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Identification and dominant partitioning of rock mass discontinuities are the basis for rock slope stability analysis. In this paper, a modified self-organizing mapping (SOM) neural network is proposed to automatically cluster the orientations of rock mass discontinuity sets. The new method uses the competitive mechanism network model and takes the winning neuron as the cluster center, which can obtain the global optimization. The negative sine-squared value of the acute angle(SSA) between the normal vectors of discontinuous is used instead of Euclidean distance as the similarity measurement for cluster analysis. The Silhouette validity index is introduced to determine the optimal clustering number. The new method is verified on artificial data sets and publish data sets, and the Precision, Recall and F1 value are innovatively introduced to analyze the accuracy of the new method. Finally, the method is applied to the discontinuity grouping of a rocky slope on Nujiang River in Southwest China. Meanwhile, the new method is compared with the classical KPSO clustering algorithm, FCM algorithm and spectral clustering algorithm. The results show that the new method has high accuracy and good clustering results with stronger robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fragrance is an important feature of ornamental lilies. Components of volatile substances and important genes for monoterpene synthesis in the 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway were examined in this study. Twenty volatile compounds (2 in the budding stage, 3 in the initial flowering stage, 7 in the semi-flowering stage, 17 in the full-flowering stage, and 5 in withering stage) were detected in the Oriental lily 'Sorbonne' using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The semi- and full-flowering stages were key periods for volatile substance production and enzyme function. Sequence assembly from samples collected during all flowering stages resulted in the detection of 274,849 genes and 129,017 transcripts. RNA sequencing and heatmapping led to the detection of genes in the MEP monoterpene metabolism pathway. Through gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis, we extracted key genes (LiDXS2, LiLIS, and LiMYS) and transcription factors (in the bHLH, MYB, HD-ZIP, and NAC families) associated with the MEP pathway. Tissue localization revealed that LiDXS2, LiLIS, and LiMYS were expressed in Lilium 'Sorbonne' petals in the full-flowering stage. Genes regulating the 1-deoxy-d-X-lignone-5-phosphate synthase family of rate-limiting enzymes, involved in the first step of monoterpene synthesis, showed high expression in the semi- and full-flowering stages. LiDXS2 was cloned and localized in chloroplast subcells. The relative expression of terpene-related genes in the MEP and mevalonic acid pathways of wild-type and LiLIS/LiMYS transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana, and changes in chemical composition, confirmed that LiLIS/LiMYS regulates the monoterpene synthesis pathway. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the synthesis of lily aromatic substances and the cultivation of new garden flower varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ordered intermetallic alloys are renowned for their impressive mechanical, chemical, and physical properties, making them appealing for various fields. However, practical applications of them have long been severely hindered due to their severe brittleness and poor fabricability. It is difficult to fabricate such materials into components with complex geometries through traditional subtractive manufacturing methods. Here, we proposed a strategy to solve these long-standing issues through the additive manufacturing of chemically complex intermetallic alloy (CCIMA) based on laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). The developed CCIMA exhibits good printability, enabling a crack-free microstructure with a low porosity of 0.005%. More importantly, a good combination of high tensile strength (~1.6 GPa) and large uniform elongation (~35%) can be achieved, which has not been reported in the existing additive-manufactured alloys. Such properties are attributed to the structural and chemical features of highly ordered superlattice grain decorated with disordered interfacial nanolayer, as well as dynamic evolutions and interactions of multiple dislocation substructures. These findings could provide references for developing high-performance intermetallic alloys and accelerating their practical applications. Conventional intermetallics are usually brittle and hard to manufacture. This work successfully develops a strong yet ductile chemically complex intermetallic alloy based on the 3D printing technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Excessive tachycardia is associated with impaired hemodynamics and worse outcome in critically ill patients. Previous studies suggested beneficial effect of β-blockers administration in ICU patients, including those with septic shock. However, comparisons in ICU settings are lacking. Our study aims to compare Landiolol and Esmolol regarding heart rate control and hemodynamic variables in general ICU patients. Methods: This retrospective, observational study was conducted in a 56-bed ICU at a university hospital. A propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to balance baseline differences. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to compare heart rate between two drugs. The primary outcome was heart rate control, while secondary outcomes included hemodynamic response, hospital length of stay (HLOS) and ICU length of stay (ICULOS). Results: From June 2016 to December 2022, 438 patients were included after PSM, (292 in the Esmolol group and 146 the in Landiolol group). Baseline heart rate was similar between groups (Landiolol:120.0 [110.2, 131.0] bpm vs. Esmolol:120.0 [111.0, 129.0] bpm, p = 0.925). During 72 h. of β-blocker infusion, Landiolol reduced heart rate by 4.7 (1.3, 8.1) bpm, more than Esmolol (p = 0.007), while preserving a comparable proportion of patients able to stabilize vasopressor doses within the first 24 h. (82.9 vs. 80.8%, respectively, p = 0.596). Norepinephrine doses and lactate levels were similar between groups over 72 h., while the Landiolol group exhibited notably higher minimal ScvO2 levels (72% [63%, 78%] vs 68% [55%, 73%], respectively, p = 0.006) and a lower maximal PCO2 gap compared to the Esmolol group (7.0 [6.0, 9.0] vs. 8.0 [6.0, 10.0] mmHg, respectively, p = 0.040). Patients in the Landiolol group were observed to experience shorter HLOS than patients in the Esmolol group (26.5 [13.0, 42.0] vs 30.0 [17.0, 47.2] days, respectively, p = 0.044) and ICULOS (4.9 [2.8, 10.0] vs.6.7 [3.4, 13.1] days, respectively, p = 0.011). Conclusion: Landiolol provides superior heart rate control in critically ill patients with tachycardia compared to Esmolol, without increasing vasopressor requirements during the first 24 h. Findings from ScvO2 levels and PCO2 gap suggest that Landiolol may exert less impact on cardiac output than Esmolol. Further studies, incorporating comprehensive hemodynamic monitoring, are warranted to clarify the clinical implications of heart rate control with β-blockers in ICU patients with tachycardia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuropathic pain is a chronic pain condition that is primarily caused by underlying neurological damage and dysfunction. Recent studies have identified microRNAs (miRNAs) as a key factor in the treatment of neuropathic pain. To explore the effects of miR-133a-3p on neuroinflammation and neuropathic pain via GTP cyclohydrolase (GCH1), and its underlying mechanisms. In vitro models were constructed using BV-2 cells that had been treated with lipopolysaccharide, followed by treatment with either miR-133a-3p mimic or GCH1 viral knockdown/overexpression. The expression of miR-133a-3p and GCH1 in BV-2 cells was quantified by RT-qPCR. The degree of neuroinflammation was quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The targeting relationship between miR-133a-3p and GCH1 was confirmed by western blot and dual luciferase reporter assay. A chronic constriction injury model was employed to induce neuropathic pain in rats, and the mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) was quantified. Immunofluorescence was used to demonstrate alterations in microglial cells. The expression of miR-133a–3p was found to be decreased in lipopolysaccharide-induced BV-2 cells. The overexpression of miR-133a–3p was observed to inhibit the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and iNOS, which was attributed to a reduction in GCH1.Nevertheless, OE-GCH1 could partially reverse the downregulation by miR-133a-3p of the expression of inflammatory factors. In animal experiments, intrathecal injection of AVV-miR-133a-3p was observed to alleviate mechanical nociceptive abnormalities induced by activated microglia. Furthermore, miR-133a-3p ameliorated neuroinflammation in the spinal cord of chronic constriction injury rats. In summary, miR-133a-3p improves neuroinflammation and