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Because the fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) microelectrodes is quite challenging, microelectrodes with a simple cross-section are usually used in micro-electro-discharge machining (micro-EDM) to perform layer-by-layer scanning machining for machining 3D microstructures. In this study, we used pure copper powder as the raw material to prepare 3D queue microelectrodes through selective laser melting (SLM). The influences of laser power and laser scanning speed on the densification rate of the 3D microelectrodes were investigated. Moreover, the effects of the temperature and temperature holding time on the conductivity and EDM performance of the 3D microelectrodes during heat treatment were also analyzed. In order to improve the geometric accuracy of the 3D microstructure, 3D microstructures were subjected to micro-EDM with 3D queue microelectrodes: the first microelectrode was used for rough machining and the remaining microelectrodes were used for fine machining. In addition, to ensure a high surface quality of the 3D microstructure, multiple EDM were conducted to eliminate unmelted copper powder and layer defects on the surface of the 3D queue microelectrode. Finally, by applying the 3D queue microelectrodes in micro-EDM, a 3D microstructure with a height error of 1 µm and surface roughness of 1.685 µm was obtained after three repeated discharges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Network functions virtualization (NFV) is a technology that virtualizes network functions into virtual network functions (VNF) to deliver communication services. Efficient and flexible VNF scheduling is an important way to improve network resource utilization, reduce costs, and provide better service quality. With the development of artificial intelligence, network equipment is no longer just a forwarding node, but also a computing node. Therefore, energy consumption will become an important indicator that needs to be considered in the VNF scheduling problem. In this paper, we aim to realize VNF scheduling with minimizes idle energy loss (IEL) of NFV nodes and the makespan (i.e., overall completion time) for all services. The problem can be formulated as a Mixed Integer Linear Program (MILP), and the complexity of the problem grows exponentially as the size of the network scale increases. To solve this problem efficiently and flexibly, we treat MILP as a Markov Decision Process (MDP) and design an reinforcement learning (RL) algorithm to solve the MDP problem. Specifically, the algorithm utilizes a hierarchical reward enhancement (HRE) mechanism, called RL-HRE. In addition, a weighted reward function is carefully designed in the proposed algorithm to achieve flexible energy-delay-aware VNF scheduling. The simulation results show that RL-HRE is superior to other comparative algorithms in terms of solution accuracy and time complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering hydrogels that resemble biological tissues of various lengths via conventional fabrication techniques remains challenging. Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has emerged as an advanced approach for constructing complex biomimetic 3D architectures, which are currently restricted by the limited number of available bioinks with high printability, biomimicry, biocompatibility, and proper mechanical properties. Inspired by ubiquitous coacervation phenomena in biology, we present a unique mineral-biopolymer coacervation strategy that enables the hierarchical assembly of nanoclay and recombinant human collagen (RHC). This system was observed to undergo a coacervation transition (liquid–liquid phase separation) spontaneously. The formed dense phase separated from its supernatant is the coacervate of clay-RHC-rich complexes, where polymer chains are sandwiched between silicate layers. Molecular dynamics simulation was first used to verify and explore the coacervation process. Then, the coacervates were demonstrated to be potential bioinks that exhibited excellent self-supporting and shear-thinning viscoelastic properties. Through extrusion-based printing, the versatility of the bioink was demonstrated by reconstructing the key features of several biological tissues, including multilayered lattice, vascular, nose, and ear-like structures, without the need for precrosslinking operations or support baths. Furthermore, the printed scaffolds were cytocompatible, elicited minimal inflammatory responses, and promoted bone regeneration in calvarial defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) and single functionality of fluorescence imaging agents have limited their practical applications. Bright two-photon excitation (2PE) imaging probes are highly desirable in vivo with larger imaging depth, minor autofluorescence background, and less photodamage. Herein, we developed responsive aggregated gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) as high contrast 2PE imaging agents, capable of emitting red fluorescence upon excitation of near-infrared (NIR) laser and possessing a high signal-to-noise ratio (S/N of 2,475). By forming aggregates in situ inside tumor tissue, doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX)-loaded mix-charged gold nanoparticles (DOX-MC-Au NPs) were utilized to act as selective fluorescence imaging probes and precise therapy agents. These high-contrast theranostic agents offer a promising potential for precise cancer imaging and therapy, which might open a new venue to multifunctional and noninvasive theranostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study aimed to evaluate, using a network meta-analysis, the effects of different transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) modalities on improving cognitive function after stroke. Methods: Computer searches of the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Embass, Google Scholar, CNKI, and Wanfang databases were conducted to collect randomized controlled clinical studies on the use of TMS to improve cognitive function in stroke patients, published from the time of database construction to November 2023. Results: A total of 29 studies and 2123 patients were included, comprising five interventions: high-frequency rTMS (HF-rTMS), low-frequency rTMS (LF-rTMS), intermittent theta rhythm stimulation (iTBS), sham stimulation (SS), and conventional rehabilitation therapy (CRT). A reticulated meta-analysis showed that the rankings of different TMS intervention modalities in terms of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores, Mini-Mental State Examination scores (MMSE), and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) scores were: HF-rTMS > LF-rTMS > iTBS > SS > CRT; the rankings of different TMS intervention modalities in terms of the event-related potential P300. amplitude scores were HF-rTMS > LF-rTMS > iTBS > CRT > SS; the rankings of different TMS intervention modalities in terms of the P300 latency scores were: iTBS > HF-rTMS > LF-rTMS > SS > CRT. Subgroup analyses of secondary outcome indicators showed that HF-rTMS significantly improved Rivermead Behavior Memory Test scores and Functional Independence Measurement-Cognitive scores. Conclusions: High-frequency TMS stimulation has a better overall effect on improving cognitive functions and activities of daily living, such as attention and memory in stroke patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First-principles periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been performed to understand the structural, elastic, mechanical, and electronic properties of CdWO4 under pressure up to 15 GPa. The calculated structural parameters and elastic constants at zero pressure are found in excellent agreement with the experimental and other theoretical values. Furthermore, with the increase in the external pressure, the lattice constant as well as unit cell volume decreases in accordance with the experimental results. The pressure has a more significant influence on the b axis than the a- and c-axis. Mechanical properties such as elastic constants, Young modulus, shear modulus, B/G ratio and Poisson ratio have been obtained under pressure. According to the B/G ratio and Poisson ratio, monoclinic CdWO4 shows a brittle manner. Additionally, the main features of the valence and conduction bands have been analyzed from the total and partial density of states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil reservoirs, being one of the significant subsurface repositories of energy and carbon, host diverse microbial communities affecting energy production and carbon emissions. Viruses play crucial roles in the ecology of microbiomes, however, their distribution and ecological significance in oil reservoirs remain