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Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication of sepsis. While impaired renal venous reflux indicates renal congestion, the relationship between AKI outcomes and hemodynamic parameters remains debated. This study aimed to investigate the utility of renal venous flow patterns in various regions of septic patients and to explore the association between hemodynamic parameters and renal function prognosis. Methods: In this single-center, prospective longitudinal study, adult sepsis patients diagnosed with AKI were enrolled. Renal ultrasonography was performed within 24 h of ICU admission (D1), then repeated at D3 and D5. Patterns of proximal renal venous flow (PRVF) and intrarenal venous flow (IRVF) patterns were confirmed by two blinded sonographers. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used to evaluate renal prognosis, and cumulative incidence curves were generated for renal function recovery time. Results: The study included 96 septic patients. Inconsistencies between PRVF and IRVF patterns occurred in 31.9%, with PRVF patterns being more severe in 88% of these. A relatively strong correlation was observed between PRVF and CVP, but this trend was less evident in IRVF. For RVSI of PRVF at ICU admission, the AUC to predict 28-day renal function prognosis was 0.626 (95% CI 0.502–0.750, P = 0.044), while combined PRVF and IRVF had a higher predictive ability (AUC 0.687, 95% CI 0.574–0.801, P = 0.003). The 28-day renal prognosis was poorer in the PRVF 5-day non-improvement group compared to the 3-day improvement group (P = 0.001) and 5-day improvement group (P = 0.012). Patients with a persistent monophasic PRVF pattern within 5 days had a worse prognosis than the non-monophasic group (P = 0.005). Conclusions: Our study reveals that patterns of PRVF and IRVF are not entirely congruent, stepwise evaluation is useful in determining the intervention site for renal vein reflux disorders. Combined PRVF and IRVF had a higher predictive ability for 28-day renal function prognosis. Early improvement in renal venous congestion is crucial for better renal function prognosis. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NTC06159010. Retrospectively registered 28 November 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The far-lateral approach, frequently employed by skull base surgeons, targets lesions in the ventrolateral region of the craniovertebral junction (CVJ). Although various incisions can be utilized, the linear incision is notably less invasive and more efficient. Despite its advantages, the literature lacks a comprehensive description of the technical steps involved in this approach. Methods: We discuss the pertinent surgical anatomy and provide a step-by-step intraoperative description of performing the linear incision far-lateral approach, accompanied by clear intraoperative photographs. Conclusion: The linear incision for the far-lateral approach reduces the extent of soft tissue dissection while having a negligible impact on surgical exposure. Key factors for ensuring the procedure safe and effective include: (1) a comprehensive understanding of the surgical anatomy in the suboccipital region and accurate identification of the midline from this specific position and incision; and (2) employing the "interfascial-subperiosteal-interdural dissection" technique to manage the soft tissues around the CVJ, thereby minimizing the risk of vertebral artery injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abducens nerve palsy caused by neurovascular conflicts is rare and requires further exploration. This study aimed to investigate the clinical features and surgical outcomes of abducens palsy caused by neurovascular conflict. Twenty-six patients with abducens palsy caused by neurovascular conflict were included in present study. The clinical data and treatment outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. Symptom improvement score was used to evaluate the changes in diplopia, which include five grades: complete remission, significant relief, partial relief, no improvement, and worsening of symptoms. Neurovascular conflict was determined in 26 patients (12 male and 14 female) with a mean age of 60.54 ± 13.55 years (range, 35 to 84 years). The mean duration of symptoms was 10.19 ± 11.30 months (range, 1 to 60 months). Ten patients underwent microvascular decompression (MVD) while 16 patients received observation and drug therapy. No fatal complications occurred in any patient. In the MVD group, 9 patients achieved remission of diplopia, while 1 patient showed no change in symptoms. In observation group, only 4 patients achieved symptom relief and 12 patients showed no improvement or worsened. The symptom improvement score of MVD group was significantly higher than that of observation group at last follow-up (3.50 ± 0.97 vs. 1.38 ± 0.95, P < 0.001). Neurovascular compression, although rare, should be considered as a possible underlying cause of isolated abducens nerve palsy. Microvascular decompression can be considered a treatment option based on the comprehensive preoperative evaluation. Patients with significant atrophy of the extraocular muscles are unsuitable for MVD surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is based on a comprehensive review of existing literature. Drawing upon the theories of task-technology fit (TTF) and technology adoption model (TAM), an integrated theoretical framework is developed. The framework places adaptability as a critical outcome variable and quality standard. This study constructs a student-centered online learning process model oriented towards effectiveness. The research is intended to utilize data from the "National Survey of Undergraduate Education Teaching Quality in Ordinary Universities" encompassing 123,894 Chinese university students from 272 undergraduate institutions. Through a questionnaire-based survey, the study comprehensively investigates the influence paths and mechanisms of several key factors, including environmental support (ES), teaching satisfaction (TS), perceived ease of use (PEU), task-technology fit (TTF), and learning adaptability (LA). The structural equation model largely validates the study's hypotheses, demonstrating significant correlations among the variables. The task-technology fit (TTF) and adaptability of university students are found to be influenced by teaching satisfaction (TS), perceived ease of use (PEU), and environmental support (ES). task-technology fit (TTF) emerges as a pivotal process variable in online learning. teaching satisfaction (TS) and perceived ease of use (PEU), as foundational elements, positively influence learning adaptability (LA) through the mediating role of task-technology fit (TTF). However, environmental support (ES) negatively predicts task-technology fit (TTF). The study findings offer empirical support for designing an environment conducive to enhancing students' adaptability in online learning. Furthermore, the outcomes guide policy formulation and practical strategies in various aspects, including optimizing teacher instruction in the online setting, enhancing students' perceived usability of digital technologies, and promoting the supply of online technological functionalities. Ultimately, these efforts contribute to the welfare of students' learning experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Threonine (Thr) can be involved in the synthesis of immunoglobulins, which play the role of immune regulation, Thr also has to improve intestinal morphology, adjust the sticky protein synthesis, maintain the intestinal barrier function, etc. The experiment aimed to investigate the effects of diets supplemented with different levels of Thr on growth performance and intestinal health of rabbits under lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stress