidate the influence of these microbiota and metabolites on overall lung cancer or special subtypes. Our study highlighted the heterogeneity of the gut microbiome and plasma metabolome in a lung cancer subtype and elucidated the potential underlying mechanisms. This could pave the way for more personalized lung cancer prevention and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the reactive power optimization control problem in offshore wind farms (OWFs), this paper proposes an adaptive reactive power optimization control strategy based on an improved Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm. Firstly, an OWF multi-objective optimization control model is established, with the total sum of voltage deviations at wind turbine (WT) terminals, active power network losses, and reactive power margin of WTs as comprehensive optimization objectives. Innovatively, adaptive weighting coefficients are introduced for the three sub-objectives, enabling the weights of each optimization objective to be adaptively adjusted based on real-time operating conditions, thus enhancing the adaptability of the reactive power optimization model to changes in operating conditions. Secondly, a Uniform Adaptive Particle Swarm Optimization (UAPSO) algorithm is proposed. On one hand, the algorithm initializes the particle swarm using a uniform initialization method; on the other hand, it improves the particle velocity update formula, allowing the inertia coefficient to adaptively adjust based on the number of iterations and the fitness ranking of particles. Simulation results demonstrate the following: (1) Under various operating conditions, the proposed adaptive multi-objective reactive power optimization strategy can ensure the stability of node voltages in offshore wind farms, reduce active power losses, and simultaneously improve reactive power margins. (2) Compared with the traditional PSO algorithm, UAPSO exhibits an approximately 10% improvement in solution speed and enhanced solution accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geochemical characteristics of a 2.1 m BBW25 core, collected from the Beibu Gulf, have been investigated in terms of the major and trace elements, organic matter, and CaCO3 and AMS 14C dating by XRF, ICP-OES, ICP-MS, and more. We have found through previous research that there are issues with unclear delineation of sedimentary evolution environments and inexact responses between chemical weathering intensity and major paleoclimate events in the Beibu Gulf. The AMS 14C dating results indicate that the sedimentary age at the bottom was 19.24 ky b.p. CaCO3, δ13C, C/N, and Sr/Ba indexes show a sedimentary environment change from terrestrial to marine environments and a "jump" of ~4000 years in continent–ocean changes. The evolution of the sedimentary environment of Beibu Gulf was divided into three environments and five sub-environments. The changes in chemical weathering intensity indicators recorded by the CIX and the Fe/Al ratio respond well to the East Asian monsoon cycle, the meltwater events, and the alternation of cold and warm events. This study explains the chemical weathering intensity and sedimentary environment in the BBW25 core by geochemical characteristics and further reveals the paleoenvironmental characteristics and possible driving mechanisms over the past ~20,000 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we explore the impact of the astigmatism phase on the evolution of the phase singularity of an orbital angular momentum (OAM) beam propagating through free space. The results demonstrate that the high-order phase singularity dispersed into a cluster of individual unit phase singularities owing to the astigmatism phase. The number of singularities equaled the topological charge of the OAM beam. By adjusting the astigmatism phase, we could manipulate and control the evolution of the phase singularities, including their displacements and rotation angles. These findings offer significant prospects for customizing 3D vortex lines, optical topologies, and applications involving topological charge measurement, information encoding, and transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In communication links, the presence of atmospheric turbulence leads to crosstalk between the orbital angular momentum (OAM) states, thereby limiting the performance of information transmission. Thus, knowledge of the effect of turbulence on the spiral spectrum (also named the OAM spectrum) is of utmost importance in the field of optical communications. However, most of the existing studies are limited to weak turbulence calculation models. In this paper, based on the extended Huygens–Fresnel integral, the analytical expression is derived for the mutual coherence function of a Laguerre–Gaussian beam carrying the cross-phase and propagating through weak-to-strong anisotropic Kolmogorov atmospheric turbulence; subsequently, the analytical expression is used to study the behavior of the spiral spectrum. The discrepancies in the spiral spectrum between weak and strong turbulence are comparatively studied. The influences of the cross-phase and the anisotropy of turbulence on the spiral spectrum are investigated through numerical examples. Our results reveal that the cross-phase determines the distribution of the spiral spectrum. The spiral spectrum can be tuned to multiple OAM modes through the adaptation of the cross-phase coefficient. Moreover, increasing the cross-phase coefficient can reduce both the discrepancies of the spiral spectrum under two computational methods and the effects of the anisotropic factors of turbulence on the spiral spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cucurbitacins, oxygenated tetracyclic triterpenoids that are found mainly in the Cucurbitaceae family, play essential roles as defensive compounds, serving as allomones against herbivores and pathogens and as signals for insect–parasite recognition. These compounds also exhibit various pharmacological effects. The biosynthesis of cucurbitacins is largely regulated by the bitter (Bi) gene, encoding an oxidosqualene cyclase, which catalyzes the conversion of 2,3-oxidosqualene into cucurbitadienol, a common precursor for cucurbitacin synthesis. Previous studies focused on uncovering the Bi gene clusters in Cucurbitaceae, but their presence in other cucurbitacin-producing plants remained unexplored. Here, the evolutionary history of Bi genes and their clusters were investigated in twenty-one plant genomes spanning three families based on chemotaxonomy. Nineteen Bi genes were identified in fourteen Cucurbitaceae, four Begoniaceae, and one Aquilaria species. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the genome of Aquilaria sinensis contained the earliest Bi gene clusters in this dataset. Moreover, the genomic analysis revealed a conserved microsynteny of pivotal genes for cucurbitacin biosynthesis in Cucurbitaceae, while interspersed Bi gene clusters were observed in Begoniaceae, indicating rearrangements during plant Bi gene cluster formation. The bitter gene in A. sinensis was found to promote cucurbitadienol biosynthesis in the leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana. This comprehensive exploration of plant Bi genes and their clusters provides valuable insights into the genetic and evolutionary underpinnings of cucurbitacin biosynthesis. These findings offer prospects for a deeper understanding of cucurbitacin production and potential genetic resources for their enhancement in various plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NAC is a class of plant-specific transcription factors that are widely involved in the growth, development and (a)biotic stress response of plants. However, their molecular evolution has not been extensively studied in Malvales, especially in Aquilaria sinensis, a commercial and horticultural crop that produces an aromatic resin named agarwood. In this study, 1502 members of the NAC gene family were identified from the genomes of nine species from Malvales and three model plants. The macroevolutionary analysis revealed that whole genome duplication (WGD) and dispersed duplication (DSD) have shaped the current architectural structure of NAC gene families in Malvales plants. Then, 111 NAC genes were systemically characterized in A. sinensis. The phylogenetic analysis suggests that NAC genes in A. sinensis can be classified into 16 known clusters and four new subfamilies, with each subfamily presenting similar gene structures and conserved motifs. RNA-seq analysis showed that AsNACs presents a broad transcriptional response to the agarwood inducer. The expression patterns of 15 AsNACs in A. sinensis after injury treatment indicated that AsNAC019 and AsNAC098 were positively correlated with the expression patterns of four polyketide synthase (PKS) genes. Additionally, AsNAC019 and AsNAC098 were also found to bind with the AsPKS07 promoter and activate its transcription. This comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights into the molecular evolution of the NAC gene family in Malvales plants and highlights the potential mechanisms of AsNACs for regulating secondary metabolite biosynthesis in A. sinensis, especially for the biosynthesis of 2-(2-phenyl) chromones in agarwood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Fshβ and Lhβ showed stronger signals and higher transcript levels from 590 to 1050 dph than at earlier stages, implying their active involvement during primary oocyte development. (2) Fshβ and Lhβ at lower levels were detected during the phases of ovarian differentiation and oogonial proliferation. (3) E2 concentrations increased significantly at 174, 333, and 1435 dph, while T concentrations exhibited significant increases at 174 and 333 dph. These findings suggest potential correlations between serum E2 concentrations and the phases of oogonial proliferation and pre-vitellogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Stephanolepis cirrhifer, a commercially important marine fish, has been listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species owing to a sharp decline in its wild-caught numbers. To increase the survival rate of juveniles after hatching, the changes in growth and feeding characteristics during early ontogenesis in this species must be understood. In this study, the growth indices at 24, 28, 30, 40, 45, and 50 days post hatching (dph) were significantly higher than those at earlier time points, suggesting that the juveniles possessed well-developed digestive organs and that a compound feed is suitable for rapid growth at these stages. The obligatory mixed-nutrition period was brief, at only 3–4 dph, and the larvae reached the point-of-no-return (PNR) at 1.5–2 dph. Furthermore, the growth indices of juveniles fed only under light conditions showed clear peaks and troughs. This is indicative of daytime feeding behaviour. These results serve as a reference to guide larval rearing and feeding programs that can improve the survival rates of S. cirrhifer. Background: We investigated the growth and feeding characteristics of threadsail filefish, Stephanolepis cirrhifer, during early ontogenesis. Methods: The growth indices of hatchlings fed compound feed were measured from 0 to 50 days post hatching (dph). The absorption time of the yolk sac and oil globule, as well as the rate of first feeding were measured to characterise the early growth stage and determine the point-of-no-return (PNR). Feeding characteristics and rhythms were investigated under a light/dark cycle and under continuous light. Results: Growth indices increased significantly at 24, 28, 30, 40, 45, and 50 dph. The yolk sac and oil globules were completely absorbed before 4 dph, indicative of a short mixed-nutrition period at 3–4 dph. Under starvation conditions, the first feeding rate was highest (86%) at 0.5 dph and then decreased to 53.3% at 1.5 dph and 26.2% at 2 dph, suggesting that the PNR occurs at 1.5–2 dph. The feeding peak appeared at 15:00–18:00 and under light conditions, while the feeding trough appeared at 0:00–3:00. Conclusions: Compound feed supplied adequate nutrition for early growth and development. The peaks and troughs of feeding times were indicative of daytime feeding behaviour. These results provide guidance for successful rearing of filefish seedlings and juveniles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tight focusing properties of circular partially coherent radially polarized circular Airy vortex beams (CPCRPCAVBs) are theoretically studied in this paper. After deriving the cross-spectral density matrix of CPCRPCAVBs in the focal region of a high-NA objective, numerical calculations were performed to indicate the influence of the topological charge of the vortex phase on intensity distribution, degree of coherence and degree of polarization of the tightly focused beam. An intensity profile along the propagation axis shows that a super-length optical needle (~15 λ) can be obtained with a topological charge of 1, and a super-length dark channel (~15 λ) is observed with a topological charge of 2 or 3. In the focal plane, the rise in the number of topological charge does not distort the shapes of the coherence distribution pattern and the polarization distribution pattern, but enlarges their sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1960, R.E. Kalman published his famous paper describing a recursive solution, the Kalman filter, to the discrete-data linear filtering problem. In the following decades, thanks to the continuous progress of numerical computing, as well as the increasing demand for weather prediction, target tracking, and many other problems, the Kalman filter has gradually become one of the most important tools in science and engineering. With the continuous improvement of its theory, the Kalman filter and its derivative algorithms have become one of the core algorithms in optimal estimation. This paper attempts to systematically collect and sort out the basic principles of the Kalman filter and some of its important derivative algorithms (mainly including the Extended Kalman filter (EKF), the Unscented Kalman filter (UKF), the Ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF)), as well as the scope of their application, and also to compare their advantages and limitations. In addition, because there are a large number of applications based on the Kalman filter in data assimilation, this paper also provides examples and classifies the applications of both the Kalman filter and its derivative algorithms in the field of data assimilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase imaging normally employs coherent a light source while an incoherent light source is not preferred due to its random wavefront. Another challenge for practical phase imaging is imaging through scattering media, which scatter the photons in a random manner and lead to seriously distorted images of speckles. Based on the convolutional neural network (CNN), this paper presents an approach for phase imaging through scattering media using an incoherent light source. A CNN was trained and utilized to reconstruct the target images from the captured images of speckles. Similarities of over 90% between the reconstructed images and their target images have been achieved. It was concluded that an incoherent light source can be used as an illumination source for scattering phase imaging with the assistance of deep learning technology. This phase imaging approach with an incoherent light source through scattering media can be used to record the refractive indices of transparent samples, which