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Twenty-four hours continuous intraocular pressure (IOP) monitoring is beneficial for glaucoma care. Contact lens sensors using LC technology can achieve non-invasive continuous IOP measuring around the clock and are relatively simple in principle and structure, thus dominating the mainstream. Among them, stretchable inductive LC contact lens sensors constructed with liquid metal have advantages in signal quality as well as wearing comfort, but currently its sensitivity is slightly insufficient. Here, we propose an LC sensor that constructed with liquid metal to form the stretchable inductance and capacitance further. The capacitive plate and inductive coil can response to IOP changes simultaneously, thus able to enhance the sensitivity in principle. We modeled the sensing mechanism and conducted design, fabrication, as well as various tests. The device exhibits good characteristics, including reliability, good signal quality, etc. Especially, it has a threefold increase in sensitivity, exceeding the current state-of-the-art contact lens sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic degradation technology serves as an environmental-friendly mean for the removal of organic pollutants in wastewater. La2Zr2O7/Bi2Sn2O7 (LZO/BSO, cata) composite photocatalysts have been successfully fabricated through the in-situ growth approach. The phase composition, microstructure and optical property of the materials have been examined. The results indicate that the "cata + H2O2 + vis" hybrid system exhibites the optimal photocatalytic performance in the photocatalytic degradation process of tetracycline (TC). Under this optimal condition, the degradation rate of TC reaches 90% after 70 min of visible light irradiation. And the apparent rate constant of the "cata + H2O2 + vis" system is obviously higher than those of "H2O2 + vis" and "cata + H2O2″ systems. The main active species have been confirmed to include ·O2−, h+ and ·OH in the degradation process of TC by the "cata + H2O2 + vis” system. The enhanced photocatalytic activity is achieved by improving the separation efficiency of charge carriers in heterojunction structure and producing more active species with the assistance of hydrogen peroxide. The effective Z-scheme-type heterojunction photocatalyst proposed in this study has the potential to be applied in the degradation of organic pollutants in wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the influence of slip structure on the mechanical behavior and residual strength of casing, parameters such as support force and friction force between slips and casing were derived based on the interaction relationship between slips and casing. Tensile tests were conducted on casing materials in this paper, and the working process of anchoring casing with single and double slips was simulated. The influence of indentation depth on the residual strength of casing was analyzed. The results show that the deformation of the casing is relatively severe when the single slip sealing force reaches 120 kN. According to the law of residual strength curve, there is a turning point where the stress concentration factor tends to be gentle, and the corresponding indentation depth value at this point increases with the increase in casing diameter. Single slips were unable to effectively bite into P110 and P125 casings, and the bite did not achieve the effect of setting the casing. However, when double slips were used to anchor the casing, the inner wall of the casing had deeper indentation, and the double slips could firmly seat the casing. These results indicate that replacing single slips with double slips can effectively achieve the setting effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this methodology, a nanomagnetic copper catalyst prepared via the immobilization of CuCl2 on the surface of Fe3O4@SiO2-APA-Amide/Imid ligand and its structure identified by several spectroscopic techniques including XRD, FT-IR, VSM, SEM, TEM, ICP-OES, TGA, EDX and elemental mapping analysis. This Fe3O4@SiO2-APA-Amide/Imid-CuCl2 nanomaterial can catalyze the preparation of 1,2,3-triazole derivatives through reactions of alkyne derivatives with NaN3 and aryl halides under ecofriendly conditions. It is noteworthy that the 1,2,3-triazole products were obtained with high yields when 2-phenylthiirane was used instead of aryl halides. In this research, one-pot three-component reactions were successfully performed in water, and the corresponding triazole products were obtained with high to excellent yields. After the end of the reaction, the Fe3O4@SiO2-APA-Amide/Imid-CuCl2 catalyst was recovered by magnetic separation and reused for 8 runs with a constant efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silty soil is a transitional soil between clay and sand and is widely distributed around the world. With the rapid urban development and associated infrastructure need, silty soil has become more widely used as the bearing soil for foundations and roads. The liquefaction of silty soil under the earthquake can cause serious damage to buildings and infrastructure resting on such soil. Correctly analyzing the dynamic characteristics of silty soil in earthquake areas plays a major role in the success or failure of infrastructure construction. Therefore, it is particularly important to study the various factors affecting the dynamic characteristics of silty soil and to analyze the changing trend and associated mechanism on the dynamic characteristics of silty soil. In this paper, a set of cycle triaxial tests were carried out using the orthogonal design method to study the effects of four factors, namely initial void ratio, load frequency, clay content and silt content, on the dynamic characteristics of saturated silty soil at different levels. The orthogonal design method is used to study the order of influence of four factors on the dynamic strength and excess pore water pressure of silty soil, and the significance level of each factor was also assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long noncoding RNA FAM83H-antisense RNA 1 (FAM83H-AS1) is involved in gastric cancer (GC) development. This study determined whether FAM83H-AS1 was regulated by N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications in GC. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine the expression levels of FAM83H-AS1 and Wilms' tumor 1 associated protein (WTAP). The protein content of WTAP was evaluated using western blotting. To assess the m6A alterations in FAM83H-AS1, methylated RNA immunoprecipitation was performed to identify interactions between WTAP and FAM83H-AS1. Functionally, the proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells were measured using a Cell Counting Kit-8 and transwell assays, respectively. High expression levels of FAM83H-AS1 and WTAP were detected in GC samples and there was a positive correlation between them. In addition, WTAP mediates FAM83H-AS1 expression in an m6A-dependent manner. Further investigations indicated that WTAP silencing reversed the cancer-promoting role of FAM83H-AS1 overexpression in GC cell migration, proliferation, and invasion. Our results suggest that WTAP-mediated FAM83H-AS1 promotes GC development via m6A modification. Our findings provide new biomarkers for GC diagnosis and targeted therapy. Wilms' tumor 1 associated protein (WTAP) promotes gastric cancer (GC) by accelerating cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells via the N6-methyladenosine(m6A) modification of long non coding RNA FAM83H-AS1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By accurately measuring composition and energy spectrum of cosmic ray, the origin problem of so called "knee" region (energy >one PeV) can be solved. However, up to the present, the results of the spectrum in the knee region obtained by several previous experiments have shown obvious differences, so they cannot give effective evidence for judging the theoretical models on the origin of the knee. Recently, the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) has reported several major breakthroughs and important results in astro-particle physics field. Relying on its advantages of wide-sky survey, high altitude location and large area detector arrays, the research content of LHAASO experiment mainly includes ultra high-energy gamma-ray astronomy, measurement of cosmic ray spectra in the knee region, searching for dark matter and new phenomena of particle physics at higher energy. The electron and thermal neutron detector (EN-Detector) is a new scintillator detector which applies thermal neutron detection technology to measure cosmic ray extensive air shower (EAS). This technology is an extension of LHAASO. The EN-Detector Array (ENDA) can highly efficiently measure thermal neutrons generated by secondary hadrons so called "skeleton" of EAS. In this paper, we perform the optimization of ENDA configuration, and obtain expectations on the ENDA results, including thermal neutron distribution, trigger efficiency and capability of cosmic ray composition separation. The obtained real data results are consistent with those by the Monte Carlo simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Acupuncture & Tuina Science is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As environmental challenges escalate, green development is crucial for sustainability. This study analyzes China's county-level agricultural green total factor productivity using SBM and ML index, introducing a comprehensive index to quantify the impact of different types of environmental regulations on productivity. The findings reveal the following: baseline analysis reveals that comprehensive environmental regulation notably boosts agricultural green total factor productivity (AGTFP), with regulatory intensity positively linked to productivity growth. Other factors like policy intervention, industrial structure, savings levels, and per capita GDP also favorably impact productivity. All three types of regulations, command, incentive, and voluntary type, substantially enhance AGTFP. The mediating effect test results show that all three types of regulations directly and positively impact AGTFP. Indirect effects vary: command-type regulation's mediating effect through independent R&D is significant, accounting for 39% of the impact. For incentive type, both industry structure upgrading (23.79%) and independent R&D (3.1%) mediate the effect. For voluntary type, technological advancement via independent R&D mediates about 13.0% of the impact. Heterogeneity analysis reveals distinct impacts of different environmental regulations on AGTFP across regions. Command-type regulation is most effective in the west, while in the central region, both command- and incentive-type regulations have similar promotional effects. In the east, incentive- and voluntary-type regulations show stronger impacts. Robustness tests, including endogeneity testing, dependent variable substitution, sample winsorizing, and model substitution, consistently confirm the baseline finding that environmental regulation significantly boosts AGTFP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variable-coefficient equations can be used to describe certain phenomena when the inhomogeneous media and nonuniform boundaries are taken into consideration. It is meaningful to solve the exact solution of variable-coefficient equations. In this paper, a (2+1)-dimensional variable-coefficient Boussinesq equation is investigated. The integrability is firstly examined by the Painlevé analysis method. Secondly, the Bäcklund transformations, one- and two-soliton solutions of the (2+1)-dimensional variable-coefficient Boussinesq equation are studied by virtue of the Hirota bilinear method. Propagation characteristics and interaction behaviors of the solitons are discussed: (i) soliton shapes and interaction behaviors are affected by the variable coefficients, and (ii) the two-soliton interaction is elastic, and the shape and velocity does not change after the collision, and only the shift changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the addition of potato soluble dietary fiber (PSDF) in 0%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8%, and 1.0% during concentration freeze-thawing (FT, at − 20 °C for 22 h and then at 30 °C for 2 h) on the structural and physicochemical properties of potato starch was investigated. During FT, the potato starch granules break, which increases the leaching of amylose, However, the addition of PSDF during FT could inhibit the leach of amylose than without PSDF. Besides, addition of PSDF during FT increases the short-range ordered structures, and relative crystallinity reduces the value of G′, G″, and peak viscosity of potato starch treated by FT. Furthermore, PSDF could inhibit the swelling of FT-treated potato starch granules during heating and improve the shear resistance of FT-treated potato starch gel. And the degree of effect is closely related to the concentration of PSDF. These findings indicated that PSDF could be used to adjust the quality of raw starch products during freeze-thawing and thus improve the applications of PSDF in starch-based foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately modeling the protein fitness landscapes holds great importance for protein engineering. Pre-trained protein language models have achieved state-of-the-art performance in predicting protein fitness without wet-lab experimental data, but their accuracy and interpretability remain limited. On the other hand, traditional supervised deep learning models require abundant labeled training examples for performance improvements, posing a practical barrier. In this work, we introduce FSFP, a