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Metal–organic compound derived composites are promising multi-functional materials owing to their adjustable composition, tunable shape and porous structure. However, it is very attractive but challenging to design light and thin composites derived from metal–organic compounds with broad and strong electromagnetic-wave absorption (EWA). Herein, we designed and synthesized a series of urchin-like porous structures (CoO/C-450, CoO/C-500, Co/C-550 and Co/C-600) with wideband and strong EWA performance through heat treatments on a Co-based metal–organic precursor at different temperatures. The three-dimensional urchin-like porous structure can not only promote electromagnetic wave propagation and attenuation, but also enhance surface polarization relaxation. As a result, this kind of urchin-like morphology leads to exceptional interface polarization loss and impedance matching, affording a wide absorption bandwidth exceeding 7 GHz over X and Ku bands. Among these materials, Co/C-550 demonstrates an outstanding performance, affording an effective absorption bandwidth of 7.92 GHz with a low thickness of 2.5 mm and a minimum reflection loss of −51.2 dB. The remarkable EWA performance was mainly attributed to the synergistic effect of the urchin-like morphology, porous structure, and dielectric and magnetic losses. This work provides some guidance for the design of light and thin electromagnetic wave absorption materials with a wide absorption bandwidth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing intelligence of automobiles, vehicle pre-ventilation can be better controlled. In summer, cars parked in the open air are directly exposed to sunlight; thus, a high-temperature environment is formed in the occupant cabin, which seriously affects the passengers and driver’s riding and driving experience. Meanwhile, lowering the temperature of the passenger compartment from a very high temperature to a comfortable temperature consumes a lot of energy. Therefore, it is increasingly important to study the pre-ventilation of the cabin in order to improve the thermal comfort of the occupant cabin and reduce energy consumption. In this paper, a new theoretical model of a cabin temperature control system is proposed. To support the theoretical model, an outdoor parking temperature rise test was carried out. Environmental parameters were obtained and used as the boundary conditions of the subsequent simulation. Based on the mechanism of the cabin temperature rise, the convective heat transfer coefficient on the body surface, the equivalent heat transfer model of the cabin, the solar radiation model and the physical properties of the air, a computational simulation of the temperature rise in the occupant cabin was carried out, and a simulation of the temperature rise in the occupant cabin exposure was studied. The simulation results were compared with the experimental findings to verify the accuracy of the simulation, which provided a reference for the design of the pre-cooling function of the occupant cabin. This study revealed that the pre-ventilation model developed reduces the vehicle cabin temperature through optimal control of air supply volumes and air supply angles. Furthermore, the developed pre-ventilation model is capable of reducing energy consumption, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The wind deflection of the sealing net across the transmission line is great under the slipstream of high-speed train. Based on the existing research， the paper proposes a method to reduce the wind deflection response of the sealing net structure by using the inclined wind vibration control cable， and it establishes a numerical model of dynamic response with wind analysis model and the sealing network structure of high-speed train coupled. Moreover， it studies the effect of the inclined wind vibration control cable on the wind deflection control of the sealing net structure and compares the effect with that of the vertical wind vibration control cable without inclined guy cable. The results show that under the action of coupled high-speed train wind， the pretension of the bearing cable has a significant effect on the horizontal and vertical wind deflection of the sealing net， especially the vertical wind deflection control of the sealing net， which can be reduced by 90% or more， but the safety coefficient of the bearing cable will be reduced by excessive large pretension force； the proposed schemes of using the inclined wind vibration control cable and the vertical wind vibration control cable are about the same in the control effect， and both can effectively control the upper and lower wind deflection of the sealing network. The control effect is more significant in the working condition of smaller carrier cable pretension.

