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Evaluation of the mechanical properties of copper/diamond composites is necessary for understanding the interfacial bonding, which is important for the interface thermal conductance and thermal conductivity of the composites. The tensile and three‐point bending tests are conducted on the hot‐forged copper/diamond composites using Cr powder additives and Cr‐coated diamond. The interfacial bonding strength of the composites is calculated and evaluated based on the tensile results. The fracture mechanisms of the fabricated copper/diamond composites are discussed and compared. The highest tensile strength (69 MPa) and interface bonding strength (0.043 J m−2) are achieved for the Cu–3Cr‐55vol% diamond composite hot‐forged under 1050 °C. The connection between the composite's interfacial bonding strength and its thermal conductivity is elaborated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses slag (SL), fly ash (FA), and carbon fiber (CF) as raw materials to fabricate a conductive geopolymer, exploring the impact of CF content on its workability and mechanical performance. The conductivity and pressure sensitivity performance of the geopolymer are tested using an embedded four‐electrode method. The findings indicate that the incorporation of CF reduces the fluidity of the geopolymer and shortens its setting time. With the increase of CF content, the compressive strength increases first and then decreases, while the flexural strength increases gradually when the CF content is 0.2 v%, the percolation threshold is reached, and the resistivity is 268 Ω·cm. The geopolymer exhibits good pressure sensitivity performance under both monotonic and cyclic loading. With a stress amplitude of 15 MPa and a loading rate of 1 kN/s, the specimen's resistance change rate can reach −38.4%. The pressure sensitivity performance is optimal, with good repeatability and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Notch filters usually involve high costs, great difficulties in processing, and very limited tunability. By coating a nematic liquid crystal (LC) layer onto a well‐designed quasi‐bound states in the continuum (quasi‐BICs) metasurface, this work designs and demonstrates a high‐Q tunable filtering system with precise tunability in the near‐infrared spectral range. Optimal structural parameters and the filtering performance are first determined by numerical simulations and then confirmed in experiments. The precise tunability is enabled by modifying the LC molecules’ principal axes with an applied voltage, where the least distinguishable central wavelength interval is smaller than 0.3 nm, and the largest Q factor extracted from experiments can be ≈256.1. Compared to most of the commercial notch filters that work in the visible region and have no tunability, this work achieves an ultra‐narrowband filtering system that features low manufacture difficulty and cost, and great control of light propagation. The proposed design also opens new avenues for developing BIC‐based high‐Q devices with enhanced signal‐to‐noise ratio and multifunctional properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Memristor, with the ability of analog computing, is widely investigated for improving the computing efficiency of deep neural networks (DNNs) deployment. However, how to fully take advantage of the analog computing ability of memristive computing system (MCS) for DNN deployment is still an open question. Here, a new neural network models deployment scheme, that is, an information dimension matching (IDM) scheme, is proposed to fully take advantage of the analog computing ability of MCS. Furthermore, the spatial and temporal DNN, that is convolutional neural network (CNN) and recurrent neural network (RNN) is used to verify the proposed deployment scheme, respectively. The experimental results indicate that, compared to the traditional deployment schemes, the proposed deployment scheme shows obvious inference accuracy and energy efficiency improvement (>4 × in four‐layer DNNs deployment), and the energy efficiency improvement increases dramatically with the layers increment of DNNs. This work paves the path for developing high computing efficiency analog MCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: High‐dose acarbose may increase the risk of diabetic ketosis/diabetic ketoacidosis in Asian patients on sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitors. Healthcare providers and patients should be cautious to avoid this combination. Low‐calorie diets should be avoided in patients receiving sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 (SGLT‐2) inhibitors to decrease the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). High‐dose acarbose can decelerate carbohydrate absorption. We detail three cases of diabetic ketosis (DK) following concurrent SGLT‐2 inhibitor and high‐dose acarbose therapy (acarbose 300 mg/day and dapagliflozin 10 mg/day). Patients, aged 38–63 years with 3–10 years of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), developed DK, indicated by moderate urinary ketones and high glucose (urine ketone 2+ to 3+ and glucose 3+ to 4+) without acidosis, within 4 days to 1 month post‐therapy initiation. Serum glucose was 172.8–253.8 mg/dL; HbA1c was 9.97%–10.80%. The combination therapy was halted, and DK was managed with low‐dose intravenous insulin and fluids, followed by intensive insulin therapy. High‐dose acarbose with SGLT‐2 inhibitors may increase the risk of DK/DKA in Asian patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We aimed to investigate the relationships among nut consumption, gut microbiota, and body fat distribution. Methods: We studied 2255 Chinese adults in the Lanxi Cohort living in urban areas in Lanxi City, China. Fat distribution was assessed by dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry, and nut consumption was assessed using food frequency questionnaires. 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing was performed on stool samples from 1724 participants. Linear regression and Spearman correlation were used in all analyses. A validation study was performed using 1274 participants in the Lanxi Cohort living in rural areas. Results: Nut consumption was beneficially associated with regional fat accumulation. Gut microbial analysis suggested that a high intake of nuts was associated with greater microbial α diversity. Six genera were found to be associated with nut consumption, and the abundance of genera Anaerobutyricum, Anaerotaenia, and Fusobacterium was significantly associated with fat distribution. Favorable relationships between α diversity and fat distribution were also observed. Similar relationships between gut microbiota and fat distribution were obtained in the validation analysis. Conclusions: We have shown that nut consumption is beneficially associated with body fat distribution and gut microbiota diversity and taxonomy. Furthermore, the microbial features related to high nut intake are associated with a favorable pattern of fat distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a rare subtype of triple‐negative breast carcinoma. These low‐grade tumours, which are treated by simple mastectomy and have an excellent prognosis compared to other triple‐negative breast carcinomas. Solid‐variant adenoid cystic carcinomas have basaloid features and are difficult to distinguish morphologically from other triple‐negative breast cancers. Breast adenoid cystic carcinoma exhibits MYB protein overexpression, which can be detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Aim: We compared the IHC expression of MYB in solid‐variant adenoid cystic carcinoma with that in other triple‐negative breast cancers. Methods: We conducted IHC staining of 210 samples of triple‐negative breast cancers, including solid‐variant adenoid cystic carcinoma (n = 17), metaplastic breast carcinoma (n = 44), basaloid triple‐negative breast cancer (n = 21), and other triple‐negative invasive ductal carcinoma (n = 128). We classified nuclear staining of MYB as diffuse/strong (3+), focal moderate (2+), focal weak (1+), or none (0). Results: All 17 solid/basaloid adenoid cystic carcinoma cases exhibited 3+ MYB expression. Of the 21 solid/basaloid triple‐negative breast cancers, one (5%) had 2+ expression, seven (33%) 1+ expression, and 13 (62%) 0 expression. Of the 44 metaplastic carcinoma cases, 39 cases (89%) had no (0) staining, and the other five cases had focal weak (1+) or moderate (2+) staining. Among the 128 triple‐negative invasive ductal carcinoma cases, 92 cases (72%) had no (0) staining, 36 cases (28%) exhibited focal weak (1+) or moderate (2+) staining. Conclusions: Our study revealed diffuse/strong MYB staining (3+) only in solid/basaloid adenoid cystic carcinomas. Thus, we recommend routine MYB IHC staining in triple‐negative breast carcinoma with solid/basaloid morphology to improve diagnostic accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basement membrane zone is the interface between the epidermis and dermis, and it is disrupted in several skin conditions. Here, we report the results of a comprehensive investigation into the structural and molecular factors of the basement membrane zone in vitiligo, a dermatological disorder characterised by depigmented patches on the skin. Using electron