neuropathic pain by binding to GCH1. The binding of miR-133a-3p to GCH1 has been demonstrated to improve neuroinflammation and neuropathic pain.This insight will facilitate the development of new methods to effectively treat neuropathic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of catalysts Pt/Ba/CoxMg1-xAl2O4 supported by cobalt doped hydrotalcite materials were prepared by coprecipitation-impregnation method for NOx removal at 250–500 °C. The techniques of XRD, TEM, XPS, BET, H2-TPR, NOx-TPD, and FT-IR were employed to study the structure and properties of the catalysts. After Co doping, the specific surface area of the catalyst is significantly increased, while the number of surface reactive oxygen species is increased, making NO more easily oxidized to NO2, which is conducive to NOx storage. Meanwhile, XRD and TEM results show that Co doping also promotes the dispersion of BaCO3, which is the NOx storage site. In addition, the results of TEM and XPS before and after high temperature reaction showed that the active center Pt maintained good dispersion, no obvious sintering occurred, and the valence state of Co remained unchanged. The above characterization results show that the addition of Co significantly improves the storage capacity and thermal stability of the storage intermediates in the catalyst, that is, enhances the elimination performance of lean burn NOx at high temperatures. Co-doped catalysts Pt/Ba/CoxMg1-xAl2O4 (x = 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5) showed better high-temperature activity than Pt/Ba/MgAl2O4. Pt/Ba/Co0.3Mg0.7Al2O4 showed the highest De-NOx efficiency of 93.2% at 400 ºC and 88.7% at 450 ºC, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calculating rockslide movement and deposit characteristics is challenging due to the complex interactions of various physical factors. This study investigates the effects of rockslide volume, slope angle, and material strength on fragmentation and deposit patterns through laboratory experiments using homogeneous and non-homogeneous specimens. Specimens were tested on sloping chutes at angles of 41.5°, 45.1° and 48.6°. Results showed that increasing the chute angle led to a reduction in specimen completeness. Specifically, as the chute angle increased from 41.5° to 45.1°, the completeness for specimens with heights of 5 cm, 10 cm, and 15 cm decreased by approximately 29.6%, 7.4%, and 32.8%, respectively, with the largest specimen showing the most significant reduction. For non-homogeneous specimens, strength differences between the upper and lower layers significantly influenced fragmentation; a lower-strength bottom layer resulted in increased fragmentation and longer leading-edge distances. A dimensionless parameter Ψ , defined as the ratio of the largest fragment’s travel distance to the farthest debris, to quantify the relationship between fragment travel distance and flow mobility in rockslides. The results demonstrated a positive linear correlation between Ψ and specimen completeness. Greater completeness is associated with larger fragment travel distances. Additionally, a logarithmic correlation was found between Ψ and the apparent friction coefficient, reinforcing the relationship between fragmentation behavior and the potential risk of rockslide events. These findings offer predictive models for assessing rockslide risks based on slope angle, rockslide volume, and apparent friction coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/hypothesis: Alcohol consumption has complex effects on diabetes and metabolic disease, but there is widespread heterogeneity within populations and the specific reasons are unclear. Genetic factors may play a role and warrant exploration. The aim of this study was to elucidate genetic variants modulating the impact of alcohol consumption on insulin sensitivity and pancreatic beta cell function within populations presenting normal glucose tolerance (NGT). Methods: We recruited 4194 volunteers in Nanjing, 854 in Jurong and an additional 5833 in Nanjing for Discovery cohorts 1 and 2 and a Validation cohort, respectively. We performed an OGTT on all participants, establishing a stringent NGT group, and then assessed insulin sensitivity and beta cell function. Alcohol consumption was categorised as abstinent, light-to-moderate (<210 g per week) or heavy (≥210 g per week). After excluding ineligible individuals, an exploratory genome-wide association study identified potential variants interacting with alcohol consumption in 1862 NGT individuals. These findings were validated in an additional cohort of 2169 NGT individuals. Cox proportional hazard regression was further employed to evaluate the effect of the interaction between the potential variants and alcohol consumption on the risk of type 2 diabetes within the UK Biobank cohort. Results: A significant correlation was observed between drinking levels and insulin sensitivity, accompanied by a consequent inverse relationship with insulin resistance and beta cell insulin secretion after adjusting for confounding factors in NGT individuals. However, no significant associations were noted in the disposition indexes. The interaction of variant rs56221195 with alcohol intake exhibited a pronounced effect on the liver insulin resistance index (LIRI) in the discovery set, corroborated in the validation set (combined p=1.32 × 10−11). Alcohol consumption did not significantly affect LIRI in rs56221195 wild-type (TT) carriers, but a strong negative association emerged in heterozygous (TA) and homozygous (AA) individuals. The rs56221195 variant also significantly interacts with alcohol consumption, influencing the total insulin secretion index INSR120 (the ratio of the AUC of insulin to glucose from 0 to 120 min) (p=2.06 × 10−9) but not disposition index. In the UK Biobank, we found a significant interaction between rs56221195 and alcohol consumption, which was linked to the risk of type 2 diabetes (HR 0.897, p=0.008). Conclusions/interpretation: Our findings reveal the effects of the interaction of alcohol and rs56221195 on hepatic insulin sensitivity in NGT individuals. It is imperative to weigh potential benefits and detriments thoughtfully when considering alcohol consumption across diverse genetic backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piezoelectric electronics possess great potential in flexible sensing and energy harvesting applications. However, they suffer from low electromechanical performance in all-organic piezoelectric systems due to the disordered and weakly-polarized interfaces. Here, we demonstrated an all-polymer piezo-ionic-electric electronics with PVDF/Nafion/PVDF (polyvinylidene difluoride) sandwich structure and regularized ion-electron interfaces. The piezoelectric effect and piezoionic effect mutually couple based on such ion-electron interfaces, endowing this electronics with the unique piezo-ionic-electric working mechanism. Further, owing to the massive interfacial accumulation of ion and electron charges, the electronics obtains a remarkable force-electric coupling enhancement. Experiments show that the electronics presents a high d33 of ~80.70 pC N−1, a pressure sensitivity of 51.50 mV kPa−1 and a maximum peak power of 34.66 mW m−2. It is applicable to be a transducer to light LEDs, and a sensor to detect weak physiological signals or mechanical vibration. This work shows the piezo-ionic-electric electronics as a paradigm of highly-optimized all-polymer piezo-generators. Low electromechanical performance is a limiting factor for all-organic piezoelectric systems. Here, Xu et al. report an all-polymer piezo-ionic-electric electronics, coupling the piezoelectric effect with the piezoionic effect for enhanced performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotions play a crucial role in human thoughts, cognitive processes, and decision-making. EEG has become a widely utilized tool in emotion recognition due to its high temporal resolution, real-time monitoring capabilities, portability, and cost-effectiveness. In this paper, we propose a novel end-to-end emotion recognition method from EEG signals, called MSDCGTNet, which is based on the Multi-Scale Dynamic 1D CNN and the Gated Transformer. First, the Multi-Scale Dynamic CNN is used to extract complex spatial and spectral features from raw EEG signals, which not only avoids information loss but also reduces computational costs associated with the time-frequency conversion of signals. Then, the Gated Transformer Encoder is utilized to capture global dependencies of EEG signals. This encoder focuses on specific regions of the input sequence while reducing computational resources through parallel processing with the improved multi-head self-attention mechanisms. Third, the Temporal Convolution Network is used to extract temporal features from the EEG signals. Finally, the extracted abstract features are fed into a classification module for emotion recognition. The proposed method was evaluated on three publicly available datasets: DEAP, SEED, and SEED_IV. Experimental results demonstrate the high accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method for emotion recognition. This approach