The 2022 Ms6.0 Maerkang earthquake sequence, Sichuan, China, occurred in an unexpected area with historically rare seismicity in the Bayan Har block. Here we relocated the earthquake sequence, inverted for the focal mechanisms of the larger events, and calculated the rupture directivity of the earthquake sequence to reveal the seismogenic structures and mechanisms of this sequence. The high-precision relocations indicate that the seismogenic structures consist of several clusters that are generally parallel to the nearby NW-trending Songgang fault, and relatively small-scale conjugate faults are also identified. The seismicity migrated from cluster one in the south to cluster two in the north during the sequence. Furthermore, the hypocenters were largely located at 5–10 km depth, thereby highlighting that the seismogenic structures are buried. The vertical fault planes of the seismogenic structures are consistent with the high-dip focal mechanism solutions from seven events. A stress field inversion based on the focal mechanisms indicates that the sequence occurred in a strike-slip environment that was controlled by a NNW–SSE-striking principal compressive stress. The different rupture directivities of the Ms5.8 (southwestward) and Ms6.0 (southeastward) events prove the existence of conjugate faults. The Ms5.8 event induced a coseismic Coulomb stress change of 1.6 MPa where the Ms6.0 event subsequently occurred, thereby highlighting that the Ms5.8 event triggered the Ms6.0 event and produced the spatiotemporal seismicity pattern of the sequence. We therefore conclude that the seismogenic structures of the 2022 Ms6.0 Maerkang earthquake sequence are previously unknown concealed conjugate structures associated with the main Songgang fault. The complex seismogenic structures and their potential to generate large earthquakes warrant the need to better understand the seismogenesis of this area and the seismic risks that may be present.

In order to solve the problem of capacity reduction of Schiff base monomer in lithium-ion batteries due to the dissolution of active substances, the Schiff base polymer(PI) with C=N bond was prepared by one-step condensation method using p-benzaldehyde and p-phenylenediamine as raw materials. Poly(Schiff base)/carbon nanotubes(PI/CNTs) composites with high conductivity were prepared by doping carbon nanotubes(CNTs). The composition, structure, micro morphology and electrochemical properties of the prepared materials were analyzed by using FT-IR, SEM, XRD, TG, XPS and electrochemical workstation. The results indicate that the PI/CNT material with 5%CNTs(mass fraction) is a three-dimensional frame structure, and shows excellent electrochemical performance. The first specific capacity of PI/CNT-3 material is 209.9 mAh·g-1. After 200 cycles, the cycle retention rate is 60.5%. When the rate of charge and discharge is 0.1 C, 0.2 C, 0.5 C, 1 C and 0.1 C, the specific capacity of PI/CNT-3 electrode materials is 182.4, 150.8, 129.8, 101.3 mAh·g-1 and 156.4 mAh·g-1 respectively, which has good cycle stability and rate performance.

Objectives Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a risk factor for deep neck infection (DNI) and leads to complications and poor outcomes. Our study aimed to investigate the risk, prognosis, and complications of peritonsillar abscess (PTA) in patients with T2DM. Methods We extracted data of patients newly diagnosed as having T2DM between January 2000 and December 2011 from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database. These patients were matched with patients without T2DM, and PTA incidence was compared between both cohorts. Results In total, 67,852 patients with and 135,704 patients without T2DM were enrolled. PTA incidence was significantly higher in patients with T2DM (incidence rate ratio, 1.91; P5 years after T2DM diagnosis. Cox regression analysis showed that patients with T2DM had an approximately 2-fold higher PTA risk (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.89, P

We investigated the prognostic utility of preoperative neck lymph node-to-primary tumor maximum standardized uptake value ratios (NTRs) in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 141 consecutive patients who were diagnosed as having OSCC and had received fluorodeoxyglucose–positron emission tomography within 2 weeks prior to radical surgery between 2009 and 2018. To determine the optimal NTR cutoff, receiver operating characteristic analysis for overall survival (OS) was executed. The NTR’s prognostic value for disease-free survival (DFS) and OS were determined through Cox proportional hazards analysis and the Kaplan–Meier method. We determined the median (range) follow-up duration to be 35.2 (2.1–122.4) months. The optimal NTR cutoff was 0.273, and patients with a higher NTR (≥0.273) exhibited significantly worse DFS and OS (p = 0.010 and 0.003, respectively). A higher NTR (≥0.273) predicted poorer DFS (hazard ratio: 2.696, p = 0.008) and OS (hazard ratio: 4.865, p = 0.003) in multivariable analysis. We created a nomogram on the basis of the NTR, and it could accurately predict OS (concordance index: 0.774). Preoperative NTRs may be a useful prognostic biomarker for DFS and OS in patients with OSCC who have undergone surgery. NTR-based nomograms may also be helpful prognostic tools in clinical trials.