microscopy and immunofluorescence staining, we confirmed abnormal basement membrane zone morphology and disrupted basement membrane zone architecture in human vitiliginous skin. Furthermore, we identified elevated expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) in human dermal fibroblasts as a key factor responsible for basement membrane zone matrix degradation. In our in vitro and ex vivo models, overexpression of MMP2 in fibroblasts led to basement membrane zone disruption and melanocyte disappearance. Importantly, we reveal that the loss of melanocytes in vitiligo is primarily linked to their weakened adhesion to the basement membrane, mediated by binding between integrin β1 and laminin and discoidin domain receptor 1 and collagen IV. Finally, inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase 2 expression reversed depigmentation in a mouse model of vitiligo. In conclusion, our research shows the importance of basement membrane zone integrity in melanocyte residence and offers new avenues for therapeutic interventions to address this challenging skin condition. © 2024 The Author(s). The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/Aims: Previous studies have suggested that treatments targeting the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) may play a role in the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, factors impacting repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS), a technique to evaluate NMJ function, have yet to be fully elucidated. We aimed to identify independent factors contributing to the decremental response of the accessory nerve and evaluated its value in ALS clinical practice. Methods: A total of 626 patients who were diagnosed with ALS and underwent 3 Hz RNS tests on the accessory nerve were enrolled. Data on their clinical and electrophysiological indicators were divided into a training set (collected from June 2016 to December 2022) and a test set (collected from January to August 2023). Stepwise regression was used in independent variable selection and model building. Results: Forty‐two percent of patients had a decrement larger than 10% and 24% had a decrement larger than 15%. Onset age, sex, onset site, forced vital capacity (FVC) and motor unit potential (MUP) duration were independent factors contributing to the results of the RNS test. MUP duration had the greatest impact on decremental response, followed by FVC and onset age. The decremental response in females was larger than in males. Upper limb onset was found to contribute more to the decrement than lower limb or bulbar onset. Discussion: In patients with ALS, NMJ safety factor is reduced during re‐innervation. Decremental response is affected by multiple factors, which needs to be considered in clinical trials targeting the NMJ in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This retrospective study analysed 106 acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients undergoing autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) to assess the impact of multiple small‐dose infusions of granulocyte‐colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF)‐mobilized haploidentical lymphocytes as post‐ASCT maintenance therapy. Among them, 50 patients received lymphocyte maintenance therapy, 21 received alternative maintenance therapy, and 35 received no maintenance therapy. Patients receiving lymphocyte maintenance therapy demonstrated significantly higher overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) compared to those without maintenance therapy, with 4‐year OS and DFS rates notably elevated. While there were no significant differences in recurrence rates among the three groups, lymphocyte maintenance therapy showcased particular benefits for intermediate‐risk AML patients, yielding significantly higher OS and DFS rates and lower relapse rates compared to alternative maintenance therapy and no maintenance therapy. The study suggests that multiple small‐dose infusions of G‐CSF‐mobilized haploidentical lymphocytes may offer promising outcomes for AML patients after ASCT, particularly for those classified as intermediate‐risk. These findings underscore the potential efficacy of lymphocyte maintenance therapy in reducing disease relapse and improving long‐term prognosis in this patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of a cure for osteoarthritis (OA), a prevalent joint disease among older individuals, remains an ongoing challenge. Obesity is a common risk factor for OA. Chondrocyte autophagy plays a crucial role in delaying the onset of OA. Our previous studies have demonstrated a significant elevation in the levels of oleic acid (OLA) and linoleic acid (LA) in the synovial fluid (SF) of patients with OA and obesity compared to those with OA alone, and an inhibitory effect of these molecules on the activation of autophagy. Accumulating evidence indicates a reciprocal regulatory relationship between autophagy and ciliogenesis; however, whether autophagy‐mediated ciliogenesis plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of OA remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to determine whether OLA and LA affect OA development via the regulation of chondrocyte autophagy‐mediated ciliogenesis. We found that both molecules inhibited this process in chondrocytes. Moreover, intracellular calcium and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels increased simultaneously. Further, we explored the relationship between autophagy and ciliogenesis in chondrocytes. Activation of autophagy by rapamycin significantly attenuated the ciliogenesis inhibition caused by OLA and LA. Importantly, the downregulation of AKT and mTOR expression in chondrocytes reversed the autophagy‐mediated inhibition of ciliogenesis and the ROS‐accumulation‐mediated inflammation induced by OLA and LA. Taken together, our results suggest that OLA and LA induce calcium‐overload‐driven ROS accumulation via autophagy‐mediated ciliogenic disorders during OA pathogenesis. These findings demonstrate that targeting autophagy and ciliogenesis in chondrocytes is a protective strategy in the OA pathogenesis induced by OLA and LA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vegetation net primary productivity (NPP) is a key indicator for evaluating vegetation carbon sequestration. Exploring its spatiotemporal changes and impact factors is essential for coal mining and ecological restoration in open‐pit mining areas. This study utilized the Carnegie‐Ames‐Stanford‐Approach (CASA) model to calculate monthly vegetation NPP in the Xiwan mine area, a typical open‐pit mine in northwestern China. The trend, stability, and persistence analysis were conducted, along with the development of a grading method to examine the vegetation NPP spatiotemporal variation across different land cover types. Statistical grading and correlation analysis were used to explore the relationships between the topographical factors, meteorological factors, human activities, and vegetation NPP. The following results were obtained: (1) The vegetation NPP in the study area exhibited a high stability and anti‐persistent decrease in trend. NPP reached a peak of 143.49 g C/(m2 year) in 2017, but declined to a low of 118.38 g C/(m2 year) in 2021. (2) The vegetation NPP decreases with increasing elevation and slope, and a relatively strong correlation with temperature and precipitation was also observed. (3) The impact intensity of human activities on vegetation NPP exhibited a rising and fluctuating volatile trend. In 2021, the inhibition of vegetation NPP by human activities reached its peak at 166.42 g C/(m2 year), with an impact effect share of 36.9%. This research provides a comprehensive framework for vegetation NPP analysis in open‐pit mining, offering valuable insights for ecological conservation in mining ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Numerous surgical techniques for addressing ulnar coronoid process fractures are available; however, a consensus on the optimal approach remains elusive. This study aimed to use the anterior neurovascular interval approach for the surgical management of ulnar coronoid process fractures and to evaluate its clinical outcomes over short‐ to mid‐term follow‐up. Methods: This retrospective clinical study included 20 patients with ulnar coronoid process fractures who were treated using the anterior neurovascular interval approach between January 2018 and December 2022. Participants comprised 16 males and four females, aged between 20 and 64 years (mean, 34.3 ± 12.44 years). Clinical and radiological evaluations were based on elbow joint range of motion (ROM), Visual analogue scale (VAS), and Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS). A paired t‐test was used to compare the pre‐operative and final follow‐up VAS and MEPS scores. Results: The follow‐up duration for all patients was at least 12 months (average, 12.65 ± 1.60 months). At the final follow‐up, measurements of elbow ROM included a mean extension of 2.85 ± 3.17°, mean flexion of 135 ± 7.25°, mean pronation of 86.4 ± 4.56°, and mean supination of 84.85 ± 5.54°. All participants reached their target MEPS, with an average score of 97.25 ± 4.72 points, and the final mean VAS score was 0.2 ± 0.52 points. The VAS score was significantly lower and MEPS score was higher at the final follow‐up