proves to be robust and suitable for various practical applications. By addressing challenges posed by existing methods, the proposed method provides a valuable and effective solution for the field of Brain-Computer Interface (BCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low-cost, high-quality, and high-efficiency machining of the large-thickness ruled surface structure of difficult-to-machine materials, such as turbine disc mortise and blade tenon in aircraft engines, is still a great challenge for existing machining technology. Electrochemical cutting with radial electrolyte flushing emerges as a solution. This method involves using tube electrodes with array jet-flow holes to spray electrolyte radially into the machining gap, effectively cutting the workpiece. It promises not only the inherited benefits of wire electrochemical machining, like flexibility and no heat-affected layers, but also the capability to machine large thicknesses efficiently. Nevertheless, the technique faces a hurdle: the inconsistency in the surface topography due to the electrolyte flow field in the machined slit, impacting the machining quality. To address this, the method has been enhanced with axial supplementary electrolyte flushing. Simulation and experimental results indicate that this addition improves electrolyte flow in the machined slit, ensuring the electrolyte's renewal, which in turn rectifies the issue of inconsistent surface quality and enhances cutting quality without compromising efficiency. Optimization of the nozzle diameter and flow rate for the axial flushing has led to significant advancements. For instance, a fir-tree-shaped turbine disc mortise was precisely cut into a 20-mm-thick Inconel 718 plate at a feed rate of 5 µm/s, achieving a surface roughness of Ra 0.95 µm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tectonic evolution and crustal accretion process of the North Qilian Orogenic Belt (NQOB) are still under debate because of a lack of integrated constraints, especially the identification of the tectonic transition from arc to initial collision. Here we present results from zircon U–Pb geochronology, whole-rock geochemistry, and Sr–Nd–Pb isotope geochemistry of the Beidaban granites to provide crucial information for geodynamic evolution of NQOB. Zircon U–Pb dating yields an age of 468 ± 10 Ma for the Beidaban granites and most of the Beidaban samples contain amphibole, are potassium-rich, and have A/CNK values ranging from 0.7 to 0.9, illustrating that the Middle Ordovician Beidaban granites are K-rich, metaluminous, calc-alkaline granitoid. The geochemical characteristics indicate that the Beidaban granites are transitional I/S-type granitoids that formed in an arc setting. The isotopic compositions of initial (87Sr/86Sr)i values ranging from 0.70545 to 0.71082 (0.70842 on average) and εNd(t) values ranging from − 10.9 to − 6.7 (− 8.8 on average) with two-stage Nd model ages (TDM2) of 1.74–2.08 Ga suggest that the Beidaban granites originated from Paleoproterozoic crustal materials. In addition, the initial Pb isotopic compositions (206Pb/204Pb = 19.14–20.26; 207Pb/204Pb = 15.71–15.77; 208Pb/204Pb = 37.70–38.26) and geochemical features, such as high Th/Ta (17.43–30.12) and Rb/Nb (6.01–15.49) values, suggest that the Beidaban granite magma source involved recycled crustal components with igneous rocks. Based on these results in combination with previously published geochronological and geochemical data from other early Paleozoic igneous rocks, we suggest that the timing of the tectonic transition from arc to the initial collision to the final closure of the North Qilian Ocean can be constrained to the Middle-Late Ordovician (ca. 468–450 Ma). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The projection order of the affine projection algorithm (APA) affects not only the convergence performance but also the steady-state behavior. Therefore, for solving the fixed projection order of the conventional APA, we develop a new scheme of variable projection order (VPO) that enables the evolution from the maximum projection order to the minimum one by resorting to the adaptation of the mixing factor, thereby yielding a novel APA with VPO. Moreover, for dealing with sparse systems with fast convergence, we extend the proposed VPO scheme to proportionate APA and develop a VPO-based memory proportionate APA. Simulation results in the scenarios of system identification and acoustic echo cancellation have shown that the proposed algorithms have a faster convergence rate and lower steady-state error as compared to their original counterparts and the existing VPO algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the nonlinear resonance response and dynamic stability of a rotating ferromagnetic functionally graded (FG) cylindrical shell in harmonic magnetic and thermal fields. Considering spatial graded and temperature-dependent characteristics of physical parameters, nonlinear constitutive equations are determined by adopting Donnell's nonlinear shell theory. According to the magnetoelasticity theory, models for Lorentz force and magnetizing force are established. Hamilton's principle and Galerkin's method are employed for the derivation and discretization of nonlinear governing equations. The analytical solutions and stability discriminations of the primary resonance response are obtained by utilizing the Krylov–Bogoliubov–Mitropolski (KBM) method and Lyapunov stability theory. Subsequently, bifurcation topologies of analytical solutions are analyzed via singularity theory, revealing static bifurcation characteristics in different parameter regions based on transition sets. Finally, detailed numerical analyses are performed to investigate the effects of different parameters on vibration response and dynamical stability for the nonlinear system. Results indicate significant effects from the magnetic field strength, temperature, mechanical load, and rotational speed on the vibration mechanism. The sensitivity of the ferromagnetic FG cylindrical shell to external physical fields relies on the nonuniform variation of its constituent materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic studies of loess–paleosol sequences have shown that the magnetic properties of loess and its parent material are sensitive to weathering degree. However, the relationship between magnetic properties and weathering processes in red soils of southern China remains unclear due to the diversity of parent rocks and the influence of climate. This study focused on red soils developed on weakly magnetic sandstone, in tropical and subtropical regions of Yunnan, China. The principal element content, magnetic susceptibility, temperature-dependent susceptibility curve (χ–T curve, where χ represents the magnetic susceptibility at the corresponding temperature during the heating and cooling process of the sample, and T represents the temperature during the heating and cooling process.), hysteresis loop and Isothermal Remanent Magnetization (IRM) of the samples were determined, the weathering characteristics and magnetic properties of profile samples were analyzed, and their relationship was examined, as well as the impact of climate change on fine-grained ferrimagnetic minerals and magnetic properties. The results revealed that red soils developed on weakly magnetic sandstone exhibited significant correlations between three magnetic indices, low-frequency magnetic susceptibility (χlf), frequency-dependent susceptibility (χfd), (χpost-pre + χd)/χpara, and the silica-sesquioxide ratio (SAF), indicating that these indices can be used to assess soil weathering. Additionally, this study proposed a new index based on the 1 < Log10Bh < 1.5 mT component obtained from decomposition of the IRM curve, which can also be used to assess soil weathering. The enhancement of magnetic properties in red soils along a single profile was found to be related to the increase in the content of fine-grained ferrimagnetic com-ponents controlled by weathering. Comparing the two climatic regions, it was found that in Yunnan, China, as the climate changes from subtropical humid to tropical humid, the weathering of the red soil profiles becomes stronger, and the fine-grained ferrimagnetic components increase, indirectly enhancing the magnetic properties of red soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continual learning addresses the challenge of acquiring and retaining knowledge over time across multiple tasks and environments. Previous research primarily focuses on offline settings where models learn through increasing tasks from samples paired with ground truth annotations. In this work, we focus on an unsolved, challenging, yet practical scenario, specifically, the semi-supervised online continual learning in autonomous driving and mobile robotics. In our settings, models are tasked with learning new distributions from streaming unlabeled samples and performing 3D object detection as soon as the LiDAR point cloud arrives. Additionally, we conducted experiments on both the KITTI dataset, our newly built IUSL dataset and Canadian Adverse Driving Conditions (CADC) Dataset. The results indicate that our method achieves a balance between rapid adaptation and knowledge retention, showcasing its effectiveness in the dynamic and complex environment of autonomous driving and mobile robotics. The developed ROS packages and IUSL dataset will be publicly available at: . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock-filled concrete (RFC) construction technology is to construct a force-transferring skeleton with large-size rocks, and to use self-compacting concrete (SCC) as the filling and bonding material. In which the defects with different distributions and sizes contained in SCC are often the key factors determining the mechanical properties and damage behaviors of RFC. In this research, by utilizing the excellent properties of super absorbent polymer (SAP), such as water absorption and expansion and dehydration shrinkage, non-introduction of impurities, and not easy suspension or settlement in concrete, RFC and SCC specimens with different numbers and sizes of defects were precisely prepared and subjected to unconfined uniaxial compression physical tests. The effects of porosity and pore aperture on the compressive strength and damage pattern of the specimens were studied. The mechanical behavior of the defective concrete specimens under compressive loading was analyzed from a mesoscopic perspective by using a combination of physical tests and numerical simulation using the Realistic Failure Process Analysis (RFPA) method to reveal the internal damage phenomenon and damage destabilization mechanism of RFC and SCC. The results show that: SAP material can accurately construct concrete specimens with stable and uniform defects; under the same porosity and aperture, the compressive strength of RFC is greater than that of SCC; the compressive strength of the specimen decreases linearly with the growth of porosity for the same aperture, the compressive strength of the specimen decreases with the increase of aperture for the same porosity and the trend tends to be flat, and the sensitivity of the compressive strength to porosity is higher than that of aperture. In addition, it was found that the internal penetrating shear damage during the fracturing process of SCC was the core cause of the overall damage. For RFC, the tensile fracture that penetrated through the force transmission skeleton of the stacked rock was the key factor causing the overall instability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Certain immune-checkpoint inhibitors have a narrow therapeutic window (TW) as cancer therapeutics, and engineered dual-/multi-targeting agents could potentially widen the TW to bring true clinical benefits. We report a new rationally-designed bispecific-antibody (BsAb), HX009, simultaneously targeting PD1 and CD47 to improve both the efficacy and safety over the respective single-targeting agents by grafting the extracellular domain of SIRPα onto the parental anti-PD1-monoclonal antibody, HX008. This resulted in an IgG4-based "2 × 2" symmetric structure but with an intentionally-reduced CD47-binding affinity, suggesting a novel candidate cancer immunotherapy. Specifically, HX009 has binding affinity constant of 8.951 × 10–9 M for human PD1 and 2.557 × 10–8 M for human CD47, respectively, where the CD47 binding is significantly weaker as compared to the binding affinity of HX008 to PD1 as well as the binding affinity of SIRPα-Fc to CD47, leading to little binding to RBCs and platelets and is contrasting to many CD47-agents in development. However, HX009 effectively and simultaneously binds to the PD1 and CD47 on PD1+CD47+ T-cells via cis-binding and elicits enhanced T cell activation compared to the parental HX008. HX009 caused little cytokine-release in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. HX009 cross-species binds to cynomolgus monkey PD1/CD47 but not to rodents, making cynomolgus monkeys the choice of species to investigate the pharmacokinetics (PK) and toxicology of HX009. HX009's anti-tumor activities were confirmed in several humanized preclinical mouse models by determining either its anti-PD1 (humanized hu-CD47-MC38 models) or anti-CD47 (HuT-102 lymphoma CDX and three PDX-AML models) functions, although limited available humanized models have hindered broadly demonstration of enhanced anti-tumor activities contributed from the dual targeting of the BsAb. The expanded DLBCL-PDX trial data suggested that both EBV-status and OX40 expression could potentially be two positive predictors for response to HX009. An intravenous (IV) infusion PK study in cynomolgus monkey revealed its largely vasculature distribution, terminal half-life (T1/2) of ~ 50 h, and dose-proportional exposure without accumulation. The anti-drug antibody (ADA) was observed in all monkeys as expected, affecting the PK parameters of repeated administration. The IV single-dose toxicology study with a 14-day observation revealed a maximum tolerated dose of 150 mg/kg, while the repeated-dose (once weekly for 4 weeks, 5 doses in total) study showed a highest non-severely toxic dose (HNSTD) of 15 mg/kg. The desired preclinical PK and safety profiles, along with its antitumor activity, support HX009's candidacy for its clinical development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect in newborns, often requiring cardiac surgery with concomitant thymectomy that is known to increase disease susceptibility later in life. Studies of γδ T cells, which are one of the dominant T cells in the early fetal human thymus, are rare. Here, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the γδ T cell compartment via flow cytometry and next-generation sequencing in children and infants with CHD, who underwent cardiac surgery shortly after birth. A perturbation of the γδ T cell repertoire is evident, and Vδ1 T cell numbers are reduced. However, those cells that are present, do retain cytotoxicity. In contrast, GZMA+CD28+CD161hi innate effector Vγ9Vδ2 T cells are found in higher proportions. TCR-seq identifies an increase in TRDJ3+ γδ T cell clones in children with CHD, but not in a confirmatory group of neonates prior to CHD surgery, which overall points to a persistence of fetal-derived effector γδ T cells in children with CHD. Congenital heart disease (CHD) is often treated with cardiac surgery in infancy, which involves the removal of the thymus, due to its position in the chest. Here authors show that the γδ T cell compartment of children with CHD who underwent surgery in early infancy is disturbed, which might contribute to higher disease susceptibility following early thymectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent emergence of the hybrid quantum-classical neural network (HQCNN) architecture has garnered considerable attention because of the potential advantages associated with integrating quantum principles to enhance various facets of machine learning algorithms and computations. However, the current investigated serial structure of HQCNN, wherein information sequentially passes from one network to another, often imposes limitations on the trainability and expressivity of the network. In this study, we introduce a novel architecture termed parallel proportional fusion of spiking and quantum neural networks (PPF-SQNN). The dataset information is simultaneously fed into both the spiking neural network and the variational quantum circuits, with the outputs amalgamated in proportion to their individual contributions. We systematically assess the impact of diverse PPF-SQNN parameters on network performance for image classification, aiming to identify the optimal configuration. On three datasets for image classification tasks, the final classification accuracy reached 98.2%, 99.198%, and 97.921%, respectively, with loss values all below 0.2, outperforming the compared serial networks. In noise testing, it also demonstrates good classification performance even under noise intensities of 0.9 Gaussian and uniform noise. This study introduces a novel and effective amalgamation approach for HQCNN, laying the groundwork for the advancement and application of quantum advantages in artificial intelligence computations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid flax/basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (F/BFRP) offers promising mechanical improvements, but their dynamic properties under low-frequency vibration remain unclear. This study investigates how the basalt/flax fiber hybrid ratio affects the anisotropic dynamic behavior of the composites. The outcomes of the tests reveal that the storage modulus and loss factor of F/BFRP exhibit a nonlinear increase as both frequency and basalt fiber content increase. The loss factor demonstrates a similar nonlinear rise with frequency and flax fiber content. In pursuit of an accurate depiction of F/BFRP's dynamic viscoelastic behavior, we present two complementary modeling approaches: a fractional calculus model offering a theoretical foundation and a novel Physics-Informed Neural Network (PINN) model that leverages neural network flexibility while incorporating the same physical principles. While the fractional calculus model excels in interpretability and analytical solutions, the PINN model prioritizes