undetermined. Here, we assemble a catalogue encompassing viral and prokaryotic genomes sourced from oil reservoirs. The catalogue comprises 7229 prokaryotic genomes and 3,886 viral Operational Taxonomic Units (vOTUs) from 182 oil reservoir metagenomes. The results show that viruses are widely distributed in oil reservoirs, and 85% vOTUs in oil reservoir are detected in less than 10% of the samples, highlighting the heterogeneous nature of viral communities within oil reservoirs. Through combined microcosm enrichment experiments and bioinformatics analysis, we validate the ecological roles of viruses in regulating the community structure of sulfate reducing microorganisms, primarily through a virulent lifestyle. Taken together, this study uncovers a rich diversity of viruses and their ecological functions within oil reservoirs, offering a comprehensive understanding of the role of viral communities in the biogeochemical cycles of the deep biosphere. Oil reservoirs host diverse microbial communities affecting energy production and carbon emissions. Here, the authors use metagenomics data to construct and characterize a catalogue of viral and prokaryotic genomes from 182 oil reservoirs world-wide, and further validate an ecological role of viruses in regulating the community structure of sulfate reducing microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global pandemic has dramatically reshaped public discourse, with social media emerging as a pivotal platform for these discussions. This study delves into evolving sentiments, emotions, and prevalent topics in online discussions spanning the years 2020, 2021, and 2022, drawing from a dataset of 2.65 million tweets from the Twitter Platform. A multifaceted approach that combines quantitative and qualitative methods are developed for dissecting evolving discourses, with a particular focus on the lens of nationalism. The quantitative part disassembling sentiment & emotion, topics, and Co-Occurrence Network yields a nuanced understanding of the textual content. A qualitative theoretical analysis named Evolving Discourse Framework Analysis are designed to unravel the textual discourse. Study results in the development of an adaptable framework. Findings expose nationalist orientations and the framing elements present within online public discourse, which are categorized into three distinct frames: 'feeling,' 'identity,' and 'action.' Importantly, the 'feeling' frame interconnects with the 'identity' frame, ultimately shaping responses within the 'action' frame. The frames shine a light on a complex and interconnected web of nationalist narratives that exist within the online sphere, subtly influencing public opinion and behavior. This study serves as a reminder that beneath the surface of seemingly unified global discourse, there exists a segmented world, ripe for further exploration and understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: GPX8, which is found in the endoplasmic reticulum lumen, is a member of the Glutathione Peroxidases (GPXs) family. Its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unknown. Methods: Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the protein levels of GPX8 in HCC tissue microarrays. A short hairpin RNA lentivirus was used to knock down GPX8, and the main signaling pathways were investigated using transcriptome sequencing and a phosphorylated kinase array. The sphere formation assays, cloning-formation assays and cell migration assays were used to evaluate the stemness and migration ability of HCC cells. Identifying the GPX8-interacting proteins was accomplished through immunoprecipitation and protein mass spectrometry. Results: The GPX8 protein levels were downregulated in HCC patients. Low expression of GPX8 protein was related to early recurrence and poor prognosis in HCC patients. GPX8 knockdown could enhance the stemness and migration ability of HCC cells. Consistently, Based on transcriptome analysis, multiple signaling pathways that include the PI3K-AKT and signaling pathways that regulate the pluripotency of stem cells, were activated after GPX8 knockdown. The downregulation of GPX8 could increase the expression of the tumor stemness markers KLF4, OCT4, and CD133. The in vivo downregulation of GPX8 could also promote the subcutaneous tumor-forming and migration ability of HCC cells. MK-2206, which is a small-molecule inhibitor of AKT, could reverse the tumor-promoting effects both in vivo and in vitro. We discovered that GPX8 and the 71-kDa heat shock cognate protein (Hsc70) have a direct interaction. The phosphorylation of AKT encouraged the translocation of Hsc70 into the nucleus and the expression of the PI3K p110 subunit, thereby increasing the downregulation of GPX8. Conclusion: The findings from this study demonstrate the anticancer activity of GPX8 in HCC by inactivating the Hsc70/AKT pathway. The results suggest a possible therapeutic target for HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The non-invasive biomarkers for predicting immunotherapy response are urgently needed to prevent both premature cessation of treatment and ineffective extension. This study aimed to construct a non-invasive model for predicting immunotherapy response, based on the integration of deep learning and habitat radiomics in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Independent patient cohorts from three medical centers were enrolled for training (n = 164) and test (n = 82). Habitat imaging radiomics features were derived from sub-regions clustered from individual's tumor by K-means method. The deep learning features were extracted based on 3D ResNet algorithm. Pearson correlation coefficient, T test and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression were used to select features. Support vector machine was applied to implement deep learning and habitat radiomics, respectively. Then, a combination model was developed integrating both sources of data. Results: The combination model obtained a strong well-performance, achieving area under receiver operating characteristics curve of 0.865 (95% CI 0.772–0.931). The model significantly discerned high and low-risk patients, and exhibited a significant benefit in the clinical use. Conclusion: The integration of deep-leaning and habitat radiomics contributed to predicting response to immunotherapy in patients with NSCLC. The developed integration model may be used as potential tool for individual immunotherapy management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leukoaraiosis (LA) appears as white matter hyperintensities on T2-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging scans. Age and hypertension are considered the primary risk factors for LA, but its pathogenesis remains uncertain. This study aims to investigate the correlation between the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism and LA. A total of 140 patients with LA and 136 neuroimaging alteration-free controls were recruited in a case–control study. ACE I/D polymorphism was determined using the polymerase chain reaction method. The allele and genotype distributions of the ACE I/D polymorphism were significantly different between subjects with and without LA. Significant difference was observed in the genotypic distribution between LA patients and controls for recessive and additive models. A statistically significant association remained apparent after adjusting for potential risk factors (D/D vs. I/D + I/I: adjusted OR 3.251, 95% CI 1.185–8.918; D/D vs. I/I: adjusted OR 3.277, 95% CI 1.187–9.047). Our results indicate that the D/D genotype and D allele are important risk factors for LA. Future studies with larger populations are needed to validate our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new scour countermeasure using solidified slurry for offshore foundation has been proposed recently. Fluidized solidified slurry is pumped to seabed area around foundation for scour protection or pumped into the developed scour holes for scour repair as the fluidized material solidifies gradually. In the pumping operation and solidification, the engineering behaviors of solidified slurry require to be considered synthetically for the reliable application in scour repair and protection of ocean engineering such as the pumpability related flow value, flow diffusion behavior related rheological property, anti-scour performance related retention rate in solidification and bearing capacity related strength property after solidification. In this study, a series of laboratory tests are conducted to investigate the effects of mix proportion (initial water content and binder content) on the flow value, rheological properties, density, retention rate of solidified slurry and unconfined compressive strength (UCS). The results reveal that the