training strategy that can effectively optimize protein language models under extreme data scarcity for fitness prediction. By combining meta-transfer learning, learning to rank, and parameter-efficient fine-tuning, FSFP can significantly boost the performance of various protein language models using merely tens of labeled single-site mutants from the target protein. In silico benchmarks across 87 deep mutational scanning datasets demonstrate FSFP's superiority over both unsupervised and supervised baselines. Furthermore, we successfully apply FSFP to engineer the Phi29 DNA polymerase through wet-lab experiments, achieving a 25% increase in the positive rate. These results underscore the potential of our approach in aiding AI-guided protein engineering. In this work, the authors proposed a few-shot learning approach that can efficiently optimize protein language models for fitness prediction. It combines the techniques of meta-transfer learning, learning to rank, and parameter-efficient fine-tuning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relative permeability (RP) curves which provide fundamental insights into porous media flow behavior serve as critical parameters in reservoir engineering and numerical simulation studies. However, obtaining accurate RP curves remains a challenge due to expensive experimental costs, core contamination, measurement errors, and other factors. To address this issue, an innovative approach using deep learning strategy is proposed for the prediction of rock sample RP curves directly from mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) measurements which include the mercury injection curve, mercury withdrawal curve, and pore size distribution. To capture the distinct characteristics of different rock samples' MICP curves effectively, the Gramian Angular Field (GAF) based graph transformation method is introduced for mapping the curves into richly informative image forms. Subsequently, these 2D images are combined into three-channel red, green, blue (RGB) images and fed into a Convolutional Long Short-Term Memory (ConvLSTM) model within our established self-supervised learning framework. Simultaneously the dependencies and evolutionary sequences among image samples are captured through the limited MICP-RP samples and self-supervised learning framework. After that, a highly generalized RP curve calculation proxy framework based on deep learning called RPCDL is constructed by the autonomously generated nearly infinite training samples. The remarkable performance of the proposed method is verified with the experimental data from rock samples in the X oilfield. When applied to 37 small-sample data spaces for the prediction of 10 test samples, the average relative error is 3.6%, which demonstrates the effectiveness of our approach in mapping MICP experimental results to corresponding RP curves. Moreover, the comparison study against traditional CNN and LSTM illustrated the great performance of the RPCDL method in the prediction of both So and Sw lines in oil–water RP curves. To this end, this method offers an intelligent and robust means for efficiently estimating RP curves in various reservoir engineering scenarios without costly experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Similar materials were used to make quasi-sandstone with parallel double fractures, and the process of freezing inclined shaft construction was reproduced through indoor freeze–thaw tests. The basic physical parameters of double fractured quasi-sandstone before and after thawing were measured, and indoor triaxial compression tests of double fractured quasi-sandstone with different dip angles after thawing were carried out. The influence of fracture dip angle on the mechanical properties and failure characteristics of the quasi-sandstone was analyzed. The results show the following. The double fractured quasi-sandstone had strong water absorption, and there were different degrees of freeze–thaw damage. Under triaxial compression, with the increase of fracture dip angle, the peak strength of the quasi-sandstone first increased and then decreased, and it was the minimum when the fracture dip angle was 30°. The energy evolution law was similar for different crack dip angles. In the elastic stage, the growth rate of elastic energy was greater than that of dissipated energy, whereas in the plastic stage, the dissipated energy gradually increased and exceeded the elastic performance. When the crack dip angle was 90°, the increase in the growth rate of dissipated energy was most significant. In addition, there were three main failure modes of quasi-sandstone under triaxial loading: when the dip angle of the fracture was 0°, wing crack propagation occurred in the rock, causing rock bridge failure. When the fracture dip angle was 30° or 60°, the rock was sheared. When the fracture dip angle was 90°, the rock was tensioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the traveling wave solutions for a modified Leslie-Gower predator–prey model under continuous and discrete diffusion cases are investigated respectively. First, the existence of weak traveling wave solutions is shown by Schauder's fixed point theorem with the help of positive upper and lower solutions, which can remove the singularity of the system with b = 0 at u = 0 . Then we use two methods, a squeeze method and a Lyapunov function method, to prove that, under additional conditions, the weak traveling wave solutions are actually traveling wave solutions. Finally, by showing the nonexistence of traveling wave solutions, the minimal wave speed is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The poor lithium ion conductivity of solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer limits the improvement of cycling performance of lithium metal batteries. Here, we pre-designed a Li2S/Li2S2 inorganic layer to participate into the formation of SEI through a simple one-step melting sulfur strategy. Its high ionic conductivity promotes the rapid and uniform transmission of lithium ion, and effectively inhibits the side reaction and the growth of lithium dendrites. Benefiting from these advantages, Li/Li symmetrical batteries using artificial SEI with Li2S/Li2S2 show small polarization voltages (25–40 mV), and can run for nearly 1500 h, which is 2 times than that of bare lithium. Moreover, the application of Li/LiFePO4 battery can be extended to 235 cycles with a high capacity retention of 90% under high load of 21.6 mg cm−2 and lean electrolyte of 2 µL mg−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The realm of chemiresistive gas sensors has witnessed a notable surge in interest in two-dimensional (2D) materials. The advancement of high-performance 2D gas sensing materials necessitates a quantitative theoretical method capable of accurately predicting their response. In this context, we present our