than those before surgery (p < 0.05). Throughout the follow‐up period, all the fractures united, and the stability of the affected elbows was satisfactory. Conclusion: Employing the anterior neurovascular interval approach for open reduction and internal fixation to manage coronoid process fractures effectively facilitates anatomical restoration and robust fixation of ulnar coronoid process fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article realizes a low noise‐variable gain amplifier (LN‐VGA) operating at the frequency range of 31–36 GHz. The LN‐VGA consists of two amplifier stages and a gain control stage. To achieve low noise and high gain, the two amplifier stages were implemented using a single‐ended inductive source‐degeneration cascaded with pseudo‐differential neutralization capacitors. Moreover, a symmetrical splitting cascode unit topology is proposed in the gain control stage to improve the precision of phase variation and gain step within the 3‐dB bandwidth. The LN‐VGA was fabricated using a 65‐nm CMOS process, demonstrating a gain control range of 15.2–21.2 dB with less than 2° phase variation and a minimum noise figure of 5.6 dB. The measured results show less than 0.37° rms phase error and a 0.4 dB gain step at 31–36 GHz. The chip occupies an area of 0.81 × 0.51 mm2 excluding pads and consumes 27 mW of power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidermal melanin unit integrity is crucial for skin homeostasis and pigmentation. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR) is a pivotal player in cell growth, wound healing, and maintaining skin homeostasis. However, its influence on skin pigmentation is relatively unexplored. This study investigates the impact and underlying mechanisms of EGFR inhibitors on skin pigmentation. We evaluated EGF and EGFR expression in various skin cells using quantitative real‐time PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence. EGF and EGFR were predominantly expressed in epidermal keratinocytes, and treatment with the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR‐TKIs) gefitinib and PD153035 significantly increased stem cell factor (SCF) and endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) expression in cultured keratinocytes. Enhanced melanocyte migration and proliferation were observed in co‐culture, as evidenced by time‐lapse live imaging and single‐cell tracking assays. Furthermore, topical application of gefitinib to guinea pig dorsal skin induced increased pigmentation and demonstrated efficacy in mitigating rhododendrol‐induced leukoderma. Suppression of EGF signaling indirectly enhanced skin pigmentation by upregulating SCF and ET‐1 in epidermal keratinocytes. This novel mechanism highlights the pivotal role of EGF signaling in regulating skin pigmentation, and topical EGFR‐TKI therapy at an appropriate dose may be a promising approach for depigmentation disorder management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mollisols are highly fertile soils and function as significant carbon reservoirs. However, determining their ages and formation processes is challenging due to extensive pedoturbation, which undermines conventional dating methods. Here, we employed luminescence, a light‐sensitive property of minerals widely used in geological dating, to investigate and quantify soil mixing. We analyzed over 2,400 luminescence ages of individual K‐feldspar grains from a Mollisol profile in Northeast China, and for the first time, we were able to determine the intensity of pedoturbation in the Mollisol profile over the past 50,000 years. The results showed that the current pedoturbation can penetrate to a depth of approximately 80 cm, with the intensity decreasing with depth. By identifying a significant intensification in historical pedoturbation, we inferred that the paleoenvironment might be suitable for the formation of Mollisols 16,400 years before present. Plain Language Summary: Mollisols, also known as a type of black soils, are highly fertile soils characterized by a thick, dark surface layer rich in soil organic matter. Mollisols are not only crucial for food security but also serve as a significant carbon pool. To predict the future evolution of these valuable soil resources, it is important to understand when and how they formed. However, due to intensive mixing by animals, plants, and freeze‐thaw processes, it is challenging to accurately obtain soil ages using traditional dating methods that rely on undisturbed sedimentation layers. Here, we utilized luminescence, a light‐sensitive property of minerals, to address the challenge of soil mixing. We analyzed more than 2,400 luminescence ages of individual K‐feldspar grains from a Mollisol profile in Northeast China. The results showed that the upper 80 cm of the soil body is currently mixed, with the mixing intensity being most intense at the soil surface and decreasing with depth. Additionally, we observed evidence of historical soil mixing over the past 50,000 years. The intensity of soil mixing increased around 16,400 years ago. We infer that the paleoenvironment might be favorable for forming Mollisols since then. Key Points: Single‐grain luminescence was used to quantify the intensity of pedoturbation in the Mollisol profile over the past 50,000 yearsDust accumulation fostered the formation of the thick, dark, humus‐rich surface layer of the Mollisol profileThe formation processes of the Mollisol profile were traced back to 16,400 years before present [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Practical resistance of Helicoverpa zea to Cry proteins has become widespread in the US, making Vip3Aa the only effective Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) protein for controlling this pest. Understanding the genetic basis of Vip3Aa resistance in H. zea is essential in sustaining the long‐term efficacy of Vip3Aa. The objectives of this study were to characterize the inheritance of Vip3Aa resistance in four distinct field‐derived H. zea strains (M1‐RR, AC4‐RR, R2‐RR and R15‐RR), and to test for shared genetic basis among these strains and a previously characterized Texas resistant strain (LT#70‐RR). RESULTS: Maternal effects and sex linkage were absent, and the effective dominance level (DML) was 0.0 across Vip3Aa39 concentrations ranging from 1.0 to 31.6 μg cm−2, in all H. zea resistant strains. Mendelian monogenic model tests indicated that Vip3Aa resistance in each of the four strains was controlled by a single gene. However, interstrain complementation tests indicated that three distinct genetic loci are involved in Vip3Aa resistance in the five resistant H. zea strains: one shared by M1‐RR and LT#70‐RR; another shared by R2‐RR and R15‐RR; and a distinct one for AC4‐RR. CONCLUSION: Results of this study indicate that Vip3Aa resistance in all H. zea strains was controlled by a single, recessive and autosomal gene. However, there were three distinct genetic loci associated with Vip3Aa resistance in the five resistant H. zea strains. The information generated from this study is valuable for exploring mechanisms of Vip3Aa resistance, monitoring the evolution of Vip3Aa resistance, and devising effective strategies for managing Vip3Aa resistance in H. zea. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) show significant potential for osteogenic differentiation. However, the underlying mechanisms of osteogenic capability in osteoporosis‐derived BMSCs (OP‐BMSCs) remain unclear. This study aims to explore the impact of YTHDF3 (YTH N6‐methyladenosine RNA binding protein 3) on the osteogenic traits of OP‐BMSCs and identify potential therapeutic targets to boost their bone formation ability. Methods: We examined microarray datasets (GSE35956 and GSE35958) from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) to identify potential m6A regulators in osteoporosis (OP). Employing differential, protein interaction, and machine learning analyses, we pinpointed critical hub genes linked to OP. We further probed the relationship between these genes and OP using single‐cell analysis, immune infiltration assessment, and Mendelian randomization. Our in vivo and in vitro experiments validated the expression and functionality of the key hub gene. Results: Differential analysis revealed seven key hub genes related to OP, with YTHDF3 as a central player, supported by protein interaction analysis and machine learning methodologies. Subsequent single‐cell, immune infiltration, and Mendelian randomization studies consistently validated YTHDF3's significant link to osteoporosis. YTHDF3 levels are significantly reduced in femoral head tissue from postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) patients and femoral bone tissue from PMOP mice. Additionally, silencing YTHDF3 in OP‐BMSCs substantially impedes their proliferation and differentiation. Conclusion: YTHDF3 may be implicated in the pathogenesis of OP by regulating the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of OP‐BMSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zenith tropospheric delay (ZTD) is an important atmospheric parameter in radio‐space‐geodetic techniques such as Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), which is pivotal for GNSS positioning, navigation and meteorology. The Vienna Mapping Function (VMF) data server is a widely utilized source