might lead to its application in biomedical imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Most studies have focused on water temperature and photoperiods on the effects of growth and reproduction in fish, but the light spectrum also plays an important role in inducing the synthesis and secretion of growth-/reproduction-related hormones. In this study, the juvenile red spotted grouper was exposed to four light spectra from white, red, blue, or green light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for two months. The fish exposed to white LEDs exhibited the best growth, although the expression levels of growth hormone (GH) showed no significant differences and the pre-pro-somatostatin-I (PSS-I) expression levels significantly increased. Four LED spectra were effective in stimulating food intake as the expression levels of neuropeptide Y significantly increased. The gonadal development advanced from chromatin nucleolar-stage oocytes to perinucleolar-stage oocytes in all four LED groups, while there were no significant differences in FSHβ and LHβ expression. This result suggests that FSHβ and LHβ may not have played important roles in gonadal development when these fish were exposed to the four light spectra. Collectively, our results provide evidence that the natural light condition (white LED condition) is a better choice for the growth of juvenile red spotted grouper in captivity during summer. The light spectrum is a key environmental cue involved in growth and reproduction in teleosts. This study investigated the effects of exposure on juvenile red spotted grouper exposed to white (control), red (590 nm), blue (480 nm), and green (520 nm) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) (12 h light:12 h dark) for two months. The body weight (BW), total length (TL), condition factor (CF), weight gain rate (WGR), gonadosomatic index (GSI), and hepatosomatic index (HSI) were assessed. Gonadal development was observed. The gene expression of growth-related hormones, such as growth hormone (GH), pre-pro-somatostatin-I (PSS-I), neuropeptide Y (NPY), and CCK, and of reproduction-related hormones, such as Kiss1, Kiss2, GPR54, sbGnRH, FSHβ, and LHβ, was analyzed. The results showed that the fish in the white LED group exhibited the best BW, TL, CF, WGR, and HSI after one or two months. The fish exposed to white LEDs showed the best growth after two months, but no significant differences in GH levels were detected. Contrarily, the expression levels of the PSS-I significantly increased (p < 0.05) in fish from the white group, suggesting the complex regulation of GH production and the limited effects of PSS-I on the inhibition of GH synthesis and somatic growth. The significantly increased NPY levels in the four LED groups (p < 0.05) indicated that these four LED spectra were effective in stimulating food intake and energy homeostasis. After two months, the gonads developed from chromatin nucleolar-stage oocytes to perinucleolar-stage oocytes in the four LED groups. The gene expression of Kiss2 and GPR54 in the four LED groups and of sbGnRH in the white and blue LED groups significantly increased when compared to that in the initial group (p < 0.05), while there were no significant differences in FSHβ and LHβ expression in the four LED groups. These results suggest that FSH and LH may not play important roles in gonadal development in juvenile red spotted grouper that are exposed to these four LED spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used transient electromagnetic (TEM) to map the hydrogeological structures in the Choushui River Alluvial Fan in Yunlin County of central Taiwan. A total of 63 TEM measurements were collected using the FASTSNAP system with 50 × 50 m in-loop configurations in the middle and distal fan. The 1D model, based on prior information, was constructed from the inverted soundings. Results showed a thin, resistive shallow layer and a 40 m low-resistive (6–42 ohm-m) zone beneath it. High-resistive zones (50–170 ohm-m) were found from 50–120 m depth, and low-resistive zones were revealed below 120 m in some areas. Results were consistent with resistivity and lithology logs from nearby wells. The inverted TEM models provide reliable subsurface information when prior informations of vertical electrical sounding and TEM were considered. We interpolated resistivity at 10 m, 50 m, 100 m, and 160 m depth from the 1D model results to produce a slice map of the area, which indicated variations, trends, and depths of the sediment deposits. The TEM method successfully identified the hydrogeological structures, showing that the upper 40 m of sediment acts as a confining layer for the aquifer structure from 50 m to 120 m depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence and mortality of cervical cancer in female malignancies are second only to breast cancer, which brings a heavy health and economic toll worldwide. Paclitaxel (PTX)-based regimens are the first-class choice; however, severe side effects, poor therapeutic effects, and difficulty in effectively preventing tumor recurrence or metastasis are unavoidable. Therefore, it is necessary to explore effective therapeutic interventions for cervical cancer. Our previous studies have shown that PMGS, a marine sulfated polysaccharide, exhibits promising anti-human papillomavirus (anti-HPV) effects through multiple molecular mechanisms. In this article, a continuous study identified that PMGS, as a novel sensitizer, combined with PTX exerted synergistic anti-tumor effects on cervical cancer associated with HPV in vitro. Both PMGS and PTX inhibited the proliferation of cervical cancer cells, and the combination of PMGS with PTX displayed significant synergistic effects on Hela cells. Mechanistically, PMGS synergizes with PTX by enhancing cytotoxicity, inducing cell apoptosis and inhibiting cell migration in Hela cells. Collectively, the combination of PTX and PMGS potentially provides a novel therapeutic strategy for cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyphenol-rich foods exhibit anti-allergic/-inflammatory properties. As major effector cells of allergies, mast cells undergo degranulation after activation and then initiate inflammatory responses. Key immune phenomena could be regulated by the production and metabolism of lipid mediators by mast cells. Here, we analyzed the antiallergic activities of two representative dietary polyphenols, curcumin and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and traced their effects on cellular lipidome rewiring in the progression of degranulation. Both curcumin and EGCG significantly inhibited degranulation as they suppressed the release of β-hexosaminidase, interleukin-4, and tumor necrosis factor-α from the IgE/antigen-stimulated mast cell model. A comprehensive lipidomics study involving 957 identified lipid species revealed that although the lipidome remodeling patterns (lipid response and composition) of curcumin intervention were considerably similar to those of EGCG, lipid metabolism was more potently disturbed by curcumin. Seventy-eight percent of significant differential lipids upon IgE/antigen stimulation could be regulated by curcumin/EGCG. LPC-O 22:0 was defined as a potential biomarker for its sensitivity to IgE/antigen stimulation and curcumin/EGCG intervention. The key changes in diacylglycerols, fatty acids, and bismonoacylglycerophosphates provided clues that cell signaling disturbances could be associated with curcumin/EGCG intervention. Our work supplies a novel perspective for understanding curcumin/EGCG involvement in antianaphylaxis and helps guide future attempts to use dietary polyphenols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the hydrogeochemical characteristics of hot springs provides essential geochemical information