conditions. Methods: A total of 180 healthy 35-day-old weaned New Zealand White rabbits were randomly assigned in a 2 × 3 factorial design to receive an intraperitoneal injection of 100 µg/kg BW LPS or saline and three diets with different levels of digestible threonine (0.43%, 0.54%, and 0.64%). Results: The LPS challenge resulted in a reduction in body weight in rabbits at day 22, as well as a decrease in the serum d-lactic acid (D-LA) content and the number of goblet cells (GCs) in the jejunum. Additionally, the duodenum JAM2 and JAM3 were down-regulated. The expression of OCLN, ZO-1, and IL-2 in the jejunum, and CLDN, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and ZO-1 mRNA in the ileum were also down-regulated. Furthermore, the duodenum TLR4 and IL-1β mRNA expression, while the jejunum exhibited an elevation in CLDN, TNF-α, and ileum TNF-α mRNA expression (P < 0.05). In the context of LPS challenge condition, dietary Thr addition was found to down-regulate the duodenum ZO-1 and jejunum CLDN mRNA expression of rabbits (P < 0.05). This was accompanied by an increase in ileum sIgA content and GCs number (P < 0.05). Additionally, dietary Thr addition resulted in a downregulation of duodenum TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB, TNF-α and IL-1β, jejunum MyD88, and IL-1β mRNA expression, as well as an up-regulation of ileum IL-10 mRNA expression in rabbits (P < 0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, the LPS challenge can result in intestinal inflammation and damage the integrity of the intestinal barrier in rabbits. Nevertheless, dietary Thr supplementation can alleviate the intestinal inflammatory response in rabbits challenged with LPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classification algorithm is the crucial technique for machine vision system. The Transfer Component Analysis has been introduced for workpiece classification system. The dataset with five classes of workpieces is constructed for experiments, and the data augmentation strategies have been employed to prevent class imbalance problems. The Histogram of the Oriented Gradient features are extracted over workpiece images, and they are transformed by the Transfer Component Analysis and the Principal Component Analysis separately. The Maximum Mean Discrepancy distances have been employed to measure the distribution distances between the training set and the testing set. And the results indicate that the Transfer Component Analysis has dramatically reduced the distribution differences in a dimensionality reduction subspace, better than the Principal Component Analysis. The Error Correction Output Code is combined with Support Vector Machine and K-Nearest Neighbor respectively as the classifiers. The macro-averaged F 1 measure is adopted to evaluate the classifiers performance. Experiment results show that, the Transfer Component Analysis is particularly beneficial for improving the classification performance, and the Support Vector Machine is more favorable than the K-Nearest Neighbor for workpiece classification. The method of the Transfer Component Analysis combined with the Support Vector Machine possesses the best classification performance among these methods in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between central venous pressure (CVP) and acute right ventricular (RV) dysfunction in critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled mechanically ventilated critically ill who underwent transthoracic echocardiographic examination and CVP monitoring. Echocardiographic indices including tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), fractional area change (FAC), and tricuspid lateral annular systolic velocity wave (S') were collected to assess RV function. Patients were then classified into three groups based on their RV function and presence of systemic venous congestion as assessed by inferior vena cava diameter (IVCD) and hepatic vein (HV) Doppler: normal RV function (TAPSE ≥ 17 mm, FAC ≥ 35% and S' ≥9.5 cm/sec), isolated RV dysfunction (TAPSE < 17 mm or FAC < 35% or S' <9.5 cm/sec with IVCD ≤ 20 mm or HV S ≥ D), and RV dysfunction with congestion (TAPSE < 17 mm or FAC < 35% or S' <9.5 cm/sec with IVCD > 20 mm and HV S < D). Results: A total of 518 patients were enrolled in the study, of whom 301 were categorized in normal RV function group, 164 in isolated RV dysfunction group and 53 in RV dysfunction with congestion group. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed a good discriminative ability of CVP for identifying patients with RV dysfunction and congestion(AUC 0.839; 95% CI: 0.795–0.883; p < 0.001). The optimal CVP cutoff was 10 mm Hg, with sensitivity of 79.2%, specificity of 69.4%, negative predictive value of 96.7%, and positive predictive value of 22.8%. A large gray zone existed between 9 mm Hg and 12 mm Hg, encompassing 95 patients (18.3%). For identifying all patients with RV dysfunction, CVP demonstrated a lower discriminative ability (AUC 0.616; 95% CI: 0.567–0.665; p < 0.001). Additionally, the gray zone was even larger, ranging from 5 mm Hg to 12 mm Hg, and included 349 patients (67.4%). Conclusions: CVP may be a helpful indicator of acute RV dysfunction patients with systemic venous congestion in mechanically ventilated critically ill, but its accuracy is limited. A CVP less than10 mm Hg can almost rule out RV dysfunction with congestion. In contrast, CVP should not be used to identify general RV dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress (OS) is widespread in animal husbandry, which causes edema in immune organs and suppresses immune function of animals. Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element involved in immune regulation and improves animals' immunity. In present study, growing and finishing pigs were used to determine the protective effects of the new organic Se (hydroxy selenomethionine, OH-SeMet) on dietary oxidative stress (DOS) induced inflammatory responses, and the corresponding response of selenotranscriptome in spleen and thymus. Forty castrated male pigs (25.0 ± 3.0 kg) were randomly grouped into 5 dietary treatments (n = 8) and fed on basal diet (formulated with normal corn and normal oils) or oxidized diet (formulated with aged corn and oxidized oils) supplied with 0.0, 0.3, 0.6, or 0.9 mg Se/kg OH-SeMet, after 16 weeks, the corresponding indicators were determined. Results showed that DOS moderately increased the spleen and thymus index, decreased the antioxidant capacity of serum, spleen and thymus, and increased the concentration of serum inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α). The inflammatory response in spleen and thymus under DOS were discrepancies, DOS increased the expression of inflammation-related gene (IFN-β and TNF-α) in thymus, while exhibited no impact on that of the spleen. Dietary OH-SeMet supplementation exhibited protective effects, which decreased the spleen and thymus index, improved the antioxidant capacity of serum, spleen and thymus, and decreased the serum IL-1β and IL-6 levels. Se supplementation exhibited limited impact on the inflammation-related genes in spleen, except decreased the mRNA expression of IL-8. On the contrary, Se supplementation showed more impact on that of the thymus, which decreased the mRNA expression of IL-8 and TNF-α, increased the expression of IFN-β, IL-6, IL-10, and MCP1. In addition, selenotranscriptome responsive to dietary Se levels in spleen and thymus were discrepancies. Se supplementation increased the mRNA expression of the selenotranscriptome in thymus, while exhibited limited impact on that of in spleen. In conclusion, dietary OH-SeMet supplementation mitigates the DOS-induced immunological stress by increasing the antioxidant capacity and altering the expression of inflammation-related genes and selenotranscriptome in immune organs, and