for implementing ZTD, offering two types of models, that is, the empirical one and the discrete one with Grid‐wise and Site‐wise models. Therefore, to evaluate the accuracy of these models becomes the focus of this article. Specifically, this study investigates their performances in terms of calculation of ZTD, using the hourly values derived from the International GNSS Service data as references. The results show that the root mean square err (RMSE) of the Site‐wise, Grid‐wise and global pressure and temperature 3 model are 11.71/13.03/38.56 mm, respectively, indicating the discrete model performs generally better than the empirical model, and the Site‐wise model is the better of the two discrete models. From the perspective of spatial resolution, the performance of these three models in ZTD calculation shows obvious influences of latitude changes and elevation differences. From the temporal analysis, the accuracy of the discrete model shows differences over different UTC epochs, while the empirical model can only express the seasonal ZTD characteristics with the average RMSE at different epochs being similar, the specifically values are 39.67, 39.26, 39.38 and 39.18 mm at UTC 0:00, 6:00, 12:00 and 18:00, respectively. The histogram and boxplot well indicate the accuracy differences of the three models in different seasons. Additionally, the time series of three models at different latitudes were also explored in this research. These explorations are conducive to the selection of appropriate models for calculating ZTD based on specific requirements. Key Points: The discrete and empirical troposphere delay models of the VMF data server is comprehensibly evaluated using the global International GNSS Service (IGS) dataThe Site‐wise of discrete model exhibits the best accuracy and is recommended first, followed by the Grid‐wide and the empirical modelEach model shows different influences by the latitude, elevation, seasons and epochs [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cine magnetic resonance (MR) images have been used for real‐time MR guided radiation therapy (MRgRT). However, the onboard MR systems with low‐field strength face the problem of limited image quality. Purpose: To improve the quality of cine MR images in MRgRT using prior image information provided by the patient planning and positioning MR images. Methods: This study employed MR images from 18 pancreatic cancer patients who received MR‐guided stereotactic body radiation therapy. Planning 3D MR images were acquired during the patient simulation, and positioning 3D MR images and 2D sagittal cine MR images were acquired before and during the beam delivery, respectively. A deep learning‐based framework consisting of two cycle generative adversarial networks (CycleGAN), Denoising CycleGAN and Enhancement CycleGAN, was developed to establish the mapping between the 3D and 2D MR images. The Denoising CycleGAN was trained to first denoise the cine images using the time domain cine image series, and the Enhancement CycleGAN was trained to enhance the spatial resolution and contrast by taking advantage of the prior image information from the planning and positioning images. The denoising performance was assessed by signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR), structural similarity index measure, peak SNR, blind/reference‐less image spatial quality evaluator (BRISQUE), natural image quality evaluator, and perception‐based image quality evaluator scores. The quality enhancement performance was assessed by the BRISQUE and physician visual scores. In addition, the target contouring was evaluated on the original and processed images. Results: Significant differences were found for all evaluation metrics after Denoising CycleGAN processing. The BRISQUE and visual scores were also significantly improved after sequential Denoising and Enhancement CycleGAN processing. In target contouring evaluation, Dice similarity coefficient, centroid distance, Hausdorff distance, and average surface distance values were significantly improved on the enhanced images. The whole processing time was within 20 ms for a typical input image size of 512 × 512. Conclusion: Taking advantage of the prior high‐quality positioning and planning MR images, the deep learning‐based framework enhanced the cine MR image quality significantly, leading to improved accuracy in automatic target contouring. With the merits of both high computational efficiency and considerable image quality enhancement, the proposed method may hold important clinical implication for real‐time MRgRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu‐based catalysts have been identified as the most promising candidates for generation of C2+ products in electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction. Defect engineering in catalysts is a widely employed strategy for promoting C−C coupling on Cu. However, comprehensive understanding of defect structure‐to‐activity relationship has not been obtained. In this study, controllable defects generation is achieved, which leads to a series of Cu‐based catalysts with various phase mixing degrees. It is observed that the Faradaic efficiency toward C2+ products increases with the phase mixing degree, reaching 81 % at maximum. In situ infrared absorption spectroscopy reveals that the catalysts with higher phase mixing degree tend to form *CO more easily and possess higher retention of *CO under high overpotential window, thereby promoting C−C coupling. This work sheds new light on the relationship between defects and C−C coupling, and the rational developed of more advanced Cu‐base catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micropterus salmoides rhabdovirus (MSRV) is a formidable pathogen, presenting a grave menace to juvenile largemouth bass. This viral infection frequently leads to epidemic outbreaks, resulting in substantial economic losses within the aquaculture industry. Unfortunately, at present, there are no commercially available vaccines or pharmaceutical treatments to combat this threat. In order to address the urgent need for therapeutic strategy to resist MSRV infection, the antiviral activity of natural product honokiol against MSRV was explored in this study. Firstly, cellular morphology was directly observed in an inverted microscope when treated with honokiol after MSRV infection. The results clarified that honokiol significantly lessened cytopathic effect (CPE) induced by MSRV and protected the integrity of GCO cells. Furthermore, the viral nucleic acid expression (G gene) was detected by reverse transcription real‐time quantitative PCR (RT‐qPCR) and the results indicated that honokiol significantly decreased the viral loads of MSRV in a concentration‐dependent manner, and honokiol showed a high antiviral activity with IC50 of 2.92 μM. Besides, honokiol significantly decreased the viral titre and suppressed apoptosis caused by MSRV. Mechanistically, honokiol primarily inhibited the initial replication of MSRV and discharge of progeny virus to exert anti‐MSRV activity. More importantly, in vivo experiments suggested that honokiol (40 mg/kg) expressed a fine antiviral activity against MSRV when administrated with intraperitoneal injection, which led to a notable 40% improvement in the survival rate among infected largemouth bass. In addition, it also resulted in significant reduction in the viral nucleic acid expression within liver, spleen and kidney at 2, 4 and 6 days following infection. What is more, 100 mg/kg honokiol with oral administration also showed certain antiviral efficacy in MSRV‐infected largemouth bass via improving the survival rate by 10.0%, and decreasing significantly the viral nucleic acid expression in liver, spleen and kidney of largemouth bass on day 2. In summary, natural product honokiol is a good candidate to resist MSRV infection and has promising application prospects in aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High hydration heat and poor water resistance are the main factors restricting the application of magnesium ammonium phosphate cement (MAPC). To alleviate the problem, fly ash was used to partially replace dead-burned MgO and NH4H2PO4 in this paper. The effect of fly ash content on MAPC properties, such as setting time, fluidity, mechanical properties, and water resistance, was investigated. The micromorphology of hydration products and the influence mechanism of fly ash on the macrocharacteristics and hydration process of MAPC were also discussed. The results showed the mechanical properties of fly ash-modified MAPC decreased with the increase of the fly ash content, but their increments at later hydration were greater than the control MAPC. Meanwhile, fly ash could improve the water-resistance significantly and reduce the total hydration heat. The fly ash refined the struvite crystal and increased the compactness of MAPC, although no obvious hydration products of fly ash were observed. So, when the content of fly ash is 30 wt%, the MAPC has appropriate mechanical properties, while its water resistance is significantly improved, and its hydration heat is reduced compared with the control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The manufacturing of Ti alloys via powder metallurgy and the development of novel compositions are two strategies to reduce the cost of Ti, which