high accuracy and generalizability, particularly for data-rich scenarios. Both models demonstrate strong performance in their domains. Users can choose the approach that best suits their specific needs, whether they prioritize theoretical rigor or enhanced predictive power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral tolerance is essential for intestinal homeostasis and systemic immune function. However, our understanding of how oral tolerance is maintained is inadequate. Here we report that food-derived nucleic acids promote oral tolerance through innate sensing pathways. We find that dietary nucleic acids, but not microbiota, expand the natural intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) pool, specifically in the small intestine. TGF-β1, produced by natural IELs, then promotes activation of gut CD103+ dendritic cells to support the induction of antigen-specific Treg cells in a mouse model of OVA-induced oral tolerance. Mechanistically, MAVS and STING are redundantly required for sensing dietary RNAs and DNAs to activate downstream TBK1 signalling to induce IL-15 production, which results in the accumulation of natural IELs. Thus, our study demonstrates a key role of food-triggered innate sensing pathways in the maintenance of natural IELs and oral tolerance. Oral tolerance is an important feature of gut immune homeostasis but how it is maintained is not fully known. Here authors show in a mouse model that dietary nucleic acids activate the MAVS and STING pathways, which leads to an increased abundance of natural intraepithelial lymphocytes, producing soluble factors that maintain tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observational studies revealed paradoxically inverse associations between diabetes and aortic diseases (aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection), yet the causality remains to be determined. To investigate the causal associations between diabetes and aortic diseases using Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses. Summary-level data for exposures (type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, glycated hemoglobin) and outcomes (aortic dissection and aortic aneurysm) were obtained from public genome-wide association study data. The principal analysis was the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method. Sensitivity analyses were also carried out, including weighted median, MR–Egger, and multivariable MR methods. According to IVW results, type 1 diabetes (odds ratio [OR]: 0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.93–1.07; P = 0.87), type 2 diabetes (OR: 0.97; 95% CI 0.77–1.20; P = 0.75), fasting glucose (OR: 1.16; 95% CI 0.48–2.84; P = 0.74), fasting insulin (OR: 2.75; 95% CI 0.53–14.26; P = 0.23), or glycated hemoglobin (OR: 0.33; 95% CI 0.09–1.17; P = 0.09) had no causal effect on aortic dissection. Similarly, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, or glycated hemoglobin had no causal effect on aortic aneurysm. Sensitivity analyses revealed consistent results. MR–Egger method and funnel plot yielded no indication of directional pleiotropy. Diabetes had no causal associations with aortic dissection or aortic aneurysm. The observed inverse associations in previous cohort studies may be explained by confounding factors or reverse causation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potential Natural Vegetation (PNV) represents the climax of vegetation succession in a natural environment, free from significant disturbances. The reconstruction of PNV is widely used to study climate-vegetation relationships and predict future vegetation distributions. However, fine-scale PNV maps with high accuracy are still rare in biodiversity hotspots due to the complexity of ecosystems and limited field observations. In this study, we mapped the spatiotemporal distribution of 16 PNV types using adequate field and literature data, and an improved Comprehensive and Sequential Classification System (CSCS) approach under current (2005–2016) and future (2021–2080) climate scenarios in Yunnan province, Southwest China. We found that 1) from T0 (2005–2016) to T3 (2021–2080), regions with cold alpine PNV types, such as mid-mountain humid evergreen broad-leaved forests (EBLF), are projected to experience more significant temperature increases compared to regions with warm PNV types, like tropic rainforests and monsoon rainforests. High-emission scenarios (SSP585) are expected to result in temperature increases approximately 2°C higher than low-emission scenarios (SSP126). Precipitation is projected to increase for water-deficient PNV types (e.g., monsoon rainforest and semi-humid EBLF) but decrease for humid PNV types (e.g., rainforest and mountain mossy EBLF). The SSP370 scenario predicts a slightly smaller increase in precipitation compared to other scenarios. 2) All PNV types are expected to shift to higher latitudes (by an average of 0.86°) and higher elevations (by an average of 454 m) by T3, based on their current niches. Alpine PNV types are more sensitive to climate change and are projected to shift more prominently than other types. For example, mountain mossy EBLF is expected to move 1.78° northward, while mid-mountain moist EBLF is projected to rise by 578 m. 3) Cold PNV types are likely to be replaced by warm types both in latitude and altitude. Semi-humid EBLF is projected to shrink the most, by 57,984 km2 (51.5% of its present range), while monsoon EBLF is expected to expand the most, by 44,881 km2 (64.7% of its present range). The suitable habitat for cold-temperate sclerophyllous EBLF and temperate shrublands may disappear entirely in Yunnan. Given the over-estimate of the projected PNV shift without accounting for the lag effects, these findings are still useful in planning future conservation and management efforts, which should prioritize PNV types experiencing drastic changes in temperature (e.g., mid-mountain moist EBLF), precipitation (e.g., mountain mossy EBLF), and distribution area (e.g., semi-humid EBLF and cold-temperate sclerophyllous EBLF). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widely linear complex-valued least mean square (WL-CNLMS) algorithm is extensively used for processing complex-valued signals, but it exists performance compromise between convergence rate and steady-state misadjustment. In response to this problem, we incorporate the idea of switching step-size (SSS), that is, selecting an optimal step-size at each iteration by comparing the mean-square deviation trends of the WL-CNLMS algorithm with pre-set different step-sizes and then proposing the SSS based WL-NLMS algorithm. Meanwhile, to keep the robustness of the algorithm in the impulsive noise environment, a robust variant of it is proposed by utilizing the modified Huber function instead of the quadratic function. Through extensive simulations in the contexts of system identification and beamforming, we have verified the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial distribution orientations of blocks can cause significant errors in the discrete element model (DEM) calculation of soil-rock mixture (SRM). To avoid this error, spherical harmonic (SH) series whose harmonization degrees fixed at 15 were proposed for block reconstruction. This research refers to the case-history of a deep excavation rift valley spanning from the Mabian to Zhaojue section of the Leshan-Xichang Expressway, mainly containing moderately-weathered silty mudstone, in the Leshan City, Sichuan Province, China. The appropriate degree of finite-term SH series is selected by the volume, surface area. 100 blocks were scanned on site, and sphericity and angularity of the blocks were calculated. The sphericity and angularity of 50 reconstructed blocks were considered for the error analysis of SH method. Moreover, stochastic polyhedron method was considered for comparing different block reconstructions. The maximum block placement angle was defined to control the spatial distribution orientations of the blocks. Large scale direct tests were carried. Numerical simulations of large-scale direct shear tests were conducted to study the influence of the spatial distribution orientations of the blocks on the mechanical properties of the SRMs. The results revealed that the finite-term SH series fixed at 15 accurately reflected the shape characteristics and mechanical behaviors of actual blocks. The spatial distribution orientations of the blocks had a minimal impact on the friction angle and cohesion of SRM constructed through the SH method. The SRMs developed via the SH method exhibited marginal variations in contact force and anisotropy index of contact across diverse block placement strategies. The evolution of coordination number was closer when employing the SH method under varied block placement methods. Blocks reconstructed by the SH method, could mitigate errors in DEM calculation caused by the spatial distribution orientations of the blocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe friction on wheel/rail contact interface in the process of a train emergency braking can cause significant thermal and mechanical phenomena. Obvious friction heat and serious