first-principles framework for calculating the response of 2D materials, incorporating both carrier concentration and mobility. We showcase our method by applying it to prototype NH3 sensing on 2D MoS2 and comparing the results with prior experiments in the literature. Our approach offers a thorough solution for carrier concentration, taking into account the electronic structure around the Fermi level. In conjunction with the mobility calculation, this enables us to provide a quantitative prediction of the response profile and limit of detection (LOD), yielding a notably improved alignment with prior experimental findings. Further analysis quantifies the contributions of carrier concentration and mobility to the overall response of 2D MoS2 to NH3. We identify that discrepancies in the charge-transfer-based method primarily stem from overestimating carrier concentrations. Our method opens exciting opportunities to explore carrier mobility-dominated sensing materials, facilitates efficient screening of promising gas sensing materials, and quantitative understanding of the sensing mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple myeloma (MM) denotes a cancerous growth characterized by abnormal proliferation of plasma cells. Growing evidence suggests that the complexity in addressing MM lies in the presence of minimal residual disease (MRD) within the body. MRD assessment is becoming increasingly important for risk assessment in patients with MM. Similarly, the levels of serum free protein light chain and their ratio play a crucial role in assessing the disease burden and changes in MM. In this paper, we review and explore the utilization of MRD and serum free light chain ratio in the treatment of MM, delving into their respective characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, and their interrelation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serving as one of the largest rivers in terms of both sediment and organic carbon transport fluxes in the world, the Yellow River plays a crucial role in regional biogeochemical process as well as in the global carbon cycle. However, although a large number of studies have been carried out on the flux, composition, source and seasonal variation of total particulate organic carbon in the Yellow River so far, studies on molecular biomarkers at different spatial and temporal scales are still scarce. In this study, we focus on the molecular and hydrogen isotopic properties of leaf wax n-alkanes among different types of samples which obtained from different seasons (flood vs. non-flood) along the lower Yellow River. The molecular distribution of n-alkanes show that the riparian topsoils are subject to inputs from the overlying vegetation, while the suspended sediments from the flood season are characterized by the mixing of soil materials which originate from various stratigraphy with different ages on the Chinese Loess Plateau. Due to the contrasting hydrodynamic conditions, the n-alkanes in suspended sediments also show distinct molecular composition between flood and non-flood seasons. Additionally, considering the effect of climatic factors, the proportion of monocots in flood-season suspended sediments is calculated from a semi-quantitative perspective using δ2Hwax. Our findings may bring to light new considerations for the interpretation of leaf wax proxies in studies of organic matter sources of Yellow River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional direction of arrival (DOA) estimation methods based on sparse reconstruction commonly use convex or smooth functions to approximate non-convex and non-smooth sparse representation problems. This approach often introduces errors into the sparse representation model, necessitating the development of improved DOA estimation algorithms. Moreover, conventional DOA estimation methods typically assume that the signal coincides with a predetermined grid. However, in reality, this assumption often does not hold true. The likelihood of a signal not aligning precisely with the predefined grid is high, resulting in potential grid mismatch issues for the algorithm. To address the challenges associated with grid mismatch and errors in sparse representation models, this article proposes a novel high-performance off-grid DOA estimation approach based on iterative proximal projection (IPP). In the proposed method, we employ an alternating optimization strategy to jointly estimate sparse signals and grid offset parameters. A proximal function optimization model is utilized to address non-convex and non-smooth sparse representation problems in DOA estimation. Subsequently, we leverage the smoothly clipped absolute deviation penalty (SCAD) function to compute the proximal operator for solving the model. Simulation and sea trial experiments have validated the superiority of the proposed method in terms of higher resolution and more accurate DOA estimation performance when compared to both traditional sparse reconstruction methods and advanced off-grid techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), as an endemic species of China, is also a flagship species of wildlife Conservation. However, the accuracy of individual identification of giant pandas is typically problematic due to the high error rate of microsatellite typing methods. In this study, a panel of 61 SNP makers was developed for individual identification. Of these, 55 polymorphic SNP markers were successfully genotyped. The observed heterozygosity (Ho), expected heterozygosity (He) and polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged from 0.056 to 0.611 (mean 0.352), 0.131–0.509 (mean 0.389) and 0.099–0.389(mean 0.305), respectively. No SNPs significantly deviated from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (P < 0.05). Our study provides a framework for improving the accuracy of individual identification of giant pandas, especially for poor quality samples collected from the wild. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) with high catalytic activity as well as great stability are demonstrating great promotion in electrocatalytic energy conversion, which is also a big challenge to achieve. Herein, we proposed a facile synthetic strategy to construct nickel-iron bimetallic hydroxide nanoribbon stabilized single-atom iridium catalysts (Ir-NiFe-OH), where the nickel-iron hydroxide nanoribbon not only can serve as good electronic conductor, but also can well stabilize and fully expose single-atom sites. Adopted as catalyst for urea oxidation reaction (UOR), it exhibited excellent UOR performance that it only needed a low operated potential of 1.38 V to achieve the current density of 100 mA·cm−2. In-situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectrum, and density functional theory calculations proved that Ir species are active centers and the existence of both Ni and Fe in the local structure of Ir atom can optimize the d-band center of Ir species, promoting the adsorption of intermediates and desorption of products for UOR. The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER)/UOR electrocatalytic cell demanded voltages of 1.46 and 1.50 V to achieve 50 and 100 mA·cm−2, respectively, which demonstrated a higher activity and better stability than those of conventional catalysts. This work opens a new avenue to develop catalysts for UORs with boosted activity and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein/breast cancer type 2 susceptibility protein-containing complex subunit 3 (BRCC3), a deubiquitinase (DUBs), is overexpressed in various cancers. However, the underlying biological roles of BRCC3 in adenocarcinoma colon (COAD) have yet to be decrypted. Objective: In this work, we explored the potential biological function of BRCC3 in the natural process of COAD cells. Methods: The expression levels of BRCC3 in COAD tissues and cell lines were investigated via quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting analyses. Meanwhile, short hairpin RNAs targeting BRCC3 (sh-BRCC3) or mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (MET) (sh-MET) were used to investigate the biological function, including proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) progression in COAD cells. Furthermore, the expression levels of EMT-related biomarkers were detected with western blotting analysis. Furthermore, we also performed Co-IP assay to identify the correlation between BRCC3 and MET. Results: BRCC3 expression was increased in COAD tissues and cell lines. ShRNA-mediated downmodulation of BRCC3 in COAD cell lines induced EMT progression. BRCC3 knockdown resulted in decreased migration as well as invasion and increased apoptosis of SW480 and Lovo cells. Besides, MET was regulated by BRCC3 and involved in the migration, invasion, and EMT in SW480 and Lovo cells. Finally, we uncovered that the overexpressed MET reversed the effects of BRCC3 knockdown in COAD cell development. Conclusions: BRCC3 acted as a critical factor in the development of COAD by deubiquitinating and stabilizing MET, which might provide an emerging biomarker for the therapeutic and diagnosis strategy of COAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Timely and accurate detection and identification of cavities under urban roads is the key to road safety. Due to the inability to obtain accurate migration velocity and the difficulty of achieving complete convergence of diffraction signals of the cavity disease, traditional migration methods struggle to accurately identify and locate the subgrade cavity. This paper proposes a GPR image migration processing (TUFK method) based on 2D undecimated wavelet transform and the F–K method in accordance with the high-precision imaging of the subgrade cavity. The finite-difference forward models of subgrade cavity without and with noise are established, and the model test of cavity detection by GPR is carried out in the laboratory. Through the fine extraction and migration processing of the weak diffraction signals from the cavity, the optimal velocity required for migration is analyzed, and the TUFK method is applied to the migration process of GPR data acquired for the purpose of cavity detection. Furthermore, the proposed method is applied to the processing of GPR data acquired in the field with a cavity below the roadbed. The results show that the TUFK method can accurately extract the diffraction signals from the cavity and achieve the fine convergence of cavity diffraction signals whether in noiseless or noisy environments. Compared with the traditional Kirchhoff and F–K migration methods, this method can effectively obtain accurate migration velocity and the migration results can reflect the actual position and shape of the cavity. This study can provide a new idea and effective method for the imaging of subgrade cavity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, silicon/iron binary aerogel (shortened to HFGel in the following text) was prepared from industrial solid waste fly ash. Antimony in the simulated solution and mine antimony wastewater were adsorbed with HFGel, respectively. The results showed that (1) HFGel has a three-dimensional network structure consisting of spherical nanoparticles with a specific surface area of about 346.4 m2/g, a pore size of 4.42 nm, and a pore volume of 0.43 cm3/g. (2) The adsorption of Sb(V) relies on the functional Fe-OH. The maximum adsorption capacity of HFGel on Sb(V) was 58.82 mg/g. The adsorption of Sb(V) by HFGel followed the secondary adsorption kinetics and Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. (3) The adsorption efficiency of HFGel decreased from 93% to 80.4% after five cycles. (4) HFGel has excellent selective adsorption performance for antimony. When the concentrations of CO32−, SO42− and PO43− were 300 mg/L, 500 mg/L, and 100 mg/L, respectively, the removal rates of Sb(V) were 91.9%, 89.9%, and 83.7%, respectively. (5) After a single oxidation-adsorption process, HFGel removed 99.2% of antimony from mine wastewater. The concentration of effluent is < 8 μg/L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Phosphoric acid doped proton exchange membranes often experience performance degradation above 200 °C due to membrane creeping and phosphoric acid evaporation, migration, dehydration, and condensation. To address these issues, here we present gel-state polybenzimidazole membranes with double cross-linked three-dimensional layered structures via a polyphosphoric acid sol-gel process, enabling stable operation above 200 °C. These membranes, featuring proton-conducting cross-linking phosphate bridges and branched polybenzimidazole networks, effectively anchor and retain phosphoric acid molecules, prevent 96% of its dehydration and condensation, improve creep resistance, and maintain excellent proton conductivity stability. The resulting membrane, with superior through-plane proton conductivity of 0.348 S cm−1, delivers outstanding peak power densities ranging from 1.20–1.48 W cm−2 in fuel cells operated at 200-240 °C and a low voltage decay rate of only 0.27 mV h−1 over a 250-hour period at 220 °C, opening up possibilities for their direct integration with methanol steam reforming systems. Phosphoric acid (PA) doped proton exchange membranes (PEMs) often degrade above 200 °C due to membrane creeping, PA dehydration, and condensation. Here, the authors introduce gel-state polybenzimidazole PEMs with double cross-linked 3D layered structures, enabling efficient and stable fuel cell operation above 200 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symptoms of depression and anxiety usually co-occur and are inextricably linked to sleep disturbance. However, little is known about the symptom-to-symptom relationships among these three mental disorders. Hence, to