is still the primary factor deterring its wider use in engineering applications. In this study, new Ti alloys based on the combined addition of Sn with Nb, Mo, or Mn are manufactured via powder metallurgy to gain an understanding of the role of these β stabilizers on the performance achievable. It is found that the designed alloys have a fully homogeneous chemistry regardless of their actual composition and a lamellar or β‐type microstructure depending on the actual β stabilizer used. This study confirms that the β‐stabilizing power effect decreases from Mn to Mo and, eventually, Nb. The compressibility and sinterability of the alloys increase with the progressive addition of the selected powders, generally leading to stronger and more ductile materials. It is also found that the proposed Ti‐3Sn‐Mo alloys are characterized by the best strength/ductility pairs compared to a variety of sintered or cast binary/ternary Ti alloys bearing the alloying elements considered in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is one of the common features of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC). LNM is also taken as a sign of advanced OTSCC and poor survival rate. Recently, single‐cell RNA sequencing has been applied in investigating the heterogeneity of tumor microenvironment and discovering the potential biomarkers for helping the diagnosis and prognosticating. Pathogenesis of LNM in OTSCC remains unknown. Specifically, cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and epithelial tumor cells could foster the progression of tumors. Thus, in this study, we aimed to comprehensively analyze the roles of subpopulations of CAFs and epithelial tumor cells in lymph node metastatic OTSCC using the integration of OTSCC single‐cell RNA sequencing datasets. Four distinct subtypes of CAFs, namely vascular CAFs, myofibroblast CAFs, inflammatory CAFs, and growth arrest CAFs were successfully discovered in LNM tumor and confirmed the roles of GAS and PTN pathways in the progression of tumor metastasis. In addition, NKAIN2+ epithelial cells and FN1+ epithelial cells specifically exhibited an upregulation of PTN, NRG, MIF, and SPP1 signaling pathways in the metastatic OTSCC. In doing so, we put forth some potential biomarkers that could be utilized for the purpose of diagnosing and prognosticating OTSCC during its metastatic phase and tried to confirm by immunofluorescence assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Future phosphorus (P) shortages could seriously affect terrestrial productivity and food security. We investigated the changes in topsoil available P (AP) and total P (TP) in China's forests, grasslands, paddy fields, and upland croplands during the 1980s–2010s based on substantial repeated soil P measurements (63,220 samples in the 1980s, 2000s, and 2010s) and machine learning techniques. Between the 1980s and 2010s, total soil AP stock increased with a small but significant rate of 0.13 kg P ha−1 year−1, but total soil TP stock declined substantially (4.5 kg P ha−1 year−1) in the four ecosystems. We quantified the P budgets of soil–plant systems by harmonizing P fluxes from various sources for this period. Matching trends of soil contents over the decades with P budgets and fluxes, we found that the P‐surplus in cultivated soils (especially in upland croplands) might be overestimated due to the great soil TP pool compared to fertilization and the substantial soil P losses through plant uptake and water erosion that offset the P additions. Our findings of P‐deficit in China raise the alarm on the sustainability of future biomass production (especially in forests), highlight the urgency of P recycling in croplands, and emphasize the critical role of country‐level basic data in guiding sound policies to tackle the global P crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peatlands are important carbon pools and stable carbon sinks in terrestrial ecosystems. Studying carbon storage and accumulation characteristics can provide a scientific basis for the conservation and restoration of peatlands. Based on the 2014–2015 survey of the Jilin Provincial Forestry Department on the carbon storage of peatlands in the Changbai Mountains, the surveyed 865 peatlands have a total area of 22,900 hm2 and carbon storage of 18,753,300 tons. There are 275 medium‐sized organic carbon (OC) stocks of peatlands (10000–100,000 tons) in this area, and their carbon storage accounts for 41.3% of the total reserves. The peatland carbon in this area is mainly distributed in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, valleys and the lava platform are the most important geomorphological basis for peatland deposits. The Mudanjiang River Basin has the largest carbon storage and it is dominated by a nutrient‐rich peatland. Peatlands in the Changbai Mountains formed and developed since the Holocene, and the carbon accumulation intensity is different in each stage. The average carbon density of peatlands in this area was 69.74 kg/m3 with an average value of 81.77 kg/m2 for OC accumulation per unit area. The average value of the carbon cumulative intensity of peatlands was 164.43 ton/km2 and the carbon accumulation rate of peatlands was 38.96 g/(a m2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper constructs a general equilibrium spatial urban model and measures city geometric compactness using the patch‐shape index based on evidence from satellite imagery and basic vector maps of China. It adopts the ordinary least squares and instrumental variable approaches to examine the effect of city shape on the urban development of 279 Chinese cities at or above the prefecture level. The empirical results show that there was a significant negative correlation between city shape and economic outcomes. Specifically, every 1 percentage point increase in the patch‐shape index led to a decrease in city‐scale GDP by 0.009 percent, housing prices by 0.044 percent, and wages by 0.024 percent. More compact urban layouts attracted an inflow of households and firms, stimulated city economic growth, and were associated with increased housing prices and wage rates. The paper considers the cities' initial conditions, trends in population changes (expanding, shrinking, and stagnant cities), and geographic factors, and finds that the results are robust. An array of policy implications can be drawn from the research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multichannel orbital angular momentum (OAM) generation based on metasurfaces has brought significant advancements in expanding communication capacity. However, the realization of truly integrated optics is still challenging and important aspects such as beam scanning and rapid electronic switching among OAM channels, which are crucial for broad‐area communication coverage, have received little attention until now. Herein, a novel concept for multichannel OAM vortex beams generation and switching is proposed, realized by a guided‐wave‐excited metasurface (GWEM) in conjunction with a single pole five throws (SP5T) RF switch. A holography‐based theory is developed and employed to complete the array synthesis and analysis procedure without the need for a 2π phase modulation. As a proof of concept, a prototype of the GWEM is experimentally demonstrated with high qualities, including the generation of five channels of OAM vortex beams with a scanning range of ±35° in the elevation plane, a measured OAM mode purity of up to 84.5%, and consistent maintenance of the topological charge l = 2 state from 25 to 27 GHz. The proposed strategy features cost‐effectiveness, compactness, and fast nanosecond‐scale electronic switching for multichannel OAM vortex beams, making it highly applicable in space‐limited automotive radar, imaging, and communication systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Pyramiding Bt proteins is a key strategy to delay insect resistance development. However, the durability of pyramided Bt crops for controlling insect pests is threatened by cross‐resistance among Bt proteins, which can ultimately contribute to resistance development. The corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea, is a major agricultural pest of pyramided Bt crops. Previous studies have examined cross‐resistance and redundant killing of Cry resistance in H. zea, but such information is lacking for Vip3Aa resistance in this pest. Here, we evaluated cross‐resistance and redundant killing of Vip3Aa‐resistant H. zea to purified Bt proteins, as well as Bt corn and Bt cotton. RESULTS: Diet bioassays demonstrated high susceptibility of Vip3Aa‐resistant H. zea to Cry1Ac, Cry1A.105, and Cry2Ab2 purified proteins. No Vip3Aa‐susceptible, ‐heterozygous, or ‐resistant H. zea could survive on pyramided Bt corn containing Cry1 and/or Cry2 proteins. Complete redundant killing was observed in pyramided Bt corn containing Cry1 and/or Cry2 proteins against Vip3Aa resistance in H. zea. Vip3Aa‐susceptible, ‐heterozygous, and ‐resistant H. zea exhibited survival rates ranging from 0.0% to 22.5% on pyramided Bt cotton with Cry1 and/or Cry2 proteins. Incomplete to complete redundant killing was observed for Vip3Aa‐resistant H. zea on pyramided Bt cotton containing Cry1 and/or Cry2 proteins. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that Vip3Aa‐resistant H. zea does not exhibit positive cross‐resistance to Cry1 or Cry2 proteins. In addition, most pyramided Bt crops showed complete or nearly complete redundant killing of Vip3Aa‐resistant H. zea. These results indicate that a pyramiding strategy would often be effective for managing Vip3Aa resistance in regions of the United States where H. zea has not evolved resistance to Cry1 and Cry2 toxins. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellular data is a sequence of base station‐interaction data that records user ID, timestamp, location area code (LAC), and cell identity (CID). With long observation periods, the data allows traffic planners to analyze coarse‐granularity user travel behaviours at low costs. However, utilizing cellular data for urban planning is not an easy task as the data lacks user socioeconomic attributes due to privacy issues. The data is also challenging to recognize user activity types. This paper proposed an activity‐based model (ABM) with skeleton schedule constraints for multi‐day cellular data. The model first infers the activity pattern and home location. Then it predicts start time, duration, and locations separately for primary and secondary activities. Next, the model infers the travel mode and path considering user multi‐day travel behaviour, path non‐linear coefficient, and transfers. Finally, a time adjustment module is proposed to avoid time conflicts in consecutive activities. The proposed activity‐based model is validated at activity, travel, and path levels. Results show that the proposed model can effectively predict activities and has much higher stability than existing ABMs based on travel surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Requirements of blood transfusions rise rapidly in China. Improving the efficiency of blood donation could help maintaining sufficient blood supplement. We conducted a pilot research to investigate the reliability and safety of collecting more units of red blood cell by apheresis. Methods: Thirty‐two healthy male volunteers were randomized into two groups: red blood cell apheresis (RA) (n = 16) and whole blood (WB) donation (n = 16). RA group donated individualized RBC volumes by apheresis according to the volunteers' basal total blood volumes and haematocrit levels, WB group donated 400 mL whole blood. All volunteers were scheduled seven visit times in 8 weeks' study period. The cardiovascular functions were assessed by laboratory examinations, echocardiography and cardiopulmonary functional tests. All results were compared between groups at the same visit time and compared between visit 1(before donation) and other visit times within the same group. Results: The average donated RBC volume in RA group and in WB group was 627.25 ± 109.74 mL and 175.28 ± 8.85 mL, respectively(p < 0.05); the RBC, haemoglobin and haematocrit levels changed significantly between times and between groups (p < 0.05). Cardiac biomarker levels such as NT‐proBNP, hs‐TnT and CK‐MB did not change significantly between times or between groups (p > 0.05). The echocardiographic and cardiopulmonary results did not change significantly between times or between groups during the whole study period(p > 0.05). Conclusions: We provided an efficient and secure method for RBC apheresis. By harvesting more RBC volumes at one single‐time, the cardiovascular functions did not change significantly compared with traditional whole blood donation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The treatment of posterolateral tibial plateau fractures is difficult, and providing sufficient exposure and effective fixation is a challenge. There is great controversy regarding the surgical approach for posterolateral tibial plateau fractures. The purpose of the study was to investigate the clinical effects of open reduction and internal fixation using the Frosch approach for the treatment of posterolateral tibial plateau fractures combined with lateral tibial plateau fractures. Methods: Data from 19 patients with posterolateral tibial plateau fractures combined with lateral tibial plateau fractures treated from May 2018 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. There were nine men and 10 women, ranging in age from 22 to 62 years, with an average age of 45.6 years. All patients were treated using the Frosch approach. Under direct vision, the posterolateral and lateral fractures were reduced, and full bone grafting was performed. We reshaped the oblique "T" shaped plate for the distal radius and placed it on the posterolateral tibial plateau to fix the posterolateral fractures. The lateral inverted "L" shaped locking plate was placed on the lateral tibial plateau to fix the lateral tibial plateau fractures. Within 2 weeks after the operation, the patients were instructed to perform knee joint function exercises within 90°. At the last follow‐up, the Rasmussen radiological criteria were used to evaluate the effectiveness of fracture reduction and fixation. And the knee joint function was evaluated using Rasmussen functional score. Results: The operation time ranged from 100 to 180 min, with an average of 134.2 min; intraoperative blood loss ranged from 20 to 150 mL, with an average of 66.8 mL. The follow‐up duration ranged from 14 to 58 months, with an average of 36.2 months. There were no complications, such as vascular or nerve injury or incision infection. Fracture healing was achieved in all patients, and the healing time ranged from 10 to 14 weeks, with an average of 11.2 weeks. During the follow‐up period, there was no loosening or breakage of the internal fixation, varus or valgus deformity of the knee joint, re‐collapse of the articular surface, or instability of the knee joint. At the last follow‐up, the effectiveness of fracture reduction and fixation was excellent in 13 patients and good in six patients. And the knee joint function was excellent in 17 patients and good in two patients. Conclusion: The Frosch approach for open reduction and internal fixation in the treatment of posterolateral tibial plateau fractures combined with lateral tibial plateau fractures has a definite clinical benefit and is worthy of promotion and application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Nonhepatic hyperammonemia often occurs in patients with sepsis. Ammonia plays an essential role in the occurrence of hepatic encephalopathy. However, the relationship between nonhepatic serum ammonia levels and sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) remains unclear. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the association between serum ammonia levels and patients with SAE. Methods. Data of critically ill adults with sepsis who were admitted to the intensive care unit were retrieved from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC IV) between 2008 and 2019 and retrospectively analyzed. Data of patients with sepsis patients and serum ammonia not related to acute or chronic liver disease were not included. Results. Data from 720 patients with sepsis were included. SAE was found to have a high incidence (64.6%). After adjusting for other risk factors, a serum ammonia level of ≥45 μmol/L (odds ratio (OR): 3.508, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.336–5.269, p < 0.001) was found to be an independent risk factor for patients with SAE; moreover, as the serum ammonia level increased, the hospital mortality of SAE gradually increased in a certain range (serum ammonia <150 μmol/L). Serum ammonia levels of ≥45 μmol/L were associated with higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores in patients with SAE. Besides, our study found that patients with SAE used opioid analgesics (OR:3.433, 95% CI: 1.360–8.669, p = 0.009) and the SOFA scores of patients with SAE (OR: 1.126, 95% CI: 1.062–1.194, p < 0.001) were significantly higher than those without SAE. Conclusions. Nonhepatic serum ammonia levels of ≥45 μmol/L evidently increased the incidence of SAE. Serum ammonia levels should be closely monitored in patients with sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used reversed‐phase liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and supercritical fluid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry for determination of the stereoisomers of chlorfenvinphos and dimethylvinphos in tobacco. Tobacco samples were extracted and purified with a modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe technique using spherical carbon. The performance of both methodologies was comprehensively compared in terms of methods validation parameters (separation efficiency, linearity, selectivity, recovery, repeatability, sensitivity, matrix effect, etc.). Under optimized conditions, the calibration curves of the stereoisomers of chlorfenvinphos and dimethylvinphos in the range of 10–500 ng/mL showed excellent linearity with R2 ≥ 0.997 in both methods. The adequate recoveries of analytes from three different spiked tobaccos were obtained using reversed‐phase liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (86.1–95.7%) as well as supercritical fluid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (86.5–94.0%). The relative standard deviations for spiked samples were all below 7.0%. Compared with supercritical fluid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, lower matrix effects and LODs can be obtained in reversed‐phase liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the