these response in spleen and thymus were discrepancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The application of cast magnesium alloy components is increasing in recent years, especially in the new energy automotive and transportation industries. As component application scenarios become increasingly complex, the performance of cast magnesium alloys needs to be further enhanced. Significant progress has been made in casting technology and the design of cast magnesium alloys. In addition, some new application of cast magnesium alloy components is also developed recently. This paper provides an overview of the current status of high-performance cast magnesium alloys, including the alloy design, casting techniques, control of casting defects, and applications of cast magnesium alloys. Based on the issues and challenges identified here, some future research directions on cast magnesium alloys are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nested named entity recognition (NNER) aims to identify potentially overlapping named entities. Sequence labeling method and span-based method are two commonly used methods in nested named entity recognition. However, the linear structure of sequence labeling method results in relatively poor performance, and span-based method requires traversing all spans, which brings very high time complexity. All of them fail to effectively leverage the positional dependencies between internal and external entities. In order to improve these issues, this paper proposed a nested entity recognition method based on Multidimensional Features and Fuzzy Localization (MFFL). Firstly, this method adopted the shared encoding that fused three features of characters, words, and parts of speech to obtain a multidimensional feature vector representation of the text and obtained rich semantic information in the text. Secondly, we proposed to use the fuzzy localization to assist the model in pinpointing the potential locations of entities. Finally, in the entity classification, it used a window to expand the sub-sequence and enumerate possible candidate entities and predicted the classification labels of these candidate entities. In order to alleviate the problem of error propagation and effectively learn the correlation between fuzzy localization and classification labels, we adopted multi-task learning strategy. This paper conducted several experiments on two public datasets. The experimental results showed that the proposed method achieves ideal results in both nested entity recognition and non-nested entity recognition tasks, and significantly reduced the time complexity of nested entity recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of different receptors are distributed in glutamatergic neurons of the lateral habenula (LHb). These glutamatergic neurons are involved in different neural pathways, which may identify how the LHb regulates various physiological functions. However, the role of dopamine D1 receptor (D1R)-expressing habenular neurons projecting to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) (LHbD1R–VTA) remains not well understood. In the current study, to determine the activity of D1R-expressing neurons in LHb, D1R-Cre mice were used to establish the chronic restraint stress (CRS) depression model. Adeno-associated virus was injected into bilateral LHb in D1R-Cre mice to examine whether optogenetic activation of the LHb D1R-expressing neurons and their projections could induce depression-like behavior. Optical fibers were implanted in the LHb and VTA, respectively. To investigate whether optogenetic inhibition of the LHbD1R–VTA circuit could produce antidepressant-like effects, the adeno-associated virus was injected into the bilateral LHb in the D1R-Cre CRS model, and optical fibers were implanted in the bilateral VTA. The D1R-expressing neuronal activity in the LHb was increased in the CRS depression model. Optogenetic activation of the D1R-expressing neurons in LHb induced behavioral despair and anhedonia, which could also be induced by activation of the LHbD1R–VTA axons. Conversely, optogenetic inhibition of the LHbD1R–VTA circuit improved behavioral despair and anhedonia in the CRS depression model. D1R-expressing glutamatergic neurons in the LHb and their projections to the VTA are involved in the occurrence and regulation of depressive-like behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The use of miR-21 expression remains vague in diagnosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This study aimed to systematically evaluate the diagnostic potential of the miR-21 expression in patients with HNSCCs through investigating and summarizing the results reported in the literature. Methods: Extant medical databases were examined for articles of clinical study assessing the miR-21 expression in HNSCC cases, published in the past 20 years. Bioinformatics research was also performed for finding miR-21 targets differentially expressed in HNSCC so as to present their biological behaviors. Results: Our meta-analysis comprised 11 studies including 622/450 cases in HNSCC/control group. Forest plots displayed miR-21 which possessed significantly good specificity (0.76, p < 0.001) and sensitivity (0.80, p < 0.001). Diagnostic odds ratio was 2.46 (95% CI 1.87–3.24). Positive and negative likelihood ratio was 3.40 (95% CI 1.94–5.97) and 0.26 (95% CI 0.18–0.38), respectively. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.85. Conclusion: This study is the highest level of evidence presently available in diagnosing HNSCC. This PRISMA meta-analysis indicated that the pooled results were robust, confirming the oncogenic potential of miR-21 that could be used successfully as a screening biomarker in HNSCC patients. Specifically, the overexpression of miR-21 in these patients presents a worse survival outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This narrative review aimed to compile and summarize clinically relevant literature in radiation therapy and to discuss the potential in radioresistant and radiosensitive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Methods and Materials: Google Scholar, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library were retrieved using combined key words such as "radiotherapy" and "head and neck cancer." Search strings additionally queried were "radioresistant," "radiosensitive," "head and neck region," "squamous cell carcinoma," in combination with Boolean operators 'AND' and 'OR.' Subsequently, the resulting publications were included for review of the full text. Results: Radiotherapeutic responses currently in clinical observation referred to HNSCC scoping were selected into this review. The compiled mechanisms were then detailed concerning on the clinical significance, biological characteristics, and molecular function. Conclusions: Brachytherapy or/and external-beam radiotherapy are crucial for treating HNSCC especially the early stage patients, but in some patients with locally advanced tumors, their outcome with radiation therapy is poor due to obvious radioresistance. The curative effects mainly depend on the response to radiation therapy so an updated review is needed to optimize further applications in HNSCC radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purposes: To investigate the effect and safety of ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) for fertility preservation in female patients with hematological diseases. Methods: We designed a retrospective study. The clinical data of patients with hematological diseases undergoing OTC admitted to Peking University People's Hospital from April 2017 to January 2023 were analyzed and summarized. Results: A total of 24 patients were included in the study, including 19 patients with malignant hematological diseases and 5 patients with non-malignant hematological diseases. The former included 14 patients with acute leukemia, 1 patient with chronic leukemia, and 4 patients with myelodysplastic syndrome, while the latter 5 patients were aplastic anemia (AA). 