material damage will appear on the contact surface. In this article, the variation law of temperature and surface damage during a wheel sliding contact process are investigated. To achieve the research objective, a three-dimensional (3D) thermo-mechanical coupling contact finite element model (FEM) is established, and the temperature-dependent material parameters are used. The FEM is adopted to analyze the temperature distribution law on the contact surface. At the same time, a sliding contact testing machine is used to study the damage of materials in the contact area during the sliding contact. The study results indicate, the highest temperature of wheel and rail material is respectively 1014 ℃ and 461.8 ℃ during sliding contact. High temperatures are located at the subsurface and surface areas of contact region. When the distance to contact surface exceeds 1.4 mm, the temperature changes slightly. The types of damage on wheel surface are grooves and material peeling, while the flaky spalling, corrosive pitting, adhesion and grooves appear on the rail surface. Meanwhile, many cracks can be found on the contact surface, which is a major factor leading to material damage. The research results of this article are of great significance for understanding the thermal and mechanical damage of wheel/rail materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precocious puberty of children, especially girls, has attracted more and more public attention in recent years. In clinic practice, there is a lack of both convenient and effective way to identify central precocious puberty (CPP) and premature thelarche (PT). In this study, we enrolled total 88 girls [28 cases of CPP, 37 cases of PT, as well as 23 cases of normal control (NC)] as a training cohort, and another 270 subjects (92 cases of CPP, 122 cases of PT and 56 cases of NC) as a validation cohort. Expression of serum cell-free miRNA in the training cohort was analyzed using five different methods to identify specific miRNA feature subsets, and verified by qPCR in the validation cohort. Here, we determined that the combination of miRNAs (miR-584-5p, miR-625-3p, miRNA-652-3p, miR-22-3p) provided the possibility to distinguish CPP and PT. The miRNA panel (miR-625-3p, let-7b-5p, miR-140-5p, miR-7-5p) had the best performance in distinguishing between CPP and NC. The miRNA panel (miR-140-5p, miR-205-5p, let-7b-5p, miR-629-5p, miR-9-3p) performed well in identifying PT and NC. Based on the absolute quantification of miRNA by qPCR, we also presented three regression equations to evaluate CPP, PT, and NC, respectively, for possible use in clinical practice. The presented study had identified several sets of miRNA panels as biomarkers to assist in identifying CPP and PT. Our invention could provide better diagnostic tool for pediatric precocious puberty diseases in both clinical and public health fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mortierella alpina is popular for lipid production, but the low carbon conversion rate and lipid yield are major obstacles for its economic performance. Here, external addition of organic acids involved in tricarboxylic acid cycle was used to tune carbon flux and improve lipid production. Citrate was determined to be the best organic acid that can be used for enhancing lipid production. By the addition of citrate, the lipid titer and content were approximately 1.24 and 1.34 times higher, respectively. Meanwhile, citrate supplement also promoted the accumulation of succinate, an important value-added platform chemical. Owing to the improved lipid and succinate production through adding citrate, the carbon conversion rate of M. alpina reached up to 52.17%, much higher than that of the control group (14.11%). The addition of citrate could redistribute carbon flux by regulating the expression level of genes related to tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolism. More carbon fluxes flow to lipid and succinate synthesis, which greatly improved the carbon conversion efficiency of M. alpina. This study provides an effective and straightforward strategy with potential economic benefits to improve carbon conversion efficiency in M. alpina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-temperature lubrication has always been a hot topic in the lubricant and grease industry, and is also an essential concern in the high-end equipment sector to be addressed. Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are an emerging material widely applied in the field of lubrication, owing to their exceptional lubricity and high load-bearing capacity. However, the vulnerability of CQDs to oxidation in air and reduced stability dramatically restrict their high-temperature application capability. In this study, a nanocomposite of amphiphilic polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) homopolymer with excellent lubricating properties and thermal stability, which is hydrogen bonded to CQDs (CQDs@PVP), was designed to achieve low friction and wear of lubricants at high temperatures. The CQDs@PVP are consistently dispersed in both PEG400 and water, and exhibit superior lubricity compared to unmodified CQDs at high temperatures (ranging from 200–150 °C and 90.50 °C). Meanwhile, the dense carbon film on the wear surface and the chemically reactive film of iron compounds directly contribute to the enhanced lubrication performance. These analytical results demonstrate the powerful candidacy of CQDs@PVP as a lubrication additive and promote future high-temperature applications of CQDs in industrial production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate and land use changes have a significant impact on the runoff generation process in urban environments, and these effects could get worse in the future. The combined contributions of these changes have increased the risk of flooding. Therefore, there is a need for integrated modeling to better understand the runoff variability, especially in small urban catchments. To quantify and separate the effects of land-use changes and climate change on the hydrological response of urban catchments with a distributed hydrological model (Storm Water Management Model, SWMM), this study introduces a new integrated approach based on the Machine Learning based land use change modeler and climate change scenarios under CMIP6. Based on supervised classification and land use change model analysis, accumulated impervious area increase from 22% (in 2023) to 33% (in 2060) was observed in the study area. Furthermore, integrating this projected increase in imperviousness with future climate change into SWMM by considering three different scenarios i.e., S1 (Climate Change), S2 (Combined Land Use and Climate Change), and S3 (Land use Change) resulted that climate change could cause an increase in runoff from 13.2% to 18.3% in peak runoff and the contribution of land use could range from 9.1% to 18.6%. Similarly, in response to the coupled effects of climate and land-use change, the runoff would likely change from 24.53% to 39.66%. Conclusively, the study showed that despite climate change, intensive urban development by the substitution of impervious surfaces could also have a severe impact on the microclimate and hydrology of small catchments. Lastly, this study could provide a way forward for the future planning and management of water resources in small catchments which could be extended to larger catchments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The past two decades has witnessed a remarkable increase in the number of microbial genomes retrieved from marine systems1,2. However, it has remained challenging to translate this marine genomic diversity into biotechnological and biomedical applications3,4. Here we recovered 43,191 bacterial and archaeal genomes from publicly available marine metagenomes, encompassing a wide range of diversity with 138 distinct phyla, redefining the upper limit of marine bacterial genome size and revealing complex trade-offs between the occurrence of CRISPR–Cas systems and antibiotic resistance genes. In silico bioprospecting of these marine genomes led to the discovery of a novel CRISPR–Cas9 system, ten antimicrobial peptides, and three enzymes that degrade polyethylene terephthalate. In vitro experiments confirmed their effectiveness and efficacy. This work provides evidence that global-scale sequencing initiatives advance our understanding of how microbial diversity has evolved in the oceans and is maintained, and demonstrates how such initiatives can be sustainably exploited to advance biotechnology and biomedicine.Analysis of 43,191 genomes obtained from publicly available marine bacterial and archaeal metagenome data provides insights into marine bacterial evolution, CRISPR–Cas defence and antibiotic resistance genes, and demonstrates the potential of marine metagenomes for biotechnological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low-harmonic (LOH) voltage of the DC link of three-phase voltage source converter (VSC) requires a large aluminum electrolytic capacitor for suppression under nonlinear AC current. Consequently, this work proposes an active decoupling control method combining