for monitoring earthquake precursors and understanding the relationship between fluids, fractures, and earthquakes. This paper investigates the hydrogeochemical characteristics of hot springs along the Tingri–Nyima Rift (TNR) in southern Tibet, a seismically active zone at the collision front of the Indian and Asian-European plates. The major elements, hydrogen, and oxygen isotopes of seven thermal springs were analyzed from July 2019 to September 2021. The findings indicate that Mount Everest's meteoric water, which has a recharge elevation of roughly 7.5–8.4 km, is the main source of recharge for the hot springs. The water samples have two main hydrochemical types: HCO3-Na and Cl-Na. The temperature of the geothermal reservoir is between 46.5 and 225.4 °C, while the circulation depth is between 1.2 and 5.0 km based on silica-enthalpy mixing models and traditional geothermometers. Furthermore, continuous measurements of major anions and cations at the Yundong Spring (T06) near Mount Everest reveal short-term (8 days) seismic precursor anomalies of hydrochemical compositions before an ML4.7 earthquake 64.36 km away from T06. Our study suggests that seismicity in the northern section of the TNR is controlled by both hydrothermal activity and tectonic activity, while seismicity in the southern section is mainly influenced by tectonic activity. In addition to magnitude and distance from the epicenter, geological forces from deep, large fissures also affect how hot springs react to seismic occurrences. A fluid circulation model is established in order to explain the process of groundwater circulation migration. The continuous hydrochemical monitoring of hot springs near Everest is critical for studying the coupling between hot springs, fractures, and earthquakes, as well as monitoring information on earthquake precursory anomalies near Everest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrafine Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers have an outstanding potential in various applications, especially in absorbing fields. In this manuscript, an electrostatic-field-assisted centrifugal spinning system was designed to improve the production efficiency of ultrafine PVA fibers from PVA aqueous solution for NH3 adsorption. It was established that the fiber production efficiency using this self-designed system could be about 1000 times higher over traditional electrospinning system. The produced PVA fibers establish high morphology homogeneity. The impact of processing variables of the constructed spinning system including rotation speed, needle size, liquid feeding rate, and voltage on fiber morphology and diameter was systematically investigated by SEM studies. To acquire homogeneous ultrafine PVA fiber membranes, the orthogonal experiment was also conducted to optimize the spinning process parameters. The impact weight of different studied parameters on the spinning performance was thus provided. The experimental results showed that the morphology of micro/nano-fibers can be well controlled by adjusting the spinning process parameters. Ultrafine PVA fibers with the diameter of 2.55 μm were successfully obtained applying the parameters, including rotation speed (6500 rpm), needle size (0.51 mm), feeding rate (3000 mL h−1), and voltage (20 kV). Furthermore, the obtained ultrafine PVA fiber mat was demonstrated to be capable of selectively adsorbing NH3 gas relative to CO2, thus making it promising for NH3 storage and other environmental purification applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An appropriate technical overhaul strategy is very important for the development of enterprises. Most enterprises pay attention to the design life of the equipment, that is, the point when the equipment can no longer be used as stipulated by the manufacturer. However, in the later stage of the equipment, the operation and maintenance costs may be higher than the benefit of the equipment. Therefore, only the design life of the equipment may cause a waste of funds, so as to avoid the waste of funds, the enterprise's strategy of technical reform and overhaul are optimized. This paper studies the optimal decommissioning life of the equipment (taking into account both the safety and economic life of the equipment), and selects the data of a 35 kV voltage transformer in a powerful enterprise. The enterprise may have problems with the data due to recording errors or loose classification. In order to analyze the decommissioning life of the equipment more accurately, it is necessary to first use t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) to reduce the data dimension and judge the data distribution. Then, density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAND) is used to screen the outliers of the data and mark the filtered abnormal data as a vacancy value. Then, random forest is used to fill the vacancy values of the data. Then, an Elman neural network is used for random simulation, and finally, the Fisher orderly segmentation is used to obtain the optimal retirement life interval of the equipment. The overall results show that the optimal decommissioning life range of the 35 kV voltage transformer of the enterprise is 31 to 41 years. In this paper, the decommissioning life range of equipment is scientifically calculated for enterprises, which makes up for the shortage of economic life. Moreover, considering the "economy" and "safety" of equipment comprehensively will be conducive to the formulation of technical reform and overhaul strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic increased public health awareness, changing consumers' sensitivity and beliefs about food health. Food anxiety and health scares turn consumers toward safe and healthy foods to strengthen their immunity, which makes green food more popular. However, it remains unclear how to understand the gap between consumer intention to purchase green food and their actual purchasing behaviour. Taking rice as an object of study, comparing differences in consumer perceptions and emotions towards green-labelled rice and conventional rice is beneficial for understanding the components and psychological characteristics of consumer perceptions of green food. Therefore, we used topic modelling and sentiment analysis to explore consumers' focus of attention, attitudinal preferences, and sentiment tendencies based on the review (n = 77,429) from JD.com. The findings revealed that (1) consumers' concerns about green-labelled rice are increasing rapidly, and most have a positive attitude; (2) consumers of green-labelled rice are more concerned about origin, aroma, and taste than conventional rice; (3) consumers of conventional rice are more concerned about the cost-performance ratio, while consumers of green-labelled rice are also price-sensitive; (4) green label mistrust and packaging breakage during logistics are the leading causes of negative emotions among consumers of green-labelled rice. This study provides a comparative analysis of consumer perceptions and emotions between the two types of rice, thus revealing the main influencing factors of the intention-behaviour gap and providing valuable consumer insights for the promotion of green consumption and the sustainable development of the green food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We theoretically investigated the properties of tightly focused ring Pearcey beams with a cross phase (CPRPB). The expressions of the distributions of both electric field and magnetic field in the focal region of an objective were first derived from the vectorial Debye theory, and then numerical calculations were carried out to obtain the focused intensity distribution and the Poynting vector of CPRPB near the focus. Numerical calculations indicate that as CPRPB is focused on