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We analyze the semi‐implicit scheme of high‐index saddle dynamics, which provides a powerful numerical method for finding the any‐index saddle points and constructing the solution landscape. Compared with the explicit schemes of saddle dynamics, the semi‐implicit discretization relaxes the step size and accelerates the convergence, but the corresponding numerical analysis encounters new difficulties compared to the explicit scheme. Specifically, the orthonormal property of the eigenvectors at each time step could not be fully employed due to the semi‐implicit treatment, and computations of the eigenvectors are coupled with the orthonormalization procedure, which further complicates the numerical analysis. We address these issues to prove error estimates of the semi‐implicit scheme via, for example, technical splittings and multi‐variable circulating induction procedure. We further analyze the convergence rate of the generalized minimum residual solver for solving the semi‐implicit system. Extensive numerical experiments are carried out to substantiate the efficiency and accuracy of the semi‐implicit scheme in constructing solution landscapes of complex systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automated Writing Evaluation (AWE) has been widely applied in computer-assisted language learning (CALL) in China. However, little is known about factors that influence learners' intention to use AWE. To this end, by adding two external factors (i.e. computer self-efficacy and computer anxiety) to the technology acceptance model (TAM), we surveyed 245 Chinese college students and tested a number of proposed hypotheses using their response data. Results revealed that learners' behavioural intention to use AWE is directly determined by perceived usefulness, attitude towards using, and computer self-efficacy; and it is indirectly influenced by learners' perceived ease of use; learners' computer self-efficacy and computer anxiety play no role to perceived usefulness. Instead, they significantly affect perceived ease of use. Implications of these results are discussed as well.

Self‐powered electronic skins (e‐skins), as on‐skin human‐machine interfaces, play a significant role in cyber security and personal electronics. However, current self‐powered e‐skins are primarily constrained by complex fabricating process, intrinsic stiffness, signal distortion under deformation, and inadequate comprehensive performance, thereby hindering their practical applications. Herein, a novel highly stretchable (534.5%), ionic conductive (4.54 S m−1), thermogalvanic (1.82 mV K−1) hydrogel (TGH) is facilely fabricated by a one‐pot method. Owing to the formation of Li+(H2O)n hydration structure, the TGH presents excellent anti‐freezing and non‐drying performance. It remains flexible and conductive (3.86 S m−1) at −20 °C and shows no obvious degradation in the thermoelectrical performance over 10 days. Besides, acting as a self‐powered e‐skin, the TGH combined with deep learning technology for signature recognition and biometric authentication is successfully demonstrated, achieving an accuracy of 92.97%. This work exhibits the TGH‐based e‐skin's tremendous potential in the new generation of human‐computer interaction and information security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study was to identify and analyze the pathogen responsible for food poisoning in a tourist group traveling from Macao to Zhuhai. Patients and Methods: Samples were obtained from 27 patients of 96 cases, as well as samples of contaminated food in Macau. The collected samples were subjected to serological identification, drug sensitivity analysis, drug resistance gene identification, virulence factor analysis, and tracing. Results: Twenty-six isolates and the salad isolate were S. enteritidis ST11. Isolates from patients were exhibited significant resistance to Penicillin AMP (Ampicillin) and quinolones NAL (Nalidixic acid). Among these isolates, 21 strains were resistant to two or more antibiotics, indicating the multi-drug resistance (MDR). Genomic characteristics and phylogenetic analysis were performed on 9 of the isolates using whole genome sequencing (WGS). The analysis revealed that the resistance to AMP and NAL was primarily caused by a gryA mutation D87Y (9/9, 100%), and the presence of beta-lactam resistance genes blaOXA-1 (1/9, 11.11%), blaTEM-141 (1/9, 11.11%), and blaTEM-1B (8/9, 88.89%). It was also found a strains isolated from patients had two resistance genes to quinolones or beta-lactam drugs (1/8, 12.5%), respectively. The strains were found to possess 165 virulence genes, one adherence class virulence