flow value increases with the water content and decreases with the binder amount. All the solidified slurry exhibits Bingham plastic behavior when the shear rate is larger than 5 s−1. The Bingham model has been employed to fit the rheology test results, and empirical formulas for obtaining the density, yield stress and viscosity are established, providing scientific support for the numerical assessment of flow and diffusion of solidified slurry. Retention rate of solidified slurry decreases with the water flow velocity and flow value, which means the pumpability of solidified slurry is contrary to anti-scour performance. The unconfined compressive strength after solidification reduces as the water content increases and binder content decreases. A design and application procedure of solidified soil for scour repair and protection is also proposed for engineering reference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkaline pretreatment has great potential for the separation of biomass components. In this study, taking bamboo and cotton stalk as raw materials, two-stage alkaline pretreatment was designed for evaluating the components fractionation. The chemical structure of isolated xylan from bamboo and cotton stalk have a backbone of (1 → 4)-β-D-Xylp units attached with 4-O-Me-α-D-GlcpA and/or α-L-Araf units as the branched chain, characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Heteronuclear Single Quantum Coherence Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. Its excellent pretreatment performance was mainly due to the alkali solution weakening the hydrogen bond between cellulose and hemicellulose and saponifying the ester bond between hemicellulose and lignin, thus increasing the fiber porosity. The cellulose enzymatic hydrolysis yield of two-stage alkaline pretreatments cotton stalks and bamboo could reach to 74.2% and 82.1%. The recovery of xylan and lignin of two-stage alkaline pretreatments cotton stalks and bamboo was 85.4% and 84.5%, and 85.1% and 85.1%. This technology was a great potential to promote the efficiency of the component separation of nonwood biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of large-scale high-quality datasets has stimulated the rapid development of deep learning in recent years. However, most computer vision tasks focus on the visual modality only, resulting in a huge imbalance in the number of annotated data for other modalities. While several multi-modal datasets have been made available, the majority of them are confined to only two modalities, serving a single specific computer vision task. To redress the data deficiency for multi-modal learning and applications, a new dataset named UniMod1K is presented in this work. UniMod1K involves three data modalities: vision, depth, and language. For the vision and depth modalities, the UniMod1K dataset contains 1050 RGB-D sequences, comprising a total of some 2.5 million frames. Regarding the language modality, the proposed dataset includes 1050 sentences describing the target object in each video. To demonstrate the advantages of training on a larger multi-modal dataset, such as UniMod1K, and to stimulate research enabled by the dataset, we address several multi-modal tasks, namely multi-modal object tracking and monocular depth estimation. To establish a performance baseline, we propose novel baseline methods for RGB-D object tracking, vision-language tracking and vision-depth-language tracking. Additionally, we conduct comprehensive experiments for each of these tasks. The results highlight the potential of the UniMod1K dataset to improve the performance of multi-modal approaches. The dataset and codes can be accessed at https://github.com/xuefeng-zhu5/UniMod1K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saline wastewater is regarded as a challenge for wastewater treatment plants because high-salinity conditions negatively affect on traditional biological technologies. Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) has gained attention as a promising technology for saline wastewater treatment because of its compact structure and the ability to withstand toxic loadings. Therefore, this study investigated the salt-resistance performance, sludge properties and microbial community of AGS under low-salinity and high-salinity conditions, with the saline concentrations ranging from 0 to 50 g/L. The results showed that AGS could withstand long-term saline stresses, and the maximum salinity reached 50 g/L within 113 d. Under salinities of 10, 30, and 50 g/L, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies were 90.3%, 88.0% and 78.0%, respectively. AGS also its maintained strength and aggregation at salinities of 10 and 30 g/L. Overproduction of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) by non-halophilic bacteria that enhanced sludge aggregation. The compact structure that ensured the microorganisms bioactivity helped to remove organic matters under salinities of 10 and 30 g/L. At a salinity of 50 g/L, moderately halophilic bacteria, including Salinicola, Thioclava, Idiomarina and Albirhodobacter, prevailed in the reactor. The dominant microbial communities shifted to moderately halophilic bacteria, which could maintain aerobic granular stabilization and remove organic matters under 50 g/L salinity. These results in this study provide a further explanation for the long-term operation of AGS for treating saline wastewater at different salinities. It is hoped that this work could bring some clues for the mystery of salt-resistance mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the contemporary stone aggregate industry and regulatory environment, there is a pressing need for a method that can quickly and efficiently calculate the average particle size of a batch of stones. The traditional manual sampling and measurement approach faces numerous challenges, such as the inability to accurately reflect the true average particle size of the stones, the risk of rough stones damaging measuring equipment, high labor costs, and potential inaccuracies in measurement data due to environmental factors like quarries. This study introduces computer vision technology, using image segmentation techniques to calculate stone particle sizes. The article innovates on the U-Net network, demonstrating through comparative experiments that these improvements significantly enhance the effectiveness of image segmentation. Accurate image segmentation is crucial for subsequent particle size calculations, not only advancing the development of the stone aggregate field but also promoting the intelligent evolution of the financial and tax supervision industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coupling the glycerol oxidation and hydrogen evolution reactions can significantly reduce the energy consumption of the electrolytic water hydrogen production system, achieve hydrogen production while preparing high value-added chemicals at a lower cost, and greatly improve the economic value of the entire hydrogen production system. In this work, CoMoP ternary nanocomposite has been successfully decorated onto the surface of 304 stainless steel mesh. The surface decoration with CoMoP ternary ionics nanocomposite greatly enhances the electron transfer in the catalytic system. The optimized catalyst exhibits a high activity for electrocatalytic glycerol oxidation coupling with alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction. A hydrogen-producing electrolysis cell with a formate faradaic efficiency of 60 % has been assembled, which can achieve a decomposition voltage as low as 1.60 V at a current density of 10 mA cm-2. More importantly, the respective roles of the three chemical elements in the CoMoP ternary composite electrocatalyst have been thoroughly studied by DFT. This study provides scientific insight into developing future ternary systems for electrocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green finance (GF) has emerged as a promising tool to promote low-carbon development, while knowledge is rather limited regarding the underlying mechanism. This article aims to address this void by constructing a city-level GF index covering seven dimensions and identifying the main pathways through which GF can facilitate the low-carbon development of cities. Using a balanced panel data covering 277 Chinese cities from 2010 to 2020, the results show that: (1) China's GF development exhibits an overall spatial differentiation of 'high in the east and low in the west', while the distribution of carbon intensity (CI) displays an overall spatial differentiation of 'high in the north and low in the south'; (2) GF significantly decreases CI of cities, which is robust to employing DID strategies and IV estimations; (3) The role of GF on CI varies with