an objective of high numerical aperture (NA), two nonuniform self-focusing spots occur at both sides of the geometrical focus of the objective symmetrically, and the angle between their directions is 90 degrees. The stronger is the strength of cross-phase modulation, the flatter are the ellipses of the self-focusing spots, and the smaller is the intensity at the geometrical focus of the objective. Numerical calculations also demonstrate that the optical gradient force produced by tightly focused CPRPB in the focal region can be manipulated in magnitude and in direction by tuning the strength of cross-phase modulation. Due to these properties of tightly focused CPRPB, they might find applications in the manipulation of micro- and nanoparticles and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Failure of the high-voltage diode rectifier caused by lightning will cause huge losses. The traditional analysis of overvoltage induced by the high-voltage diode rectifier shell under lightning stroke cannot adapt to the overvoltage process caused by lightning stroke-induced conduction invading the inside of the high-voltage diode rectifier. Therefore, this paper proposes to establish a high-frequency equivalent model of the core components of the high-voltage diode rectifier, including diodes, reactors, transformers, and overhead lines. On this basis, a lightning overvoltage model of lightning-induced conduction into the high-voltage diode rectifier is built, and the transient process of diode lightning overvoltage under the constraint of reverse recovery charge is analyzed. Then, we describe the transient distribution of overvoltage in high-voltage diode rectifiers caused by lightning stroke. The transient distribution of overvoltage induced by lightning in series diodes under different diode equivalent models is analyzed by simulation. The simulation results show that the inconsistent parameters of series diodes can easily lead to diode damage due to uneven voltage distribution when lightning strikes. Therefore, this paper puts forward a scheme to reduce lightning damage, including selecting diodes with the same parameters and adding fast-melting fuses at the transformer's secondary side and in front of the series diode bridge arm. The simulation shows that the scheme proposed in this paper can effectively prevent the high-voltage diode rectifier from being damaged by lightning strikes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major cause of blindness worldwide and may be non-proliferative (NPDR) or proliferative (PDR). To Investig.gate the metabolomic and lipidomic characteristics of plasma in DR patients, plasma samples were collected from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DR group) with PDR (n = 27), NPDR (n = 18), or no retinopathy (controls, n = 21). Levels of 54 and 41 metabolites were significantly altered in the plasma of DR patients under positive and negative ion modes, respectively. By subgroup analysis, 74 and 29 significantly changed plasma metabolites were detected in PDR patients compared with NPDR patients under positive and negative ion modes, respectively. KEGG analysis indicated that pathways such as biosynthesis of amino acids and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction were among the most enriched pathways in altered metabolites in the DR group and PDR subgroup. Moreover, a total of 26 and 41 lipids were significantly changed in the DR group and the PDR subgroup, respectively. The panel using the 29-item index could discriminate effectively between diabetic patients with and without retinopathy, and the panel of 22 items showed effective discrimination between PDR and NPDR. These results provide a basis for further research into the therapeutic targets associated with these metabolite and lipid alterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In high frequency AC (HFAC) distribution system, the resonant inverter is used to improve power quality and keep the stability of the output AC voltage. Aiming at the problems of poor output power quality and slow transient performance caused by unreasonable filter parameter design and load change during inverter operation, a single-phase H-bridge LCLC resonant inverter based on analog circuit controller implement is introduced in this paper for HFAC power distribution system (PDS). In this study, to design harmonic compensator and analyze the responsiveness of the inverter, it is necessary to analyze the output voltage total harmonic distortion (THD) of LCLC resonant inverter and the performance of the open loop system in detail. On the one hand, a proportional-integral-resonant (PIR) controller is designed to maintain the zero static error of the voltage output and suppress the output voltage THD of LCLC resonant inverter. On the other hand, an integral controller combines with phase-shift modulation (PSM) method is presented to effectively improve the transient performance of resonant inverter and provide the fixed frequency of the output voltage. On the basis of the above, the experimental prototype is implemented with the output AC voltage root mean square of 28 V, and the output voltage frequency for resonant inverter is equal to switching frequency. A rated output power of 130 W experimental platform is built to verify the effectiveness of the theoretical analysis, control strategy, and modulation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) is a flavonoid with a chalcone structure extracted from the natural herb Glycyrrhiza glabra. Its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities have been extensively studied. Moreover, ISL also possess hypolipidemic and atherosclerosis-reducing effects. However, its cholesterol-lowering mechanisms have not been reported yet. Niemann Pick C1 Like 1 (NPC1L1) is a specific transporter of cholesterol uptake. In this study, we found for the first time that ISL downregulates NPC1L1 expression and competitively inhibits cellular cholesterol uptake by binding to NPC1L1 in a concentration-dependent manner in vitro. This study provides a theoretical basis for further investigation of the molecular mechanisms of its cholesterol-lowering effect in vivo and inspired emerging drug research for cholesterol-lowering purposes through NPC1L1 inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) is an RNA virus and a member of the Closteroviridae, Crinivirus, that is primarily vectored by Bemisia tabaci MED (B. tabaci MED). An outbreak of ToCV causes destructive damage to tomato plants and other solanaceous vegetables. Currently, ToCV has not been effectively controlled. Rhodopseudomonas palustris PSB-06 is a novel biological agent that is effective at controlling the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). In this study, we investigated the role of PSB-06 in ToCV-infected tomato plants, and we studied the effects of PSB-06 on plant defense and plant photosynthetic pathways. Furthermore, the effect of PSB-06 on the acquisition and transmission of B. tabaci MED was determined. The results showed that compared with water-treated tomato plants, the contents of jasmonic acid increased, and the activities of catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase increased significantly in tomato plants treated with PSB-06. The relative expression of genes involved in chlorophyll development, chlorophyll metabolism and photosynthesis also increased significantly. Simultaneously, treatment with PSB-06 reduced the acquisition and transmission of B. tabaci MED. We verified the hypothesis that PSB-06 is effective at controlling ToCV by promoting plant defense responses and reducing the amount of ToCV in tomato plants. We also confirmed the ability of B. tabaci MED to transmit ToCV. This study should help to control B. tabaci MED and reduce the spread