factor, one invasion class virulence factor and various pathogenicity islands, including SPI-1, SPI-2, SPI-3, SPI-4, SPI-5, SPI-9, SPI-10, SPI-13, SPI-14, SPI-15, SGI 1, CS54_island, and C63PI-1. Additionally, the virulence plasmids were detected, including IncFIB(s)-IncFII(s)-IncX1 (55.56%), IncFIB(s)-IncFII(s) (33.33%), and IncFIB(s)-IncFII(s)-IncHI2-IncHI2A (11.11%). PFGE (Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis) and phylogenetic tree analysis revealed a high degree of similarity between Salmonella isolates from patients and food samples from Macao. Conclusion: This study identified Salmonella enterica ST11 as the cause of the food poisoning outbreak. The findings highlight the importance of phenotypic characterization and next-generation sequencing (NGS) tools in epidemiological studies and emphasize the potential risk of a new emerging multi-antibiotic ST11 clone for S. enteritidis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer‐based thermal interface materials (TIMs) with excellent thermal conductivity and heat dissipation capabilities play a crucial role in addressing the issue of heat accumulation in advanced integrated electronics. However, establishing improved surface interactions and complete networks to enhance efficient phonon transfer remains a significant challenge. To tackle this problem, surface modification and ice‐templating techniques are commonly employed to create the robust interface crosslinks and continuously thermal conductive pathways. Herein, 2‐mercaptobenzimidazole (MB) was used as a reducing and modifying agent to functionalize graphene oxide (rGO‐MB) within the three‐dimensional networks, which was prepared using a combination of hydrothermal and ice‐templating methods. As a result, the reduced graphene oxide/natural rubber (rGO‐MB/NR) TIMs exhibited a remarkable through‐plane thermal conductivity of 0.93 W m−1 K−1 with a filler loading of 3 wt%. The enhanced interface interactions between rGO‐MB and NR, combined with the establishment of a three‐dimensional network, significantly contributed to the improved thermal conductivity and heat dissipation capabilities. Moreover, the obtained TIMs demonstrated favorable mechanical properties (5.06 MPa, 502%) and excellent insulation performance (3 × 1013 Ω cm). These findings provide the valuable insights into potential solutions for mitigating heat accumulation issues in next‐generation electronics. Highlights: rGO‐MB with thiol groups was obtained by the hydrothermal method.Interactions between rGO‐MB and NR mainly depended on the chemical bonds.rGO‐MB/NR TIMs owned the improved thermal management performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an epidemic emerging infectious disease with high mortality rate. We investigated the association between liver injury and clinical outcomes in patients with SFTS. Methods: A total of 291 hospitalized SFTS patients were retrospectively included. Cox proportional hazards model was adopted to identify risk factors of fatal outcome and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to estimate cumulative risks. Results: 60.1% of patients had liver injury at admission, and the median alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin (TBil) levels were 76.4 U/L, 152.3 U/L, 69.8 U/L and 9.9 μmol/L, respectively. Compared to survivors, non-survivors had higher levels of AST (253.0 U/L vs. 131.1 U/L, P < 0.001) and ALP (86.2 U/L vs. 67.9 U/L, P = 0.006), higher proportion of elevated ALP (20.0% vs. 4.4%, P < 0.001) and liver injury (78.5% vs. 54.9%, P = 0.001) at admission. The presence of liver injury (HR 2.049, P = 0.033) at admission was an independent risk factor of fatal outcome. Conclusions: Liver injury was a common complication and was strongly associated with poor prognosis in SFTS patients. Liver function indicators should be closely monitored for SFTS patients. Author summary: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging epidemic infectious disease with high mortality rate. However, the prevalence of liver injury and its association with the prognosis of SFTS patients has not been well characterized. In this multi-center cohort study, we found that the incidence of liver injury in non-survivors was significantly higher than that in survivors both at admission and during hospitalization. Patients with liver injury at admission had higher cumulative mortality risk than those without liver injury. Our study demonstrated that the presence of liver injury is strongly associated with poor prognosis in SFTS patients. Liver function should be closely monitored in SFTS patients, which may contribute to better management of SFTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]