dosimetry effects of different gating strategies in cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐guided breath‐hold pancreatic cancer radiotherapy. Methods: Two cine MRI‐based gating strategies were investigated： a tumor contour‐based gating strategy at a gating threshold of 0–5% and a tumor displacement‐based gating strategy at a gating threshold of 3–5 mm. The cine MRI videos were obtained from 17 pancreatic cancer patients who received MRI‐guided radiation therapy. We calculated the tumor displacement in each cine MR frame that satisfied the gating threshold and obtained the proportion of frames with different displacements. We generated IMRT and VMAT plans using a 33 Gy prescription, and motion plans were generated by adding up all isocenter‐shift plans corresponding to different tumor displacements. The dose parameters of GTV, PTV, and organs at risk (OAR) were compared between the original and motion plans. Results: In both gating strategies, the difference was significant in PTV coverage but not in GTV coverage between the original and motion plans. OAR dose parameters deteriorate with increasing gating threshold. The beam duty cycle increased from 19.5±14.3% (median 18.0%) to 60.8±15.6% (61.1%) for gating thresholds from 0% to 5% in tumor contour‐based gating and from 51.7±11.5% (49.7%) to 67.3±12.4% (67.1%) for gating thresholds from 3 to 5 mm in tumor displacement‐based gating. Conclusion: In tumor contour‐based gating strategy, the dose delivery accuracy deteriorates while the dose delivery efficiency improves with increasing gating thresholds. To ensure treatment efficiency, the gating threshold might be no less than 3%. A threshold up to 5% may be acceptable in terms of the GTV coverage. The displacement‐based gating strategy may serve as a potential alternative to the tumor contour based gating strategy, in which the gating threshold of approximately 4 mm might be a good choice for reasonably balancing the dose delivery accuracy and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the problem that the railway passenger volume data are abnormal due to holidays and major events interfering with the prediction accuracy, the spline interpolation method is introduced to replace the abnormal passenger volume data. In addition, an improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO) is proposed to optimize the gradient difference acceleration law to combine and improve the predicted value and further improve the prediction accuracy of the railway passenger traffic. Finally, taking Beijing as the research object, the Holt exponential smoothing method and the BP neural network are selected to verify the effect of spline interpolation and IPSO-gradient difference acceleration law on prediction accuracy. The research results show that the spline interpolation method has a better prediction effect after processing abnormal passenger traffic data, and the improved particle swarm algorithm also shows better optimization ability and convergence speed when solving the double difference postulate. In comparison with the BP neural network, Holt exponential smoothing, simple averaging, and conventional redifference approaches, the IPSO-redifference acceleration method achieves a superior prediction performance, and the absolute values of the forecast error are reduced by 3.320%, 1.518%, 2.419%, and 0.602%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3(PZT)/PbZrO3(PZ) composite films are deposited on LaNiO3/SiO2/Si substrates using sol–gel method, and annealed at 620 °C for a different time with the rapid thermal annealing technology. The microstructures, crystal structure, and electrical performance of the PZT/PZ composite films are researched. When the composite films are annealed at 620 °C for 3 min, the PZT films show the perovskite phase and the PZ films exhibit the pyrochlore phase with tiny perovskite phase, making the films obtain a linear hysteresis loop and possess the high energy storage density of 10.0 J cm−3 and the energy storage efficiency of 84.8%. The aforementioned experimental results show that the phase structure of the PZT/PZ multilayer films can be regulated by different annealing times, which would improve the energy storage performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streptococcosis disease caused by Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus, GBS) results in a huge economic loss of tilapia culture. It is urgent to find new antimicrobial agents against streptococcosis. In this study, 20 medicinal plants were evaluated in vitro and in vivo to obtain medicinal plants and potential bioactive compounds against GBS infection. The results showed that the ethanol extracts of 20 medicinal plants had low or no antibacterial properties in vitro, with a minimal inhibitory concentration ≥256 mg/L. Interestingly, in vivo tests showed that 7 medicinal plants could significantly inhibit GBS infection in tilapia, and Sophora flavescens (SF) had the strongest anti‐GBS activity in tilapia, reaching 92.68%. SF could significantly reduce the bacterial loads of GBS in different tissues (liver, spleen and brain) of tilapia after treated with different tested concentrations (12.5, 25.0, 50.0 and 100.0 mg/kg) for 24 h. Moreover, 50 mg/kg SF could significantly improve the survival rate of GBS‐infected tilapia by inhibiting GBS replication. Furthermore, the expression of antioxidant gene cat, immune‐related gene c‐type lysozyme and anti‐inflammatory cytokine il‐10 in liver tissue of GBS‐infected tilapia significantly increased after treated with SF for 24 h. Meanwhile, SF significantly reduced the expression of immune‐related gene myd88 and pro‐inflammatory cytokines il‐8 and il‐1β in liver tissue of GBS‐infected tilapia. The negative and positive models of UPLC‐QE‐MS, respectively, identified 27 and 57 components of SF. The major components of SF extract in the negative model were α, α‐trehalose, DL‐malic acid, D‐ (−)‐fructose and xanthohumol, while in the positive model were oxymatrine, formononetin, (−)‐maackiain and xanthohumol. Interestingly, oxymatrine and xanthohumol could significantly inhibit GBS infection in tilapia. Taken together, these results suggest that SF can inhibit GBS infection in tilapia, and it has potential for the development of anti‐GBS agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is unknown whether high‐frequency ultrasound (HFUS) can evaluate invisible subcutaneous lesions. We aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of HFUS in invisible subcutaneous lesions. Method: Patients with invisible subcutaneous lesions were prospectively recruited from two centres. Before undergoing biopsy or surgery, each lesion was independently evaluated by two clinicians. One provides a clinical diagnosis by only clinical examination and the other provides an integrated diagnosis by combining clinical examination and HFUS information. Diagnoses were classified as correct, wrong, and indeterminate. A total of 391 lesions from 355 patients were enrolled, including 225 epidermoid cysts, 77 lipomas, 25 pilomatrixomas, 21 haemangiomas, 19 dermatofibromas, 11 dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP), 7 neurofibromas, and 6 leiomyomas. Using pathological results as the gold standard, diagnostic performance was compared. Results: The number of correct diagnoses increased from 185 (47.3%) by clinical examination alone to 316 (80.8%) after the addition of HFUS (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the indeterminate diagnosis rate decreased from 143 (36.6%) to 10 (2.6%). Using HFUS, the accuracy improved significantly for epidermoid cysts (59.6% vs. 86.7%), lipomas (50.6% vs. 94.8%), pilomatrixomas (0% vs. 48.0%), haemangiomas (23.8% vs. 57.1%), and DFSPs (0% vs. 81.8%) (all p < 0.05). However, HFUS did not significantly improve the diagnostic accuracy of dermatofibromas (15.8% vs. 21.1%, p > 0.999), neurofibromas (42.9% vs. 71.4%, p = 0.625), or leiomyomas (16.7% vs. 100%, p = 0.063). Conclusion: Combining HFUS and clinical examination can generally improve the diagnostic accuracy and decrease the indeterminacy of invisible subcutaneous lesions, especially epidermoid cysts, lipomas, pilomatrixomas, haemangiomas, and DFSPs. However, for some rare lesions, HFUS cannot provide useful information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellular signaling data have become increasingly indispensable in analyzing residents' travel characteristic. Especially with the enhancement of positioning quality in 4G-LTE and 5G wireless communication systems, it is expected that the identification accuracy of fine-grained travel modes will achieve an optimal level. However, due to data privacy issues, the empirical evaluation of the performance of different identification methods is not yet sufficient. This paper builds a travel mode identification model that utilizes the gated recurrent unit (GRU) neural network. With 24 features as input, this method can identify four traffic modes, including walking, bicycle, car, and bus. Moreover, in cooperation with the operator, we organized an experiment collecting cellular signaling data, as well as the corresponding GPS data. Using the collected dataset as ground-truth data, the performance of the method presented in this paper and other popular methods is verified and