of ToCV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To overcome the continuous decline in its gross domestic product growth rate, China has advocated new and old kinetic energy conversion (NOKEC) as a policy for sustainable economic development in the post-COVID-19 era. The innovation drivers of NOKEC are the key to promoting sustainable economic development. However, the innovation drivers have various orientations, and their selection requires multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM). This study proposes a modified Delphi method combined with the best–worst method (BWM) as a research framework for selecting and ranking innovation drivers. Our results show the validity of this integrated research framework on a case based in China in the post-COVID-19 era. The results reveal 21 innovation-driven factors of NOKEC with varying levels of relative importance. These results may provide a basis for policymakers and researchers with a useful further understanding of the importance and prioritizing of innovation drivers. In this study, BWM uses 4% fewer pairwise comparisons than AHP, and the consistency ratio is in the range of 0.00 to 0.24. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Driven by growing mobile traffic, millimeter wave (mmWave) communications have recently been developed to enhance wireless network capacity. Due to insufficient coverage and the lack of support for mobility, mmWave is often deployed in the ultra-dense small cells of the 5G heterogeneous network. In this article, we first summarize the characteristics of the 5G heterogeneous network from the viewpoints of devices, spectra, and networks. We then propose a triple-band network structure which incorporates licensed bands, sub-6GHz unlicensed bands, and mmWave bands to support various types of mobile users. Based on the novel network structure, we further propose a self-optimizing traffic steering strategy which can intelligently steer traffic to specific networks and spectra according to the dynamic network and traffic environments. Several use cases are also discussed to facilitate the implementation of our proposals. Finally, we present numerical results to demonstrate that the proposed network structure and strategy can effectively enhance the system throughput and energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychrophiles inhabiting various cold environments are regarded as having evolved diverse physiological and molecular strategies, such as the accumulation of trehalose to alleviate cold stress. To investigate the possible contributions of trehalose metabolism-related enzymes to cold-adaption in psychrotrophic bacteria and enrich the resource bank of trehalose hydrolysis enzymes, a novel cold-adapted GH15 GA-like trehalase (MpTre15A) from psychrotolerant Microbacteriumphyllosphaerae LW106 isolated from glacier sediments was cloned and characterized. The recombinant MpTre15A from M. phyllosphaerae LW106 was expressed and purified in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). The purified MpTre15A functioned as a hexamer and displayed maximal activity at pH 5.0 and 50 °C. Substrate specificity assay proved MpTre15A only showed hydrolytic activity toward α,α-trehalose. Site-directed mutation verified the key catalytic sites of Glu392 and Glu557 in MpTre15A. The kcat and kcat/Km values of MpTre15A at 4 °C (104.50 s−1 and 1.6 s−1 mM−1, respectively) were comparable to those observed for thermophilic GH15 trehalases at 50 °C, revealing its typical cold-adaptability. MpTre15A showed a trehalose conversion rate of 100% and 99.4% after 10 min and 15 min of incubation at 50 °C and 37 °C, respectively. In conclusion, this novel cold-adapted α,α-trehalase MpTre15A showed potential application for developing therapeutic enzymes, enzyme-based biosensors, and enzyme additives in the fermentation industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated cholesterol significantly increases the risk of developing atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. The key to treating hypercholesterolemia is lowering plasma cholesterol levels. There have been no studies on the cholesterol-lowering potential of parthenolide (PTL), a naturally occurring small molecule from Tanacetum parthenium. Here, we first put forth PTL's cholesterol-lowering ability to inhibit cellular uptake of cholesterol in a dose-dependent manner. Its performance was on par with the positive control drug, ezetimibe. Niemann–Pick C1 Like-1 (NPC1L1) has been identified as a potential therapeutic target for hypercholesterolemia. The interaction of PTL with NPC1L1 could be explained by the results of molecular docking and filipin staining further reinforces this hypothesis. Furthermore, PTL reduced the expression of NPC1L1 in HepG2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, which suggests that PTL functions as a potential NPC1L1 inhibitor with therapeutic potential for hypercholesterolemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to summarize the electroretinographic oscillatory potential (OP) responses in healthy young children recorded by RETeval. Methods: By using the RETeval system, we recorded the implicit times and amplitudes of the OPs (OP1-5), in 132 healthy children aged from 0 to 11 years old. The age, gender, and data of implicit time and amplitude of each child were recorded and analyzed. Correlation analysis was performed between age and implicit time/amplitude. Results: No correlation was shown between the implicit times and amplitudes with gender. The implicit times and amplitudes of OP1-5 matured over 10 years of age, with exponential time constants of 1.9, 2.2, 1.8, 1.7, and 1.6 years and 2.1, 2.9, 2.8, 3.0, and 3.2 years, respectively. The majority of the trend occurred within the first 4.6 years. Conclusions: In order to diagnose and evaluate vision-related disorders, the OP response is commonly used. The percentiles and age dependence of OP responses calculated and shown in this study could be regarded as reference data in age-matched pediatric patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The centrifugal electrostatic blowing process proposed in this paper solves the difficult continuous and stable deposition problem in the traditional centrifugal electrostatic spinning process. By establishing a flight deposition model of the centrifugal electrostatic spraying process, CFD is used to simulate and analyze the electrohydrodynamic effect of centrifugal jets, and the driving mechanism is explored. Subsequently, MATLAB is used to obtain the optimal solution conditions, and finally, the establishment of a two-dimensional flight trajectory model is completed and experimentally verified. In addition, the deposition model of the jet is established to clarify the flight trajectory under the multi-field coupling, the stable draft area of the jet is found according to this, and the optimal drafting station is clarified. This research provides new ideas and references for the exploration of the deposition mechanism of the centrifugal electrostatic blowing and electrostatic spinning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge payment is a new type of E-learning that has developed in the era of social media. With the influence of the COVID-19 epidemic, the knowledge payment market is developing rapidly. Exploring the influencing factors of users' continuance intention is beneficial for the sustainable development of knowledge payment platforms. Our study took "Himalayan FM" as an example and included two studies: Study 1 used latent dirichlet allocation (LDA) to explore the main factors affecting the users' willingness to continue use, through mining user comment data on the knowledge payment platform; Study 2 constructed the conceptual model by integrating the technology