improve our understanding of concurrent depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance, we used the network analysis approach to construct an interplay relationship among the above three mental disorders and identify which specific symptoms bridge these aggregations. We collected data from a large sample (N = 6710, male = 3074, female = 3636; meanage = 19.28) at a university. We estimated the symptom network structure of depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance as assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and Youth Self-Rating Insomnia Scale during the COVID-19 lockdown. We further investigated four goals: first, identifying the individual core symptoms in the network by the index of "expected influence"; second, determining the bridge symptoms that play roles in linking different mental disorders by the index of bridge expected influence (1-step); third, examining the robustness of all results; and fourth, providing an overall structure that may or may not differ by sex. The network structure was stable, accurate, and predictable. Items referring to sleep dissatisfaction, poor sleep quality, and uncontrollable worry were potentially core symptoms in the interplay among depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance. Sleep, guilt, restlessness, irritability, and feeling afraid can function as bridges among depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance, which is clinically relevant and theoretically important. The results suggested that the network structures significantly differed between the female and male networks. Robustness tests also revealed that the results were reliable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(Mg, Nb) co-doped TiO2 colossal dielectric ceramics were successfully prepared at 1200 °C for 24 min. The effects of different electric field on phase structure, microstructure and dielectric properties have been systematically studied. All the flash sintered samples were pure rutile TiO2 structure, and no second phase was produced. With the increase of electric field, the dielectric constant (at 1 kHz) firstly increases and then decreases. When the electric field is 550 V/cm, the dielectric properties (ε′ ≈ 6.0 × 105, tanδ ≈ 0.73) of the ceramic sample are the best. Flash sintered samples were annealed at different temperatures (800–1000 °C) in order to reduce dielectric loss. As the annealing temperature increases, the dielectric constant decreases gradually. When the annealing temperature is 800 °C, the dielectric constant of the ceramic sample is about 7.1 × 104 and the dielectric loss is about 0.37 (twice reduced) at 1 kHz. Impedance spectroscopy (IS) data indicated that ceramics consist of semi-conductive grains and insulated grain boundaries. This good dielectric property was attributed to the internal barrier layer capacitance (IBLC) effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employed an improved thermal compression bonding process with two temperature settings (180 °C/250 °C, 250 °C/250 °C) to rapidly fabricate the complete intermetallic compound joints. While observing and evaluating the microstructure and shear strength of the joints, the influence of holding time and temperature gradients on the growth and evolution of the interfacial IMCs were investigated. The results demonstrated that reducing the temperature gradient can mitigate the adverse effects caused by significant differences in IMC thickness, while an overall increase in system temperature accelerated IMC growth. Utilizing vacuum thermal compression bonding allowed the rapidly forming complete IMC joints within 15 to 30 min and suppressed the voids effectively. In comparison to traditional transient liquid phase bonding, the rate of full IMC joints formation was accelerated by a factor of 2 to 4, accompanied by an average shear strength enhancement ranging from 8.9 to 18.7%. Thus, vacuum thermal compression bonding demonstrates the potential for rapidly fabricating high-strength full IMC joints with the judicious selection of appropriate temperature conditions, representing a promising technological advancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flash sintering is considered a promising energy-saving and efficient technology for preparing high-temperature ceramics. The effects of limited current on flash sintering parameters, microstructure, and electrical properties of (La1/2, Ta1/2)0.02Ti0.98O2 ceramic were investigated by the XRD, SEM, XPS, and precision impedance analyzer. With limiting current increase, the grain size of flash sintering sample increases gradually, and the relative density increases first and then decreases. The average grain size is about 1 μm, and the highest relative density is 96.9%. Joule heating runaway and oxygen vacancy defect lead to rapid densification of flash sintering La and Ta co-doped TiO2 ceramics. According to the EPDD model, doped La3+ and Ta5+ ions increase the concentration of oxygen vacancies and free electrons, lead to local polarization of carriers, and obtain a giant dielectric constant of ε' = 7.6 × 104 and low dielectric loss of tanδ = 0.11. At high temperature, electrons break free from the constraints of defect clusters and accumulate at the interface, leading to interface polarization due to the IBLC model. The giant dielectric properties originate from the combined effect of EPDD and IBLC model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfonamides are detected in various water environments and threaten aquatic ecosystems. To remove sulfonamides, many previous studies have focused on preparing metal–organic framework-derived carbon materials (MOFs-CMs) applied in persulfate activation. In this study, Fe-based MOFs derived from porous carbon materials were obtained by facile one-pot hydrothermal and pyrolysis. The catalyst can overcome passivation in alkaline environments and showed a high peroxydisulfate (PDS) activation performance. Unlike traditional modifications, ZnO was added during the synthesis process to control the morphology characteristics of the catalyst. FeZn–MOF-CMs in this study displayed a high sulfadiazine removal efficiency of 99.6% in alkaline conditions, and exhibited high resistance to common anions and organic matter. The surface morphology could be controlled by different amounts of ZnO additions and the free radical pathway was the main mechanism in the PDS system. This study provides a facile synthesis method for the preparation of porous carbon materials from Fe-based MOFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we prove the non-existence of non-trivial statistical structures of constant holomorphic sectional curvature based on complex space forms with dimension greater than 2. For 2-dimensional complex space forms we show an example to illustrate there do exist non-trivial statistical structures of constant