(1) Background: Physiological changes in nasal patency in response to posture contribute to sleep-related problems. Previously, we reported that the supine and prone positions cause a significant decrease in nasal patency in subjective and objective assessments of healthy individuals. Therefore, we conducted a study to evaluate the effect of posture on nasal patency in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR); (2) Methods: The present study comprised 30 patients diagnosed with AR and 30 healthy subjects without nasal disease (non-AR). Changes in nasal patency were evaluated in the sitting, supine, and prone positions. We used the visual analog scale to evaluate subjective nasal blockage. Acoustic rhinometry and endoscopy were used to objectively measure changes in nasal patency; (3) Results: In the non-AR group, the prone position had a significant effect on subjective nasal blockage compared with the sitting position, with significant decreases in the minimal cross-sectional area (mCSA) measured by acoustic rhinometry. Furthermore, endoscopy demonstrated a significantly increased inferior turbinate hypertrophy in the non-AR group. In the AR group, there was no statistical difference in subjective nasal blockage symptoms between the different positions. However, in objective examinations (acoustic rhinometry and endoscopy), the prone position showed significantly decreased nasal patency; (4) Conclusions: In patients with AR, subjective nasal blockage did not significantly increase in the supine or prone position. Endoscopy demonstrated increased inferior turbinate hypertrophy in supine and prone positions resulting in a significant reduction in nasal cavity mCSA, indicating an objective reduction in nasal patency.

BackgroundStudies have reported inconsistent results regarding the prognostic value of the systemic immune–inflammation index (SII) in head and neck cancer (HNC). Thus, the present meta-analysis assessed the literature on the prognostic value of SII in those with HNC.MethodsThe Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and PubMed databases were searched, and study methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa quality assessment scale. To determine the association of the SII with survival outcomes, pooled hazard ratios (HRs) as well as the associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used. To assess the associations of the SII with clinicopathological features, the odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% CIs were considered. Begg’s funnel plot and Egger’s linear regression test were used to assess publication bias.ResultsA total of 12 studies that together enrolled 4369 patients with HNC were analyzed. In the pooled results, a high pretreatment SII was correlated with poorer overall survival (HR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.62–2.70, p < 0.001), disease-free survival (HR = 2.79, 95% CI = 1.99−3.89, p < 0.001), and progression-free survival (HR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.30−2.48, p < 0.001). A stratified analysis indicated that SII for overall survival was applicable regardless of tumor site, treatment modality, overall stage, sample size, SII cutoff, and method for determining the SII cutoff. Furthermore, a high SII was correlated with a more advanced T classification (OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.09–1.18, p < 0.001) and nodal metastasis (OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.18–2.05, p = 0.002) in patients with HNC.ConclusionsAn elevated pretreatment SII predicts more advanced tumor and nodal status and poorer survival outcomes in cases of HNC. Because the measurement of SII is convenient and its use is cost-effective, we suggest that it can be applied by clinicians in the management of HNC.

This study investigates the relationship between inter-organizational knowledge-sharing and innovation performance based on the resource-based theory and network embedded theory. It aims to examine the mediating effect of network characteristics in the relationship between inter-organizational knowledge-sharing and innovation performance. Through quantitative study, data is collected from 275 firms and analyzed through regression analysis. The results reveal that inter-organizational knowledge-sharing has a positive effect on enterprise innovation capability. Innovation capability has a positive effect on enterprise innovation performance. The link between inter-organizational knowledge-sharing and innovation performance is mediated by enterprise innovation capability. Evidence in support of full mediation is found. Connection strength and network scale play a positive moderator role in the relationship between inter-organizational knowledge-sharing and innovation capability. The findings provide a theoretical basis for inter-organizational knowledge-sharing and help enterprises establish innovative advantages. These also guide the inter-organizational knowledge-sharing among members in practice.