DC-link LOH voltage closed loop and LOH current feedforward based on a DC–DC converter. This methodology effectively transfers the DC-link LOH voltage to the smaller-sized decoupling capacitor in the DC–DC converter, thereby reducing the number of capacitors required to stabilize of the VSC DC-link voltage. This work first investigates the relationship between the DC-link LOH voltage and the VSC nonlinear current. Second, a mathematical model for the decoupling capacitor voltage is derived, indicating that its voltage form is complex under nonlinear AC current, making direct voltage control arduous. Subsequently, the principle and design process of the proposed active decoupling control strategy are analyzed in detail. A dedicated fast-response filter structure is also utilized to extract the feedback LOH voltage and feedforward LOH current in the DC link. Meanwhile, a simple control strategy for the DC component of the decoupling capacitor voltage is proposed to improve the utilization of the decoupling capacitor. Finally, the effectiveness and correctness of the method are experimentally verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shifting thermal environment brought by global warming presents new concerns for urban residents. However, the lack of urban presentation in the global and regional climate models limits the ability of these models to provide useful information at the urban scale. This study examines the impact of 1.5 °C and 2 °C global warming levels (GWL1.5 and GWL2) on the future summer of Beijing, China. A new statistical-dynamical downscaling (SDD) method was applied using available Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) ensemble data to downscale climate projections across Beijing at different GWLs. The results showed that the maximum air temperature increase reached 3.5 °C and 4 °C at GWL1.5 and GWL2, respectively, in the central urban area of Beijing. The historical urban heat island (UHI) intensity first increased to 2.48 ± 0.97/1.02 ± 0.58 °C in GWL1.5 and then decreased to 2.24 ± 0.98/0.90 ± 0.69 °C in GWL2 at 22:00/09:00. Under GWL1.5, the UHI effect is greater in the eastern metropolitan areas (> 2 °C) than in the western regions (0.5–1.5 °C). The highest daytime and nighttime UHIs occurred mostly in LCZ154 (open high-rise area). The intensity, duration, and frequency of future heat waves (HWs) are increasing, especially in urban areas under GWL2. Climate information on UHIs and HWs under the Paris Agreement would be very helpful for stakeholders and city planners to develop near-term future local adaptation policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the multilayer thin-walled Inconel 625 alloy structures fabricated by the laser additive manufacturing (LAM) process, the poor plasticity of the interlaminar region often leads to structural fractures. In this paper, an oscillating LAM (O-LAM) technology using a transverse linear beam oscillation (LBO) process was proposed, and the effect of laser scanning speed on the forming accuracy, microstructure, crystallographic texture, and mechanical properties of interlaminar region was studied. The results show that the LBO process refined the grains and increased the number and length of high-angle grain boundaries in the interlaminar region. In addition, the LBO process with high laser scanning speed weakened the preferential orientation along the directions of laser scanning and deposition build-up. In particular, the dominant crystallographic textures of { 1 ¯ 10 } < 1 ¯ 1 ¯ 1 > and { 2 ¯ 21 } < 1 ¯ 1 ¯ 0 > in the interlaminar region were significantly reduced. The analysis of the Schmidt factor and the results of nano-indentation test show that the LBO process with high laser scanning speed reduced the stress concentration, and the elastic modulus and dislocation density in the interlaminar region. Therefore, the LBO process with high laser scanning speed can improve the plasticity and relieve the stress concentration of the interlaminar region, which is conducive to improving the overall mechanical properties of the Inconel 625 alloy multilayer thin-walled structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the location of the landslide scarp surface induced by water weakening of sliding zone soil and to propose an analytical method to calculate the location. Eight laboratory model tests were performed to reproduce such landslide scarp surfaces and to demonstrate a relationship between the location of scarp surface and the weakened sliding zone. Based on this relationship and the Bishop interslice force assumption, an analytical method was proposed to calculate the locations of laboratory-reproduced scarp surfaces. Finally, the analytical method was applied to real landslide scarp surfaces to assess its practical effectiveness. The inclined angles of scarp surfaces observed in the eight tests exhibit a wide range, varying from 63.9° to 80.9°, due to differences in the properties of the weakened sliding zone and the sliding mass. The calculated results for all the laboratory and real scarp surfaces reveal only one valley point at which the local lowest safety factor (SF) reaches its lowest value. This lowest value indicates the critical scarp surface, thus demonstrating that the critical scarp surface is readily found by using the analytical method. The locations of the calculated critical scarp surfaces are broadly consistent with the measured or published locations of laboratory and real scarp surfaces. When applied to real landslide scarp surfaces, the analytical method locates the critical scarp surface by using available scarp outcrop data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2022, a catastrophic flood triggered by the extreme precipitation in Sind Province, Pakistan. To better understand the comprehensive response of water vapor, rainfall, topography, and flood, the source of water vapor for the flood was calculated by the NCAR Command Language (NCL) application. Simultaneously, the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) data was collected from NASA for overlay analysis with water vapor observations. In addition, a digital elevation model (DEM) was also obtained to analyze the impact of topography on flood inundation. Importantly, multi Sentinel-1 data was used to monitor the long-term changes in flood inundation area. The extreme precipitation is dominated by water vapor continue transferred by southwest monsoon, especially impacted by the occurrence of cyclone. Simultaneously, influenced by the steep terrain that located in the north and west of Pakistan, the extreme precipitation first occurred in Islamabad and its adjacent area, subsequently in Punjab Province, and finally concentrated in Sind Province. The surface runoff induced by rainstorm converged in the junction of Sind and Punjab Province with the pattern of fire hose effect. Subsequently, the flood in Indus River in the Sind Province overflow into the low-lying area along the bank of Indus River due to the terrain of Indus River in these regions has the characteristics of over ground river, and the flood flow capacity is lower than that in northern of Pakistan. In addition, the long-term changes in the flood inundation area can be summarized into four stages: increase slowly period (In June), increase slightly period (In July), increase rapidly period (Between August and the beginning of September), rapidly decline period (After September 15, 2022). Importantly, a conceptual model of disaster caused by the fire pipe effect is summarized based on the comprehensive response of water vapor, rainfall, and topography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathogenesis and development of Moyamoya disease are still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of desmoglein-2 (DSG2) on Moyamoya disease and determine the inhibitory effect of DSG2 in vascular remodeling in Moyamoya disease. RNA sequencing, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and western blotting were used to detect the expression of DSG2 in the superficial temporal artery (STA) tissues of Moyamoya disease. The association between DSG2 and endothelial cells' biological activities was investigated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), migration assay, tube formation assay, flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, and TUNEL apoptotic cell detection kit. Pathways affected by overexpression or knockdown of DSG2 were identified in endothelial cells. The expression of DSG2 in the STA tissues of Moyamoya disease was lower than that in normal controls. Overexpression of DSG2 inhibits the proliferation and migration but promotes apoptosis in endothelial cells, and low DSG2 levels result in impaired angiogenesis. In addition, there was an interaction between DSG2 and MMP-9, and DSG2 acted through the PI3K signaling in endothelial cells. Our results indicate that DSG2 affects PI3K signaling in vascular endothelial cells, and MMP-9 is involved in DSG2-mediated vascular changes in Moyamoya disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and objectives: Laparoscopic splenectomy and esophagogastric devascularization (LSED) are minimally