holomorphic sectional curvature, and we also obtain a rigidity theorem in this case. Finally, in contrast to complex space forms, we construct some new examples of non-trivial statistical structures of constant sectional curvature based on real space forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and plastics are pivotal components of modern society; nevertheless, their escalating production poses formidable challenges to resource sustainability and ecosystem integrity. Here, we showcase the transformation of spent lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) cathodes into photothermal catalysts capable of catalyzing the upcycling of diverse waste polyesters into high-value monomers. The distinctive Li deficiency in spent LCO induces a contraction in the Co−O6 unit cell, boosting the monomer yield exceeding that of pristine LCO by a factor of 10.24. A comprehensive life-cycle assessment underscores the economic viability of utilizing spent LCO as a photothermal catalyst, yielding returns of 129.6 $·kgLCO−1, surpassing traditional battery recycling returns (13–17 $·kgLCO−1). Solar-driven recycling 100,000 tons of PET can reduce 3.459 × 1011 kJ of electric energy and decrease 38,716 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. This work unveils a sustainable solution for the management of spent LIBs and plastics. The increasing production of lithium-ion batteries and plastics presents significant challenges to resource sustainability and ecosystem integrity. This study highlights the utilization of spent lithium cobalt oxide cathodes as photothermal catalysts to transform various waste polyesters into valuable monomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preventing the deactivation of noble metal-based catalysts due to self-oxidation and poisonous adsorption is a significant challenge in organic electro-oxidation. In this study, we employ a pulsed potential electrolysis strategy for the selective electrocatalytic oxidation of glycerol to glyceric acid over a Pt-based catalyst. In situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, quasi-in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and finite element simulations reveal that the pulsed potential could tailor the catalyst’s oxidation and surface micro-environment. This prevents the overaccumulation of poisoning intermediate species and frees up active sites for the re-adsorption of OH adsorbate and glycerol. The pulsed potential electrolysis strategy results in a higher glyceric acid selectivity (81.8%) than constant-potential electrocatalysis with 0.7 VRHE (37.8%). This work offers an efficient strategy to mitigate the deactivation of noble metal-based electrocatalysts.Mitigating the deactivation of noble metal-based catalysts caused by self-oxidation and toxic adsorption poses a considerable challenge in organic electro-oxidation. This study addresses the issue by employing a pulsed potential electrolysis approach to selectively electrocatalyze the oxidation of glycerol to glyceric acid using a Pt-based catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multifunctional materials with high electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness and thermal conductivity (TC) are an essential guarantee for the rapid advancement of next-generation electronic products. Herein, the three-dimensional porous conductive/thermal network of carbon nanotubes (CNT)/cellulose is prefabricated by "solution-gelation-solvent exchange-freeze drying". Using "impregnation and high-pressure compression molding", CNT/cellulose-boron nitride/polyvinyl alcohol (CNT/cellulose-BN/PVA) composite films with three-dimensional dual-continuous network structure are constructed to provide a perfect pathway for both electrons and phonons transportation. Comprehensive performance of the composites before and after hot-pressing including the microstructure, electrical conductivity, EMI shielding and thermal conductivity is investigated. Benefiting from the high-pressure compression molding process, the composite is densified and a close contact between fillers is achieved, which effectively improves the electrical and thermal conductivity. The finally obtained CNT/cellulose-BN/PVA composite film exhibits satisfactory EMI shielding performance, high in-plane and cross-plane TC, as well as excellent Joule heating performance, demonstrating enormous potential as high-performance EMI shielding and thermal management materials in practical applications. The significance of this work is to give an inspiration for improving the comprehensive performance of electromagnetic shielding and thermal conductive materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The optimal primary recanalization strategy for intracranial atherosclerosis-related emergent large vessel occlusion (ICAS-ELVO) remains controversial. We aimed to explore the safety and efficacy of balloon angioplasty as the first-choice recanalization strategy for ICAS-ELVO with small clot burden. Methods: Consecutive ICAS-ELVO patients presenting with microcatheter "first-pass effect" during endovascular treatment (EVT) were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into preferred balloon angioplasty (PBA) and preferred mechanical thrombectomy (PMT) groups based on the first-choice recanalization strategy. The reperfusion and clinical outcomes between the two groups were compared. Results: Seventy-six patients with ICAS-ELVO involving the microcatheter "first-pass effect" during EVT were enrolled. Compared with patients in the PMT group, those in the PBA group were associated with (i) a higher rate of first-pass recanalization (54.0% vs. 28.9%, p =.010) and complete reperfusion (expanded thrombolysis in cerebral ischemia ≥ 2c; 76.0% vs. 53.8%, p =.049), (ii) shorter puncture-to-recanalization time (49.5 min vs. 89.0 min, p <.001), (iii) lower operation costs (¥48,499.5 vs. ¥ 99,086.0, p <.001), and (iv) better 90-day functional outcomes (modified Rankin scale:0–1; 44.0% vs. 19.2%, p =.032). Logistic regression analysis revealed that balloon angioplasty as the first-choice recanalization strategy was an independent predictor of 90-day excellent functional outcomes for ICAS-ELVO patients with microcatheter "first-pass effect" (adjusted odds ratio = 6.01, 95% confidence interval: 1.15–31.51, p =.034). Conclusion: Direct balloon angioplasty potentially improves 90-day functional outcomes for ICAS-ELVO patients with small clot burden, and may be a more appropriate first-choice recanalization strategy than mechanical thrombectomy for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An enzyme immunoassay was developed based on the coulometric measurement of immunoglobulin M (IgM) against Hantaan viruses (HTNV) by using virus-like particles (VLPs) as recognition molecules. The surface functionalization of screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) was