compared. The results indicate that the GRU-based method has a better performance, with a precision, recall, and F score of 90.5%. Taking F score as an example, the outcome of the GRU-based method is about 6% to 7% higher than methods based on other machine learning algorithms. Considering the identification accuracy and model training time comprehensively, the method suggested in this paper outperforms the other three deep learning-based methods, namely, recurrent neural network (RNN), long short-term memory network (LSTM), and bidirectional long short-term memory network (Bi-LSTM). This study may provide some insights for the application and development of cellular signaling-based travel information collection technology for residents in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The monitoring of the grasping behavior of variable stiffness grippers has emerged as a challenge due to the increasing use of soft grippers in logistics sorting applications. In this research, a flexible multifunctional sensor is developed by combining a liquid metal microchannel structure with a granular single electrode which detects the bending angle and stiffness of the flexible gripper in real‐time. The novel works by integrating triboelectric nanogenerator with particle interference variable stiffness and detects the stiffness of the soft finger. It is found that increasing the loading force on the gripper by a factor of 2.39 does not affect the kinematic characteristics. The size of the grasped object is determined with 96% accuracy by detecting the resistance offered to the stretched liquid metal during the bending of the soft finger. A soft grasping system is built with multifunctional flexible sensors and the real‐time signal feedback during the grasp‐move‐release process of objects of different diameters and weights is demonstrated. Besides providing a theoretical and experimental foundation of variable stiffness and nondestructive grasping of the soft gripper, the anthropomorphism of the soft grasping gripper is implemented by employing a novel sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that carbon fiber (CF) reinforced PEEK (polyether‐ether‐ketone) (defined as "PEEK/CF") composites have excellent properties and have been widely used in diverse fields. Meanwhile, hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN), as an excellent nano reinforcing agent, is often incorporated into polymer to improve its mechanical strength and thermal conductivity. Herein, PEEK matrix was regulated by adding high‐strength CF as the load‐bearing phase and 2D h‐BN sheets as the solid lubricant and thermally conductive fillers prepared by melt blending to achieve the multi‐scale packing of uniform mixing. The results show that h‐BN is well dispersed in PEEK matrix and improves the interfacial bonding between CF and PEEK matrix, exhibiting a good synergistic effect in enhancing tensile properties of composites. PEEK composite with 20 wt% CF and 4 wt% h‐BN (referred as P/20C/4B) exhibits the highest tensile strength (176.05 MPa) and thermal conductivity (0.396 W/(m·K)), which are 97.54% and 126.3% over those of pure PEEK (89.12 MPa; 0.175 W/(m·K)), respectively. In addition, PEEK composite with 10 wt% CF and 4 wt% h‐BN (referred as P/10C/4B) has excellent tribological properties with a friction coefficient of 0.15, the lowest fiction temperature (30.5°C) and a relative low wear rate of 1.62 × 10−6 mm3/(N·m) among them. The synergitic effects of h‐BN and CF on mechanical, tribological properties and thermal conductivity of PEEK composites provides a very broad prospect in their application of low frictional and wear resistant polymeric materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics of systemic lupus erythematosus accompanied by autoimmune liver cirrhosis (SLE‐ALC) patients and differences from the non‐cirrhosis group. Methods: Forty‐three patients with SLE‐ALC were enrolled in this study from 2653 patients with SLE in Peking University People's Hospital. A descriptive case–control study was performed between SLE‐ALC patients and the entry time‐matched non‐cirrhosis group. Results: Among the 43 SLE‐ALC patients, 41 (95.3%) were female. Eight patients (18.6%) were first found to have cirrhosis and then diagnosed with SLE. Eighteen patients (41.9%) had jaundice and 27 (62.8%) had esophageal and gastric varices. The age of SLE‐ALC patients was 51.1 ± 17.2 years, which was significantly older than the non‐cirrhosis group (P < 0.001). Lung involvement was more common as initial manifestations in SLE‐ALC patients during the SLE course (P=0.027). Compared with the non‐cirrhosis group, SLE‐ALC patients had worse liver function. A significantly higher rate of hematological system involvement (anemia, leucopenia, and thrombocytopenia) and a higher level of immunoglobulins were observed in SLE‐ALC patients (P<0.05). Moreover, SLE‐ALC patients displayed a lower positive rate of anti‐double‐stranded DNA and anti‐ribosomal P protein (P<0.05). The most common radiologic manifestations are ascitic fluid (72.1%) and splenomegaly (71.4%) in SLE‐ALC patients. Six SLE‐ALC patients underwent liver biopsy, and interface hepatitis was present in all patients. Conclusions: Cirrhosis is rare in SLE patients but is manifested as a unique pattern of clinical features characterized by late‐onset age, lung involvement, high immunoglobulins, and impaired liver function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A memristor‐based reinforcement learning (RL) system has shown outstanding performance in achieving efficient autonomous decision‐making and edge computing. Sarsa (λ) is a classical multistep RL algorithm that records state with λ decay and guides policy updates, significantly improving the algorithm convergence speed. However, λ decay implementation of traditional computing hardware is confined by the extensive computation of power exponential decay. Herein, the value update equation for Sarsa (λ) is implemented by using the topological structure of the memristor array, without complex circuits. Where, most importantly, the critical λ decay function is realized by a TiOx‐based memristor with conductance decay property. The energy required for floating‐point operations can be significantly reduced while accelerating the convergence speed. Then, a path planning task is demonstrated based on intrinsic conductance decay property and shows outstanding performance. Finally, the information of rounds used for the task is obtained, which is based on the intrinsic decay property of the TiOx‐based memristor, maps into a 32 × 32 memristor array in parallel to calculate the value of each round. The results indicate that the experimental data have similar results to the simulations. Herein, thus, it provides a hardware‐enabled scheme for the memristor‐based RL algorithm implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The limited availability of long‐term historical dust records has impeded comprehension of the mid‐latitude atmospheric circulation and underlying mechanisms of dust activities in arid Central Asia. We present a well‐dated 2,800‐year peat record from the northeastern Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau and identified the aeolian origin of archived particles by comparing grain‐size distribution and strontium isotope with those of modern dusts. We show that the reconstructed dust input was enhanced during warming periods, which also coincides with the variation of Westerlies, total solar irradiance, and North Atlantic Oscillation. We propose that warming climate may have contributed to a significant impact on the moisture balance and wind strength, and predict that this region may experience more frequent dust activity in the future. These findings contrast with meteorological observations of decreasing dust activities during the last 40 years despite a warming trend, suggesting different effects of natural processes versus anthropogenic impact on global warming. Plain Language Summary: Dust activity in arid regions is not only influenced by atmospheric circulation and regional climate changes, but it can also have significant impacts on human health and the environment of habitats. While modern dust research is relatively accurate, longer‐term records are still essential for a more comprehensive understanding of mechanisms and effects of dust activity scenarios. We have provided a well‐dated 2,800‐year record of dust activity in the northeast of the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau, the south border of arid Central Asia, mainly by grain‐size and element analysis of the minerals trapped in the alpine peatland from the Qilian Mountains. The results show that intense dust activity is related to the warm and arid climate, consistent with mid‐latitude Westerlies and sea‐air circulation changes. The increased likelihood of dust activity in arid regions, such as northwest China, suggests a correlation with global climate anomalies. Key Points: The aeolian origin of the particles archived in the alpine peat was determined by grain size and elemental analysisDust activity increases when climate changes from cold to warmDrought and strong winds caused by the strengthening of solar irradiance and Westerlies led to more dust input in the northwest China [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]