16 patients had received chemotherapy before OTC. The average age of 24 patients was 22.80 ± 6.81 years. The average anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) was 1.97 ± 2.12 ng/mL, and the average follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was 7.01 ± 4.24 IU/L in examination before OTC. FSH was greater than 10.0 IU/L in 4 cases. The pre-OTC laboratory tests showed that the average white blood cell (WBC) count was (3.33 ± 1.35) × 109/L, the average hemoglobin was 91.42 ± 22.84 g/L, and the average platelet was (147.38 ± 114.46) × 109/L. After injection of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF), blood transfusion, and iron supplementation in pre-OTC treatment, the average WBC count was (4.91 ± 3.07) × 109/L, the average hemoglobin was 98.67 ± 15.43 g/L, and the average platelet was (156.38 ± 103.22) × 109/L. Of the 24 patients, 22 underwent laparoscopic bilateral partial oophorectomy and oophoroplasty, and 2 underwent laparoscopic unilateral oophorectomy. The average duration of OTC was 59.54 ± 17.58 min, and the average blood loss was 32.1 ± 41.6 mL. The maximum blood loss was 200 mL. There was no significant difference in WBC count and hemoglobin concentration after OTC compared to pre-OTC period. Only the platelet count after OTC surgery was significantly different from that before surgery ([134.54 ± 80.84 vs. 156.38 ± 103.22] × 109/L, p < 0.05). None of the 24 patients had serious complications after OTC. 2 patients had mild infection symptoms, but both recovered well. 23 patients underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) after OTC. The median and interquartile range from OTC to the pretreatment of HSCT was 33 (57) days, and the median and interquartile range from OTC to HSCT was 41 (57) days. Seven of them began pretreatment of HSCT within 20 days and began HSCT within 30 days after OTC. All patients were followed up. Of the 23 patients who underwent HSCT after surgery, 22 presented with amenorrhea and 1 with scanty menstrual episodes. Seven patients underwent hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after HSCT. A patient with AA underwent ovarian tissue transplantation (OTT) 3 years after HSCT and resumed regular menstruation 6 months after OTT. Conclusions: Ovarian tissue cryopreservation has a promising future in fertility protection in patients with hematological diseases. However, patients with hematological malignancies often have received gonadotoxic therapy before OTC, which may be accompanied by myelosuppression while patients with non-malignant hematological diseases often present with severe hemocytopenia. So perioperative complete blood count of patients should be paid attention to. There was no significant difference in the WBC count and hemoglobin concentration in patients with hematological diseases before and after OTC surgery, and the platelet count decreased slightly within the normal range. Infection is the most common post-OTC complication, and HSCT pretreatment can be accepted as early as the 10th day after OTC. OTC has no adverse effects on patients with hematological diseases and does not delay HSCT treatment. For young patients with hematological diseases, OTC is an effective method of fertility preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To figure out the relationship between semi-solid deformation and hot tearing susceptibility of magnesium alloys, the solid and semi-solid tensile experiments of binary Mg–xCa (x = 0.2, 0.5, and 2 wt%) alloys were conducted by a Gleeble 3500 thermal simulator. The linear contraction of the alloys was measured by a newly developed apparatus based on a constrained rod casting (CRC) hot tearing apparatus. The results indicated that the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and fracture elongation (FE) of the alloys decreased with the decrease in solid fraction (increase in the test temperature). It is revealed that Mg–0.5Ca alloy exhibited the highest hot tearing susceptibility due to its extremely low ductility even at a high solid fraction of 0.96 and the highest linear contraction among the three alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new polyvinyl alcohol foam gel/MOF-808 detergent was used to study the uranium removal process on the cement surface, and the mechanism was deeply analyzed. Through the mutual verification of XPS, infrared spectrum, XRD and SEM, it is confirmed for the first time that MOF-808 mainly relies on its own Zr-OH and carboxyl groups to remove uranyl ions in foam gel, rather than the carboxyl groups on the ligand. Foam gel combined with MOF-808 can improve the decontamination factor of cement surface by 37.3%, and the maximum removal rate of uranium pollution on cement surface can reach 68.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Powered by data-driven technologies, precision agriculture offers immense productivity and sustainability benefits. However, fragmentation across farmlands necessitates distributed transparent automation. We developed an edge computing framework complemented by auction mechanisms and fuzzy optimizers that connect various supply chain stages. Specifically, edge computing offers powerful capabilities that enable real-time monitoring and data-driven decision-making in smart agriculture. We propose an edge computing framework tailored to agricultural needs to ensure sustainability through a renewable solar energy supply. Although the edge computing framework manages real-time crop monitoring and data collection, market-based mechanisms, such as auctions and fuzzy optimization models, support decision-making for smooth agricultural supply chain operations. We formulated invisible auction mechanisms that hide actual bid values and regulate information flows, combined with machine learning techniques for robust predictive analytics. While rule-based fuzzy systems encode domain expertise in agricultural decision-making, adaptable training algorithms help optimize model parameters from the data. A two-phase hybrid learning approach is formulated. Fuzzy optimization models were formulated using domain expertise for three key supply chain decision problems. Auction markets discover optimal crop demand–supply balancing and pricing signals. Fuzzy systems incorporate domain knowledge into interpretable crop-advisory models. An integrated evaluation of 50 farms over five crop cycles demonstrated the high performance of the proposed edge computing-oriented auction-based fuzzy neural network model compared with benchmarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Governments have formulated policies to support companies developing new energy vehicle, and unexpected slow development brings further attention to the policy. Concerns have been raised about how to design a subsidy mode for policies. In this paper, we provide insights into the preference of subsidy mode, government's subsidy strategies and firms' strategies of researching and pricing among product subsidy, innovation subsidy, and product-innovation subsidy. We find that the government and companies prefer the product-innovation subsidy and detest innovation subsidy. Moreover, there is a trade-off in the government's subsidy strategy under the product-innovation subsidy, where the product subsidy payment is higher than that under the product subsidy, and the innovation subsidy payment is lower than that under the innovation subsidy. In terms of price strategies, the manufacturer's price is lowest under the product subsidy, and the supplier's price is lowest under the innovation subsidy. Furthermore, the investment strategies under the three subsidy cases are positively correlated with consumer