At the time of writing, more than 440 million confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases and more than 5.97 million COVID-19 deaths worldwide have been reported by the World Health Organization since the start of the outbreak of the pandemic in Wuhan, China. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many variants of SARS-CoV-2 have arisen because of high mutation rates. N501Y, E484K, K417N, K417T, L452R and T478K in the receptor binding domain (RBD) region may increase the infectivity in several variants of SARS-CoV-2. In this study, we discovered that GB-1, developed from Chiehyuan herbal formula which obtained from Tian Shang Sheng Mu of Chiayi Puzi Peitian Temple, can inhibit the binding between ACE2 and RBD with Wuhan type, K417N-E484K-N501Y and L452R-T478K mutation. In addition, GB-1 inhibited the binding between ACE2 and RBD with a single mutation (E484K or N501Y), except the K417N mutation. In the compositions of GB-1, glycyrrhizic acid can inhibit the binding between ACE2 and RBD with Wuhan type, except K417N-E484K-N501Y mutation. Our results suggest that GB-1 could be a potential candidate for the prophylaxis of different variants of SARS-CoV-2 infection because of its inhibition of binding between ACE2 and RBD with different mutations (L452R-T478K, K417N-E484K-N501Y, N501Y or E484K).

Background/Purpose: Supracrestal ridge augmentation (SRA) is a major challenge for clinicians. This study investigated the efficacy of a 3D-printed (3DP) hydroxyapatite/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (HA/PLGA) scaffold as a potential biologic for SRA. Methods: Scaffolds that were 5 mm in diameter and 2.5-mm thick with a 1.2-mm diameter through-and-through central hole composed of 90% HA and 10% PLGA were printed using an extrusion-based bioprinter. The HA/PLGA scaffold was fixed with a 1.2-mm titanium mini-implant on the buccal surface of rat mandible (Ti-HPS), and the outcome of SRA were compared with sites treated with a titanium mini-implant alone (control) and a titanium mini-implant covered with deproteinized bovine bone-derived matrix (Ti-DBBM) at 4 and 8 weeks by microcomputed tomography (micro-CT), back-scattered SEM, and histology assessments. Results: The HA/PLGA scaffolds were 2.486 ± 0.082 mm thick with an outer diameter of 4.543 ± 0.057 mm and an inner diameter of 1.089 ± 0.045 mm, and the pore dimensions were 0.48–0.52 mm. There was significantly more mineralized tissue in the Ti-DBBM and Ti-HPS groups than in the control group at both time points. Newly formed bone (NB) was well-integrated with the DBBM and HA/PLGA scaffolds. The framework of the 3DP-HA/PLGA scaffold remained in place, and NB-implant contact (NBIC) was advanced to the middle level in the Ti-HPS group until 8 weeks, whereas dispersion of DBBM with a lower level NBIC was noted in the Ti-DBBM group at both time points. Conclusion: The 3DP HA/PLGA scaffold maintains supracrestal space and demonstrates osteoconductivity to facilitate SRA.

Background and purpose: Both regorafenib (REG) and TAS102 are novel anti-tumor drugs in the treatment of the digestive cancers. REG in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a pyrimidine analogue, could inhibit the progression of multi- drug resistant metastatic colorectal cancer. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) determine tumor self-renewal, heterogeneity and therapeutic resistance, and targeting CSCs provides a curable approach to multiple malignancies. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect and potential mechanism of REG in combination with TAS102 against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: A panel of human liver cancer cell lines HepG2, Huh7 and SK-Hep1 were used in this study. Liver cancer cells and xenograft tumor animals were treated with REG and TAS102 monotherapy or combining regimen. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to assess HCC cell viability. The subpopulations of CD133 positive cells were detected and analyzed using flow cytometry. Western blot was used to evaluate these protein contents in HCC cells with diverse drug treatments. HCC spheres were cultured in growing sphere medium with diverse drugs. Xenograft tumor animals were used to assess the therapeutic effect in vivo. Results: REG or TAS102 monotherapy significantly inhibited HCC cell viability. TAS102 in combination therapy reduced the increase of CD133 + cell subpopulation, SRY-related high mobility group box protein-2 (SOX2) and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A (ALDH1A) expressions induced by REG alone. Moreover, REG attenuated TAS102-induced myeloid cell leukemia-1 (MCL-1) expression. REG in combination with TAS102 ameliorated the formation of HCC sphere. Animal experiment demonstrated that REG in combination with TAS102 significantly eliminated HCC tumor growth in xenograft animals. Conclusion: REG in combination with TAS102 regulates HCC stemness and MCL-1 signaling and improves the therapeutic effect against HCC. The combination therapy may provide a novel strategy for refractory HCC patients.