the level of CI whereas not with the level of GF. Specifically, the mitigating effect of GF on CI is significant in both high GF and low GF groups, but only in high CI group; and (4) GF promotes low-carbon transition of cities through mainly on adjusting industrial structure rather than stimulating technological innovation. Despite we also demonstrate green finance enhances green innovation, due to multi-factors, such technology progress it brings may not always translate into a tangible improvement in green productivity. For most developing countries including China, the future policy objective of green finance should focus on enhancing sustainable technological progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(ethylene-alt-maleic anhydride), PEMA, and modified PEMA with pendent poly(ethylene glycol) oligomers (PEG3, PEG10, PEG20) in anhydrous acetone were grafted onto mechanically produced cellulose microfibrils, CNFs. The grafted CNFs had up to 4.7 mmol/g of carboxylic acid groups from the hydrolyzed PEMA. Before and after grafting, the concentrations of individualized microfibrils were low (< 10% wt/wt). Atomic force microscopy revealed that the main CNFs components were intermeshed microfibrils, microfibril bundles, and ribbons a few μm wide. Mastersizer particle size distributions were usually bimodal, with 10–20 μm and 100–200 μm peaks. We proposed that the smaller peaks were individualized ribbons plus small aggregates, and the larger ones were flocculated ribbons and microfibrils. Based on the images of dried ribbons adsorbed on cationic glass and the shapes of aqueous ribbons sitting near the non-adhesive anionic glass, the PEMA-treated ribbons were stiffer than the PEMA-PEG grafted ribbons. Perhaps the high anhydride concentration on PEMA facilitated more crosslinking of the CNFs surfaces compared to PEMA-PEG polymers with about 10 times less reactive anhydride groups. The presence of grafted PEMAc or PEMAc with pendent PEG chains had little influence on CNFs dispersibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced general visual object tracking models have been drastically developed with the access of large annotated datasets and progressive network architectures. However, a general tracker always suffers domain shift when directly adopting to specific testing scenarios. In this paper, we dedicate to addressing the animal tracking problem by proposing a spatio-temporal inference module and a coarse-to-fine tracking strategy. In terms of tracking animals, non-rigid deformation is a typical challenge. Therefore, we particularly design a novel transformer-based inference structure where the changing animal state is transmitted across continuous frames. By explicitly transmitting the appearance variations, this spatio-temporal module enables adaptive target learning, boosting the animal tracking performance compared to the fixed template matching approaches. Besides, considering the altered contours of animals in different frames, we propose to perform coarse-to-fine tracking to obtain a fine-grained animal bounding box with a dedicated distribution-aware regression module. The coarse tracking phase focuses on distinguishing the target against potential distractors in the background. While the fine-grained tracking phase aims at accurately regressing the final animal bounding box. To facilitate animal tracking evaluation, we captured and annotated 145 video sequences with 20 categories from the zoo, forming a new test set for animal tracking, coined ZOO145. We also collected a dataset, AnimalSOT, with 162 video sequences from existing tracking test benchmarks. The experimental performance on animal tracking datasets, MoCA, ZOO145, and AnimalSOT, demonstrate the merit of the proposed approach against advanced general tracking approaches, providing a baseline for future animal tracking studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conjugate electrospinning, with two oppositely placed and charged spinning nozzles, is a modified electrospinning technique to prepare continuous nanofibers with the aligned structure. In the present work, conjugate electrospinning is used to prepare highly aligned polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) nanofibers. The influences of an unheeded parameter, the intersection angle between the oppositely charged spinning nozzles, on the morphology and alignment of the polymer nanofibers are investigated. It is found that the alignment degree of the nanofibers increases first and decreases then when the intersection angle increases from 60 to 240°, reaching the best alignment at the angle of 120°. The main reason is that the swing fibers on the same side entangle together when the intersection angles are small, and those mutually attracted ones from the opposite side also entangle at high intersection angles. Raising the collecting rate can improve the alignment degree of the PVP nanofibers. The critical collecting rate (beyond which the collecting fibers will fracture) increases at higher intersection angle. Though the fibers prepared at 240° are collected at a higher rate, their alignment degree is still worse that of the fibers spun at 120°. In summary, to acquire well-aligned nanofibers by conjugate electrospinning, an appropriate intersection angle between the oppositely charged spinning nozzles should not be neglected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microneedles, the miniaturized needles, which can pierce the skin with minimal invasiveness open up new possibilities for constructing personalized Point-of-Care (POC) diagnostic platforms. Recent advances in microneedle-based POC diagnostic systems, especially their successful implementation with wearable technologies, enable biochemical detection and physiological recordings in a user-friendly manner. This review presents an overview of the current advances in microneedle-based sensor devices, with emphasis on the biological basis of transdermal sensing, fabrication, and application of different types of microneedles, and a summary of microneedle devices based on various sensing strategies. It concludes with the challenges and future prospects of this swiftly growing field. The aim is to present a critical and thorough analysis of the state-of-the-art development of transdermal diagnostics and sensing devices based on microneedles, and to bridge the gap between microneedle technology and pragmatic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the increasing complexity of challenges in the field of continuous nonlinear optimization by proposing an innovative algorithm called information acquisition optimizer (IAO), which is inspired by human information acquisition behaviors and consists of three crucial strategies: information collection, information filtering and evaluation, and information analysis and organization to accommodate diverse optimization requirements. Firstly, comparative assessments of performance are conducted between the IAO and 15 widely recognized algorithms using the standard test function suites from CEC2014, CEC2017, CEC2020, and CEC2022. The results demonstrate that IAO is robustly competitive regarding convergence rate, solution accuracy, and stability. Additionally, the outcomes of the Wilcoxon signed rank test and Friedman mean ranking strongly validate the effectiveness and reliability of IAO. Moreover, the time comparison analysis experiments indicate its high efficiency. Finally, comparative tests on five real-world optimization difficulties affirm the remarkable applicability of IAO in handling complex issues with unknown search spaces. The code for the IAO algorithm is available at https://ww2.mathworks.cn/matlabcentral/fileexchange/169331-information-acquisition-optimizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) can synthesize high-quality images by estimating the latent distribution of adversarial learning samples. However, GAN-based methods often suffer from severe overfitting when confronted with limited training data samples. Moreover, these methods frequently encounter difficulties in consistently performing across different datasets. To address these issues, this paper proposes a novel Dual-Path Octave Generative Adversarial Network (DOGAN), which combines feature decoupling and self-supervised learning to explore the generative potential of GANs in a few-shot image context. The dual-path structure of DOGAN maintains fewer parameters and computational overhead. Such a design enables DOGAN to achieve feature decoupling without the need for additional constraint conditions. The utilization of multi-scale feature decoupling enhances the image generation quality of the generator and the feature encoding capability of the discriminator, thereby reducing the risk of model overfitting. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed DOGAN model, extensive experiments were conducted on few-shot image datasets and NEU-CLS dataset. The experimental results demonstrate that DOGAN outperforms other GAN-based methods while mitigating overfitting risks of few-shot image generation. The code is available at: . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inositol hexaphosphate (InsP6) is the major storage form of phosphorus in seeds. Reducing seed InsP6 content is a breeding objective in agriculture, as InsP6 negatively impacts animal nutrition and the environment. Nevertheless, how InsP6 accumulation is regulated remains largely unknown. Here, we identify a clade of receptor-like cytoplasmic kinases (RLCKs), named Inositol Polyphosphate-related Cytoplasmic Kinases 1-6 (IPCK1-IPCK6), deeply involved in InsP6 accumulation. The InsP6 concentration is dramatically reduced in seeds of ipck quadruple (T-4m/C-4m) and quintuple (C-5m) mutants, accompanied with the obviously increase of phosphate (Pi) concentration. The plasma membrane-localized IPCKs recruit IPK1 involved in InsP6 synthesis, and facilitate its binding and activity via phosphorylation of GRF 14-3-3 proteins. IPCKs also recruit IPK2s and PI-PLCs required for InsP4/InsP5 and InsP3 biosynthesis respectively, to form a potential IPCK-GRF-PLC-IPK2-IPK1 complex. Our findings therefore uncover a regulatory mechanism of InsP6 accumulation governed by IPCKs, shedding light on the mechanisms of InsP biosynthesis in eukaryotes. Inositol hexaphosphates (InsP6) are ubiquitous in eukaryotes and regulates a plethora of cellular functions. Here the authors identify a set of receptor-like cytoplasmic kinases that work in concert with 14-3-3- proteins to regulate InsP6 synthesis and accumulation and Pi homeostasis in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Targeted therapies have markedly improved the prognosis of lung cancer patients; nevertheless, challenges persist, including limited beneficiary populations and the emergence of drug resistance. This study investigates the molecular mechanisms of mutant TP53 in lung cancer, aiming to contribute to novel strategies for targeted therapy. Methods: The TCGA database was employed to delineate the mutational landscape of TP53 in lung cancer patients. Differential gene expression between TP53-mutant and wild-type patients was analyzed, followed by functional enrichment. DSG3 protein expression in lung cancer patients was assessed using IHC, and its impact on prognosis was analyzed in the TCGA database. The influence of TP53 on the downstream gene DSG3 was investigated using qPCR, ChIP-qPCR, and luciferase reporter gene assays. Protein enrichment in the DSG3 promoter region was examined through IP-MS, and the regulatory role of the HIF1-α/TP53 complex on DSG3 was explored using Co-IP, luciferase assays, and ChIP-qPCR. Molecular interactions between TP53 (R273H) and HIF1-α were detected through immunoprecipitation and molecular docking. The effects and mechanisms of DSG3 on lung cancer phenotypes were assessed through WB, transwell, and wound healing assays. Results: TP53 mutations were present in 47.44% of patients, predominantly as missense mutations. DSG3 exhibited high expression in TP53-mutant lung cancer patients, and this elevated expression correlated with a poorer prognosis. TP53 interference led to a reduction in DSG3 mRNA expression, with TP53 mutant P53 enriching at the P2 site of the DSG3 promoter region, a recruitment facilitated by HIF1-α. The DBD region of TP53 (R273H) demonstrated interaction with HIF1-α. DSG3, activated through Ezrin phosphorylation, played a role in promoting invasion and metastasis. Conclusions: Mutant TP53 facilitates lung cancer cell invasion by modulating desmoglein 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar-driven hydrogen production from seawater attracts great interest for its emerging role in decarbonizing global energy consumption. Given the complexity of natural seawater content, photocatalytic vapor splitting offers a low-cost and safe solution, but with a very low solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency. With a focus on cutting-edge photothermal–photocatalytic device design and system integration, the recent research advances on vapor splitting from seawater, as well as industrial implementations in the past decades were reviewed. In addition, the design strategies of the key processes were reviewed, including vapor temperature and pressure control during solar thermal vapor generation from seawater, capillary-fed vaporization with salt repellent, and direct photocatalytic vapor splitting for hydrogen production. Moreover, the existing laboratory-scale and industrial-scale systems, and the integration principles and remaining challenges in the future seawater-to-hydrogen technology were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With global surge in reservoir construction over the past decades, river systems worldwide have been profoundly fragmented. Consequently, flow manipulation by reservoirs has altered the natural hydrological processes, resulting in extensive modifications of fluvial-marine ecosystems. Mitigating the adverse ecological consequences of reservoirs has become a global concern and has garnered increasing attention. The Yellow River, as one of the most extensively manipulated river systems globally, has experienced substantial changes in the amount and timing of water discharge due to the presence of numerous reservoirs scattered throughout its catchment area. These alterations have caused physicochemical changes in the estuary and subsequent modifications to the estuarine ecosystem. In recent years, the Yellow River Conservancy Committee initiated the release of water through the Xiaolangdi Dam during the major spawning period of fisheries, specifically in the spring, with the aim of improving the estuarine ecological environment. From 2011 to 2020, a total of 84.05 km3 of water was discharged from the Xiaolangdi Reservoir during spring seasons, of which 40% (33.16 km3) constituted water impounded within the reservoir during preceding months. Correspondingly, the spring water discharge from the Yellow River to the sea increased significantly from 1.50 km3/yr to 3.46 km3/yr in the past decade, leading to a decrease in estuarine salinity by 1.6 PSU. The estuarine fishery resources, such as fish eggs in the Yellow River estuary, have demonstrated evident improvement. The reservoir regulation in the Yellow River, which has successfully enhanced spring water discharge and subsequently restored estuarine fishery resources, presents an effective attempt for mitigating the adverse ecological effects associated with reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The robustness of visual object tracking is reflected not only in the accuracy of the target localisation in every single frame, but also in the smoothness of the predicted motion of the tracked object across consecutive frames. From the perspective of appearance modelling, the success of the state-of-the-art Transformer-based trackers derives from their ability to adaptively associate the representations of related spatial regions. However, the absence of attention in the channel dimension hinders the realisation of their potential tracking capacity. To cope with the commonly occurring misalignment of the spatial scale between the template and a search patch, we propose a novel cross channel correlation mechanism. Accordingly, the relevance of multi-channel features in the channel Transformer is modelled using two different sources of information. The result is a novel spatial-channel Transformer, which integrates information conveyed by features along both, the spatial and channel directions. For temporal modelling, to quantify the temporal smoothness, we propose a jitter metric that measures the cross-frame variation of the predicted bounding boxes as a function of the parameters such as centre displacement, area, and aspect ratio. As the changes of an object between consecutive frames are limited, the proposed jitter loss can be used to monitor the temporal behaviour of the tracking results and penalise erroneus predictions during the training stage, thus enhancing the temporal stability of an appearance-based tracker. Extensive experiments on several well-known benchmarking datasets demonstrate the robustness of the proposed tracker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium niobate thin film frequency doubler has extensive applications in the preparation of classical and quantum sources. In this study, we successfully fabricated microdisk resonators with a quality factor of 2.2×105 in reverse-polarization dual-layer x-cut lithium niobate for the first time. Based on the modal phase matching condition, efficient second harmonic generation with a record normalized conversion efficiency of ∼56000% W−1 and cascaded third harmonic generation with an efficiency of ∼6500% W−2 were obtained in the microdisk resonator. Compared with the periodically poled lithium niobate microcavity, the complex domain structure preparation processes are avoided. Our work provides a scheme for achieving highly efficient second-order nonlinear effects in non-periodically poled microcavities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A survival paradox between T4N0 (Stage IIB/IIC) and Stage IIIA colon cancer exists, even after adjusting for adequate lymph node (LN) retrieval and receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy (C). We conducted a large hospital-based study to re-evaluate this survival paradox based on the newest 8th edition staging system. Methods: The National Cancer Data Base was queried to evaluate 35,606 patients diagnosed with Stage IIB, IIC, and IIIA colon cancer between 2010 and 2017. The Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test were used to compare unadjusted overall survival (OS). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the association of stage with hazard ratios adjusted for relevant demographic and clinical variables including ≥ 12 LNs retrieved and receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The 5-year OS for optimally treated stage IIIA colon cancer (receipt of C) was 84.3%, which was significantly higher than stage IIB/C (≥ 12 LNs retrieved + C) (72.8%; P < 0.0001). Stage was an independent predictor of OS. Among optimally treated Stage IIIA patients, T1N1 had the best survival (90.6%) while stage T4bN0 (stage IIC) had the worst (70.9%) (P < 0.0001). Compared to stage IIB, stage IIC had a 17% increased risk of overall death while stage IIIA had a 21% reduction in death (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Stage IIB/C and Stage IIIA survival paradox persists even after accounting for receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy and adequate lymph node retrieval. Future iteration of the TNM system should take this paradox into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pediatric antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a life-threatening systemic vasculitis featured by liability to renal involvement. However, there are few studies on the risk factors and predictive models for renal outcomes of AAV in children. Methods: Data from 179 AAV children in multiple centers between January 2012 and March 2020 were collected retrospectively. The risk factors and predictive model of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in AAV were explored. Results: Renal involvement was the most typical manifestation (95.5%), and the crescent was the predominant pathological lesion (84.9%). The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was evaluated in 114 patients, of whom 59.6% developed ESRD, and the median time to ESRD was 3.20 months. The eGFR [P = 0.006, odds ratio (OR) = 0.955, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.924–0.987] and the percentages of global glomerulosclerosis (pGGS; P = 0.018, OR = 1.060, 95% CI = 1.010–1.112) were independent risk factors for ESRD of renal biopsy. Based on the pGGS and eGFR at renal biopsy, we developed three risk grades of ESRD and one predictive model. The Kaplan‒Meier curve indicated that renal outcomes were significantly different in different risk grades (P < 0.001). Compared with serum creatinine at baseline, the predictive model had higher accuracy (0.86 versus 0.58, P < 0.001) and a lower coefficient of variation (0.07 versus 0.92) in external validation. Conclusions: Renal involvement is the most common manifestation of pediatric AAV in China, of which more than half deteriorates into ESRD. The predictive model based on eGFR at renal biopsy and the pGGS may be stable and accurate in speculating the risk of ESRD in AAV children. 342BNb9AdCycy4MnMisg3F Supplementary file 2 (MP4 18937 KB) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient termination is required for robust gene transcription. Eukaryotic organisms use a conserved exoribonuclease-mediated mechanism to terminate the mRNA transcription by RNA polymerase II (Pol II)1–5. Here we report two cryogenic electron microscopy structures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pol II pre-termination transcription complexes bound to the 5′-to-3′ exoribonuclease Rat1 and its partner Rai1. Our structures show that Rat1 displaces the elongation factor Spt5 to dock at the Pol II stalk domain. Rat1 shields the RNA exit channel of Pol II, guides the nascent RNA towards its active centre and stacks three nucleotides at the 5′ terminus of the nascent RNA. The structures further show that Rat1 rotates towards Pol II as it shortens RNA. Our results provide the structural mechanism for the Rat1-mediated termination of mRNA transcription by Pol II in yeast and the exoribonuclease-mediated termination of mRNA transcription in other eukaryotes.A study presents two cryo-EM structures of yeast Pol II pre-termination transcription complexes bound to Rat1–Rai1, and provides the mechanisms for termination of mRNA transcription in yeast and other eukaryotes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical, imaging, and outcome characteristics of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) caused by structural vascular lesions. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from a prospective observational cohort study of patients with spontaneous ICH admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between May 2016 and April 2021. Good outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale score of 0–3 at 3 months. The clinical and imaging characteristics were compared between primary ICH and ICH caused by structural vascular lesions. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to test the associations of etiology with clinical outcome. Results: All patients enrolled in this study were Asian. Compared with patients with primary ICH, those with structural vascular lesions were younger (48 vs. 62 years, P < 0.001), had a lower incidence of hypertension (26.4% vs. 81.7%, P < 0.001) and diabetes (7.4% vs. 16.2%, P = 0.003), and had mostly lobar hemorrhages (49.1% vs. 22.8%). ICH from structural vascular lesions had smaller baseline hematoma volume (8.4 ml vs. 13.8 ml, P = 0.010), had lower mortality rate at 30 days and 3 months (5.8% vs. 12.0%, P = 0.020; 6.7% vs. 14.8%, P = 0.007), and are associated with better functional outcome at 3 months (88% vs.70.3%, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Compared with primary ICH, ICH due to vascular lesions has smaller hematoma volume and less severe neurological deficit at presentation and better functional outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the preparation of complex three-dimensional (3D) microstructures with large depth, the 3D-laminated microelectrode reverse-polarity multi-material powder-mixed electrical discharge machining (PMEDM) technology can avoid problems encountered in thermal diffusion bonding 3D-laminated microelectrode conventional micro-EDM such as large electrode wear and obvious seam discharge ridges on the machined surface. However, there is no relevant report on the wear law and mechanism of the triple junction intersection where the electrode is prone to concentrated discharge in reverse-polarity PMEDM with graphite (Gr) and Cu powders of 3D-laminated microelectrode. Based on this technology, the paper systematically analyzed the main elements' composition both its formation mechanism of the deposition layer for the interlayers self-welding regions of the 3D-laminated microelectrode and the end-faces of the two-dimensional (2D) foils. The impact of Gr and Cu powder concentrations, voltage pulse width Ton and voltage pulse interval Toff, and processing voltage on the wear of the triple junction intersection at the end of the 3D-laminated microelectrode were focused studied. Results suggested that the appropriate processing efficiency formed by the matching parameters and the multi-quality protective film deposited on the 3D-laminated electrode working surface could effectively reduce the wear curvature at the electrode triple junction intersection to R42 μm, indicating the potential of this approach in precision manufacturing of 3D microstructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remimazolam, a novel intravenous anesthetic, has been proven to be safe and efficacious in the gastroscopy setting among the elderly. However, reports comparing the effectiveness and safety of using equivalent doses of remimazolam with propofol have not been seen. The aim of this study was to compare the sedation