acceptance model (TAM) and IS success model (IS) and carried out empirical analysis by SPSS and AMOS using the data that were collected through the questionnaire. The results show that: (1) perceived usefulness, user satisfaction, and spokesperson identity have a direct positive impact on users' willingness to continuous use, while perceived cost has a direct negative impact on users' willingness to continue use; (2) perceived ease of use, content quality, and system quality of knowledge payment platforms impacted user satisfaction directly, then affected users' willingness to continue use indirectly; (3) users' perceived enjoyment, membership experience, auditory experience, and other factors also directly impacted user satisfaction, affecting users' willingness to continue use indirectly. This study effectively expands the factors influencing knowledge payment users' willingness to continue use and provides a useful reference for the sustainable development of knowledge payment platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a numerical approach to simulate the degree of coherence (DOC) of a partially coherent beam (PCB) with a Schell-model correlator in any transverse plane during propagation. The approach is applicable for PCBs whose initial intensity distribution and DOC distribution are non-Gaussian functions, even for beams for which it is impossible to obtain an analytical expression for the cross-spectral density (CSD) function. Based on our approach, numerical examples for the distribution of the DOC of two types of PCBs are presented. One type is the partially coherent Hermite–Gaussian beam. The simulation results of the DOC agree well with those calculated from the analytical formula. The other type of PCB is the one for which it is impossible to obtain an analytical expression of CSD. The evolution of the DOC with the propagation distance and in the far field is studied in detail. Our numerical approach may find potential applications in optical encryption and information transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Propagation properties in the turbulence atmosphere of the optical coherence vortex lattices (OCVLs) are explored by the recently developed convolution approach. The evolution of spectral density distribution, the normalized M 2 -factor, and the beam wander of the OCVLs propagating through the atmospheric turbulence with Tatarskii spectrum are illustrated numerically. Our results show that the OCVLs display interesting propagation properties, e.g., the initial Gaussian beam distribution will evolve into hollow array distribution on propagation and finally becomes a Gaussian beam spot again in the far field in turbulent atmosphere. Furthermore, the OCVLs with large topological charge, large beam array order, large relative distance, and small coherence length are less affected by the negative effects of turbulence. Our results are expected to be used in the complex system optical communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have been widely used for strengthening or constructing structures due to their excellent corrosion resistance and high tensile strength. An emerging hybrid structural member form with FRP composites—which consist of a steel section as internal reinforcement, an external FRP wrap/tube, and concrete filled between them (referred to as FRP-confined steel-reinforced concrete (FCSRC) systems)—has attracted increasing research interest. To date, the concept has been adopted to strengthen/repair steel structures or used as new hybrid structural members (e.g., hybrid columns or beams, including buckling restrained braces (BRBs)). The FRP confinement and composite action between the three components in FCSRCs result in the excellent performance of the hybrid member. This paper presents a state-of-the-art review of FCSRCs for structural applications. The gaps in knowledge and future research opportunities on FCSRC structural members are also identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of shape modification (SM) to reinforced concrete (RC) columns has been demonstrated to be effective when enhancing the effectiveness of the fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) confinement of the columns, particularly for non-circular columns. The SM approach generally includes modifying a square section into a circular one, modifying a rectangular section into an elliptical/oval one and modifying a square/rectangular section into a curvilinearized square/rectangular section. In this paper, a state-of-the-art review of studies on FRP-confined non-circular columns with SM is conducted. The effects of key parameters on the effectiveness of FRP confinement are discussed, and different methods for the implementation of SM in real applications are briefly introduced. The findings of the review further confirm the effectiveness of the SM approach, and the test results demonstrate the effectiveness and advantages of section curvilinearization with a limited increase in cross-sectional area. Additionally, existing theoretical models for FRP-confined concrete in columns with SM are summarized. Further research opportunities associated with FRP-confined non-circular columns with SM are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mobile internet has resulted in intimate partner violence (IPV) events not being viewed as interpersonal and private issues. Such events become public events in the social network environment. IPV has become a public health issue of widespread concern. It is a challenge to obtain systematic and detailed data using questionnaires and interviews in traditional Chinese culture, because of face-saving and the victim's shame factors. However, online comments about specific IPV events on social media provide rich data in understanding the public's attitudes and emotions towards IPV. By applying text mining and sentiment analysis to the field of IPV, this study involved construction of a Chinese IPV sentiment dictionary and a complete research framework. We analyzed the trends of the Chinese public's emotional evolution concerning IPV events from the perspectives of a time series as well as geographic space and social media. The results show that the anonymity of social networks and the guiding role of opinion leaders result in traditional cultural factors such as face-saving and family shame for IPV events being no longer applicable, leading to the spiral of an anti-silence effect. Meanwhile, in the process of public emotional communication, anger often overwhelms reason, and the spiral of silence remains in effect in social media. In addition, there are offensive words used in the IPV event texts that indicate misogyny in emotional, sexual, economic and psychological abuse. Fortunately, mainstream media, as crucial opinion leaders in the social network, can have a positive role in guiding public opinion, improving people's ability to judge the validity of network information, and formulating people's rational behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we annotated the major flavonoid glycoside, rutin, of djulis hull crude extract using a Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) library and its MS/MS spectra. To evaluate the protective effect of djulis hull crude extract and rutin on glucose tolerance, we fed mice a high-fat diet (HFD) for 16 weeks to induce hyperglycaemia. These results showed that crude extract significantly decreased HFD-induced elevation in the area under the curve (AUC) of weekly random blood glucose and oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT), homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR), and advanced glycation end product (AGE) levels, and significantly increased pIRS1 and Glut4 protein expression in epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) and