recognition and firms' R &D capabilities, while the government subsidy strategy under the innovation subsidy show some differences. Government should make the product-innovation subsidy as the first choice, and turning to the innovation subsidy as companies' R &D capabilities and consumer recognition increasing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular causes are most commonly associated with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). This study was performed to determine the relationship between serum endothelin-1 (ET-1), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) levels, and the degree of hearing loss in patients with SSHL. Firstly, 60 SSHL patients were admitted to The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University. In the same period, 60 healthy subjects matching the age and gender of SSHL patients were selected as the control group. Then, serum levels of ET-1, HDL-C, and sVCAM-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Next, the relationship between serum levels of ET-1, HDL-C, and sVCAM-1 with clinicopathological factors and their diagnostic and prognostic values were analyzed and evaluated. Serum ET-1 and sVCAM-1 were increased, and HDL-C was decreased in patients with SSHL. Serum ET-1 and sVCAM-1 were higher and HDL-C was lower in patients aged ≥ 45 years, or severe hearing loss patients (P < 0.05). ROC analysis determined that ET-1 (AUC = 0.839), HDL-C (AUC = 0.830), and sVCAM-1 (AUC = 0.865) had excellent diagnostic values. In addition, patients with low levels of ET-1 and sVCAM-1 and high levels of HDL-C had better hearing prognosis (P < 0.05). Abnormal serum ET-1, HDL-C, and sVCAM-1 in patients with SSHL are closely related to age, and degree of hearing loss, and perform diagnostic and prognostic values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indium tin oxide (ITO) exhibits high transmittance and low resistivity, enabling its combination with a glass substrate to form a transparent ITO-absorbing glass. The absorption performance of absorbing architectural glass is significantly influenced by the thickness of various ITO coatings and glass substrates. Therefore, based on the fundamental principle of electromagnetic absorption and reflection, this study employs orthogonal experiments to analyze the significant effects of two factors: coating thickness d1 and glass substrate thickness d2 on absorption. By utilizing the particle swarm optimization algorithm, we have obtained an optimal design scheme for building absorbing glass by solving a given optimization problem. Specifically, in the Ku band (12–18 GHz), the indium tin oxide coating thickness d1 is 0.15 mm, the glass thickness d2 is 2.917 mm, and the average reflection loss reaches − 65.67 dB. Finally, based on these optimized values, we have prepared excellent architectural absorbing glass with outstanding performance and characterized its physical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online branding plays an increasingly vital role for agricultural products in agriculture and e-commerce industries alike. To improve the cooperation between farmers and e-retailers, and to increase awareness of agricultural products through online branding, many governments implement series of subsidy policies. We investigate the impact of government subsidies by proposing a three-player game model (consisting of a government, a farmer, and an e-retailer) in supply chains. More specifically, we develop four Stackelberg game scenarios, including a benchmark scenario in which government provides no subsidies, two scenarios in which government subsidizes either farmer or e-retailer without subsidizing the other, and one in which both are subsidized. We find awareness of online branding for agricultural products is positively related to farmers? market sensitivity while e-retailers? cost factor shows a negative relation; optimal awareness emerges when both farmers and retailers are subsidized. In turn, farmers and retailers achieve their best profits when both are subsidized. Furthermore, farmers? profits are higher than e-retailers? in every subsidy scenario. We obtain the most effective parameters for government subsidies using ex ante and ex post strategies, extending our model by incorporating spillover effects. Most of our conclusions are consistent with intuition and propositions we began with, but it is interesting to note that farmers? best profits appear when farmers receive subsidies and e-retailers do not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's Yellow River, the nation's second-longest, grapples with severe water scarcity, impeding the high-quality development of its basin. Our study meticulously examines the intricate virtual water trade network inside and outside the basin, providing essential insights to combat its acute water scarcity. We calculated water consumption coefficients for seven pivotal sectors across diverse Chinese provinces, forming the foundational data for quantifying virtual water trade both inside and outside the basin. Utilizing the 2015 Multi-Regional Input-Output Table, we assessed the Yellow River Basin's reliance on external water resources. Despite enduring chronic water scarcity, the basin annually exports a substantial 27.2 billion m3 of virtual water, equivalent to half of its yearly runoff. This outflow predominantly flows to the economically advanced eastern coastal region, with Agriculture and Manufacturing sectors dominating. Significantly, an irrational industrial layout leads to a substantial transfer of virtual water from economically disadvantaged areas to more affluent regions, exacerbating water scarcity in the basin's less privileged areas. Our study yields critical insights for mitigating water shortages in the Yellow River Basin and provides a transferrable framework for regions worldwide grappling with analogous challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of e-commerce, online retailers has increasingly developed their own store brand to compete with the national brand. It is necessary for the manufacturers who sell national brand products through these online retailers to consider strategically when making the selling mode decisions. Motivated by such practice issue, we consider a theoretic model comprised of a national brand manufacturer and an online retailer. The retailer chooses to introduce an average store brand, a premium store brand or neither, and the manufacturer sells national brand products through the retailer under reselling or agency selling mode. Comparing and analyzing the six possible scenarios, we investigate the interaction between the retailer's store brand strategy and the manufacturer selling mode selection. We find that the unit production cost and the quality of the national brand affect the retailer's store brand strategy. Under the reselling format, the retailer prefers to introduce a premium store brand when the national brand cost is relatively low. While under the agency selling format, the retailer prefers to introduce a premium store brand when the cost is low but the quality is high. Interestingly, we further find that the manufacturer may benefit from the premium store brand introduction. Whether for the reselling or agency selling, there exists the "win–win" situation for the manufacturer and the retailer with a higher national brand quality. Overall, our results provide several management insights for the online retailer's store brand introduction and the manufacturer's selling mode selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the high fatality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), current prognostic systems are insufficient to accurately forecast HCC patients' outcomes. In our study, nine anoikis‑related genes (PTRH2, ITGAV, ANXA5, BIRC5, BDNF, BSG, DAP3, SKP2, and EGF) were determined to