invasive, effective, and safe in treating esophageal-fundic variceal bleeding with portal hypertension (PHT). The study aimed to assess the learning curve of LSED by cumulative summation (CUSUM) analysis. The 10-year follow-up data for LSED and open surgery were also examined. Patients and methods: Five hundred and ninety-four patients were retrospectively analyzed. Operation time, intraoperative blood loss, open operation conversion, and postoperative complications were selected as the evaluation indicators of surgical ability. The learning curve of LESD was assessed by the CUSUM approach. Patient features, perioperative indices, and 10-year follow-up data were examined. Results: Totally 236 patients underwent open surgery, and 358 underwent LSED. Patient characteristics were similar between groups. The LSED patients experienced less intraoperative blood loss, fewer complications, and faster recovery compared to the open surgery cohort. The learning curve of LESD was maximal for a case number of 50. Preoperative general characteristics were comparable for both stages. But the skilled stage had decreased operation time, reduced blood loss, less postoperative complications, and better recovery compared to the learning stage. The LSED group had higher recurrent hemorrhage-free survival rate and increased overall survival in comparison with cases administered open surgery in the 10-year follow-up. Free-liver cancer rates were similar between two groups. Conclusions: About 50 cases are needed to master the LSED procedure. Compared to open surgery, LSED is a safer, feasible, and safe procedure for PHT patients, correlating with decreased rebleeding rate and better overall survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existence of striations, and scratches in Abrasive waterjet (AWJ) cutting surface necessitates an exploration of these features for enhancing the cutting accuracy of AWJ machining. This article investigates surface roughness and micro-scratch morphology characteristics on brass cutting surfaces. According to the variation law of surface roughness values, the cutting section can be divided into three regions: the initial region, smooth region, and rough region. Numerous micron-scale scratches were observed in the cutting section. The scratch length, width, and depth values all show an increasing trend as the cutting depth increases, with the scratch length experiencing the greatest growth and variability. The influence of position and traverse speed on scratch size was studied using variance analysis. Furthermore, the length and width of the scratches on the cutting surface are significantly influenced by their position, accounting for 89.19% and 81.13%, respectively. Traverse speed had a minor effect on scratch length and width, accounting for 0.01% and 2.64% respectively. The depth of the scratches is influenced by their position on the cutting surface at a rate of 41.12%, while traverse speed had an impact of 38.10%. Finally, a mathematical method based on standard scores was proposed to assess the quality of the cutting section based on micro-scratch dimension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocrystalline metallic materials have the merit of high strength but usually suffer from poor ductility and rapid grain coarsening, limiting their practical application. Here, we introduce a core-shell nanostructure in a multicomponent alloy to address these challenges simultaneously, achieving a high tensile strength of 2.65 GPa, a large uniform elongation of 17%, and a high thermal stability of 1173 K. Our strategy relies on an ordered superlattice structure that excels in dislocation accumulation, encased by a ≈3 nm disordered face-centered-cubic nanolayer acting as dislocation sources. The ordered superlattice with high anti-phase boundary energy retards dislocation motions, promoting their interaction and storage within the nanograins. The disordered interfacial nanolayer promotes dislocation emission and effectively accommodates the plastic strain at grain boundaries, preventing intergranular cracking. Consequently, the order-disorder core-shell nanostructure exhibits enhanced work-hardening capability and large ductility. Moreover, such core-shell nanostructure exhibits high coarsening resistance at elevated temperatures, enabling it high thermal stability. Such a design strategy holds promise for developing high-performance materials. Nanocrystalline metallic materials have the merit of high strength, but usually suffer from poor ductility and rapid grain coarsening. Here, the authors develop a nanocrystalline core-shell alloy to overcome these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vibration isolation for low frequency excitation and the power supply for low power monitoring sensors are important issues in bridge engineering. The main problem is how to effectively combine the vibration isolator with the energy harvester to form a multi-functional structure. In this paper, a system called quasi-zero stiffness energy harvesting isolator (QZS-EHI) with triple negative stiffness (TNS) is proposed. The TNS structure consists of linear springs, rigid links, sliders, and ring permanent magnets. Newton’s second law and Kirchhoff’s law construct dynamic equations of the QZS-EHI, and a comparison is made to contrast it with other QZS and linear isolators. The comparison field includes the QZS range, amplitude-frequency relationship, force transmissibility, and energy harvested power. The isolator can be applied to many engineering fields such as bridges, automobiles, and railway transportation. This paper selects bridge engineering as the main field for the dynamic analysis of this system. Considering the multi-span beam bridge, this paper compares different situations including the bridge with QZS-EHI support, with linear stiffness isolator support, and with single beam support. All results show that the QZS-EHI is not only better than the traditional isolator with linear stiffness under both harmonic and stochastic excitation, but also better than some QZS isolators with double or single negative stiffness in bridge vibration isolation and energy harvesting. Theoretical analysis is verified to correspond to the simulation analysis, which means the proposed QZS-EHI has practical application value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel treatment scheme for expansive soil slopes, incorporating a flexible facing, steel cables, and soil nails. Based on completed practical engineering projects, a series of high-precision numerical models for differently supported expansive soil slopes were established. These include hard facing with soil nails, flexible facing with soil nails, and the newly proposed flexible facing with steel cables and soil nails. By comparing safety coefficients, soil displacement patterns, slope surface strain distributions, soil nail force diagrams, and steel cable force distributions under different conditions with or without considering expansion forces, the study thoroughly elucidates the working mechanisms of various support schemes in addressing expansive soil slopes. A comprehensive comparative analysis reveals the irreplaceable advantages of the proposed flexible facing incorporating steel cables incorporating soil nail support (flexible-cable-nail support, FCN support) scheme in the treatment of expansive soil slopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The role of neutrophils in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been a subject of debate due to their involvement in antiviral responses and immune regulation. This study aimed to elucidate the neutrophil characteristics in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods: Through flow cytometry and ribonucleic acid-sequencing analysis, the phenotypes and counts of neutrophils were analyzed in patients with CHB. Moreover, the effects of HBeAg on neutrophils and the corresponding pattern recognition receptors were identified. Simultaneously, the cross-talk between neutrophils and natural killer (NK) cells was investigated. Results: Neutrophils were activated in patients with CHB, characterized by higher expression levels of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), cluster of differentiation 86, and interleukin-8, and lower levels of CXC motif chemokine receptor (CXCR) 1 and CXCR2. Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) partially induces neutrophil activation through the Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2). A consistent upregulation of the TLR2 and HBeAg expression was observed in patients with CHB. Notably, the genes encoding molecules pivotal for NK-cell function upon NK receptor engagement enriched in neutrophils after HBeAg activation. The HBeAg-activated neutrophils demonstrated the ability to decrease the production of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in NK cells, while the PD-1 and PD-L1 pathways partially mediated the immunosuppression. Conclusions: The immunosuppression of neutrophils induced by HBeAg suggests a novel pathogenic mechanism contributing to immune tolerance in patients with CHB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]