achieved through paste-exfoliated graphene that was modified with a COOH group and a thionine mediator through supramolecular-covalent scaffolds, on SPCEs by using the binder contained in the ink. After the covalent immobilization of the antibody, the sensor was used for the sandwich enzyme immunoassay of IgM against HTNV. By using HTNV VLPs as the second recognization molecules, the resulting sensor efficiently monitored the reaction of IgM against HTNV and anti-IgM antibody with high specificity. By attaching HTNV nucleocapsid protein antibody conjugate with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) onto VLPs, the signal response of the assay was derived from the coulometric measurement of H2O2 reduction mediated by thionine on the electrode surface after the application of a potential (− 0.2 V vs. Ag/AgCl). The ratio of charges measured before or after H2O2 addition was used to quantify IgM because these charges could be used as background charges or total charges, respectively. The ratio exhibited good agreement with IgM concentration within a range 0.1 to 1000 pg mL−1, and a detection limit of 0.06 pg mL−1 was obtained. The assay demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity toward HTNV-specific IgM in serum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orogenic gold systems are arguably the most variable mineral system globally in terms of an extreme range of depositional depths, corresponding P–T conditions and wallrock alteration assemblages, structural controls and styles, and element associations. This diversity has ignited controversy on genetic models for the two decades since orogenic gold became a widely accepted term. From the diverse genetic models proposed, the two groups of fluid-source models that meet most genetic constraints are the following: (1) deposition from crustal fluids via metamorphic devolatilization at the amphibolite-greenschist transition, or potentially even deeper under specific tectonic conditions, and (2) deposition from sub-crustal fluids either by direct devolatilization of subducted oceanic crust and overlying sediment wedge or of previously metasomatized and fertilized mantle lithosphere. Both models normally postulate gold deposition within a geodynamic system that evolves from extension through compression into syn-gold transpression. Crustal metamorphic models normally invoke subduction-driven geodynamic systems that involve advection of crustal metamorphic fluids up crustal-scale faults. In contrast, sub-crustal devolatilization models involve subduction-related processes as both geodynamic drivers and gold sources with fault-controlled fluid conduits extending to below the Moho. The overall lack of orogenic gold and other subduction-related mineral systems during the unique Boring Billion (1.8–0.8 Ga) period provides an important constraint on this genetic debate. Boring Billion orogens had varying geodynamic drivers, asthenosphere upwelling, and low-P metamorphic terranes with crustal-scale faults, all parameters consistent with formation of orogenic gold systems, during subduction-independent accordion-type tectonics. The absence of orogenic gold during the Boring Billion provides critical evidence against the crustal metamorphic model and furthers the sub-crustal model which requires subduction as both the geodynamic driver and auriferous fluid source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An anisotropic diffusion filter can be used to model a flow-dependent background error covariance matrix, which can be achieved by solving the advection-diffusion equation. Because of the directionality of the advection term, the discrete method needs to be chosen very carefully. The finite analytic method is an alternative scheme to solve the advection-diffusion equation. As a combination of analytical and numerical methods, it not only has high calculation accuracy but also holds the characteristic of the auto upwind. To demonstrate its ability, the one-dimensional steady and unsteady advection-diffusion equation numerical examples are respectively solved by the finite analytic method. The more widely used upwind difference method is used as a control approach. The result indicates that the finite analytic method has higher accuracy than the upwind difference method. For the two-dimensional case, the finite analytic method still has a better performance. In the three-dimensional variational assimilation experiment, the finite analytic method can effectively improve analysis field accuracy, and its effect is significantly better than the upwind difference and the central difference method. Moreover, it is still a more effective solution method in the strong flow region where the advective-diffusion filter performs most prominently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficiently predicting effluent quality through data-driven analysis presents a significant advancement for consistent wastewater treatment operations. In this study, we aimed to develop an integrated method for predicting effluent COD and NH3 levels. We employed a 200 L pilot-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) to gather multimodal data from urban sewage over 40 d. Then we collected data on critical parameters like COD, DO, pH, NH3, EC, ORP, SS, and water temperature, alongside wastewater surface images, resulting in a data set of approximately 40246 points. Then we proposed a brain-inspired image and temporal fusion model integrated with a CNN-LSTM network (BITF-CL) using this data. This innovative model synergized sewage imagery with water quality data, enhancing prediction accuracy. As a result, the BITF-CL model reduced prediction error by over 23% compared to traditional methods and still performed comparably to conventional techniques even without using DO and SS sensor data. Consequently, this research presents a cost-effective and precise prediction system for sewage treatment, demonstrating the potential of brain-inspired models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A non-invasive, fast, and reliable method for sex identification of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) was developed by genotyping five SNPs located at the sex chromosome amelogenin (AMEL) paralogs. The giant panda's sex can be accurately distinguished by the homozygous or heterozygous SNP genotypes. Mass spectrometry assay and Sanger sequencing both successfully genotyped tissue and fresh fecal samples collected from known-sex giant pandas. Additionally, we simulated the conditions of wild fecal samples, which were naturally degraded for up to two weeks, and successfully genotyped these samples by mass spectrometry assay in parallel. These results suggest that this is a powerful method for sex determination in highly degraded and lower concentrated DNA samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]