establish a risk scoring model using LASSO regression, which could be validated in ICGC dataset. Kaplan–Meier curves and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis confirmed the risk score possessed an accurate predictive value for the prognosis of HCC patients. The high-risk group showed a higher infiltration of aDCs, macrophages, T-follicular helper cells, and Th2 cells. Besides, PD-L1 was significantly higher in the high-risk group compared to the low-risk group. Several anoikis‑related genes, such as ANX5, ITGAV, BDNF and SKP2, were associated with drug sensitivity in HCC. Finally, we identified BIRC5 and SKP2 as hub genes among the nine model genes using WGCNA analysis. BIRC5 and SKP2 were over-expressed in HCC tissues, and their over-expression was associated with poor prognosis, no matter in our cohort by immunohistochemical staining or in the TCGA cohort by mRNA-Seq. In our cohort, BIRC5 expression was highly associated with the T stage, pathologic stage, histologic grade and AFP of HCC patients. In general, our anoikis-related risk model can enhance the ability to predict the survival outcomes of HCC patients and provide a feasible therapeutic strategy for immunotherapy and drug resistance in HCC. BIRC5 and SKP2 are hub genes of anoikis‑related genes in HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the deformation characteristics of energy piles subjected to horizontal loads in sandy soil. A model energy pile was subjected to ten heating and cooling cycles. The temperature of the pile and soil around the pile, pile top horizontal displacement, pile strain, and horizontal soil pressure in front of the pile were measured. Furthermore, the bending moment and displacement of the pile body were calculated and analyzed. The results show that the horizontal displacement of the pile top consistently increased. The temperature variation caused significant changes in the pile body displacement, which increased in the heating process and decreased in the cooling process, showing an overall increasing trend. However, the increment of pile body displacement gradually reduced. The temperature variation considerably changed the pile's bending moment; the pile body's maximum bending moment appeared at a depth of 3.5 D (D is the pile diameter). The pile bending moment increased during heating but decreased during cooling. The pile bending moment increased with the number of heating–cooling cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the extended Huygens–Fresnel principle, we found that the effect of turbulence on a beam is equivalent to frequency domain filtering. From the viewpoint of a filter, a quantitative description of turbulent effect on a beam is proposed. As an example, the beam spread and the radial and longitudinal components of the scintillation index of a Gaussian beam are expressed analytically using the definition of the criterion. Compared with the existing results, these expressions are simpler and have explicit physical meaning. With the help of quantitative description, we also found that weaker turbulence strength and longer propagation distance will cause a stronger turbulence effect on a beam when their coherence lengths of turbulence are equal. The relationship between beam size and turbulence effect is nonlinear. When the spatial correlation length of Gaussian–Schell-model beam is shorter, the effect of turbulence on it is smaller, and this agrees with the existing research studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a foam gel material based on polyvinyl alcohol were successfully prepared to remove uranium contamination on the surface of stainless steel. The material was tested through infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The decontamination process of the foam gel on stainless steel surface was analyzed by SEM/EDS and XPS. The results show that the foam gel has good stripping properties, and its decontamination factor for removal of radioactive uranium on stainless steel surfaces could reach 90.9, which seems better than the methods of water washing and wiping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-particle band theory has been very successful in describing the band structure of topological insulators. However, with decreasing thickness of topological insulator thin films, single-particle band theory is insufficient to explain their band structures and transport properties due to the existence of top and bottom surface-state coupling. Here, we reconstruct this coupling with an equivalently screened Coulomb interaction in Bi2Se3 ultrathin films. The thickness-dependent position of the Dirac point and the magnitude of the mass gap are discussed in terms of the Hartree approximation and the self-consistent gap equation. We find that for thicknesses below 6 quintuple layers, the magnitude of the mass gap is in good agreement with the experimental results. Our work provides a more accurate means of describing and predicting the behaviour of quasi-particles in ultrathin topological insulator films and stacked topological systems. Single-particle band theory is facing limitations in describing the physics of ultrathin topological insulator films. Here, the authors investigate the coupling between top and bottom surfaces of a topological insulator and analyse their interaction in the framework of screened Coulomb interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To fully utilize the in-situ resources on the moon to facilitate the establishment of a lunar habitat is significant to realize the long-term residence of mankind on the moon and the deep space exploration in the future. Thus, intensive research works have been conducted to develop types of 3D printing approach to adapt to the extreme environment and utilize the lunar regolith for in-situ construction. However, the in-situ 3D printing using raw lunar regolith consumes extremely high energy and time. In this work, we proposed a cost-effective melting extrusion system for lunar regolith-based composite printing, and engineering thermoplastic powders are employed as a bonding agent for lunar regolith composite. The high-performance nylon and lunar regolith are uniformly pre-mixed in powder form with different weight fractions. The high-pressure extrusion system is helpful to enhance the interface affinity of polymer binders with lunar regolith as well as maximize the loading ratio of in-situ resources of lunar regolith. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elastic modulus, and Poisson’s ratio of the printed specimens were evaluated systematically. Especially, the impact performance was emphasized to improve the resistance of the meteorite impact on the moon. The maximum tensile strength and impact toughness reach 36.2 MPa and 5.15 kJ/m2, respectively. High-pressure melt extrusion for lunar regolith composite can increase the effective loading fraction up to 80 wt.