liver. Furthermore, the HFD-induced reduction in the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) was reversed by crude extract. In addition, ZO-1 and occludin protein expression in the colon was markedly downregulated in HFD-fed mice, resulting in decreased intestinal permeability and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) translocation, but were restored following crude extract. Moreover, the crude extract intervention had a profound effect on the alpha diversity and microbial community in the gut microbiota. Therefore, djulis hull crude extract could improve blood glucose and increase insulin receptor sensitivity in HFD-induced hyperglycaemia, which is likely due to its modulation of the gut microbiota, preservation of the integrity of the intestinal barrier to reduce body inflammation, increased antioxidant activity, and modulation of insulin signalling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Massive open online course (MOOC) is an innovative educational model that has attracted widespread attention in recent years. Despite a growing number of registered users, many have given up continuously using MOOC platforms after the first-time user experience; thus, a high dropout rate has severely hindered the sustainable development of MOOC platforms. To address the problem, this study started with the quality factors of MOOC platforms and the confirmation of user expectations by integrating the D&M ISS model and the expectation confirmation model into one, with the goal of identifying the factors that affect users' continuance intention to use MOOC platforms. In this study, online questionnaires were distributed to Chinese users with experience in using MOOC platforms, and a total of 550 valid samples were recovered. In addition, the theoretical model was tested using structural equation modeling (SEM). The research results showed that there are three critical antecedents affecting the confirmation of user expectations for a MOOC platform, including information quality, system quality, and service quality, of which service quality has the greatest impact on users' expectation confirmation. If user expectations for an MOOC platform are positively confirmed, the perceived usefulness of the platform as well as the satisfaction with it will effectively be improved. Moreover, perceived usefulness has been proven to be a critical factor affecting users' continuance intention to use MOOC platforms, which is followed by user satisfaction. Compared to the original ECM, the integrated research model has delivered significantly improved explanatory power for users' continuance intention. Hence, this study makes up for the insufficiency of ECM in explaining the factors affecting users' expectation confirmation and provides theoretical support for MOOC platform developers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the main cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, and the increasing trend of NAFLD has burdened the healthcare system. NAFLD encompasses a wide range of liver pathologies, from simple benign hepatocyte steatosis to more severe inflammatory nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Djulis (Chenopodium formosanum Koidz.) is traditionally used as a native cereal and a food supplement that promotes human health through its antioxidant, hepatoprotection, skin protection, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, and antitumor effects. Djulis hull, regarded as agricultural waste, is usually removed during food processing and contains high rutin content. The present study evaluated the anti-NAFLD effect of Djulis hull and its major compound, rutin, in mice with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into one of five diet groups (n = 6 per group) and fed the following for 16 weeks: (1) normal diet group (ND), (2) HFD group (HFD), (3) HFD and oral gavage of low dose (50 mg/kg) of Djulis hull crude extract group (HFD/LCE), (4) HFD and oral gavage of high dose (250 mg/kg) of Djulis hull crude extract group (HFD/HCE), or (5) HFD and oral gavage (50 mg/kg) of rutin (HFD/R) group. We found that Djulis hull crude extract markedly reduced HFD-induced elevation in body weight and fat around the kidney weights, hepatic injury indicators (AST and ALT), and steatosis and hypertrophy. Furthermore, Djulis hull crude extract administration significantly affected DG(20:4/18:1), PA(22:0/17:1), PC(10:0/17:0), and PA(18:4/20:5) in HFD-induced obese mice. In addition, treating HFD-induced obese rats with Djulis hull crude extract significantly increased fatty acid oxidation by increasing the protein expression of phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α, and hepatic carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 in the liver. Moreover, the administration of Djulis hull crude extract significantly decreased the inflammatory response (PPARγ, IL-6, and TNF-α) to modulate oxidative damage. Therefore, Djulis hull crude extract attenuated the progression of NAFLD by reducing inflammation mediated by PPARγ and enhancing the expression levels of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation mediated by AMPK signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the complexity of the various waveforms of microseismic data, there are high requirements on the automatic multi-classification of such data; an accurate classification is conducive for further signal processing and stability analysis of surrounding rock masses. In this study, a microseismic multi-classification (MMC) model is proposed based on the short time Fourier transform (STFT) technology and convolutional neural network (CNN). The real and imaginary parts of the coefficients of microseismic data are inputted to the proposed model to generate three classes of targets. Compared with existing methods, the MMC has an optimal performance in multi-classification of microseismic data in terms of Precision, Recall, and F1-score, even when the waveform of a microseismic signal is similar to that of some special noise. Moreover, semisynthetic data constructed by clean microseismic data and noise are used to prove the low sensitivity of the MMC to noise. Microseismic data recorded under different geological conditions are also tested to prove the generality of the model, and a microseismic signal with Mw ≥ 0.2 can be detected with a high accuracy. The proposed method has great potential to be extended to the study of exploration seismology and earthquakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to achieve the accuracy of gas emission prediction for different workplaces in coal mines, three coal mining workings and four intake and return air roadway of working face in Nantun coal mine were selected for the study. A prediction model of gas emission volume based on the grey prediction model GM (1,1) was established. By comparing the predicted and actual values of gas emission rate at different working face locations, the prediction error of the gray prediction model was calculated, and the applicability and accuracy of the gray prediction method in the prediction of gas gushing out from working faces in coal mines were determined. The results show that the maximum error between the predicted and actual measured values of the gray model is 2.41%, and the minimum value is only 0.07%. There is no significant prediction error over a larger time scale; the overall prediction accuracy is high. It achieves the purpose of accurately predicting the amount of gas gushing from the working face within a short period of time. Consequently, the grey prediction model is of great significance in ensuring the safety production of coal mine working face and promote the safety management of coal mine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]