efficacy and safety of the 95% effective doses (ED95) of remimazolam versus propofol combined with sufentanil in the gastroscopy setting among the elderly. In the first step of this two-step study, a modified up-and-down method was used to calculate the ED95 of remimazolam and propofol when combined with 0.1 µg/kg sufentanil in inhibiting body movement of elderly patients undergoing gastroscopy. In the second step, ED95 of both agents calculated in the first step were administered, endpoints of efficacy, safety, and incidence of adverse events were compared. A total of 46 individuals completed the first step. The ED95 of remimazolam was 0.163 mg/kg (95% CI 0.160–0.170 mg/kg), and that of propofol was 1.042 mg/kg (95% CI 1.007–1.112 mg/kg). In the second step, 240 patients completed the trial. The anesthetic effective rates of the remimazolam group and the propofol group were 78% and 83%, respectively, with no statistical difference (P = 0.312). Patients in the remimazolam group had more stable circulatory functions (P < 0.0001) and a lower incidence of pain on injection (3.3% vs. 19.5%, P < 0.0001). The incidence of hypotension was low in the remimazolam versus propofol group (15.6% vs. 39.0%, P < 0.0001). Overall adverse event was low in the remimazolam versus propofol group (21.3% vs. 62.7%, P < 0.0001).In this study, we found that when anesthesia was administered to elderly gastroscopy patients based on 95% effective doses of remimazolam and propofol, remimazolam was as effective as propofol, but was safer with a lower incidence of adverse events. Study registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2000034234. Registered 29/06/2020, https://www.chictr.org.cn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major challenge in structural reliability is that computational accuracy and efficiency are hard to balance, especially the time-variant hybrid reliability problem. To improve the reliability analysis efficiency under the condition that the accuracy is assured, this paper develops a new learning function named Regional Learning with Weighted Simulation (RLWS) to estimate the failure probability. The Kriging model is first employed as a response surface to fit the response of limit state function. An adaptive regional learning model as the core of the most probable point is then proposed to update the Kriging model, where the boundary of the updated region is determined by an attenuation function. Furthermore, based on the RLWS model, this paper develops a continuous maximin salp swarm algorithm to calculate the upper bound of the response value for time-variant hybrid performance function. Meanwhile, the Salp Swarm Algorithm is employed to calculate the lower bound of the response value. The Monte Carlo simulation can thus facilitate evaluation based on the final generated Kriging response surface. Several case studies are performed to test and validate the effectiveness of the proposed method and its applicability to practical engineering problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is an important sugar and biofuel crop in the world. It is frequently subjected to drought stress, thus causing considerable economic losses. Transgenic technology is an effective breeding approach to improve sugarcane tolerance to drought using drought-inducible promoter(s) to activate drought-resistance gene(s). In this study, six different promoters were cloned from sugarcane bacilliform virus (SCBV) genotypes exhibiting high genetic diversity. In β-glucuronidase (GUS) assays, expression of one of these promoters (PSCBV-YZ2060) is similar to the one driven by the CaMV 35S promoter and >90% higher compared to the other cloned promoters and Ubi1. Three SCBV promoters (PSCBV-YZ2060, PSCBV-TX, and PSCBV-CHN2) function as drought-induced promoters in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. In Arabidopsis, GUS activity driven by promoter PSCBV-YZ2060 is also upregulated by abscisic acid (ABA) and is 2.2–5.5-fold higher when compared to the same activity of two plant native promoters (PScRD29A from sugarcane and PAtRD29A from Arabidopsis). Mutation analysis revealed that a putative promoter region 1 (PPR1) and two ABA response elements (ABREs) are required in promoter PSCBV-YZ2060 to confer drought stress response and ABA induction. Yeast one-hybrid and electrophoretic mobility shift assays uncovered that transcription factors ScbZIP72 from sugarcane and AREB1 from Arabidopsis bind with two ABREs of promoter PSCBV-YZ2060. After ABA treatment or drought stress, the expression levels of endogenous ScbZIP72 and heterologous GUS are significantly increased in PSCBV-YZ2060:GUS transgenic sugarcane plants. Consequently, promoter PSCBV-YZ2060 is a possible alternative promoter for genetic engineering of drought-resistant transgenic crops such as sugarcane. The promoter PSCBV-YZ2060 cloned from the sugarcane bacilliform virus is shown to be induced by drought in sugarcane and Arabidopsis plants and is a potential alternative promoter for genetic engineering of drought-resistant transgenic crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of high-performance lead-free K0.5Na0.5NbO3-based piezoceramics for replacing commercial lead-containing counterparts is crucial for achieving environmentally sustainable society. Although the proposed new phase boundaries (NPB) can effectively improve the piezoelectricity of KNN-based ceramics, the difficulty of achieving saturated poling and the underlying multiscale structures resolution of their complex microstructures are urgent issues. Here, we employ a medium entropy strategy to design NPB and utilize texture engineering to induce crystal orientation. The developed K0.5Na0.5NbO3-based ceramics enjoys both prominent piezoelectric performance and satisfactory Curie temperature, thus exhibiting an ultrahigh energy harvesting performance as well as excellent transducer performance, which is highly competitive in both lead-free and lead-based piezoceramics. Comprehensive structural analysis have ascertained that the field-induced efficient multiscale polarization configurations irreversible transitions greatly encourages high saturated poling. This study demonstrates a strategy for designing high-performance piezoceramics and establishes a close correlation between the piezoelectricty and the underlying multiscale structures. There are difficulty of achieving saturated poling and understanding of multi-scale structures in (K, Na)NbO3 ceramics. Here, the authors find atomic-scale polymorphic distortion and micrometer-scale high-density thin striped domains, which is key for high saturated poling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the development of ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) materials, the appearance of ripples has been widely observed. However, the formation mechanisms and their influences are still rarely investigated, especially their contributions to the electronic structures and optical properties. To compensate for the knowledge gap, we have carried out comprehensive theoretical studies on the monolayer WSe2 with a series of ripple structures from 0 to 12 Å in different lattice sizes. The sensitivity of the formation energy, band structures, electronic structures, and optical properties to the ripple structures have been performed systematically for the first time. The formation of ripples in Armchair and Zigzag simultaneously are more energetically favorable, leading to more flexible optimizations of the optoelectronic properties. The improved charge-locking effect and extension of absorption ranges indicate the significant role of ripple structures. The spontaneous formation of ripples is associated with orbital rearrangements and structural distortions. This leads to the unique charge carrier correlate inversion between W-5d and Se-4p orbitals, resulting in the pinning of the Fermi level. This work has supplied significant references to understand ultrathin 2D structures and benefit their future developments and applications in high-performance optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are controversial about the application of cancer-directed surgery (CDS) in patients with liver metastases from gastric cancer, with improved responses to chemotherapy and targeted treatments, the role of CDS in metastatic gastric cancer to the liver needs to be revisited. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of CDS on patients with liver metastases from gastric cancer. Data for patients with liver metastases from gastric cancer were extracted from the population-based Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. A total of 958 individuals were enrolled, 285 in the CDS group and 673 in the non-cancer guided surgery (Non-CDS) group. Following propensity score matching (PSM) analysis at 1:1 in the two groups,285 were included in the survival analysis for each group. Kaplan–Meier values and Cox proportional risk models were used to estimate the effect of CDS on patients' prognoses. Compared with the Non-CDS group, the CDS group significantly prolonged the median overall survival from 4 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 3–5) to 11 months (95% CI 8–12), p value < 0.001. Overall survival (OS) at 1 year was higher in the CDS group than in the Non-CDS group, at 44% (95 CI 38–50) and 25% (95 CI 20–30), respectively. OS at 3 years was also higher in the CDS group than in the Non-CDS group, at 24% (95 CI 19–29) and 6% (95 CI 3–9), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that Non-CDS (hazard ratio[HR] = 2.26, 95% CI 1.88–2.72, p value < 0.001) was an adverse independent prognostic factor for patients. This study concludes that CDS prolonged survival in patients with gastric cancer with liver metastases. Due to the lack of information on the quality of life, biomarkers, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy in the SEER database, the observed improved survival rates following CDS of hepatic metastasis from gastric cancer requires prospective studies that take these factors into account to properly address the survival advantages and impact on quality of life of such a method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the relationship between the healthy eating index (HEI) and the prevalence of stroke within a diverse United States population. Employing a cross-sectional design, we utilized data sourced from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Dietary information was collected from participants and HEI scores were computed. NHANES employed stratified multistage probability sampling, with subsequent weighted analysis following NHANES analytical guidelines. Thorough comparisons were made regarding the baseline characteristics of individuals with and without stroke. Weighted multivariable logistic regression analysis and restricted cubic spline (RCS) methods were employed to ascertain the association between stroke risk and HEI, with LASSO regression utilized to identify dietary factors most closely linked to stroke risk. Additionally, we constructed a nomogram model incorporating key dietary factors and assessed its discriminatory capability using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Our study encompassed 43,978 participants, representing an estimated 201 million U.S. residents. Participants with a history of stroke exhibited lower HEI scores than their non-stroke counterparts. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated a robust association between lower HEI scores and stroke, even after adjusting for confounding variables. RCS analysis indicated a nonlinear negative correlation between HEI and stroke risk. Furthermore, detailed subgroup analysis revealed a significant gender-based disparity in the impact of dietary quality on stroke risk, with females potentially benefiting more from dietary quality improvements. Sensitivity analysis using unweighted logistic regression yielded results consistent with our primary analysis. The nomogram model, based on key dietary factors identified through LASSO regression, demonstrated favorable discriminatory power, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 79.3% (95% CI 78.4–81.2%). Our findings suggest that higher HEI scores are inversely related to the risk of stroke, with potential greater benefits for women through dietary quality enhancement. These results underscore the importance of improving dietary quality for enhanced stroke prevention and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This longitudinal study examined the mediating role of mindful parenting in the relations between parental cognitive reappraisal and parenting practices such as physical coercion, psychological control, and parental warmth. Method: A total of 170 mothers (Mage = 35.63; SD = 4.91) and 164 fathers (Mage = 39.95; SD = 6.27) of preschoolers from 175 Hong Kong Chinese families participated in this study. Initially, mothers and fathers completed self-report questionnaires assessing their cognitive reappraisal. Six months later, both parents reported on their mindful parenting and parenting practices. Spousal reports of physical coercion and psychological control were also collected. Structural equation modeling was conducted separately for mothers and fathers to examine the mediation models. Results: Mindful parenting mediated the associations between parental cognitive reappraisal and parenting practices in both mothers and fathers. Specifically, initial parental cognitive reappraisal had a positive effect on mindful parenting 6 months later, which in turn was negatively related to physical coercion and psychological control, and positively related to parental warmth. For mothers only, initial parental cognitive reappraisal had a positive effect on parental warmth 6 months later, after accounting for the mediating role of mindful parenting. Conclusions: The study highlighted how mindful parenting connects parental cognitive reappraisal and parenting practices for both mothers and fathers with children in preschool years. The findings provide valuable information for professionals and intervention programs to incorporate mindful parenting approaches with emotion regulation strategies to promote appropriate parenting practices. Preregistration: This study is not preregistered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence maximization problem is one of the most fundamental topics in social networks. However, most existing studies have focused on non-attributed networks, neglecting the consideration of users' properties during information propagation. Additionally, specific scenarios may involve external queries that target a particular subset of users, which has not been adequately addressed in prior research. To address these limitations, this study first formulates the customized influence maximization (CIM) problem in the context of attributed social networks. The node score and influence probability are derived by fully considering the user's attributes and the external queries. Then, we develop two algorithms to identify a group of most influential nodes in CIM. The first is a heuristic algorithm based on discounted degree, which is able to find relatively high-quality solutions in a short time. The second is a meta-heuristic algorithm, which makes several adjustments to the original ant colony algorithm to make it efficient to the CIM problem. Specifically, multiple CIM-related heuristics are derived, and a heuristic adaptation strategy is designed to automatically assign the heuristic information to ants according to the search environments and stages. Extensive experiments show the promising performance of our proposed algorithms in terms of accuracy, efficiency, and robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the barriers of finance, talent, and technology, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have faced uncertainty and risks if they fail to engage in digital transformation (DT). A good choice is for SMEs to choose solutions already on the market, provided by professional DT solutions suppliers. However, how to choose the most suitable DT solution remains a major challenge for SMEs. Thus, to help SMEs to select an appropriate DT solution, we proposed a novel, prospect theory-based evidential reasoning (ER) assessment method under a hesitant picture fuzzy linguistic sets (HPFLSs) environment. First, the novel distance measures of picture fuzzy sets (PFSs) and HPFLSs are proposed, then, based on the proposed distance measures of HPFLSs, novel, prospect theory formula are constructed. Additionally, a novel HPFLS ER method was developed to aggregate the evaluation information. Afterward, an assessment and selection decision approach for DT solutions for SMEs, based on the prospect theory-based ER of HPFLSs, was conducted. Finally, actual examples of DT solutions for SMEs to illustrate the decision-making approach were used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, and the conclusions were summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A privileged strategy has been developed for the precise construction of enantioenriched azaspiro polycyclic scaffolds. Structurally diverse azaspiro polycycles bearing multiple contiguous stereocenters are obtained with excellent results (up to 99:1 e.r., >95:5 d.r.) via sequential enantioselective four-component Ugi reactions/post-Ugi transformations with substrates containing prerequisite functional groups in the presence of anionic stereogenic-at-cobalt(III) complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]