% and relatively easily adapt to extreme conditions for in-situ manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distance measure is an effective tool for describing the difference between two vectors. Many scholars have proposed a lot of distance measures between the intuitionistic fuzzy sets. However, there are few works about the interval-valued intuitionistic multiplicative (IVIM) distance measure. The few research achievements are not sufficient to deal with the problems involving the distance between two interval-valued intuitionistic multiplicative sets (IVIMSs). Thus, there still exist some shortages in fully describing the difference between two IVIMSs. In this paper, we first propose an improved distance measure, the projection-based distance measure, which can reflect the difference between two objects more accurately with IVIM information. After that, a new method is introduced to determine the experts' weights based on the projection-based distance measure. Then, to handle the group decision making problem in which the weights of experts are unknown, we use the proposed projection-based distance measure to construct the similarity matrix in Boole clustering method. Finally, the clustering method is applied to the customer classification problem to test the reliability of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of electron donors in oxygen-rich aquatic environments limits the ability of natural denitrification to remove excess nitrate, leading to eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems. Herein, we demonstrate that electron-rich substances in river or lake sediments could participate in long-distance electron rebalancing to reduce nitrate in the overlying water. A microstructure containing Dechloromonas and consisting of an inner layer of green rust and an outer layer of lepidocrocite forms in the sediment-water system through synergetic evolution and self-assembly. The microstructure enables long-distance electron transfer from the sediment to dilute nitrate in the overlying water. Specifically, the inner green rust adsorbs nitrate and reduces the kinetic barrier for denitrification via an Fe(II)/Fe(III) redox mediator. Our study reveals the mechanism of spontaneous electron transfer between distant and dilute electron donors and acceptors to achieve denitrification in electron-deficient aquatic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The mining of new allelic variation and the induction of new genetic variability are the basis for improving breeding efficiency. Results: In this study, in total, 3872 heavy ion-irradiated M2 generation rice seeds and individual leaves were collected. The grain length was between 8 and 10.22 mm. The grain width was between 1.54 and 2.87 mm. The results showed that there was extensive variation in granulotype. The allelic variation in GS3 and GW5 was detected in 484 mixed samples (8:1) using targeted sequencing technology, and 12 mixed samples containing potential mutations and 15 SNPs were obtained; combined with Sanger sequencing and phenotype data, 13 key mutants and their corresponding SNPs were obtained; protein structural and functional analysis of key mutants screened out 6 allelic variants leading to altered grain shape, as well as the corresponding mutants, including long-grain mutants GS3-2 and GS3-7, short-grain mutants GS3-3 and GS3-5, wide-grain mutant GW5-1 and narrow-grain mutant GW5-4; whole genome sequencing identified new grain length gene allelic variants GS3-G1, GS3-G2 and GS3-G3. Conclusion: Based on the above studies, we found 6 granulotype mutants and 9 granulotype-related allelic variants, which provided new functional gene loci and a material basis for molecular breeding and genotype mutation and phenotype analysis. We propose a method for targeted identification of allelic variation in rice grain type genes by combining targeted sequencing of mixed samples and whole genome sequencing. The method has the characteristics of low detection cost, short detection period, and flexible detection of traits and genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu12@Au30Pt12, a stable core–shell molecule with Ih symmetry, has been designed and identified by using density functional theory. The Cu12@Au30Pt12 molecule consists of an icosahedral Cu12 core encapsulated by a Au30Pt12 pentakis icosidodecahedron shell composed of a Pt12 icosahedron and a Au30 icosidodecahedron. The dynamic and thermal stabilities of Cu12@Au30Pt12 are confirmed by vibrational frequency analysis and molecular dynamics simulations, respectively. The partial densities of states and frontier molecular orbitals both demonstrate the obvious characteristics of spd hybridizations. Furthermore, the Cu12@Au30Pt12 molecule exhibits magnetism with a total magnetic moment of 8 µB, which mainly comes from its Pt-5d states. A new assembled ice-sugar gourd-shaped [Cu12@Au30Pt11]n nanowire is obtained, and the results indicate that the nanowire is metallic and exhibits magnetism. The magnetic Cu12@Au30Pt12 molecule and [Cu12@Au30Pt11]n nanowire are potential candidates for applications in novel magnetic nanodevices and nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mg–1Al, Mg–0.9Y, Mg–2Gd, Mg–1.5Zn, and Mg–0.5Ca binary alloys were chosen to clarify the hot tearing mechanism since they exhibited the highest hot tearing susceptibility (HTS) among each binary alloy systems. Hot tearing tests of these five binary magnesium alloys were carried out by a constrained rod-casting apparatus. 3D X-ray tomography technology was used to characterize their tear volume, tear patterns, and propagation paths of such tears. The results showed that the HTS of these five alloys followed Mg–1Al < Mg–0.9Y < Mg–2Gd < Mg–1.5Zn < Mg–0.5Ca order. Among them, Mg–0.5Ca alloy exhibited abnormal HTS because of its susceptible temperature range and residual liquid fraction. In addition to the previous analysis of hot tearing behavior, discussion from the point of view of fluidity, thermal expansion coefficient, and mechanical property of semi-solid alloy with high solid fraction were incorporated to clarify the hot tearing mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer. More and more studies have shown that the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) of TNBC is closely related to its poor prognosis and early metastasis. We try to explain how tumor-associate macrophages (TAMs), an important component of the TME, function in the matrix of TNBC. Therefore, we induced THP-1 cells to become M1-TAMs and M2-TAMs, investigated their influence on breast cancer cells. 82 TNBC paraffin samples were made into tissue microarrays. The expression of macrophages makers were measured by immunohistochemistry. Scratch assay, Transwell assay, CCK-8 cell proliferation assay were performed in the co-culture system of breast cancer cells lines and macrophages to observe the invasion and proliferation ability of breast cancer cell lines. Western Blot (WB) was performed to detect the expression of E-cadherin (CDH1) and N-cadherin (CDH2). M2-TAMs were more numerous than M1-TAMs in the matrix of TNBC cancer nests and associated with poor prognosis. M2-TAMs promoted the invasion, migration, and proliferation of TNBC cells. M1-TAMs had inhibitory effects. In MCF-7 cells, WB showed a decrease in CDH1 and an increase in CDH2. In MDA-MB-231 cells and BT549 cells, CDH2 expression was reduced and CDH1 expression was increased. All of the above results were statistically significant, p < 0.001. M2-TAMs were more numerous in TNBC and associated with poor prognosis. M2-TAMs promoted the invasion, migration, and proliferation of breast cancer cells. The mechanism may be related to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among 13 proteases from microbes and plants, bromelain was shown to hydrolyze casein to obtain the highest iron-chelating activity of the hydrolysate. The casein hydrolysate obtained by hydrolysis of casein with bromelain under optimized condition was ultrafiltrated to obtain the casein peptide fraction (CPF, < 1 kDa) with high iron-chelating activity (63.94%). Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analysis of CPF indicated presence of 8 peptides with potential iron-binding glutamic acid, serine, phenylalanine and histidine residues. The casein peptides-iron chelate (CPIC) was prepared by reaction of CPF with ferrous sulfate. Characterization of CPIC in comparison with CPF showed significantly decreased intensity of the diffraction peak at 20° with slight shift to higher diffraction angle (2θ) by X-ray diffraction analysis. Fourier transform infrared spectrum analysis suggested that carboxyl, carbonyl and amino groups were the main chelating sites for iron ions. Thermogravimetry–differential scanning calorimetry analysis indicated that chelating with iron led to better structural and thermal stability of CPIC. Further iron absorption assay by a Caco-2 cells model indicated less toxicity of CPIC to the cells than that of ferrous sulfate specially at higher concentrations (5, 10 mg/mL), and significantly (p < 0.05) better iron absorption of the cells with CPIC than with ferrous sulfate. Western blot analysis confirmed significantly (p < 0.05) increased expression of iron transporter proteins such as divalent metal transporter 1 and ferroportin1. The results of this study suggests potential of CPIC as a dietary supplement to improve iron absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Living in a disadvantaged neighborhood is associated with adverse clinical outcomes among breast cancer patients, but the underlying pathway is still unclear. Limited evidence has suggested that accelerated biological aging may play an important role. In this study, using a sub-sample of 906 women with newly diagnosed breast cancer at M.D. Anderson, we examined whether levels of selected markers of biological aging (e.g., allostatic load, telomere length, and global DNA methylation) were affected by neighborhood disadvantage. The Area Deprivation Index was used to determine the neighborhood disadvantage. Based on the median ADI at the national level, the study population was divided into low and high ADI groups. Overall, breast cancer patients from the high ADI group were more likely to be younger and non-Hispanic Black than those from the low ADI group (P < 0.001, respectively). They were also more likely to have higher grade and poorly differentiated breast tumors (P = 0.029 and 0.019, respectively). For the relationship with markers, compared to the low ADI group, high ADI group had higher median levels of allostatic load (P = 0.046) and lower median levels of global DNA methylation (P < 0.001). Compared to their counterparts, those from the high ADI group were 20% more likely to have increased allostatic load and 51% less likely to have increased levels of global DNA methylation. In summary, we observed that levels of allostatic load and global DNA methylation are influenced by neighborhood disadvantage among breast cancer patients. [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.)

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is a synthetic and promising film-forming polymer that is usually used in packaging applications. In this study, PVA nanocomposite films with varying amounts of zinc oxide-doped multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-ZnO) were prepared. The tensile strength of the nanocomposite films was 116% higher than that of the PVA film. The thermal stability, water vapor transmission rate, hydrophobicity, and antibacterial activity of the nanocomposite films were better than those of pure PVA. Tests on water loss in vegetables at room temperature revealed that the vegetable wrapped in packaging films could keep more water for more than 4 days. Tests on the shelf life of chicken meat packed in films suggested that the growth of natural microorganisms in raw chicken kept in the preservation storage of the refrigerator could be inhibited for at least 36 h. The findings of this study indicated that nanocomposite MWCNTs-ZnO/PVA films with good transparency had great potential applications in food packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the decision-making process, retaining the original data information has become a most crucial step. Dual hesitant fuzzy sets (DHFS), which can reflect the original membership degree and non-membership degree information given by the DMs, is a kind of new tool for the DMs to provide the original information as much as possible. In this paper, we focus on the decision- making problem by a projection model (Algorithm I) whose attribute values are given in the forms of dual hesitant fuzzy elements (DHFEs). In order to reflect the information of the data more accurately, we first divide the dual hesitant fuzzy decision matrix into membership degree matrix and non-membership degree matrix. Then we gain the virtual positive ideal solution from the membership degree matrix and the negative positive ideal solution from the non-membership degree matrix. And then the projection values from every solution to the virtual positive ideal solution and the negative positive ideal solution are calculated. In combination with the two projection values, the relative consistent degree is further calculated to rank all the alternatives. At the same time, in order to guarantee the rationality of the decision-making result, a variation coefficient method is developed to determine the weights of the attributes under dual hesitant fuzzy environment objectively. Finally, the existing algorithms (Algorithm II and Algorithm III, Algorithm IV, Algorithm V) are compared with our algorithm (Algorithm I). The comparison result shows that Algorithm I is a valuable tool for decision making. [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.)

Aiming at the exploration and resource utilization activities on the Moon, in situ resource utilization and in situ manufacturing are proposed to minimize the dependence on the ground transportation supplies. In this paper, a laser-assisted additive manufacturing process is developed to fabricate lunar regolith composites with PA12/SiO2 mixing powders. The process parameters and composite material compositions are optimized in an appropriate range through orthogonal experiments to establish the relationship of process—structure—property for lunar regolith composites. The optimal combination of composite material compositions and process parameters are mixing ratio of 50/50 in volume, laser power of 30 W, scanning speed of 3500 mm/s, and scanning hatch space of 0.2 mm. The maximum tensile strength of lunar regolith composites reaches 9.248 MPa, and the maximum depth of surface variation is 120.79 µm, which indicates poor powder fusion and sintering quality. Thereafter, the mechanical properties of laser-sintered lunar regolith composites are implemented to the topology optimization design of complex structures. The effectiveness and the feasibility of this laser-assisted process are potentially developed for future lightweight design and manufacturing of the solar panel installed on the lunar rover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallization at the nanoscale on ferroelectric-oxide surface was reported, stemming from depolarization of the huge self-spontaneous polarization. The striking metallization layer is found responsible for various exotic effects never seen in the bulk. Very encouragingly, by using density functional theory, along with the Thomas–Fermi semi-classic model, we have demonstrated the surface metallization in Cu-doped (K0.5Na0.5)0.2(Sr0.75Ba0.25)0.9Nb2O6 (Cu:KNSBN) crystal. The electron density in such a metallization layer is up to that in noble metals, making it possible in supporting visible surface plasmon polaritons. Since the very first specular reflection (VFSR) is dictated by the optical properties within the range of half a wavelength, we used it to probe experimentally the existence of the metallization layer. Indeed, as high as 5 × 104 cm−1 exponential gain coefficients were obtained by monitoring the marked increase and decrease of the VFSR on the ± C-face of a Cu:KNSBN crystal cuboid, which were three orders of magnitude higher than those of the previously reported results. Such high gains are beyond the limits of current theory, including the well-established photorefractive theory, yet can be explained well with phase grating mediated excitation of surface plasmon polaritons. This work expands, both experimentally and theoretically, the general picture regarding surface metallization in ferroelectric oxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]